In the wake of the horrible shooting at a congressional baseball practice on Wednesday that left several people including Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) wounded, conservative writer turned Never Trumper David Frum took the chance to tweet about how the need to change Virginia gun laws. Unfortunately for the former Bush speechwriter, he doesn’t know the firearm laws.
“Virginia: No background checks No licensing No registration No permit req’d for concealed carry of long guns Open carry long guns & handguns,” Frum tweeted on Wednesday morning.
Virginia:
No background checks
No licensing
No registration
No permit req’d for concealed carry of long guns
Open carry long guns & handguns— David Frum (@davidfrum) June 14, 2017
The tweet was posted before any information of the shooter or where he bought the gun even surfaced. So, Frum did not have knowledge on whether the firearm was bought in Virginia, if the shooter was from the state or traveled to commit his crime, or if the gun was purchased legally.
Frum, however, still thought it would be appropriate to take a break from bashing Trump to complain that Virginia supported the Second Amendment. Within minutes, other more knowledgable conservatives slammed him online.
There are background checks in Virginia, and you don’t don’t “concealed carry” long guns. Why do you never do any research?
— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) June 14, 2017
What do you think that shows? You don’t need a permit to buy, you do have to pass a federal background check. Not the same thing.
— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) June 14, 2017
David, there ARE background checks in Virginia. I had one.
— Ben Domenech (@bdomenech) June 14, 2017
You’re wrong, every sale from a gun store requires a background check, also an asshole jumping to politics right after high profile shooting
— Literally Labonte (@philthatremains) June 14, 2017
This is incoherent. Which permit requirement do you expect would stop somebody bent on murder?
— J.D. Tuccille (@JD_Tuccille) June 14, 2017
In fairness you shd report EXACTLY the opposite every time a shooting in Chicago or Baltimore. Will b looking for your nxt 10,000 tweets.
— mark greaney (@MarkGreaneyBook) June 14, 2017
Jumping to conclusions at a tragedy is usually a bad idea, but politicizing an event without knowing facts beforehand shows a character flaw. Maybe next time, Frum could put a hold on his trigger happy reaction to complain about freedom and wait for the facts to come out and then having an honest and productive discourse.
