You weren’t supposed to say that with the mic on

by David Safier

Here's a video clip from the Iowa state legislature that's in the first stages of going viral. Not knowing the microphone was on, a Republican rep called their proposed gun carry law the "Give-A-Handgun-To-A-Schizophrenic Bill." Oops. Not supposed to say that out loud.

Iowa is looking at catching up with Arizona, not to mention Alaska, Vermont and Wyoming, by passing a bill allowing Iowans to carry without approval of police, background check or training. Of course, we've been there, done that and moved on to bigger and better worse gun laws. But it's helpful to see this from the perspective of Republicans who don't yet take wild west gun laws for granted.

One Republican, realizing he had to carry the bill alone, said, "I'm the dirty hatchet man for the caucus. Something nobody wants to do. Some dirty, nasty job." Another then characterized the bill as the "Give-A-Handgun-To-A-Schizophrenic Bill."

Here's the exchange, which begins about 50 seconds into the video:

KAUFMANN: Sounds like you're getting out of the Alaska bill.

HELLAND: Oh yeah, I'm getting out of it after I end up on a blog.

LUKAN: The Alaska bill – what's the Alaska bill?

HELLAND: I'm the dirty hatchet man for the caucus. Something nobody wants to do. Some dirty, nasty job. I'm the one who gets dropped in you know why, 'cause I'm expendable.

KAUFMANN: The crazy, give-a-handgun-to-a-schizophrenic bill.