13 Jan 11
"THE announcement that Representatives Heath Shuler of North Carolina and Jason Chaffetz of Utah are planning to wear guns in their home districts has surprised many, but in fact the United States has had armed congressmen before. In the rough-and-tumble Congress of the 1830s, 1840s and 1850s, politicians regularly wore weapons on the House and Senate floors, and sometimes used them."
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/12/opinion/12freeman.html
Fascinating stuff. It seems that media technology helped tone things down in Congress in days gone by; is the reverse true today?
13 Jan 11
Originally posted by Bosse de Nagewasn't there a couple of Presidents that duelled it out?
"THE announcement that Representatives Heath Shuler of North Carolina and Jason Chaffetz of Utah are planning to wear guns in their home districts has surprised many, but in fact the United States has had armed congressmen before. In the rough-and-tumble Congress of the 1830s, 1840s and 1850s, politicians regularly wore weapons on the House and Senate ...[text shortened]... dia technology helped tone things down in Congress in days gone by; is the reverse true today?
13 Jan 11
Originally posted by Bosse de NageThe thought of sending armed congressmen in to deal with certain elements in Helmand province, though, I find compelling.
"THE announcement that Representatives Heath Shuler of North Carolina and Jason Chaffetz of Utah are planning to wear guns in their home districts has surprised many, but in fact the United States has had armed congressmen before. In the rough-and-tumble Congress of the 1830s, 1840s and 1850s, politicians regularly wore weapons on the House and Senate ...[text shortened]... dia technology helped tone things down in Congress in days gone by; is the reverse true today?
Sort of a no-lose situation.
13 Jan 11
Originally posted by robbie carrobiePerhaps you're thinking of Aaron Burr (Vice President to Jefferson) and Alexander Hamilton (never President, but a key figure in eighteenth-century American history). They fought a duel in 1804, resulting in Hamilton's death.
wasn't there a couple of Presidents that duelled it out?
Andrew Jackson, President from 1829 to 1837, is famous for his prowess as a duellist, but never to my knowledge squared up against another President. Some might argue, though, that he would have had good cause to challenge his predecessor, John Quincy Adams, for the way he manoeuvred himself into the Presidency in Jackson's place after the 1824 election.
14 Jan 11
Originally posted by Bosse de NageSchuler and Chaffetz are just 2 of many "in your face" gun nuts in the good old USA. The fact that they happen to be lawmakers is nothing new. This is just another way to curry favor with the NRA, and pick up some more votes from the gun nut crowd. 😞
"THE announcement that Representatives Heath Shuler of North Carolina and Jason Chaffetz of Utah are planning to wear guns in their home districts has surprised many, but in fact the United States has had armed congressmen before. In the rough-and-tumble Congress of the 1830s, 1840s and 1850s, politicians regularly wore weapons on the House and Senate ...[text shortened]... dia technology helped tone things down in Congress in days gone by; is the reverse true today?
17 Jan 11
Originally posted by Bosse de NageIt makes one nostalgic, that is for sure. 😵
"THE announcement that Representatives Heath Shuler of North Carolina and Jason Chaffetz of Utah are planning to wear guns in their home districts has surprised many, but in fact the United States has had armed congressmen before. In the rough-and-tumble Congress of the 1830s, 1840s and 1850s, politicians regularly wore weapons on the House and Senate ...[text shortened]... dia technology helped tone things down in Congress in days gone by; is the reverse true today?