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Title: Only Police Should Have...Body Armor? (Why not ban strong locks on doors, while we're at it?)
Source:
Reason
URL Source: http://reason.com/blog/2015/01/22/only-police-should-havebody-armor
Published: Jan 22, 2015
Author: J.D. Tuccille
Post Date: 2015-01-22 20:04:14 by Deckard
Keywords: None
Views: 21760
Comments: 72
Venturing down a line of legislative reasoning that apparently sees threats to the republic in convenience store clerks, security guards, globe-trotting journalists, and shopkeepers nervy enough to do business in troubled neighborhoods, Rep. Mike Honda (D-YouGottaBeKiddingMe) offers up HR 378, The Responsible Body Armor Possession Act. Yes, it is in fact a bill intended to limit people's ability to own gear that reduces injuries and death caused by bullets. While the text of the bill isn't yet available, it looks like a rehash of legislation introduced last year that would ban "body armor, including a helmet or shield, the ballistic resistance of which meets or exceeds the ballistic performance of Type III armor, determined using National Institute of Justice Standard-0101.06." In his press release, Rep. Honda insists: This bill allows law enforcement to respond to active shooting situations more effectively. The bill prohibits the purchase, sale, or possession of military-grade body armor by anyone except certain authorized users, such as first-responders and law enforcement. Uh huh. Police could also more effectively respond to all sorts of situations if they didn't have to fiddle with pesky locks or barred windows. And don't even get started on reinforced door frames and masonry walls. Do you really need a brick house? Isn't it easier for law enforcement to blow a barrier down if honest people use straw? Now, Type III armor isn't standard stuff, nor is it cheap. Designed to stop rifle rounds, it carries a pretty price tag and is cumbersome as hell. But police locks, alarm systems, and related security equipment are pricey and cumbersome, too. When I lived in New York City's East Village in the '90s, I could pretty much smoke a cigarette in the hall while waiting for some of my friends to unlock their apartment doors. But if you perceive some danger in your environment, you just might want some protection. Even if that protection incidentally makes it more difficult for police officers to kill you if they feel the need. And whatever the motivation of the user, this stuff is defensive. The only way to hurt another person with body armor is to take it off and beat them with it. Of course, Rep. Honda isn't satisfied with restricting body armor; he also want to ban gun components kits and require guns made on 3D printers, CNC machines and the like to have serial numbers. You didn't think he liked armed civilians better than he liked them armored did you? The serial number bill has the singular characteristic of being completely unenforceable, targeting, as it does, DIY efforts increasingly intended to be beyond government's grasp. None of these bills are likely to fare well in the new Republican-controlled House. Rep. Honda is posturing by introducing legislation intended to thrill his base by showing that he's "Continuing his promotion of the modern progressive agenda" (in his own words). But what does it say about him and his perception of his supporters that he sees advantage in banning stuff meant to protect people from harm? Just wait until he gets around to smoke alarms.
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Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 12.
#3. To: Deckard (#0)
"The bill is a rehash of a similar one Honda introduced last session that died in committee."
Look at you, thinking that the gun grabbers are going to just roll over. What a silly man (?) you are.
"The bill is a rehash of a similar one Honda introduced last session that died in committee. Similarly, a California state senate measure endorsed by Honda, famously dubbed the Ghost Gun bill, became one of the few gun control items ever to see Gov. Jerry Brown’s veto pen."
Look at you, thinking that the gun grabbers are going to just roll over. Silly boy.
You're too hysterical to even try to address the facts. Typical for you.
In the deepest fears of every conspiracy theorist freak is the sinister fearful thought of government confiscating firearms.
Yeah, what the hell - you're right. The gun grabbers are giving up after this defeat. There will be no attempts to legislate more gun control by any level of government. Maybe you two clown trust the government - but I and millions of others do not. UN Accelerates Plan For Global Gun Confiscation After Collapse The United Nations is gearing up for gun confiscation in the event of a societal collapse in numerous countries by hiring “disarmament, demobilization and reintegration” officers who will be trained to seize guns “from the civilian population.” A posting on the United Nations Career Opportunities page announces a vacancy for the position of “Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Officer” under the UN’s Department of Peacekeeping Operations based out of New York. The UN’s page on DDR operations explains what role the DDR officer will be expected to undertake; Disarmament is the collection, documentation, control and disposal of small arms, ammunition, explosives and light and heavy weapons from combatants and often from the civilian population. Demobilization is the formal and controlled discharge of active combatants from armed forces and groups, including a phase of “reinsertion” which provides short-term assistance to ex-combatants. Reintegration is the process by which ex-combatants acquire civilian status and gain sustainable employment and income. It is a political, social and economic process with an open time-frame, primarily taking place in communities at the local level. The objective of the DDR process is to contribute to security and stability in post-conflict environments so that recovery and development can begin. DDR helps create an enabling environment for political and peace processes by dealing with security problem that arises when ex-combatants are trying to adjust to normal life, during the vital transition period from conflict to peace and development. **** You two are the walking embodiment of the term "useful idiots".
#13. To: Deckard (#12)
FACT: "However, in a chamber dominated by a 247-188 Republican majority, the bills will take significant GOP support to pass. Concurrence by a Republican-controlled Senate would then become the next hurdle to overcome for the far-reaching gun control measures." Versus hysterical pissing.
You abuse the term when you try to use it as a subjective label. You simply cannot allow there to be any reasonable differences on rhetoric in ideological or political discussions. You constantly use the term to try and unjustly smear with this label.
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#5. To: Palmdale (#3)
"The bill is a rehash of a similar one Honda introduced last session that died in committee."
#6. To: Deckard (#5)
(Edited)
Look at you, thinking that the gun grabbers are going to just roll over.
#7. To: Palmdale (#6)
#8. To: Deckard (#7)
#11. To: Palmdale (#8)
You're too hysterical to even try to address the facts. Typical for you.
#12. To: Gatlin, Palmdale (#11)
In the deepest fears of every conspiracy theorist freak is the sinister fearful thought of government confiscating firearms.
Replies to Comment # 12. The gun grabbers are giving up after this defeat.
#15. To: Deckard, Palmdale (#12)
You two are the walking embodiment of the term "useful idiots".
End Trace Mode for Comment # 12.
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