Gun Activists Heckle Father of Sandy Hook Victim

[palemale]

Gun activists interrupted the testimony of the father of a young boy murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary School with heckles while he was testifying at a hearing at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford, the capital of Connecticut. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/0...n_2572503.html

These people do not have a shred of decency. The only silver lining to this reprehensible conduct is that it shows how out of touch and lacking in common humanity these gun nuts are and only hurts the cause of those who oppose any common sense gun safety regulation.

[star-warrior]

Shameless self interest trumps all.

[andysayshi]

The NRA has been rallying its members to behave in this way.

They have sent out an email to members requesting NRA members "pacK' the senate judicial hearings in Washington on Wednesday. Here's the email (my emphasis):

URGENT: Please Attend U.S. Senate Gun Control Hearing Tomorrow! Show Your Support for The Second Amendment and NRA!
Tomorrow, Wednesday, January 30, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing entitled: “What Should America Do About Gun Violence?”

NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre will be among those testifying. You can bet the anti-gunners will be trying to mobilize their supporters to pack the hearing room so we need to make sure the room is filled with supporters of the Second Amendment!

The hearing will be held in the Hart Senate Office Building in Room 216, and is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. Plan to arrive by 8:00am, as we expect this hearing to be well attended.

Your help is needed! Please make plans to attend this hearing and arrive two hours early prior to the scheduled start to increase the chances that you will be able to get a seat. Do not bring any signs, placards or literature, and please be sure to dress appropriately for an event being held on Capitol Hill. All attendees with go through airport-like security.

Testifying on Wednesday will be astronaut Mark Kelly, husband of Gabby Giffords who suffered a near-fatal gunshot wound in Tucson. Kelly and Giffords recently launched Americans for Responsible Solutions, a political action committee which directly challenges the NRA's political power on Capitol Hill through campaign contributions to gun-control advocates.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/0...ef=gun-control

[GiancarloC]

This is shameful disgusting behavior from a domestic terrorist group. The NRA has seriously crossed the line. This sort of behavior is disgusting and emphasizes the need for immediate gun control laws with stiffer regulations.

[csb999]

again American response as atypical of many others . I would not at all mention the NRA or private gun ownership , would consider this entirely a police matter . You pay for the police , you really should use them for something .

[CowboyBob]

This reminds me of how the Tea Baggers acted during the town hall meetings Democratic politicians held explaining the Affordable Health Care Act. They were told to do this by the health insurance companies. Pack the halls and shout down everyone and everything. However it passed and the tea baggers are remembered as a joke. The same thing will happen to the NRA.

[bike10]

I agree with CowboyBob this taking page from the tea baggers in 2010. Total lack of respect but they demand respect.

[Zeno Lorea]

History will not be kind to those people.

[Jack Springer]

While the country continues to grieve, some continue to use the Newton tragedy to score points for their own agenda.

Neil Heslin, father of one of the Newtown victims was not heckled.

You and the Huff Post have been scammed by Martin Bashir of MSNBC. Look at the video in the attached article.

Martin Bashir, an MSNBC host, ran an edited clip from the hearing, which omitted the father's request to hear from the audience. Bashir then referred to the audience members as "hecklers." But the full tape, provided above by Media Research Center, the right-wing watchdog group, shows that the father had solicited the audience members' participation. The father then said, "We're all entitled to our own opinion, and I respect their opinions and their thoughts."

http://www.politico.com/blogs/media/...647.html?hp=r3

[andysayshi]

Granted. Characterising the requested response as heckling was incorrect. Using edited clips to mischaracterise a situation is a Fox News speciality - such as their use of Hilary Clinton's "What does it matter" clip from last week's Benghazi hearing, without providing the context of her full answer. MSNBC and Fox are partners in the misinforming of the US public, it would seem.

But let's not lose sight of the reality. It is inappropriate for the audience to respond in such hearings. Mr Heslin probably didn't know that. Or perhaps the question was rhetorical. But he clearly is saddened by the response, and does not agree that the response is worth the life of his lost child.

Luckily, despite the NRA's mobilization of supporters to "pack the hearing room", there were no such audience outcries during Gabby Gifford's speech today:

[Jack Springer]

You got conned by MSNBC not FNC.

Please don't try to change the subject of the thread.

[palemale]

While the country continues to grieve, some continue to use the Newton tragedy to score points for their own agenda.

Neil Heslin, father of one of the Newtown victims was not heckled.

You and the Huff Post have been scammed by Martin Bashir of MSNBC. Look at the video in the attached article.



http://www.politico.com/blogs/media/...647.html?hp=r3

It seemed like heckling to me. At public hearings, if you want to address a speaker's testimony, you wait your turn until you get to the microphone. The only thing I heard in response to the question about why anyone needs an assault weapon was someone shouting about the 2d amendment. Those jerks should have kept their mouths shut.

