No one can deny that Cambridge politicians say what makes them feel good. But their proposals don't always make sense achieving their stated goal. Rep. Rogers says he is a "supporter of any sensible steps that we can take to curb gun violence in our state." But he does not mention the Second Amendment which guarantees to law abiding citizens the right to bear arms to protect themselves and others from violence. John Lott's book, More Guns, Less Crime, shows that a society with more legal guns, is a sensible step to make the community safer.
Rogers expresses a misguided, irrational, offensive notion demonizing persons with disabilities. By suggesting they are more likely to use guns for violence he advocates "sharing of records of adjudicated commitments for mental health and substance abuse with the National Instant Check System." Does he also want to share the medical records of rape victims, persons with STDs and leukemia? Do extremely normal people abstain from using guns for violence? Why not share their medical records too?
He recommends "Strengthen[ing] the provisions of school-based mental health services." Why not remove teachers and let psychiatrists run the schools? Psychiatrists are omniscient and morally superior to lesser beings, and have had their genes cleansed of mendacity, greed and sadism, unlike flawed teachers who need a union to protect their jobs.
Rogers wants to "Increase funding for mental health and substance abuse disorders resources in urban areas." Does the Human Services Industrial Complex (MA State Rep. Marie Parente's term) make large campaign contributions to Rep. Rogers? Taxpayer grants for human services corporations are over $2 billion per year now. Instead of state police why not hire psychiatrists. They can take freedom without Due Process protections. (Think Justina Pelletier.) The Constitution was written by dead white men, and not on an iPad. What good is it today? It is old!
Rogers states, "Given the ability to transport firearms across state lines, the hard truth is that we need national legislation." Isn't interstate commerce a mission of the U.S. Congress? If Congress refuses to act, why doesn't the Harvard Law School graduate in the White House issue an executive order repealing the Second Amendment? Who supports that ancient paragraph? Is that the soft truth?
Rogers proclaims he wants to move "toward a safer Massachusetts." But he refuses to recognize the essential role of a law abiding armed citizenry in order to achieve that goal. 90,000 patients die each year from medical negligence. Do guns used by persons with disabilities cause those deaths too?
* * *
About 4:15 PM Wednesday March 26, 2014, spoke by telephone with Mr. Allen, assistant to Rep. Rogers. I gave him my name and phone number. I began by noting I was calling about Rep. Rogers' essay in the Cambridge Chronicle on "gun safety" (as he called it); and that I'd like to speak with him; and that if Mr. Allen was speaking on his behalf that would be as good. He said he did not speak for Rogers and that he would relay my request. He asked for specifics, saying he was familiar with the essay. I explained who I was and what my interest is. I later said I called as a journalist about the essay about public policy, when Allen asked if I had spoken with my state rep. Marjorie Decker. I said it was not her essay.
He expressed his views on the issues I raised and I reminded him I wanted Rogers' opinions not his. Again I asked if he spoke for Rogers. He again said he did not.
I was able to mention the first four quotes from his essay before he ended the conversation. In each, Mr. Allen began expressing his opinions. I did not stop him until he tried to shut me up claiming that the desired conclusions were issues everyone agrees with. How did he know that? I said I was interested in solving problems without an economic interest, trying to solve some of the serious problems. That the leaders were often uninformed because they do not read any books. Instead they consult experts, who cannot be relied on for truth or for impartial evidence. I again reminded him that I did not stop him from expressing his opinions but that I wanted Mr. Rogers' not his. He told me that he lives in Rep. Decker's district. I told him I was not a member of the NRA, and did not own a gun. I said I was not a member of a group that shared a community weapon. Allen asked me. “They do that?” I guess he was unaware of the clever tricks used by young people to avoid being caught with illegal weapons.
At about 4:30 PM on Wednesday March 26, 2014, he covered his mouthpiece on the telephone and then said to me "I'm sorry I have to cut you off." He said he would tell Rep. Rogers I wanted to speak with him. I thanked him and hung up. I told him I already responded to the essay with a letter but that the Chronicle seldom publishes my letters. I told him I petitioned the City Council, the state legislature, that I made videos, had a blog and did a TV show for five years. I told him I wrote bills for the legislature for four years. I also told him I've been talking with journalists, prosecutors, police and politicians for about 20 years about these issues. I said I no longer bother with some of them, but that I have had no experience with Rep. Rogers so I thought I'd try. Now I've had some experience with him too.
http://cambridge.wickedlocal.com/article/20140325/NEWS/140327880
COLUMN: Move legislation forward to curb gun violence
By Rep. Dave Rogers
Posted Mar. 25, 2014 @ 10:00 am
CAMBRIDGE Chronicle
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