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With all due respect and assumptions of good faith, please fuck off into the sun.

Is it negotiation when the other party actually wants to shoot the hostage?

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

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We’ve had enough carrots to last a lifetime. break out the sticks.

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Black Jesus loves a paper trail.

Sadly, media malpractice has become standard practice.

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Russian mouthpiece, go fuck yourself.

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Every reporter and pundit should have to declare if they ever vacationed with a billionaire.

Petty moves from a petty man.

You are here: Home / Gun Issues / gun safety / President Biden and AG Garland Speaking on Gun Violence (5:00 ET)

President Biden and AG Garland Speaking on Gun Violence (5:00 ET)

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You can watch the speech here:

From the Washington Post:  Biden’s plan to tackle rising homicides: Tighten gun regulations, bolster police

President Biden will announce measures Wednesday to crack down on gun stores that don’t follow federal rules, step up programs for recently released convicts and provide more support for police departments across the country as the administration grapples with spikes in homicides and other violent crimes across major cities.
…
Biden will direct the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to seek to revoke licenses from gun sellers the first time they are caught willfully selling a weapon to a person who is not permitted to have one, neglecting to run a required background check or ignoring a federal request to provide trace information about a weapon used in a crime. The policy attacks a source of crime guns, which in some instances can be traced to sloppy or irresponsible dealers, experts say.
…
The president also wants to reduce recidivism by opening opportunities to those leaving prison, including hiring more of them in federal jobs and encouraging business to do so. Biden also wants to offer additional federal housing vouchers for them, according to administration officials.
…
And Biden will allow $350 billion in federal stimulus funds to be used to pay to fund police departments in areas that have seen an increase in crime, administration officials said.
Biden and Attorney General Merrick Garland are slated to meet with a handful of mayors and local officials and advocates Wednesday afternoon to discuss the administration’s strategy.

While we wait for that to start, what else is going on?

Reader Interactions

119Comments

  1. 1.

    WaterGirl

    Particularly happy to see this part:

    Biden will direct the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to seek to revoke licenses from gun sellers the first time they are caught willfully selling a weapon to a person who is not permitted to have one, neglecting to run a required background check or ignoring a federal request to provide trace information about a weapon used in a crime.

  2. 2.

    WaterGirl

    And this part:

    The president also wants to reduce recidivism by opening opportunities to those leaving prison, including hiring more of them in federal jobs and encouraging business to do so. Biden also wants to offer additional federal housing vouchers for them, according to administration officials.

    Smart.

  4. 4.

    Gravenstone

    Semi-related, but I caught a report this morning where Her Royal Highness of the Furrowed Eyebrows (R-Maine) will be voting against Pres. Biden’s choice to head BATF because he’s “unusually divisive”. To which I invite the good Senator to kindly fuck herself with a rusty pitchfork.

  7. 7.

    Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes

    COVID causes tremors in the index fingers of white males, thus negatively affecting your ability to operate your freedomistical boom sticks.

  8. 8.

    Betty Cracker

    Does it strike anyone else as odd that there’s a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives? The first two make sense as a group, and the last two go together as well. But the logic of joining all four categories together escapes me. Cool seal though (needs to be updated with a bomb). President Biden and AG Garland Speaking on Gun Violence (Soon)

  9. 9.

    Van Buren

    If you have not yet seen General Milley- Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff- answer a question about Critical Race Theory being taught at West Point, do yourself a favor and go watch. It is the best thing I have seen in ages.

  11. 11.

    Ken

    stimulus funds to be used to pay to fund police departments in areas that have seen an increase in crime

    I’ll bet all those departments who’ve managed to reduce crime are kicking themselves.

  14. 14.

    Ken

    @Betty Cracker:Does it strike anyone else as odd that there’s a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives?

    I thought of the old BATF as “things we really should regulate better but the politicians are chicken”.  I see no reason to change my mind now that they’ve added explosives.

    (There may also be a little “and every time we try to regulate them, criminals make a lot more money” in the mix. In which case I find the addition of explosives a bit troubling.)

  15. 15.

    WaterGirl

    All the republicans have to do is slap a name on something, say it’s awful and it gets exactly the response that they want.

    Does that only work for them?  Because no matter what we name the anti-democratic efforts of the Rs, nearly half of the country doesn’t give a shit if it hurts “those” people.

  18. 18.

    Elizabelle

    Thank you, WaterGirl.  It’s not up yet, so please jackals — a head’s up when it starts.

    Now to watch the General Miley video.

  19. 19.

    Ken

    @WaterGirl: What else is going on in the world today?  Anything else newsworthy?

