Remember Joe the Plumber? Apparently he’s still around, “taking a stand” in the whole “let’s politicize a mass shooting” thing in the wake of the Isla Vista violence. Personally, I haven’t thought about that fool since the Fall of 2008, but now he’s thirsty for attention by capitalizing on the aftermath of a tragedy. His most recent attention-grab: An “open letter” to the families of victims killed in Elliot Rodger’s murder-suicide at UCSB.
Turns out he’s just as much of a bitter prick as you’d imagine Joe the Plumber to be, proclaiming “your dead kids don’t trump my Constitutional rights.”
I am sorry you lost your child. I myself have a son and daughter and the one thing I never want to go through, is what you are going through now. But:
As harsh as this sounds – your dead kids don’t trump my Constitutional rights.
Richard Martinez, whose son (Christopher) was among the murdered, choked back tears at a news conference, blaming politicians the next day: “The talk about gun rights. What about Chris’ right to live?” Martinez said – and much more…
But the words and images of Mr. Martinez blaming “the proliferation of guns”, lobbyists, politicians, etc.; will be exploited by gun-grab extremists as are all tragedies involving gun violence and the mentally ill by the anti-Second Amendment Left…
We still have the Right to Bear Arms and I intend to continue to speak out for that right, and against those who would restrict it – even in the face of this horrible incident by this sad and insane individual. I almost said “Obama Voter” but I’m waiting for it to be official…
In conclusion, I cannot begin to imagine the pain you are going through, having had your child taken away from you. However, any feelings you have toward my rights being taken away from me, lose those.
Joe: You can say whatever you damn please (rights!), but holy fuck is that an terribly callous thing to say to parents who just lost their kids because of senseless violence at the hands of a madman. Sucks that a couple very basic protocols could have probably kept Elliot Rodger from stashing guns while planning his rampage out. You know, like background checks that would have flagged him as mentally unstable. But, you know… Rights!
After rubbing dirt in the face of victims of gun violence everywhere, he throws this P.S. out in a face-save to look empathetic. Note how he forgets to mention the three killed by guns in the rampage. I’m sure that makes the father of Veronika Weiss and others feel better right about now:
PS: To the parents of Elliot Rodger’s stabbing victims: I’m very sorry for your loss. I’m sick to death every damn time I turn around and some poor soul with obvious violent mental sickness is allowed to exact this kind of pain on a family.
I think we all need to hear George Carlin’s legendary rant about how “rights” are bullshit.
Can’t we just be better people, as, like, a human race?
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[H/T: Gawker]