NRA lackey: It was "a good thing" that Aurora shooter had 100-round magazine.
Wuh?
Republican state Sen. Bernie Herpin raised the ire of an Aurora theater shooting victim’s father when he claimed that it might have been “a good thing” that gunman James Holmes had a 100-round magazine when he opened fire and, ultimately, killed 12 people.
Herpin, who was elected last September to replace former Senate President John Morse in a recall election over the Democratic gun control measures, made the comments during a hearing for legislation that would overturn the new ban on magazines of 15-rounds or more.
This is the guy we fought against last year, only to lose because of base Democratic voter apathy. The NRA got their guy. And their guy does them proud.
“As it turned out, that was maybe a good thing that he had a 100-round magazine, because it jammed. If he had four, five, six 15-round magazines, there’s no telling how much damage he could have done until a good guy with a gun showed up.”
NRA logic, my friends. For the record, that 100-round drum magazine jammed after firing 45 rounds. Forty-five is more than fifteen. And he still had a Glock he could turn to, because thanks to the NRA, he had all the killing tools he needed. That's how 12 were killed and another 70 injured. Still, totally good. Awesome, in fact, if you are a murderer, or an NRA apologist.
While a family member of one of the Aurora victims exploded in anger to assembled press, a Democratic staffer put the comments in perspective: "Thanks for giving us back your seat."
But amidst this ridiculousness, there is good news:
But Herpin’s gaffe, not to mention the increasingly paltry turnout at the Capitol from aggrieved gun owners — on Tuesday, three times more gun control advocates than gun owners showed up to testify on a proposal to allow concealed carry in schools — seems to illustrate that the strategy of highlighting gun-related issues may be backfiring for Republicans.
Guns will increasingly be a loser issue for the Right. Not only is gun ownership
down and still dropping, but with
44 school shootings since Sandy Hook, the issue will have continued resonance, particularly in urban and suburban districts.