Douva 0 #1 October 11, 2005 Sorry if this is a repost, but I haven't been on Speakers Corner in months. Ben Affleck (a self-proclaimed liberal Democrat) was on Real Time With Bill Maher this week, and he went on the defensive about a new Florida law that favors gun owners. It's nice to see celebrities in the media that don't buy into the notion that being a liberal means you have to oppose gun ownership. Here's a transcript of the discussion: MAHER: Okay, finally, we've just got about a minute. There's a new – [to Affleck] I know you're a gun guy – there's a new rule – a new law-- AFFLECK: That's right, fuck with me again, you'll find out. [laughter] MAHER: --in – in Florida, called the “Stand Your Ground Law.” Now, they had the “Castle Law,” which means, of course, somebody comes into your castle, you can shoot away. They've basically taken the castle to the street. If you even think somebody is looking at your wrong, if you say to somebody, “I think that's my seat you're in” –[makes gun blast noises] [laughter]—to the point where the Sunshine State is even warning people, “ You know what, you tourists--? RUSHDIE: Stay home. MAHER: Not “stay home,” but “you might get shot if you're not from our state and you don't know what our laws are.” Isn't that a little extreme? AFFLECK: [laughing] You just said like 15 wrong things in one sentence. It was like a litany – first of all, it's not the state that's giving out the warnings. It's the Brady handgun control people. MAHER: Right. AFFLECK: Who are – who are being alarmist. And they are opposed to the bill, which is legitimate. But then they're passing out, you know, these leaflets to people who get off the plane, that says, “Don't argue with Floridians or they'll shoot you.” [laughter] It's just like craziness. I mean, there was a handgun law. It said, like, you could have a handgun. And if you register it and you're law-abiding and you fill out a piece of paper, you can carry a handgun. And then it turned out that in order to actually protect yourself in the event of being shot at, you had to first make your effort to flee, which resulted in, I guess, a couple of people getting – who had guns, who then tried to run away and got shot in the back. [laughter] And so then – it's true – and so then they said, okay, look, if someone is attacking you with, like, lethal force, and you're a legal, law-abiding citizen who is carrying a gun, you don't have to flee first; you can shoot them. And this caused total hysteria. Like it was going to be Wild West. But in fact, the truth is – and I know it's funny and it gets a lot of play and you think it's cute – but the truth is, like, since the concealed weapon law came into effect, that violent crime has declined something like 80% in Florida. You know, you may not want to carry a gun, and you may be slightly disturbed by the idea that people are carrying guns, but, like, you know, criminals may well be carrying guns. And I don't want to shoot somebody. That's the last thing – well, that's the third last thing I want to do. [laughter] The second— MAHER: You don't really carry a gun when you're— AFFLECK: No, I don't have a gun. No, I don't carry a gun. MAHER: Not in here, I know. AFFLECK: No, I don't have a license to carry a gun. MAHER: Oh, okay. AFFLECK: I don't have a license to carry a gun. But I don't think that if you do have a license you should somehow have to, like, run away first. I think it's kind of parsing language, but I think it's more an example of how, like, liberals on the left and Democrats, among whom – I count myself among them – sometimes don't get it, and they fly off the handle and they get all tilted about stuff that doesn't matter and most people are opposed to. It sets the cause back, and it's small-minded. MAHER: You're right. I was just trying to get you going. [applause] AFFLECK: All right.I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
beowulf 1 #2 October 11, 2005 I think that is a good explanation of the bullshit being pulled by the Brady people. I agree with his view point on gun control. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,589 #3 October 11, 2005 Funny how smart movie stars are when they agree with one Wendy W.There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
beowulf 1 #4 October 11, 2005 hmm I wouldn't know if he is smart or stupid. I just happen to agree with what I read. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GTAVercetti 0 #5 October 11, 2005 QuoteFunny how smart movie stars are when they agree with one Wendy W. Yeah, amazing ain't? Otherwise they are jerks who should keep their damn mouths shut. It always strikes me as funny that just because someone is a celebrity, they suddenly do not have the right to an opinion on politics. But anyway, good on Ben Affleck, even if I think he often acts like a douche bag and makes lots of crappy movies. Why yes, my license number is a palindrome. Thank you for noticing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,120 #6 October 11, 2005 >Funny how smart movie stars are when they agree with one. Yep. Apparently Clint Eastwood is brilliant. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #7 October 11, 2005 Quote Yep. Apparently Clint Eastwood is brilliant. Yeah, but he ain't no Moses.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tso-d_chris 0 #8 October 11, 2005 >>Yep. Apparently Clint Eastwood is brilliant. >Yeah, but he ain't no Moses. They're about the same age, though! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Douva 0 #9 October 11, 2005 QuoteFunny how smart movie stars are when they agree with one Wendy W. I just like it when people on either side of the aisle stand by their own beliefs, rather than toe the party line on controversial issues. Of course, I'm a dyed in the wool moderate, so I'm probably a little biased. };^)I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jenfly00 0 #10 October 12, 2005 Affleck, Schmaffleck. On the same show, Ann Coulter ...I repeat Ann Coulter, in response to how she's feeling about Dubya's recent conduct, states she's "running scared"!!!!!----------------------- "O brave new world that has such people in it". Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,120 #11 October 12, 2005 >Affleck, Schmaffleck. Matt Damon. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Douva 0 #12 October 12, 2005 Quote>Affleck, Schmaffleck. Matt Damon. Matt Damon: Just take it from "It's a good course." Ben Affleck: Oh, now you're the director? Matt Damon: Hey shove it, Bounce-boy. Let's remember who talked who into doing this shit in the first place. Talking me into Dogma was one thing, but this... Ben Affleck: Hey look, I'm sorry I dragged you away from whatever-gay-serial-killers-who-ride-horses-and-like-to-play-golf-touchy-feely-picture you're supposed to be doing this week. Matt Damon: I take it you haven't seen Forces of Nature? Ben Affleck: You're like a child. What've I been telling you? You gotta do the safe picture. Then you can do the art picture. But then sometimes you gotta do the payback picture because your friend says you owe him. [They both take a beat and look at the camera] Ben Affleck: And sometimes you have to go back to the well. Matt Damon: And sometimes you do Reindeer Games. Ben Affleck: See, that's just mean.I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
