Posting Shortly: State Sen. Says CSCOPE Will be Yanked in Texas

As Heard on Beck Radio: Wait Until You Read that Poem By One of Those Punished for Benghazi Lapses

Government

Sandy Hook Dad Set to Deliver Senate Testimony in Support of Feinstein’s Assault Weapons Ban

Feb. 27, 2013 6:55am Billy Hallowell

WASHINGTON (TheBlaze/AP) — Neil Heslin says it’s all about his slain son, Jesse.

Heslin, a 50-year-old construction worker, says he normally pays little attention to politics. But he was yanked painfully into the middle of the nation’s gun debate last December, when his 6-year-old son, Jesse, along with 19 other first-graders and six educators, was shot dead at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

“It’s a burden, it’s more than a burden on me,” Heslin said in an interview Tuesday as he and three dozen others — including other Newtown families and relatives of other mass shooting victims — arrived in Washington for two days of lobbying lawmakers. “But I have to do it for my little boy.”

Heslin, who recently made headlines after MSNBC selectively-edited a video of testimony he delivered, is set to speak to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday in support of legislation by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., to ban assault weapons.

Sandy Hook Dad Neil Heslin Set to Give Senate Testimony in Support of Feinsteins Assault Weapons Ban

Neil Heslin, holding a picture of himself with his son Jesse, testifies at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford, Conn., Monday, Jan. 28, 2013. Heslin, whose 6-year-old son Jesse Lewis was one of the 20 first-graders killed in the Dec. 14 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., told a legislative subcommittee reviewing gun laws that there is no need for such weapons in homes or on the streets. Credit: AP

Other witnesses testifying to the Senate panel include William Begg, an emergency room doctor who treated Newtown victims that day, and U.S. attorney John Walsh from Colorado.

“Guns that are fashioned from war don’t belong on the streets,” Feinstein said Tuesday, acknowledging that her legislation to ban assault weapons faced difficult odds in Congress. “Maybe I’ve just seen too much from my days as mayor and watching this stuff for 30 years.”

Feinstein, who rose to become San Francisco mayor, was on the city’s board of supervisors in 1978 when Mayor George Moscone and supervisor Harvey Milk were fatally shot in City Hall.

Across the Capitol on Wednesday, the House Education and Workforce Committee planned to hear from school safety experts and counselors about how to keep students safe.

Witnesses testifying to the Republican-controlled House panel were expected to emphasize the role of school resource officers — security professionals who are often armed and can double as informal counselors and liaisons to law enforcement. Those officers are commonplace in many schools and help officials develop safety plans.

Mo Canady, executive director of the National Association of School Resource Officers, was among those slated to testify, along with a school counselor and a school safety director.

Neil Heslin, father of Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victim Jesse Lewis, listens to Vice President Joe Biden speak during a gun violence conference in Danbury, Conn., Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013. The conference was held near Newtown, Conn. where 26 lives were lost in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, was organized by members of the state’s congressional delegation is to push President Barack Obama’s gun control proposals. Credit: AP

Heslin and his group met with around six lawmakers and aides Tuesday, mostly Senate Democrats from Republican-leaning states. Participants said House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., said he would try to help and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., expressed optimism that the Senate would produce gun legislation, but neither committed to anything specific.

In his prepared Senate testimony, Heslin said he’s been told his son died yelling to people to run. He said Jesse was hit by one bullet grazing the side of his head, another hitting his forehead.

“That means the last thing my son did was look Adam Lanza straight in the face and scream to his classmates to run,” Heslin said, referring to the 20-year-old who committed the massacre. “The last thing he saw was that coward’s eyes.”

Despite the raw emotion, Feinstein’s effort to ban assault weapons is expected to fall short due to opposition by the National Rifle Association and many Republicans, plus wariness by moderate Democrats.

Feinstein’s bill has attracted 21 co-sponsors, all Democrats. Including herself, it is sponsored by eight of the 10 Judiciary panel Democrats – precarious for a committee where Democrats outnumber Republicans 10-8. Democrats on the panel who haven’t co-sponsored the measure include the chairman, Pat Leahy of Vermont, who said Monday he hadn’t seen the bill.

President Barack Obama made bans on assault weapons and large capacity magazines key parts of the gun curbs he proposed in January in response to the Connecticut school massacre.

The cornerstone of his package is a call for universal background checks for gun buyers, some version of which seems to have a stronger chance of moving through Congress. Currently, only sales by federally licensed gun dealers require such checks, which are designed to prevent criminals and others from obtaining firearms.

