Forget guns, Walker says, blame murders on "crime," "domestic dispute, mental issues." He does know people can hear him, right?

Did Scott Walker NOT get the memo or read the paper when his party gave the mentally ill the right to own guns? It was a big story nationally:

The House of Representatives voted to overturn an Obama-era rule that banned Social Security beneficiaries from buying guns if their disability payments are handled by an outside party due to their “marked subnormal intelligence, or mental illness, incompetency, condition, or disease.”

Can't Use Guns/Mental Illness Talking Point Anymore!!!! Walker's sociopathic nonchalance about gun carnage should be more disturbing to voters:

WPR: Gov. Scott Walker said guns were not the issue in this week's high-profile shootings ... Four people, including a police officer, were killed Wednesday just outside Wausau (in) a domestic incident. In Milwaukee, a city housing inspector died Wednesday afternoon, during what police say was an attempted carjacking.

"I think the problem in both those cases isn't about the firearm. It's ultimately about crime, or in the case of north central Wisconsin, it was a domestic dispute ... there's "obviously more work" to do if the Wausau-area shootings are linked to mental health issues.

I am seriously waiting for the day Walker and his fellow Republicans shift the blame to the real reason behind gun violence: guns!!! But what's behind the use of guns to solve problems? Well, mental illness is less of reason for the gun carnage than this; "intermittent explosive disorder." In other words, a lack of anger management:

The one relevant diagnosis is intermittent explosive disorder, a disorder of anger management. Violent crimes committed by people with severe mental illnesses get a lot of attention, but such attacks are relatively rare. 

Paolo del Vecchio of the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has said, “Violence by those with mental illness is so small that even if you could somehow cure it all, 95 percent of violent crime would still exist” ... with significant encouragement from the gun lobby, the public has begun to seize on the wrong explanation for tragic, violent events. They focus not on the IED-diagnosed patients but on those with other diagnoses, schizophrenia in particular, ignoring the fact that what the perpetrators have in common in every single one of these cases is a loss of control of their anger. 

No effort is being made to address the much broader cultural problem of anger management. This broader problem encompasses not just mass murders but violence toward children and spouses, rape, road rage, assault, and violent robberies. We are a culture awash in anger. Uncontrolled anger has become our No. 1 mental health issue. We have sought scapegoats in minority cultures, racial groups, and now the mentally ill. 

But it all gets back to the freedom and liberty every American is craving for; the freedom to buy things...like guns.

Republicans gunning for elimination of 48 hour “cooling off period” for handgun purchases: “If someone is intent on…murder, they will find a way to do it, be it a bat, knife….”

I'm hoping this isn't going over well with conservative voters. This daffy and radicalized imposter party that calls itself the Republican now wants to put loaded guns into the hands of pissed off abusers, neighbors, and party goers because, well, they don’t believe a 24 hour cooling off period is “a viable argument.” Nothing dangerous here. Below is the shocking press release from Rep. Jesse Kremer that presents three bizarre ideas:

1. Kremer is calling it a “time tax,” and we know how much Republicans hate taxes. So get rid of it. It’s all marketing folks, that’s what it is.

2. “Cooling down” periods are silly, no one should have to wait.

3. Local gun shops say raging gun owners may lose the dire to buy a gun. Getting rid of the waiting period will benefit them and their raging customers. What could go wrong?

“Yesterday, legislation to eliminate the 48 hour waiting period for handgun purchases … added to state law in 1976, prior to the implementation of statutory background checks. This antiquated, two day waiting period amounts to a time tax on Wisconsin businesses and consumers, forcing wasted time and money when background checks are often completed within an hour.”

“I understand that opponents of this legislation will argue that the two day period is an essential ‘cooling off’ period; However, I do not consider this a viable argument. If someone is intent on committing the crime of murder, they will find a way to do it — be it with a bat, knife or an illegally purchased weapon,” states Rep. Kremer.

Shockingly, Kremer is concerned about gun shops making money, screw the dead spouse and kids:

“In speaking with local businesses, the elimination of this waiting period will be a huge benefit to them and their customers, while still keeping the necessary checks in place to help prevent guns from falling into the hands of criminals.” 

