New Hampshire Representative Timothy Horrigan (D-Durham) is outraged over what he describes as “a blatant violation of the Second Amendment.” The violation? People on public assistance cannot use EBT cards to buy guns. He is objecting to legislation barring the use of EBT cards for this purpose and denying people on welfare to hunt and defend themselves with guns.
Any person who receives public assistance is prohibited from using an EBT card or cash obtained with an EBT card to gamble or to purchase tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, lottery tickets, firearms, or adult entertainment.
Horrigan presumably wants the reference to “firearms” deleted.
Horrigan does not appear to be a gun advocate but rather believes that welfare recipients should be able to use the money without such limitations. He simply used the second amendment argument to make this point. He opposed the two Bush campaigns and has a low rating by the NRA. His website also notes that he is looking for a job.
Putting aside the firearms issue, do you believe that public assistance recipients should be able to use their cards like cash for any purchase?
As has been discussed here before, the Brits are way ahead of us here too – working towards a ban on pointy kitchen knives.
http://www.bmj.com/content/330/7502/1221
Surely we should restrict the purchase of these dangerous knives with EBT benefits as well, as a good first step in this country, as only the monied elite should have access to the protection afforded by these knives and probably are the only ones with the proper culinary training to use them safely in the kitchen anyway. At least pointy knives don’t have that pesky complication of being the only item where the right to own it is actually constitutionally protected and recognized as an inalienable right.
Some brief research shows this Dem is pretty mainstream to left. However, along w/ having a college town in his district[6], he also has some rural voters. So, like a good politician, he is looking out for the needs of his somewhat diverse constituency. Horrigan uses his alma mater’s email[USC] which I kinda like. Horrigan’s big issues seem to be environmental and minimum wage. He is active in social media[Facebook and Twitter], and I think many of the Dems here could abide him, absent this unique proposal.
Allen, We have had 3 deaths in the past week in Madison, all due to stabbings. I think we need knife regulations. Only trained chefs should be allowed to have them.
Can I buy a knife to make peanut butter & jelly sandwiches?
Oh, yeah. And some of the British press collude with the British police.
The British press…..
Some of the British press features a bosomy blonde on page three. Some of the British press wiretap personal phone calls between Charles and Camilla – between Diana and her lover. Some of the British press hack into voicemails of murdered children. Some of the British press supported the Nazis. Some of the British press feature Harry in a Nazi costume on the front page. Some of the British press believe that psychics can solve crimes.
It is no surprise to me that some of the British press would feature stories of people quaking in their homes because they have been disarmed by their government.
I only wonder why Margaret didn’t remedy that when she had the chance?
jude, Here is the culture clash for many folks who live in big cities and suburbs. I am not a hunter or fisher but know quite a few, living in Wi.. Some of them fill their freezers w/ game and fish and feed their families a good part of the winter. Those w/o families often donate to food banks. We work @ a meal for needy place and food comes in during deer season. I have never asked if fish is donated.
A gun in every holster, kind of like a chicken in every pot.
I guess he could try to argue that with a gun they could hunt and get food…
Karen S
Yep. I sorta noticed that Breitbart and Prof. Turley said the same thing, too. Weird story, weird guy, weird coincidence.
The fact that this guy is an elected Dem in a liberal, New England, college town is what’s fascinating. I’m not going to defend or rip the guy. I am going to learn more about this iconoclast from talking w/ folks and researching.
feynman
Gun Stamps!
…
Do you suppose it might make a nice new shiny plank of the Republican platform?
At last we have found a social program that the right can embrace!
=================
Yep.
And they would surely
compromisebe forced by drones to agree to one meal per gun.That is, for every gun stamp there can be one food stamp.
Hey, great civilizations git’R’dun …
Using food assistance for guns, seriously?! I understand that one should be able to hunt for one’s food, but this is ridiculous.
I think that the EBT card, or the CASH OBTAINED FROM IT (since some recipients are granted cash benefits as well as food benefits), which apparently can be used for any legal purpose outside of those clearly defined as “vice”. This would include the purchase of furniture, TVs, automobiles, cell phones, CDs & DVDs, as well as the obvious items such as baby diapers & clothing.
I believe the rather rational objection here on Constitutional grounds, is placing an item that virtually every sane, non-felon, adult has a constitutionally protected right to own in the same category as such vices as intoxicants and “adult entertainment”.
Now, perhaps a more valid argument could be made to restrict the purchase of handguns vs long arms.
However if you don’t like the fact that EBT cash benefits can be used for virtually any non-vice purchase, then change the program into one that has a restricted list of approved items that can be obtained with a benefit card (not cash) ala California’s WIC program, don’t simply attempt to lump in firearms with vice because you don’t like guns. While perhaps a stretch hunting is a food gathering activity – buying or renting DVDs is not.
I do notice however that if you happen to already own a firearm(s), that apparently ammunition may be freely purchased with your EBT cash benefits…
My personal opinion is that the cash benefit is probably much more abused than the food benefits ever are, and should be modified to an “approved items only” like medication, clothing, housing, etc. with a benefit card – no cash involved. But if you are going to have a cash benefit used for any legal purpose outside of vice – you can’t classify a constitutional right as a “vice” – unless you are willing to start restricting what benefit recipients are allowed to say, have them waive their fifth amendment rights, and while we are at it – let’s make them all show up for church every Sunday as well…
I am donning my Nomex undies now.
Max – 1 And don’t forget the Democrat voted against gun rights. No, he simply opposes any restriction on how the funds can be used. He thinks we should just give them cash or an EBT card, and what they do with it is their business. If they blow it at a strip club, and their kids go hungry, well, just give them more cash and still don’t ask questions if their poor kids are still hungry.
Feynman:
I have followed the UK story in great detail, and it is reported all the time in the British press.
Another problem is that murders are only classified as such if they are solved. They do all sorts of things to tinker with statistics over there. Again, all in the British Press.
I know that you like to disregard articles if they are written by journalists whose politics you disagree with but, again, this is all easily findable in the British Press. Who, I believe, would know what goes on in England.
A Democrat in favor of expanded gun rights? Say it ain’t so…
… That he overlooked the Adult Entertainment aspect.
Feynman:
Both Breitbart and Professor Turley said essentially the same thing. They just reported the story. I do think this Dem is a bit of an odd bird, but the story is interesting.
Feynman,
I assume you’re talking about Senator McDreamy? Fortunately, he lost to Elizabeth Warren in Massachusetts. If New Hampshire wants him, they can have him. He’s got a tough opponent in Jean Shaheen.
Elaine,
So I guess the Cosmo foldout stands a good chance of being elected Senator?