Spitzer wallows
in government controls. Says Spitzer:
This prompts a simple question: Why do we buy guns from companies that permit their products to be sold to bad guys?
In this era of government ownership of financial institutions, we are getting more used to the notion that government as an economic actor can exercise its power in differing ways. After all, firms that received TARP money are subject to a bevy of pay restrictions—wisely constructed or not—and were forced to cancel showy parties and retreats.
If we can use a capital infusion to a bank as an opportunity to control executive compensation and to limit use of private planes, why can’t the government use its weight as the largest purchaser of guns from major manufacturers to reward companies that work to keep their products out of criminals’ hands? Put another way, if it is too difficult to outlaw bad conduct through statutes, why not pay for good conduct? Why not require vendors to change their behavior if they want our tax dollars?
But then, who would you buy guns from? All of them or none of them? Companies cannot control what happens to their guns once they ship them. After all, it’s not actually like any gun manufacturer is complicit in their products being sold to bad guys. In fact, there are pretty strict rules they follow to sell only to qualified licensees and .gov agencies. This sounds good on paper to some government sorts but it’s really not going to be effective.
But it’s funny to hear Spitzer going on about bad guys. I mean, aren’t Johns and money launderers bad guys? Consider the source.
April 30th, 2009 at 10:28 am
This is a brilliant idea. Spitzer should get this handled right away.
Government: “Okay, bub. Sign this paper saying you will somehow keep guns out of the hands of the criminals or we’ll buy all our guns from somebody else.”
Every gun manufacturer in America: “GFY!”
Now, how will you rearm your jack-booted thugs, Skippy?
April 30th, 2009 at 11:29 am
Despicable sicko, Eliot Spitzer, applies his strangulation snuff fetish to the Second Amendment. Deplorable, but not surprising.
April 30th, 2009 at 11:56 am
Spitzer, the Soviet Union called, they want their ideas back. Wrong country, wrong era.
April 30th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
This man is just an utter and complete scumbag. I remember in the past when Spitzer indicted a man who shot an intruder in house. From that day forward I knew that he was soulless bastard who deserved the absolute worst out of life.
I am so glad he is no longer in government.
April 30th, 2009 at 2:06 pm
Why do we permit car companies to sell their products to constant speeders?
April 30th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
Why do condom companies permit their products to be sold to adulterers?
April 30th, 2009 at 10:53 pm
“Why do condom companies permit their products to be sold to adulterers?”
They got a grant to do so during the Clinton Administration.
May 1st, 2009 at 12:38 pm
Spitzer needs to be fed to the hogs!
This SOB granted no mercy to the victims of his Jack-Booted tactics and was given a MUCH TOO EASY way out.
At least he’s out.
Some patriot with access to this SH needs to locate a hog pen and do the country a favor.
May 1st, 2009 at 1:37 pm
In other news, the Federal Gov’t will not longer buy automobiles from manufacturers who sell to drunk drivers.