Joe Scarborough, former Republican Congressman and host of "Morning Joe" on MSNBC, discussed his changing views on gun control in the aftermath of the Newtown school massacre. This morning he described himself, during his years in Congress, as having been "a conservative Republican" and solidly aligned with the NRA and libertarian views on the second amendment. However, "Friday changed everything," he said:
"I knew that day that the ideologies of my past career were no longer relevant to the future that I want, that I demand for my children. Friday changed everything. It must change everything.
We all must begin anew and demand that Washington's old way of doing business is no longer acceptable. Entertainment moguls don't have an absolute right to glorify murder while spreading mayhem in young minds across America. Our Bill of Rights does not guarantee gun manufacturers the absolute right to sell military-style, high-caliber, semi-automatic combat assault rifles with high-capacity magazines to whoever the hell they want.
Harry Reid, Senate majority leader and staunch gun advocate, also signalled his readiness to "engage in a meaningful conversation and thoughtful debate about how to change laws and culture that allow violence to grow."
"It is time for Congress to put children before deadly dogmas. It's time for politicians to start focusing more on protecting our schoolyards than putting together their next fundraiser. It's time for Washington to stop trying to win endless wars overseas when we're losing the war at home ... For the sake of my four children and yours, I choose life and I choose change."
It's a good start. Will it last?
Ralph
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