For the Gun Lobby, Ignorance is Bliss
I noticed a recent article in the Washington Times (which is to print what Fox News is to TV) that had me thinking, "Here we go again."
The article, headlined "U.S., after long ban, quietly begins to study gun safety," reported, with barely-concealed alarm, that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is studying the risks to teenagers from carrying guns. Can you imagine that? A government agency believing that teens with guns should be considered an issue of public health?
Pro-gun Members of Congress sent NIH an intimidating letter questioning the gun-related research. A spokesperson for the Gun Owners of America added ominously, "This kind of research does concern us, and we're going to be watching it closely."
Yes, it's "déjà vu all over again," the repetition of a longtime gun lobby theme. I call it the "fear of facts." Or, "the less we know about gun violence, the better off we are." This principle dictates a recurring gun lobby tactic: when new information starts to look threatening to the pro-gun agenda, make sure it never sees the light of day.
We saw this tactic at work in the 1990s, when the Centers for Disease Control began to fund firearm surveillance systems at state health departments to allow the collection of basic data about firearm deaths and injuries - the same kind of information that has long been collected about auto deaths and injuries. Gun lobby intimidation led Congress to cut $2.6 million from CDC's budget - exactly the amount that was being spent on gun-related research.
To this day, the CDC is subject to a legislative restriction barring it from funding research used "in whole or in part to advocate or promote gun control." In other words, if there is a chance research would support the need for stronger gun laws, CDC can't fund it. There is no such restriction on research that could be used to oppose stronger gun laws. Can you imagine if CDC were barred from funding research that could be used "in whole or in part to advocate or promote" the regulation of tobacco products?
In recent years, we have seen the "ignorance is bliss" approach of the gun lobby surface on other issues. It is the basis for the infamous Tiahrt Amendments barring public disclosure of the crime gun trace data that for many years had been routinely disclosed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. When researchers used the data to show that state gun laws impede the flow of guns into the illegal market, that assault weapons are disproportionately traced to crime, and that certain gun dealers are feeding large numbers of guns into the criminal market, the gun lobby felt sufficiently threatened to get Congress to suppress the information.
We see the same effort to hide the truth about state concealed weapon laws. The National Rifle Association has been shockingly successful in bullying state legislatures into passing laws that have exponentially increased the number of people with licenses to carry concealed weapons, even in the face of strong public opposition. It turns out that, in state after state with these laws, lots of very dangerous people have been given licenses to carry hidden handguns in public, and they have committed lots of very serious crimes.
For example, in 2007, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported that 1,400 individuals who had pled guilty or no-contest to felony charges had been issued concealed carry licenses and that license holders had committed crimes ranging from aggravated stalking to manslaughter. The Sun-Sentinel obtained the names of the license holders just before the Florida legislature, at the behest of the NRA, passed legislation to block further public disclosure. The same pattern has been repeated in other states: after the press discloses the dangerous individuals granted concealed carry licenses and their crimes, the NRA immediately seeks legislation to seal the names.
It's ironic, isn't it? The gun lobby insists that "the people should be trusted to have guns." But it is unwilling to trust the people with the truth about guns.
For more information, see Dennis Henigan's new book, Lethal Logic: Exploding the Myths that Paralyze American Gun Policy.
Bill Mann: Fort Hood Reminds Us: Our Gun Laws Are a National Disgrace
We have millions of sick Americans who need health insurance. But there are even more of us who live in danger of being shot by an easy-to-obtain weapon.
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Ah, good ol' Brady A-rated Cali.
"Mori Ben-Nissan, 38, and Allen Lasry, 53, were shot in the legs in the parking garage underneath the Adat Yeshurun Valley Sephardic Orthodox synagogue in North Hollywood as they arrived for Thursday's morning service."
http://www
Those damn 11 round magazines up to no good again.
Remember folks, there is absolutely no need to exercise your 2A rights in a National Park or other wildlife sanctuary because any concern about safety is just plain gun-nuttery paranoia.
"TORONTO (Oct. 28) -- Two coyotes attacked a promising young musician as she was hiking alone in a national park in eastern Canada, and authorities said she died Wednesday of her injuries."
http://new
Gosh, I didn't know Canada observed our Constitution and BoR.
You learn something new every day.
Gosh, I didn't know that wild animals in Canada were more/less of a threat than wild animals in the US.
Must be that Molson, aeye?
Msprayforguy seems to oppose self defense
Nice catch. I posted that last night.
Where'd it go?
