Tom Mauser lost his son, Daniel, in the Columbine High School massacre in 1999. He joins Tim Miller to discuss his long fight against gun violence, small victories over the NRA, and the continuing inspiration of his son. Plus, Bill Kristol on marginalizing Trump over Ukraine, how Biden could use some FDR, and the Columbia protests.
As a MOMS member, I so get the “preaching to the choir” limits. But we’re moving in important ways for sure, definitely branching out—office in the White House! Deeply encouraging.
Great episode Tim. I appreciate you continuing to keep the families of those killed by gun violence at front of mind - it was great to hear from Tom Mauser and learn more about Daniel. Let's keep fighting for change!!!
If you're wondering how high-capacity magazines are still being purchased/owned in Colorado, here are the loopholes:
1) They only apply to magazines purchased/sold after 2013, so if you owned them prior to 2013 then you're grandfathered in
2) Cops don't really have a way of telling whether or not you purchased them prior to 2013, so point 1 is kind of moot because you can just say "I've owned these since 2012" so long as you lived in CO at that time
3) You can always cross state lines, buy high-cap magazines there, and then bring them back into CO and just tell any cops who ask that you've owned them since 2012
4) Stores are allowed to sell "magazine repair kits" which are basically all the parts one would need to assemble a high-capacity magazine without actually selling an assembled high-capacity magazine
CO is on the cusp of passing an assault weapons ban come July--it's already through the house, but so long as you've purchased your "assault weapon"--a vaguely-defined term--prior to the ban taking effect then you're grandfathered in as well and your AWs are good to go. As you can guess, local gun shops here have never been busier selling AWs as Colorado folk are buying them up in droves.
This whole national trend of AW ownership really goes back to a combination of two things for me: the sunset provision in the '94-'04 national AWB that was allowed to expire combined with the War on Terror that kicked off in late '01. It made owning an AW the "cool thing" at a time when national xenophobia and military/veteran-worship was on the rise. I don't think you get to where we are on national AW ownership without those dynamics present.
Worth noting that the national AW ban was in effect when Columbine happened and the perpetrators still got their hands on them via illegal straw buys at the Tanner Gun Show. The same could be said of the North Hollywood Shooting of '97--google that one because holy shit--and the DC Sniper(s) of '02 who used a Bushmaster AR-15.
I feel especially sad for Tom Mauser. I have a son maybe 2 years older than his boy. In the 25 years since, my son has become a full adult and has his successes and accomplishments. The loss of a child gives the parent a future of sad reminders of what might have been.
How the mass tragedy of continued killing has been ignored by a political party that makes a show of supporting life should be astonishing. But it seems where the GOP is in power, they shut down any consideration of even the mildest efforts to change access to guns.
The case of the Ukraine shows the difference between a sociopath like Trump and Mike Johnson, who appears to have some moral core. That is all we can hope for these days.
Mike Johnson won't have to worry about being speaker next year as Democrats will win the House.Plus there is a possibility of reelection (being Primaried) when a Republican goes against Trump's wishes.
Tim, watched your pod w/ Lovett - who I stopped listening to months ago b/c I find him annoying even tho I'm a Dem. So I have a request: if it fits w/ The Bulwark mission, I'd be very interested to hear why you and Sarah are against student loan forgiveness.
I was very opposed when it was first mentioned, but now I'm not so sure b/c of various things I've heard: it's for teachers, firefighters, drs. and others in helping professions; and that some of it is simply forcing the lenders to abide by the terms of the loans.
To me, that's a very different scenario from an entitled someone who goofs off for five years at an expensive university, then gets a job which contributes little to society, and thinks he shouldn't have to pay off his debt. What I see in so many young people today is an attitude of "the world owes me" - which sends me right over the edge.
Not to put words in their mouths, but their argument isn't about the morality of doing, it's about the attempt to do it through Executive Order. aka, give a power to a particular president to evade the Constitutional separation of powers to do something good, that means a certain other president would then have that same power to evade the Constitution to do something ill.
