Follow us on

Wednesday, May 22, 2013 | 5:58 a.m.

Jamie Dupree's Washington Insider

Posted: 1:51 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2009

Stimulus and Gun Control 

Previous Posts

By Jamie Dupree

One thing I really like about the internet is how fast information zips around the world.  One thing I shake my head about when it comes to the internet is how much bad information zips around the world.

Robert in South Carolina emailed me on Tuesday, wondering about talk he had seen on the net about some kind of gun control provisions getting slipped into the stimulus bill.

And he wasn't the only worried about gun control language.

"I can't find any verification of this but it certianly sounds real enough," wrote former police officer Keith Hensley.

At issue was H.R. 45, which was introduced earlier this year by Rep. Bobby Rush of Chicago, which would set up a gun licensing system.

And that wasn't all.

"I am also hearing that the Medical Care portion (of the stimulus) also includes testing requirements for elderly buying ammo and guns," wrote Robert.

 

So, what's the truth?

I can assure you that the word "gun" does not appear anywhere in the new stimulus law.  Nor does the word "ammunition" or "weapon."

The story seems to have started with a piece written by Judi McLeod, a former columnist for the Toronto Star newspaper, who now runs CanadaFreePress.com, a conservative news web site.

"Dem's Use "Stimulus" as Cover for More Gun Control," was the headline of an article that they focused more on the bill referenced above.

I've had a series of people ask about gun control in emails, so let me get into that subject as well.

No, I don't see the Democratic Congress moving on gun control legislation.

Yes, they have the advantage in votes in the House and Senate, but I'm not sure most people in the Congress have the stomach to re-open that divisive battle right now.

And I am sure that there are more enough votes in the Senate to block any such action with a filibuster.

But if the Democrats chalk up another big win in the mid-term Congressional elections of 2010, then they can start to enlarge their agenda as well.

 
 
Featured Articles
Ads By Google
 

Washington Insider

Jamie Dupree

Jamie Dupree's Washington Insider Blog

Jamie Dupree is WFTV's Washington insider. He's blogging throughout the day, so check back often for updates, and be sure to catch him each weekday, live on Eyewitness News at noon.

Jamie Dupree Video Reports

League of Women Voters

League of Women Voters

Check your voter status

Florida's election laws have changed. Check your voter status, and more on a site provided by the League of Women Voters of Florida Education Fund.

Be Ready to Vote

Be Ready to Vote

Be Ready to Vote

Update your voter registration by scanning BeReadyToVote.org's QR Code. If you have a QR code app on your smartphone, updating your registration is just a quick scan away.