Via NYMag, the Denver Post:
In the moments after lawmakers and visitors cleared a committee room Feb. 6 following a debate on concealed handgun permits, Rep. Jonathan Singer found a black canvas bag under the table where lawmakers sit.
Inside, Singer discovered a loaded handgun that belonged to Rep. Jared Wright, R-Fruita, who sits next to him on the House Local Government committee…
Wright, who is in his first term, told The Denver Post he often carries a concealed handgun inside the Capitol and under state statute has the right to do so as a peace officer. State law prohibits carrying a gun in the Capitol “without legal authority.”…
“I feel it’s my duty to be a first responder wherever I am at,” said Wright. “That’s why I carry it.”…
JPL
OT.. So for all of us who saw the video of the dog in the hotel in Sochi this morning, we’ve been had. According to mediaite, it was a Jimmy Kimmel stunt.
Bill in Section 147
Finding black bags with loaded guns in them makes me feel safer. Glad to hear this story had a happy ending and it belonged to a peace officer and not somebody who was careless.
JPL
@Bill in Section 147: haha.. I saw what u did.
Wag
Glad that he’s not my Rep. Fruita is for fruitcakes.
schrodinger's cat
Since we have been talking about diets on this blog off late, I present to you; the best diet in the world!
Omnes Omnibus
“I feel inadequate at all times,” said Wright. “That’s why I carry it.”*
The fact that he stupidly left it behind does lend credence to his feelings of inadequacy.
Just Some Fuckhead
Fuck lot of good it was doing him in a bag under the table when he was somewhere else.
replicnt6
The only thing that can stop a bad guy with a gun is a black canvas bag with a gun.
Bill E Pilgrim
@JPL: Vladmir Putin was probably behind the whole thing in some complicated way, playing 11-dimensional chest as usual.
Davis X. Machina
The First Amendment bans a state religion, and the Second instituted one…
There is no Gun but Gun, and Wayne LaPierre is His prophet.
chopper
well, that’s why you leave it behind when you go to jerk off in the cloakroom. ‘carry’ implies that you have it on you, shithead.
jl
I guess this Wright dude will feel like a big man when he responds to an accident or a crime committed with his gun that he left lying around some random place.
An interesting thing that I thought I would never see is Wolf Blitzer seeming to be truly engaged in a story, which was about Texas GOPers using Ted Nugent at campaign stops after Nugent’s ‘subhuman mongrel’ remarks.
Ted Nugent calls Obama ‘subhuman mongrel’, CNN’s Wolf Blitzer flips out
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/02/19/ted-nugent-calls-obama-subhuman-mongrel-cnns-wolf-blitzer-flips-out/
Blitzer’s reaction does not seem like ‘flipping out’ to me, it seems perfectly normal, at least for a normal person. But it’s Blitzer, and there are different standards for him due to his distinct style of ‘presence’ while on air.
via Wonkette:
http://wonkette.com/542394/why-wont-wendy-davis-apologize-to-ted-nugent-for-not-loving-and-marrying-some-guns#more-542394
Whoever Blitzer is talking with seems disengaged, when he wonders whether Nugent’s ‘subhuman mongrel’ remarks might be a dogwhistle of some kind, and it might be a matter of concern to all sorts of people, not just Democrats.
patrick II
In case someone plays bad music loudly he is ready.
Mnemosyne
@chopper:
That was my impression, too. Does it really count as “concealed carry” if you don’t carry it with you and just kinda have it nearby occasionally?
dmsilev
@Mnemosyne: It’s just concealed really really well.
Amir Khalid
Wait a minute. Does Wright have a day job in law enforcement? Is a state Representative in Colorado considered a “peace officer” under the statute that he invoked to justify
carryingbringing a guninto the state Capitol? Or did he just pull that out of his ass?Mandalay
@Amir Khalid:
Not since 2011…
jl
@Amir Khalid:
From Wright’s webpage:
” Inspired by others who protect and serve, Rep. Wright attended the Delta-Montrose Law Enforcement Academy in 2006 and served as a police officer for the City of Fruita between 2007 and 2011. ”
http://wright54.com/AboutJared.html
@Mandalay: thanks for that info.
Omnes Omnibus
@Amir Khalid: His website (can’t link) indicates that he was a police officer from 2007-11. No indication that he currently has such a position. FWIW being a state rep. is generally a part time gig.
