Blog For Arizona

Remember when Sen. McCain supported closing the private seller gun show loophole?

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

We can never be certain which iteration of Sen. John McCain will appear on any given day, but the sycophant McMedia's favorite "maverick" from back in 2000 supported closing the private seller gun show loophole. Maybe with some regressive memory therapy, that John McCain could reappear again. Greg Sargent writes, Flashback: John McCain’s pro-gun control past:

One of the key GOP Senators that Dems are quietly trying to win the support of on expanded background checks is John McCain.

* * *

McCain previously supported closing the private seller loophole — so much so that he actually cut ads in support of the idea, claiming: “With rights come responsibilities.”

The ad shows that this is a position that even conservative Republicans should theoretically have no ideological difficulties embracing.

In the October 2000 ad, McCain — a reliable ally of the NRA and decorated war veteran who had gained national prominence with his failed insurgent presidential candidacy that year — suggested closing the private seller loophole would significantly reduce gun violence.

U.N. Treaty to regulate the global arms trade

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

North Korea, Iran and Syria, and their ally, the National Rifle Association, tried to stop Christmas from coming, but Christmas came anyway. The Grinch merchants of death are having a sad today. U.N. adopts treaty to regulate $70 billion global arms trade:

The U.N. General Assembly voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to create the first international treaty regulating the global arms trade, a landmark decision that imposes new constraints on the sale of conventional arms to governments and armed groups that commit war crimes, genocide and other mass atrocities.

[The United Nations’ 193-member assembly voted 154 to 3 to adopt the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). There were 23 abstentions, including from major arms traders including China, India and Russia, as well as Qatar and Saudi Arabia, which are supplying weapons to opposition groups in Syria. The treaty will not go into force until 90 days after it is ratified by 50 states.]

The U.N. vote was hailed by arms-control advocates and scores of governments, including the United States, as a major step in the global effort to enforce basic controls on the $70 billion international arms trade. But it was denounced by Iran, North Korea and Syria for imposing restrictions that prevent smaller states from buying and selling weapons to ensure their self-defense.

Tucsonans Fight to Keep City Safe for Guns-- Not People (videos)

by Pamela Powers Hannley

If only Tucson City Councilman Steve Kozachik had kept his big mouth shut about this whole gun control thing...but, no, he dared to discuss gun control at a public forum, he sponsored a local gun-buyback-and-destroy program on the anniversary of the Tucson Massacre, and he pushed for (and passed) an ordinance requiring gun show background checks.

Now to combat Koz's jack-booted attempts at sensible gun control laws to take away their freedoms, Tucson gun nuts patriots Charles Heller and Sean McClusky are working hard at make Arizona a safer place for guns-- lots of guns.

Heller opposed Koz's gun buyback because innocent guns were destroyed. Instead he supported fromer State Senator Frank Antenori's parking lot gun sales which allowed private citizens to freely sell their guns to strangers, which held on the same day at basically the same location. More recently, Heller appeared on the Daily Show touting the merits of a new law in the Arizona Legislature which would bar law enforcement from destroying guns.

McClusky-- working with The Armed Citizen Project-- also wants to break down barriers to gun ownership-- by giving them to Tucsonans who live in high-crime areas-- specifically the Pueblo Gardens Neighborhood, the Midvale Park Neighborhood, and midtown Tucson neighborhoods. (What could go wrong?) Videos and details after the jump.

Uhlich, school superintendents respond to NRA report

by David Safier

In a playground at Jacobs Park, Karin Uhlich and three school superintendents said people should not to let an NRA report about school violence distract us from the urgent need for Congress to pass a comprehensive gun background check bill. Uhlich said everyone should contact Senators McCain and Flake and urge them to support the bill.

The NRA released a 225 page report about the problems of violence in the schools and ways to prevent them, including arming school personnel. Uhlich said the report was an attempt to narrow our focus onto schools and away from the upcoming vote on background checks.

Former Amphi Superintendent Vicki Balentine noted that not one of the three superintendents had a death by gun violence in any of their schools during their tenures. Former TUSD Superintendent Roger Pfeuffer added that since the Newtown shooting, many times more children have been killed by gun violence than were killed in the school that day. "The issue of school safety is dear to all our hearts," Pfeuffer said, "but I want children to be safe wherever they are."

90%+ of Americans want universal background checks; Sen. Flake: It's 'a bridge too far' for the GOP

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Every Senator who opposes expanded background checks needs to be asked whether they want the current background check law repealed. If they support the current law, then how is expanding the current law a threat to Constitutional rights? Greg Sargent writes, Don’t let Senators off the hook on guns:

Every Senator who is refusing to support expanded background checks — Republican or Democrat — needs to be asked a simple question: Do you support the current background system, or do you see it as an infringement on the rights of the law-abiding?

Every one of them will answer with a Yes, because they are taking refuge behind the idea that the current law needs to be strengthened in various ways but not expanded. Once they are on record confirming they don’t view the current system as a threat to Constitutional rights, the arguments against expanding it dissolve into incoherence.

Sen. Jeff Flake said on Sunday he could support improving the current system through better data sharing by states on the mentally ill and other such moves, while opposing expanding checks to private sales (leaving the massive gun show loophole in place).

Common Sense in Colorado

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

As featured in a segment of the Rachel Maddow Show on Friday night, the tweet from Jerry DeWitt (commonsenseinCO) on Twitter.

Meet the UNRA: United Network of Rational Americans

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Have you heard about this? There is a new organization for responsible, rational gun owners who are among the 90% of Americans who support universal background checks, limiting the size of ammunition clips, etc.

"UNRA: United Network of Rational Americans," is a response to the industry lobbyist for the merchants of death, the National Rifle Association. Poll after poll demonstrates that the NRA does not represent the positions of responsible, rational gun owners, including its own NRA members. Now there is a rational alternative to the NRA.

From the home page of UNRA's web site:

Join The UNRA today. It's free.

