From Krist Boardman:
This is as close as it gets for me right now. My son Alex is a captain in the Fort Lauderdale. FL fire department. He does not have any school age children yet. But a couple of his first responder friends in the fire company were attending the school which was the latest target of a mass shooting in Broward County where 17 children were needlessly murdered. His friends’ children were not shot but some of their friends were. Yet none of us has to know anyone who was so slain to grieve for these lost children. I didn’t know any of the 20 children murdered in the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy either, but it is none the less outrageous that they did lose their lives. Their parents and families daily endure these unspeakable losses and yet something should have been done then and it was not. The incidents of mass shootings are so numerous since then they are mind-numbing.
Politicians have been saying that when such a tragedy occurs, “it’s not the right time to talk about this. We are praying for the victims and thanking the first responders that this was not worse.” They refuse to discuss gun safety. Two weeks later the incident is forgotten and the conversation never occurs. The NRA, gun manufacturers and others who lobby for guns give to millions of dollars to politicians so there is no meaningful conversation about guns. As a result, nothing is done to curb gun violence.
There are no clean hands among the politicians: Sen. Marco Rubio has received $3 million in campaign contributions; Sen. John McCain $7 million. Former Dem. Senate leader Harry Reid was against suing gun manufacturers and so was my hero from 2016 Bernie Sanders who also did not want to make it legal to sue gun makers. These are just a few;
There are so many national lawmakers who are so deeply compromised that they would make a vast rogues’ gallery of money takers who have sold the people’s and children’s safety for the sake of this lobby.
It’s interesting that at a time we are having an opioid epidemic, there are numerous lawsuits being filed against drug companies which have made it easier for these addictive medicines to fall in the hands and bodies of drug abusers. We haven’t heard the argument yet, “drug companies don’t create addictions, people do,” which is true because people take the medicines and drug companies do not physically force their pills and needles into addicts’ mouths and arms. But drug companies enable those who are vulnerable to addiction and they bear some of the responsibility for the epidemic as do doctors who may not be exercising due diligence to prevent opioids from being abused by their patients. These are controlled substances, after all. There are good reasons these are controlled by strict laws with tough penalties.
When is enough gun violence enough? It should already have been. Do we really need more examples of school shootings, church goers gunned down in their own parishes, and nightclubs, movie theaters and outdoor concerts being attacked for this point to be driven home with some finality? This does not even contemplate the daily shootings that are not mass slaughters. How can we even claim to be civilized if we allow this to happen? Do our own children need to be killed in a nearby school to make this point?
It used to be the gun lobby agitated only for the God-given “rights” of shooters to kill animals. “Every man (and woman) is a primordial hunter,” the rationale went and therefore each hunter needs to connect with his primitive instinct to kill something so he has something to eat for dinner. But game wardens regulate hunting and prevent hunters from destroying herds of wildlife with automatic weapons. Not so people: it’s against the law to kill dozens of people all at one time even as it’s against the law to kill just one person. But it’s not against the law to buy a weapon that will kill dozens of people almost all at the same time. That is why it keeps happening.
The background check is the supposed device whereby a person who is not supposed to get a weapon can be denied access to one. But having been doctored by the poliitcians, bureaucrats and gun fanatics, the data base is frequently lacking essential information that would have prevented a tragedy if the information had been entered.
Then there are the gun shows that are exempted from the background check. A big gun show held recently in Bel Air MD may have sold guns to customers who would otherwise have been ineligible to buy these weapons. Does Harford Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler know who these persons are so he can more effectively protect life and property of his constituents?
I’ll bet he doesn’t know who the ineligible persons who were there who may have bought their weapons. Wouldn’t it have been wiser to have this gun show loophole closed?
When I say gun advocates have lost their minds I need only point to my home state of Wisconsin. There recently they had a disabled hunt where disabled people were taken out into the woods and fields in their wheelchairs and given permission to shoot at animals that were not disabled. When I first heard about this I could not believe it. I thought a “Disabled Hunt” was when able-bodied people went into the wilderness to recover disabled people before they became irretrievably lost and died, not that disabled people were trying to disable animals prior to their deaths. Surely disabled people do not want able-bodied animals to suffer too, but I was wrong.
