Fully one half of our electorate is addicted to a story of America as a dystopian state. To hear it told, we are in the midst of rampaging gangs of migrants out to breed white folks out of existence all the while coming for your guns and to shutter your churches. Obama said it best, "If I listened to Fox news I wouldn't like me either". So therein lies at least part of the blame. I listen to right wing talk once a week or so and I am astounded by the picture painted of our current moment. And that portrait of us is spoon fed to an audience that is perhaps not up to the task of seeing it for what it is, and these incidents are results of that. So this guy might actually feel like it's a roving gang of woke socialists is in his driveway, and he might actually fear for his safety and that of his wife. I doubt it, but it might have something to do with this all. Or just as likely, he's a belligerent jerk standing his ground against some perceived danger that does not exist. Why I would ask is someone like he armed? The Second amendment mentions defense of the state, not of one's self, and if we allow guns to be owned by all comers, then this is what we get. It breaks my heart that a young woman has lost her life to this, and her fellow passengers marred for life. This is the price of our out of control gun laws.
There is a lot of keen insights here. From time to time, I try to sit down and watch a little of Fox News, but it makes me so angry I usually give up. You are right. If you are listening to a diet of that type of news - without context or reliable facts - then you might really be scared. I’m scared because so many people believe it.
It’s not the content per se that makes me angry, it’s that most of the content is untrue. Twenty years ago, the story choice was different, but they did not outright lie.
It makes you wonder how isolated the accused was before this. Does he have social interactions. Hebron is hardly a metropolis that should scare anyone.
I’m sorry, call me cynical if you must but I don’t believe one bit of that. I can believe people are afraid because sadly that is what has been built through the years by our political situation. In my mind I see a man that was angry that someone came on to his property. There was no threat. If he had waited and watched, he would have seen them reverse and leave. He didn’t. I know. I wasn’t there but this all feels very full of bologna as my grandmother used to say.
Wayne LaPierre, Fox News and money to pay for ads and bribe politicians brought about this and many other deaths. Listen to Hannity et al for five minutes and there will be a scare ad for some home security product.
I wish this in-the-room commentary could have been on the front page of the Post Star today… so this young woman’s family/friends could be comforted by your validation of their grief… and the myriad of other emotions embodied within their loss.
I hope it is the reminder that there is a place for commentary as part of your daily news diet. It is something we are seeing less and less of in newspapers.
I recently went to lunch with 3 old friends. I was the only one at the table who did not own a gun or feel the fear of the "crime here on the streets in Glens Falls". One of my friends said she no longer carries a purse or wears any jewelry. The other keeps a gun near the bedside in a locked box that opens using a fingerprint. I sat there dumbfounded while my opened purse was on the back of my chair and admiring my wedding diamond. I told them I felt sad that they have so much fear and they said they weren't fearful, just prepared. Well, let me just say, I felt a little fearful while sitting with these people who I used to know.
I've lived in NYS my entire life. In western NY, central NY, the Capitol Region, and the North Country. In cities, suburbs, and rural areas. In all these years, I’ve never felt unsafe. I've never felt the need to own a weapon for "self-defense."
I understand that not everyone may have had this experience, but I simply cannot believe anyone truly needs weapons at home to protect themselves.
Addendum: Having firearms in the home actually makes the homeowner less safe. It's much more likely for the firearm to be used for suicide, homicide, or an accidental shooting than for self-defense.
I grew up in the Adirondacks. My father owned guns and hunted. Lots of people did. If I hunted, I’d own one. Don’t see much other reason to. It’s absolutely a danger to have one around.
Jim Jefferies says it better, but be warned and I can’t say it strongly enough. If bad words bother you...
I long for the days where America's gun culture was centered on hunting, varmint shooting, and target shooting. Where the NRA was devoted to gun safety. These days, the gun culture is centered on violence and so-called self-defense. And the NRA, or what's left of it, is centered on promoting the use of firearms by all.
"Is it possible that the NRA has stepped up its defense of gun ownership because of the constant pressures to limit/remove gun ownership??"
No.
"[P]lease provide specific information as to where the NRA is centered on promoting the use of firearms by all as I have not seen that out there."
The NRA, in its "About the NRA" section on its webpage, says:
"The American Hunter and The American Rifleman were the mainstays of NRA publications until the debut of The American Guardian in 1997. The Guardian was created to cater to a more mainstream audience, with less emphasis on the technicalities of firearms and a more general focus on self-defense and recreational use of firearms. The Guardian was renamed America's 1st Freedom in June of 2000."
The organization makes it plain that it considers itself "America's foremost defender of Second Amendment rights."