Announcing “The UNRA:”

“Protect Gun Rights AND Our Children,”

New Advocacy Group “The UNRA” Offers Voice

to Gun Owners Who Support

Universal Background Checks and Rational Gun Laws

Gulf Shores, AL – Launching today, a new online advocacy group, “The UNRA,” will offer gun owners who support universal background checks and other responsible gun violence prevention measures as a place to voice their opinions to Congress. “The UNRA” (United Network of Rational Americans) calls upon Congress to “protect our rights AND our children.”

In its first action, UNRA today released a solemn video in observance of the 32nd anniversary of the assassination attempt of President Ronald Reagan that reminds today’s Congressional Republicans opposed to tough, enforceable background checks for all gun sales that Reagan believed the nightmare he faced may have been avoided if background checks had been required by law in 1981. WATCH IT HERE. [Below the fold.]

Rep. Victoria Steele reflects on her mental health services bill

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Rep. Victoria Steele (D-LD 9) has a "My Turn" opinion in the Arizona Republic today reflecting on her mental health services bill recently killed in a Senate Health Committee by teabaggers opposed to "Gabby's bill." Tragedy speaks to need for more mental health first aid:

There are moments throughout the day when I am at the Arizona Capitol when my mind takes me home. I think of the people I’ve met since I began this public service. I think about our neighborhoods in Tucson. I remember how our community pulled together after a horrific tragedy that took the lives of many wonderful people and nearly took the life of our beloved congresswoman.

I had one of those moments when I learned that our efforts to help people get training so they would be better prepared to respond to those experiencing a mental crisis have failed — for now.

Tea-Publican Arizona Lege kills mental health services bill out of spite

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

While our Tea-Publican controled Arizona legislature is busy making idolatrous gun worship the official state religion of Arizona, it has refused to do anything to address mental health issues that are often at the heart of gun violence. The Tucson Weekly reported, Tucson Lawmakers' Bill to Boost Mental Health Services Dies:

A bill that aimed to give Tucson a sense of closure after the January 2011 shooting died last week . . .

HB 2570, by Rep. Ethan Orr (R-Tucson) and Rep. Victoria Steele (D-Tucson) aimed to increase community awareness of mental health issues by taking $250,000 from the general fund to expand the Arizona Department of Health Services’ Mental Health First Aid program.

The bill passed out of the House (54-4) smoothly, but it didn’t get on the agenda for the Senate Health and Human Services Committee in time because the committee's chair, Sen. Nancy Barto, R-Phoenix, didn't like the bill's cost. Orr said he met Barto, R-Phoenix, and chatted about her concerns. Orr said he was willing to amend the bill so that it was only a symbolic call to support for more mental health awareness in hopes of hammering out more funding for the program in coming budget talks.

(Update) Arizona moves one step closer to making idolatrous gun worship the official state religion

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

One would think the sheer stupidity of giving guns legal rights superior to an individual's private property rights to do with his or her own property as they deem fit would derail this crazy bill.

House Bill 2455, sponsored by teabagger Rep. Brenda Barton, R-Payson, clarifies that a state, county or local government must sell guns it receives in any manner unless they are deemed to be evidence in a crime. This includes weapons that individuals voluntarily hand over, even if their desire is for the weapon to be destroyed. The bill also eliminates the current law requirement that a court must authorize the sale and leaves the responsibility with the government agency holding the weapon.

HB 2455 has already passed the House, and was approved by the Senate Rules Committee on Monday. It only needs final approval from the Senate before being sent to the governor.

Your gun now has rights superior to your private property rights. And our "Big Brother" Arizona legislature is taking away your local government control again. Tea-Publicans don't believe what they preach.

Parents of Newtown ad: 'Don’t let the memory of Newtown fade without doing something real'

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s Mayors Against Illegal Guns organization on Thursday unveiled a new ad featuring the parents of children killed in the Newtown, Connecticut mass shooting, calling for tougher gun laws. Newtown parents press for gun control in Bloomberg group's ad:

In the ads, parents of victims slain at the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School share memories of their family members before the tragedy and learning of their deaths.

It Is Well Past The Time To Stop Taking Shaun McClusky Seriously

By Tom Prezelski, cross-posted from Rum Romanism and Rebellion.

Contrary to what the Arizona Daily Star says, Shaun McClusky is not an “ex-mayoral hopeful.” Back in 2011, the failed former Ward 5 City Council candidate made some noise about running for Mayor on the Republican ticket, but failed to get enough signatures to get on the ballot. In other words, he was never actually a candidate.

This points to the central problem with McClusky and the Tea-party vibe that he represents. Just as Sara Palin argued that a gig as a talking head on cable teevee was somehow more noble and useful than being a Governor, McClusky’s inflated reputation as a community leader has more to do with his willingness to say outrageous things rather than anything he has actually accomplished. To folks like McClusky, having strong opinions and a big mouth are considered more important than having a real constituency, so it goes to follow that grand gestures and stunts are far more important than the grunt work of governing.

The latest stunt, which has gotten some national attention, is his plan proposal ill conceived notion of handing out shotguns to folks in “high crime” neighborhoods, by which he means Midvale Park and Pueblo Gardens. Of course, he never consulted the neighborhoods in question. He knows better than they do about what they want and need. After all, they only deal with these problems every day, while McClusky has an ideology.

The one redeeming thing about the Star’s coverage of this story is that they include comments from Joseph Miller, the president of the Midvale Park Neighborhood Association. Naturally, Miller is offended by McClusky’s proposal (as is the leadership in Pueblo Gardens). I have worked with Miller in the past and know him to be a sincere and dedicated man who has devoted a lot of sweat to the improvement of his neighborhood. In other words, he is everything that a shallow blowhard like McClusky is not.

It is unfortunate that the Star chooses to be so cynical and clueless about this town that folks like Miller who do good work in this community cannot get front page ink except in the context of a meaningless stunt from a preening exhibitionist like McClusky.

Shaun McClusky, teabagger provocateur

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Teabaggers never tire of being provocateurs assholes. Especially the gun worshiper/fetishist type.

The Arizona Daily Star reported today that all around pain in the ass Shaun McClusky, a teabagger provocateur asshole, wants to arm residents of Tucson living in "crime-ridden areas" with shotguns to test the NRA theory that "an armed society is a safe society" (hint: the USA is the Most Heavily Armed Nation in the World -- with 90 guns for every 100 citizens and some 270 million of the world’s 875 million known weapons -- so how's that theory workin' out for ya?)

