Statement of Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa
Following the Sandy Hook Elementary School Tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut
Monday, December 17, 2012
“First and foremost, our thoughts and prayers should be with the families in Newtown who are burying their loved ones this week. I am heartbroken by what happened. We need to allow these families to grieve. I do agree though that it’s time to study these mass shootings. I think we ought to pursue the ideas that call for a blue ribbon task force or commission with all stakeholders that can look at the much bigger issues associated with tragic events such as this. It certainly can’t be a debate just about guns. There must also be a serious and thoughtful discussion on mental health issues. And, I think you have to look at the culture of the United States which tends to be less civil now than it has been for a long period of time. If the life of these young people means anything, you have to think about how we got to the point where the value of life is less than it used to be. We must look at this from a holistic perspective; otherwise we can’t address the problem.”
What civil culture? Americans have been mass murderers since we founded this country. Killing Witches, Indians and Blacks. Then you can start on the religous murders. All the major Religions have been involved in mass murders in this country. Read the Globe from back in the 20’s and 30’s its full of kidnappings and murders right here in Mason City.
Grassleys position on mental health funding is consistent, directly to the point and dead wrong. Cut Federal Funding and return the burden of mental health care to the states. Since the state has no funds, Iowa pushes the issue down hill to counties. There Chuck, problem solved. NOT. Hes a wind bag on mental health and if you dont believe me check out his voting record and his public policy statements.
Hey Chuck,
You and your cronies policymaking is the reason for this. You and your Republican cartel created a culture of violence and hatred. Looking for answers?
Look in the mirror.
@harles-way to come up with something positive to correct the problem. Attitudes like that are the reason we have these liberal idiots running around killing people. If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem. Calling Grassley names won’t solve a thing.
So none of the mass murderers have been conservatives? The truth is hidden by your liberal bias.
This is to btincc, happyguy, Alistaire, and Armbears: At least Grassley is offering ideas on how to combat this issue which is more than the four of you are doing. All you four are doing is name calling and bitching which is typical of your kind. You four need to just shut your pie holes if this is all you are capable of. Truth be told, no one wants to hear your crap!
@Cheeter-You have it exactly correct. That is all they do. Going after guns won’t solve anything. There are plenty of laws already on the books. Does anyone really think that a killer cares one bit about laws. There are many way to kill someone and if they are really set on killing they will always find a way. A Baseball bat would have worked in this case. They need to find and correct the root cause, not put in emotional B.S. But B.S. is what liberals do best.
LVS you can’t truely believe that a man could walk into a school and kill 26 people with a baseball bat. Come on now. I can’t believe that even your right winged friends on here can believe that. Comments like that make you lose face pretty fast. Maybe you need to think before you post.
@happy guy-there was a guy in China that stabbed 22 kids and at least 1 adult at a school there before he could be stopped. Why don’t you think someone swinging a baseball bat couldn’t do the same thing. Who in that school was in a position to stop him. Now if one of them had been armed I would agree with you. You better think before you post. Your really not very bright are you? Do you think I would put something like that on a post without knowing if it could be done. That is the liberal way of doing things. Throw crap at something long enough and maybe it will stick.
@LVS please tell us how many of the kids died in China. That was the whole point most or all of them lived unlike the kids at Sandy Hook Elementary. You can stop a nut with a knife even if you are unarmed but don’t stand a chance against a gun. I don’t think taking all our guns away is the answer anymore than arming every man women and child would somehow stop these terrible shootings from happening.
LVS as of yesterday none of the kids died. As of yesterday 20 kids died in Newtown. So you need to rethink you post about killing 26 people with a bat. You continually prove how mentally challenged you really are.
anonymous I personally would love to live in a gunless society but I know that would never happen. I don’t think I have ever call for a ban on all guns. I am calling for some common sense gun reform and strickter enforcement of our existing laws. The problem on this blog seems to be many believe that thier right to own just about every gun out weighs your right to life.