U.S. President Barack Obama walks in the rain to the Oval Office upon returning at the White House in Washington, DC, on February 26, 2013. Credit: AFP/Getty Images

Obama also proposed providing more money to school districts to hire school resource officers and counselors and take other safety steps.

Feinstein’s bill would ban future sales of assault weapons and magazines carrying more than 10 rounds of ammunition but exempt those that already exist. It would bar sales, manufacturing and imports of semiautomatic rifles and pistols that can use detachable magazines and have threaded barrels or other military features. The measure specifically bans 157 firearms but excludes 2,258 others in an effort to avoid barring hunting and sporting weapons.

Feinstein, who helped create a 1994 assault weapons ban that expired in 2004, and other supporters cite studies showing use of the firearms in crimes diminished while the prohibition lasted. A 2004 report said the proportion of gun crimes involving assault weapons dropped by up to 72 percent in five cities studied.

Opponents cite data from that same study showing assault weapons were used in only 2 percent to 8 percent of gun crimes, arguing that a ban would have little impact. The study also estimated there were 1.5 million assault weapons owned privately in the U.S. in 1994, and an estimated 30 million high-capacity magazines as of 1999, which critics say means exempting them would diminish a ban’s effect.

–

Related:

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

Back to The Blaze »

Comments (55)

Tigress1
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:25am
The whole situation was terribly sad, but if the kids were not in school in the first place it never would have happened. Ban schools! They breed gangs, drugs, and all sorts of delinquent behavior. It’s bad for the “general welfare”. Home school instead.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- turkey13
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 10:39am
  The father should yell at our government for protecting crazy insane people and not putting them in every data base, including the one that does back ground checks. When they are deemed insane send them to the funny farm and dope them up so they can’t do any harm. About 10 years ago I read about a judge that felt sorry for a phedophile that had bad childhood and the judge gave him one more chance because some cop forgot to cross his eyes and dot his t’s. Six months later to thank the judge the guy raped and killed his 6 year old grand daughter. A week later the judge committed suicide.
  
  Report this comment
- Trigus
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 11:46am
  Simple Question – all those testifying: What credentials do they have to make them expert witnesses?
  
  So, if all the people who have lost their children to drunk drivers showed up at Congress with Pictures of their children and told stories about them. Then, logically, we must ban automobiles and alcohol, right?
  
  Report this comment
American-first
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:16am
Really feel sorry over the loss of a child. It also is bad there are those whom are using this as a way to push an agenda.
So tell me how it is someone who should have been secured that murders his mother and steals guns used to commit this should lead to removing something from a law abiding person?
Perhaps if this had been a pickup truck used to run a school bus off the road, we would now be demanding them off the road and a 5 gallon gas tank.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
barber2
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:06am
The Zimmerman Trial by media was an early warning sign of where the Left was heading in the area of gun ownership. The Democrats , especially now that the Chicago radicals have hijacked the Party, share the International Left’s aversion to armed citizens. The Democrats are out to ” change” America and to make it into Europe . ( We can see how well Europe is doing ?! ) Second Amendment or Big Brother ?

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Fat Hubie
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 11:18am
  2A or .223
  
  Report this comment
Southernsoul
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 8:58am
The left is hell bent on getting rid of guns, yet they don’t have a single, honest reason why. It’s because this issue has nothing to do with guns but a desire to control the people. Once they get the guns every freedom we have left will disappear over night. Beck says we shouldn’t have a revolution, but we are already in a revolution. Its Its akin to the Cold War, yet our country’s future hangs in the balance.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
SpankDaMonkey
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 8:50am
.
Sir if you truly Loved your child. Stop PIMPING their memory……

I used to care about these children but after the parents let Obama crawl over and dance on their little dead bodies for political gain, I could care less…….

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- poorrichard09
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:03am
  Guns fashioned for war…guess he wouldn’t like the M-1 Garand, made specifically for the military, the rifle that won WW II in the hands of our dads or granddads, which Gen. Patton called “the best damn battle rifle ever made.”
  