McCluskey's teabagger racist stereotyping is self-evident from his identification of the South-side neigborhoods of Midvale Park and Pueblo Gardens as "crime-ridden areas," along with a "midtown neighborhood" to be named later. Anyone familiar with Tucson crime statistics knows that the highest crime rate is not on Tucson's South-side. Just check out the Tucson-Area Crime Map, this version at the Arizona Daily Star (hint: it is the area West of Campbell Avenue and North of Speedway Blvd., to the Freeway on the West and River Road on the North).

National Day of Action to Demand an End to Gun Violence

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

AMERICANS TO CALL ON CONGRESS TO END GUN VIOLENCE ON NATIONAL DAY TO DEMAND ACTION - THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2013

 

Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition Announces More than 100 Events Across the Country as Part of Largest Field Campaign in U.S. History to Address Gun Violence

www.DemandAction.org/March28

  

Who: South Tucson Mayor Jennifer Eckstrom, Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild, Pam Simon, Daniel Hernandez, Jocelyn Strauss (Moms Demand Action...), and additional guests, TBA.

Where: South Tucson City Hall, 1601 S. 6thAve.

Date: Thursday, March 28, 2013

Time: 11:00 am - 11:30

Mayors Against Illegal Guns today announced that Americans will gather at more than 100 events across the country on Thursday, March 28 as part of the National Day to Demand Action to end gun violence. While members of Congress are home during the Easter/Passover recess, Mayors Against Illegal Guns, in conjunction with Organizing for Action, Americans for Responsible Solutions and other groups, will organize events and petition drives and generate an unprecedented number of calls into Senate district offices to call for their representatives to support commonsense gun laws like comprehensive and enforceable background checks.

 

The National Day to Demand Action will feature hundreds of mayors, law enforcement officials, faith leaders, gun violence survivors and family members, and other Americans who want Congress to take immediate action to strengthen our background check system and reduce gun violence. The day is expected to be the largest gun violence advocacy event in history and is part of the largest field campaign in U.S. history to address gun violence. The Coalition recently announced that it is hiring organizers and opening campaign offices in ten key states, including Arizona.

Mayors Against Illegal Guns ad supports universal background checks

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's $12 million ad buy for Mayors Against Illegal Guns has begun with two ads.

The first ad, "Responsible," shows a man holding a shotgun telling viewers, "I believe in the Second Amendment and I'll fight to protect it. But with rights come responsibilities. That's why I support comprehensive background checks so criminals and the dangerously mentally ill can't buy guns. That protects my rights and my family." (video below the fold).

VoteVets.org ad supports universal background checks

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

VoteVets.org released a new online ad today urging members of Congress to support universal background checks on firearm purchases. This one focuses on Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ). (video below the fold).

Teabaggers threaten to filibuster any and all gun-safety regulations in the Senate

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Bought and paid for by the merchants of death and their chief lobbyist, the NRA -- these teabaggers threaten to filibuster any and all gun-safety regulation in the Senate. The village idiot Aqua Buddha, Sen. Rand Paul, and allies eye filibuster of gun legislation:

The Senate’s leading conservative teabagger trio — Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) – are threatening to filibuster the Senate Democrats’ gun violence legislation slated for consideration next month[.]

The senators sent a brief letter to Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) outlining their opposition to “any legislation that would infringe on the American people’s constitutional right to bear arms,” signaling they will oppose the procedural vote to begin debate on the gun package when the Senate returns from its current two-week spring break. 

“We will oppose the motion to proceed to any legislation that will serve as a vehicle for any addition gun restrictions,” the three wrote.

The NRA undermines enforcement of gun-safety regulation

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

A new Center for American Progress report details how the NRA has quietly made enforcing existing gun laws nearly impossible by sneaking so-called “riders” into annual appropriations bills funding various government functions in order to avoid scrutiny in the regular legislative process. How The NRA Secretly Protects People Who Commit Crimes With Guns:

The CAP report outlines several key riders the NRA has used to cripple gun regulation, mainly by weakening the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives:

Banned the ATF from managing its own data. Through riders, the NRA has stripped the ATF of its independence and limited the agency’s ability to manage its own data. Since 1979, the ATF has been banned from consolidating its gun sales records into a centralized database, making it extremely difficult for the agency and law enforcement to track guns in crimes. As the CAP report notes, “ATF receives an average of 1.3 million records from out-of-business dealers each month, and it is forced to keep these records in boxes in warehouses or on microfiche.” In 2004, the ATF was further restricted from disclosing any data on guns found at crime scenes to the public. Research indicates that real ATF prosecution can deter gun dealers from selling to criminals; currently, one percent of gun dealers sell half the guns used in crimes. Obama’s gun prevention plan, smeared as “tyranny” by gun advocates, would finally appoint a director to the ATF for the first time in six years and give the agency better resources to create a gun trafficking database.

Obama: "I urge the Senate and the House to give each of them a vote."

by David Safier

Obama's weekly address is about legislation to control gun violence. His message: "We have a real chance to reduce gun violence," and "we have an obligation to try."

It's a quiet message presented gently. He simply lists the gun measures and states, "I urge the Senate and the House to give each of them a vote." I wish it were louder and stronger, but that's the tone he struck.

Here's the transcript. You can watch the video below the fold.

U.S. Senate to take up gun-violence bill after Easter recess

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said on Thursday that after the congressional recess, he will bring to the Senate floor a gun-violence bill that will include measures to expand background checks for gun purchases, strengthen gun trafficking laws and improve school safety. Reid unveils outline of gun bill:

Reid acknowledged that the background-check language he is including in the bill could change in the final product.

The current background-check language, authored by Sen. Charles Schumer, is serving as a place holder while the New York Democrat – along with Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Mark Kirk, R-Ill. – continue to negotiate a compromise with Republicans.

Republican Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma had initially been part of the negotiations, but he dropped out after the group could not come to an agreement over a requirement for private gun sellers to keep a record of their sales – a provision opposed by the National Rifle Association.

