first: it was a Democrat congressman named Dingell:
"If I were to select a
jack-booted group of fascists who were perhaps as large a danger to
American society as I could pick today, I would pick BATF. They are a
shame and a disgrace to our country."
-U.S. Congressman John D. Dingell (Democrat from Michigan), 1980
"The consequences of the behavior of the BATF in these kinds of cases is
that they are not trusted. They are detested, and I have described them
properly as jackbooted American fascists. They have shown no concern
over the rights of ordinary citizens or their property. They intrude
without the slightest regard or concern. Now, if you want a more recent
event, take a look at what they did in Waco, TX. Is that a defensible
event? Scores of Americans were killed because of ineptitude by BATF
acting under legal process, as they said, and that whole matter is going
to be suppressed after scores of Americans have been killed because of
the ineptitude and crass misbehavior of the BATF."
-U.S. Congressman John D. Dingell (Democrat from Michigan), February 8, 1995
The NRA quoted him in a letter, and every journalist and gun bigot around accused them of sliming all federal lawmen; they either didn't know who said it, or didn't care(probably both). And if they did know, they'd have hated to acknowledge such words from a Democrat.
So if someone brings that up, remind them who actually said it. And why.
4 comments:
Just catching up on the past couple of days' news, it sounds like the NRA can't get enough of jack boots:
Full time pig presence in schools
police state lists and snooping on people
Sovietized mental health
Ban video games
Sounds like just the sort of confused socialist in neo-con clothing that you don't need.
Why am I describing him as confused?
What chance does a "right" to arms stand if he concedes a role for coercion and police state in every other aspect of life.
From what I've heard, a LOT of people are pissed at the NRA over that.
Yes, after a week, you'd think there would be a better statement than that in terms of PR.
Is there a citation for the Dingell quote other than Firehand? I believe you, but to others you are not a source.
I found them here
http://www.hkweaponsystems.com/cgi-bin/quote.pl?john_dingell
after a short search.
Also this:
From the Congressional Record;
Between 12:10p and 12:20p on February 8th, 1995.
PAGE H1382
Mr. DINGELL: "The consequences of the behavior of the BATF in these kinds of cases is that they are not trusted. They are detested, and I have described them properly as jackbooted American fascists. They have shown no concern over the rights of ordinary citizens or their property. They intrude without the slightest regard or concern.
Now, if you want a more recent event, take a look at what they did in Waco, TX. Is that a defensible event? Scores of Americans were killed because of ineptitude by BATF acting under legal process, as they said, and that whole matter is going to be suppressed after scores of Americans have been killed because of the ineptitude and crass misbehavior of the BATF."
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