Gene108
As long as responsible gun owners feel bad, when they do something irresponsible that is enough mental anguish and suffering that is a far greater punishment than anything the legal system can do to them.
burnspbesq
@Amir Khalid:
According to this, Wright was a police officer in Fruita from 2007 through 2011.
http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2014/02/19/rep-jared-wright-leaves-loaded-handgun-house-committee-room/106136/
I lived in the Denver area from 1975-77. At that time, it was clear that unless you were within a half hour of the center of Denver, Boulder, or Fort Collins, you might as well be in Oklahoma. It doesn’t appear to have changed much in the intervening 39 years.
legion
“I feel it’s my duty to be a first responder wherever I am at,” said Wright.
Hey, you know what? _I_ feel it’s your duty to be a responsible fucking gun owner wherever you are, dickhead.
Southern Beale
I posted this over at my site earlier in the week but I thought The Bill Of RIghts For Dumbasses was hilarious.
Southern Beale
@Gene108:
*** Offer not valid for brown-skinned gun owners.
Fred
Hey, cut the guy some slack. He forgot he’s not a cop anymore. He forgot his gun. When we get older we forget a lot of stuff. I forgot to get lettuce at the store yesterday. No big deal.
cathyx
Why didn’t he carry it in his pants like a real man?
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@legion: State Assembleyman George Zimmerman, ready for a shoot-out in the O. K. Committee Room!
Trollhattan
Hmm, having some FYWP moments. Will break this into two bits to FIND THE CULPRIT.
Jared Wright should come and run for California Lt. Gov as Donnelly’s
gunningrunning mate. He should also become a reverend.Mandalay
More dirt on Mr. HeatPacker….
In case you are wondering why a Democrat couldn’t beat this chump (who blamed Obama for his personal bankruptcy) in an election….there was no Democrat running.
WaterGirl
@Mandalay:
Head / desk.
Trollhattan
WTF, WP?
Meanwhile, far from Colorado’s oxygen-starved legislature, the grown-ups will be doing this.
http://nas-sites.org/americasclimatechoices/events/a-discussion-on-climate-change-evidence-and-causes/?utm_medium=etmail&utm_source=The%20National%20Academies%20Press&utm_campaign=2014.02.20+-+Climate+Change+Evidence+Event&utm_content=&utm_term=
Amir Khalid
Ah. According to the story at Mandalay’s link, Wright left his policeman’s job in disgrace three years ago. Is there a “once a cop, always a cop” thing in Colorado, and does it apply even to those who leave the force in disgrace? Unless there is, his claim that he’s a “peace officer” sounds like bullshit in the strict Frankfurtian sense.
Trollhattan
Newsmax spews best headline evah: “Ann Coulter: Shysters Hijacking Tea Party”
Pirates pirate pirate ship, find it’s already filled with pirating pirates.
Omnes Omnibus
@WaterGirl: There are wards in Milwaukee where the Democrat is unopposed every election. Put yourself in the shoes of the potential candidate; in those Milwaukee wards, the GOPer would get about 10% of the vote. Maybe 25% against a truly crappy Dem. my guess is that part of Colorado is a mirror image. Why would a candidate put him/herself through a campaign for that?
jl
@Mandalay:
” Wright showed a pattern of lateness and lying about his whereabouts ”
Maybe he was looking for his gun?
Trollhattan
@Amir Khalid:
He’s better than a peace officer, he’s a First Responder! That also makes him a fireman, a paramedic and the Batman as well as dude-with-gun-in-handbag.
jeffreyw
Tanner thought he had a forever home. They brought him back, said he wanted to sleep with them on their bed. The Horror…
Amir Khalid
@Trollhattan:
By the way, is “The Batman” like “The Ukraine” of superheroes?
Mandalay
@Omnes Omnibus: Perhaps gun issues explain why no Democrat ran against a Colorado gun nut with a ton of baggage…
Poopyman
@Amir Khalid: Dammit! You got there first.
Arclite
I feel that if the founders could see what havoc and destruction they wrought with the 2nd amendment, that they would have written it very differently.
gogol's wife
@jeffreyw:
People are scum!
Trollhattan
@Amir Khalid:
Believe so. “Your Batman” doesn’t work nearly so well as “Your the Batman” as a meme.
Villago Delenda Est
I’m sorry, but Jared Wright has demonstrated, in no uncertain terms, that he is NOT a responsible gun owner.
Baud
@Trollhattan:
You did that to get under Amir’s skin, right?
