Salon.com > Jeff Flake

Dems introduce high-capacity magazine ban in the House

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 21:57:00 +0000

Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., introduced a ban on high-capacity magazines in the House earlier today, the first day of the new session of Congress.

According to the AP, DeGette introduced the bill with Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, D-N.Y., whose husband was killed in a 1993 mass shooting on the Long Island Rail Road in New York. From the AP:

[DeGette]'s district includes the site of the 1999 massacre at Columbine High School. It is also adjacent to last year's Aurora movie theater shooting site. In both of those attacks, the shooters' rifles were modified with high-capacity magazines. Those devices allow attackers to fire dozens of bullets without pausing to reload.

Though it's still unclear whether a ban can pass the Republican-controlled House, there were some promising signs from at least one Republican earlier today.

Rep. Peter King, also from New York, said on "Morning Joe": "I voted for the assault weapon ban back in 1994. My father was a police officer. I really don't know why people need assault weapons."

Arizona elections still not over as suspicion builds

Sat, 17 Nov 2012 13:00:00 +0000

The election may have ended almost two weeks ago, but in Arizona, it goes on. Perhaps it’s fitting for a state with its own time zone, but as of last night, there remained over 100,000 uncounted votes in the state’s two largest counties, leaving election officials unable to officially certify the results of a number of the state’s high profile races, including the Senate race, several House contests, and Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's reelection bid. Friday was the deadline for counties to finish counting ballots, but the state blew past it yesterday when Maricopa, which contains Phoenix, and Pima County, which contains Tucson, said they needed more time.

In most cases, the margins are the large enough by this point that candidates have declared victory or conceded defeat, even if the results aren’t official. And late Friday night, the Arizona Republic newspaper declared Democrat Ron Barber the winner in the highest profile race outstanding, the one to replace Democratic Rep. Gabby Giffords. That contest had been too close to call for over 10 days, with fewer than 1,000 votes separating Barber from Republican Martha McSally, but the remaining outstanding ballots come from heavily Democratic areas so the paper was able to project Barber's victory.

Senate candidate tells moderator he’s “prettier” than Candy Crowley

Fri, 19 Oct 2012 18:58:00 +0000

Richard Carmona, D-Ariz., apologized for telling a male moderator that he is prettier than Candy Crowley during a debate with his opponent in the Senate race, Republican Rep. Jeff Flake.

During the debate, moderator Brahm Resnik joked: “Geez, now I know how Candy Crowley felt.”

“You’re prettier than her,” said Carmona.

Carmona, whom Flake has accused of having a problem working well with women, said in a statement: "I tried to tell a joke to lighten the mood in a debate. I shouldn't have, and I'm sorry."

Via Buzzfeed.