Arm the Senate!

Isn't it time to dismantle the metal detectors, send the guards at the doors away and allow Americans to exercise their Second Amendment rights by being free to carry their firearms into the nation's Capitol?

I've been studying the deep thoughts of senators who regularly express their undying loyalty to the National Rifle Association, and I have decided that they should practice what they preach. They tell us that the best defense against crime is an armed citizenry and that laws restricting guns do nothing to stop violence.

If they believe that, why don't they live by it?

Why would freedom-loving lawmakers want to hide behind guards and metal detectors? Shouldn't NRA members be outraged that Second Amendment rights mean nothing in the very seat of our democracy?

Congress seems to think that gun restrictions are for wimps. It voted this year to allow people to bring their weapons into national parks, and pro-gun legislators have pushed for the right to carry in taverns, colleges and workplaces. Shouldn't Congress set an example in its own workplace?

So why not let Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) pack the weapon of his choice on the Senate floor? Thune is the author of an amendment that would have allowed gun owners who had valid permits to carry concealed weapons into any state, even states with more restrictive gun laws. The amendment got 58 votes last week, two short of the 60 it needed to pass.

Judging by what Thune said in defense of his amendment, he'd clearly feel safer if everyone in the Capitol could carry a gun.

"Law-abiding individuals have the right to self-defense, especially because the Supreme Court has consistently found that police have no constitutional obligation to protect individuals from other individuals," he said. I guess that Thune doesn't think those guards and the Capitol Police have any obligation to protect him.

He went on: "The benefits of conceal and carry extend to more than just the individuals who actually carry the firearms. Since criminals are unable to tell who is and who is not carrying a firearm just by looking at a potential victim, they are less likely to commit a crime when they fear they may come in direct contact with an individual who is armed."

In other words, keeping guns out of the Capitol makes all our elected officials far less safe. If just a few senators had weapons, the criminals wouldn't know which ones were armed, and all senators would be safer, right? Isn't that better than highly intrusive gun control -- i.e., keeping people with guns out of the Capitol in the first place?

"Additionally," Thune said helpfully, "research shows that when unrestricted conceal and carry laws are passed, not only does it benefit those who are armed, but it also benefits others around them such as children."

This is a fantastic opportunity. Arming all our legislators would make it safer for children, so senators could feel much more secure bringing their kids into the Capitol. This would promote family values and might even reduce the number of highly publicized extramarital affairs.

During the debate, Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) quoted a constituent who told him: "When my family and I go out at night, it makes me feel safer just knowing I am able to have my concealed weapon."

Why shouldn't Vitter feel equally safe in the Capitol? Why should he have to go out on the streets to carry a gun?

The pro-gun folks love their studies. Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) offered this one: "A study for the Department of Justice found 40 percent of felons had not committed certain crimes because they feared the potential victims would be armed."

That doesn't tell us much about the other 60 percent, but what the heck? If it's good enough for Barrasso, let the good senator introduce the amendment to allow concealed carry in the Capitol.

Barrasso already dislikes the District of Columbia's tough restrictions on weapons. "The gun laws in the District outlaw law-abiding citizens from self-defense," he complained. So go for it, Senator! Make our nation's Capitol an island of firearms liberty in a sea of oppression.

Don't think this column is offered lightly. I want these guys to put up or shut up. If the NRA's servants in Congress don't take their arguments seriously enough to apply them to their own lives, maybe the rest of us should do more to stop them from imposing their nonsense on our country.

ejdionne@washpost.com

Carcieri Plans to Cut Taxes: Uses Obama's Stimulus Bill to Bridge Shortfall

I read in the Newport Daily News and Providence Journal that Governor Carcieri, who criticized Obama's stimulus bill, intends to use the "Bush policy" of cutting all taxes to corporations, the wealthy, while facing an $866 million deficit.

Carcieri's plan is to follow Bush's "trickle down" policy, which seems to have gotten us into the trouble we're in with the entire country. Caricieri would

• Cut the corporate tax rate to drop, from 9 percent to 7.5 percent, increasingly each year, until it is eliminated completely


• The top personal tax rate will drop by nearly 1/2 from 9.9 percent to 5.5 percent.


• Reduce the inheritance tax by Increasing the amount to be deducted from inheritances to $1 million before facing a tax

How will Carcieri make up the shortfall with an already $866 million deficit and nearly no taxes available in the future? Initially he will:

• Cut $55 million in funding to cities and towns


• Refuse to repay money to the rainy day fund


• Tap , temporarily, to replace (for 2 years) $31 million to cities and towns, from the Obama stimulus fund, that Carcieri criticized heavily (But this will still leave a funding deficit to cities and towns of $24 million per year, and it will only last 2 years, causing further problems, stated below)

This will cause cities and towns to lose money for their operating expenses and for schools. Carcieri belives his "black box" ideology will magically create jobs.

Even so, the cities and towns, without funding, would almost have to increase taxes, institute a city income tax, or increase already high property taxes significantly. They could not do any of these things, but there would be no money then for police, refuse pickup, fire departments, and other city services, as well as no money for schools. All of these would, of course deteriorate quickly.

City services and school quality would decline OR real estate taxes would increase dramatically. Even IF corporations settled here.. and at 0 percent, I am sure they would... it is unlikely anyone could afford to LIVE here. Living over the border in Connecticut or Massachusetts would be desireable at that point, while working on any "black box" jobs created for corporate tax havens.

So perhaps our tiny state of Rhode Island COULD be the Republican "stimulus package" (read no, stimulus - eliminate taxes to coroporations and the wealthy, cut off funding to cities and towns and social services, and "hope for the best").

With no funding to cities and towns, as stated, and no funds to the state, I simply wonder how the state would decrease their already $866 million deficit. Creating jobs in the state with the 2nd highest unemployment rate in the country is desireable, but if everyone has to move to Massachusetts for city services, schools that are funded and any quality of life needs that any human being would want, what is Rhode Island?

It will be a haven for Corporations, the wealthy, and those who have made deals with them, and it will not house anyone under a $300,000 income, or more.

Carcieri's hypocrisy in using the Obama funds he criticized to make his plan "look presentable" for 2 years until it is too late, is quite sad.

Now.. expand this to the U.S. Where will everyone with under $300,000 salaries live? Mexico?

I look forward to the "Republican black box plan" taking effect in such a small state as ours. If it succeeds, certainly, the Republicans can "show everyone the way". But if it fails... while we here in Rhode Island will suffer (or become Massachusetts residents)...the country will have had its second test of the "Bush economic doctrine". The past 8 years were the first test. But if it takes us to remind you all of why we're in this trouble, it's the least we can do.

But if we DO suffer in order to test it once more for the rest of you... will you please use your stimulus package to help out a neighbor?