Amir Khalid
@gogol’s wife:
Yeah. I don’t have a dog, but if I did, I would never refuse him to let him sleep in my bed once he turned those big soulful eyes on me.
WereBear
@jeffreyw: Yeah. But perhaps they were not going to be very affectionate, methinks.
Jebediah, RBG
@jeffreyw:
Seriously?
Jeez. I give my dogs a hard time if they won’t get up on the bed with me. Why have a dog if you can’t schnuggle on a cold night? I hope he gets snatched up by some more suitable humans soon. He has a lovely face (I love the one-up one-down ears.)
Mnemosyne
@jeffreyw:
Our middle kitty Annie was a return — they brought her home and she hid behind the TV until they called the rescue lady a week later and said, Um, we don’t think this is working out.
Luckily, we have a Keaton at our place (Mr. Charm and Personality) so Annie was willing to give us a trial run. I think we’re still on probation as far as she’s concerned, but she does like having a Keaton (and sometimes likes having a Charlotte, but that’s a story for a different day).
kindness
I call this Small Penis Syndrome. Anyone who feels a need to be armed at all times must have an incredibly tiny pecker.
kindness
Jesus I’ve been moderated. You know how long it’s been since I saw that?
Betty Cracker
@jeffreyw: Gyad. If people don’t want their dogs to sleep in their bed, I get that: We attempt (often unsuccessfully) to keep our mutts out of our bed because they take over the center and leave us 5-inch strips to cling to on either edge. But why couldn’t Tanner’s owners simply train the dog to stay out of the bed? Shut the door? Whatever? That I do not understand. Sounds like the dog is much smarter than the erstwhile owners…
StringOnAStick
@burnspbesq:
I grew up about 5 miles from the small town his moron represents; now I live just west of Denver. I am so, so glad I don’t live on that side of the mountains anymore – too hot and too winger for me, as are the plains areas. Colorado Springs is crazy too, but the military base is a big part of it and then all the winger groups from Orange county decided to move there a few decades ago; now Focus on the Family has their own damned interstate exchange and zip code. I do know that their membership and contributions are down though, so maybe there is hope.
Sad_Dem
Bah. I remember a comical story about a cop with a .45 who hung it by the trigger guard on the coat hook of a bathroom stall while he did his business. When he reached to retrieve it, he accidentally pushed the trigger against the hook, and the gun fired, causing it to spin around the hook, which caused him to try to grab it…
So funny!
Anniecat45
Re people needing guns — I work in a courthouse in California and a guy called to ask how he would arrange to bring his gun into the courthouse. He wanted to attend a hearing in a civil case — he was not a party to the case, and did not know any of the parties, he was just an interested member of the public.
He explained that he is a retired policeman, and he told me he never takes public transit without his gun.
I couldn’t believe it. I’ve lived here for over 30 years, and I don’t drive, so I’ve taken public transit without packing heat for nearly every day of those 30 years. I’ve witnessed two events, in all that time, where I felt genuinely threatened. I’ve been annoyed and grossed out a whole lot more often than that, but genuinely threatened, only twice. (I have been a crime victim in other settings so I’m not unaware that there are dangers in the world.)
As noted above, I ride public transit all the time, at all hours of the night so if it was that dangerous I’d probably be dead.
What are these people so scared of? What voices in their heads are screaming at them so loudly they can’t hear or see the reality?
StringOnAStick
Though speaking of living in Colorado, I have to say I am beyond tired of all the wind we’ve had in the last month. We’re back to 80mph gusts tonight, which means yet another night sleeping with earplugs. Enough already.
Higgs Boson's Mate
@Mandalay:
Okay, I read the article and, according to it, 82% of Colorado residents approve of the waiting period in Hudak’s bill. Does this mean that the other 18% are sufficiently organized and funded to the point that they could have successfully recalled her?
WaterGirl
@Omnes Omnibus: Yeah, I get what you’re saying. Still depressing, though, to see an idiot like that in office. I was thinking that surely anyone who could walk and chew gum at the same time would be better than that yahoo. But in the areas like you are describing, maybe they’d elect a dead republican before a good democrat.
raven
@Betty Cracker: How’s it going?
WaterGirl
@jeffreyw: Seriously? If that’s the case, he’s better off without them, though. My adorable Bailey (now gone) was returned to the pound twice before I took him home. His crime? He was on the cheap worm medicine from the shelter, and he would throw up ugly yellow bile every other day when he was dosed.