Absolutely!
Cheter, lvs, maybe, Katie, and the others that believe in what you preach, you do realize that your opinions are pretty much way past center on the right. So far past center that you could be called extremist. On the other hand my beliefs and opinions are just left of center. Most of my opinions are backed by over 50% of today’s population. Yours on the other hand are believed in by a much smaller % of today’s US population. You must feel quite alone knowing that so few believe in what you preach.
You have accomplished one thing…you have chased most of the common sense people who used to post here away with your continual name calling and out of touch ideas. They got tired of your uncivilized manner of debate.
Now Cheter where on this page have I called anyone a name. And if you are bashing me for name calling you need to do the same for your right winged friends on here. That would apply to them much more than me. Also if you don’t like what I post don’t read it. That is fine with me. I can’t change your narrow mindedness anyway.
Finally, if you think the mass murder by gun problem can be solved without some sort of gun law reform you live in a dream world. My point that I made on this post was that the time to study should have come after April 20, 1999 when 13 people were killed at Columbine High School. Not after the next 28 mass murders by guns. We need action and we need it now. The longer we wait the better the chances of another massacre happening
Ah Happy Guy I guess we hurt your tender feelings. That was not the point at all. This must have really hit home for you to make such a response. Do you have feelings of guilt? What is your problem. Are we abusing you because we have a conservative viewpoint and you don’t. I can see it really upsets you that other people agree on points that you in your protectected socialist view point just can’t understand. I had not said anything about you and did not intend on doing so until you took it on yourself to bring me into it. Grow up and quit crying. It is what liberals always do best.
LVS…There was not a tear shead while writting my reply. No feelings hurt and no feelings of guilt. I don’t feel abused. Frankly I feel pitty for you and your friends who are so far out of touch with reality. The consevative point of view is dying off as fast as WW II vets are. About the only place it remain in the majority is on blogs like NIT, Fox News, and the gerrymandered US House. RIP conservatives.
Happyguy: The only narrow mindedness is your with your head up your ignorant ass! And if you don’t like the fact that I go after you and your ignorant left wing buddies, too bad. Live with it!
Please don’t lump me in with the name callers. I have never done that to anyone but complete maroons that are written about in some crazy articles. I try to be civil at all times.
I also know that people who want their 2nd Amendment rights protected are not out of touch. I know a lot of people who own gun collections would go to long measures to hang on to them. These are normal, everyday people, some of whom voted for Obama. They hunt, shoot trap, skeet, sporting clays, paper targets, and take the time to teach gun safety and hunting safety to young people. These are the people who have been jamming gun shows for the past week to buy guns out of fear they will become illegal.
The degradation of society is where the problem lies. The broken mental health system is where the problem lies. The reluctance of people around these damaged mass murderers to step up and label them as potential threats to society due to legal ramifications has to change. Law enforcement’s unwillingness to do anything until a crime has been committed has to change. More things need to be a privilege than a right. And I do believe that includes gun ownership when it comes to anger issues, psychiatric issues, prior criminal behavior, and probably a lot of other things .
Cheter I don’t care if you want to keep publicly showing your ignorance. I don’t think you are smart enough to come after me. Anyway I haven’t seen any signs of it yet. You are welcomed to keep trying though. Good luck
Chuck, YOU are part of the problem. Your long standing record as a senator reflects a history of mental health funding cuts. You sit on the powerful Agriculture Committee and Grassley Farms Inc. has taken famers welfare for 3 generations and you’ve dipped into our pockets and made yourself a millionare. Shame on you.
Less civil? People are animals! Did you just figure this out?
How many more will die while you are studying this issue. Enough is enough. Stand up to the NRA and other gun lobbies.
Here’s an idea, raise your kids right and instill the fear of hell in them!
Yeah and don’t forget to tell them that the boogey man is in the closet and he will get them if they don’t behave.
Really, Chuck? You figured that out all by yourself?