    Oh god. Is this one of those gentle ways of saying “For those of you who haven’t heard…” followed by some horrifying alert from astronomers, volcanologists, or epidemiologists?

  20. 20.

    Betty Cracker

    @Omnes Omnibus: I think it’s too early to know for sure, but speculation that Garland isn’t the wartime consigliere we need at a time like this isn’t altogether crazy, IMO. Here’s hoping he proves his critics wrong.

  26. 26.

    Elizabelle

    @Betty Cracker:   Garland was meant to be on the Supreme Court.  Until Satan intervened.

    Jennifer Rubin gets after him today too.  Although, it could be more of a “prove me wrong.”  I think she is making too much of Garland’s answer, to the FTF NY Times, that the Department already had an Inspector General in place.  I would like to think this is Garland (and Biden) not showing their hand too quickly.

    I am not counting Garland out.  One bit.  Patience, grasshoppers.

  28. 28.

    Elizabelle

    Do we know WHO asked Miley about Critical Race theory?  (And his was an excellent answer, along the lines of “I studied Marxism.  That does not make me a Marxist.”)

    Camera panned to Matt Gaetz shaking his head, but a woman thanked Miley at the conclusion.

    Just curious.

  30. 30.

    Another Scott

    @Elizabelle: (As I said downstairs), his statement on June 14 seemed fine and appropriate to me.

    “As I stated during my confirmation hearing, political or other improper considerations must play no role in any investigative or prosecutorial decisions. These principles that have long been held as sacrosanct by the DOJ career workforce will be vigorously guarded on my watch, and any failure to live up to them will be met with strict accountability. There are important questions that must be resolved in connection with an effort by the department to obtain records related to Members of Congress and Congressional staff. I have accordingly directed that the matter be referred to the Inspector General and have full confidence that he will conduct a thorough and independent investigation. If at any time as the investigation proceeds action related to the matter in question is warranted, I will not hesitate to move swiftly.

    “In addition, and while that review is pending, I have instructed the Deputy Attorney General, who is already working on surfacing potentially problematic matters deserving high level review, to evaluate and strengthen the department’s existing policies and procedures for obtaining records of the Legislative branch. Consistent with our commitment to the rule of law, we must ensure that full weight is accorded to separation-of-powers concerns moving forward.”

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  31. 31.

    Woodrow/asim

    @WaterGirl: Does that only work for them?

    Conservatism has built up, over decades, the financial infrastructure for demonizing Progressive ideas, yes.

    The people involved have a lot of experience in quickly and quietly funding the right folx to flood the zone, and to do so over and again in ways that are disconnected — a twisted “let a thousand flowers bloom,” if you will.

    Not everything sticks, but enough does — from demonizing the words “Liberal” and “Tax” as Reaganism became ascendant, to the years of effort to hit Bill Clinton, to Birthism and Death Panels, that we all see the ice, if not the iceburg. So yeah, there are teams and orgs in the Conservative movement that, even without Fox News, have run Progressive causes and ideas and groups into the ground, over and again.

    That they can do so, and that we Good Guys rightly shun such tactics, is a real issue. That we also tend to not acknowledge this is happening as a systemic issue, rather just looking at it occurring as a set of one offs, is part of why people keep saying we just need to find better words…

    …but the issue is about far more than picking the right phrase, as if this is Fashion Week. :(

  34. 34.

    Another Scott

    @Elizabelle: It seemed to be Matt Gaetz.  (Note the clip of him shaking his head no, as his beating heart is handed to him.)

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  35. 35.

    Brachiator

    Cool seal though (needs to be updated with a bomb).

    This is the actual seal?

    I can’t tell whether the blindfolded babe is regulating booze, smokes and guns or having a righteous good time living it up.

  36. 36.

    germy

    @Elizabelle:

    Here is a longer clip:

    Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, on Matt Gaetz's critical race theory remarks: "I personally find it offensive that we are accusing the United States military, our general officers, our commissioned, non-commissioned officers of being 'woke' or something else." pic.twitter.com/syogXkaeem— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) June 23, 2021

  38. 38.

    germy

    @Another Scott:

    Gaetz enjoys Conservative Privilege.

    If any liberal democratic politician showed that level of disrespect to a general it’d be the top story on every news network for the next five days.

  39. 39.

    WaterGirl

    @Woodrow/asim: Thank you for that!

    Can you help refresh my memory… were we talking about you sending me something for a guest post?

    In normal times, I would like to think that I wouldn’t have to ask, but these are not normal times and these days I occasionally drop a ball, which I normally do not do.

  40. 40.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @Betty Cracker: Someone who is promising to put civil rights (including voting rights) and domestic terrorism on the top of the to do list seems to get it.    I think a lot of people expect too much too quickly.  Legal shit takes time- especially if you try to do it the right way.

