Chris Rickert: Capitol's new debate: guns vs. cameras

madison.com ^ | 06 nov 2011 | Chris Rickert

[rellimpank]

Republicans had barely finished crafting rules for how the state's new concealed carry law would apply at state buildings when Democrats and others on the left started upbraiding them for the irony of allowing guns in the Capitol but not cameras or video recorders in the Assembly and Senate galleries.

It was only a few months ago, after all, that metal detectors were installed to prevent nonviolent protesters from bringing in just such life-threatening weapons, and today a small group of hard-core protesters continues to get cited for nothing more life-threatening than recording their lawmakers from the gallery.

[rellimpank]

--more balance than usual from Madison's electronic garbage-wrap--

[goldstategop]

The Democrats and the Left have run out of issues on which to attack Walker.

I can see their recall drive going real well!

Heh

[BenLurkin]

the irony of allowing guns in the Capitol but not cameras

What "irony"?

[backwoods-engineer]

These morons really don't get it, do they? Criminals will bring both cameras and guns in to the capitol. Metal detectors are IRRELEVANT; guards can be bought off, the exchange can be made at an open window, etc. The PEOPLE of the United States should be her internal defense, not some standing army (e.g., police) that serves only to oppress the people (which the Founders predicted.

If the state dropped the prohibition on both cameras and firearms, well-intentioned citizens could both identify and defend against the anarchist types. And, as a bonus, they could put the microscope on legislators the way the media will never do. Unless the legislators in question are Republicans, of course. And then, only when they don't give enough stuff to the Free S**t Army.