The NRA's Institute for Legislative Action states, in its "About" section:
"The Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the lobbying arm of the NRA. Established in 1975, ILA is committed to preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution."
The NRA itself makes it plain to me, in its own words, it's centered on promoting the use of firearms by all.
I’ve said this before. WE’re at a point with guns in this country that we can just reduce the body count by eliminating the big guns. I’ve heard for years about Democratic politicians are coming for the guns. But I have yet to see it in my lifetime.
I’ve worked in Plattsburgh, Oneonta, rural Otsego County and never felt unsafe. As a teen, NYC could be intimidating but I’ve never been in a situation where I thought, “Man, I wish I had a gun.” Never.
I lived in NYC (three of the boroughs) for 65 years and was well aware of the dangers. It never crossed my mind to own a gun or any other kind of weapon, except I did think I should learn how to throw a great right hook, which scared my family. When I moved here, the stress of being "on the alert" melted away, and very quickly. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to share our thoughts and experiences.
so monahan goes out and his FIRST action isn’t to shout “get off my property!” but to fire a warning shot? and then the gun just goes off? well, i guess that puts the lie to the whole “guns don’t kill people” b.s. the 2A people have been peddling.
and in this climate, i hope the light brigade people are super careful.
I don’t think the light brigade folks have much to worry about from the loud minority. For that matter, maybe it’s just me but the pro-Trump swag seems to be missing from our lives lately. What I do see of his Chinese-made flags are pretty faded and torn.
thank you, again, Ken...I pledged a subscription because your columns always speak directly--asking questions, stating facts. allowing for the consciousness that works against misinformation, propaganda, the rousing of hatred and violence, and the willful ignorance of so many.
and thank you for mentioning the light brigade...tonight. Our lights are for climate action and climate justice, the voting rights act, for democracy....for supporting nurses during covid, .against DeJoy and his undercutting of our vital postal service...to bring some light to some of the issues affecting our community. thanks again...and may there be light in our world
There is no shame in some people these days. We are so used to people lying to us ( wink, wink politicians). If Monahan had owned up from the get go he may have garnered at least a measure of sympathy and understanding. Very little, mind you. He is a pathetic person. His attorney can be considered the same for an equally pathetic defense. More times than not people get what they deserve in life, good or bad. In this case I expect that the shooter will get what he deserves as well. That of never seeing the light of day as a free man.............forever.
I hardly know what to say after reading all that about Mr. Monaghan. He seems to be paranoid but as you say, a woman is dead because of it. Must mull this one over a while.
I was interested in the fact that I think at least 200 (or more) of the 500 people called for jury duty were excused...because they had already made up their minds. I really wonder just who the people are that are actually sitting there as jurors....kind of like the Trump fraud trial in some ways...what on earth is believable from the defense!!
I talked to an elderly man a few days ago who wondered how they could get an unbiased trial because local television news was covering it incessantly. I told him they would have to find people who don’t watch local news. They are out there.
NYS Penal Code 125.25, Murder in the second degree, a person is guilty when, "Under circumstances evincing a depraved indifference to human life, he recklessly engages in conduct which creates a grave risk of death to another person, and thereby causes the death of another person."
Notice the word intent is absent. It is replaced with recklessly, pointing to another charge Monahan faces, reckless endangerment. There are probably a sufficient number of counts for all those in and on the vehicles.
When you live in a remote area, you probably do so because you prefer the solitude but I get that when an unknown person comes, you can feel vulnerable. Which is why gun ownership is so high in rural areas. You call 911 and law enforcement isn't going to be there in 2 minutes like in a city. And I get you don't want to wait until a burglar is in your house to act. But there has to be a little more restraint - especially toward someone in a vehicle facing away from the house - than shoot first and any questions never. Yell at them. Tell them to get off your property. Whatever. But shooting at humans should never be the first resort.
Fully one half of our electorate is addicted to a story of America as a dystopian state. To hear it told, we are in the midst of rampaging gangs of migrants out to breed white folks out of existence all the while coming for your guns and to shutter your churches. Obama said it best, "If I listened to Fox news I wouldn't like me either". So therein lies at least part of the blame. I listen to right wing talk once a week or so and I am astounded by the picture painted of our current moment. And that portrait of us is spoon fed to an audience that is perhaps not up to the task of seeing it for what it is, and these incidents are results of that. So this guy might actually feel like it's a roving gang of woke socialists is in his driveway, and he might actually fear for his safety and that of his wife. I doubt it, but it might have something to do with this all. Or just as likely, he's a belligerent jerk standing his ground against some perceived danger that does not exist. Why I would ask is someone like he armed? The Second amendment mentions defense of the state, not of one's self, and if we allow guns to be owned by all comers, then this is what we get. It breaks my heart that a young woman has lost her life to this, and her fellow passengers marred for life. This is the price of our out of control gun laws.
