From the Associated Press, in today's paper;
"Reno urges more study on gun law
..."An American Medical Association study released Wednesday found that murder and suicide rates dropped no faster than before in states that had to toughen their laws to comply with the 1984 Brady Act to regulate handguns. But after the act took effect, fewer people of age 55 and older used guns to kill themselves."
Well, there's a radical outfit, the AMA. Seems the Brady Law had no effect on murder rates in those states. At least the older folks didn't use guns as often for suicide. A benefit there but absolutely no effect on violent crime.
F4, then you want to take out all suicides "legitimate use of firearm" <police, etc.> and accidental deaths from the guns statistics as well, right? So we compare apples to apples? That would be a start, although I don't think a DUI guy killing a family in a minivan is an accident. I happen to think it's murder, but that's just me.
Cars are for driving and guns are for killing? That's a pretty unbiased statement coming from a guy that's pretty clearly "gun-phobic". How about "cars are for driving and guns are for sport shooting...and EITHER one can be mis-used?" (Is shooting paper targets killing?)
But no...guns have NO PLACE in your society. ALL are bad.
But you don't want to confiscate them right? Just register? You never did answer that F4. Are you going to be satisfied with registration?
If we give in on registration, ballistic fingerprinting, owner training...will your crowd then come out and clearly state that the 2nd Amendment means exactly what it says? Will you say "NOW you may have guns, if these things are done. We will NEVER, EVER question the right to keep and bear arms again."
Nope. You won't. And we both know it. Your crowd will move right on towards confiscation.
If you drive your Chevy to the Post Office and gun people down, isn't GM an accessory? I bet there's a Trial Lawyer out there that would give that one a go!
It's not the PERSON, it's the inanimate objects that allow us to do evil!
Cain killed Able with a rock. Register ROCKS!
I'm not afraid of my government; I'm afraid of you! My government is pretty reasonable..it's your crowd that's not.
I am breaking no laws, I am no threat to anyone, I use my firearms responsibly...but here you are foaming at the mouth against me for even having them. Why don't you turn your attention to the real problem?
It's not the inanimate object, it's the PERSON that's responsible. But that's too tough to do anything about right? Because it means SERIOUS changes to law enforcement, the judicial process and the prison system. It may even *gasp* require more capital punishment.
I don't oppose gun locks. Use them if you want to, they are already available. I don't oppose safer guns, either. Unfortunately, I suspect that some people's idea of a "safe gun" is one that is rendered incapable of use.
I don't have a waiting period problem either. If they ever get one that works; right now, it doesn't. I suspect you haven't tried to buy a gun lately, so you probably don't know that the system simply does not work as advertised and nothing is being done to improve it.
Background checks at gun shows? Same problem; presently it just doesn't work and the Feds are unwilling to spend the money it would take to make it right.
Of course, as we've just seen, the AMA study says the Brady Law makes NO DIFFERENCE. Don't let that distract you from your crusade, however.
My guns right now are in an 800 lb steel safe, bolted with hardened bolts to a concrete slab floor.
Santa, getting a permit for concealed carry can be relatively straight forward or incredibly difficult, depending on where you live in the US. It's a matter that falls under local, not national jurisdiction.
In a place like Kansas, if you have a clean record you can get a concealed carry permit after a police investigation and approval by your local police chief.
In some other states, you need that and you have to show some sort of reasonable need. For example, you own a restaurant and routinely carry the proceeds to the bank night deposit after closing.
In still other states, it is almost impossible to get a carry permit. Most of the East coast/northeast corridor locales are like this. New York City is a prime example. They have about the toughest gun laws in the country...and one of the highest violent crime rates. Funny how that inverse relationship keeps showing up. Washington DC is exactly the same...toughest laws, highest violent crime rates. But watch, F4 will be able to explain that away, too.
Overall, what you will find is that where crime is low it's easy to get a permit. Where crime is high and you are in the greatest danger, the powers that be have decided that law-abiding citizens with clean records should NOT be allowed to carry. Makes perfect sense right?
In any event, concealed carry is a local situation. It just depends on where you live. In states where the gun has recently and historically had it's place as a simple, necessary tool, people don't get all worked up. Things seem to go along just fine. Most of the states West of the Mississippi are like this.
In states where the majority of the population is urban and folks are no longer in touch with the land, thinking that steaks are "born" on a styrofoam platter wrapped in plastic, it's a lot harder to get a permit.
And yes, the Constitution can be amended. Things can be added and subtracted. It's a pretty lengthy process though. It was deliberately set up by the founders to be that way. It sort of inhibits the fad of the moment, the thoughtless "quick fix" from being enacted into law.
The Supreme Court interprets the Constitution and that's another way to achieve change. So far, F4's bunch has been afraid to take the 2nd Amendment to the Supreme Court because they are afraid gun rights will be clearly reaffirmed for all time. It will eventually happen, I think.