Then Wisconsin legislators enacted a law making it legal for children and babies to get hunting licenses, supposedly under the supervision of their parents. Otherwise I am having a hard time picturing toddlers toddling down the bunny trail shooting guns that may kill themselves or their companions while they are waiting to bag some big game.
I guess I just don’t understand these things. I’d be better off in Australia where they did have a big gun problem but they solved it. We just can’t seem to solve our problem here.
Krist Boardman
Karma says
uuummmmm…. Maybe modern “parents” should do a better job parenting. Take some responsibility for what you create.
Maroon says
You do realize the florida shooter was an orphan right?
Karma says
Aaaaannnnddddd???
You are only proving my point
Maroon says
Clearly his parents lack of responsibility are to blame…. dumbass….
Karma says
And clearly yours are as well….
John says
Yeah. how dare they die and leave the troubled kid to fall farther into mental illness!
Hunter says
It’s not just about Florida; parents and guardians all must take responsibility and provide the basis for good citizenship and have respect for human life. Very little respect is shown these days and it begins at home. Yes, bureaucrats will want more gun control; but really…when man (general term) wants to kill, man will find a way. Look at the trucks that mow down people. Corrective action starts at home with a family……….not part-time parents who don’t care.
LOL says
LOL
Right, and I love the mental health part. If there is some mechanism ever enacted to take away people’s knives, chainsaws, guns, sharp sticks because they feel sad/depressed/need a px of prozsc, you’re going to have thousands and thousands more people who aren’t going to get help they need because they know “the man” is coming to take away their stuff.
Frustrated says
I agree that we should not try and discourage the seeking of mental health treatment.
mike humphreys says
A gun has never killed anyone.
Maroon says
That has to be the dumbest claim ever. Why don’t you have a sit down with the sheriff and explain to him how heroin has never killed anyone….. dumbass.
Obvious says
Heroin never killed anyone. The individual who put the heroin into the person killed that person. Most of the time its considered suicide.
Harford Resident says
Neither has a car, despite what the NRA would like you to believe.
Maroon says
Lawn darts haven’t killed anyone in the last 5 years either…..
Karma says
Thanks to people in your family tree I’m sure!
Logic says
So let’s apply your logic to another crime that causes 35,000 deaths of innocent people each year. On average someone dies in the U.S. as result of driving under the influence every 22 minutes. So should be ban alcohol or cars? Because using your gun control logic, one or both have to go.
Mind Blown says
What the hell is this old guy talking about? “Gun show loophole”? Are you just repeating buzzwords?
“Long gun” sales between two private person’s are legal “face to face” as long as you reasonably expect the buyer not to be a prohibited person. There are no “regulated” long guns anymore. There’s no “loop hole” when it’s a totally lawful activity to do, wherever you feel like doing it.
When you buy a long gun from a gun dealer, there is only a Federal form and “background check” to compete.
Handgun sales require state and federal paperwork to include the “background check.”
If you’re going to write your rambling on novel, at least comprehend basic firearm laws.
We gotta stop the right turn on red loophole. LOL
Phil says
did the Aegis have it right – Gahler – using his title – Sheriff Gahler – supporting Penmans gun give away? Harford county will re-elect Gahler – but he should not be. Not only is he pouring salt in wounds but he’s admitting the sheriff’s dept is outgunned and we’re all on our own – so everybody get your guns – we’re back with the rest of the country now in the old wild wild west. I own a gun – and think you should be able to own the civilian guns good enough for my father and his dad – but the AR 15 should have never been civilanized. Gahler should be ashamed – he’s not = but he should be.
Always Ready says
Which specific feature of the AR platform would you suggest be illegal:
Color?
Caliber?
Brand?
Removable magazines?
