How Many More?

ITEM: A deranged gunman armed with a high-powered firearm attacked a throng of unsuspecting people yesterday, killing some, wounding others.

Sound familiar? It should.

It seems to happen about every two or three months in America:

• Omaha, Nebraska. December 2007. Nine are shot to death and five others injured after a disturbed 19-year-old shooter, armed with a military-style assault rifle, attacks shoppers in a Nebraska mall. It is the "worst single-day killing spree in Nebraska history."

• Moscow, Idaho. May 2007. A 36 year-old janitor belonging to the Aryan Nations shoots 200 rounds from two military-style semiautomatic weapons, killing his wife, a police officer and a church sexton, and wounding two other police officers and a college student, before killing himself. The shooter had been granted a concealed weapons permit, despite a domestic violence conviction and extensive criminal record.

• Blacksburg, Virginia. April 2007. In the worst mass shooting in American history, a dangerously mentally ill student shoots 47 people on Virginia Tech University's campus, killing 32, then commits suicide.

• Salt Lake City, Utah. February 2007. A teen opens fire inside the Trolley Square Mall, killing five, before being shot and killed by police.

• Chicago, Illinois. December 2006. A disgruntled client of attorney Michael McKenna forces his way into a busy downtown office building, where he barricades himself inside and shoot and kills McKenna and two other employees. The shooter was killed after a gunfight with the SWAT team.

• Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania. October 2006. A truck driver walks into a one-room Amish schoolhouse with two rifles, a semi-automatic handgun, and 600 rounds of ammunition, selects all the female students, and shoots them execution-style, killing five and seriously wounding six. The man then commits suicide, apparently having left suicide notes beforehand.

• Lakeland, Florida. September 2006. While attempting to flee after a traffic stop, a man shoots and kills one police officer, wounds another, and kills a police dog working with the slain officer. Students in a nearby high school are forced in lock-down mode.

• Bailey, Colorado. September 2006. A lone gunman holds six female students hostage at a high school. He then sexually assaults them, kills one of them, and after a four hour siege, kills himself.

• Hillsborough, North Carolina. August 2006. After shooting his father to death, a student opens fire at his high school, injuring two students. Deputies found guns, ammunition, and homemade pipe bombs in the student's car. The student had emailed Columbine High's Principal, telling him that it was "time the world remembered" the shootings at Columbine.

• Essex, Vermont. August 2006. A gunman shoots five people, killing two of them, in a rampage through two houses and an elementary school, before wounding himself.

• Seattle, Washington. July 2006. A man forces his way into the offices of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle by putting a gun at the back of a 13-year-old girl to gain entry to the building. The shooter carries two semi-automatic handguns and extra ammunition, shooting six and killing one.

• St. Louis, Missouri. April 2006. A man first kills the mother of his child, then goes to his workplace and shoots three others to death before committing suicide.

• Seattle, Washington. March 2006. Kyle Huff walks into a party and kills six people in the Capitol Hill neighborhood before killing himself. A 12-gauge Winchester pump shotgun with a pistol-grip and a .40-caliber semiautomatic Ruger handgun are used in the shootings.

• Bellefontaine, Ohio. May 2005. Scott Moody kills his grandparents, his mother, his two friends, and severely wounds his sister when he goes on a shooting rampage through two homes before shooting himself.

• Red Lake Indian Reservation, Minnesota. March 2005. Former high school student kills ten and injures seven in a shooting rampage. It is the worst school-related shooting incident since the Columbine shootings in April of 1999.

• Brookfield, Wisconsin. March 2005. A madman fires 22 rounds during a church service. Seven are killed, including minister and his son, and four others are wounded.

• Tyler, Texas. February 2005. A gunman - wearing a bulletproof vest and a military flak jacket - shoots over 50 rounds with an AK-47 killing his wife and a bystander. The shooter's son and three law enforcement officers are wounded in the gun battle.

• Columbus, Ohio. December 2004. Man walks onstage and shoots and kills four concertgoers before being killed in shootout with police.

• Birchwood, Wisconsin. November 2004. A hunter opens fire with an SKS assault rifle, killing six other hunters and wounding two after a confrontation over a tree stand.

