Rothman on Fox News tonight

[gyrfalcon]

Didnt the guy say he never drew his weapon? (Guy didn't draw his weapon, but stupidly suggested that he would have accidentally shot the guy holding the gun if other people were not around.)
Doesnt Az still require a permit for concealed carry? (No permit required if you're over 21)
Did any of the other mass shootings since the sunset envolve high cap mags? (Plenty did, including mass shootings during the awb ban)

In my opinion Andrew did a mediocre job. It seemed like he knew what the topic was going to be about, but didn't have simple answers to questions like "why someone would want a a "high-capacity" magazine."

If you're going to be a spokesman you should get your act together before going in front of the cameras. Maybe dress up a bit more, and use humor/sarcasm as an advantage... For example you have instances where a man killed 2 people and wounded 9 others with a SWORD before being disarmed by a man with a firearm:

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.h ... A960948260

[White Horseradish]

If you're going to be a spokesman you should get your act together before going in front of the cameras. Maybe dress up a bit more, and use humor/sarcasm as an advantage... For example you have instances where a man killed 2 people and wounded 9 others with a SWORD before being disarmed by a man with a firearm:

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.h ... A960948260

The answer to the why the hi-caps was a little off. The answer give prompted them to ask again and this wasted some good time there. As far as appearance, Andrew was rather presentable in a regular guy kind of way. More presentable than Heather, at any rate. What was up with that hair?

[plblark]

Didnt the guy say he never drew his weapon? (Guy didn't draw his weapon, but stupidly suggested that he would have accidentally shot the guy holding the gun if other people were not around.)
Doesnt Az still require a permit for concealed carry? (No permit required if you're over 21)
Did any of the other mass shootings since the sunset envolve high cap mags? (Plenty did, including mass shootings during the awb ban)

In my opinion Andrew did a mediocre job. It seemed like he knew what the topic was going to be about, but didn't have simple answers to questions like "why someone would want a a "high-capacity" magazine."

If you're going to be a spokesman you should get your act together before going in front of the cameras. Maybe dress up a bit more, and use humor/sarcasm as an advantage... For example you have instances where a man killed 2 people and wounded 9 others with a SWORD before being disarmed by a man with a firearm:

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.h ... A960948260

OR, he wasn't as interested in answering their questions and defending against their message and was more interested in stating and defending OUR message

He did a good job of both.

[nyffman]

It seems now to be one of their taking points to say "a permit holder in Tucson almost shot the wrong guy".

"Almost shot"??? Isn't that like being a "little bit" pregnant?

What happened is the permit holder came to the sound of the gun armed, saw a man with a gun (innocent, as it turned out), stopped, exercised his judgment, and took the correct action, which was to NOT SHOOT. Not ALMOST SHOOT. That's a guy I would trust to continue carrying.

Yes, he did a good job at the time of the shooting. I think where he failed was in the interview where he probably didn't choose his words carefully enough. If he had treated the interview as if it were more like the cops grilling him after a shooting situation, or at least given it some prior thought and stuck to his notes, that would not have been said.

[nyffman]

Didnt the guy say he never drew his weapon? (Guy didn't draw his weapon, but stupidly suggested that he would have accidentally shot the guy holding the gun if other people were not around.)
Doesnt Az still require a permit for concealed carry? (No permit required if you're over 21)
Did any of the other mass shootings since the sunset envolve high cap mags? (Plenty did, including mass shootings during the awb ban)

In my opinion Andrew did a mediocre job. It seemed like he knew what the topic was going to be about, but didn't have simple answers to questions like "why someone would want a a "high-capacity" magazine."

If you're going to be a spokesman you should get your act together before going in front of the cameras. Maybe dress up a bit more, and use humor/sarcasm as an advantage... For example you have instances where a man killed 2 people and wounded 9 others with a SWORD before being disarmed by a man with a firearm:

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.h ... A960948260

In hindsight, it's easy to pick him apart. If you think you can do a better job, get going. I'm sure we'll all support you if you are more proficient in dealing with the media. But, other than that, yeah, I saw things that could have been done differently and probably more effectively. But overall, he presented a good defense. Not good enough to make me join his fan club yet, but still a good job. Not to mention that his appearance was that of a more reasonable person. Martens looked like the crazy old lady down the street who never leaves her house.

[IDPA Shooter]

" OR, he wasn't as interested in answering their questions and defending against their message and was more interested in stating and defending OUR message

He did a good job of both.[/quote]

I agree with pblark I don't want to debate anti gunners and try to deal with their Hoplophobia " ( Jeff Cooper from the Greek hoplon, meaning armor, is defined as the "fear of firearms"and as the "fear of armed citizens)" and attempts to control the discussion.


As President Ronald Reagan so eloquently stated (and Sarah Palin so aptly referenced yesterday): “We must reject the idea that every time a law’s broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker. It is time to restore the American precept that each individual is accountable for his actions.” I highly recommend Michael Bane's blog for clear writing and solid positions, SEE LINK http://michaelbane.blogspot.com/

[gyrfalcon]

I think most of us can agree that there is large public audience that does not understand why citizens with firearms would want "high-capacity" magazines... If you fail to explain why someone would want, or why this is not an issue, you've failed in explaining your position to them and failed to do anything. If you just want your mug on TV and preach to the choir, then mission accomplished.