Congratulations to those in the 59th Assembly District. I hope everyone in Southern Calumet, Western Sheboygan, Northern Washington and Eastern Fond du Lac Counties let their Representative know how great this idea is.

AG Van Hollen soft on Domestic Abusers and Harassers, decides not to use GPS tracking program.

AG J.B. Van Hollen must not have liked a program of grants to local police and communities in the 2013-2015 budget to monitor people under restraining orders with GPS technology. It looks like someone is soft on domestic abuse and harassment.

AP: DOJ officials say they never handed out any grants. They say the budget's statutory language doesn't give judges the authority to make GPS monitoring part of restraining orders.

Really? Or was it something else…

The Justice Department has asked Walker in its 2015-17 budget request to eliminate the program.

Ah, J.B. didn't like it. Got it. Aren't Republicans the ones determined to carry out laws passed by the legislature no matter what?

Phony Outrage!!! Are Republican not the most shameless losers ever?

You may have heard, Republicans appeal to their voters intelligence, not their emotions. Give us all a huge frigging break.

The phony outrage over DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz is so over the top, surprisingly promoted by the press, that I can't sit back and just shake my head. This is what the conservative tea party "stand with Walker" base needed to get out to vote and donate money; phony livid outrage.

Thanks to the media, like jsonline, picking up on the WISGOP mindless talking point:

"Wasserman Schultz used domestic violence language to critque Walker's record."

She did? Domestic violence...really? I immediately thought of a Flintstones metaphor, where cavemen dragged women by their hair. But leave it to the right wing losers who have nothing else run on but a created pile of phony outrage. Here's Schultz's quote: 

"Scott Walker has given women the back of his hand. I know that is stark. I know that is direct. But that is reality. What Republican tea party extremists like Scott Walker are doing is they are grabbing us by the hair and pulling us back. And that's unacceptable. It is not going to happen on our watch."

True. Oh, I forgot, I'm outraged. Don't take my word for it, check out this ridiculous response by our would be governor (if Walker becomes president), Lt Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch:

Republican Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, who said she was "shocked" that domestic violence language was used to discuss political disagreements. "I think the remarks were absolutely hideous and the motive behind them was despicable," Kleefisch said.

Dumb? Of course. A reference to domestic violence? Thank you WISGOP/Scott Walker Campaign for saying it was.

ALEC exec and State Rep. Leah Vukmir even asked Mary Burke to denounce Schulz's statement, who, oops, came out with a very clear comment a few minutes after the the phony outrage surfaced on Wednesday:

Burke campaign: "That's not the type of language that Mary Burke would use, or has used, to point out the clear differences in this contest. There is plenty that she and Governor Walker disagree on — but those disagreements can and should be pointed out respectfully."

Maybe the Republicans will ask Rep. Ron Kind, Mark Pocan and President Obama to also denounce. Oh, that's coming? See if you've heard this before:

Walker campaign spokeswoman Alleigh Marre told reporters that Burke's statement didn't go far enough and that she should be asked why she stopped short of denouncing the comments and asking the Congresswoman to apologize.

 God this pathetic. Look at the national coverage over nothing, this trumped up piece of WISGOP lunacy:

Thankfully, Schultz didn't backtrack to badly:

"I shouldn't have used the words I used. But that shouldn't detract from the broader point that I was making that Scott Walker's policies have been bad for Wisconsin women, whether it's mandating ultrasounds, repealing an equal pay law, or rejecting federal funding for preventative health care, Walker's record speaks for itself."

As on person commented:

 In other News............

1) Right-wing republicans are "outraged?" Big deal - For them it is a way of life!

2) Scott Walker is raising money? Scott Walker is ALWAYS RAISING MONEY! Slow news day?

Surrendering Weapons in Domestic Abuse Cases

The Record Journal reports on the issue of removing guns from domestic abusers in Connecticut.

When police are called to a domestic violence complaint or a restraining order is issued, weapons are always a chief concern, local law enforcement officials say.