Birmingham, AL mayor Larry Langford was found guilty of charges that included bribery, money laundering, criminal conspiracy, mail and wire fraud. He faces possible life in prison as well as disbarment from office.
He is still proudly listed as one of Mayor Bloomburg's (somewhat less than) 450.
Let us pray. For the eleventh month.
TP demonstrates a basic logical fallacy. He believes that because a member of a group he dislikes has been convicted or embroiled in a scandal unrelated to the group--then everyone in that group is a criminal or at least unethical.
It's an odd game TP plays, for it's far easier to find NRA-endorsed candidates or officeholders who have their own criminal or ethical problems. Example: State Atty and former SC State Rep. Roland Corning, who enjoyed NRA support---well, it turns out he enjoys other things as well:
http://www
A deputy assistant attorney general who said he was on his lunch break when an officer found him with a stripper and sex toys in his sport utility vehicle has been fired, his boss said Wednesday.
"He believes that because a member of a group he dislikes has been convicted or embroiled in a scandal unrelated to the group--then everyone in that group is a criminal or at least unethical.
Notice how jade chastizes TP for the same logic which guides the anti-gunnies: Since a miniscule # of CCW holders have been convicted of a crime, then everyone in the CCW group is a criminal or at least unethical.
Pot, meet kettle.
What's funny is that Jade claims it's 'far easier' to find anecdotes. This is due to there being considerably more individuals supporting firearm rights than there are opponents.
When you look at the rates of criminal activity, such as by the members of MAIG, far more 'gun control' advocates are caught and convicted of crimes than can be said for the opposite.
This is the same game he plays when he alternates between raw numbers and per capita crime numbers and changing population numbers to whatever he feels like.
Meanwhile--proving yet again 'an armed society is a polite society:'
http://www
"SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) - Savannah-Chatham Metro police have arrested a man for aggravated assault in connection with an early morning shooting on Savannah's southside.
It happened around 2:30am Tuesday bear Bartlett Middle School.
Police found the victim on Edgewater Road just off Montgomery Cross Road between CVS Pharmacy and Bartlett Middle School.
According to police, two men got into an argument after a misdialed phone call and then it escalated into a shooting. The victim, 24-year-old Brian Mastason, was shot multiple times and taken to the hospital with serious injuries."
Another DGU.
Can't provide any actual evidence of what you claim again Jade?
"Sometimes a more balanced debate is best served by an unbalanced symposium. I did not, therefore, invite anyone who I knew subscribed to the individual rights model. "
-Joyce Foundation funded gun control advocate Carl T. Bogus on his Second Amendment Symposium
http://arm
That is the nature of gun control 'research'. Don't present any views that may contradict the pre-determined outcome.
Let us pray. For the eleventh month.
As we all know by now, when a pro-gun-type prrovides a quote it is invariably false, truncated and/or out-of-context.
In this case, TP provides 2 out of 3; truncated and out-of-context.
As for a symposium being "research," I can only chuckle at TP's naivete and lack of educational background. A symposium is a conference--nothing more. A discussion. It can even be about matters that are fictitious such as the History and Culture of Batman or the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Symposium.
I'd also hate to burst TP's bubble that the Tennessee Law Review held a Second Amendment Symposium where no one from the gun control side was invited or participated.
You also claimed that the population of Chicago had increased to 9.7 million since 1980 and then stated that the census bureau was wrong.
Bogus's 'symposium was as fictitious as one regarding Batman or Buffy. Glad even you can recognize that.
So Jade, did the NRA fund the TN Law Review symposium? So far all the one's you're supporting have been directed by 'gun control' advocacy groups.
Jade, how dare you, a demonstrable liar (many times over), accuse anyone else of being dishonest.
How many people live in Chicago?
what snotrocks forgets is that it is not academic freedom to start with the conclusion (guns are EVIL) and fake up the stats to get the results you want
BTW, this begs an obvious question.
What stops the NRA from hypothesizing that firearms significantly lower crime, designing an experiment testing this hypothesis, recording/observing the results, and publishing the findings? Surely they could find someone they consider reputable to do this.
Let's consider John Lott. Lott has published a number of studies, most famously 'More Guns, Less Crime.' Did the gun control advocates demand Lott not be permitted to publish? Did they demand Lott not be funded? Did they demand legislation to forbid Lott from even investigating gun-related subjects?
No.
Instead, professors and universiti
Bottomline: we support academic freedom. Pro-gun-types don't.
Lott was not funded by the NRA or by a pro-gun group.