  49. 49.

    Elizabelle

    @germy:   Thank you.

    And it was Beavis and Butthead Gaetz who brought it up.  Rep. Houlahan yielded some of her time to General Miley, for a longer response to the teen-poker.

  52. 52.

    Elizabelle

    Another one bites the dust.  WaPost:

    And ETA: “The Biden administration has nominated Tucson police chief Chris Magnus, a figure associated with the law enforcement reform movement, to lead CBP.”

    Want to know more about Chief Magnus.

    The Biden administration has forced out the head of the U.S. Border Patrol, Rodney Scott, clearing a path for a leadership overhaul at an agency strained by a 20-year-high in illegal border crossings, and whose top officials were broadly sympathetic to President Trump.

    Scott, a 29-year veteran, published a statement on social media Wednesday saying he had received a letter offering him the option to resign, retire or relocate. He said the notice did not provide a rationale for his removal, describing it a pro forma notice “so the new administration can place the person they want in the position.”

    Scott’s departure was widely anticipated, with several of his current and former colleagues surprised he remained in the post long after President Biden’s inauguration. During last year’s presidential campaign, Scott appeared several times alongside Trump, eagerly defending his hard line policies, leading some colleagues to privately express concern that Scott’s enthusiasm occasionally veered into partisanship.

  55. 55.

    Elizabelle

    Now C-Span is saying 4:45 p.  It’s a gorgeous day.  Think I shall go outside instead.

  59. 59.

    Citizen Alan

    @Elizabelle: Be warned! Right in the middle the camera cuts away to show Matt Fucking Gaetz shaking his head and giving the text book illustration of what a sneer looks like.

  61. 61.

    Citizen Alan

    @Elizabelle: Be warned! Right in the middle the camera cuts away to show Matt Fucking Gaetz shaking his head and giving the text book illustration of what a sneer looks like.

  63. 63.

    Citizen Alan

    @germy: I lowkey love Andrew Garfield now. I hated him as Spiderman, but ever since, he’s made the most interesting acting choices and has aggressively played against his earlier “pretty boy” reputation.

  64. 64.

    WaterGirl

    @?BillinGlendaleCA: I just listened again.

    “And you and I are both Green Berets.”

    ??

    edit: I see that must have been in reference to the person who yielded some of her time, not in reference to the piece of shit whose name is Gaetz.

  66. 66.

    Betty Cracker

    @Brachiator: I assume not, but I saw that on a t-shirt once and thought it was funny. It would be hilarious if it really is the seal!

  68. 68.

    germy

    @Citizen Alan:

    Yes, some actors are determined to make their own path.

    There’s an actor (I can’t remember his name) who used to be on a sitcom.  A few years ago I saw him in a Spike Lee movie, playing David Duke.

  69. 69.

    germy

    @WaterGirl:  On the plus side, he didn’t shout “You lie!”

    Maybe at some point he’ll be yelling that at a prosecuting attorney.

  70. 70.

    Old School

    @WaterGirl:

    Criss cross, applesauce… is that a thing?  What does it mean?

    Sitting with your legs tucked in under you.  In my youth in was called “sitting Indian style”, but it is for the best that the times have moved on.

  72. 72.

    Elizabelle

    Now it’s 5 pm for C-Span.  What’s up?  They got Joe Manchin or Kyrsten Sinema nailed to the carpet in the Oval Office?

  75. 75.

    MomSense

    I’m so tempted to set up an Instagram account called neoliberal shill – establishment Dem just so I can go live and take questions.  I think it would take less time than trying to engage with all the fucking stupid stories and posts.

  76. 76.

    SiubhanDuinne

    Still no Biden on camera, but lots of laughing and talking in the background.

  79. 79.

    Ruckus

    @Betty Cracker: 
    The only logic I can see is that at one time the laws governing all of them were similar, and the enforcement was as well, as I understand it, NBAL&AT.

  81. 81.

    Betty Cracker

    @Elizabelle: I remember Garland getting screwed out of a SCOTUS seat. I wonder how heavily that weighed in his getting the AG gig.

    Like I said, I think it’s too early to know how effective Garland will be, but Rubin made some points that sounded pretty convincing, including that going after political appointee hacks needn’t damage career DOJ morale and that the DOJ should be leading the charge against voter suppression instead of civic organizations doing that work.

    I’m not a lawyer or an expert on any of this. Just saying those sound like decent points, and Rubin has been remarkably level-headed since emerging from the dark side, so I don’t discount it.

  85. 85.

    WaterGirl

    @Betty Cracker:

    …the DOJ should be leading the charge against voter suppression instead of civic organizations doing that work.