Ahhh. Well then, maybe what I'd benefit from is hearing them discuss Executive Orders in general. I know all Presidents do it, and that they sometimes do it b/c it's the only way they can get a particular thing accomplished; but that's about all I know.
It would be interesting to hear what about this one makes it stand out for them. And BTW, I'd like to just put in another plug for The Bulwark and say it's so great to have access to a group of people who discuss serious topics from a non-partisan, intelligent, good-hearted perspective. I don't feel like I have to "brace myself" when listening to them.
It's been awhile, so I might be a bit fuzzy on dates, but I believe they have an in-depth discussion early Sept '22 on The Next Level, back during the initial push for loan forgiveness. And Tim definitely did a Not My Party at that time.
Miller: Here’s the ugly. Okay, y’all, if we want to protect our constitutional democracy, we have to put some respect on the laws and norms. Biden picking a random number out of the air and canceling that much debt for a suspect* class of people is obviously not within the president’s powers without Congress passing a new law. Even Nancy Pelosi and Jen Psaki said so. ...And the Biden administration’s legal rationale for this move—that we’re in some sort of COVID emergency—is preposterous. If we want to protect our system, we can’t give a pass to a president acting like a lawless king, even they have good intentions. Then there’s no leg to stand on when a nefarious president wants to use a fake emergency to put an electric fence and an alligator moat at the border.
* Comes from earlier in the piece -- aka, it's pandering to the Middle Class urbanites not the Working Class, which could be politically troublesome in places like Wisconsin.
from The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness by Tim Miller
As a MOMS member, I so get the “preaching to the choir” limits. But we’re moving in important ways for sure, definitely branching out—office in the White House! Deeply encouraging.
Thank you to Tim & Tom. Such a fine interview.
Tim, The Bulwark is getting better and better. Excellent and insightful interview.
Great episode Tim. I appreciate you continuing to keep the families of those killed by gun violence at front of mind - it was great to hear from Tom Mauser and learn more about Daniel. Let's keep fighting for change!!!
Great show. Thanks to Tom M for what he's done.
Also, liked the discussion about Mike J motivation. What did he and DJT talk about? Did he exchange speaker support for promoting election reform?
If you're wondering how high-capacity magazines are still being purchased/owned in Colorado, here are the loopholes:
1) They only apply to magazines purchased/sold after 2013, so if you owned them prior to 2013 then you're grandfathered in
2) Cops don't really have a way of telling whether or not you purchased them prior to 2013, so point 1 is kind of moot because you can just say "I've owned these since 2012" so long as you lived in CO at that time
3) You can always cross state lines, buy high-cap magazines there, and then bring them back into CO and just tell any cops who ask that you've owned them since 2012
4) Stores are allowed to sell "magazine repair kits" which are basically all the parts one would need to assemble a high-capacity magazine without actually selling an assembled high-capacity magazine
CO is on the cusp of passing an assault weapons ban come July--it's already through the house, but so long as you've purchased your "assault weapon"--a vaguely-defined term--prior to the ban taking effect then you're grandfathered in as well and your AWs are good to go. As you can guess, local gun shops here have never been busier selling AWs as Colorado folk are buying them up in droves.
depressing
This whole national trend of AW ownership really goes back to a combination of two things for me: the sunset provision in the '94-'04 national AWB that was allowed to expire combined with the War on Terror that kicked off in late '01. It made owning an AW the "cool thing" at a time when national xenophobia and military/veteran-worship was on the rise. I don't think you get to where we are on national AW ownership without those dynamics present.
Worth noting that the national AW ban was in effect when Columbine happened and the perpetrators still got their hands on them via illegal straw buys at the Tanner Gun Show. The same could be said of the North Hollywood Shooting of '97--google that one because holy shit--and the DC Sniper(s) of '02 who used a Bushmaster AR-15.
Lovely conversation, perhaps it wasn’t the best idea to keep to listen to at the gym. 🤪
I feel especially sad for Tom Mauser. I have a son maybe 2 years older than his boy. In the 25 years since, my son has become a full adult and has his successes and accomplishments. The loss of a child gives the parent a future of sad reminders of what might have been.
