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Ellison town hall on gun violence gets contentious
tcdailyplanet.net ^ | February 08, 2013 | Harry Colbert, Jr

Posted on 02/09/2013 9:16:46 PM PST by Tailgunner Joe

The tension was palpable during a packed town hall meeting to discuss federal efforts to reduce gun violence.

The town hall, called by US Rep. Keith Ellison, who represents Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District – a district that has been home to its share of gun violence – took place inside Temple Israel, 2324 Emerson Ave. S. And though the meeting was inside a place of worship, the mood was far from serene. And in a room with walls adorned with statistics on gun violence and names of those killed by guns and with a son of a man gunned down in a mass shooting offering his personal experience with gun violence, one might think the call for gun control would have been unanimous, but that was far from the case.

In a meeting that lasted nearly two hours and was, on a couple of occasions interrupted by outbursts from those opposed to any changes in the nation’s gun laws, the most poignant voice might have been that of 17-year-old Sami Rahamim. Rahamim’s father, Reuven Rahamim, was one of six people gunned down this past fall in a mass shooting at Accent Signage Systems in Minneapolis.

“Nothing can prepare you to hear your father has been murdered with a gun,” said Rahamim, who said when he heard of a shooting in the Bryn Mawr neighborhood, he sent a text message to his father telling him to be careful because there was a shooting in the area. “By passing legislation we will be preventing other families from getting the phone call (notifying the family of Reuven Rahamim’s murder) my family received.”

Reuven Rahamim, who immigrated to the United States, founded Accent Signage Systems in 1984 and turned it into a multi-million dollar company.

“My father lived the American dream, but died the American nightmare,” said Sami Rahamim.

Sami Rahamim, along with Protect Minnesota, has been lobbying law makers at the state capitol to enact stricter state gun laws. Together, the group is calling on federal legislation that will put an end to the so-called gun show loophole that allows buyers to purchase guns without a criminal background check, a ban on assault type weapons like the ones used in mass shootings in Aurora, Col., and Newtown, Conn., and a maximum limit of 10 rounds for gun clips and magazines.

But not all in attendance were so eager to acquiesce to such changes.

“In this rush (to pass legislation) we’re missing the target,” said Lee Burke, who said the problem is not being tough enough on crime. “We’re not going after the criminals in this country. I had two friends murdered and both of their killers are walking the streets today. We’re ignoring God’s law that murderers should be put to death.”

Theresa Cutler said she is opposed to any changes in gun laws because of her need to protect her family.

“With all due respect to the police and law enforcement, I’m the first responder if someone tries to harm my family,” said Cutler. Cutler said having an assault type weapon is a deterrent to criminals looking to do harm.

In his support of tougher gun laws, Ellison pointed out that he is, in fact a gun owner himself, but he said calling for restrictions is not calling for a ban.

“The reality is, we’re going to have to make some changes in our laws,” said Ellison. “It’s now time for us to show fortitude and put some reasonable laws in place.”

Ellison said since the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, there have been well over a thousand gun deaths in the nation. The Sandy Hook shooting took place on Dec. 14.

“We can talk statistics, but really, we’re talking about people. We’re talking about an empty chair at the dining room table,” said Ellison.

“Enough is enough, the proposals we present are common sense,” said Rahamim. “We have the power to save lives.”

Ellison announced that Rahamim will be his guest at the president’s upcoming State of the Union address.


TOPICS: US: Minnesota
KEYWORDS: banglist; guncontrol; marxistmuslimmoron; secondamendment
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1 posted on 02/09/2013 9:16:52 PM PST by Tailgunner Joe
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To: Tailgunner Joe

Puke Ellison. Of course he owns a gun. Of course, they’re “being reasonable.” And you know what, we’ve been reasonable for years, putting up with so much B.S. from these people, utilizing every single event and twisting opinion with emotional persuasion.

I don’t think it’s going to work this time.


2 posted on 02/09/2013 9:23:36 PM PST by Thorliveshere (Tais deau sá taghdedaul!)
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To: Tailgunner Joe
“We can talk statistics, but really, we’re talking about people. Said Ellison.

He's a leftist Muslim. He has no place in our country. He needs to be sent to Liberia ASAP.

3 posted on 02/09/2013 9:48:50 PM PST by ConservativeInPA (Molon Labe)
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To: ConservativeInPA

“In his support of tougher gun laws, Ellison pointed out that he is, in fact a gun owner himself, but he said calling for restrictions is not calling for a ban. “

I think every Freeper knows this puke is a mooslum. And a hypocrite as well.