Was Lott funded by taxpayer dollars?
Seems you're the one wanting the gov't to fund your hobby of trying to ban guns.
This is an article that pretty much goes without saying. It's kind of like writing an article titled "5 large pizza a day diet tends to promote obesity."
The pro-gun-types are against science. In terms of this debate, they are essentially creationists. That is, they have a belief and despite all scientific fact to the contrary, their faith is their central dogma.
What's ironic is that the pro-gun-types usually couch their faith in terms of "freedom." Except, of course, when it comes to academic freedom. Pro-gun-types often like to talk about the evils of totalitarian regimes. Yet, virtually all totalitarian regimes severely restrict or eliminate academic freedom.
When it comes to guns, the pro-gun-types are all about restricting academic freedom. Why?
The pro-gun-types will give you a number of reasons why. First, they believe academics and universities can be bought off. But this argument fails for several reasons. One reason is pretty apparent: if universities basically churn out pre-determined results for paying clients--why hasn't Phillip Morris paid off some university to find cigarette smoking is beneficial? Or the asbestoes industry fund some college to find their product is harmless? After all, either of these industries have no shortage of money. Certainly, the NRA has more money than its opponents--but they aren't finding takers among universities.
Greensnotr
Pro-gunnies: "Banning "assault rifles" is fee-good legislation because, statistically, ALL rifles are used in less than 3% of all annual homicides. Furthermore, the cosmetic features on "assault rifles" do not affect lehtality"
Anti-gunnies: "Assault rifles should be banned because the pistol grip and black color are scary, and let's not forget about that "thing in the back that goes up."
Yeah jade. It's the pro-gun side who is against science.
Pro-gunnies: "Banning "assault rifles" is fee-good legislation because, statistically, ALL rifles are used in less than 3% of all annual homicides. Furthermore, the cosmetic features on "assault rifles" do not affect lehtality"
Anti-gunnies: "Assault rifles should be banned because the pistol grip and black color are scary, and let's not forget about that "thing in the back that goes up."
Yeah jade. It's the pro-gun side who is against science.
Remember folks, accorging to Paul, Dennis, and the likes, when it comes to personal safety, there is no need for the average citizen to carry a firearm. We should leave this in the hands of LEO who are trained professionals and have gun handling skills and knowledge far superior to we gun-toters:
"Baltimore County police say Sgt. Eric Janik was been charged with assault for pulling his service weapon on the worker, who was dressed up as the killer from "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Police say the employee approached Janik after the haunted house tour was over Sunday night. Police say Janik pulled his service weapon and pointed it at the man's chest. The man dropped the chain saw, which had no chain and was not dangerous. Charging documents show that Janik smelled of alcohol and told different stories about what he did with the gun.
http://www
for Paul, Kelli and crew--government employment magically endows LEOs and those in the military superhuman firearms skill and paramount ethics
Good thing college campuses are gun free zones.
"Police say the student was apparently talking with a professor when he pulled out a gun and shot himself once in the architecture Design South Building on ASU's main campus in Tempe."
http://www
Dennis, which angle is the BC going to play on this one? The "we need laws which make guns on campus 'more illegaller', or "we're going to hide the fact that Japan has double the suicide rate of the US and no guns, while blaming guns for suicides in the US?"
Makes you wish a coin had 3 sides, doesn' t it?
ignoran_b_
BTW, I note that Congress has passed an NRA backed law protecting the ownership of assisted opening knives. Seems the Department of Homeland Security had decided on its own that these knives, which have been ruled numerous times by courts to not be "switchblades", were in fact switchblades and was trying to prohibit them from entering the US.
For the unaware, a "switchblade" or auto-opening knife is defined as a knife with a release mechanism in the handle and which opens by internal spring pressure without any manual pressure from the operator being applied to the blade. An assisted opening knife is one where the blade is initially opened part way by manual pressure by the operator on the blade after which time internal spring pressure takes over.
While some will note that the result either way is that the blade quickly snaps open via spring pressure and requires only one hand to operate, the courts have repeatedly made a distinction between the methods and ruled assisted opening knives to not be switchblades. For DHS to make up their own rules contrary to the ruling of numerous courts was unacceptable. Further, the DHS ruling could have opened the door to banning knives with thumbstuds
Switchblade laws are utterly ridiculous in this day and age, and I can't believe Homeland Security is wasting their time, and our money on such nonsense. No, actually I CAN believe it.