• Kansas City, Kansas. July 2004. Six people die and two others are wounded when a gunman opens fire at a ConAgra plant and then shoots himself.

• Birmingham, Alabama. June 2004. Three police officers are shot to death as they attempt to carry out an arrest warrant.

• Randallstown, Maryland. May 2004. Four teenagers are injured, one critically, by a drive-by shooter as they leave a charity basketball game at their high school.

• Cold Spring, Minnesota. September 2003. A 15-year-old student opens fire at Rocori High School, killing two students.

• Chicago, Illinois. August 2003. A fired worker shoots and kills six of his former co-workers with a .38 caliber semi-automatic pistol. The shooter had previously been arrested a dozen times on various charges including weapons offenses and assault.

• Andover, Ohio. August 2003. An angry employee, denied vacation because of a paperwork mix-up, shoots and kills a co-worker, wounding two others before killing himself. The shooter was armed with four handguns and had spent much of his spare time shooting at targets behind his home.

• San Antonio, Texas. July 2003. A man walks into the real estate office where he had worked and opens fire. He fatally shoots two co-workers before killing himself during a chase with police.

• Meridian, Mississippi. July 2003. A retired Lockheed Martin employee enters the plant where he had worked and opens fire with a 12-gauge shotgun and a .223 caliber semi-automatic rifle. He kills five and injures nine before killing himself.

• New Orleans, Louisiana. April 2003. Four boys aged 15-19 open fire in a high school gym with an AK-47 killing one student and injuring three others.

• Huntsville, Alabama. February 2003. Four people are killed and another injured when a gunman opens fire at a temporary employment agency. The gunman had been angry over a dispute over CDs, a CD player and $20.

• Edinburg, Texas. January 2003. Four men armed with assault weapons shoot six people to death in their homes.

• Fall 2002. John Allen Muhammad and John Lee Malvo randomly selected victims in sniper-style shootings - one acting as a long-range shooter from the trunk of their car. Muhammad and Malvo have been linked to 20 shootings, including 13 killings, in Virginia, Maryland, Georgia, Arizona, Alabama, Louisiana, and Washington, D.C., many of which were carried out with a Bushmaster XM-15 semi-automatic assault rifle.

(Note to readers: This entry, along with past entries, has been co-posted on bradycampaign.org/blog and the Huffington Post.)

Comments

[Melodyl]

One question if I may.
Has Paul not been howling about the Evils of "Handguns" is the True name of his little "Organization" (of 27) not Handgun Control Inc? Is Paul not freaking out about D.C. VS Heller, more to the point handguns? If Paul truly does not want to ban firearms why does he not know the truth about Military look-a-like firearms and that they are less powerful than standard hunting rifles?

~Melody~

[Thirdpower]

More on the proposed Cook County, IL gun ban. The Board Members unanimously decided to suspend the rules requiring them to inform the public of their proposals.

http://armedandsafe.blogspot.com/2007/12/cook-co-out-dc-ing-dc-part-iv.html

Why would they possibly feel the need to do that?

[Melodyl]

I too was surprised that Larry Pratt did not eat Paul for lunch. Paul left himself wide open. Not to mention Paul started droning on about horrible assault weapons, even though not one true assault weapon has or was used in recent times. None were full automatic, or did I miss something? I really wish the 27 member strong Brady Bunch would take some lessons in firearm identification. The facts still show that less than 1 % of Military in appearance firearms are used in crimes. Heck members of the Million Mom march have committed more crimes than Military in appearance firearms have, why are we not trying to get a ban on the Million Mom march?

Have a great weekend Freedom lovers.

~Melody~

[mike101]

Here's a short video on the debate between Larry Pratt, of the GOA, and our friend Paul, on Fox News. It was supposed to be about the apparent lack of success of Gun Free Zones. Paul ignores the subject, and launches into the "assault rifle" chant. This link should work, this time.

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Fox_debate_Should_all_Americans_carry_1211.html

[mike101]

That's funny. The link worked from THR. I'll try typing it.

