I think it’s also important to set realistic expectations for the American people.
There are things we can do quickly. Expanded background checks, mandatory waiting periods, closing gun show loopholes, etc.
An assault weapons ban is more complicated. 1/x
There is approximately a zero percent chance a 50/50 Senate that includes Manchin and Sinema would ever be able to pass an assault weapons ban.
It’s also not clear how helpful an assault weapons ban would ultimately be. If you use Clinton’s ban as a reference: 2/X
A ban would likely encompass semiautomatic firearms and/or high-capacity (over 10 rounds) magazines.
It would also almost certainly—as Clinton’s did—include a grandfather clause that would exempt the millions of weapons and magazines that are already in circulation. 3/X
This is how it worked with Clinton’s AWB. Manufacturers were forbidden to produce the banned weapons except for military and law enforcement, but there were “pre-ban” weapons and magazines still in circulation. 4/X
Some people will inevitably say “ok cool, so don’t include a grandfather clause,” but that’s not as easy as it sounds.
Who gets to be the one to tell tens of millions of law-abiding citizens that their weapons are now illegal? 5/X
There are options, of course.
Buyback programs have had limited success, and some have been widely successful (see: Australia).
I’ve seen folks suggest a *mandatory* buyback program - but with a piecemeal registry system in the US, that’s not really possible, either. 6/X
Then you have the obvious threat of violence that would come from the government telling people (read: the morons who invaded the Capitol) that they have to relinquish their (now illegal) weapons.
Many would probably comply, but many would almost certainly fight. 7/X
I say all of this not to suggest that we don’t push for some form of an assault weapons ban, but to urge that we take care of the easy stuff that would still make a difference first. 8/X
The right *wants* us to get into a protracted fight about assault weapons, because it’s not going to go anywhere with this Congress, and nothing will change.
We’ve had too many pointless fights over this. Let’s actually make a difference this time. (End)
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“Then, in 1987, Trump visited Moscow and St Petersburg for the first time. Shvets said he was fed KGB talking points and flattered by KGB operatives who floated the idea that he should go into politics.” 2/X
Shortly after, Trump began considering running for POTUS one day.
“For the KGB, it was a charm offensive. They had collected a lot of information on his personality so they knew who he was personally. The feeling was that he was extremely vulnerable intellectually, and psychologically, and he was prone to flattery.” 3/X
Early this morning, we successfully intercepted a ballistic missile in space with another missile fired from a destroyer in the middle of the ocean.
This is a big deal for the Missile Defense Agency, and the Aegis BMD.
1/4
The Aegis is a sea-based midcourse defense system and part of our broader, layered missile defense strategy. This means that the Aegis system targets missiles after their initial boost phase and before reentry into Earth’s atmosphere.
Here’s a very simple graphic of that. 2/4
This test is interesting, because intercepting a ballistic missile is hard, and this gives us more options.
You may have heard of THAAD and/or Patriot missile defense systems. These are designed to intercept later in the flight path (during the ‘terminal’ or re-entry phase) 3/4
When you’re a cabinet official—especially in a volatile administration— you resignation letter is almost *always* prepped, because you serve at the pleasure of the President and could be asked for it at any time. 1/4
The fact that it leaked that Esper “prepped” his resignation letter is still significant.
Trump obviously appears poised to lose the election—and is increasingly manic while the slow-motion loss hits him—so the question is why is Esper resigning *now*? 2/4
Could it be (as many folks have suggested) that it’s a “rat fleeing the sinking ship” scenario? Sure, but not only is that almost entirely pointless this late in the term, it’s potentially dangerous for national security. 3/4
“Donald J. Trump paid $750 in federal income taxes the year he won the presidency. In his first year in the White House, he paid another $750.
He had paid no income taxes at all in 10 of the previous 15 years — largely because he reported losing much more money than he made.”
“Also hanging over him is a decade-long audit battle with the Internal Revenue Service over the legitimacy of a $72.9 million tax refund that he claimed, and received, after declaring huge losses. An adverse ruling could cost him more than $100 million.”
- Trump refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he loses the election.
- Said the quiet part out loud (again) that he expects the election to be decided by SCOTUS and that why it’s important to have 9 Justices 1/4
The analysis that people are missing is that he’s not preparing to contest a *close* election. He’s preparing to lose big and allege voter fraud on an unbelievable scale.
His demented, narcissistic brain is unable to grasp the fact that people really don’t like him. 2/4
The SCOTUS argument doesn’t really hold water, though. Justices aren’t beholden to the POTUS who appoints them.
Not many judges in America will buy the argument that millions of people committed voter fraud when Trump already lost the popular vote by 3 million in 2016. 3/4