  Report this comment
- objectivetruth
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:52am
  You are both right as you can be.Oh and No, just He@@ no, don’t ever let them find about those guns.Let alone any of the children of those veterans ever even shot one.It would be the end of the world as we know it.
  If he cared one little bit for his son he would stop using and abusing him from the grave.Especially since it entails disarming anyone who could stop another killer.The left does one thing very well exploitation under the guise of protection.They are absolutely revolting
  
  Report this comment
wilbstal
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 8:46am
Not having a Gun is as bad as your home starting on fire and you dont have any Fire extinguishers or alarms. Get with the times all of you get prepared things are going to get muck worse no matter how many Dumb liberals propose stupid laws. You must survive and you cant under these Communist Liberal ideas and laws.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
wilbstal
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 8:42am
I am my own man and no Law violating my rights will be obeyed let alone took seriuosly. None of these laws will ammount to a hill of Beans when the shooting starts and that will be shortly. If the Communist Liberals dont shut up and stop spreading their childish fears about Guns, You have an America just because of Guns and no other reason…. get a life jerk offs

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
barber2
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 8:29am
Why should decent people be punished because criminals break laws ? And since criminals break laws, why would passing more laws end criminals behavior ? Seems that mental problems inflict law makers as well as law breakers. THIS is not the solution .

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- naughtycal
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 8:34am
  Fienstien has warn the Republicans if they don’t back her proposal she’ll send her army of flying monkeys to get them.
  
  Report this comment
- barber2
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:01am
  CAL: I do think America has become Oz.
  
  Report this comment
Tanker65
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 8:28am
“Gun Free Zones” are what need to be banned.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
malbro
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 8:26am
Sorry for this whole mess caused by a mother that couldn’t lock her guns up ……….

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- naughtycal
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 8:39am
  The guns didn’t need to be locked up her son needed to be in a mental hospital. The signs were all there and she just ignored them.
  
  Report this comment
- Tyler520
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:51am
  Actually, Naughtycal, the mother DID try to have him institutionalized, and the GOVERNMENT resisted it
  
  Report this comment
RaydocX
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 8:26am
Where are we getting this information, that the boy was yelling for his classmates to run?
The timeline and evidence still hasn’t been finalized and published, and the reports were a classroom was wiped out…

Sadly, this strikes me as theatrics, whether from the grieving father or those manipulating the story for their own ends.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- BLAZE-READER1
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 9:00am
  I agree. There has been no information posted publicly and officially about details of the killings, including the type of guns used. Only a bunch of incorrect and misinformation. Was it multiple handguns or a rifle used? It is all being kept secret officially. Where does this guy get off, and others trying to ban assault style weapons, when they don’t even know for sure what was used.
  
  Report this comment
RaydocX
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 8:22am
We had better ban any technological advance that as its origin n war…

The only horror greater than the loss of these kids is the way politicians are using their deaths to attack the second amendment

Tragic anyone wuld use this ans grief like this. And misguided to blame the tool.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
barber2
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 8:22am
The Chicago Alinsky-trained radicals know how to organize communities to get their agenda passed. The Chicago Soros-funded radicals know how to use the MSM.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
FlagWavingPatriot
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 7:57am
Mr. Heslin,

I am very sorry for your loss. I pray God comforts your family and pray you and Jessie are reunited in Heaven. What happened to your family is awful, it is also exceedingly rare.

There were 323 deaths in 2011 (latest FBI stats) from long guns (only some were “assault weapons” you wish to ban). By comparison, there were 242 deaths riding bicycles (latest stats); 590 deaths by machinery; 1,069 pedestrian deaths (walking); 2,822 deaths by fire/burns; 3,740 deaths by drowning; 5,260 deaths by suffocation; 25,996 deaths by falls; 33,029 deaths by poisoning; and 33,608 deaths in auto accidents.

I ask you, sir, how can you advocate infringing on the rights of millions of law-abiding folks like me? I’ve been shooting safely for 35 years. Safety and security is always my primary concern. You would take away my rifle because of what some lunatic did to your family? How is that right? Let me ask: Should someone behind you pick up a rock and throw it at your head, do you turn and blame the rock, or the person who threw it?

Would you also take away my son’s bike because he’s about as likely to get killed riding it than being shot by a rifle? After all, he doesn’t NEED a bike, does he?

Would you advocate taking away backyard swimming pools? The fact is that about 8 times the amount of kids 2-14 die in pools than do by guns. We don’t NEED pools, do we?

Again, sir, I feel for your loss. But your grief is clouding your thinking. Don’t be a

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Uechi
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 8:24am
  Thanks, spot on!
  
  Report this comment
- LakeHartwellSailor
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 10:43am
  Very well written Flag….
  