There is a lot of keen insights here. From time to time, I try to sit down and watch a little of Fox News, but it makes me so angry I usually give up. You are right. If you are listening to a diet of that type of news - without context or reliable facts - then you might really be scared. I’m scared because so many people believe it.
" I try to sit down and watch a little of Fox News, but it makes me so angry"
That is EXACTLY what Fox News intends to do. That has been its brand since, well, day one.
It’s not the content per se that makes me angry, it’s that most of the content is untrue. Twenty years ago, the story choice was different, but they did not outright lie.
Her grandmother is my neighbor.
This defense is insulting .
I live alone with a chihuahua mix to defend me lol.
This paranoia is caused by mental illness I would assume.
It makes you wonder how isolated the accused was before this. Does he have social interactions. Hebron is hardly a metropolis that should scare anyone.
I’m sorry, call me cynical if you must but I don’t believe one bit of that. I can believe people are afraid because sadly that is what has been built through the years by our political situation. In my mind I see a man that was angry that someone came on to his property. There was no threat. If he had waited and watched, he would have seen them reverse and leave. He didn’t. I know. I wasn’t there but this all feels very full of bologna as my grandmother used to say.
As a 66-year-old, I was very insulted someone of that age was characterized as a “scared, old man.” I certainly don’t feel that way.
Really!!!!
Wayne LaPierre, Fox News and money to pay for ads and bribe politicians brought about this and many other deaths. Listen to Hannity et al for five minutes and there will be a scare ad for some home security product.
Another excellent point.
"NRA AND NYSRPA ANNOUNCE A+ RATING FOR STEFANIK, HIGHEST IN STATE DELEGATION — COBB AGAIN RECEIVES F RATING, LOWEST IN NORTH COUNTRY HISTORY"
https://eliseforcongress.com/2020/09/04/nra-and-nysrpa-announce-a-rating-for-stefanik/
I wish this in-the-room commentary could have been on the front page of the Post Star today… so this young woman’s family/friends could be comforted by your validation of their grief… and the myriad of other emotions embodied within their loss.
I hope it is the reminder that there is a place for commentary as part of your daily news diet. It is something we are seeing less and less of in newspapers.
I recently went to lunch with 3 old friends. I was the only one at the table who did not own a gun or feel the fear of the "crime here on the streets in Glens Falls". One of my friends said she no longer carries a purse or wears any jewelry. The other keeps a gun near the bedside in a locked box that opens using a fingerprint. I sat there dumbfounded while my opened purse was on the back of my chair and admiring my wedding diamond. I told them I felt sad that they have so much fear and they said they weren't fearful, just prepared. Well, let me just say, I felt a little fearful while sitting with these people who I used to know.
I’d be afraid too.
Amazing. I feel the way you do.
I've lived in NYS my entire life. In western NY, central NY, the Capitol Region, and the North Country. In cities, suburbs, and rural areas. In all these years, I’ve never felt unsafe. I've never felt the need to own a weapon for "self-defense."
I understand that not everyone may have had this experience, but I simply cannot believe anyone truly needs weapons at home to protect themselves.
Addendum: Having firearms in the home actually makes the homeowner less safe. It's much more likely for the firearm to be used for suicide, homicide, or an accidental shooting than for self-defense.
I didn’t know that.
That’s especially true for suicide.
I grew up in the Adirondacks. My father owned guns and hunted. Lots of people did. If I hunted, I’d own one. Don’t see much other reason to. It’s absolutely a danger to have one around.
Jim Jefferies says it better, but be warned and I can’t say it strongly enough. If bad words bother you...
https://youtu.be/0rR9IaXH1M0?si=RAw9DJutt27YXYQh
I long for the days where America's gun culture was centered on hunting, varmint shooting, and target shooting. Where the NRA was devoted to gun safety. These days, the gun culture is centered on violence and so-called self-defense. And the NRA, or what's left of it, is centered on promoting the use of firearms by all.
"Is it possible that the NRA has stepped up its defense of gun ownership because of the constant pressures to limit/remove gun ownership??"
No.
"[P]lease provide specific information as to where the NRA is centered on promoting the use of firearms by all as I have not seen that out there."
The NRA, in its "About the NRA" section on its webpage, says:
"The American Hunter and The American Rifleman were the mainstays of NRA publications until the debut of The American Guardian in 1997. The Guardian was created to cater to a more mainstream audience, with less emphasis on the technicalities of firearms and a more general focus on self-defense and recreational use of firearms. The Guardian was renamed America's 1st Freedom in June of 2000."