4 posted on 02/09/2013 10:10:32 PM PST by max americana (Make the world a better place by punching a liberal in the face)
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To: Tailgunner Joe

Isn’t it strange that there is so much concern for safety and sorrow for those lost; yet no one is concerned when an illegal alien murders another person? No one calls for tougher immigration laws when:
o In February 2008, four children were killed in Cottonwood, Minnesota, after their bus was hit by an illegal alien who ran a stop sign;
o On March 30, 2007, in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Allison Kuhnhardt, 17, and Tessa Tranchant, 16, while waiting at a red light, were killed by Alfredo Ramos, 22, who was drunk and traveling at a high rate of speed;
o An illegal immigrant originally from El Salvador who was previously held in federal custody awaiting deportation, was charged in the wake of a killing spree that took place in Manassas, Va., in February, 2011, leaving three dead and three wounded; and on and on.

Oh wait, there are cries for more legislation, you say. Of course, we are going to reward them with amnesty. Welcome to Acirema.


5 posted on 02/09/2013 10:17:29 PM PST by NTHockey (Rules of engagement #1: Take no prisoners)
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To: Tailgunner Joe

How sweet. Muslims and Jews working together - to disarm us.


6 posted on 02/09/2013 10:29:30 PM PST by PAR35
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To: Tailgunner Joe
. We’re talking about an empty chair at the dining room table,” said Ellison. Are we going to legislate them back to life?

No new law will protect those who are potential victims, in fact it just disarms them and robs them of the chance to defend themselves and live.

7 posted on 02/09/2013 10:36:19 PM PST by Kakaze (I want The Republic back !)
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To: Tailgunner Joe

Nothing can prepare you to hear your father has been murdered with a gun,” said Rahamim

I’m sorry but this is just an ignorant statement.
So you would rather have been told your father had his throat slit? Had acid poured all over him?


8 posted on 02/09/2013 10:47:08 PM PST by SECURE AMERICA (Where can I sign up for the American Revolution 2013 and the Crusades 2013?)
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To: Tailgunner Joe

Who, in their right mind, would listen to a mooselimb socialist about ANYTHING?

He speaks Taquiyya!


9 posted on 02/09/2013 10:56:46 PM PST by Mortrey (Impeach President Soros)
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To: Tailgunner Joe

Kinda funny that the mooselimb Ellison seems more concerned with Sandy Hook than the THOUSANDS of negro children killed YEARLY in Illinois.


10 posted on 02/09/2013 10:59:39 PM PST by Mortrey (Impeach President Soros)
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To: Tailgunner Joe

So ellison is a gun owner and owebama does skeet shooting all the time.

They don’t want a ban, they just want “common sense, reasonable restrictions.”

Oh yeah, and registration too so we can confiscate your guns after the next libtard on psycho drugs massacres a bunch of kids again. The sooner the better is what they are counting on.

I’ve never seen such cynical bullshiite in my life. These guys are dancing on the corpses of a bunch of little white kids while blacks and browns slaughter each other every day and they don’t care.


11 posted on 02/10/2013 12:01:57 AM PST by 43north (BHO: 50% black, 50% white, 100% RED)
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To: Tailgunner Joe

Reading this nonsense is enough to make one sick. These idiots keep screaming about “gun violence” yet ignore the 800lb gorilla in the room. I live in an extremely gun-friendly state. Concealed Carry permits are relatively easy to acquire, and the background checks run smoothly. Every friend and family member of mine either owns a gun or is happy to come along to the range and shoot one of ours. We have very few gun related crimes in the sub-urban and rural areas. It’s not what we have, it’s what we lack that makes the difference for us. We lack a feral bastard population. Our cities, like the rest of the cities in this country, are over-run with baby-momma spawn. The fact of the matter is if you removed the suicides (which Japan, a gun free nation, has twice as many as we) and the murders committed by the feral bastards in our urban areas, the statistics will prove that we do not have a much higher murder rate than any other Western nation, and much less than the rates in third world countries. This is my first post to FR. Forgive me for preaching to the choir. Jim, my contribution is on it’s way. I get paid Next Friday..


