Gun advocates heckle father of boy slain in Newtown massacre
The Connecticut Post has published an article about the Gun Violence Protection Working Group's hearings addressing gun control in wake of the Sandy Hook massacre.
Gun advocates heckle father of boy slain in Newtown massacre
Neil Heslin holds a picture of himself with his son Jesse as he testifies. His son was among the 20 first graders killed in Newtown, Conn. (Jessica Hill / Associated Press)
The Connecticut Post has published an article about the Gun Violence Protection Working Group's hearings addressing gun control in wake of the Sandy Hook massacre. Some 1,500 people made their way to the Legislative Office Building at the Capitol complex in Hartford. Neil Heslin—whose son was killed in the rampage—spoke about the need for change.
"The Second Amendment!" was shouted a couple of times by as many as a dozen gun enthusiasts in the meeting room as Neil Heslin, holding a photo of his slain 6-year-old son, Jesse Lewis, asked why Bushmaster assault-style weapons are allowed to be sold in the state.
Heslin continued to speak, unwavered by the cries from the crowd.
"That wasn't just a killing, it was a massacre," said Heslin, who recalled dropping off his son at Sandy Hook Elementary school shortly before Lanza opened fire. "I just hope some good can come out of this." [Connecticut Post]
Comments (203)
Stay classy, Connecticut.— cxd- Disgusting. I guess the desire to own a gun is more important than life.— suakuaDeoJ
- Guns aren't going anywhere, nether is the Constitution.
Get used to it.— Hobo Floto Voto - If you deny people the right to defend themselves, you will see many more lives lost.
Estimates from various sources (CNN and the FBI) put defensive uses of firearms in the 100,000 to million times per year.— DeltaV - That's disgusting. The same people who will be on here parroting the same old, tired pro-NRA rhetoric before long are the same idiots who would have the nerve to heckle this poor man who lost his 6 yo son to senseless gun violence. Please, you morons tell me what useful purpose that Bushmaster assault rifle has? Hunting? Or just those precious 2A rights of yours? Dopes, you are all dopes and this MUST stop now. And please, spare me the 'Ban food, people are fat' nonsense.— PhillySubsMac
- You need a lesson in history because you're clueless.
and...Guns aren't going anywhere, nether is the Constitution.
So get used to it.— Hobo Floto Voto - 1) That is not an 'assault rifle'. Functionally a Bushmaster is no different than the large majority of firearms in existence and common use by hunters and competitive target shooters.
2) The second amendment is not about hunting. Take a look at the PA state constitution's version (written about the same time); it specifically calls out personal defense.
3) AR style rifles are basically the best weapon for home defense. A longer sight radius leads to greater accuracy, the design means it can easily have things such as flashlights added for target identification, and the small caliber, low recoil cartridge means it can easily be used by young and old, male and female.— DeltaV - guns are like loud motorcycles - the people have inadequacies and need these things to make their feel better about their lives- if you need a assualt rifle to kill a deer, you're not only a loser but a bad shot. an that's not hunting - just go to one of those caged hunts and unload 50 rounds into a animal
they all want to walk arounbd like a cowboy from the west— rossta - Truly despicable. There is a time and place for everything. Heckling a father who just tragically lost a child is the lowest of low. Were they Westboro Baptist Church members or something? I truly believe a large group of legal gun owners are in fact crazy nut jobs. Sure, the Second Amendment allows you the right to bear arms. However, just as you can't buy a gun as a convicted felon (which no one seems to have a problem with), ban sales of certain types of guns and also require mandatory polygraphs, psychological and drug screenings as well as demanding proof of a documented acceptable reason why any non-military person needs an AR-15 besides the fact that "The Second Amendment" says so. It says the right to "bear arms shall not be infringed". Well, since there are those who argue they should own any type of gun they desire, nuclear missiles are technically "arms". So, doesn't the Constitution legally allow me to own one? It's no more ridiculous a notion than owning an AR-15 for duck hunting.— moose_man
- The bulk of these gun crimes are from those under the age of 30.
Apply age restrictions to guns for those under 30...Let them have guns (hunting rifles) for Christmas at the age of 10 but monitor handguns closely for those under 30.
After 30 one has a better respect for the mirror so let them have a grenade launcher...after the age of 30.— Cuddles - Guns aren't going anywhere, nether is the Constitution.
Get used to it.— Hobo Floto Voto - One guy puts a tiny bomb (that didn't go off) in his shoe and now we all have take our shoes off when we get on a plane. Innocent children and adults murdered every day and nothing is done to keep guns out of crazy people's hands.— Freddy
- When he asked why rifles were allowed to be sold, was it a rhetorical question, desiring no answer? Or did he want an answer, but he didn't like the answer he got?— Mr. Smith
- 2nd amendment gives us the right to bear Arms, but not the right for Bullets. guns don't kill people, Bullets do. BAN BULLETS!— moved to Havertown
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