Slashdot Mirror
Anti-Game-Violence Legislator Arrested, Faces Gun Trafficking Charges
Several readers sent word that California State Senator Leland Yee was arrested today. He's accused of conspiring to traffic guns and commit wire fraud, to defraud citizens of honest services, and bribery. The complant (PDF) also names 25 other defendants. Yee is known for pushing legislation that would ban the sale of violent video games to minors.
"Federal prosecutors also allege Yee agreed to perform official acts in exchange for the money, including one instance in which he introduced a businessman to state legislators who had significant influence over pending medical marijuana legislation. In exchange, the businessman -- who was actually an undercover FBI agent -- agreed to donate thousands to Yee's campaign fund, according to the indictment. The indictment also describes an August 2013 exchange in which [former school board president Keith Jackson] told an undercover officer that Yee had an arms trafficking contact. Jackson allegedly said Yee could facilitate a meeting for a donation."
Rule of thumb:
If it don't have a letter,
It's a Democrat matter
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
Well, yeah... making stuff illegal makes it more profitable, e.g. See "drug trade".
This issue is a bit more complicated than you think.
[Parent poster talks of ONE of his many anti-gun (i.e. anti-gun-in-private-hands) projects.]
Prohibition of something means the illegal providers of it have less competition and can thus sell for a higher price. So it's very convenient for those sellers. Thus, for instance, drug lords are just fine with keeping the drug laws strong and complex, and opposed to legalization of their product (which would put them in competition with efficient conglomerates who could compete the pants off them).
(Incidentially: I suspect Yee's opposition to video games was a spinoff of his antigun agenda.)
By the way: Pro-gunners are celebrating tonight. (The call from a friend a few hours ago with the news made both my wife my own day. B-) )
Bantam Dominique roosters crow a four-note song. Once you've heard it as "Happy BIRTHday" you can't NOT hear it that way
Great, so you're not a drug addict. Congratulations. Neither am I. But I nonetheless have a serious problem with the ridiculous expenditures on police and prisons, not to mention the militarization of the police force and increasingly invasive anti-drug measures being taken around the country. All of which is a direct consequence of the asinine and completely ineffective "war on drugs". That money comes straight out of my taxes, and could be spent on so many more socially productive endeavors. And it's my rights that are being potentially trampled on when police in military assault gear march on peaceful protestors, or kick in the wrong door in the middle of the night and start shooting.
--- Most topics have many sides worth arguing, allow me to take one opposite you.
It makes perfect sense that a smuggler wants to outlaw whatever he's smuggling. The cocaine cartels don't want drug legalization either.
-jcr
The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
Normal, decent people should care about excessive and unjust incarceration as a result of irrational and corrupt drug policies.
And if decently and compassion don't compel you to care, you should at least care because drug laws cost you a boatload of money.
I'm a Republican (or at least that's what the card says), and I have no idea what party this politician happens to be, nor do I care.
I myself am a Libertarian, and I DO care. I care very much that the press tries to harm as much as possible one major party and tarnish every member with the brush of a few lunatics, while shielding the Democrats as much as possible from any negative behavior by members and making sure that each and any infraction is isolated from any and every other Democrat.
The reason I care is because the press is supposed to be the watchdog that keeps people honest. Instead it's busy rigging the game in conjunction with politicians, and if you don't care about that then all is lost.
I'm not making it a source of division, I'm pointing out a major flaw with an institution that's supposed to keep politicians in check.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
Can you imagine a scenario where an FBI informant would be able to lead a principled gun control advocate down the path of importing machine guns and rocket launchers? Can you imagine a scenario where a clean politician is even associating with the head of the SF Chinese mafia?
> Could we please stop with the endless pro-drug commentary?
It's not "pro-drug". It's "anti-prohibition".
"The more prohibitions there are, The poorer the people will be" -- Lao Tse
Of course he is. If he were a Republican, it would have been in the summary in all capital letters, bold, italic, and blinking.
The summary didn't mention party affiliation. Therefore it was safe to assume he is a Democrat.
"Lack of speed can be overcome. In the worst case by patience." --Znork
I think you missed it the hypocritical part is him trafficking guns illegally well being an anti gun person publicly
have you seen my sig? there are many others like it but none that are the same
Anytime a politician is arrested and the media doesn't report the party, you can assume that they're a Democrat