News from the Plains: All this RED can make you BLUE
An Oklahoma Democrat's lonely fight against guns
by Barry Friedman
Rep. Mike Shelton, D-Oklahoma City, said he plans to launch a legislative study in November to review Oklahoma's Stand Your Ground and open carry laws
Stop snickering. He's serious.
"I'm going into this with an open mind. I'm hoping to get people on both sides to sit down and have a conversation," Shelton said.
Oh? You were laughing about there being Democrats in the Oklahoma legislature.
Actually, there are enough to fit inside a large Jiffy Lube waiting area--12 in the Senate; 29 in the Senate. By comparison, the GOP has 36 in the Senate; 72 in the House, but let's not quibble. The problem for Democrats here is not just a matter of the majority; it's of the mania.
"We’ve all heard of car-jacking cases where the thief actually drove off with the children still buckled in. The law needs to be on the side of the parent trying to protect their children.”
That's Henry Coates, who
co-authored the Stand Your Ground Law; that's Henry Coates, who didn't actually name any case where that happened; that's Henry Coates, who didn't explain how a gun-toting parent, unless the gun was in his or her lap at the time of the car-jacking, could have prevented it--and that's only if the kids weren't screaming for
Twizzlers and a
Juicy Juice at the exact moment.
That was then; this is now.
Rep. Mike Reynolds said said he actually hopes the statehouse study results in an expansion of ‘Stand Your Ground’ laws.
“I hope it backfires on those calling for stricter laws.”
So much for the conversation.
In Oklahoma, if the GOP isn't talking to you, that's pretty much the whole shooting match.
(See what I did there?)
Shelton said, “It would be a tough battle.”
Ya think?
As it stands now, Stand Your Ground Legislation in Oklahoma permits citizens the right to protect themselves against attack in their homes, others homes, a vehicle, or street corner, and the congressman wants to see if some of that can be curtailed so we don't have human skeet shooting in Bricktown.
Specifically...
A person who is not engaged in an unlawful activity and who is attacked in any other place where he or she has a right to be has no duty to retreat and has the right to stand his or her ground and meet force with force, including deadly force, if he or she reasonably believes it is necessary to do so to prevent death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another or to prevent the commission of a forcible felony.
A person who unlawfully and by force enters or attempts to enter the dwelling, residence, occupied vehicle of another person, or a place of business is presumed to be doing so with the intent to commit an unlawful act involving force or violence.
"You have a right to defend yourself," said Rep. Steve Vaughn, (R) Ponca City, a co-signer on the original amendment, who says there is no legislative support for Shelton's attempt, as he calls it, to "water" down the bill.
Which is another problem: there are those who want the bill's parameters expanded.
Cue: church bells
A state lawmaker is pushing to include churches under the “Stand Your Ground” law. Rep. Mike Ritze (R-Broken Arrow) wants to give people clear legal authority to respond to dangerous individuals who threaten the safety of people at a place of worship.
"They don't have to do it, we are not mandating it. It just recognizes the right that they can do it just like they can in their homes, vehicles, and businesses," Rep. Ritze said.
You Methodists are pussies. The Baptists are packing.
And part of the reason for that is ... well, take it away, boys.
"I'm biased I guess," said Charles Smith, the head of the Oklahoma Rifle Association
Hold on a moment.
Not one NRA or ORA member has come out and advocated for more gun ownership in the black community ... not one has come out and spoke of the tragedy of an unarmed teen being killed (full stop without some bullshit equivocation) ... not one has expressed any criticism of any of Zimmerman's actions and Smith guesses he's biased? If the races of Martin and Zimmerman were reversed, you could bet your Glock that the organization would be handing out 2-for-1 Wannemacher Gun Show coupons at the 18th tee at Southern Hills.
Please, though, continue.
"But we've heard all this slogan about 'Justice for Trayvon.' Well, Trayvon got justice. This is not about justice This is about retribution."
That's right, ladies and gentlemen, the head of the Oklahoma Rifle Association said that
Trayvon got justice.
Trayvon.
The stupid, the insensitive, the mind-numbing blackness of NRA and ORA hearts around here burns. Simply burns.
To the Representative Sheltons of the world, we feel your frustration.
Oh, this too: I want to extend a personal and robust Fuck You to the Associated Press for this ...
Shelton, who is black, said residents of his community have been expressing concern about gun violence long before the Florida case became national news
The AP never quite got around to mentioning the race of Smith or Vaughn.
Oklahoma Rife Association