[nyffman]

While I don't know Rothman as well as some others here, I have met him numerous times and I don't believe he is a man who just wants his mug on TV. I believe he is sincere and dedicated in his efforts to defend the right to own and carry firearms.

[EJSG19]

I think most of us can agree that there is large public audience that does not understand why citizens with firearms would want "high-capacity" magazines... If you fail to explain why someone would want, or why this is not an issue, you've failed in explaining your position to them and failed to do anything. If you just want your mug on TV and preach to the choir, then mission accomplished.

whoa big fella... Don't you think that by ignoring the pants wetting idiots and their "high capacity mags are as bad as the A-bomb" message, that it conveys the idea that we don't think its very important?

I bet Rothman would be more than happy to let you take his place, as soon as you start taking such an interest and devotion of your time as he does to this cause.

but its way more fun to arm chair quarterback with hindsight on your side huh?

besides, even though Andrew did a fine job. He could have done much worse and still come off to the audience WAY better than that hag Heather does.

[gyrfalcon]

whoa big fella... Don't you think that by ignoring the pants wetting idiots and their "high capacity mags are as bad as the A-bomb" message, that it conveys the idea that we don't think its very important?..

Like I've said, you have a large part of the population that doesn't understand why "high-capacity" magazines are needed. If you're not educating or explaining why this is not an issue in incidents like this you've failed to defend your position. Ignoring a question is very bad idea in any sort of debate or when you're discussing a topic unless you have much more pressing question to address.

[Bessy]

Didnt the guy say he never drew his weapon? (Guy didn't draw his weapon, but stupidly suggested that he would have accidentally shot the guy holding the gun if other people were not around.)
Doesnt Az still require a permit for concealed carry? (No permit required if you're over 21)
Did any of the other mass shootings since the sunset envolve high cap mags? (Plenty did, including mass shootings during the awb ban)

In my opinion Andrew did a mediocre job. It seemed like he knew what the topic was going to be about, but didn't have simple answers to questions like "why someone would want a a "high-capacity" magazine."

If you're going to be a spokesman you should get your act together before going in front of the cameras. Maybe dress up a bit more, and use humor/sarcasm as an advantage... For example you have instances where a man killed 2 people and wounded 9 others with a SWORD before being disarmed by a man with a firearm:

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.h ... A960948260

Are you going to be around on monday morning falcon? I need to get your valuable insight on the sunday's game. I'm sure you will have some more insightful information on what the loosing team could have done differently to win the game. I for one am breathless in awaiting your invaluable post game analysis.

There are few people I know who are better INFORMED than Andrew. Andrew had his act together, and performed very well. We are lucky in our community to have a spokesman that comes off as level headed and not a nut case. I think avoiding getting dragged into the ridiculous high capacity magazine debate nonsense was a smart move. Especially given the limited amount of time they had.

As far of the mug on tv comment... let me say the following... The fact that you would attempt to assassinate someones character. Someone, who unarguable, has done quite a bit for carry in MN, someone who you clearly don't know. Says all it needs to about your own character. Andrew is many things, I don't believe a glory hound is among them.

[gyrfalcon]

...There are few people I know who are better INFORMED than Andrew. Andrew had his act together, and performed very well. We are lucky in our community to have a spokesman that comes off as level headed and not a nut case. I think avoiding getting dragged into the ridiculous high capacity magazine debate nonsense was a smart move. Especially given the limited amount of time they had.

He was already dragged into the high capacity debate from the get go, and by not being able to answer a simple question he looked like a deer in the headlights. A firearm with a large capacity magazine can be used in the same manner as any other firearm. Even if high capacity magazines were illegal people who wanted to break the law would have access to them, and law abiding citizens would not. Interrupting Heather was also rude and doesn't score you many points with the reporter... Glad you think he did a great job, but I disagree.

[tman]

Did any of the other mass shootings since the sunset envolve high cap mags?

Ft Hood. The FN five-seven holds 20 rounds.

Of course that's the STANDARD capacity magazine for that pistol.

[ree]

Like I've said, you have a large part of the population that doesn't understand why "high-capacity" magazines are needed.

So, why are they needed? I'm not arguing they aren't. I just want to know what answer you think is best convinces a large part of the population....and does this answer convince people that 33 is needed, not just 16 or 17 like you see in some large-cap 9mms?


FWIW, I was impressed that the interviewerette acknowledged the speed with which people can reload and explicitly questioned, "How many rounds are too many and who decides?"

[DeanC]

I guess to perfectly logical, you'd have to ask if Loughner had a magazine that was 1/3 the capacity of the one he had now, could anyone be sure he would have killed 1/3 fewer people? And could they tell me that would have been less of a tragedy?

That would ignore the real possibility that a lower capacity magazine would have been more reliable and easier to change when empty and the real possibility that he would have just been more careful in his target acquisition.

All this is, of course, is silly conjecture because high capacity magazines are a fact. They were legally available before, during, and after the Clinton ban. And the situation will remain the same in any proposed future ban. Unless someone is going to be so foolish as to try and confiscate all of them.