Their loss, my gain. But it took while before he wasn’t afraid to go out the front door, because to him that meant he was being dumped again.
MomSense
@Anniecat45:
This is what I wonder as well. WTF are they expecting to happen??
Ok, this question may give away my east coast, liberal biases but is there some sort of credentialing process for people who have concealed carry permits? I do not feel comfortable with people who own guns and fancy themselves first responders. I think the idea that any “good guy with a gun” is capable of reacting appropriately and accurately in a crisis situation is really underestimating the training and judgment required to be a first responder.
You can be well meaning and a good guy with a gun but that doesn’t mean you will be competent in a crisis.
MomSense
@Higgs Boson’s Mate:
I wouldn’t be surprised if she were getting threats. She may have decided that it is not worth the risks.
Mandalay
@Higgs Boson’s Mate:
In short, yes. I share your confusion, but the article also states “Hudak’s resignation is, in part, a recognition from Colorado Democrats that the recall effort might have been successful“. And here’s why:
Colorado could have a dozen more Columbines and Auroras, and it wouldn’t change a thing. There are enough gun nuts there to ensure that insanity will prevail.
Trollhattan
@Baud:
On pins and needles to find whether it worked.
(Confess my favorite Dave Barry columns were often “Ask Mister Language Person.”)
Higgs Boson's Mate
@MomSense:
Thanks. There is the example of Gabby Giffords. I don’t even know if I’m capable of being appalled anymore.
Betty Cracker
@raven: About the same. We’ll have a little progress, and then a set back, and basically, we’re in LimboLand.
Mandalay
@MomSense:
I loathe guns and gun nuts, but I don’t think it’s appropriate to post that without any kind of supporting evidence. Or is it irresponsible not to speculate?
raven
@Betty Cracker: Hang in there.
Betty Cracker
@raven: Thanks, man. We’re trying. It’s hard, though. But no choice.
raven
@Betty Cracker: I know, you can only do your best and I know you are.
Higgs Boson's Mate
@Mandalay:
Thank you for pointing that out. There doesn’t seem to be a body count that the gun nuts find unacceptable. Ya’ll know that I was in a shooting war notorious for close combat. Even then, I did not find it necessary to have a gun every waking hour of every day. The nuts are shit scared and, in my book, that makes them twice as dangerous to themselves and others.
jl
@Higgs Boson’s Mate:
” Okay, I read the article and, according to it, 82% of Colorado residents approve of the waiting period in Hudak’s bill. Does this mean that the other 18% are sufficiently organized and funded to the point that they could have successfully recalled her? ”
In the right district, in a special election, the answer could very well be ‘yes’.
WaterGirl
@Higgs Boson’s Mate: @MomSense: Two words, and they rhyme with Gabby Giffords.
Edit: I should have read further before posting.
Omnes Omnibus
@Betty Cracker: Good thoughts.
Trollhattan
@Higgs Boson’s Mate:
When my mind wanders to that dark place, I wonder whether gun fondlers imagine being on the island, saving those kids from Anders Breivik with their weapon(s) of choice, or being Anders Breivik.
WaterGirl
@Betty Cracker: I’m not sure they’ve invented the word yet for how hard that is.
Mandalay
@Trollhattan:
All of them, Katie.
maya
You know who else sat at a conference table that someone left a loaded bag under?
GHayduke (formerly lojasmo)
@Amir Khalid:
This is the case in Minnesota. We have legislators who are also law enforcement who carry at the capitol.
MomSense
@Mandalay:
I’m not making an accusation against anyone. It wouldn’t surprise me because I have seen and read some scary stuff from some of the groups that oppose any kind of gun control legislation.
Phoenician in a time of Romans
@Omnes Omnibus: The fact that he stupidly left it behind does lend credence to his feelings of inadequacy.
Oh, I dunno. It comes in handy a lot of the time – he can leave it home, when he thinks it’s gonna get him in trouble, or he can rent it out when he doesn’t need it…
Mandalay
I wonder if you have molested your kids. I’m not accusing you, but it wouldn’t surprise me because I have seen and read some scary stuff about female teachers seducing school boys.
FFS, there are plenty of valid reasons to go after gun nuts without making up irresponsible shit. Two Democrats have already been defeated in recall elections over guns, and she would have been the third, and polling data and voting results explain why. And no Democrat has said a word about anyone being threatened.
