Obama on Binghamton shootings; and a strange one from Gov. Paterson

Traveling in Europe this week, President Obama's White House released a statement after the fatal shootings in Binghamton, N.Y., today that apparently killed 13 people plus the shooter, and injured others.

And New York Gov. David Paterson appeared on the scene with numerous other officials to express his concern and make a rather strange statement. (UPDATE: Quote correction below.)

First, President Obama:

Michelle and I were shocked and deeply saddened to learn about the act of senseless violence in Binghamton, N.Y., today. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims, their families and the people of Binghamton.

We don’t yet know all the facts, but my administration is actively monitoring the situation and the vice president is in touch with Gov. Paterson and local officials to track developments.

In his appearance before the local cameras Paterson ran through a detailed chronological track record of recent violent shootings across the country, including the deaths last month of four police officers in Oakland, and then the governor said:

(UPDATE: A re-examination of the news conference tape shows that Gov. Paterson did, in fact, say "in the history of this city" not "state" as originally published here.) 

And now here in Binghamton we probably have the worst tragedy and senseless crime in the history of this city. When are we going to be able to curb the kind of violence that is so fraught and so rapid that we can’t even keep track of the incidents?

And wasn't there something called 9/11 in that same state a few years ago?

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Comments

[Fish]

If the Binghamton tragedy was the worst event in New York State history, the 9-11 attack must have been insignificant in Paterson's opinion?

[NahnCee]

It was a worse tragedy because they were 13 *immigrants*, you see. Everyone knows that being from any place else than America means you are more valuable than a mere US taxpayer, so therefore, 13 non-English speaking folks from Uzhbekistan or Vietnam will out-trump 3,000 mere run-of-the-mill Americans minding their own business *in* America any day. Especially to a politician who is trained to think of the American taxpayer as a bunch of idjuts.

[olddog55]

New gun laws have already been written, just waiting for the media to keep pounding us with these type of stories over the next couple of weeks.

We're going to see much more of this kind of thing as
more people go "postal" when they feel they've lost everything. This is the beginning of the Obama legacy.

[Gridlock]

9/11 was a "tragedy", don'tcha know... Or maybe a "disaster"...

Or perhaps Gov. Paterson does not think it was a senseless crime...

[Rob]

I am still waiting for the LeftNuts to ban Ryder rental trucks after the Oklahoma City bombing. We all KNOW
that the inanimate object is responsible, not the criminal.

[Rocky]

Man Made Disaster it was

[MarkD]

The victims were immigrants, too. They were people who wanted to build a better life for themselves here. People like our ancestors.

If we can waste trillions on economic stimulus, where's the money to keep jobs in this country, or to help those who lose one to find another? We've got our uncivil servants and our political overlords feeding at the trough, taxes going through the roof, public education failing miserably to prepare students for the future and jobs that actually produce something people want to buy leaving the country.

Before the political zealots jump in, save it. Neither party cares about anything except winning. It's not guns, there were more guns around when I was a kid. An amoral government has desensitized citizens to tragedy, large and small. People lack manners and basic civility, and society tolerates things that would have had you shunned by decent people when I was a kid.

Everybody has rights, and nobody is responsible. Nice civilization we've got here.

[cobra146]

It's not guns, there were more guns around when I was a kid. An immoral government has desensitized citizens to tragedy, large and small. People lack manners and basic civility, and society tolerates things that would have had you shunned by decent people when I was a kid.

Everybody has rights, and nobody is responsible. Nice civilization we've got here.

AMEN!!

IT IS ALWAYS SOMEONE ELSE'S FAULT I CAN'T BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MY OWN ACTIONS!!!!

[om santi]

Remember the NRA and McCain made such a fuss during the presidential campaign in 2008 about Obama's wish to impose stricter gun possession rules ? And people in blogs etc. all condemn Obama because of his plan ?
Now see the result of the freedom of gun possession : IT (THE GUNS) WAS VERY OFTEN THAN NOT, FALL INTO THE HANDS OF UNSTABLE OR CIMINOUS PERSONS, WHO DOES NOT USE GUNS FOR DEFENCE -such as hoped for by NRA or the republicans-, BUT TO MURDER EVERYONE WITHIN THEIR REACH AT WILL, WHENEVER THEY ARE FRUSTRATED ABOUT SOME THING.
NRA or McCain or the red bloggers surely don't wish their families would be shot dead by someone suddenly mad because of mass layoffs ?
Who could ever forecast where, when, and by whom, would such tragic events happen again sometime now in A FREE-GUN-USAGE PLACES ?

[Rhymes With Right]

om santi:

And in the UK, they are now implementing "knife control" laws and banning the sale of pointed kitchen utensils because they might fall into the hands of an unstable or criminal person. Hey, the logic is precisely the same, so I suppose you must want similar laws here.

Most guns, contrary to your statement, do not fall into the hands of violent criminals -- just like most cars do not fall into the possession of drunk drivers. Banning a legal item -- especially one we are guaranteed the right to own and possess by the US Constitution itself -- is not the answer to situations that are the exception rather than the rule.

[Ajlouny]

If you are going to kill yourself and take down as many people as possible with you, would you try and do it at a Gun Show or an NRA convention? No, you go to a place where you know the people won’t be able to fight back.

[Dennis D]

One wacko kills people and they want to take away all guns.

[Dave23]

Ready,

FIRE,

Aim

[Robin Smith]

Most states passed the law requiring DOT approved helmets on motorcycle riders, ten to twenty years ago. The political pressure, to pass the laws, came from trauma room medical personnel and families of riders who were lost due to motorcycle head trauma. Definitely a case of public compassion, maybe not a perfect law because riders were forced to do what they didn’t want to do.

http://legallaw.sosblog.com/admin.php?ctrl=posts&tab=posts&blog=1#post_11