Hoboken Council Members Spar About Gun Control
A resolution to support the Daily News gun control petition passed on Wednesday in a 7-1 vote.
The Hoboken City Council has approved to support the Daily News' petition to ban assault rifles.
The resolution to do so passed in a 7-1 vote, with Sixth Ward Councilwoman Jennifer Giattino voting "no."
Giattino said she didn't feel comfortable supporting the petition, because the terms — such as "comprehensive gun control" — weren't clearly defined.
"I’m not comfortable putting my name on a petition when I don’t understand what it means," Giattino said.
The vote resulted in a discussion between Giattino and Councilman Michael Russo, with Russo calling her out as "the sole Republican" on the city council.
"Tonight was very disappointing to me, but that's your right and I respect it," Russo said.
"I don't own a gun," Giattino said. "I don't think I know anybody who owns a gun."
The resolution was purely symbolic, as the city council doesn't have any power to pass any laws on the issue.
"We don't have the power to do anything substantive," said Councilman-at-Large Ravi Bhalla. "We can let legislators know that we want something done about it."
Outofcontrol
10:24 pm on Saturday, February 9, 2013
The resolution was pretty straight forward. If Councilwoman Giattino didn't understand it, perhaps a tutor would be helpful.
puzzledone
8:36 pm on Sunday, February 10, 2013
OK, please define the following terms which are not defined in the resolution, in a way that everyone will certainly agree with you. "Assault Weapons" "High-capacity magazines", and "comprehensive gun control." Congress has seemed unable to define these well, so your clarity is very much appreciated. Also, the resolution notes that these are a "clear and present danger" to Hoboken's safety, any support for this?
This resolution is basically like saying "We need more money so we should tax the rich" without any further explanation. Glad to know if you were in office, you would vote in such a knee jerk manner without asking what you are thinking about, just because you were voting with your friends/caucus.
ThisMeansWar
8:36 pm on Sunday, February 10, 2013
She asked for a definition of an assault weapon. Mason and Occhipinti who were both desperate to vote yes didn't have a working understanding.
I would only be surprised if that bothered you.
Ojo Rojo
8:36 pm on Sunday, February 10, 2013
Yes, it was a straight forward toothless resolution that does nothing, means nothing and is designed to do one and only one thing which is to capitalized on a tragedy to score political points. I thought it was quite disgusting that this stunt was being pulled.
CaptJackd
10:24 pm on Saturday, February 9, 2013
Brava
Eric
8:36 pm on Sunday, February 10, 2013
How about help for wackos? We have had semi-auto weapons for more than a century, yet these kinds of killings are very recent. As usual, politicians will posture rather than dealing with something that will really make a difference.
Grafix Avenger
8:36 pm on Sunday, February 10, 2013
I believe the resolution was sponsored by Mason and Occhipinti. Neither knew what an assault rifle was when they were asked directly by Giattino. (Something Patch should have noted.) Mason mumbled some senseless gibberish, and Occhipinti struggled loudly with his answer, which was wrong. Astounding.
The sponsors of resolution supporting a petition to ban assault rifles didn't know what an assault rifle was- they just faked it like the phony populists they are. Giattino didn't know what an assault rifle was and asked. Good for her. Every Councilperson ought to understand what he/she is voting on. What clowns- Mason and Occhipinti sponsor legislation but don't understand it.
That's because "other people write their stuff".
Of all people, Russo scolded Giattino as though being Republican is a communicable disease. In fact, Russo publicly supports guns in schools (armed police) and I am told he is a gun owner (Patch can confirm). So, he has a lot in common with the wing of the Republican Party who support gun ownership. Why would he be scolding Giattino then?
http://grafixavenger.blogspot.com/2013/02/giatino-attacked-by-dino-mason-ready-to.html
Outofcontrol
9:46 am on Monday, February 11, 2013
Ojo Rojo, so what you're saying is that the Zimmer Zombies who did vote for the resolution are part of the "quite disgusting stunt".
Ojo Rojo
12:39 pm on Monday, February 11, 2013
The disgusting stunt was pulled by the people who wrote and put on the agenda that farce of a resolution that does nothing.