    Garland did say in a recent speech that he’s going after the voting stuff with everything he’s got… doubling the personnel that handle that sort of thing.  If you want to do it right, I imagine it takes time to get new people on board and get geared up.

    edit: and I’m talking to myself… 3 comments in a row.

  87. 87.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @WaterGirl: I think a lot of people want a firebrand prosecutor in that position.  If so, they are likely to be disappointed by Garland because that is not his style.

  88. 88.

    Old School

    @WaterGirl:

    Someone said that as they turned the sound on for the upcoming Biden speech.

    I wonder how that fits?

    They brought their child to work today?

  89. 89.

    rikyrah

    @Betty Cracker:

    DOJ should be leading the charge against voter suppression instead of civic organizations doing that work.

    You don’t get Vanita Gupta and Kristen Clarke as your Deputies if you don’t intend to do just that.

  90. 90.

    Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes

    @Betty Cracker:

    To be fair, that looks like every girl I dated or had random hookups with from the ages of 15 to 27.

  91. 91.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @rikyrah: After four years of Trump, they might need a little time to get the right people in and get everyone up to speed.

  95. 95.

    Ceci n est pas mon nym

    @Ken: Is this one of those gentle ways of saying “For those of you who haven’t heard…” followed by some horrifying alert from astronomers, volcanologists, or epidemiologists?

    I assume we all heard about the dormant Jurassic-era plague virus that was released from the volcano after it was struck by a meteor, so it’s probably not that.

  96. 96.

    raven

    In great news from Georgia the Board of Regents appointed a woman from within as Chancellor instead of that fucking chicken farmer.

    The Regents voted in a brief meeting to appoint Teresa MacCartney to lead the system as members of the powerful group try to overcome internal confusion and friction to select the University System of Georgia’s next permanent chancellor.

  97. 97.

    debbie

    @WaterGirl:

    Great response! Do we know who it was who asked him that question?

    Asshole Gaetz, acting all Trumpy like he knows more than the generals

    P.S. I really liked that he managed to work in a reference to 1/6 into his response.

  98. 98.

    David ? ☘The Establishment☘? Koch

    @Elizabelle: ​
     When I travel for work or vacation and it involves crossing several time zones I am pooped the following week.

  107. 107.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @debbie: The person Another Scott named?  The one you questioned when you asked if it was the female voice.  Maybe that one.

  108. 108.

    WaterGirl

    @debbie: I just googled Green Berets in congress, and Michael Waltz is the only name that comes up.

    That must have been a verbal nod toward Waltz even though Waltz had not answered the question.

    That would make sense to me.

  110. 110.

    stacib

    @WaterGirl: Yes.  Danny Parkins of 670 the Score (sports radio) is doing a 24-hour charity event to benefit the Austin neighborhood of Chicago (the West side) to build a brick and mortar grocery store.  The neighborhood is a food desert, so this should be welcomed.  I love the name of his event “What About Chicago” to mock all of the folks that use that exact phrase every time guns / crime / killing is in the news.  Several of the Chicago Bears, past and present, are participating and raising money.

  112. 112.

    polyorchnid octopunch

    There’s one thing: it’s time for you people to stop giving the cops more money. They don’t put it to good use.

    The best thing you could do to fix your cop problem is to get rid of civil forfeiture; it has turned your police into organised crime gangs.

  113. 113.

    kindness

    Honestly I think the quickest way to at least do something is to ban any magazines over 10 bullets for civillians.  No Grandfather clause or any lee way.  Gun humpers are going to howl bloody murder no matter what is done so might as well do at least the minimum that I think could be passed (with 51 votes, no way Republicans offer up 1 vote for any of this).  So sure, this is doable once we get rid of the filibuster….Hard to be upbeat, I know.

  114. 114.

    Another Scott

    I think all the questions have been answered, ultimately correctly!, but this is a better clip which gives more context – it starts with Rep. Chrissy Houlahan giving him time.

    Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, on Matt Gaetz's critical race theory remarks: "I personally find it offensive that we are accusing the United States military, our general officers, our commissioned, non-commissioned officers of being 'woke' or something else." pic.twitter.com/syogXkaeem

    — Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) June 23, 2021

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  115. 115.

    WaterGirl

    @Omnes Omnibus: Yeah, I knew someone else had mentioned a name upthread, but since debbie was asking it was simpler to google than it would have been to scroll through all the comments to find the name.

  119. 119.

    Brachiator

    @Betty Cracker:

    I assume not, but I saw that on a t-shirt once and thought it was funny. It would be hilarious if it really is the seal!

    It is a wonderful parody!

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