As someone who understands the historic roots of gun control in America, and, as someone who understands that history to be overwhelmingly anti-minority, I find it odd that the people who champion minority causes oppose repealing gun control laws. I just don't understand it. If these legislators understood their history and remembered the Deacons for Defense and Justice, they would know that it was only through the exercising of their Second Amendment Rights that their Civil Rights were ensured.
Why is this lost on them? What am I missing here?
Do they think that there is a disconnect between Liberty, and the most effective means to defend it? Or, are they cynically taking the place of the oppressor in order to aggrandize wealth and power unto themselves by following the time-worn path of continuing the oppression, while demagoguing the easy target of "the man"?
In my experience, politicians who are pro-2nd Amendment are also pro-freedom for everybody. In that light, one could conclude that the VLBC is anti-freedom. It is kind of ironic if you think about it.
Here is the current makeup of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus, along with their rating on gun issues from the National Rifle Association:
F * Virginia State Sen. Mamie Locke (D-2nd) Hampton, Newport News, Portsmouth, and Suffolk
F * Virginia State Sen. Louise Lucas (D-18th) Emporia, Greensville, Nottoway, and Sussex. Part of Brunswick, Chesapeake, Franklin City, Isle of Wight, Lunenburg, Portsmouth, Southampton, and Suffolk
F * Virginia State Sen. A. Donald McEachin (D-9th) Charles City. Part of Henrico and Richmond City
F * Virginia State Sen. Henry L. Marsh (D-16th) Dinwiddie and Petersburg. Part of Chesterfield, Hopewell, Prince George, and Richmond City
F * Virginia State Sen. Yvonne B. Miller (D-5th) Chesapeake, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach
C * Virginia State Del. Kenneth Cooper Alexander (D-89th) Norfolk
F * Virginia State Del. Mamye BaCote (D-95th) Hampton and Newport News [3]
F * Virginia State Del. Rosalyn Dance (D-63rd) Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, and Petersburg
F * Virginia State Del. Charniele Herring (D-46th) Fairfax and Alexandria
B+ * Virginia State Del. Algie Howell (D-90th) Chesapeake, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach
NR * Virginia State Del. Matthew James (D-80th) Portsmouth
F * Virginia State Del. Jennifer McClellan (D-71st) Henrico and Richmond City
F * Virginia State Del. Delores McQuinn (D-70th) Chesterfield, Henrico, and Richmond City
F * Virginia State Del. Lionell Spruill, Sr. (D-77th) Chesapeake and Suffolk
NR * Virginia State Del. Luke Torian (D-52nd) Prince William County
F * Virginia State Del. Roslyn Tyler (D-75th) Emporia, Greenville, and Sussex. Part of Brunswick, Isle of Wight, Lunenburg, Southampton, and Franklin City
C * Virginia State Del. Jeion Ward (D-92nd) Hampton
A * Virginia State Del. Onzlee Ware (D-11th) Roanoke City and Roanoke County
18 members. All Democrats. 12 "F" ratings, 2 "C" ratings, one "B+", one "A", 2 Not Rated yet.
Their agenda (From Wikipedia):
"The No. 1 budget priority is continuing to fund a proton beam cancer center at Hampton University. The $200 million project, which focuses on using proton beams to shrink tumors, is under construction.
Other priorities include establishing a 36 percent interest rate cap on payday loans, expanding pre-kindergarten education programs, reforming the mental health system and allowing low-income working Virginians to purchase health insurance through a state program."
I would add: Keeping minorities financially enslaved to predatory lenders, disarmed (and subject to oppression by criminals), and dependent upon Government (and the thugs and bureaucrats who work there).
Fifty years ago, this agenda would be decried as racist against minorities. Now it is championed by minorities as beneficial and caring. Why is this agenda not racist if it is championed by blacks instead of whites? Especially if the outcome is the same?
Think about it.
Pax,
Newbius
1 comment:
I speak from an outsider's perspective, but I'd think that the roots of their opposition to expansions of gun rights stems from a couple of things:
1) Red v. Blue. I don't understand local politics as well as you, but I would hazard a guess to say that some of their opposition is rooted in Democratic party politics. Not saying it's right, but that could be where they're coming from.
2) Inner city life. The exigencies of inner-city life account for most of the Black Caucasus's agenda.
Anyone who's ever ridden a city bus could tell you that working-class life is pretty rough in Richmond. The homicide rate is like 6 times higher than the national average. You can talk all you want about self-defense--these people are more aware of every day violence and they evidently don't buy the argument.
Richmond actually already has a (quasi) public health insurance program. It helped Beth out after a scary pap smear--a 300 dollar x-ray ended up costing like 30 dollars. Point being, I think a commonwealth-wide program like VA Coordinated Care for the uninsured is a fantastic idea, if not a perfectly realistic one.
Payday lenders and check cashers continue to be a real problem for the poor. The interest rates are usurious, and people are too uneducated or intimidated too establish a relationship with a real bank. As to the proposed 36% cap, it has merit--the DoD established 36% as the most an institution can charge in APR to military personnel. If Robert Gates thinks it's a good idea, then I think it's worth considering.
I enjoyed your posts and look forward to reading more about the developments at the VA state legislature.
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