The organization makes it plain that it considers itself "America's foremost defender of Second Amendment rights."
The NRA's Institute for Legislative Action states, in its "About" section:
"The Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the lobbying arm of the NRA. Established in 1975, ILA is committed to preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution."
The NRA itself makes it plain to me, in its own words, it's centered on promoting the use of firearms by all.
I’ve said this before. WE’re at a point with guns in this country that we can just reduce the body count by eliminating the big guns. I’ve heard for years about Democratic politicians are coming for the guns. But I have yet to see it in my lifetime.
Well said. There should be a law that you have to take a gun safety course before you are allowed to own any weapon.
Or stealing money.
I LOVED his routine! Very wise, and very funny, thank you!
I’ve worked in Plattsburgh, Oneonta, rural Otsego County and never felt unsafe. As a teen, NYC could be intimidating but I’ve never been in a situation where I thought, “Man, I wish I had a gun.” Never.
I lived in NYC (three of the boroughs) for 65 years and was well aware of the dangers. It never crossed my mind to own a gun or any other kind of weapon, except I did think I should learn how to throw a great right hook, which scared my family. When I moved here, the stress of being "on the alert" melted away, and very quickly. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to share our thoughts and experiences.
so monahan goes out and his FIRST action isn’t to shout “get off my property!” but to fire a warning shot? and then the gun just goes off? well, i guess that puts the lie to the whole “guns don’t kill people” b.s. the 2A people have been peddling.
and in this climate, i hope the light brigade people are super careful.
I don’t think the light brigade folks have much to worry about from the loud minority. For that matter, maybe it’s just me but the pro-Trump swag seems to be missing from our lives lately. What I do see of his Chinese-made flags are pretty faded and torn.
Maybe when the election gets closer, tho.
my fingers are crossed that even magaworld is getting a bit worn out with all the vitriol. but as you note, the election is still months away.
thank you, again, Ken...I pledged a subscription because your columns always speak directly--asking questions, stating facts. allowing for the consciousness that works against misinformation, propaganda, the rousing of hatred and violence, and the willful ignorance of so many.
and thank you for mentioning the light brigade...tonight. Our lights are for climate action and climate justice, the voting rights act, for democracy....for supporting nurses during covid, .against DeJoy and his undercutting of our vital postal service...to bring some light to some of the issues affecting our community. thanks again...and may there be light in our world
please be super careful out there.
I wish I knew where it was tho I seldom go out at night.
Thank you for shining the light of justice your whole life long!
There is no shame in some people these days. We are so used to people lying to us ( wink, wink politicians). If Monahan had owned up from the get go he may have garnered at least a measure of sympathy and understanding. Very little, mind you. He is a pathetic person. His attorney can be considered the same for an equally pathetic defense. More times than not people get what they deserve in life, good or bad. In this case I expect that the shooter will get what he deserves as well. That of never seeing the light of day as a free man.............forever.
I hardly know what to say after reading all that about Mr. Monaghan. He seems to be paranoid but as you say, a woman is dead because of it. Must mull this one over a while.
Well his lawyer’s argument is he is a “scared old man” but whether that is true will be up to the jury.
I was interested in the fact that I think at least 200 (or more) of the 500 people called for jury duty were excused...because they had already made up their minds. I really wonder just who the people are that are actually sitting there as jurors....kind of like the Trump fraud trial in some ways...what on earth is believable from the defense!!
I talked to an elderly man a few days ago who wondered how they could get an unbiased trial because local television news was covering it incessantly. I told him they would have to find people who don’t watch local news. They are out there.
P.S. my name was misspelled.😊
My name is Enhorning.
"Frost theorized". He'll be doing a lot of that.
NYS Penal Code 125.25, Murder in the second degree, a person is guilty when, "Under circumstances evincing a depraved indifference to human life, he recklessly engages in conduct which creates a grave risk of death to another person, and thereby causes the death of another person."
Notice the word intent is absent. It is replaced with recklessly, pointing to another charge Monahan faces, reckless endangerment. There are probably a sufficient number of counts for all those in and on the vehicles.
I await the sentencing.
When you live in a remote area, you probably do so because you prefer the solitude but I get that when an unknown person comes, you can feel vulnerable. Which is why gun ownership is so high in rural areas. You call 911 and law enforcement isn't going to be there in 2 minutes like in a city. And I get you don't want to wait until a burglar is in your house to act. But there has to be a little more restraint - especially toward someone in a vehicle facing away from the house - than shoot first and any questions never. Yell at them. Tell them to get off your property. Whatever. But shooting at humans should never be the first resort.