Today’s quotable
Thursday, Apr 7, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The annual Illinois Gun Owners Lobby Day was yesterday. Here’s the SJ-R…
Several politicians spoke to ISRA members Wednesday, bringing passionate rhetoric to the issue of gun owners’ advocacy.
“Jesus Christ died so we can be free from our sins,” said Rep. Chris Miller, R-Oakland. “And the Second Amendment will keep us free from a tyrannical government.”
Others used the opportunity to signal support for a certain kind of politics.
“We need a mean tweet, do we not need a mean tweet?” said Rep. Andrew Chesney, R-Freeport. “When we had Donald Trump, things were great.”
* Pic of rally-goers before the march began…
- BlueBin - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 10:33 am:
Now I’m no theologian, but…
- Give Me A Break - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 10:36 am:
Yes, Jesus died so you can have a weapon designed to take the lives of as many of God’s children as you can in as short amount of time as possible.
- Pundent - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 10:36 am:
Well a side benefit of social distancing is that it does make a crowd appear to be a bit larger. Looks more like a “really” as opposed to a “rally” to me.
- Vote Quimby - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 10:38 am:
The link is to the correct article… but the header said “Abiliene Reporter-News.” Glad to see all is well with corporate media.
To the post,
“Because of the pandemic, we weren’t able to hold it the past two years,” said Reyes. “So I’m not surprised the crowd is smaller.”
Ummm… shouldn’t there be pent-up demand to show pent-up outrage at politicians?
- TheInvisibleMan - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 10:41 am:
We are getting uncomfortably close to the point of normalizing the linking of ‘violently dying for your religion/cause’ into our political stage.
The message in some quarters is slowly shifting in a dangerous direction.
- Streator Curmudgeon - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 10:41 am:
“And the Second Amendment will keep us free from a tyrannical government.”
Odd. Why is it that states with the strongest gun lobbies, like Texas, also have the most restrictive laws?
- Hamlet on the Potomac - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 10:41 am:
Is Chris Miller related to you Rich? /snark…
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 10:44 am:
Dozens showed up… that’s fun.
The whole Jesus and 2nd amendment thingy is odd, not because it’s already embarrassingly ridiculous, that’s the given, a farcical meme in the wild…
I don’t remember in Luke or Matthew that Jesus talks of arming anyone, including himself, Jesus who entered into his own death, and we are reminded he went willingly, how do “holy folks” think the 2nd amendment, against the government, equates?
Even after death, resurrection, at no point is there any discussion to any legality or safety towards any constitution, or governing.
But, the dozens attending may disagree, but really don’t have a religious leg to stand on… during Lent… or at any time
- Steve Rogers - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 10:45 am:
What are they complaining about exactly?
How many of them had their guns taken away by Obama and Biden? Are they no longer able to hunt? Can no one buy ammo anymore? Did Trump provide free guns to every American?
I’m just confused as to what the problem is.
- Lakefront - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 10:48 am:
== Jesus Christ died so we can be free from our sins,” said Rep. Chris Miller, R-Oakland. “And the Second Amendment will keep us free from a tyrannical government. ==
Yes, yes he did. One of those sins being idolatry. The worst aspect of this nationalist-Christian movement is equation of generic Republican talking points with real theology.
- ItsMillerTime - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 10:50 am:
For all there talk of using there weapons to “stop tyranny” it’s weird I’ve never seen them actually stop any. And I mean real tyranny, frightening people in government buildings doesn’t count.
- Jibba - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 10:53 am:
I don’t know how Chris Miller ever expects us to be free in Jesus’ name without the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch, with which he mayeth blow thine enemies to tiny bits, in thy mercy.
- 30th ward lib - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 10:53 am:
call me hyperbolic i guess but the republican party has become a fundamentalist christian cult. the last year has been nothing but grievance politics that has led to violence whether here toward members or the assault on the capitol.
- Red Ketcher - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 10:53 am:
” starving ” during The Depression , but could afford shells to shoot at rabbits is ?
Believe the Poor Folk harvested rabbits by snare or big stick clubs back then.
- Skeptic - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 10:54 am:
““And the Second Amendment will keep us free from a tyrannical government.” Well, he’s not wrong. That is why there’s a Second Amendment. Where he errs is thinking today’s government qualifies as “tyranny.”
- Give Me A Break - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 10:59 am:
Four shalt thou not count, neither count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to three. Five is right out! Once the number three, being the third number, be reached, then lobbest thou thy Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch towards thy foe, who, being naughty in my sight, shall snuff it.
- Rabid - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 11:08 am:
Dad used a ferrite and a gunny sack
- Pundent - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 11:09 am:
=call me hyperbolic i guess but the republican party has become a fundamentalist christian cult.=
Well if the rallies are any indication the numbers are small, really small. But maybe the larger problem is that the leadership refuses to distance itself from this movement. We know that Don Tracy welcomes it and the minority leaders have lost their voices. On a statewide basis this is a tacit acknowledgment that they can’t win with them, and they can’t win without them. That’s a bit of a pickle.
- Vote Quimby - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 11:10 am:
==Believe the Poor Folk harvested rabbits by snare or big stick clubs back then.==
“Oh, I got ammo money.” /s
- Proud Papa Bear - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 11:12 am:
I was at the Capitol during their 2019 rally.
I felt like I was in the Cantina scene from Star Wars.
- Independent - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 11:19 am:
I worship Jesus and own guns. However I never try to draw a line between the two, nor do I get why so many attempt to.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 11:24 am:
People like Chris Miller think taxation is tyranny.
