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Bedrock Liberal signs up for a firearms class (11/2/2001)
Josey1
Member Posts: 9,598 ✭✭
AMERICA'S NEW WAR -- RECOMMENDATIONS -- Usama bin Laden's al-Qaida: Profile of a Terrorist Network Taliban: Militant Islam, Oil and Fundamentalism in Central Asia Triumph of Disorder: Islamic Fundamentalism, the New Face of War Unholy Wars: Afghanistan, America and International Terrorism Terrorism and U.S. Foreign Policy Reaping the Whirlwind : The Taliban Movement in Afghanistan The Taliban: War, Religion and the New Order in Afghanistan Islam: A Short History Understanding Islam : An Introduction to the Muslim World The Oxford History of Islam Iran & Iraq/Afghanistan Lost Worlds of the Middle East: Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Israel -- FBI HOTLINE -- Anyone with info on the attacks is encouraged to contact the FBI Toll Free: (866) 483-5137 Internet: www.ifccfbi.gov -- HERALD TOOLS -- Email this Article to a Friend Printer Friendly Version Subscribe to the Boston Herald Feedback Bostonherald.com E-NEWS Sign-up for daily americas_new_war news by e-mail. Start by entering your e-mail address below: AMERICA'S NEW WAR
State lawmakers look at guns under new lightby Steve Marantz Thursday, November 1, 2001There may not be a lot of straight talking on Beacon Hill, but there may soon be some straight shooting.Spooked by shadowy public safety concerns, four state lawmakers - including a bedrock liberal - signed up for a firearms class this week, and some said they might pack heat in the face of terrorism.Representatives Marie Parente (D-Milford), Mary Rogeness (R-Longmeadow), and Patricia Walrath (D-Stow) sat in Tuesday on the four-hour Gun Owners Action League course at the State House involving the handling, but no actual shooting, of sidearms.A fourth lawmaker who had signed up, liberal Rep. Jay Kaufman (D-Lexington), could not attend because of a family illness.``We're certainly all scared - it's a natural instinct to try and do whatever you can to protect yourself and your loved ones, especially in the face of unknown and un-measurable threats, '' Kaufman said, indicating that he probably won't buy a gun but won't rule out the possibility.Parente, an 11th-term lawmaker, said she does not have a gun license or a gun, but added, ``If bin Laden gets more out of hand, would I get one, who knows?''The fact that lawmakers - particularly a liberal like Kaufman - want to learn about firearms signals a seismic shift to gun advocates, who are about to launch a challenge to what they consider overly restrictive state regulations.``Since Sept. 11 there has been an utter transformation in the firearms debate that never could have been predicted,'' said Kevin Sowyrda, a GOAL spokesman. ``In Massachusetts there's been a psychological shift - you can see it in sales.''Sales of guns and ammunition are soaring, only partially due to hunting season, according to store managers. Gun sales are up 15 percent, and ammunition sales up 50 percent, at Sparky's Gun Shop of Webster, where lines snaked out the front door in the days following the attacks.``The big boom is in ammunition, and the caliber is not hunting rounds,'' said manager Paul Adams.Collector's Gallery of Stoneham, reporting a 35 to 50 percent increase in overall sales, is struggling to get supplies from sold-out wholesalers.Additionally, gun courses are attracting double and triple the usual number of students, according to instructors. The courses, which run nine hours and include shooting, are required for a state firearms license.``A normal class would be 11 students - my last class we had 35,'' said David Dufresne, instructor at Boston Gun Range of Worcester.Dufresne said that even though a gun is useless against bioterrorism, it can represent a ``security blanket.''GOAL's Jon Green, who taught the State House course, has trained 60 to 80 persons in ``basic pistol'' over the last month - up from a normal six to 12.``These are people who care about self-preservation,'' said Green. ``When it comes down to it, it may be only they who can protect themselves and their families.''Meanwhile, gun-friendly lawmakers are about to challenge regulations handed down by Attorney General Thomas Reilly placing strict guidelines on firearms sold in Massachusetts.Advocates say the regulations fail to define which firearms are legal, and as a result, some popular models are not sold here, including semi-automatic Glocks and Berettas carried by many local police.``The attorney general has left it up to individuals to make a decision and then worry about whether they'll be prosecuted,'' said Rep. George Peterson (R-Grafton).Among potential supporters is Kaufman, who is trying to help a constituent caught between a federal requirement to carry a Beretta - as a military medic - and the state regulations precluding the gun.``It strikes me as a fundamental conflict between a federal calling and a state regulation,'' said Kaufman.Kaufman acknowledged that a pro-gun position could be politically risky in his district, which includes Lincoln.``I've had calls from both sides of the gun issue - there are many gun owners in Lexington and Lincoln,'' said Kaufman. ``I'm not advocating access to automatic weapons and a whole host of dangerous guns. I try to exercise my best judgment.''But gun control advocates yesterday defended the state's strict regulations and licensing process, while deploring the rush to gun training and ownership in the face of terrorism.``I share with most Americans a fear of the unknown and future,'' said John Rosenthal of Stop Handgun Violence. ``But our problems and enemies are greater than anything a handgun is going to repel.''Rosenthal said GOAL is ``opportunizing on the tragedy of Sept. 11 and continuing to adapt their message of fear irresponsibly.''But after holding a .357 Magnum, Parente said she is comforted by the possibility of her neighbors - and fellow reps - owning guns.``I can't think of a time that private gun ownership has meant so much,'' said Parente. ``This is a different kind of war. Who knows where it will be fought?'' http://www.bostonherald.com/news/americas_new_war/ausguns11012001.htm