For bonus points, would you prefer the authorities retain whatever feature you find threatening?
Nancy Pelosi sucks Burbey ass says
I know people who could take down more targets with a bow than some of these idiots could take down with a frickin AR15. Lol Get a grip people
SoulCrusher says
Very good point. Do you think they’ll want to ban bows and crossbows next? The airbow is badass. Very accurate as well. If not for the constant refilling of the airtank with the air compressor, I would say this would be a good weapon of choice……
White Man From Town says
Boardman, no one is stopping you from moving, buy a ticket and go. Chicago has some of the toughest gun laws in the country and they are murder capital of the country, Maryland has some tough laws as well and they are not to far behind Chicago. Enforced the laws that are already in place.
The Communicator says
See below excerpt from an article a few days ago
Minnesota: More Guns, Less Violent Crime
Minnesota is coming off a year of record-breaking background checks for gun sales coupled with statistics that show record low violent crime.
CBS Minnesota reports that “the state set a new record for firearms background checks” in 2017. That record follows the issuance of a record number of Minnesota concealed carry permits–71,156–in 2016.
Amid these gun purchases and concealed carry permit issuance records something else was happening–crime was falling. That state’s “violent crime rate hit a 50-year low in 2016.”
Why do you suppose this happened? A more responsible culture, more two parent families, or maybe criminals are not so brazen because they know Minnesotans are armed. Regardless, if Boardman’s theory was true (less guns, less crime), then Minnesota should be a shooting gallery akin to the wild west. Maryland and the rest of the country should follow Minnesota’s example.
Drain the swamp says
Sourced from Breibart, you should have mentioned that when referencing the article.
The Communicator says
CBS Minnesota reported the story. Who cares it appeared on Breitbart? I am sure it was posted on other sites too. I shared the originating news organization. I am surprised CBS reported it. Bottom line, More Guns, Less Crime.
White Man From Town says
Boardman, According to USA today, posted on MSN News, Baltimore rated the most dangerous city in the country. So much for strict gun control, Or could it be that the most dangerous cities are run by Dems. Get your ticket to Australia.
SoulCrusher says
Boardman, you claim that Australia is such a safe place since they have removed guns from the population. It’s just not true. The homicide rate and the kidnapping/abduction rates are about the same. The sexual assault rates have raised and dropped to about the same levels as prior to the legislation. The victims claim they have no way of defending themselves. The robbery rate has decreased to about 20 less per year, but the robberies still exist and the people who are robbed say they have no way of defending themselves as well. I just don’t know where you are going with this. When gun ownership is so engrained in our history and traditions, guaranteed by the supreme law of the land, one has to wonder why you are so “un-American”. Tragedies are tragedies. They will exist regardless of law because you can’t prevent human beings from being human beings. To live is a tragedy because we were ALL born to die. There isn’t one person on this planet that will not die. Now, I have a question for you. Would you feel better if someone entered a school building and killed 17 people by the use of an axe or a machete? Would you say “at least they didn’t get shot”? Quite frankly, a bullet is probably a lot less horrifying than being butchered alive or being beaten to death. Lastly, the prime weapon of terrorism in the Middle East are the use of bombs and suicide bombers. Bombs can be made out of many common things including fertilizer. Should we ban fertilizer? Or maybe we should just ban death and we will all live forever, right? You say people have lost their minds over guns and I say that people that want to ban guns have lost their minds. They are necessary to provide peace of mind and security to people in their homes and this country. They are guaranteed by the supreme law of the land and in my mind the thought of taking guns away from the population is “treasonous” because we are at war with terrorism and taking away guns will endanger the American population. Krist, please think with your a$$ before defecating from your mouth and read the accompanied website about how the gun ban of Australia has NOT had the desired effects you think they have. If you want to live defenseless in this world, that’s your business. However, many mothers and fathers would disagree with you about the issue at hand……https://www.snopes.com/crime/statistics/ausguns.asp
Mike Callahan says
Civilians should not have access to assault rifles. They are not hunting weapons unless your hunting humans. Outlaw and confiscate!