Like Jesus would ever own a gun. Or vote Republican.
- Excitable Boy - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 11:29 am:
- “We need a mean tweet, do we not need a mean tweet?” -
Is Rep. Chesney an actual adult?
- Nick Name - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 11:38 am:
Jesus made it quite clear that he wanted us to be holy and love our neighbor. He didn’t care about tyrrancial governments.
- Montrose - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 11:46 am:
I don’t see Rep. Miller quoting the whole “give unto Ceasar” passage in the bible anytime soon.
- JS Mill - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 11:46 am:
=“And the Second Amendment will keep us free from a tyrannical government.”=
Actually, that is not why we have the 2nd amendment. At the time the 2nd amendment was written, it was not considered good practice to have a large standing army. They were expensive and, historically, armies left with nothing to do often got bored and found something to do. Militias were actually important.
But the patriots don’t read much so why would anyone expect them to know history?
=Now I’m no theologian, but…=
Neither are they, they buy into the christian soldier idea because they heard it in a song.
=Is Rep. Chesney an actual adult?=
No.
- Nick Name - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 11:48 am:
===“We need a mean tweet, do we not need a mean tweet?”===
Jesus? Jesus who?
- We've never had one before - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 11:49 am:
@OswegoWilly
Luke 22:36 KJV
“36 Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.”
- West Side the Best Side - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 12:12 pm:
I thought every day was Gun Owners Lobby Day. If they only get one day, can we tell them to put a lid on it for the rest of the year. Maybe they can also have Sundays so they can reflect on their version of the Beautitudes: “Blessed are the peacemakers, so they can be armed to the teeth.”
- Huh? - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 12:12 pm:
“Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch”
I hate it when I have look up a movie reference.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 12:14 pm:
Yeah, ‘bout that…
Luke 22:35
“Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals,(AK) did you lack anything?”
“Nothing,” they answered.”
The thing about scripture, the point is when they had nothing, they did not lack… if they have something now, take all that you have and wait.
It’s an odd snippet, given the verse before it… and Jesus willingly was arrested.
But, “the Bible”.
- NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 12:33 pm:
Did they stay outside for their entire rally? Hopefully they weren’t rallying too far into the Capitol block and intruding on the rights of State Employees trying to do their jobs and get to and from work safely.
- Norseman - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 12:39 pm:
=== And the Second Amendment will keep us free from a tyrannical government. ===
All I can say is that this is a heap of bovine ingredient for fertilizer. It’s this obscene rhetoric that foments dangerous militia groups and other terrorist behavior.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 12:44 pm:
I guess I’d leave this here too…
===When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?”(AW) 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.
51 But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.===
Luke 22:50-51
If Miller (no relation to Rich) plans to use a weapon, disavow that use… than literally… literally heal the person wounded…
- Cubs in '16 - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 12:48 pm:
I used to think these types of politicians spewed this nonsense just to gin up votes but now I’m not so sure.
- Jibba - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 12:56 pm:
Given that Miller voted against the congressional resolution supporting NATO the other day, perhaps he is truly a New Testament pacifist who covers it up with all this threatening Second Amendment bluster.
- Bruce( no not him) - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 1:05 pm:
People like these, make us good gun owners, look bad.
Thanks for nothing
- Dysfunction Junction - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 1:06 pm:
Looks like I’m late to the party, but still glad I’m not the only one who found the “we need a mean tweet” quote pathetic. Unless it was an attempt at parody, in which case it was comedy gold. I don’t know Rep. Chesney but I’m relieved my dad’s not alive to have to live in that district.
- PublicServant - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 1:07 pm:
The last line of defense against tyrannical government is looking kinda sparse nowadays…just sayin.
- Mason born - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 1:20 pm:
Comments like Millers always strike me as the kind of hey I sound like you folks crap politicians do. Like he was given a cue card by his staff saying “mention: Jesus, 2nd Amendment, and guns.” Just my 2c.
As for Chesney it’s amazing how willing people are to tie themselves to a failed President in hopes some of his Iron Pirite coated B.S. will rub off on them.
As for the event itself having a hard time finding any details of what the goal is. I attended one of these yrs ago and the goal was to mention CCW to lawmakers as a way to show citizen interest. Curious what they picked now. Constitutional Carry is not coming to IL even if we multiplied that group by a thousand and there’s not any major legislation to advocate against. Kind of wondering what the point is.
Nice Hand Grenade of Antioch reference though. The Killer Rabbit of Caerbannog will certainly approve.
- Miss Marie - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 1:20 pm:
Sometimes when I am dumbfounded with the nerve of some people, I like to ask myself ‘would Jesus flip a table over for this?’
This is one of the cases I think He would
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 1:29 pm:
=== Like he was given a cue card by his staff===
Nobody has to prompt that dude to talk like that.
- JS Mill - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 2:22 pm:
=I hate it when I have look up a movie reference.=
I am sort of disappointed that you (or anyone for that matter) had to look that particular reference up. Should be required watching./s
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 2:28 pm:
===I hate it when I have look up a movie reference===
Easter Eggs are meant to be sought, then found.
Easter Eggs in comments for a post about divinity is next level
- TheInvisibleMan - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 2:41 pm:
=== Should be required watching. ===
There are some who call me… Tim.
- Dotnonymous - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 3:02 pm:
Religious extremism will be the death of democracy.
- SAP - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 3:56 pm:
Didn’t the Bible say something about beating assault rifles into plowshares?