State law allows police to seize any firearm in plain view at the scene of an incident even if no arrest is made and to seize a weapon from someone suspected of committing a crime, even if no arrest has been made. Protective orders require the surrender of weapons and judges usually order the same of people subject to a restraining order.


Area police said they don't hesitate to use those powers and often work pre-emptively to remove weapons in criminal cases before the courts issue orders the next business day.


While involved parties will usually surrender their guns voluntarily, police said, the system isn't foolproof. People can lie or hide weapons, or there can be filing irregularities in the computer database that tracks pistol permits and registrations. And some weapons, such as hunting rifles, don't have to be registered with the state.


The relationship between weapons and domestic violence is in sharp focus locally after an apparent murder-suicide in Southington Saturday, the second such incident in less than a week. Both involved a man apparently killing his ex-wife, then turning the gun on himself. The other incident was in Wallingford.

I would not want to forego due process. There has to be legal reasons before confiscating anyone's weapons. But, once those criteria have been met, the removal of those weapons is imperative and will save lives, usually women's lives.

Common sense gun control demands several improvements in the current mish-mash system we have now. 1. background checks on all gun sales, 2. licensing of all gun owners, 3. registration of all firearms.

With proper gun control like that, one of the first areas to see an improvement would be that of domestic violence. Many times the offender is a law-abiding gun owner up until the time he crosses the line with his wife. Guys like that could be disarmed quickly and surely if the authorities knew what weapons they possessed.

The problem is many people fear that such controls would lead to ever-stricter ones. Gun owners who might not necessarily object to these proposals, vigorously resist them anyway, for fear that ultimately they too will be required to surrender weapons. I don't agree with that, I think it's paranoid nonsense. What do you think?

(cross posted at Mikeb302000)

Please leave a comment.

Van Hollen Blames Victim of DA Ken Kratz for not Following Up!!!

Democratic AG candidate Scott Hassett has apparently been watching the Ken Kratz story closely enough to notice how current AG J.B. Van Hollen has been dealing with the potentially damaging abuse case he put off for 11 months. In his own press release, Hassett labels the debacle:
Van Hollen Launches Statewide “Blame Victims First” Tour.

Incumbent Attorney General JB Va Hollen launched a statewide media offensive this week in which he repeatedly blamed a domestic abuse victim for his lack of action in the Ken Kratz ‘sexting’ scandal. Van Hollen made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions as to why he took no action when police first notified him of Kratz’s predatory behavior nearly a
year ago.

Hold onto your seats, you won’t believe Van Hollen’s unquestioned statements to the press:

“The other aspect of this, that I think people need to remember, is the repeat victim in this case is somebody who could have come forward any time and said ‘Office of Lawyer Regulation didn’t do anything…so at some juncture, I would like to believe that she would have come forward or someone related to her would have come forward. She was certainly advised of various levels of recourse, things that could be done, what was going on, continually kept in the loop, had points of contact with our office that she could access at any time, and provided written materials on a number of occasions laying out what various options she had.” Appleton Post-Crescent, 9.21.10

“In this case, where Ken Kratz had revictimized this one victim, we were providing her services with advice and counsel all along, in this case, and keeping her posted as to what was going on. We had informed her that this case had been turned over to the Office of Lawyer Regulation. I was equally surprised that we hadn’t been informed by her that they had chosen to do nothing. Obviously if we had learned of that, we would have taken action at the time.” WXOW La Crosse TV-19, 9.21.10

If Van Hollen had provided advice and counseling all along, then why didn’t he know the OLR decision or take action? According to Democratic AG candidate Scott Hassett:

"JB Van Hollen is blaming the victim for his own inaction and it’s inexcusable. At a time when he should have been a champion for the victim, Van Hollen instead chose to point the finger at her in an attempt to cover up his involvement in the Kratz ‘sexting’ scandal.”

Update Sept. 26:

The Wisconsin Department of Justice closed its investigation into Calumet County District Attorney Ken Kratz's sexually charged text messages to a crime victim without interviewing Kratz, according to records of the investigation made public Friday.

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