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The Annoyed Man wrote:Babin said:

[Congressmen] are high-profile targets of lone wolf shooters, as we saw [June 14]. We are also high-profile targets of Muslim and other terrorists, and that distinguishes us from the general public. The general public needs to have the right to bear arms to defend themselves from criminal activity. We not only have to be able to defend ourselves from criminal activity, but also from the high-profile target status that we are burdened with as members of the United States Congress.

Mr. Babin, please give me two lists: the first a list of all congressmen killed by terrorists, and the second a list of all private citizens who have been killed by terrorists. You already know which list has a big fat goose egg on it, and which has 50 or more people on it.

Had 2 assigned police officers not been present we might right now have been looking at a very different government. Imagine 8 republican house members killed by a nut case. I think the very legislative agenda of the republican party could have been destroyed by this one gunman. It is not that the congress people are better than us but that the balance of power for legislation could be shifted by one person. Look at how much money was spent in Georgia on one race. The only reason those police were there is because of the majority whip being there. I don't like the idea of treating any class differently. Not LEO, judges or any others. But think of the ramifications of killing a bunch of legislators on the basis of their party. Could have drastic effects on all of us. I do believe that legislators are potential sitting ducks. Nuff said on the subject.

And retired LEO are better than us? Apparently they are.

From everything I see Brian Babin has an excellent record on 2ndA issues. I don't take this as a "he's better than you" issue. I take this as a grab the sentiment moment and get something passed now which can be a stepping stone to reciprocity for all. There is a target over congress peoples heads now with the crazies out there and this has a better chance of passing right after the shooting incident.

CleverNickname wrote:

rotor wrote: if it passes can be a stepping stone for more inclusive bills

Please provide an instance where an exception to a firearms law for a favored group was later expanded to include the general public, especially on the federal level. I mean I guess there's a first time for everything, but Rep Babin isn't even making the claim that passing this bill will help lead to better things for everyone else in the future. I might even excuse his actions to some extent if he had a record of trying to get national reciprocity passed, or trying to do something like loosen some restrictions in 18 USC 930. But AFAIK he hasn't. He's just looking out for himself. Not much of a public servant.

I can't provide an example but if we get congress people exempted from some of the nonsensical gun control laws on the argument that they need to be able to protect themselves I believe that could be used as an argument for LTC holders as well. I would bet that some congress people could not pass the background checks that we have passed. The point is that one does not accomplish major change immediately and small steps forward are possible, just like open carry. It is only my opinion so take it for what it's worth. I would just as soon see this bill pass than no bill.

CleverNickname wrote:I don't think many Dems will vote for this.

rotor wrote:I think this could be a stepping stone to further legislation giving reciprocity to LTC carriers.

Right, just like happened with LEOSA.

Not so much dems voting for it but if it passes can be a stepping stone for more inclusive bills and dems will carry if they are afraid to be out and don't have private or public security.

We already have similar laws in Texas such as allowing judges to carry where we can't. Retired LEO can pretty much carry everywhere I believe. They may not be better than us but congresspeople may be at more risk than we are and the choices are that we provide them security at all times or we let them carry. Nothing would help our cause more than to have a bunch of democrats that want gun control trying to defend the argument that it is alright for them to carry but not us.
Just think of what this one shooter could have done to our government had Scalise not had an armed guard with him that day. Potentially every republican at that field could have been killed. I think this could be a stepping stone to further legislation giving reciprocity to LTC carriers.