Reid said in a statement he is "hopeful" that negotiations will be successful over the two-week break.

Kozachik Kickoff Party: Pima Dems Love Fest (video)

by Pamela Powers Hannley

Yesterday's re-election campaign kickoff for Tucson City Councilman Steve Kozachik was a Democratic Party love fest for the feisty Republican turned Democrat. 

There were nearly as many Pima County Democratic Party faithful in attendance at Borderlands Brewery as there were at the traditional St. Patrick's Day fundraiser a few days earlier. 

Kozachik told the crowd of Dems, Greens, Occupiers, Progressives, and, I believe, a few closet Republicans that his campaign has hit the ground running with 800 signatures in just a few weeks. The Pima County Republican Party has not announced a challenger to the iconoclastic Kozachik, who proved to be too independent minded for them, after he bucked a loyality pledge to Governor Jan Brewer, spoke out against the Arizona Legislature's multiple attempts to hurt Tucson and Pima County, endorsed Democrats Richard Carmona for US Senate and Ron Barber for Congress, partied with Pima Dems on Election Night 2012, and-- the last straw-- spearheaded a campaign for universal background checks at gun shows.

More photos and video after the jump.

"Fast and Furious" in perspective

by David Safier

Here's a figure in today's Star that puts the botched federal Fast and Furious gun operation into perspective: 253,000 guns a year going from the U.S. to Mexico.

An average of 253,000 weapons purchased in the United States head south of the border each year, according to the study by four scholars at the University of San Diego's Trans-Border Institute and the Igarape Institute, a research center in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The scholars actually think their figures are on the low side.

Compare 253,000 guns a year to the 2,000 guns that walked because of the Fast and Furious sting. The botched sting operation contributed less than one percent to the estimated yearly total.

For the pro-gun lobby, Fast and Furious was a twofer. It allowed them to go after Obama and his Attorney General Eric Holder at the same time they could blame gun trafficking and gun violence on the Feds rather than on the illegal operations aided and abetted by our lax gun regulations and willing gun sellers. But the fact is, the reason the Obama administration and the Bush administration mounted their ineffective gun operations was to try and slow the gun flow into Mexico which, according to the scholars, amounts to a quarter of a million guns a year. With stricter gun laws, the sting operations wouldn't have been necessary.

The study has some interesting stats. It says 6,700 of the country's 51,300 retail gun shops are in our four border states. On the border, there are an average of 3 gun shops per mile. The idea that U.S. citizens in these low populated areas have such an out-of-proportion hunger for guns defies logic.

 

Ted 'Calgary' Cruz demonstrates he is a prick, and wrong on the law

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The Senate Judiciary Committee today completed passage of a package of four bills for gun safety, including the assault weapons ban renewal by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). The ghost of Joe McCarthy, Senator Ted "Calgary" Cruz, decided to demonstrate once again that he is an obnoxious prick who thinks too highly of his own intellectual prowess. He decided to query Senator Feinstein, in that smug prickish way of his, as follows:

The question that I would pose to the senior senator from California, would she deem it consistent with the Bill of Rights for Congress to engage in the same endeavor that we are contemplating doing with the Second Amendment in the context of the First and Fourth Amendments. Namely, would she consider it constitutional for Congress to specify that the First Amendment shall apply only to the following books, and shall not apply to the books that Congress has deemed outside the protection of the Bill of Rights? Likewise, would she think that the Fourth Amendment protections against searches and seizures could properly apply only to to the following specifified individuals, and not to individuals that Congress has deemed outside of the protection of the Bill of Rights?

The conservative media entertainment complex is all atwitter today with excitement over the piqued response this baiting by Sen. McCarthy Cruz elicited from Sen. Feinstein (in the video below the fold). The wingnuts think that "Calgary" carried the day with his absolutist position on the Second Amendment.

(Update) Arizona moves one step closer to making idolatrous gun worship the official state religion

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

One would think the sheer stupidity of giving guns legal rights superior to an individual's private property rights to do with his or her own property as they deem fit would derail this crazy bill. I posted about this previously, Arizona moves one step closer to making idolatrous gun worship the official state religion:

I can't believe that this bill ever got assigned for a hearing, let alone wasting time debating it and voting on it.

Arizona moved one step closer yesterday to making idolatrous gun worship the official state religion. Guns will now be sacred objects and holy relics that are protected from destruction, even by their owners who want to dispose of them.

Your gun now has rights superior to your private property rights. And "Big Brother" in Phoenix is taking away your local government control again. Tea-Publicans don't believe what they preach. Arizona House committee supports law to prevent gun destruction:

House Bill 2455 clarifies that the state has decision-making authority over gun regulation. It also clarifies that a state, county or local government must sell guns it receives in any manner unless they are deemed to be evidence in a crime. This includes weapons that individuals voluntarily hand over, even if their desire is for the weapon to be destroyed. The bill also eliminates the current law requirement that a court must authorize the sale and leaves the responsibility with the government agency holding the weapon.

So this Flake has no problem with straw purchase gun trafficking?

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

On Thursday, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill that would make it a federal crime to purchase firearms for someone else ("straw purchase"). The anti-gun-trafficking bill is one of the first pieces of legislation formally introduced in Congress to limit gun violence in the wake of the mass shooting in Newtown, Conn., last year. Senate panel approves gun-trafficking bill:

The panel’s 10 Democrats were joined by one Republican in approving the measure [Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) the the committee's ranking Republican], and Republicans who don’t serve on the committee are co-sponsoring the bill, suggesting that it could earn wide bipartisan support in the full Senate.

* * *

A bipartisan group of senators introduced the bill Monday after merging competing proposals and earning more GOP support.

Do you know who else is on the Senate Judiciary Committee? Arizona's freshman senator Jeff Flake, who has an "A" rating from the NRA. Yeah, this Flake voted against an anti-gun trafficking bill that has bipartisan support.

Mayors Against Illegal Guns Congressional District Polls

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Mayors Against Illegal Guns has been doing a lot of polling - 21 statewide polls, 41 congressional districts - to gauge public opinion about gun issues like universal background checks. Then they did a comparison to the NRA ratings of senators and representatives in the congressional districts they polled. "New Polls in More Than 40 Districts and 20 States Show Voters Overwhelmingly Support Background Checks for All Gun Sales" March 7, 2013.