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Foxde...arry 1211.html.

[mike101]

Here's a short video from Fox News. Helmke is debating Mr. Pratt from the GOA. It's supposed to be about Gun Free Zones, in light of the recent events in Colorado. Helmke completely ignores the topic, and launches into his assault rifle tirade.

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Fox_de...arry_1211.html

[WalterHiggins]

December 10, 2007 Colorado Springs --- A law-abiding PRIVATE CITIZEN, with a permit to carry a concealed weapon , stops a deranged killer who otherwise might have murdered dozens of churchgoers.

If Paul Helmke had his way, the church would have been another "gun free zone", and the only one with a gun would have been the killer.

[shedances]

I have a couple of quick comments & then I need to go.

First, with respect to the incident that have progun folks in disagreement here-- I don't know the details of whether or not this particular gunowner shot & killed his neighbor's intruder (or if he wounded him instead, etc.) ~ but my response is easy...

It's a hundred times worse to kill, than to rob.

Next, with respect to the newbie who says he's (or she's) unsuccessfully engaged Virginia Tech. officials over gunrights, I have nothing more to add to what they told you. Listen to them. I'm sure you've made your opinions known on campus (it sounds like it ... as distasteful as your attitudes probably are), and at least, they responded.

I will make it very clear: I refuse to engage in dialogue with another gun nut here, simply because no one else will listen to him ~ or her ~ as the case may be. I'm not your blog babysitter.

That's it for tonight. Everyone else, take care & have a wonderful, safe holiday break wherever you plan to be. My best wishes always to the Brady group!

KELLI

[Thirdpower]

Candidates on the 2A, a roundup:

Mitt Romney then: Supported Brady Bill. Passed state AWB. ""I don't line up with the NRA."

Mitt Romney now: Joined NRA as a "life member in Aug '06" and a "Life long hunter" twice.

Rudy Guiliani then: Started frivolous NY lawsuits. 2A is about hunting. NRA "Extremists"

Rudy Guiliani now: Begging every NRA member he meets for support.

Hillary Clinton then: Never met an anti-gun bill she didn't like.

Hillary Clinton now: Attacking Obama for his anti-gun stance.

Barack Obama then: Supports handgun and all semi-auto bans. Supported lawsuits.

Barack Obama now: No complete bans. Individual right. OK for "rural folk"

[molonlabe]

HUGE news out of Washington DC....No shootings this past weekend!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/10/AR2007121001692.html

HAHAHAHAHA! How's that gun ban working out?

Read the article...the reduction in crime is attributed to increased police presence on the streets. Now THAT my friends, is comon sense.

[molonlabe]

Anyone out there who wants to know what a typical "gun-nut" or "extremist" looks and acts like, I would encourage everyone to hop over to this web site: gunboards.com.

Some of you may be familiar with this site. It is one of the largest, if not, THE largest firearm "chat rooms" on the net. If it shoots a projectile, you can find someone there talking about it.

During the course of the 2 years that I have been a poster there, I have met some of the nicest, well rounded and interesting people. People from all walks of life, socio-economic backgrounds, races, ethnicities, etc... The information I have obtained about gunsmithing, technical assitance, reloading, anything about firearms has been amazing.

Read some of the posts. Do you see any profanity? And glorification of violence? Any gross irresponsibility? NO. What you see is a community of people sharing their love for firearms for both use and collection.

Again, please, go have a look at gunboards.com. Especially anyone out there who is a fence-sitter and actually might buy into the lies about us "extremists" as knuckle dragging Neanderthals and haters of our children's safety.

[OldSFMJT]

Several of the posts regarding the actions of Jeanne Assam this past week, both in support of her actions & repudiating them, got me to thinking about how the anti-gun, anti-rights crowd here views those of us with, or desiring to have CCW rights. It strikes me that it"s the old "Sheep, Sheep Dog & Wolf" analogy!

The "antis," Paul, Kelli, Super8, etc. are sheep. The pro-rights, pro-CCW folks are Sheep Dogs. The wolves " well, that"s pretty self-explanatory!