How the mass tragedy of continued killing has been ignored by a political party that makes a show of supporting life should be astonishing. But it seems where the GOP is in power, they shut down any consideration of even the mildest efforts to change access to guns.
The case of the Ukraine shows the difference between a sociopath like Trump and Mike Johnson, who appears to have some moral core. That is all we can hope for these days.
Another great show, Tim.
This interview and the Fred Guttenberg gutted me. I’m grateful to them both for the work they have done.
Ah, the Townes Van Zhandt song at the end was a perfect choice.
Great show. I was captivated during the Mauser interview. You're pretty good at this. Just sayin'
Mike Johnson won't have to worry about being speaker next year as Democrats will win the House.Plus there is a possibility of reelection (being Primaried) when a Republican goes against Trump's wishes.
I love the song at the end. It reminds me of Townes Van Zandt, but I don't think it is him. Where do we find the playlist?
It is Townes Van Zandt, appropriately enough the song is "Columbine".
Tim, watched your pod w/ Lovett - who I stopped listening to months ago b/c I find him annoying even tho I'm a Dem. So I have a request: if it fits w/ The Bulwark mission, I'd be very interested to hear why you and Sarah are against student loan forgiveness.
I was very opposed when it was first mentioned, but now I'm not so sure b/c of various things I've heard: it's for teachers, firefighters, drs. and others in helping professions; and that some of it is simply forcing the lenders to abide by the terms of the loans.
To me, that's a very different scenario from an entitled someone who goofs off for five years at an expensive university, then gets a job which contributes little to society, and thinks he shouldn't have to pay off his debt. What I see in so many young people today is an attitude of "the world owes me" - which sends me right over the edge.
I’d be interested in this as well.
Not to put words in their mouths, but their argument isn't about the morality of doing, it's about the attempt to do it through Executive Order. aka, give a power to a particular president to evade the Constitutional separation of powers to do something good, that means a certain other president would then have that same power to evade the Constitution to do something ill.
I think that is part of it but not all of it. They are FOR using aggressive executive orders on the border for example.
I think they feel that the issue is the price of tuition and forgiving loans with no other policy changes does nothing to solve future problems.
Ahhh. Well then, maybe what I'd benefit from is hearing them discuss Executive Orders in general. I know all Presidents do it, and that they sometimes do it b/c it's the only way they can get a particular thing accomplished; but that's about all I know.
It would be interesting to hear what about this one makes it stand out for them. And BTW, I'd like to just put in another plug for The Bulwark and say it's so great to have access to a group of people who discuss serious topics from a non-partisan, intelligent, good-hearted perspective. I don't feel like I have to "brace myself" when listening to them.
It's been awhile, so I might be a bit fuzzy on dates, but I believe they have an in-depth discussion early Sept '22 on The Next Level, back during the initial push for loan forgiveness. And Tim definitely did a Not My Party at that time.
Miller: Here’s the ugly. Okay, y’all, if we want to protect our constitutional democracy, we have to put some respect on the laws and norms. Biden picking a random number out of the air and canceling that much debt for a suspect* class of people is obviously not within the president’s powers without Congress passing a new law. Even Nancy Pelosi and Jen Psaki said so. ...And the Biden administration’s legal rationale for this move—that we’re in some sort of COVID emergency—is preposterous. If we want to protect our system, we can’t give a pass to a president acting like a lawless king, even they have good intentions. Then there’s no leg to stand on when a nefarious president wants to use a fake emergency to put an electric fence and an alligator moat at the border.
* Comes from earlier in the piece -- aka, it's pandering to the Middle Class urbanites not the Working Class, which could be politically troublesome in places like Wisconsin.
from The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness by Tim Miller
Wow - THANKS so much! I found both the Next Level pod (8-31-22; https://www.thebulwark.com/p/threat-analysis) and the Not My Party column (9-1-22; https://www.thebulwark.com/p/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-of-bidens-student-loan-forgiveness).
As usual, great discussion and good points made by all. Now I understand.