Mr. Mister says
So Callahan posts a video (big surprise) of a comedian. Makes sense, since he’s the biggest joke on the Dagger. Mike, you don’t know even what an ‘assault rifle’ is, so stop trying to play with the smart people.
… and do I need to point out that it’s “you’re”, not “your”?
SoulCrusher says
Uh, Mike here is a YouTube video of hunting DEER with the AR-15.
SoulCrusher says
A YouTube video showing BEAR hunting with an AR-15….
SoulCrusher says
FERAL GOATS….https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tma0Hv0KVxA
SoulCrusher says
And WILD BOARS……
SoulCrusher says
The point I’m trying to make Mike is that an AR-15 can be used for hunting, just like any other rifle. You have let your political associations point you to a path of fiction and untruths. You like to post YouTube videos, so I’m surprised that you didn’t do a little more research on your goto video site to back up your claim. Mike, I’m not trying to make you look foolish. I’m trying to show you that partisan propaganda is exactly what it is, PARTISAN PROPAGANDA. I don’t approve of partisan lies of any sort and I urge you to become an independent voter and stop listening to the BS the Democratic Party is feeding you. Remember, I don’t approve of Republican BS propaganda either. You seem to be a good guy. Start thinking for yourself and don’t let the media or any partisan BS influence your life. Partisan BS is ruining what is left of our country and you shouldn’t want to be part of the deceit and misconception. I wish you luck in the wars and battles to come……
Mind Blown says
In MD, the state handgun paperwork is all online now, does it include the mental health form? It basically allows the MSP to search mental health records, I believe involuntary confinement longer than a certain amount of days is a disqualifer. There’s no “laws” violated as you allow a local .gov agency look up your medical record in certain aspects.
When people want Private medical Professionals to perform an “exam” or to “sign off” on people purchasing guns is going to be going really far down the rabbit hole.
Are private practice physicians going to risk their business/liability on that? I doubt it. You’re asking a non law enforcement/non judicial/non due process person to determine whether you can or can’t have a sharp stick, considering the way our health care system is now…. LOL
SoulCrusher says
Oh, I believe HIPAA laws do prohibit the government from accessing any type of medical record. But, to keep a gun out of the hands of a person who suffers from legitimate concerns of mental health issues, I believe the HIPAA laws are subject to involuntary waiver. It has to be that way.
Mind Blown says
You sign paperwork allowing them to access your medical records, doing so voluntarily and knowingly allowing it.
The thing is, if you don’t sign it, they won’t access it, and therefore you won’t be able to purchase the firearm.
SoulCrusher says
Did not know that a background check for a firearm gives them authority to access your medical records. Now, if you can’t purchase the firearm without signing consent, wouldn’t that be a coercion? I guess it doesn’t matter that you were coerced if there was an involuntary waiver, but coercion in any case is basically an extorted authority. I believe that the involuntary waiver would be the proper way of handling it. You can’t give a gun to a mentally ill person or patient, unless of course they go to a psychiatrist and get a certificate of competency or whatever the correct type of certification would be……
Mind Blown says
Yes, I believe when I say “Medical records” that only pertains to whatever the Department of Mental Health is reported on.
Involuntarily confinement in a mental health facility seems to be the big one that’s commonly associated.
Maybe someone can clarify what voluntarily confinement might make someone? Maybe MD does not distinguish either and it’s just in a mental health facility for longer than a certain amount of days? Not sure.
HYDESMANN says
Mr, Boardman, Gun manufactures CAN be sued for making a defective product but not for just making guns (just like any manufacturing company). There is NO gun show loophole and Sheriff Gahler is not responsible for monitoring gun sales( that is the responsibility of the state police and the federal authorities).You say politicians refuse to discuss gun safety and denounce the NRA when the NRA is the biggest promoter of gun safety in the country.You have a right to your opinion but please get your facts straight.