[CowboyBob]

You got conned by MSNBC not FNC.

Please don't try to change the subject of the thread.

Taking the side of the baby killer crowd?

[Jack Springer]

Did either of you watch the video? Sure doesn't sound like it.

[palemale]

Did either of you watch the video? Sure doesn't sound like it.

Yes, Jack, I watched the video. Anyone who yells out comments during someone's public testimony is heckling. At a public hearing or meeting, when someone wants to say something, they must ask to be recognized and wait their turn to speak. Shouting out when someone else has the floor is heckling.

[White Eagle]

Agreed. This shows only the gun nuts will do anything to stop gun regulations.

[opinterph]

I tried to find the full text of Mr. Heslin’s testimony, but it seems that everyone wants to show videos instead. Does anyone know of a link to the actual text?

Did The Media Blatantly Mischaracterize Video Of Newtown Father Being ‘Heckled’ By ‘Gun Nuts’? (Mediaite)

[crimsonpaine]

To be fair, Mr. Heslin asked the question, and someone(s) obliged him. The context here is that the media made it seem that the heckling came from nothing, but in fact was a response to a question Mr. Heslin asked, rhetorical or not.

[HenryReardon]

It seemed like heckling to me. At public hearings, if you want to address a speaker's testimony, you wait your turn until you get to the microphone. The only thing I heard in response to the question about why anyone needs an assault weapon was someone shouting about the 2d amendment. Those jerks should have kept their mouths shut.

You really shouldn't believe everything you see or hear on PMSNBC or its parent NBC.

[GiancarloC]

You really shouldn't believe everything you see or hear on PMSNBC or its parent NBC.

And one could say the same thing about Faux Verbal Diarrhea News too.

[CowboyBob]

You really shouldn't believe everything you see or hear on PMSNBC or its parent NBC.

PMSnbc...?

ROFLMAO..... you added the "P" to MSNBC to equate it with Pre menstrual syndrome... that's the PMS part and added it to NBC to make PMSNBC!!!!! You made it sound like the news channel has menstrual cramps!!!!!

HA! HA! HA! HA!

Damn, you're clever!

[Jack Springer]

Yes, Jack, I watched the video. Anyone who yells out comments during someone's public testimony is heckling. At a public hearing or meeting, when someone wants to say something, they must ask to be recognized and wait their turn to speak. Shouting out when someone else has the floor is heckling.

The fact still remains that MSNBC's Martin Bashir edited the video to make it look the way he wanted it to look.

People yell out at hearings all the time -- especially when they are asked to say something.

[HenryReardon]

PMSnbc...?

ROFLMAO..... you added the "P" to MSNBC to equate it with Pre menstrual syndrome... that's the PMS part and added it to NBC to make PMSNBC!!!!! You made it sound like the news channel has menstrual cramps!!!!!

]

Damn, you're clever!

Sorry, I can't take credit for that. Heard it elsewhere, but it fits.
Especially the nastily snarky Rachel Madcow who seems to have a permanent case of PMS, at least when she's on the air.
What a disgrace she is to all gays.

[CowboyBob]

Sorry, I can't take credit for that. Heard it elsewhere, but it fits.
Especially the nastily snarky Rachel Madcow who seems to have a permanent case of PMS, at least when she's on the air.
What a disgrace she is to all gays.

Figured that. Regurgitating right wing propaganda as usual. It's nice to see you do as you're told.

[andysayshi]

Fair is fair. Jack Springer is correct.

The people in the crowd were responding to Mr Heslin's question. Despite their response being inappropriate to the proceedings, he wasn't being heckled. MSNBC's Martin Bashir misrepresented the response as heckling when it wasn't.

I have plenty to say about guns and gun laws - any regular here knows that - but I'm also happy to call a spade a spade. Jack is right. Martin Bashir is not.

[HenryReardon]

. It's nice to see you do as you're told.

Told by whom? To do what? That's too funny.

If you had the privilege of knowing me, and I assure you that will never happen, you would know that,with the exception of an employer, nobody has "told" me what to do since I became self-supporting.

[CowboyBob]

Told by whom? To do what? That's too funny.

If you had the privilege of knowing me, and I assure you that will never happen, you would know that,with the exception of an employer, nobody has "told" me what to do since I became self-supporting.

Instructed by the right wing crazies to spread propaganda. You're doing a very good job of spreading it but no one's falling for it.

Privilege of knowing you?! That's too funny.

I'm sure the only people you'll interact with has to think like you do, believe what you do and look like you do.