Martin O’Malley says San Bernardino rampage might finally force change in gun laws

[bigtree]

Last edited Fri Dec 4, 2015, 12:18 AM - Edit history (1)

Martin O’Malley expressed hope Thursday that the rampage that left 14 people dead in San Bernardino, California, might finally lead the country to tighten its gun laws.

“We’ve now had more mass shootings than we’ve had days in this year, and perhaps this is the incident that tips the balance and we finally do this,” he told Fusion’s Jorge Ramos (host, Univision).

When Ramos pressed him, suggesting that nothing ever seems to bridge the ideological divide over guns, the former Maryland governor pointed out that more than 400,000 people have been killed by guns in the United States since the Sept. 11 terror attacks.

“And the vast majority of them are guns in the hands of other native-born Americans,” he said. “Perhaps this is that incident where we see that there’s actually a connection here, that it’s not safe, it’s not right, it’s not responsible for us to allow people to buy combat weapons, combat assault weapons so readily in our country. We’re the only developed nation on the planet that allows that.”

As investigators searched for a motive in San Bernardino, President Obama said Thursday that it was possible the attack was “terrorist-related.” O’Malley, too, said it “looks like it has some terrorist overtones possibly,” and he stressed a need for the country to adjust to what he called “the changing nature of conflict.”

“We need to continue to improve our information-sharing, our intelligence-gathering,” he said. “Connecting the dots. I mean, here’s a person who had traveled from Saudi Arabia, who owned more than one combat assault weapon, and how do we better connect those dots?”

read: http://fusion.net/story/241429/martin-omalley-says-san-bernardino-rampage-might-change-gun-laws/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=FusionRSS

watch:

Carlos Chirinos ‏@carl_chirinos

Martin O'Malley ‏@MartinOMalley 5h5 hours ago
@URJ @RJCHQ - this violence must stop! I am proposing these bold executive actions on day 1 https://martinomalley.com/the-latest/7-executive-actions-to-reduce-and-prevent-gun-violence/ …

[kath]

1. B.S. If 20 massacred first-graders didn't do it, nothing will, sadly.

[elleng]

4. So we give up, right???

[elleng]

2. Thanks for this, bigtree.

'This violence must stop! I am proposing these bold executive actions on day 1.'

[leftofcool]

3. No, it won't. If Sandy Hook didn't nothing will.

[elleng]

5. Looks like NRA's got you just where they want you.

[leftofcool]

12. First, I am not a member of the NRA

Secondly, I don't own any guns. And third, did you just see what happened in the Senate today? If a group of babies getting shot to pieces didn't change gun control laws, what makes your candidate believe that a rampage in California will? Don't ever accuse me of being in bed with the NRA. I have been fighting these assholes for 50 years!

[elleng]

14. Not 'in bed,' of course,

but an attitude they want to foster.

[leftofcool]

17. No, it isn't

The attitude the NRA wants to foster is "a well armed society is a polite society." I think we all know this is horseshit. The NRA doesn't give one damn about gun control because they know it isn't going to happen. They know that nothing is going to change. We won't see real changes unless the 2nd Amendment is either repealed or restructured. That won't happen because you will never get even most Democrats behind it. The best we are going to get is a few more laws on the books, maybe. And maybe an assault weapons ban. I am for doing everything possible to dismante the NRA.

[bigtree]

7. issues like this one

...are really what these elections are all about; at least, to those of us who are actively seeking to change the status quo.

[leftofcool]

13. I agree. But look what just happened in the Senate.

[Bjorn Against]

6. I wish he were right, but sadly his is probably very wrong

We have seen too many mass shootings in this country and nothing has been done, I unfortunately don't think anything will happen this time either.

[bigtree]

10. I'm 55

...I can't count anymore how many times I've seen that sentiment collapse under the weight of events and public advocacy.

We have another opportunity in this election to advance a candidate who has experience actually accomplishing gun safety legislation against a divided legislature and the millions of dollars invested in my state by the NRA.

[Bjorn Against]

15. I agree more advocacy is needed

I am a Bernie guy but I really like O'Malley and would consider him in a future Presidential campaign. I actually wish I could vote for two candidates so I could vote for him this time, but unfortunately I have to choose one or the other.

I am glad he is talking about this issue even if I think he is far more optimistic than me that this particular event is going to change anything.

[FSogol]

8. Make it so, America.

[EdwardBernays]

9. Lol

Americans don't give a shit about gun violence.

Sure look at all the 'liberal' gun nuts on DU.

This is just normal.

[bigtree]

11. who spends time on a political site

...promoting political apathy?

...

[EdwardBernays]

31. I'm not promoting it

I'm acknowledging it.

If I say global warming is real is that promoting global warming?

Besides - the Senate just yesterday voted to both defund planned parenthood and reject new gun control measures.

It's obvious our country is ridiculous. And it's obvious that Americans don't care about gun violence.

[MaggieD]

16. I doubt it - sadly

[bigtree]

18. only optimism expressed in response, so far

...from O'Malley and his supporters?

Interesting.

[MaggieD]

19. Well he's being a bit naive

If they didn't care about 20 six year olds this won't change anything. And political supporters generally want to support their candidate. That's why they are called supporters.

[bigtree]

20. I've seen the walls of opposition crumble in the face of public advocacy and leadership

...from the top, in my state of Md..

As Bill Clinton was fond of saying in his own presidential campaign, 'Cynicism is a luxury."

[aikoaiko]

21. Which law? How would it impact this shooting?

[bigtree]

22. I get that

...you're a skeptic about gun safety legislation.

I'll let the facts known in this case progress a bit before attempting to debate your question.

I do think many gun safety proposals and laws already in place in some states (notably, some of the strictest advanced under O'Malley in Md.) would be more effective if implemented on a national level.

[aikoaiko]

23. That's a fair response. Let's see what the facts are in the case.

[MeNMyVolt]

24. While I share Left's and Maggie's pessimism, I have to give this a rec.

We need to do something, and if that doesn't help, then something else. Can't just give up.

[restorefreedom]

25. there is one way we can change the laws....

change the people writing them.

a dem wh and clean out of the nra butt kissing deadwood in congress just might do it. but i am afraid it will take more than one election cycle.

these eo's sure as hell wouldn't hurt though...

[Politicalboi]

26. The ONLY hope we have is because of their bigotry

Imagine Muslims legally buying guns. The HORROR!!

We better have background checks if Muslims can buy guns.

But of course their background check would involve what church do you attend? And do you believe in the lord Jebus christ?

[Doctor Who]

28. Who's trying to stop Muslims from buying guns? NT

[Juicy_Bellows]

27. Unfortunately, Mr. O'Malley is mistaken.

I love the sentiment but what legislation could possibly be passed that would do dick of good?

In my opinion, the ONLY way we can curb gun violence in this country is to stigmatize it. We did it with cigarettes, perhaps we can do it with guns. We sure as shit can't do it with laws.

[Jamaal510]

29. K&R

[davidpdx]

30. I hope he's right

But I am skeptical that anything will stop the shootings. After Sandy Hook, many of us felt that was going to be a wake up call for stricter gun legislation. Yet it has been three years this month and we have seen very little done. I would say the only real improvement has been that law enforcement is getting better at responding due to the amount of shootings there have been.