State lawmakers look at guns under new lightby Steve Marantz Thursday, November 1, 2001There may not be a lot of straight talking on Beacon Hill, but there may soon be some straight shooting.Spooked by shadowy public safety concerns, four state lawmakers - including a bedrock liberal - signed up for a firearms class this week, and some said they might pack heat in the face of terrorism.Representatives Marie Parente (D-Milford), Mary Rogeness (R-Longmeadow), and Patricia Walrath (D-Stow) sat in Tuesday on the four-hour Gun Owners Action League course at the State House involving the handling, but no actual shooting, of sidearms.A fourth lawmaker who had signed up, liberal Rep. Jay Kaufman (D-Lexington), could not attend because of a family illness.``We're certainly all scared - it's a natural instinct to try and do whatever you can to protect yourself and your loved ones, especially in the face of unknown and un-measurable threats, '' Kaufman said, indicating that he probably won't buy a gun but won't rule out the possibility.Parente, an 11th-term lawmaker, said she does not have a gun license or a gun, but added, ``If bin Laden gets more out of hand, would I get one, who knows?''The fact that lawmakers - particularly a liberal like Kaufman - want to learn about firearms signals a seismic shift to gun advocates, who are about to launch a challenge to what they consider overly restrictive state regulations.``Since Sept. 11 there has been an utter transformation in the firearms debate that never could have been predicted,'' said Kevin Sowyrda, a GOAL spokesman. ``In Massachusetts there's been a psychological shift - you can see it in sales.''Sales of guns and ammunition are soaring, only partially due to hunting season, according to store managers. Gun sales are up 15 percent, and ammunition sales up 50 percent, at Sparky's Gun Shop of Webster, where lines snaked out the front door in the days following the attacks.``The big boom is in ammunition, and the caliber is not hunting rounds,'' said manager Paul Adams.Collector's Gallery of Stoneham, reporting a 35 to 50 percent increase in overall sales, is struggling to get supplies from sold-out wholesalers.Additionally, gun courses are attracting double and triple the usual number of students, according to instructors. The courses, which run nine hours and include shooting, are required for a state firearms license.``A normal class would be 11 students - my last class we had 35,'' said David Dufresne, instructor at Boston Gun Range of Worcester.Dufresne said that even though a gun is useless against bioterrorism, it can represent a ``security blanket.''GOAL's Jon Green, who taught the State House course, has trained 60 to 80 persons in ``basic pistol'' over the last month - up from a normal six to 12.``These are people who care about self-preservation,'' said Green. ``When it comes down to it, it may be only they who can protect themselves and their families.''Meanwhile, gun-friendly lawmakers are about to challenge regulations handed down by Attorney General Thomas Reilly placing strict guidelines on firearms sold in Massachusetts.Advocates say the regulations fail to define which firearms are legal, and as a result, some popular models are not sold here, including semi-automatic Glocks and Berettas carried by many local police.``The attorney general has left it up to individuals to make a decision and then worry about whether they'll be prosecuted,'' said Rep. George Peterson (R-Grafton).Among potential supporters is Kaufman, who is trying to help a constituent caught between a federal requirement to carry a Beretta - as a military medic - and the state regulations precluding the gun.``It strikes me as a fundamental conflict between a federal calling and a state regulation,'' said Kaufman.Kaufman acknowledged that a pro-gun position could be politically risky in his district, which includes Lincoln.``I've had calls from both sides of the gun issue - there are many gun owners in Lexington and Lincoln,'' said Kaufman. ``I'm not advocating access to automatic weapons and a whole host of dangerous guns. I try to exercise my best judgment.''But gun control advocates yesterday defended the state's strict regulations and licensing process, while deploring the rush to gun training and ownership in the face of terrorism.``I share with most Americans a fear of the unknown and future,'' said John Rosenthal of Stop Handgun Violence. ``But our problems and enemies are greater than anything a handgun is going to repel.''Rosenthal said GOAL is ``opportunizing on the tragedy of Sept. 11 and continuing to adapt their message of fear irresponsibly.''But after holding a .357 Magnum, Parente said she is comforted by the possibility of her neighbors - and fellow reps - owning guns.``I can't think of a time that private gun ownership has meant so much,'' said Parente. ``This is a different kind of war. Who knows where it will be fought?'' http://www.bostonherald.com/news/americas_new_war/ausguns11012001.htm
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GUN CONTROL: If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention!kimberkid@gunbroker.zzn.com
? otherwise, you'll find an excuse.