Unseemly: Ex-Bush Speechwriter Decides Today Was The Perfect Time To Discuss Gun Control

The Democratic and Republican baseball teams are planning on having dinner together at the Democratic Club in Washington D.C. The managers of the congressional baseball teams—Reps. Mike Doyle (D-PA) and Joe Barton (R-TX)—announced this at a press conference in the late afternoon. It’s a rare showing of unity after the horrific shooting this morning in Alexandria, Virginia, where Illinois resident James Hodgkinson opened fire on congressional Republicans practicing for the annual charity baseball game. House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) was hit in the hip; two Capitol Police officers were shot as well. Zack Barth, an aide to Rep. Roger Williams (R-TX), and Matt Mika, a lobbyist for Tyson Foods, were also shot. Mika was shot in the chest and his condition is listed as critical. Yet, for some people, they didn’t get the memo on unity and togetherness. Former Bush speechwriter David Frum decided to go on a pro-gun control rant, erroneously noting that Virginia doesn’t require background checks for gun purchases; they do. Private sales are a different matter, but they’re rare—and most cases involved family members passing down firearms through inheritance. This glaring error did not go unnoticed.

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

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

David, there ARE background checks in Virginia. I had one.
— Ben Domenech (@bdomenech) June 14, 2017

VA has background checks & you can't conceal a long gun, but don't let facts stop you from bathing in others' blood. https://t.co/WeQA7uDm7z
— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) June 14, 2017

The shooter was a resident of Illinois, not Virginia. The shooter had a permit and passed a background check. https://t.co/WeQA7uDm7z
— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) June 14, 2017

One correction: “No background checks for private sales.” https://t.co/9ZgmPRyz4N https://t.co/GWtPoLvvQn
— David Frum (@davidfrum) June 14, 2017

And then, there’s the far left blogosphere who are pretty much saying the GOP was asking for it.

Republicans are getting what they want. https://t.co/8ZUnso6JCV
— Markos Moulitsas (@markos) June 14, 2017