Watch this video by Penn and Teller. It’s an irreverent, satirical, yet biting commentary on the whole issue of gun control, 2nd ammendment rights, and firearms in general.

CAUTION: The name of the show is “Bullsh*t”, and there is blue language…however, I think this show is worth watching for the broad overview these two bring to the subject.

Gee…another story about Congress growing some big hairy ones….

Will the constitution win?

Will Americans win, and retain their civil rights?

Will Bush pout?

Stay tuned….

Source

Bush Raps Senators for Blocking Patriot Act, Says They Put Nation’s Safety in Jeopardy
By JENNIFER LOVEN
The Associated Press

WASHINGTON - President Bush said Saturday that senators who are blocking renewal of the terrorism-fighting Patriot Act are acting irresponsibly and standing in the way of protecting the country from attack.

President Bush said Saturday that senators who are blocking renewal of the terrorism-fighting Patriot Act are acting irresponsibly and standing in the way of protecting the country from attack.

“In the war on terror, we cannot afford to be without this law for a single moment,” the president said in a live broadcast from the White House of his weekly radio address.

Senate Democrats, with the aid of a handful of Republicans, succeeded Friday in stalling the bill already approved by the House. The vote to advance the measure, 52-47, fell eight votes shy of the 60 votes required to end debate.

“That decision is irresponsible and it endangers the lives of our citizens. The senators who are filibustering must stop their delaying tactics and the Senate must reauthorize the Patriot Act,” Bush said.

Opponents of renewing the law, most of whom are Democrats, argue that it threatens constitutional liberties at home.

Most Republicans and other supporters say the act is essential for protecting the country against terrorists. The law was enacted in the aftermath of the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

My, my, my…is someone in the Halls of Congress starting to come to their senses?

Let us hope so…

SENATE BLOCKS PATRIOT ACT
By SHERYL GAY STOLBERG and ERIC LICHTBLAU
NYT Express
12/16/2005
WASHINGTON — The Senate on Friday blocked reauthorization of the broad anti-terrorism bill known as the USA Patriot Act, pushing Congress into a game of brinksmanship with President Bush, who has warned that the nation will be left vulnerable to attack if the measure is not quickly renewed.

With many Democrats and some Republicans saying the bill did not go far enough in protecting civil liberties, the Republican leadership fell short of the 60 votes required to break a filibuster.

The Patriot Act debate became a touchstone after the disclosure on Thursday night that Bush had secretly authorized the National Security Agency to eavesdrop on Americans and others inside the United States to search for terrorist activity.

Opponents of the extension of the measure are concerned that it would allow the government too much latitude in obtaining personal information, like library and medical records and business transactions, and conducting secret searches.

The vote was 52-47, with four Republicans joining all but two Democrats to back the filibuster. The bill’s opponents pushed for a three-month extension of the law to allow for more negotiations, but the White House and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist rebuffed their request.

Frist took the tactical step on Friday of switching his vote at the last minute to side with the backers of the filibuster, a procedural maneuver that allows him to bring the measure up for consideration again. After the vote, he said he would do so. “We will pass this bill,” Frist said, though he did not say when or how.

“This was the will of the Senate,” said Sen. John Sununu, R-N.H., who led the opposition among Republicans. The chief Democratic opponent of the bill, Sen. Patrick J. Leahy of Vermont, said the votes would not change.