Comments on: Poll: Little Change In Views On Handguns

After Virginia Tech Shooting Spree, Most Still Want Stricter Gun Laws But Oppose Banning All Handguns

[rheola-2009]

Dipracer

If you think that a gun ban is the solution to all evil, than you forgot about Rwanda in 1994 when 800,000 defenseless people where slaughtered in 90 days, the MAJORITY hacked to death.

Your feelings are warranted, albeit misinformed.

Posted by dlpracer at 10:46 PM : Apr 23, 2007

Had no intention of joining in today, however,

Does your statement mean as it implies, that the number slaughtered would have most likely nearer 1,800,000 if the aggressor had guns??????????

[dlpracer]

You want the government to ban all guns??

In the perfect world you have a good point. Unfortunately we don't live in a perfect world and guns in the USA will NEVER be banned...period. Disarming the populace has been the genesis of every government abuse in modern history.

If you think that a gun ban is the solution to all evil, than you forgot about Rwanda in 1994 when 800,000 defenseless people where slaughtered in 90 days, the MAJORITY hacked to death.

Your feelings are warranted, albeit misinformed.

[dlpracer]

plainjean says: (continued)

...VIOLENT CRIMES CONTINUE TO BE COMMITTED WITH GUNS NO MATTER HOW MANY LAW ABIDDING PEOPLE HAVE THEM! Isn't it high time we changed the paranoid, warped "gun culture" in America?

------------

Statistics show a very strong reduction in violent crime associated with the adoption by states of laws allowing the general adult population to freely carry concealed weapons...crime rates have declined....FACT.

Concealed carry is not for everyone. The media loves to throw out the cannard: do you want everyone on campus to be packing?

Of course not. Being armed is a tremendous responsibility. As most CCW instructors teach, "once the bullet leaves the gun, right or wrong, your life will change forever". It is not for the those that cannot handle that added responsibility. For those that can, they will be there when you need them.

Too bad VT thought a sign saying GUN FREE ZONE, would protect them.

Try again.

[rheola-2009]

Darkmeat4

Hullo mr. Darkmeat

Bit of dejavu here.

As we have discussed in the past.
There are STATISTICS, STATISTICS AND DAMNED STATISTICS.

We will always see that which we wish to see in a particular set of figures, if they agree with our point of view, then great !!
But if they do not, then we must kill the messenger.

I will myself, as it is your country, not mine, accept those figures published, and acknowledge that Americans are happy with approx 30,000 gun related deaths per year, and as such will remain out of this debate today.

Enjoy your evening/night.

[plainjean]

So we as a people have a government incapable of restricting the licensing of motor vehicles? We as a people have a government incapable of restricting underaged drinking? So we as a people have a government incapable of preventing the illegal immigration of 1,000 Hispanics? So we as a people have a government incapable of preventing the sale and distribution of illegal narcotics? NONSENSE! Somehow if Seung-Hui Cho had been armed with a screw driver, a can opener, or a cork-screw instead of a 9mm, 32 innocent Virginia Techers would be alive today. That NRA old song-and-dance routine GUNS DON'T KILL PEOPLE, PEOPLE KILL PEOPLE is as lame as it gets. Believe me the NRA propaganda machine is already into full-gear trying to white-wash this whole tragedy. Why doesn't the Justice Department do after the gun manufacturers and gun retailers like they persued the tobacco industry!

[dlpracer]

plainjean says:

...VIOLENT CRIMES CONTINUE TO BE COMMITTED WITH GUNS NO MATTER HOW MANY LAW ABIDDING PEOPLE HAVE THEM! Isn't it high time we changed the paranoid, warped "gun culture" in America?

-------------

The basis of this information is without merit. You are quoting 11 year ago information.

There are now 42 states that have "must issue" concealed carry laws. Along with those laws came mandates by the states to keep track of permit holders and any law infractions they may commit.

By far, CC permit holders have lower incidents that the general population. Gun violations are nearly nill. Why? Because they MUST be law abiding citizens and TRAINED to receive a state issued permit. How strict? You will have your permit revoked if you have a blood alcohol level above .02 while packing (one glass of wine) ...MUCH lower than the .08 level for driving a car impaired.

There are now millions of concealed carry citizens throughout the US and chances are you sat next to someone at a cafe without ever knowing. That's the way it is designed.

There are over 500,000 reported self defense incidents every year. Conservative estimates say there are as many as 1.5 million unreported, many without a shot being fired...just the display of a firearm.

I appreciate your hysteria, but as usual, is void of facts.

Try again.

[down-ndirty]

You might think that arresting, convicting, and imprisoning criminals is the answer.

It's a proven fact that punishment does NOT deter crime. It only deters the criminals who are incarcerated--until they get out.

It is also a fact that common criminals do NOT like to mess with civilians who own guns. Criminals have a tendency to avoid occupied premises out of fear the occupants may have a weapon. Far more criminals are killed in self defense by civilians than in the line of duty by police.