  However, I doubt Mr. Heslin will read this post. How can we best transmit this information to those who need to see it?
  
  Report this comment
- Elena2010
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 1:32pm
  Not only that, but your son was killed by a handgun, not a rifle. The rifles were left in the car.
  
  Report this comment
Michelle_Baboonbutt
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 7:53am
I’d like to know how much of his “expenses” are being covered by the Government or George Soros. Father of the year uses his son’s death to go on the Obama payroll. Follow the Money!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
huey6367
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 7:50am
It is so beneath everyone to use Newtown as a political tool. Kids died. Not because of guns but because of a crazy person. I am deeply sorry that you lost your child but if people had been allowed to carry a firearm, they could have stopped this as soon as it started. That “kid” that did the shooting was hell bent to take people out. If not a gun, then a knife or a car or somekind of improvised explosive device. Taking away guns only reduces our chance at self defense.

On a side note, I think Obama wants to take your guns away so we will have no weapons to revolt with when he finally pushes us too far.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
rickroland
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 7:44am
“… 1.5 million assault weapons…” no such thing is the case, hasn’t been since 1934.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
HOOT_OWL
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 7:37am
Be ready to drag your child’s memory through the murky waters of politics ,you moron.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- naughtycal
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 7:44am
  The reason we have the 2cd amendment in the Constitution is so tyrants can’t disarm the citizens. I sorry for the sandy hooks kids parents buty what would they try to ban if he walked in the school with a couple gasoline bombs. The fascist of the left are trying their hardest to gain political capital and regulations on the death of these children. The Democratis party are nothing more than ghouls feeding off corpes of every crisis…NOTHING MORE
  
  Report this comment
ThankYouFounders
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 7:34am
Blaming the gun is like blaming trains for the Holocaust. Further, I don’t remember an uproar to ban guns after U.S. Marshals and FBI sharpshooters murdered members of the Weaver family or after Waco. I wonder why?

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
KickinBack
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 7:23am
“Guns that are fashioned from war don’t belong on the streets,” Feinstein said Tuesday”

Maybe you should take a trip back into time Senator and tell that to the patriots who fought and died to give you the distinction to be called “Senator.”

In fact, the men of the militias (you liberals would refer to them as peasants) with their Kentucky Rifles could be considered BETTER equipped than the military with their smooth-bore Brown Bess muskets.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
redfish52
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 7:20am
Mr. Heslin…I cannot come here and say I understand your pain…because I never could…the cause of your lose is something that we may never understand either. This was a sick person that slipped between all the cracks. There were so many red flags that everyone missed or ignored. The type gun used in your child’s murder is minor in comparison to the mind set of the person behind the trigger. This person was hell bent on murder that day for whatever deranged reason. As a person that is very familiar with a lot of different firearm’s especially shotguns I know that had he went into the school with the 12 gauge pump he left in the car he would have done probably as much or more carnage than he did with the military style AR. With no one to stop him he could have easily emptied the weapon and reloaded as he went from classroom to classroom and only pulling the trigger a third of the time. Bottom line is there are only two options as I see and I am pro-gun. Its either an all out ban on all firearms or leave the gun laws as they are and enforce them.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
mikem1969
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 7:18am
I truly feel for the loss that this man has had to deal with, but YOU DO NOT PUNISH LAW ABIDING CITIZENS for the actions of CRIMINALS. Also, THE MILITARY STYLE WEAPON WAS NOT USED IN THE ATTACK, a PAIR HANDGUNS were used. Leave my 2nd amendment rights alone.

RESIST TYRANNY LOUDLY.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
matt_c
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 7:18am
He lost his son, the shooter is dead, so now someone somewhere has to suffer. He’s chosen gun owners to bear the responsibility and suffer the consequences for his son’s death.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
jvlag3
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 7:17am
Sorry for his loss…but he’s still missing the picture…the gun was not responsible for the killing at Sandy Hook or Aurora…the mentally ill person that pulled the trigger is responsible, period! Would he be there if a car, explosive or any other “weapon” would have been used instead…NO! This is just a crisis that is being manufactured to control guns and that’s it…

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Gonzo
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 7:15am
I’m sorry you lost your son, but your grief is clouding your judgement. There were a lot of factors to blame for those murders and restricting our 2nd Amendment right doesn’t address them.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply

It appears that you have Javascript Disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser preferences for a better user experience on TheBlaze. You can not comment without Javascript enabled.