Yesterday's gun-rights debate in Harrisburg ventured into fairly ridiculous territory, culminating with Upper Darby Democratic state Rep. Margo Davidson posing this preposterous hypothetical involving her and Republican state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe:
"If the gentleman from Butler County stood yelling, knowing that he's a gun-toter, and I felt threatened, would I be protected under court law if I blew his brains out?" Davidson asked.
Maybe if he "stood yelling" in your bedroom after he broke into your house. Otherwise, probably not. And you thought Davidson's predecessor, Mario Civera, had a big mouth ...
John Baer says Davidson apparently didn't get the "reasoned civility" memo following the shooting of Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.
By the way, the "Castle Doctrine" bill, which gives gun owners more freedom to use deadly force, passed overwhelmingly.
No fatalities were reported.
Update: Republican state Rep. Mike Vereb, of Montgomery County, chimes in this afternoon: "Representative Davidson may be a freshman legislator, but she is now a veteran of foot in mouth."
Davidson sent this 440-word statement, which says in part:
"In one of my hypothetical questions, I used graphic language to illustrate the tragic results of violence. Taking a person's life is a horrific and disturbing thing that cannot be undone. I used this strong language to urge my colleagues to pause before creating a more violent society.
"I did not explain to my House colleagues another reason why I used the language I did. I am personally acquainted with the tragic results of violence. My brother was murdered. Someone broke into his home to rob him. He didn't have any money on him, and the criminal shot him in the chest at point-blank range. I sat in the courtroom during the trial, heard graphic descriptions of what that did to him, and saw graphic photos of his wounds. I would not wish that on anyone – not another member of the House, not anyone."
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