Some random observations re the media and the anti-gun folks.
A good portion of them don't know what an "assault weapon" is. For them, it conjures up an image of a fully automatic machine gun that sprays bullets like a garden hosesprays water. They hear or read "semi-automatic" but only interpret or listen to "AUTOMATIC" again bringing up the machine gun image. They also feel that guns have no other purpose than killing people. They've never heard of them being used for a multitude of other purposes. Target shooting, plinking, hunting, personal and home protection, and several types of nationally sanctioned and recognized competitive shooting events.
As tragic as they are, the latest rounds of lunatics using firearms for their 15 minutes of fame does nothing for the lawful gun owner. To the contrary, it is "ammunition" (pun intended) for the anti gunners. The media is very biased in their reporting of these events as well. Never once do they mention whether the perpetrator was legally in possession of the firearm. But they will certainly exaggerate the death toll and injury. Then sometimes correct it (reduce it) later. The sensationalism overrides their ability to get the facts correct.
When the media reports a shooting, how often do they report whether the shooter was legally carrying the firearm ? This fact is overlooked by the sensationalism of the report. Yet with coverage of a drunk driving related accident, the media is very quick to report that the driver was driving after suspension, or without a valid license and/or had X amount of previous DWIs.
Perhaps with a little more open-mindedness towards firearms, and a little more education about them and the laws that govern them, the anti-gunners MAY realize that firearms don't kill people. Intrinsically, by itself, a loaded firearm is safe. Leave a loaded firearm on a table, absent human/animal intervention, the firearm will not discharge. Among many things, the hand gun is a tool. It is also a sporting good. A baseball bat in the wrong hands is as deadly as a firearm in the wrong hands. In many cases causing a much slower and painful death or permanent injury. Shall we outlaw baseball bats? Golf clubs?
More laws are not the answer. In 1998 Massachusetts passed some of the strictest gun laws in the country. At that time the rate of gunshot injuries was 8.3 per 100,000 residents. In 2006 the rate jumped to 14.0 per 100,000 residents. You can view the complete breakdown here.
http://www.mass.gov/Eeohhs2/docs/dph/injury_surveillance/wriss_gunshot_sharp_94_06.pdf
What does this tell us? It tells us that we can have all the laws we want to. But they won't have the intended effect on crime or firearm injuries. The bad guys are going to get their guns one way or the other. They don't abide by the laws. They are not deterred by fines or prison. They just don’t care. By restricting or heavily taxing firearms and ammunition for law abiding citizens, the only accomplishment will be to make it more difficult and expensive for the law abiding citizen to own firearms. The bad guys will still have guns.
I wish I had the solution. I don't.
P....
A good portion of them don't know what an "assault weapon" is. For them, it conjures up an image of a fully automatic machine gun that sprays bullets like a garden hosesprays water. They hear or read "semi-automatic" but only interpret or listen to "AUTOMATIC" again bringing up the machine gun image. They also feel that guns have no other purpose than killing people. They've never heard of them being used for a multitude of other purposes. Target shooting, plinking, hunting, personal and home protection, and several types of nationally sanctioned and recognized competitive shooting events.
As tragic as they are, the latest rounds of lunatics using firearms for their 15 minutes of fame does nothing for the lawful gun owner. To the contrary, it is "ammunition" (pun intended) for the anti gunners. The media is very biased in their reporting of these events as well. Never once do they mention whether the perpetrator was legally in possession of the firearm. But they will certainly exaggerate the death toll and injury. Then sometimes correct it (reduce it) later. The sensationalism overrides their ability to get the facts correct.
When the media reports a shooting, how often do they report whether the shooter was legally carrying the firearm ? This fact is overlooked by the sensationalism of the report. Yet with coverage of a drunk driving related accident, the media is very quick to report that the driver was driving after suspension, or without a valid license and/or had X amount of previous DWIs.
Perhaps with a little more open-mindedness towards firearms, and a little more education about them and the laws that govern them, the anti-gunners MAY realize that firearms don't kill people. Intrinsically, by itself, a loaded firearm is safe. Leave a loaded firearm on a table, absent human/animal intervention, the firearm will not discharge. Among many things, the hand gun is a tool. It is also a sporting good. A baseball bat in the wrong hands is as deadly as a firearm in the wrong hands. In many cases causing a much slower and painful death or permanent injury. Shall we outlaw baseball bats? Golf clubs?
More laws are not the answer. In 1998 Massachusetts passed some of the strictest gun laws in the country. At that time the rate of gunshot injuries was 8.3 per 100,000 residents. In 2006 the rate jumped to 14.0 per 100,000 residents. You can view the complete breakdown here.
http://www.mass.gov/Eeohhs2/docs/dph/injury_surveillance/wriss_gunshot_sharp_94_06.pdf
What does this tell us? It tells us that we can have all the laws we want to. But they won't have the intended effect on crime or firearm injuries. The bad guys are going to get their guns one way or the other. They don't abide by the laws. They are not deterred by fines or prison. They just don’t care. By restricting or heavily taxing firearms and ammunition for law abiding citizens, the only accomplishment will be to make it more difficult and expensive for the law abiding citizen to own firearms. The bad guys will still have guns.
I wish I had the solution. I don't.
P....