Think what it would be like if the civilians were stripped of their guns; criminals would not have any fear of occupied premises and civilians would have no self-defense.

[down-ndirty]

"Statistics from the Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology or where ever you may dig them up does not change this simple fact: VIOLENT CRIMES CONTINUE TO BE COMMITTED WITH GUNS NO MATTER HOW MANY LAW ABIDDING PEOPLE HAVE THEM!" Posted by plainjean

You totally miss the point, plainjean. You can gather up every single gun in the U.S. and criminals will STILL be able to get them.

The only difference would be those 1300 or so criminals who were killed in self-defense will now be successful in their criminal endeavor. And those 416 attempted rapes EVERY DAY that were repelled by women with guns will now be successful rapes and possibly even murders.

It's been said before, and I'll say it again: "Guns don't kill people; people kill people."

In those countries that have strict gun laws, Mexico for example, criminals with guns rule and the general population is helpless when it comes to self-defense.

[plainjean]

Statistics from the Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology or where ever you may dig them up does not change this simple fact: VIOLENT CRIMES CONTINUE TO BE COMMITTED WITH GUNS NO MATTER HOW MANY LAW ABIDDING PEOPLE HAVE THEM! Isn't it high time we changed the paranoid, warped "gun culture" in America? FBI statistics released in 1996 claimed there are more accidental Barney Fifes who will shoot themselves in the foot than there are people using a handgun to defend themselves or their property! How many small children have you known who accidentally shot themselves or another sibling because of insecure adults who cannot handle their guns?

[cbville72]

The more that is found out about this psychopath the more it comes to light that there were a TON of signs that something was wrong. He had a mental history and was forced to have a mental observation. He was charged with stalking from what I understand. Things like that should be included in his (OR ANYONES) record when it comes to the ability to purchase a firearm. There is absolutely no need for more firearms legislation. What is needed is stricter enforcement of the laws that are already on books. Mental health results should be included in background checks.

[down-ndirty]

It is very unlikely that the United States government will be able to control the access to handguns; the reality is that even the law-abiding population resists gun control; the use of severe mandatory sentences for gun control violations is merely a reflection of the unwillingness of the citizenry to have their right to self-preservation taken away by the government. Studies reveal that only twenty-five percent of handgun owners complied with registration, and a that seventy-three percent would not comply with handgun prohibition. Other studies have noted that gun laws have created an entire class of new criminals--normally honest, law-abiding citizens who elect to keep a gun in full knowledge that they are in violation of certain local and state laws. The reality is that even the most Draconian measures could not hope to remove guns from the hands of people who were determined to get and keep them.

Criminals either steal their guns, or they buy them on the black market--either way, the guns are untraceable. The DoJ and the ATF have estimated that ninety percent of violent crimes are committed without handguns, but of those crimes which are committed with handguns, ninety-three percent of the guns used in those crimes are obtained through unlawful purchases.

Source: See my 8:48 PM post

[down-ndirty]

"The people who believe those stories in the "National Rifleman" about people saving themselves from intruders with gun play, are the same people who believe those "Penthouse" fantasies." Posted by plainjean at 08:09 PM : Apr 23, 2007

In 1981, nationwide, there were more justifiable homicides (1266) by civilians than there were felons (388) killed by police. In fact, guns were used over 6800 times/day for self defense and less than 2% resulted in killing or wounding.

In the U.S. a gun is used every 16 seconds in self defense against a criminal and women use handguns 416 times/day to defend against rapists. A gun kept in a home is 216 times more likely to be used in defensive action than against an innocent victim.

Source: Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, Volume 85, Issue 3, Winter 1995.
http://www.law.northwestern.edu/j
clc/backissues/85-3.html

This article dispels many of the "myths" about guns in the hands of civilians versus in the hands of criminals.

OBTW: I am NOT a member of the NRA, nor do they represent me or my guns.

[erasmus6]

darkmeat4

How do we know it isn't YOU that is not telling the truth? You are a gun lover aren't you, so I would think it is you that isn't telling the truth. God forbid if they were to take your gun away!

[plainjean]

The people who believe those stories in the "National Rifleman" about people saving themselves from intruders with gun play, are the same people who believe those "Penthouse" fantasies. Premeditated crimes like the one the lunatic Cho committed at Virginia Tech are impossible to stop no matter how fast of a quick draw you are. THAT INTERVIEW WITH THE BRADIES ON "FACE THE NATION" WAS A GREAT PIECE OF JOURNALISM. THANK YOU BOB SHAEFFER!

[sanfelz]

I will believe the gun-free zone propaganda when the Secret Service starts giving guns to all who are in contact with the president, when the TSA starts giving gun to all who board a plane and when US troops re-arm all Iraqis.

[processor2]

You cannot stop crime by disarming potential victims...doesn't work


For example:

V.Tech was declared a "gun-free zone" and look what happened.

...