Back Buttward
South Carolina Republican State Representative (Shiver!) Mike Pitts has himself a dandy idea.
We need to register journalists, not firearms.
And he’s perfectly serious.
State Rep. Mike Pitts, R-Laurens, on Tuesday introduced a bill called the “South Carolina Responsible Journalism Registry Law.”
The bill would create requirements for people wanting to work as a journalist for a media outlet, and also before that outlet could hire anyone for a reporting position.
Pitts told The Post and Courier his bill is not a reaction to any news story featuring him and that he is “not a press hater.” Rather, it’s to stimulate discussion over how he sees Second Amendment rights being treated by the printed press and television news.
There ya go.
Pitts says the press is “demonizing” firearms. So his solution is to protect the second amendment by destroying the first amendment.
Under the bill, the Secretary of State’s Office would be tasked with keeping a “responsible journalism registry” and creating the criteria with the help of a panel on what qualifies a person as a journalist — similar to doctors and lawyers, Pitts said.
Whoa, cowboy. Government does not regulate who can be a lawyer or a doctor; their own regulatory bodies to that. So having government regulate who can be a journalist seems a little … I dunno … indamnsane.
“Congress shall make no law … abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.”
That seems pretty easy to understand.
To be honest, Wild Mike knows this will never pass. He just wanted to make “a statement.” And that statement is, “I am an idiot.”
The 2nd is mandatory. All other parts of the Constitution are optional. Snark
1Paul, only parts of the 2nd are mandatory. We must completely ignore that “well regulated” part.
2Once again proving they’ve never read the Constitution. Hey South Carolinians! How much of your tax dollars go to pay this idiot? Bless your hearts.
3Well, OK then. Is there a law about refusing to uphold an oath you swore to? Other than in the Ten Commandments, that is? This guy just bore false witness in more ways than I can count – and I’m edjumicated n everthing.
Betcha he calls hisownself a Christian, too. You know, the kind of Christian that pays more attention to the Old Testament than the New – – and that only when it’s convenient.
4How about a “Responsible State-Representative Law”? You would have to pass an intelligence test (I would suggest an easy one–average would be OK). And also you would have to pass a US Constitution quiz.
5South Carolina Irresponsible Idiots Registry List
(let’s start small, with individual states)
#1. State Representative Mike Pitts
6Basically, another tubby, old white guy makin’ the rest of us look bad. Hate to get lumped into that “stupid old white guy” meme that is going around.
7JJ linked to the report in the Charleston (S.C.) Post & Courier. Elise where in the article, the paper reported:
“The measure is at least the second bill filed in the Statehouse this year with virtually no chance of advancing but is meant to reflect a lawmaker’s personal political statement.
“State Rep. Mia McLeod, D-Columbia, earlier offered a proposal to make it more difficult for men to get medication to treat erectile dysfunction or get access to such drugs as Viagra and Cialis. She acknowledged the idea is likely to go nowhere but wanted to send a message to the male-dominated and Republican-controlled General Assembly about laws governing women, including restricting their access to abortion.”
We can hope that cutting off Representative Pitts’ Viagra supply would slow down his nocturnal pursuits when the legislature is in session.
Now we all know that there better and worse looking people of both genders, so please don’t take the following joke the wrong way. When I lobbied in Springfield, Illinois, many years ago, the question was asked: “How do you tell the difference between a legislator and a pig?”
Answer: “Pigs don’t run around Springfield at 2 in the morning chasing legislators.”
8I really like Rick’s idea of an Irresponsible Idiot’s Registry. Old Mayfly, I’m not sure how many legislators could pass a basic intelligence test, and a constitution test might make their heads explode!
9Calling all lawyers! Here’s a restraint of trade case if I’ve ever heard of one!
Now why do I think this guy needs a 12 step program?
10I think it’d be easier to keep track of South Carolinians who are NOT idiots.
11Hang On!!!! If we could give journalists intelligence tests, we could probably put Fox News off the air.
12“To be honest, Wild Mike knows this will never pass. He just wanted to make “a statement.” And that statement is, “I am an idiot.”
Show us any of these folks who are NOT idiots!! Make a list … it shouldn’t take very long and, perhaps, only need a Post-It Note!!
13This guy better not claim the US is a christian nation; the US is a gun-worshiping nation and the NRA and these white gun-worshiping guys have won the war against christianity. The gun is their god.
14The only Constitution these guys respect is the version that exists only in their own heads.
They have created a God in their own image–greedy, cruel, prejudiced–so it only makes sens they do the same to the Constitution.
Pitt’s Constitution does not have a First Amendment in it. Or, most likely, a Thirteenth. He uses the abridged version.
15Good ol’ Mike’s proposal is also a statement of “I am wasting the public’s money, and should be voted out of office ASAP.”
16Pitts, aptly named.
17First, that lapel pin does not appear to be the usual Palmetto Pin SC ‘lawmakers’ wear; so I’m guessing – NRA!
Secnd, there is more on this idiot:
“Pitts, a …Republican introduced legislation …that would ban …“the unconstitutional substitution of Federal Reserve Notes for silver and gold coin” in South Carolina.
If the bill were to become law, South Carolina would no longer accept or use anything other than silver and gold coins as a form of payment for any debt, meaning paper money would be out in the Palmetto State.
Oh, he’s a Republican, all right!
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