Senate healthcare bill includes gun ownership rights! Gun lobbyists win another victory!

[Better Believe It]

Senate, White House Health Reform Tucks in Gun Rights
by Donna Smith
December 22, 2009

Could we make this stuff up? We cannot get healthcare as a basic human right for one another. But we sure can make sure gun ownership protections are tucked into the Senate health reform bill that is so celebrated as historic by the White House.

It gives a whole new meaning to "kill the bill," doesn't it? Or maybe killing people in a number of ways just didn't really matter all that much in this process so far. Protecting the money and the power is what mattered. Is there any better explanation for including gun rights issues within healthcare legislation?

In an Associated Press report we read, "Gun rights lobbyists pushed for language to ban collection of data on gun ownership in the bill."

That's right. Somehow the gun lobby was able to secure its own special little deal to make sure those who wish to brandish guns are able to do so without too much scrutiny.

So, let's get another thing straight from Congress' health reform effort thus far. We cannot possibly protect the right to have healthcare professionals and patients decide on appropriate healthcare treatments without more intervention by private, for-profit insurance companies, but we can add in more protections for those who wish to kill with guns to do so?

Read the full article at:

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/12/22-0

[derby378]

1. Donna Smith is no help - here's the relevant text

(c) PROTECTION OF SECOND AMENDMENT GUN RIGHTS.

(1) WELLNESS AND PREVENTION PROGRAMS. — A wellness and health promotion activity implemented under subsection (a)(1)(D) may not re- quire the disclosure or collection of any information relating to — (A) the presence or storage of a lawfully-possessed firearm or ammunition in the residence or on the property of an individual; or (B) the lawful use, possession, or storage of a firearm or ammunition by an individual.

(2) LIMITATION ON DATA COLLECTION. — None of the authorities provided to the Secretary under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act or BAI09R08 S.L.C. 6 an amendment made by that Act shall be construed to authorize or may be used for the collection of any information relating to — (A) the lawful ownership or possession of a firearm or ammunition; (B) the lawful use of a firearm or ammunition; or (C) the lawful storage of a firearm or ammunition.

(3) LIMITATION ON DATABASES OR DATA BANKS. — None of the authorities provided to the Secretary under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act or an amendment made by that Act shall be construed to authorize or may be used to maintain records of individual ownership or possession of a firearm or ammunition.

(4) LIMITATION ON DETERMINATION OF PREMIUM RATES OR ELIGIBILITY FOR HEALTH INSURANCE. — A premium rate may not be increased, health insurance coverage may not be denied, and a discount, rebate, or reward offered for participation in a wellness program may not be reduced or withheld under any health benefit plan issued pursuant to or in accordance with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act or an amendment made by that Act on the basis of, or on reliance upon — (A) the lawful ownership or possession of a firearm or ammunition; or (B) the lawful use or storage of a firearm or ammunition.

(5) LIMITATION ON DATA COLLECTION REQUIREMENTS FOR INDIVIDUALS. — No individual shall be required to disclose any information under any data collection activity authorized under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act or an amendment made by that Act relating to — (A) the lawful ownership or possession of a firearm or ammunition; or (B) the lawful use, possession, or storage of a firearm or ammunition.

[Better Believe It]

4. So why do you support the gun lobby amendment in a health insurance industry bill?

[derby378]

8. As long as we're going to get stuck with a crappy individual mandate...

...at the very least it can prevent you from being charged a higher premium because of your race, gender, ethnicity, or whether or not you own firearms. That's pretty simple.

And yes, I know about the abortion restrictions. I am not happy with that, either.

[depakid]

2. This is in there so that the gun nuts can claim that the data is inadequate every time a study

demonstrates the increased risk of tragedies associated with having guns in the household.

One of many irrational and irresponsible provisions in the bill.

[friendly_iconoclast]

3. Or maybe the FBI gave Congress a heads-up about this;

which makes your handwringing about guns even more OTT than usual:


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4193932

Crime Drops In First Half Of 2009: FBI
Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Violent crime in the United States, including murder and robbery, dropped 4.4 percent in the first half of 2009 and property crime like car thefts also dropped, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said on Monday.

The latest statistics suggest that U.S. violent crime could drop for a third full year in a row, a steady decline despite the harsh economic recession that some policymakers and police groups had feared would lead to an upward spike.

The number of murders plummeted 10 percent compared to the same six-month period in 2008, while robbery fell 6.5 percent and forcible rape dropped 3.3 percent, according to preliminary statistics released by the FBI.

Violent crime in all of 2008 fell 1.9 percent from 2007....

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5BK2KI20091221

Don't lose hope, though. The State of Oklahoma is on your wavelength:

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/10/08/oklahoma-abortion-online/

New Oklahoma law will publicy post details of women’s abortions online.

On Nov. 1, a law in Oklahoma will go into effect that will collect personal details about every single abortion performed in the state and post them on a public website. Implementing the measure will “cost $281,285 the first year and $256,285 each subsequent year.” Here are the first eight questions that women will have to reveal:

1. Date of abortion
2. County in which abortion performed
3. Age of mother
4. Marital status of mother
(married, divorced, separated, widowed, or never married)
5. Race of mother
6. Years of education of mother
(specify highest year completed)
7. State or foreign country of residence of mother
8. Total number of previous pregnancies of the mother
Live Births
Miscarriages
Induced Abortions....

All to show the increased risk of tragedies associated with getting an abortion, I'm sure.

[white_wolf]

5. reply

I have to ask, what place does this have in a bill about health care reform? I mean I do support gun rights to an extent but these people are really going too far and i don't know why they were allowed to push their agenda into a bill that has nothing to do with gun control.

[girl_interrupted]

6. They did the same with the Credit Card Bill, allowing concealed weapons

in National Parks. You might think they might have added caps on credit card rates, but no. Guns, took precedant. What did one have to do with another? Nothing. Same here. I wish I could say I was surprised this time around, but i'm not. Bunch of backstabbers.

[depakid]

7. Proof positive of the supposition AND a red herring to boot!

nicely done!