How will Washington (over) react to Boston Bombings

[Likely Voter]

In the wake of 9-11 (which admittedly was a bigger event) Washington created the bloated Dept. of Homeland Security,  authorized torture, started a war with Iraq, and created the 'Patriot Act'...and more of course.

What will the political impact be of Boston and the Tsarnaev Bros?

- Is immigration reform dead?
- Is gun reform even more dead (or could this help if they bought their guns on the net?)
- Patriot Act 2?

...or nothing at all?

[Old Man Svensson]

Likely nothing. There's very little else the government can get away with after the NDAA and Patriot Act in terms of wrecking civil liberties, at least.

They might finally ban hand grenades, though, and tighten gun trafficking.

[BluegrassBlueVote]

Nothing, given its perceived triumphant ending. But Rubio is sweating bullets right now.

[Zarn]

Citywide lockdown is a new one...

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

No doubt the wrong political causes will benefit. The Aurora shooting seemed to help the death penalty win in California, but didn't help gun control.

[dead0man]

Ban Pressure Cookers!

[Zarn]

Citywide lockdown is a new one...

Ugh

You are free to ignore me. Maybe we all should be questioning things more.

[tik 🪀✨]

I do not think that, given the circumstances, the "citywide lockdown" was excessively excessive. These guys were out for blood, had no respect for human life, and used explosives. Security personnel were murdered and injured - perhaps this lockdown prevented civilians from meeting a similar fate.

That, and I highly doubt this sort of measure would be taken again anytime soon. Sometimes you DO need to sacrifice liberty for security for a minute in the real world. Just as long as it's not abused, like any power.

[BluegrassBlueVote]

Ban Pressure Cookers!

Washington can't even pass a watered down background checks bill and people are still cracking gun grabbing jokes. Cute.

"Ban cars! Ban knives! Ban shovels!" Derp.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Ban Pressure Cookers!

We won't even get universal warranty registration.

[Zarn]

I do not think that, given the circumstances, the "citywide lockdown" was excessively excessive. These guys were out for blood, had no respect for human life, and used explosives. Security personnel were murdered and injured - perhaps this lockdown prevented civilians from meeting a similar fate.

That, and I highly doubt this sort of measure would be taken again anytime soon. Sometimes you DO need to sacrifice liberty for security for a minute in the real world. Just as long as it's not abused, like any power.

I disagree completely. Also, if someone put themselves in harm's way, that's on that person. Civil liberties of the population should never be suspended. Ever. Hoping people do not abuse power is ridiculous. The cops were out for revenge over the university cop that was killed. It had nothing to do with the people of Boston.

[Franzl]

The cops were out for revenge over the university cop that was killed. It had nothing to do with the people of Boston.

[dead0man]

Ban Pressure Cookers!

We won't even get universal warranty registration.

And we should.  Now, I think banning sizes over 12 pints is silly and won't save any lives (and don't get me started on the  "timers" issue), but the universal warranty registration just seems sensible.

[Zarn]

I do not see how you would think otherwise. The lockdown occurred after the uni cop was killed.

Also, they did not actually find the guy, until the lockdown was over and a civilian found him.

[tik 🪀✨]

If extraordinary actions worked 100% of the time they'd cease being extraordinary.

[Zarn]

If extraordinary actions worked 100% of the time they'd cease being extraordinary.

That wouldn't make it justifiable. If anything, it makes it less justifiable.

[tik 🪀✨]

If extraordinary actions worked 100% of the time they'd cease being extraordinary.

That wouldn't make it justifiable. If anything, it makes it less justifiable.

It depends on the action and how much it violates rights. Did this action violate rights? Absolutely. Are those rights less a priority for a short period due to an extraordinary cause? Of course. If it makes you feel any better I do not believe violating the lockdown should be grounds for prosecution.

[Cory]

Point of Order: Civilians were free to exit their houses and go outside if they wanted.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

The cops were out for revenge over the university cop that was killed. It had nothing to do with the people of Boston.

Nothing big will result.

[Blue3]

The cops were out for revenge over the university cop that was killed. It had nothing to do with the people of Boston.

No.
Boston cops aren't the LAPD.

[Indy Texas]

Ban Pressure Cookers!

We won't even get universal warranty registration.

And we should.  Now, I think banning sizes over 12 pints is silly and won't save any lives (and don't get me started on the  "timers" issue), but the universal warranty registration just seems sensible.

At least they banned the Cornballer.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Ban Pressure Cookers!

No, but a serious proposal might be to require background checks for buying large quantities of black power.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Ban Pressure Cookers!

No, but a serious proposal might be to require background checks for buying large quantities of black power.

I suspect the GOP could get behind limiting black power.

[Vosem]

So far, I've seen this used as an argument against immigration reform and as an argument against gun control (apparently in the aftermath of the lockdown there was a huge spike of gun sales in the Boston area, though I can't remember where I read that so take it with a grain of salt). Obviously, gun control is dead in the water anyway, but it'll be quite a shame if this manages to derail immigration reform, which is clearly desperately necessary.

[King]

We're not as shocked by acts of terror.  Plus, it wasn't a huge event.  The 1993 WTC bombing did not alter our foreign policy very much.