Of course you are still entitled to your opinion, and entitled to post whatever you want, but when it’s groundless smearing you can also get called on it.
Jebediah, RBG
@Phoenician in a time of Romans:
nice king missile reference…
celticdragonchick
More responsible gun handling from a female cop in Georgia…
http://littlegreenfootballs.com/page/305645_Georgia_ROTC_cadet_holding_Wii
Family members and other witnesses at the scene specifically say the dead boy was holding a Wii controller, and that the officer had not identified herself as police when she knocked on the door.
Natch, bonus sociopathic remarks from the cops at policeone.com…
So the cop is a victim and the innocent dead kid is actually fault for getting in the way of the “Agent of Wrath’s” bullet.
yeah.
But there’s more…
Having any item in your hand or on your person is now grounds to be shot by a police officer on your own property (just ask that guy in Long Beach two years ago who was holding a lawn watering nozzle. Oh, you can’t ask him…two officers gunned him down from a hiding position in shrubbery without ever identifying themselves)…because police safety is what is most important! Hey, at least she got to go home safe…
StringOnAStick
@Mandalay: Look folks, the deal with the recalls in Colorado were that two were dems who had won in districts that usually elect a rethug, and when the NRA came to town and got the recalls ginned up, the only people who voted in the recalls were guess who? NRA supporters, so they were recalled and replaced by wingers. Because the dems in those districts weren’t nearly as fired up as the NRA supporters, so they stayed home.
Ms. Hudak was about to be the 3rd person to face a recall election and she is in a pretty evenly balanced district, so the odds were that the NRA-organized groups would win. If she had been recalled, the balance of power would have shifted to the rethugs, so she resigned so that another dem could be appointed to her place and thus short circuit the recall; she did so for the good of the party, not because she was living in fear or had been threatened AFAIK.
Also, the gun nuts tried to get enough signatures for recalls in more than just these 3 districts, but were unsuccessful. John Morse was the Colorado Senate president, so recalling him was a big prize to the NRA. The fact that his district included part of the wingnut wonderland of the Colorado Springs area made his election in the first place fairly remarkable. The good news is he’s been very active in pushing for gun control and progressive issues ever since, so by booting him out of the state senate he’s actually become even more effective in advocating for his principles.
Not all of CO is knuckle draggers, but there is still plenty of that though. The Rocky Mountains are known for this crap, from the southern border all the way up through Alberta!
Joey Giraud
@celticdragonchick:
I was forced to the ground, searched and hand-cuffed by police for walking around my neighborhood holding a metal coffee cup. No apologies, no communication other then yelling at me, it’s like they were trying their damnest to be as assholish as possible.
I guess I should consider myself lucky they didn’t shoot me. Yeah, I’m white.
But cassidy says we’re not as bad as East Germany so don’t complain. Another Asshole.
Paul in KY
Control of your firearm is the NUMBER 1 thing you have to think about when you are packing. If you really were a ‘peace officer’, a responsible one at least, that would always be on your mind & you wouldn’t fucking forget it.
They are so lame….
SpotWeld
The thing that gets me with the most outspoken of “always carry” advocates. They position themselves as “first responders” or “the only chance for lawfulness within a reasonable distance”. They want to take on the mantle of “the law”, but without having to have any oversight.
If a police officer had their sidearm turned in to the desk sergeant they would face some repercussions.
If a soldier in basic training left their firearm unsecured and it was turned in to the base by a civilian… wow,
So this “civilian first responder”…. Just shrugs and promises that he’ll make sure not to leave his gun laying around again?
celticdragonchick
@Joey Giraud:
Yep. :(
J R in WV
@Joey Giraud:
Hi Joey,
where did this happen? Sounds like not a place to go on vacation!
How can we get back to the place where Mr. Policeman was who you called when you had trouble? As opposed to if someone calls the cops someone gets killed!
Joey Giraud
@J R in WV:
A relatively nice neighborhood in a major midwest city, not the hood or a gated community.
The original call to the cops was probably from some worry-wart shut-in who watches too much Fox, I dunno.
The call isn’t the issue; it’s the way the cops handled it, with extreme prejudice, a fair degree of cowardice ( hey, you put your life on the line in that war-zone out there!! ) and a complete lack of concern.
I’ve been around 50 years.. The police have always had a certain number of sociopathic sadists, but the majority tended to treat citizens with some respect. No longer. We’re all the enemy now.