12 posted on 02/10/2013 1:58:44 AM PST by ill duce
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To: Tailgunner Joe

“Enough is enough, the proposals we present are common sense,” said Rahamim. “We have the power to save lives.”

No, you don’t, you farging maroon. Get out of my country.


13 posted on 02/10/2013 2:17:36 AM PST by dsc (Any attempt to move a government to the left is a crime against humanity.)
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To: Tailgunner Joe

This week’s outrage comes to us courtesy of the anti-gun Reverend Jesse Jackson. Rev. Jackson is not in the news as much now as he once was. When you do hear from him, though, his comments are still laced with his usual dose of hyperbole and shear stupidity

That predictable pattern continues with Rev. Jackson’s recent comments on semi-automatic firearms.

According to an article appearing on TheBlaze.com last month, Rev. Jackson believes that semi-automatic firearms must be banned because they could “shoot down planes” and therefore constitute a risk to national security.

The Blaze ran a follow-up story debunking the claim, but that didn’t seem to deter Rev. Jackson, as this week he boldly declared that, in addition to shooting down planes, semi-automatic firearms could also be used to “blow up railroads.”

“You know that these weapons can shoot down airplanes, they can blow up railroads. This is really a whole national security issue,” Rev. Jackson said in a recent interview on Fox News. Blow up railroads? What in the world is he basing that claim
Idiots on parade much like conyers comment about the island tipping over. Are we that stupid??


14 posted on 02/10/2013 3:37:28 AM PST by ronnie raygun (w)
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To: Tailgunner Joe

Say what you will about Ellison, but at least he had the town hall meeting.

Most Dems now only do “virtual town halls” so they don’t have to deal with Americans.


15 posted on 02/10/2013 4:44:56 AM PST by BobL
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To: ronnie raygun

” Idiots on parade much like conyers comment about the island tipping over. Are we that stupid??”

That bit of wisdom was actually uttered by the esteemed congressman from GA, Hank Johnson, who replaced Cynthia McKinnie.


16 posted on 02/10/2013 4:50:00 AM PST by bk1000 (A clear conscience is a sure sign of a poor memory)
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To: Tailgunner Joe
Ellison said since the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, there have been well over a thousand gun deaths in the nation. The Sandy Hook shooting took place on Dec. 14.

First, I call BS on that stat.

Second, if true, it reinforces the need to have the 2nd Amendment for sheer protection from the evil ones.

17 posted on 02/10/2013 4:55:15 AM PST by newfreep (Breitbart sent me...)
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To: Tailgunner Joe

Ellison=mooslem Ahole


18 posted on 02/10/2013 5:25:35 AM PST by 4buttons
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To: newfreep
"According to the FBI, the total number of gun deaths for 2005 was 10,158, for 2006 it was 10,225, and for 2007 it was 10,129. These numbers fluctuate a little, dropping from time to time. For example, in 2010 the total number of gun related deaths was 8,775 and in 2011 it was 8,583."

Even if the number of annual gun deaths has fallen to 8000 last year (ALSO supporting "More Guns, Less Crime"!) the total would still be 1300 over the last 2 months.

But the US is a BIG country, with more than 315,000,000 people. Not to downplay the individual tragedies that have occurred, but 1300 is not a large number of deaths in a country this size. To put that number in context:

"For example, according to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the total number of deaths related to automobiles in 2009 was 34,485. In other words, more people died via automobiles in 2009 alone than died in gun-related deaths for the years 2005, 2006, and 2007 combined."

"Moreover, according to the CDC, more people died from falls in 2009 alone than died in gun-related deaths for the years 2009, 2010, and most of 2011 combined. (Total number of deaths via falls in 2009 was 24,792.)"

AND, "In the United States obesity is estimated to cause 111,909 to 365,000 deaths per year".

Eating has been responsible for roughly 10 to 30 TIMES as many deaths as guns since Sandy Hook. And nobody -- okay, there's Mayor Bloomberg and Michelle Obama -- well, almost nobody is talking about "Big Mac Control"!

19 posted on 02/10/2013 5:44:00 AM PST by Sooth2222 ("Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of congress. But I repeat myself." M.Twain)
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To: ronnie raygun

“Idiots on parade much like Conyers’ comment about the island tipping over. Are we that stupid??”

No, it’s Ellison, Jackson & Conyers who are that stupid!


20 posted on 02/10/2013 5:52:14 AM PST by elcid1970 ("The Second Amendment is more important than Islam.")
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