The Rachel Maddow Show aired a segment about the new polling on Wednesday. Who is your legislator listening to on gun policy?

The poll results show overwhelming support for background checks for gun purchases, but the NRA opposes background checks. So the idea is that if a member of Congress has a good NRA grade, their stance is more aligned with the NRA than their own constituents.

The full set of results is available as a pdf and was meant for use as a full-page newspaper ad. If you were hoping for a more shareable image file, they have this tiny-but-still-readable jpg version. They've also got all of the results broken down by the states and districts they polled.

Arizona was a state poll. Even in a state where gun worshipers and fetishists dominate our state legislature, 90% of Arizonans support universal background checks for all gun sales.

Join the NRA, Get a prize!

by David Safier

ThinkProgress lists 34 corporations that give perks to NRA members. Along with autormatic Gun Insurance ($5,000 for covered fatal accidents, $2,500 for gun theft, loss or damage) and a shooter's cap, members get discounts from companies like Hertz, National/Alamo/Enterprise, Avis, Wyndham Hotels (Days Inn, Howard Johnson, Ramada, Super 8 and more), FedEx, First National Bank of Omaha and many more.

Companies give discounts to lots of organization members, but it's time they take another look at the NRA which is blocking steps to lessen gun violence supported by large majorities of Americans. One company, Palo Alto Software, has withdrawn its partnership. Some people are trying to pressure Best Western and Wyndham “to get out of bed with the extremist NRA.”

Senate negotiations for universal background checks falls apart

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Only in America can something that has near universal support among the American people get bogged down in Congress by politicians bought and paid for by lobbyists.

POLITICO Tiger Beat on the Potomac reports Senate talks on universal background checks fall apart:

Sen. Chuck Schumer is ending the bipartisan gun control talks with Sen. Tom Coburn without a deal, a major setback to President Barack Obama’s effort to pass universal background checks.

Schumer (D-N.Y.) will instead file a placeholder background checks bill he proposed before the Coburn talks began that does not incorporate any of the input from Coburn (R-Okla.), Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.). There will be no co-sponsors when the legislation is introduced for Thursday’s Senate Judiciary Committee markup.

Gabrielle Giffords urges support for universal background checks

 

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Several public opinion polls that have polled on the question of universal background checks for gun purchases have demonstrated near "universal" support for such background checks. A Quinipiac University Poll (January 30-February 4): By a margin of 92 percent to 7 percent, voters supported background checks; In households with a gun, 91 percent were in favor, while 8 percent were opposed.

Similarly, a CBS News/New York Times poll (January 11-15): By a margin of 92 percent to 7 percent, voters supported background checks; 89 percent of Republicans and 93 percent of Democrats and independents were in favor, as well as 93 percent of gun households and 85 percent of those living in a household with a member of the National Rifle Association.

A CNN poll (January 14-16): By a margin of 94 percent to 6 percent, voters supported background checks.

This common sense solution should be a "no brainer" for Congress.

Montana beats out Arizona's Neo-Confederate dead-enders

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Arizona's Tea-Publican Neo-Confederate dead-enders are a bunch of slackers! Montana's Tea-Publican Neo-Confederate dead-enders are putting you to shame.

Just this past week, Montana Bill Defies Supremacy Of All Federal Laws:

Among a slate of far-reaching gun bills that cleared the Montana House Judiciary Committee this week was one that takes defiance of federal authority far beyond the Second Amendment context. The “Sheriffs First” bill would require federal agents to seek county sheriffs’ permission before enforcing any federal law, and empowers those sheriffs to arrest federal agents who don’t comply for kidnapping. The bill also mandates county attorneys to prosecute any claim by a sheriff against a federal official.

(Update) States consider liability insurance for guns

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

In this continuing series, the New York Times reports Buying a Gun? States Consider Insurance Rule:

Both sides in a nation sharply divided over guns seem to agree on at least one thing: a bigger role for the insurance industry in a heavily armed society. But just what that role should be, and whether insurers will choose to accept it, are much in dispute.

Lawmakers in at least half a dozen states, including California, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania, have proposed legislation this year that would require gun owners to buy liability insurance — much as car owners are required to buy auto insurance. Doing so would give a financial incentive for safe behavior, they hope, as people with less dangerous weapons or safety locks could qualify for lower rates.

“I believe that if we get the private sector and insurance companies involved in gun safety, we can help prevent a number of gun tragedies every year,” said David P. Linsky, a Democratic state representative in Massachusetts who wants to require gun owners to buy insurance. He believes it will encourage more responsible behavior and therefore reduce accidental shootings. “Insurance companies are very good at evaluating risk factors and setting their premiums appropriately,” he added.

Gun violence discussed at Foothills Democratic Forum

by David Safier

Thursday evening, the Foothills Democratic Forum held its second session discussing gun violence. The speakers were Pam Simon, former Community Outreach Coordinator for Gabby Giffords who was injured in the January 8 shooting, City Council member Steve Kozachik and State Representative Victoria Steele.

Since Simon was shot, she has retired and is now working full time as an advocate for sensible gun legislation. She spoke briefly about the shooting but mostly talked about her experiences meeting with elected officials from the White House to the local level as well as other people who were shooting victims or family members of people who were shot. She spoke about the committed network of people and organizations pushing for education and legislation to curb gun violence. Her passionate activism has a kind, caring tone to it, echoing her years as a teacher.

Steve Kozachik brought a harder edge to his talk than Simon, as we have come to expect from Steve, but his genuine passion for the issue was clear. He began by holding up one of the gun locks his office is giving out free of charge. Here in Tucson, we usually think of the modest gun buyback event he created as a local issue, but Kozachik said it's gotten national and international coverage, including a Japanese news team that followed him around to get a story. Google "Tucson + gun + buyback," and you get 153,000 results. Tucson as a progressive city in right wing Arizona and the site of one of the prominent recent shootings has a more important place in the gun violence controversy than we locals sometimes realize.

