General Gun Control Hypocrisy

July 10, 2013

Is this another example of the hypocrisy on the part of gun control advocates?

Betty Petrenz, an aide to gun control advocating Michigan Democratic Representative John Conyers, illegally brought a firearm into a federal building in Detroit. Result? A ticket. With good behavior it will disappear from her record. Is that how I'd be treated if I carried a handgun into the local federal courthouse or military bases?

Does Betty's boss know she packs heat? Why does she? Does she feel the need to protect herself and not feel confident enough in the police forces to do it for her? Does she simply want to exercise her 2nd Amendment rights? Surely she must be quietly advocating for the proliferation of gun violence, right? Isn't that how law abiding gun owners are characterized by the outspoken gun control zealots? Will we hear from Conyers about this incident that's so close to him personally and professionally? Doubtful.

Do I need to see Betty behind bars in a federal prison to be satisfied? No. I just need the rules to work the same for everyone, regardless of political clout, etc. If carrying a firearm in an area where it's prohibited only equates to a ticket then it should be the same for everyone. A lot of work needs to be done in this country to get rid of the nonsensical laws surrounding firearms.

http://gopthedailydose.com/2013/07/10/democratic-aide-brings-gun-into-courthouse-let-off-with-just-a-ticket/

While the circumstances are completely different, this is reminiscent of the blatant, televised lawbreaking by NBC's David Gregory when he illegally "possessed" a so-called "high capacity" ammunition magazine on his program, Meet the Press - a "crime" for which others have been prosecuted. Charges were not brought against Gregory. Was this media favoritism? Was it favoritism because NBC or Gregory advocate for gun control instead of gun rights? "prosecutorial discretion” was used because “Prosecution would not promote public safety in the District of Columbia, nor serve the best interests of the people." Apparently, if I do it, publicly or privately, it's a crime that jeopardizes public safety but if it'd done publicly on national television despite the facts that "NBC contacted [D.C. police] inquiring if they could utilize a high capacity magazine for their segment. NBC was informed that possession of a high capacity magazines is not permissible and their request was denied." But the final result is that it's okay - as long as you're on the side of gun control.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/police-nbc-asked-for-high-capacity-clip/2012/12/26/4c8f77da-4f76-11e2-8b49-64675006147f_story.html

http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-01-11/local/36313264_1_gun-laws-carnage-from-gun-violence-wayne-lapierre

It's not okay for Adam Kokesh, an outspoken gun rights advocate, who was arrested recently after posting a YouTube video of him loading a shotgun in a public place in Washington DC. No one was harmed in the making of the YouTube video. (Regardless, I agree this was a foolish thing to do, made worse by him complicating it with other violations at the time of his arrest.)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/activist-adam-kokesh-reportedly-arrested-in-herndon/2013/07/10/73dbc8c2-e943-11e2-8f22-de4bd2a2bd39_story.html

It wasn't okay for Army veteran Nathan Haddad who was charged with 5 counts of the crime of "possession" of so-called "high capacity" ammunition magazines in New York even though the magazines were empty and there was no accompanying firearm.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/guns/2013/feb/1/miller-ny-vet-arrested-30-round-magazines-part-1/

It wasn't okay for Dustin Reininger who was simply transporting a rifle through New Jersey and stopped at a rest area. The rifle was legal at his points of origination and destination but not in New Jersey. This article says Reininger is now serving time in prison.

http://www.wnd.com/2013/05/the-nonsensical-abuse-of-gun-owners/

And it wasn't okay for Army Lieutenant Augustine Kim when he was transporting his firearms through Washington DC from his parents' house in New Jersey to his home in South Carolina where the firearms were legal in both those locations. Kim was arrested but has been released.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/guns/2012/may/14/miller-injured-vets-guns-stolen-dc/

===
July 12, 2013

Here's more to the story of Betty Petrenz bringing a handgun into a federal courthouse and essentially not being punished and a few other stories where the outcomes were different. "No weapons allowed" and punishment varies from virtually nothing to losing your job to being charged with a crime - it all depends - on who your boss is. Hmmm.

http://www.freep.com/article/20130708/NEWS01/307080018/Conyers-clerk-gun-federal-court

===
Related blogs:
http://us2ndamendment.blogspot.com/2013/07/general-gun-control-hypocrisy.html
Firearms Blog Collections
Persecution of Law Abiding Gun Owners
"Kokesh July 4th Loaded Gun March On Washington"
David Gregory Hypocrisy