Missouri Rep. Mike Leara has a curious concept of democracy, let alone free speech. Leara has proposed a law that would make it a crime for any of his colleagues to introduce gun control legislation.
Leara would make it a felony with a potential sentence of four years in prison for any member who introduces legislation restricting gun rights.
Now here is what I truly loved about this story. Leara admits that he will have difficulty getting a majority of his colleagues to sign on to such a bill. However, he insisted “I want it to be clear that the Missouri House will stand in defense of the people’s constitutional right to keep and bear arms.” The Republican from suburban St. Louis, therefore, would gut the first amendment and scrap the democratic process in the name of upholding the constitution.
Brandies appeared to have Leara in mind when he said “The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well-meaning but without understanding.”
Here is his brief bio:
Rep. Mike Leara, a Republican, represents part of St. Louis County, which includes the City of Sunset Hills and Fenton (District 96) in the Missouri House of Representatives.
In addition to his legislative duties, Rep. Leara attends Abiding Savior Lutheran Church. He is a member of the Sunset Hills – Crestwood Chamber of Commerce and the Fenton Chamber of Commerce.
A 1978 graduate of Southwest High School, Rep. Leara attended St. Louis Community College at Meramec and Saint Louis University.
Born March 27, 1960, Rep. Leara currently resides in unincorporated St. Louis County near Sunset Hills.
Source: CBS
Bruce, what is it with the bulk of you republicans?…..ya love spewing out statements but never a shred of proof… If you have something to pontificate about please give us references so we can check the veracity of the things u claim.
Seems like this Missouri rep heard the same story and thought that this would be a nice gimmick to gain attention and support.
I recall hearing a campaign story about George Bush and his first campaign for Congress in West Texas. When asked at a debate what he thought about gun control, Bush said he opposed it. The second candidate said he was so opposed to it that he’d pass a law protecting gun rights. The third candidate said he was so opposed to it that he’d pass a law making it a crime to introduce gun control legislation. Bush lost the election and took home the message to never be outflanked on the right on gun control.
Bruce, I would like to see (legitimate) links and statistics for that statement: “all the nut cases were connected in some way to the democratic party”
Seems an awul lot of republicans love democracy and America as long as they can put in place laws that show hatred and misunderstanding of America and democracy. (and free speech)
One of the first thingsNatzi Germany did was confiscate the guns. how did that workout for the citizens.
I’ve been seeing this story for a couple of days. We have our own brand of seemingly lobotomized representatives in Virginia. I’m not sure whether the state houses are breeding grounds for federal fools, or if our federal reps and sens provide the model of ignorance to the states. Either way it’s a race to the bottom. And the more the polls show how little respect these worthies garner, the more they bluster and get even more irrational.
John, you forgot to mention that all the nut cases were connected in some way to the democratic party
The cops never stopped a murder, so maybe everyone should pack. I,ll give up my guns right after every judge, politicians security and the presidents security gives up theirs. They had 4 murders involving 2 car jackings yesterday in Los Angeles, If one of the victims was packing it might haved saved some lives
The Bill of Rights are a package – not a Chinese Menu! You take the whole thing (even the parts you hate) or nothing. Although not totally inseparable there is the “political” argument (common sense) and the “constitutional” legal side that on face value may not make sense (without further study). If the vast majority of Americans support the “political” argument and don’t like the Constitution as written – you amend the Constitution – you don’t ignore the American Rule of Law system. Madison and the Framers created the Bill of Rights based on thousands of years of world history of what failed, maybe the Framers were wrong but we should be extremely careful before undoing the Constitution and Bill of Rights based on short-term emotion.
Why do these people hate America?! I am tired of these fake patriots wrapping themselves in the flag and the Constituion while they proceed to shred it.
mespo:
Can you compromise if you are 180 degrees out of alignment with an opponent?
I guess the problem is everyone is so dogmatic these days.
In our nation non-fiction has surpassed fiction in being incredible.
Using that measuring stick: It would be a crime to support warrantless wiretapping, warrantless searches, Guantanamo, indefinite detention, etc.
His proposal would put most Republican legislators in jail.
Bron:
As the percentage of lawyers has decreased in the state legislatures and the numbers of Republicans has increased, we’ve seen more and more of these stupid types of bills punctuated more by demagoguery than real improvements to public policy. The Republicans want to prove a point —often an ill-conceived one (they didn’t get the title “Party of Stupid” for nothing — but lawyers understand the value of governing, i.e. compromising.
And exactly when would they be arrested….. They enjoy immunity on the floor…. And when would the crime be committed….. The guy is a joke….
Ok you want some solutions?
Just about all of these shooters in the news have just been nut cases. It is ALREADY illegal for them to have weapons.
We just need a better data base to screen these mentally ill people out, since obviously they won’t volunteer to do it. (Not a national registration, just a database for the mentally ill.)
But some problems, like guns & drugs, are related. Take Chicago’s murder rate, the biggest percentage of those are gang/drug related.
Anyone remember prohibition? (Like drugs, the morality of the situation never changed on alcohol, only the laws.)
Why did they legalize booze again after a 13 year ban on it? Was it NOW found to be healthy for people?
Of course not, they got rid of prohibition because of all the gangs, murders, corruption, & cost of imprisoning people for it.
Ok, now how do you suppose we could get rid of our gang, murder, corruption, & ever increasing prison costs? (We have the HIGHEST rate of incarceration in the WHOLE WORLD! State’s are going broke trying to imprison all these people.)
Sure drugs destroy lives, but then so do 10 years in jail. Is one better than the other?
Legalize all drugs, and get these freaks off the worst of them, so they aren’t out killing innocent people and each other in turf wars. (I am NOT saying to give all these drugs out, or even make them available…I’m saying REGULATE them.)
Once the revenue from these drugs is gone, so is the incentive for all these gang killings, and robbery’s where innocent people are killed.
Let US use the revenue from them to try to rehabilitate users, like they have done with cigarettes & alcohol.
You want some “common sense” laws….then stop and think about it…and use some common sense…
“The Republican from suburban St. Louis, therefore, would gut the first amendment and scrap the democratic process in the name of upholding the constitution.”
“Destroy the constitution in order to save it.”
Hmmmm … where have we heard that or something like it before?
Must be a virus going around.
mespo:
here is a breakdown of the fools by profession for the First and 112th Congress:
First U.S. Congress (1789–1791)
91 total members
65 representatives
26 senators
34 lawyers
15 soldiers
12 planters/farmers
11 businessmen/merchants
6 clergymen
5 statesmen/career politicians
4 physicians
3 teachers
1 diplomat
112th Congress (2011–2012)
539 total members*
435 representatives
100 senators
6 non-voting members
209 businessmen and women
208 public servants
200 lawyers
81 educators
34 agricultural professionals (including two almond orchard owners)
32 medical professionals (including doctors, veterinarians, ophthalmologists, dentists, a psychiatrist, psychologists, an optometrist, and nurses)
17 journalists
9 accountants
9 scientists
9 social workers
9 military reserves
7 law enforcement officers (including FBI and Border Patrol)
5 ministers
4 pilots
4 Peace Corps volunteers
2 professional football players
2 screenwriters
1 firefighter
1 astronaut
1 documentary filmmaker
1 comedian
When the electorate sends the incompetent to the legislature they get this type of legislation. Imagine that: fools propose foolish things! If this is the heartland,I propose a transplant.
Stupid is as stupid does. How many guns are enough?