Just as with real sheep, the anti-rights sheep are cowards. In their cowardice & ignorance, they see wolves and sheep dogs as the same thing. Both have "sharp fangs" and the willingness to use them. What the sheep refuse to recognize is that, while the wolf is loyal only to himself, the sheep dog is loyal to a higher authority " The Master. That loyalty compels the Sheepdog to protect his charges and never turn on them, ultimately even to the cost of his own life! But the sheep " they"re still sheep and in their ignorance, arrogance & cowardice, they will never recognize between the wolves & the sheepdogs!

At least that"s the way I see it. Your mileage may vary!
Old SF MJT

[molonlabe]

So Paul, lets compare two situations, shall we?

Colorado Church shootings vs Nebraska mall shootings.

I would like to hear your opinions on the following:

1) How the Mall, being a "gun free zone" offered more safety/protection from criminals than the Church, which was not a GFZ?

2) What role (positive or negative) did a firearm in the hands of a law-abiding citizen play in both situations?

3) If there was no armed citizen in the church, would the carnage have been greater than, less than, or equal to, what it was WITH there being an armed citizen in the church?

4) Name ONE negative outcome which transpired from a law-abiding citizen being armed in that church. (I know the need for emotionalism is strong here, Paul but I'm looking for actual outcomes not potential).

5) Based on the situation and outcome at the Colorado church, could a weapon in the hands of a law abiding citizen have helped save lives at the Nebraska Mall?

6) Assuming you were a bystander in close proximity of both shooters in both situations, would you have felt safer, less safe, or just as safe being with an armed citizen in each situation.

Because Paul and the BC, and other anti rights groups do not support CCW and favor instead, GFZ's, in essence, they are advocates of criminals like Nebraska Mall incidents having the unopposed ability to massacre defenseless citizens rather than the ability of law abiding citizens being able to protect themselves and possibly protecting other people like the Colorado Church incident.

Where's the common sense there?

[MSorgy]

SAF HONORS COLORADO"S JEANNE ASSAM WITH ELEANOR ROOSEVELT AWARD
BELLEVUE, WA " For her remarkable display of heroism and courage under fire, the Second Amendment Foundation announced today that it will recognize Jeanne Assam, who confronted a gunman on Dec. 9 at the New Life Church shooting in Colorado Springs, with the Eleanor Roosevelt Award.

The Roosevelt award was created by SAF founder Alan Gottlieb. The award honors exceptional women who use firearms in self-defense and the defense of others. The award is named in memory of former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, who frequently carried a revolver for personal protection, even while she lived in the White House, and during the times that she campaigned in the South for civil rights.

"Jeanne Assam, an armed private citizen who volunteered to provide security at the New Life Church, was suddenly faced with a deadly emergency and without hesitation, disregarding her own safety, she rose to that challenge," Gottlieb said. "By confronting a killer, Assam undoubtedly saved many lives.

"The news media, perhaps to try diminishing Ms. Assam"s bravery and the significance of her intervention, have revealed her dismissal as a Minneapolis police officer several years ago. We concur with church Senior Pastor Brady Boyd, who observed that all of us have past experiences we may regret, and that she should not be "convicted or crucified for being a heroine." Today, the entire nation should be proud of Jeanne Assam, and grateful that her life"s path led from Minneapolis to Colorado Springs.

"Jeanne Assam did an incredibly brave thing under circumstances that could easily be described as above and beyond the call. Every day in this country, armed private citizens defend themselves or others, frequently preventing or stopping crimes. Their actions go largely unrecognized and more frequently ignored by the press and public officials who would rather suppress the notion that Americans can fight back.

"We created the Eleanor Roosevelt Award to recognize the efforts of armed women who practice personal safety," Gottlieb concluded.

P.S. Sorry, I had to edit this to get it to post.

Michael

[Thirdpower]

Cook County has decided to try and implement the "reasonable measure" of registration. However, the only firearms that can be registered are those that are already registered and have features that don't exist:

http://daysofourtrailers.blogspot.com/2007/12/cook-county-legislates-to-increase.html

So Paul. Does the BC support or oppose this action since you supposedly aren't in the business of banning all guns?