Did Gunners Heckle Grieving Father at Connecticut Hearing?
Read Time:2 Minute, 16 Second
America’s gunners, and there are millions of them, are gearing up to fight for their so-called Second Amendment rights and in some cases compassion and understanding are missing from their rhetoric. The gun crazies don’t care who they hurt or who they hate in their relentless quest to keep their guns, regardless or caliber or class. Were it up to them, and the fanatics running the NRA like Ted Nugent, and Wayne LaPierre, people would be allowed to own surface to air missiles, hand grenades, and Browning Automatic Rifles (BAR). They want no restrictions and no laws and they’re vocal about it.
Case in point: the father of a 6-year-old killed in the Sandy Hook shooting took his case for gun control to authorities last night—and, according to Raw Story, got heckled for it. Speaking at a Connecticut legislative hearing on gun violence, Neil Heslin questioned why private citizens should be allowed to own semi-automatic weapons. Someone in the audience yelled, “the Second Amendment,” which may have been in response to the question. Answered Heslin, “We’re all entitled to our own opinions” and he respects theirs. “But I wish they’d respect mine and give it a little bit of thought,” he added.
If this was truly heckling and not a response to Mr. Heslin’s question, what makes this gunner’s outburst particularly despicable, was the fact that Neil Heslin was so crushed with grief he could barely speak, but the gunner didn’t care. His pain wasn’t their pain and no one, regardless of situation or circumstance, was going to take away their precious assault rifles.
At the hearing, which drew thousands, another Newtown parent, Veronique Pozner, urged an assault weapons ban. A third parent, however, disagreed, the Connecticut Mirror reports. “I believe in a few simple gun laws. I think we have more than enough on the books,” said Mark Mattioli, father of James, another 6-year-old victim. “I don’t care if you named it James’ Law. I don’t want it.” Meanwhile, police discussed their reaction to the shooting.
There is some discussion as to whether or not the comments were from hecklers or in response to a question posed by Mr. Heslin so I am leaving the interpretation to the reader by providing the video:
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Thanks Mike, you da’ man. It’s not many men who would revisit an established post.
Thanks again……Jon
Thanks again Jon.
Mike,
The “heckling” didn’t occur, the gentlemen in the audience responded to a question posed by the witness. You will note that they said nothing until the witness said that they had no answer to the question he posed to them, that isn’t heckling that is making a legitimate response.
You may well be right Jon, and I have changed the title to reflect a question, not a statement, and have made modifications to the text. I won’t pull an article with comments, as Google gets upset over that and penalizes webmasters for it. Anyway, it’s now up to the reader to decide what happened. This story, in some form, was published by a lot of different news organizations as “heckling.” I might write something about jumping to conclusions and twisting news until the evidence is in. Thanks Jon.
Upon reviewing the video I find that there is a possibility that the “heckling” may be a result of a question posed by Mr. Heslin, so I posted the video itself so the viewer can make their own decision as to whether or not it was heckling.
There is a second amendment right, regardless of your misinformed opinion. There are millions of responsible “gunners”, contrary to what the lefties try to portray.
I am a non “gunner” who supports both second amendment rights to keep and bear arms while at the same time supporting 1) restrictions on semi auto automatic assault weapons, 2) restricting extended high cap magazines, and 3) extensive background checks as well as closing the gun show “loopholes.”.
So, have you ever considered there are millions of responsible “gunners” that feel precisely this way? Or has the hide bound anti fire arm mentality gotten in the way of reasonable thinking?
You are correct, Les. Sadly, you are only one that is speaking out. Why are there not many others raising voices of sanity?
They should not be like the “moderate muslims” we hear about but never hear from.
I do not know, apathy maybe? Or perhaps it’s something to do with not wanting to be perceived as “liberal.” You know it is a very tough road when you march to the beat of your own drum rather than that of the “mob.”
You make some good points. I have given combat handgun courses, (not financially rewarding, most seem to think they don’t need them) owned numerous firearms, including “assault” rifles and well as concealable handguns (Walther PPK) and still strongly favor different rules for firearms that the hodgepodge of unenforced laws we have now.
What I think is needed is a retraction, confession, and apology from MSNBC. Mike was only passing on what they presented as a true story.
While their lack of ethics did affect this site, I seriously doubt MSNBC cares. Their only concern is ratings and their advertising rates. Such things as honest journalism and human decency do not enter into it.
At this late date everyone knows that MSNBC has developed an extremely bad habit of de rigueur reportage, in simple English they lie like a rug.
Mike knows this and should take everything MSNBC says with a grain of salt…or maybe a bucket load.
A retraction is in order Mike.
Jon the video I saw was issued by the AP, not MSNBC, so I am not inclined to retract anything, regardless I have chased down the original and am reviewing it as I write this. Thanks.
Wasn’t this the story that MSNBC altered to make it appear that the victim’s father was being heckled? If not I’ve been watching a similar story all day long that involved MSNBC cutting a vital piece of video to make it appear that a father was being heckled when the audience members were only answering the question he posed to them.
If so, it would not be the first time the media has “edited” a picture, video, or audio recording to “punch it up a bit.”
James,
It’s no longer an “If so” situation, it’s now an established fact that MSNBC created, and not merely reported, the news.
This is, of course, not their “debut” at this sort of scummy activity. For MSNBC this type of activity is becoming de rigueur.
You are correct, but it’s hardly new. I remember reading that an artist/photographer was fired from a New York newspaper in the early 1940’s because he refused to alter a photograph of FDR to make him appear more tired and sick than he was.
How fortunate we are that Fox News would never stoop to such unethical practices!
(Note to Mike – Where is that sarcasm icon?)
What I’m actually waiting for is a retraction on this particular story and a reprint of the facts. How about it Mike?
James your skill with words makes a sarcasm icon unnecessary 🙂
“You can’t fix stupid” Ron White (2010)
10-4 good buddy!
“Insensitive” doesn’t cover this heckler’s lack of humanity.
True. I watched this father as he spoke to the legislators, and as one who knows the pain of losing a child, it broke my heart.