Joe the Plumber Claims "Your Dead Kids Don't Trump My Constitutional Rights" To Have A Gun

How low down on the rungs of humanity do you have to dwell to think it's okay to mock the victims of violence? How devoid of compassion do you have to be to feel it appropriate to taunt the survivors of tragedy? How shriveled must your sense of common decency be to believe it's alright to threaten parent's of murdered children?

To find out you need look no further than failed Republican Congressional candidate, GOP heart throb and Tea party darling "Joe the Plumber".

Then candidate Barack Obama and "Joe the Plumber".

If that name rings a bell with you then you must remember "Joe" from his 2008 chance encounter with then candidate Barack Obama. "Joe" at the time challenged Obama on small business tax policy and a conservative star was born.

Now "Joe", who first of all is not a plumber and whose real name is actually Samuel Wurzelbacher, has thrust his clown like visage into the headlines this week in an open letter in which he expressed his vile views on last week's shooting at University of California, Santa Barbara. A tragedy where a deranged 22 year old man stabbed and shot 6 people to death and injured another 7.

In the wake of this horror Wurzelbacher felt it was the appropriate time to tell the survivors of the tragedy, via his letter published on the ultra religious pro-gun website Barbwire, that the deaths incurred at the hands of the lunatic gunman "don't trump" his constitutional rights to own a gun.

In a move which can only be described as repellent Wurzelbacher literally addresses his letter as "only to the families of the gunshot victims in Santa Barbara" shooting rampage. To those families he says...

"It’s a tragedy. I am sorry you lost your child But: As harsh as this sounds – your dead kids don’t trump my Constitutional rights."

Wurzelbacher then spoke directly Mr. Richard Martinez (whose son Christopher was a victim of the rampage) who decided to speak out against "craven, irresponsible politicians" and the NRA after the murders...

"The words and images of Mr. Martinez blaming “the proliferation of guns”, lobbyists, politicians, etc.; will be exploited by gun-grab extremists as are all tragedies involving gun violence..."

Wurzelbacher continued...

"We still have the Right to Bear Arms and I intend to continue to speak out for that right, and against those who would restrict it – even in the face of this horrible incident by this sad and insane individual. I almost said “Obama Voter” but I’m waiting for it to be official."

I'm guessing that's Wurzelbacher's attempt at humor. He then issued a warning...

"Mr. Martinez and anyone calling for more restrictions on American’s rights need to back off..."

Wurzelbacher then said of everyone's rights to own any and all guns they want...

"The future of our very liberty lies in the balance of this fight."

Because of course.

Despite the hollow condolences and ad nauseum platitudes Wurzelbacher's aimed at the families of the deceased it in no way absolves him of the taunts, jibes and threats he leveled at the murder victims and the relatives and friends of those taken by a mad man's rampage that fateful day. This post was a disingenuous way to get his name in the press and prove his pro-gun bona fides to the gun nuts and his dwindling audience.

Unlike the victims lost that day at the University Of California who will always be remembered, Wurzelbacher was, is and always will be an ugly discarded sideshow attraction.