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Batavia council discusses 'assault weapons' at Monday's session

By Howard B. Owens

An effort by Councilwoman Rose Mary Christian at Monday's city council meeting to garner support for an assault weapon's ban got a mixed response.

Christian, along with members Patti Pacino and Pierluigi Cipollone both questioned why anybody would need to own an "assault weapon," while all three said they support the Second Amendment.

Members Kathy Briggs, Brooks Hawley and Jim Russell all said supporting the Second Amendment meant not going after anybody's weapons.

Nobody questioned whether it was really the place for the Batavia City Council to take up the issue.

"Only police departments and the military should have assault weapons," Christian said.

She also said the council should encourage schools to install bulletproof glass in doors and windows.

Briggs followed Christian and said she completely disagreed with Christian on the issue.

An effort to ban one kind of gun opens to the door for other bans and undermines the Second Amendment, Briggs said.

For Russell, banning assault rifles is just a "Band-Aid" approach.

"I don't think the solution is to ban guns," Russell said. "It doesn't address the real issue."

Answering the suggestion that while hunters may not need "assault rifles," competitive shooters do, Cipollone said that even competitive shooters shouldn't own such guns. The venue that hosts the competition should own the guns and loan them to the competitors, he said, and collect guns at the end of the competition.

No vote was taken by the council on the issue.

Doug Yeomans

"Only police departments and the military should have assault weapons," Christian said.

That statement is scary on so many levels and is exactly why people should have DEFENSE weapons. She can think what she wants, but our founding fathers wanted the good people of America to be able to meet aggression on equal terms.

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/01/28/DHS-Seeks-7-000-AR-1…

If the DHS wants them, they're called self defense weapons. If you and I have them, they're assault weapons.

Jan 29, 2013, 5:00pm Permalink
Doug Yeomans

The last thing I want is an Obamaclone at every level of government making decisions FOR me. I'm fully capable of being responsible for my own well being. How is it, even in the face of abuses of power that we read about in the news, are people willing to let rattlesnakes into their tent.

The story goes something like this: An indian finds a rattlesnake frozen in the snow and brings it into his teepee because he feels sorry for it. The snake thaws out and bites the indian. The indian asks the snake: "Why did you bite me? You were frozen and I saved your life. I was kind to you and you killed me." The snake replied: "I thank you for your kindness, but you knew I was a snake. I'm just doing what snakes do."

Yeah, it's a story I heard in the movie Natural Born Killers, but I can glean wisdom wherever I see or hear it. Keep voting for rattlesnakes and you'll keep being bitten.

Jan 29, 2013, 5:26pm Permalink
Tom Frew

Good to see the Batavia Council has so much on their plate. Someone must be attempting to make points with the Governor. Unreal....

Jan 29, 2013, 6:21pm Permalink
Doug Yeomans

"Bullet-proof glass in windows and doors." Let her pay for the first 10 panes of glass at any school. I know that SO many bullets fly through the windows at so many schools! Maybe now that she's put the idea out there, someone will do it. Nice job, Rose Mary Christian.

I'm not afraid of ever being shot. The odds are in my favor to a huge extent that I'll slip in the bath tub and die from that or I'll die in a car crash before I'll ever be shot. I want every car in America to be covered in a giant, kevlar balloon. Before cars hit each other, a sensor will detect the impending impact and inflate the kevlar balloon like an airbag. That makes more sense than bullet proof glass in schools..lol.

C'MON! Where do these people come from?! I want to take them north of the Arctic circle and show them how people survive. I want them to attend a skeet-shoot where each shooter expends 500 shells and then reloads them on the weekend. I want to take them to a shooting range and show them how fast they can burn through 500 rounds and what a pain in the a** it is to reload with the new 7 bullets rule. They're not hurting criminals. They're stomping on my liberties and freedoms as a member of American society. I am not the criminal! Don't tread on me!

