Posted on 02/25/2013 12:53:28 PM PST by Red Steel
[Full title] ‘By All Means, Leave’: The Amazingly Blunt Response One State Rep. Gave a Citizen Who Wrote Him Opposing Concealed Carry in Schools
Get out of here.
That was one Wyoming state representative’s message to a resident who contacted him recently stating her opposition to a bill that would have allowed people with concealed carry permits to carry guns in public schools, colleges and sporting events.
Rev. Audette Fulbright had emailed all state legislators, including Republican Rep. Hans Hunt, earlier this month to say she and her husband had just moved to Wyoming and were “seriously reconsidering” their decision amid the proposed expansion of gun laws.
“Ample evidence has shown that schools and guns do not mix, and in particular, guns in the hands of amateurs/non-professionals is extremely dangerous, especially in any highly-charged situation,” Fulbright wrote. “To expose our children to greater risk in their schools by encouraging more guns on campuses is something that we cannot allow.”
Fulbright also said she was concerned about “the profoundly serious dangers of fracking” and said the question of whether to leave was “wrenching to all of us.”
“I know of other new-to-Wyoming families in similar contemplation. Your choices matter. It would be sad to see an exodus of educated, childrearing age adults from Wyoming as a result of poor lawmaking,” she wrote.
Hunt’s response? “By all means, leave.”
“I’ll be blunt,” he wrote back. “If you don’t like the political atmosphere of Wyoming, then by all means, leave. We, who have been here a very long time (I am proudly 4th generation) are quite proud of our independent heritage.”
Fulbright is not one of Hunt’s constituents, but he was one of just two lawmakers who responded to her letter. The other, state Rep. Mary Throne (D), said the bill had moved to committee and to contact committee members. It has since been shot down by legislators.
Fulbright told the Casper Star-Tribune her family moved from Virginia in July to have access to better schools and a beautiful environment.
“Apparently I have to live here a certain amount of time before I have an opinion,” she told the newspaper.
Hunt, who was the youngest member of the Wyoming legislature when he was elected in 2010 didn’t back down from his response.
“Was it blunt? Yes. Would I apologize? No,” Hunt told the Star-Tribune. He said later: “If I had to do it again, would I sit and think about how to phrase my words more carefully? Probably.”
Read the full correspondence below:
Fulbright’s email:
Dear Representative,
I hope you are taking care of yourself during this busy session. I know it is a challenging, compressed time.
I am writing to express my grave concern about House Bill 105. Ample evidence has shown that schools and guns do not mix, and in particular, guns in the hands of amateurs/non-professionals is extremely dangerous, especially in any highly-charged situation. to expose our children to greater risk in their schools by encouraging more guns on campuses is something that we cannot allow.
My husband and I moved to Wyoming not too long ago. We believed it was a good place to raise children. With the recent and reactive expansion of gun laws and the profoundly serious dangers of fracking, we find we are seriously reconsidering our decision, which is wrenching to all of us. However, the safety of our family must come first. We are waiting to see what the legislature does this session. I know of other new-to-Wyoming families in similar contemplation. Your choices matter. It would be sad to see an exodus of educated, childrearing age adults from Wyoming as a result of poor lawmaking.
sincerely,
Rev. Audette Fulbright
Hunt’s response:
Rev. Fulbright,
I’ll be blunt. If you don’t like the political atmosphere of Wyoming, then by all means, leave. We, who have been here a very long time (I am proudly 4th generation) are quite proud of our independent heritage. I don’t expect a “mass exodus” from our state just because we’re standing up for our rights. As to your comments on fracking, I would point out that you’re basing your statement on “dangers” that have not been scientifically founded or proved as of yet.
It offends me to no end when liberal out-of-staters such as yourself move into Wyoming, trying to get away from where they came from, and then pompously demand that Wyoming conform to their way of thinking. We are, and will continue to be, a state which stands a head above the rest in terms of economic security. Our ability to do that is, in large part, to our “live and let live” mentality when it comes to allowing economic development, and limiting government oversight. So, to conclude, if you’re so worried about what our legislature is working on, then go back home.
Sincerely,
Hans Hunt
Representative Hans Hunt
House District 02
I thought in Wyoming Unitarian Pastrices had to be confined to zoos.
Jackass liberal didn’t realize that Wyoming was going to be filled with tough frontier types with lots of guns and pickup trucks? How stupid do you have to be to traipse into a state like Wyoming - Wyoming! - and think you’re going to be coddled in the bosom of the Nanny State?
I find that kind of honesty refreshing in this age of nuance and double-talk.
Did anyone else note the irony in an aggressively abortion-promoting Unitarian warning about the danger of repelling people of “child-bearing” age?
>> sending their virii elsewhere
Yup.
>> Fulbright: “It would be sad to see an exodus of educated, childrearing age adults from Wyoming as a result of poor lawmaking. “
What an arrogant bitch.
liberals don’t “rear” children - they ship the ones they don’t abort off to the state to “rear”
Hopefully he means he’d have been MORE blunt. “Don’t try to sissy-fy my state!” Sounds good
Typical exaggeration.
You got that right. Typical reaction from a liberal when somebody merely disagrees with their opinion.
Nobody told her she couldn't have an opinion.
Sounds like he has the mentality of “newcomers” that the whole country should have-
This is our country. We have our laws, traditions, opinions, language and culture. DO NOT come here and try to change us. You came here because you like what we are, conform or go home.
The right Reverend no doubt teaches the greasy grace of many paths to heaven. In the end times many will be deceived.
Yeah, I had a Cuban neighbor and a Chinese co-worker who were the same way. They left their respective native countries but now wanted to turn America into Cuba and China, only wealthier. They don’t get it: it isn’t a trade off between freedom and propserity, one feeds the other. Freer contries are wealthier countries.
The last time I checked, anyone can have any opinion that they want. This woman announced hers which is her right to do.
What she does not have a 'right' to is for anyone to agree with her opinion.
Or argue with her opinion.
Or expect anyone to act on her opinion.
Or anyone to acknowledge her opinion at all.
This is one of the biggest problems with this country right now. Just because you have expressed an opinion, the expressor expects it to be acted upon and given a highest order, just because it came out of their mouth.That's not the case.
It's far past time for individuals (such as this rep) answer back these people who think their opinion are to be acted upon as if it holds some high moral order.
If this woman wants to have her opinion heard, she can file the papers needed, and run for office. She will find out real quick if anyone else is interested in her opinion at the ballot box.
We can only hope it doesn’t reproduce...
Makes me want to move to Wyoming.
“in particular, guns in the hands of amateurs/non-professionals is extremely dangerous, especially in any highly-charged situation,” Fulbright wrote. “
yeah like the LAPD and Torrance officers shooting up random pickup trucks in the hunt for Chris Dorner
The Constitution of the United States, in the Bill of Rights, guarantees her right to have her own opinion, and the Freedom of Speech right to express it.
However, the same Constitution, does NOT mandate that any other American either listen to her drivel or adopt her opinion.
Her Freedom of Speech ENDS 1/2 inch from my ear.
He’d get my vote.
He’d get my vote.
People like this woman pretend to be “average folks” just moving away from the frenetic big city, but she’s really a communist infiltrator operating openly, and as such, her identity, and presence in Wyoming needs to be well known.
She and those like her are ignorant. To be that ignorant of Wyoming as to MOVE there in order to raise children in a beautiful and healthy environment only to discover that Wyoming is more than gorgeous country and to freak out about it, just boggles the mind.
I wouldn’t attack her and name call etc. I would just sadly shake my head and say, appalling ignorance, simply appalling.
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