Harford Resident says
“when the NRA is the biggest promoter of gun safety in the country.”
The Eddie Eagle program – big deal. Their only reason for running that program is to be able to sell them more guns. They couldn’t care less about gun safety. If they did, they wouldn’t have lobbied Congress to prohibit the CDC from conducting gun safety studies. What are they afraid of?
Harford Resident says
The reason politicians won’t ever do anything is because kids, unlike the NRA and other deep pocketed lobbying groups, don’t contribute to re-election campaigns. The politicians truly don’t care how many kids are killed.
Tolerated says
We have this problem cause behavior is tolerated. In Havre de Grace they allow local trouble makers to shoot your garage and vehicles with BB guns, throw dog poop in your yard, place Christmas cards with poop in your mailbox, block your driveway,holler for you to suck and lick their private parts, cut down your plants, allow their dogs to run free and poop in your yard, etc. Report to police and town council only to be told its public streets and being vulgar is freedom of speech as the police laugh at you. Have a meeting with chief only to catch cleaning lady at door who took the discussion back to these people and find out she is related to them.These people have repeat records and if you go to court nothing happens. So when your kids overdose or kill each other understand these people are raising kids and grand kids that have been taught this behavior is tolerated and protected. Its a shame that good neighbors are to scared to stand up cause nothing gets done.
Ron Rico says
Boardman, please do yourself a favor, stick to writing novels, better yet move to Canada, you are so far off base, Canada deserves you. I’m sure they would welcomed you with open arms, better yet, move to Baltimore city where they give dems space to destroy and burn. You have been Hoodwinked with the bait and switch dems. Thought you might have been a lil wiser. Do you not see what these far left progressive dems want to do with this great country, they do not want a United States Of America. You should really do some sole searching and pull your head out of your A$$
Harford County Citizen says
Krist, good grief…for the last time this is NOT a gun problem. It is a behaviour….intent…anger problem. Its a problem of kids and adults not realizing the permanence of death and how it affects others. You want to solve the problem of school and theater shootings? Allow our Teachers to conceal carry. Give the brave Teachers who volunteer for this program a raise in pay instead of paying ONE resource officer to cover 1200 students in a school. Train 5 to 10 Teachers per school. No one knows who is carrying as to not stress out the kids. Lets stop calling Teachers heros for running away from the problem and getting shot in the back protecting a few kids….lets call them hero’s for putting a STOP to the situation. Israeli Teachers open carry with no problems. Many States in the U.S. allow Teachers to conceal carry with NO shootings to date. Let us start doing the same. Start with Maryland! Citizens rise up and conceal carry. They can’t put us ALL in jail!
ashame says
If only we could find a way to stop the needless lawn dart deaths….. if only….
Maroon says
Thank god we have a stable genius living in Harford county to tell us about teachers in Israel open carrying. I mean it’s not like we have the internet to check such bold statements…..
http://www.israeltoday.co.il/NewsItem/tabid/178/nid/23572/Default.aspx
Go fund me says
Can someone start a go fund me page to send Boardman the hell out of Harford County?
Maybe we can send him to France or Germany. I grow tired of his incompetence and his bellyaching.
Minion says
Boardman saying that someone else has “lost their minds” is pretty comical.
Joe Logic says
He knows the feeling.
hmmmm... says
Just out of curiosity, does anyone else wonder what this little miscreant in Florida actually had to do to get someone in authority to pay attention… cops called to the home almost 40 times in a year, expelled from a school that forbade him from the grounds with a backpack (seems rather specific so they must have expected it too), a school full of students that express no surprise at the identity of the shooter, FBI informed at least twice that he was a whack job intent on murder. The whole “see something, say something and we’ll do nothing” plan doesn’t seem to be working very well. Who’d like to bet no one even gets fired over this monumental cork up? Sure, the best part of this kid rolled down his daddy’s leg and any number of people could have prevented a tragedy simply by doing their job, but let’s blame it on the gun.