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[conuly]

Lori Klein, Arizona State Senator, Pointed Loaded Gun At Reporter Richard Ruelas's Chest

There's a lot to be shocked and appalled at in that story - like, say, the fact that this woman sees nothing wrong with casually pointing loaded guns at people - but I think what gets me the most is this quote:

In Arizona, Klein's handgun has become a symbol of the gun control debate, and while she supports those who want the right to carry guns, she says it's a personal choice that she isn't forcing on anyone.

"I don't like chocolate ice cream," she told the Arizona Republic. "Am I going to force you not to have any?"

You know, I'm more on the "gun control" side of the spectrum than the "gun activists!" side of the spectrum (and it's worth noting that the gun activist quoted in the article thinks this woman needs to NOT HAVE GUNS until she learns not to point them at people!), but I can see how reasonable, thinking people can look at the evidence and look at the second amendment and come out with two different opinions on the subject. Or three, or four, or five different opinions!

I don't see how comparing guns to chocolate ice cream counts as reasonable. I'm upset on the behalf of gun activists that she just made them all look stupid by association, and I'm furious on behalf of women and, y'know, people. Seriously. CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM? I'm not going to bother prying it out of your cold dead hands, because... well, I can't bring this analogy any further.

An Austrian driver has won the right to wear a pasta strainer in his driver's license photo. It's religious headgear. Apparently.

Owner of Killer Bear Chokes to Death on Sex Toy

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Comments

[mc776]

I'm trying to think of how you can handle chocolate ice cream so grossly negligently as to create an imminent threat of violent death to a random stranger.

That senator should be in jail, and I say that as someone who believes normal citizens should have the right and power to carry guns without requiring further occupational justification.

[leora.livejournal.com]

Basic rule of gun safety: You never aim a gun at someone you do not intend to shoot.

Someone who can't manage that rule should not be handling guns. This would have been true even if the gun had been unloaded and had a safety. The fact that she did this with vastly few safety precautions is just amazingly awful.

My opinions on gun control waiver, but certainly people who can't handle that should not have guns.

As for chocolate ice cream:

[marveen.livejournal.com]

I can, actually, see the metaphor there. Chocolate ice cream makes some people uncomfortable when they eat it (lactose-intolerant) and can be life-threatening for others (severe allergies involving anaphylactic shock). Other people can't imagine life WITHOUT chocolate ice cream.

Voila, the complete range of reactions to the Gun Issue, from horrified revulsion and physical withdrawal to strong attraction and interest. (Personally, I fall somewhere in the middle: chocolate isn't my favorite flavor, but neither will I turn it down, since some ice cream is always better than no ice cream. ;)