Jan 29, 2013, 8:53pm Permalink
Mike Corona

Christian,Pacino and Cipollone can you please define an assault weapon for me? I can't wait to hear this answer. You three better stick to worrying about snow on the sidewalks, your WAY out of your league on this one!!!!

Jan 29, 2013, 6:50pm Permalink
Doug Yeomans

Members Kathy Briggs, Brooks Hawley and Jim Russell all said supporting the Second Amendment meant not going after anybody's weapons.

I applaud these three people. Please, continue to stand up for the people. The vast majority of the people do not need to be punished for the actions of a miniscule few. THANK YOU!

While you're at it, can you please address judge Noonan's ridiculous refusal to issue concealed personal carry permits in Genesee county? He will only issue permits for target shooting and hunting. The reality is, there should be no pistol permits at all. If I pass a background check (NICS) and I have taken an appropriate pistol handling course (which I'm in favor of), why do I need a special permit, other than for the state/county to collect more money from me?

Jan 29, 2013, 8:49pm Permalink
Mike Corona

"The place hosting the competition should own the guns and loan them to the competitors, he said, and collect guns at the end of the competition. " This article just gets better and better why am I wasting my time watching comedy shows I should be attending council meetings!! Who knows when the next meeting is??

Jan 29, 2013, 6:55pm Permalink
Brett DeKruger

Absolutely ridicculous ladies. First of all, the police and the millitary ARE the only ones with assault weapons. Secondly, if you don't know the difference between a semi-automatic rifle and an "assault weapon", don't start telling people what they should or shouldn't be allowed to own. More people have died at bridge club than have as a result of my "assault weapon".

Jan 29, 2013, 6:55pm Permalink
Dave Olsen

What does "need" have to do with it anyway. What's next, you have to prove why you "need" a high performance auto, or a 4 wheel drive truck when a Prius would be sufficient? It's nobody business what you own or why you want it.

Jan 29, 2013, 7:32pm Permalink
dennis wight

Rose, I've known you since a was a little kid and have a huge amount of respect for you. You are never afraid to speak out when something is wrong and that's exactly what we need on the Council. But you're wrong about this. I own Defense weapons, not assault weapons, to protect myself and my children from attackers. I want the most effective weapon with which to do this. I know how you feel about your family and if they are in trouble, there's no stopping you. Do you want to be limited in the defense of your children? Do you think calling 911 and hoping they arrive in time to save you or your kids is a better option than the ability to stop the threat right now? NYS has determined that 7 rounds is all you get to stop a criminal from doing harm to you or your loved ones....how many rounds do you think they carry? It's always better to have something and not need it, than need it and not have it. Love ya, Rose!!

Jan 29, 2013, 7:54pm Permalink
Kyle Slocum

I find it interesting that people who know nothing about guns are the only ones who are in favor of "assault weapons" bans.

Those who do know about guns and crime can point out factual and practical flaw after flaw with the concept and its execution. But its defenders can only come up with emotional arguments that are totally lacking in objective fact. If gun control actually worked Chicago would not be the mess that it is.

Jan 29, 2013, 7:59pm Permalink
Ken Toal

Tell Councilwoman Rose Mary Christian, the ONLY people in Genesee county that have assault weapons are police Officers and possibly some criminals ! Civilians are not allowed to own automatic weapons. The 2nd amendment is not about need, it is about our rights. We have the RIGHT to own ANY weapon we choose, not what you or the Government chooses for us. Let her know, she should know the facts, and the Constitution before opening mouth.

Jan 29, 2013, 9:10pm Permalink
Kyle Slocum

Here's a thought experiment:

"Christian, along with members Patti Pacino and Pierluigi Cipollone both questioned why anybody would need to voice a "hurtful thought," while all three said they support the First Amendment."

And,

""Only government officials and elected representatives should have unrestricted speech," Christian said."

There is a very good reason the Founders of this nation decided to articulate some of our Inalienable Rights in the Bill of Rights: That they be made plain, and easily understood, to those who would trample them or trade them for a handful of shiny bobbles.

