The House has unanimously approved a measure mandating the screening of all veterans for suicide risk, but Senator Coburn worries that veterans’ medical data might be appropriated by other agencies to deny that all-encompassing right to wield arms on the domestic front.

The whole thing is vile, and typical of Coburn, a former OB who also opposes abortion in cases of rape and believes doctors who perform abortions should be charged with homicide. So I made a phone call, supporting the fruitcake Senator..

"Hello, Senator Coburn's office."

"Hi there, my name's Brendan Skwire. I'm calling from Philadelphia PA, and although I'm not a constituent of Senator Coburn I just read the nastiest and most inaccurate editorial in the NY Times about the Senator.

"The editorial implied that Tom Coburn is a slave to the NRA because he thinks that suicide prevention efforts might infringe on handgun ownership. But the thing is is that Coburn is right and the Times, as usual is wrong.

"Look, here's the thing: these Iraq war veterans not only have a right to handguns, they should be GIVEN handguns. These vets are putting a horrible strain on the VA Hospital system with the PTSD and the amputations and the head injuries. Look at what happened with Walter Reed because the system was overwhelmed.

The veterans should be screened for suicide and then be given handguns. This kills a few birds with one stone, so to speak. If the vets use the guns and commit suicide, it relieves strain on the VA hospitals, and allows the remaining vets to get the care they need. But that ALSO frees up millions of dollars for the War in Iraq because there will be fewer veterans who need help! You don't have to provide so-called "mental health care" and prosthetic limbs to someone who's dead, right? RIGHT?

"So please tell Senator Coburn that I support him 100%: this bill must be stopped until it ensures that Iraq War vets will get the handguns they need. I mean, do we want to win this war or don't we?

"Please pass my message along to the Senator. I support the troops and I know he does too, but suicide screening without handgun access goes too far. I don't know what the rest of Congress is thinking. Oh, and Senator Coburn should also ask the NY Times why they hate the troops." Tom Coburn: a real man of the people. Asswipe.