Victoria Steele, a first-time state rep, spoke of her attempts to get a hearing for her bills relating to gun violence. Her attempt to create a Home Rule bill that would allow cities and counties to pass their own gun laws went nowhere, of course. But another bill, HB2570, is still alive, though just barely. It would allocate more funding for Mental Health First Aid training. This is a non-controversial proposal to hold trainings for people across the state that would help them recognize mental health problems and educate them about ways they, as non-professionals, can offer help. The bill is short enough, I can quote it in full:

 

Gun worshipers annd fetishists are back with their guns in public buidlings bill, again

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Remember way back to the start of the legislative session when Arizona's media villagers prognosticated that there would not be any bills for guns in schools or guns in public buildings this year in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in December, and especially now that "Second Amendment remedies" wingnut Sen. Ron Gould (R-Crazyland) was no longer in the legislature? Boy, were they wrong.

Ron Gould was among the usual suspects who sponsored SB 1201 in 2011, which would have required that guns be allowed into public buildings and events unless they have metal detectors, armed security guards, gun lockers and signs.

The bill was drafted by the Citizens Defense League (not to be confused with the Justice League, even though these gun-totin' vigilantes with a Superman complex believe they are). Our Tea-Publican legislature passed this bill, only to be vetoed by Governor Jan Brewer.

And who could ever forget SB 1448 in 2012, the "guns at municipal swimming pools" bill, sponsored by then Sen. Steve Smith (R-Maricopa), which would have modified the definition of public buildings and public events to only apply to those with armed security. Under the bill, it would only be a crime to knowingly enter a public building or event with a gun if the entrances were secured by an armed guard. If there's no guard, there's no crime. This bill was held in the House after passing the Senate, and died sine die.

Lobbyist Charles Heller of the Citizens Defense League is back again with an only slightly modified bill to try again, with Rep. John Kavanagh (R-Fountain Hills) as his water boy this year. HB 2554 would force local governments in Arizona to allow people to carry guns into public buildings unless secured in gun lockers.

A "Shameless self promotion" twofer

by David Safier

I have two columns appearing in two different papers this week. The Weekly asked me to write a Guest Commentary to discuss Al Melvin's SB1239 -- his $30 million special interest giveaway to Imagine Learning. And my monthly column in the Explorer came out as well -- a takedown of the Republican attitude that some problems simply can't be addressed because they call for "Big Government," and we can't have that.

People who have read my series of posts about Melvin's SB1239 (You can start here and link back to the three earlier posts if you're interested) are familiar with the territory I cover in the Weekly column. Here's an analysis of why it's wrong for Melvin to tell schools what reading approach to use, even if Imagine Learning puts out a good product.

[I]t's absurd for Al Melvin, sitting in his lofty legislative perch, to dictate how schools teach reading to struggling students. There are no one-size-fits-all solutions in education, and certainly none that will fit the needs of every child who has difficulty reading. Some struggling readers are ELL students who don't know enough English to speak the language fluently, let alone read it well. Others are English speakers who didn't go to preschool. Others are children with brain-related learning disabilities. Will the Imagine Learning program be right for all of them? I doubt it. Rather than putting $30 million behind one reading program, it makes far more sense to allow each school to look at its student population and decide what approach or variety of approaches, to spend the money on.

NRA gun bill advanced by 'Tommy Boy' Horne in the Lege

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Back in late December, Arizona's Attorney General who still believes he is the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tom "banned for life by the SEC" Horne, came up with the "genius" (sic) idea of training and arming volunteer principals or other top administrators at every public school because, by God, we just can't afford to pay trained police officers. Horne calls for armed principals. You will recall that this was the policy proposal of the NRA in the immediate aftermath of the massacre of first graders and their teachers at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Newtown, Connecticut.

"Tommy Boy" got wingnut Rep. David Stevens (R-Sierra Vista) to sponsor this NRA bill. Arizona bill would allow principals, teachers and janitors to have guns on campus:

Attorney General Tom Horne and Rep. David Stevens, R-Sierra Vista, are pushing a plan to let principals, teachers and janitors at public schools carry guns.

* * *

Stevens stressed nothing in HB 2656 requires any school district to go along. He said it simply provides an option, with locally elected boards having the final decision.

Wayne LaPierre's paranoid delusions of a coming zombie apocalypse

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

When one of your main talking points is that we should do a better job of keeping mentally ill people from gaining access to weapons (the false implication being that the mentally ill are dangerous and responsible for crime; the mentally ill are far more frequently the victim of crimes), then the NRA probably should not have a spokesman who exhibits all the signs of paranoid delusions (a psychological disorder) ranting about his irrational fears of a coming "zombie apocalypse."

Wayne LaPierre is the poster boy for exactly who should not be allowed to own a weapon under the NRA's own standard of prohibiting the mentally ill from owning a weapon.

NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre, the chief lobbyist for the merchants of death on Capitol Hill, penned an apocalyptic jeremiad for Tucker Carlson's far-right web site The Daily Caller entitled “Stand and Fight.”

Arizona moves one step closer to making idolatrous gun worship the official state religion

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

I can't believe that this bill ever got assigned for a hearing, let alone wasting time debating it and voting on it.

Arizona moved one step closer yesterday to making idolatrous gun worship the official state religion. Guns will now be sacred objects and holy relics that are protected from destruction, even by their owners who want to dispose of them.

Your gun now has rights superior to your private property rights. And "Big Brother" in Phoenix is taking away your local government control again. Tea-Publicans don't believe what they preach. Arizona House committee supports law to prevent gun destruction:

A House committee on Wednesday supported legislation reinforcing Arizona lawmakers’ decision not to allow cities or counties to destroy guns their police forces seize or buy back from the public.

Obama: "They deserve a vote."

by David Safier

Absolutely right.

“It has been two months since Newtown. I know this is not the first time this country has debated how to reduce gun violence. But this time is different. . . . Each of these proposals deserves a vote in Congress. If you want to vote no, that’s your choice. But these proposals deserve a vote. Because in the two months since Newtown, more than a thousand birthdays, graduations, and anniversaries have been stolen from our lives by a bullet from a gun. . . . Gabby Giffords deserves a vote. The families of Newtown deserve a vote. The families of Aurora deserve a vote. The families of Oak Creek, and Tucson, and Blacksburg, and the countless other communities ripped open by gun violence — they deserve a simple vote.”