Jan 29, 2013, 9:46pm Permalink
Kyle Slocum

Oh, and in case someone wishes to complain that my allusion to the purchase of Manhattan from the Native Americans for beads is racist: I offer the whole island back for no cost and throw in the City of New York and its suburban counties with the deal. Cash and carry: No refunds.

We really don't want them back.

Jan 29, 2013, 10:09pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

I posted this on Twitter a while back: "A government that can take away your guns is the same government that can take away my free speech."

Jan 29, 2013, 10:33pm Permalink
Kyle Slocum

Howard,

The possession of arms is traditionally associated with the sovereign authority in a society. In our nation, the sovereign power resides in the People, who elect representatives to voice our concerns to the majority and safeguard our interests against threats to our liberty and freedom. Among these representatives are our President and our Congressional proxies.

Too many of our fellow citizens have forgotten, or never learned, that we are a Republic and not a banana republic.

Jan 29, 2013, 10:44pm Permalink
Mark Brudz

Actually Howard, "A government that can take away your guns is the same government that can take away EVERYTHING & ANYTHING!"

Jan 30, 2013, 1:04am Permalink
Dave Olsen

I have been doing some educating of myself on the 2nd amendment recently. There has been quite a bit of discussion regarding "well-regulated militia" In late 18th century lexicon, well-regulated basically meant well-trained. James Madison among others wanted that phrase kept in from the Federalist Papers to keep the Federal Gov't from having a standing army. They wanted ordinary citizens to be trained for the defense of the nation, so they could be called up in the event of attack. They knew that having a professional military would lead to taxing of the populace and an entire industry devoted to war. Just like they knew that professional politicians would lead to government debt & the erosion of individual rights. Still don't believe in the brilliance of our Constitution?

Jan 30, 2013, 8:45am Permalink
Mike Weaver

Ken, using that logic one could surmise that the 1st amendment only protected free speech using printing presses and town criers.

The Supreme Court has ruled that the 2nd amendment applies to weapons "in common use at the time". That most certainly inlcudes semi-automatic firearms. Just as the 1st protects free speech using technology commonly available.

Jan 30, 2013, 10:02am Permalink
John Roach

Another reason they had the 2nd amendment was to protect them from state governments. At the founding and under the Articles of Confederation, the standing army was almost non existent. Governor controlled state militias were a bigger threat to the people until after the new constitution was passed and working.

Many people forger that after the revolutionary war, it was still years before we had the Bill of Rights and the Constitution.

Jan 30, 2013, 10:52am Permalink
Mark Brudz

Yesterday's musket is today's AR 15 Ken

Yesterdays freedom of the press is now freedom for all the media

Yesterday's liberal by most standards is today's 'conservative'

But yesterday's progressive, well is still a threat to civil liberties as much as they were in 1917

Jan 30, 2013, 11:51am Permalink
Kyle Slocum

If you believe that the Second Amendment enshrines a right to duck hunt (but not to own modern weapons), then you have to also believe that the purpose of the First Amendment was to ensure their would be no shortage of Star Trek Fan-Fiction (but no traditional opinions on matters of political policy).

Both these ideas had their roots in the 1960's. And were championed by the agents of a hostile political system which wished to conquer the world with their agents provocateur.

Learn the history of the Cold War from those who were there and you will suddenly find yourself hard pressed to believe anything that comes out of the mouth of a Democrat politician today.

If you are incredulous: I recommend that you familiarize yourselves with the documentary work of Zombie. He attends rallies held in the Bay Area and documents what the media won't.

He also has a great expose on the manipulation of the press in the middle east during the 2006 hostilities between Israel and Lebanon. http://www.zombietime.com/fraud/ambulance/

Google "zombietime". Some images are offensive, but he warns you going in. Each and every left wing protest has its Marxist pamphleteers and book sellers. The media ignore this for their own reasons and Zombie reveals them for his own.

At the end of your explorations, if you aren't troubled, comrade, you are part of the problem and not the solution.

Jan 30, 2013, 11:41pm Permalink

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