The tragic shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman has rightly generated tremendous outrage across the nation. Unfortunately, an untold number of additional families across America have experienced the same heartbreak as a result of concealed carry killers armed by state laws that allow people to carry loaded, concealed handguns in public.
Zimmerman is only one example of concealed handgun permit holders who have needlessly taken lives, destroyed families, and shaken communities. New data from the Violence Policy Center as part of its ongoing Concealed Carry Killers project shows that concealed carry killers have claimed at least 402 victims since May 2007 (because there is no comprehensive reporting of crimes -- even murders -- committed by concealed handgun permit holders, these numbers are drawn mostly from news accounts and represent only the very tip of the iceberg).
As of this month, the VPC has documented 290 lethal incidents in 32 states:
The March update included not only the shooting of Trayvon Martin, but 10 lives claimed in an additional nine incidents -- including two that happened on a single day, February 12, 2012:
Despite the tragic circumstances surrounding Trayvon Martin's death, the gun lobby is relentlessly pursuing federal legislation that would expand the ability of George Zimmerman -- whose concealed carry permit is still valid -- and all other concealed carry permit holders to carry their loaded handguns nationwide. The NRA-backed S. 2188 would force all states that issue concealed carry permits to recognize all out-of-state permits, even if the person could not qualify for a permit in that state.
We call the bill the George Zimmerman Armed Vigilante Act.
But even that bill is not extreme enough for Gun Owners of America, who have persuaded John Thune (R-SD) and David Vitter (R-LA) to introduce another version (S. 2213) which recognizes the "rights" of gun carriers from states that don't require permits to carry.
While Florida's 'Shoot First' law is the reason that George Zimmerman has not been arrested, it's Florida's concealed carry law that enabled him to confront Trayvon Martin with a loaded handgun in the first place. Without Florida's lax concealed carry law Trayvon Martin would be alive today. Across America, hundreds of innocent lives and families have been decimated, their communities shaken, by concealed carry killers who acted as judge, jury, and executioner.
Follow Josh Sugarmann on Twitter: www.twitter.com/VPCinfo
Classy.
Let's do a little, mmmkay?
There are roughly 12,000 homicides in which a gun was used in america each year. Since 2007, we can estimate 4.5 X 12,000 "gun homicides" which equals 54,000.
And Joshie is belly-aching because 402 of these 54,000 were committed by someone with a CCW OR A PERMIT TO PURCHASE, for which he does not distinguish.
One day, the Joyce Foundation is going to wake up and realize that their money will be better spent elsewhere than on the VPC.
On that day, Josh will be asking you if you want fries with that.
If one person could have engaged the shooter in Toulous France then perhaps needless death could have been stopped. Or if one student had a legal concealed carry permit on the Virgina Tech campus on April 16, 2007 when Seung-Hui Cho went berserk and killed 32 people and wounded 25, perhaps that carnage could have been avoided. Further, if this country is going to have a standing military, one important part of that service includes weapons training...and if the country is going to train men and women in the use of firearms, then it seems very plausible to have many people come out of the service and be interested in owning a weapon. Are you going to tell them it's OK while you are in the service but not OK to own and carry when you are a civilian? The gun culture is rooted deep in this country.
The problem with this particular case is this - did Zimmerman pursue when he did not have to? Did Treyvon Martin feel he was being threatened and stood his ground also? This law fails completely when two people have equal right to stand their ground.
Standing your ground does NOT mean attacking someone who is following you. SYG applies ONLY to a person who has been attacked -- not one who feels vaguely uncomfortable with being followed.
In Washington, DC, no less. Home of some of the nation's strictest municipal gun laws. Observe:
http://armsandthelaw.com/archives/2008/02/the_quintessenc.php
Why does the executive director of Violence Policy Center own an FFL? Does he plan on renewing it before it expires on March 1? I think we'd all be interested in hearing Sugarmann's side of the story...] http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2849391
Any comment, Josh?...
That is actually a good question-- see this page:
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-03-17/news/os-qanda-trayvon-martin-shooting-20120317_1_law-enforcement-castle-doctrine-deadly-force
" 'Stand Your Ground' is not a 007 license to kill," said Sean Caranna, founder of Florida Carry, a group advocating gun owners' rights. He stressed that shooting in self-defense requires " a real fear your life is in danger."
Florida:
Justifiable use of force
776.012 Use of force in defense of person. — A person is justified in using force, except deadly force, against another when and to the extent that the person reasonably believes that such conduct is necessary to defend himself or herself or another against the other's imminent use of unlawful force. However, a person is justified in the use of deadly force and does not have a duty to retreat if:
(1) He or she reasonably believes that such force is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another or to prevent the imminent commission of a forcible felony; or
(2) Under those circumstances permitted pursuant to s. 776.013.
Yelling will definitely not count.
This post, again...
1-- How would you "just get rid of guns"? Go ahead... I will listen.
2-- If guns somehow magically vanished, "why would you need them"? I assume you are speaking of self-defense needs here, so we will ignore hunting and non-lethal sports like target shooting. Criminals do not need guns or other weapons to harm people like myself and my wife. We are both "older" and disabled. You are aware that old and disabled people exist, I assume? Read this, please:
http://onlygunsandmoney.blogspot.com/2011/05/mary-shepard-victim-of-thug-and-chicago.html
Now then--- would you like to ask my wife if she would like to be beaten and raped... again? She carries a gun now, which realistically is the only option she has for effective self-defense. I do not care to experience finding myself dazed and bleeding on a public sidewalk ever again, myself. Are you seriously suggesting that all of us old and/or disabled people should be disarmed and unable to defend ourselves? Explain, please...