A simple vote. Let each member of Congress be counted.

Should Ted Nugent be allowed anywhere near the President?

by David Safier

Yeah, I know the rule, don't give guys like Ted Nugent publicity, because that's exactly what they want. But for those who only know Nugent as a washed-up rocker and a gun-crazed blowhard, it's important to know more, especially since he's the invited guest of Texas Rep. Steve Stockman to attend the State of the Union address. My question is, just as a matter of security, should anyone who has made public statements like his be allowed to be anywhere near the President?

Media Matters has put together a post, 20 Inflammatory Comments From State Of The Union Invitee Ted Nugent. I'm going to quote one which, when I read it, I couldn't believe was real until I saw the video. This is from August, 2007.

I was in Chicago last week. I was in Chicago and said, "Hey, Obama you might want to suck on one of these you punk." Obama, he's a piece of shit, and I told him to suck on my machine gun. Let's hear it for him. And then I was in New York. I said, "Hey, Hillary, you might want to ride one of these into the sunset, you worthless bitch. Since I'm in California, how about [Senator] Barbara Boxer [D-CA], she might want to suck on my machine gun. And [Senator] Dianne Feinstein [D-CA], ride one of these you worthless whore. Any questions?

When he finished, he put both hands in the air and screamed, "F-r-e-e-e-e-e-e-d-o-m!"

Should a man who's as angry and unbalanced at this, who makes public statements that threaten violence to the president, be allowed to sit in the halls of Congress while the President is in the room? This isn't a Freedom of Speech issue. This goes to the safety of the President and the others assembled in the room.

Americans for Responsible Solutions ad: 'Let's Get This Done'

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The first ad from former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' new Americans for Responsible Solutions PAC will air during coverage of the State of The Union Address tonight, which Gabrielle Giffords and her husband Capt. Mark Kelly will attend, I assume as honored guests of the President and First Lady.

Press release from Americans for Responsible Solutions:

Americans For Responsible Solutions, the new national organization founded by Gabby Giffords and Mark Kelly, will today release a new ad, titled “Let’s Get This Done”, which will air this week on television and online in a significant, six-figure buy in multiple markets throughout the country, including adjacent to the President’s much-anticipated State of the Union Address.

In the ad, Giffords, with Kelly, speaks directly to camera, interspersed with images of places like Aurora, CO, Newtown, CT, Tucson, AZ, and Oak Creek, WI in the wake of mass shootings. Giffords says:

“We have a problem. Where we shop; where we pray; where our children go to school. But there are solutions we can agree on, even gun owners like us. Take it from me: Congress must act. Let’s get this done. “ Watch the ad here: http://bit.ly/12kU2rJ (video below the fold).

Tucsonans Voice Opinions on Background Checks at Gun Shows (video)

by Pamela Powers Hannley

Last week, in an historic move, the Tucson City Council advanced a resolution to require universal background checks on all sales at gun shows on city owned or city managed property. 

This action was taken during the afternoon study session. Council chambers were filled to capacity later that day for the regular meeting. By far, proponents of gun control outnumbered the people against it. This was obvious because they were wearing "Common Sense Gun Laws" buttons. During the call to the audience, 20 people volunteered to speak in favor of the gun show resolution; three volunteered to speak against it-- two Tea Party representatives and one gun show promoter, whose family has profited from shows at the Tucson Convention Center for 20 years. After the jump, watch the video from the call to the audience.

Want to get some press? Bring guns to the state Capitol

by David Safier

How much press does a group of "more than 50 activists" at the state Capitol usually get? Not much, right? "More than 50"? That's not even the lunch crowd on a slow day at an off-the-beaten-track McDonalds.

But if it's "More than 50 gun rights activists" rallying at the state Capitol, apparently it's worthy of a significant story in the Capitol Times. Especially if they're "sporting high-powered firearms." [Dr. Word asks, "Sporting"? Really? Should someone with "his AR-15 rifle across his chest and his 9mm pistol on his hip" be described as "sporting" his weapons, like he's an English gentleman in sporting attire out on a fox hunt?]

Second Amendment aficionados like Keith Dale – who showed up with his AR-15 with three 30-round clips in his pocket plus an empty one in the gun, and his 9mm handgun in his side clip – said that while he perceives a threat that the federal government may start impounding high powered guns, he expects state lawmakers to push back against any type of gun grab and defend his rights.

Hauling all this fire power onto the streets as a "show of strength" is an example of why so many insecure men who are at the bottom of the social and economic food chain turn to gun worship. They hope dangling these phallic symbols from their waists will add inches to their . . . coverage in the media.

NOTE: My disparaging comments are aimed at gun fetishists, not hunters or sport shooters or collectors who have a reasonable relationship with and affection for their weapons of choice.

Crazy Uncle Joe Arpaio's questionable posse to do a school-shooting simulation this weekend - supervised by actor Steven Seagal

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

What could possibly go wrong? As reported earlier this year, Crazy Uncle Joe Arpaio endangers your children:

Phoenix CBS affiliate KPHO (CBS 5) decided to investigate who these volunteer posse members are. After a six month investigation it discovered that some of Arpaio's posse members have criminal records. Criminal pasts don't disqualify members of Arpaio posse.

Now comes this, Joe Arpaio's Posse Doing a School-Shooting Simulation, and Steven Seagal's Supervising. No, seriously:

Folks, Sheriff Joe Arpaio's school-patrol posse is so serious about school safety that posse members will be setting up a school-shooting simulation this weekend as a test.

Have we mentioned yet that actor Steven Seagal will be supervising the festivities?

"On Saturday, February 9, 2013, qualified armed volunteers from Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's posse will undergo their first ever training event which simulates an actual school shooting," an Arpaio press release says. "Sheriff Arpaio, who ordered the training, says six instructors will lead 40 armed posse volunteers through four different scenarios where a shooter or shooters come onto a school campus with the intent to kill."