I have a small but interesting knife collection, including a few automatics, a spring-assisted knife, and a manual Benchmade Griptilian with a thumb stud. I can open the Griptilian at least as fast as any of the autos, and faster than one of the big ones I have.
These absurd laws were the result of a mid-1950s 'juvenile deliquency' scare that followed movies like 'West Side Story' and 'Blackboard Jungle'.
Now, guess which state was first to ban automatic knives. If you guessed New Jersey, you'd be right. Big surprise.
I live in NJ, and I have seven automatics (which I keep in a display case). I guess knife bans aren't any more effective than gun bans.
The lock mechanism on the Griptilian is such that by simply pulling back on the lock, the blade will often fall open. Because of this, it can lead to problems as a "gravity knife" in California unless the pivot scre.w is tightened. Good knives though and a favorite among LEOs.
And about those Tiahrt Amendments Dennis claims "When researchers used the data to show that state gun laws impede the flow of guns into the illegal market, that assault weapons are disproportionately traced to crime, and that certain gun dealers are feeding large numbers of guns into the criminal market, the gun lobby felt sufficiently threatened to get Congress to suppress the informatio
The issue is that the gun control special interest group was not just using the data in the way that Dennis describes. Instead, they were engaging in a pattern of repeatedly frivolous lawsuits designed to finacially break the the firearm industry. Congress was smart enough to recognize what the gun control special interest groups were up to and to limit the access to the data.
And in terms of ARs etc being disproportionally being used in crimes, the disproportion is that they are being used FAR LESS OFTEN than would be expected--
Now, regarding that unsubstantiated story that "1,400 individuals who had pled guilty or no-contest to felony charges had been issued concealed carry licenses and that license holders had committed crimes ranging from aggravated stalking to manslaughter".
There is a thing called "relief from disability" in which a person who has been barred from possession of firearms can petition the courts to have that disability removed. If a person is successful in this, then they might be able to get a concealed carry permit.
My understanding is that the NIH study is to find out the effects of teens carrying concealed handguns.
Here is why such a study would be !dyotic:
1) It is illegal for someone under 18 years of age to possess a handgun.
2) No state that I am aware of gives concealed carry permits to people less than 21 years of age.
That means that the study would be an an@lysis of criminal behavior.
And the BC would use the results to demonize the law abiding just like they always do
So what? They've been doing studies of the affects of illegal drugs on people for years. Since guns kill people even better than meth or crack, I think the study sounds like a GREAT idea.
not if the studies are being used by groups like the BC and VPC to justify unconstitutional gun laws
So, if the study finds out that teens illegally carrying handguns run a higher chance of being shot, what are we going to do, make it even more illegal for teens to carry handguns?
First, I doubt very much that there are more gun homicides than there are people overdosing on drugs.
Secondly, how do you conduct a 'study' of an illegal thing? How many teen-aged gangbangers do you think are going to volunteer that they are carrying an illegal gun?
Talk about 'ignorance is bliss'
It's the same ignorance which has the anti-gun camp pursuing bans against rifles used in less than 3% of all annual homicides.
It's the same ignorance which fails to provide the statistical implication showing the negligible amount of CCW holders which commit violent crime compared to repeat offenders.
It's the same ignorance which includes up to 24 year old gang-bangers as The Children(tm) when alledging "child death" statistics.
It's the same ignorance which continues to include 17k/yr suicides as a "gun issue" instead of a social issue.
It's the same ignorance which seeks to ban weapons because of cosmetic features which do not affect a weapon's functionality,
It's the same ignorance which takes issue with a weapon's color when discussing lethality.
It's the same ignorance which seeks to overturn Tiahrt when gun trace data is already available.
It's the same ignorance which ignores demographic indicators of crime.
It's the same ignorance which fails to address our judicial system's failure to keep violent felons incarcerated.
It's the same ignorance which fails to report the failure of the AWB to have any impact on crime after a 10 year period.
Yes, Dennis, ignorance is bliss.
The FBI does, indeed, track homicides by type of weapon.
FBI Uniform Crime Reports, Table 20
Murder, by State and Type of Weapon
http://www
Last year, all rifles COMBINED (including AR-15 type rifles, civilian AK's, and whatnot) accounted for 2.6% of U.S. murders, down from 3-4% in prior years. Rifles are not a significant crime problem in the United States and never have been, regardless of what the stock is shaped like or whether the magazine sticks out.
That must be what Dennis means when he says "assault weapons" are disproportionally used in crime--said weapons are being used far less than their numbers would indicate
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