How many gun shows is too many?

 

by Pamela Powers Hannley

Gun Show Trader boasts the "largest gun show list" in the US. According to this website, there are 1137 gun shows currently scheduled. 

Given the recent Tucson City Council decision to require background checks of any gun show conducted on city property, I looked up the number of gun shows coming up in Arizona. As of today, February 6, 2013, Gun Show Trader shows 30 gun shows scheduled for Arizona in 2013 and 2 so far for 2014.

For 2013, there are 7 gun shows scheduled for Tucson, 6 for Mesa, 5 for Phoenix, 3 for Glendale, and the other 9 are everywhere else in Arizona. To put this into perspective, one must compare the number of gun shows scheduled for Arizona with other states. Which state has the most upcoming gun shows? Texas, of course, with 103. (That was too easy.) The spread of scheduled gun shows nationwide is 0 to 103. Check out the data by state after the jump.

Tucson City Council advances gun background check resolution: Voice your opinion at Feb 5 meeting (video)

by Pamela Powers Hannley

During today's study session, Tucson's City Council voted unanimously to advance a resolution which would require background checks on every gun purchase that occurs on city-owned or city-managed property. The resolution further states that there will be "no permits for gun shows on City owned or managed property until the provisions of the above are enacted." 

City attornies said that since this is a resolution and not an ordinance it does not conflict with state law.

Today's vote paves the way for a council vote on the resolution on February 20, but citizens can use the February 5 (tonight) City Council meeting call to the audience to voice their opinions on this matter. Here is the link to the proposal brought forward by Council members Steve Kozachik and Karin Uhlich. More background and a video of local leaders talking about gun control after the jump.

Buying guns on ArmsList.com

by David Safier

Buying guns on the internet is apparently easy and background-check free when you're dealing with private gun sales. A ThinkProgress article has the email conversations between the buyer and ArmsList.com, "a Craigslist-style site that deals solely in firearms."

We searched “Smith & Wesson M&P15″ in the Colorado listings and instantly found dozens of sellers. A few emails later, we had four people willing to sell us the gun that same day, no questions asked. When we inquired whether we’d need to do a background check or any paperwork to obtain the assault rifle, we met the same response every time: no.

Here are the emails during one potential sale.

If When we get a law requiring universal background checks, it had better go beyond gun shows to all those "private gun sales," whether they happen online, person to person, or in a parking lot where Frank Antenori has temporarily set up shop.

What they really mean

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Let's be clear about one thing: when Doomsday Preppers, Survivalists, and so-called Patriot Militias talk about their need to stockpile an arsenal of weapons and ammunition to fight a war against what they deem to be a "tyrannical" government, they are talking about preparing to kill American law enforcement officers -- police, FBI, ATF, etc. -- and military personnel of the U.S. Armed Forces, the very people who have sworn an oath to defend and to protect us.

They are not talking about a "Red Dawn" fantasy of fighting an invading "Soviet" military, although some of them do have delusional fantasies about a "zombie apocalypse."

They are talking about killing American law enforcement officers and military personnel.

If you do not find this shocking and utterly offensive in a civilized society, you are beyond redemption.

The most straightforward ad you'll see during the Super Bowl

by David Safier

Mayors Against Illegal Guns is running a 30 second Super Bowl ad. Featured speaker: Wayne LaPierre in 1999 saying he's for "mandatory instant background checks for every sale at every gun show: no loopholes anywhere of anyone."

Words to live by.

 

No, guns do not make women 'safer' - just the opposite is true

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

I watched the replay of the congressional hearing this past week on "what should we do about gun violence," and I was dumbfounded by the utterly bizarre testimony from a Gayle Trotter, who represents an organization called Independent Women’s Forum. Where do I know her name from? Oh, that's right. She is a wingnut blogger over at Tucker Carlson's The Daily Caller. (Yes, that nasty little troll Tucker is still being propped up by his wealthy friends).

But I had forgotten the background of this Independent Women’s Forum. Amanda Marcotte at Slate has the background of this far-right astroturf organization. Gayle Trotter's Ideas Will Not Keep Women Safe:

The Independent Women's Forum was founded in 1992 out of a coalition of conservative women organized to support Clarence Thomas in the face of allegations that he sexually harassed Anita Hill. True to those roots, one of their primary functions since then has been to undermine efforts to end sexual abuse and violence against women. Their long-standing opposition to the Violence Against Women Act no doubt contributed to the GOP finding excuses to avoid reauthorizing it. They've organized protests of campus fundraising for anti-violence organizations. So who else would you turn to if you're the gun industry and wanting someone to testify in favor of guns, with an eye towards trying to get women to buy more of your product?

* * *

IWF's Gayle Trotter testified at today's Senate hearing on gun safety, and unsurprisingly claimed that guns make women safer. She apparently seems to believe most violence against women resembles Buffy the Vampire Slayer facing down a gang of vampires: 

“Guns make women safer,” Trotter argued, because they eliminate the advantage violent criminals might have in size and strength. “Using a firearm with a magazine holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition, a woman would have a fighting chance even against multiple attackers.”

Is Arizona about to make idolatrous gun worship the state religion?

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

We have been over this before:

Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven images. . . Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God. . .

Those who have made religious idols of guns and treat them as if they are holy relics ought to reread the first two Commandments. And then there are those who have a psycho-sexual fetish for guns. That is disturbing on many levels.

Arizona Daily Star editor Sarah Garrecht Gassen responded to the gun idolatry and fetish crowd who insist that no gun may ever be destroyed in an op-ed, Gun owners have the right to destroy weapon if they choose.

Now the "happiness is a warm gun" worshipers/fetishists are at the state capitol seeking to prevent the right of individuals to destroy their own firearms if they choose. They seek to make the secular sacred by force of state law. In doing so they seek to use the power of "Big Brother" government to trample the rights of individuals to do with their private property as they see fit, which these groups comically pretend to defend. And they violate the establishment clause of the First Amendment by making the foundation of their idolatrous religion a sacred religious icon or holy relic that cannot be destroyed, by force of state law. Their idolatrous gun worship is elevated to a state religion.