About that Australian "Gun Death" Study...

I can't help but note the graph shows a steep declining trend for better than 15 years before the '96 "buyback." I'm no statistician, but several questions come immediately to mind:

• If removing a fixed number of guns from the population resulted in a directly attributable decrease in deaths, can we also demonstrate a commensurate level in continued deaths for the guns remaining in the population?
• Which part of the population participated in surrendering weapons (i.e., "law-abiding"?) Are the death reductions exclusive to that segment?
• Has there been a commensurate decrease in criminal activity?
• Has immigration policy introduced a new and statistically significant population growth demographic for which gun ownership is nontraditional?

This is just off the top of my head--there are plenty of other questions that pop up, such as how they factor in higher suicide rates in totally disarmed cultures like Japan, why a temporary absence of a statistical rarity, mass shootings, is perceived as a cure against all future mass shootings, what the criteria is to define a mass shooting (more than 1? 2?...), and, to get theoretical (but it's justified based on longer-term historic "trends") what would the effects of a disarmed population be should the country either devolve into a Stalinist-style tyranny or be invaded?

I'd like to see someone who really knows his way around crunching the numbers and asking the right questions, like John Lott take a crack at this.

This Day in History: December 15

On this day in 1791, Virginia becomes the last state to ratify the Bill of Rights, making the first ten amendments to the Constitution law and completing the revolutionary reforms begun by the Declaration of Independence. Before the Massachusetts ratifying convention would accept the Constitution, which they finally did in February 1788, the document’s Federalist supporters had to promise to create a Bill of Rights to be amended to the Constitution immediately upon the creation of a new government under the document.

If the Bill of Rights is law, that clearly makes those who violate it lawbreakers.

More: Bill of Rights Day

Open the Pod Bay Doors, WOG...

My trusty old workhorse computer, the Warongunsotron [WOG] 9000, is making the Devil's own noise.

It may be the hard drive, it may be the fan. I don't know, but I'm taking it in for the rubber glove turn-your-CPU-and-cough battery of tests.

We may or may not be blogging tomorrow or the next few days thereafter. But I'll hope for the best.

Just what do you think you're doing, Dave? I'm afraid...

The REAL Reason Kathryn Johnston Was Killed

Because of "stand your ground" laws.

For over 200 years, distinguishing self-defense from vigilantism was for police, prosecutors, juries, and judges to decide.

The new laws leave it up to you and me.

Self defense is vigilantism. There's no way to tell the difference during a violent encounter until it's adjudicated by the government.

Really. Rick Perlstein said it, I believe it, that settles it.

Does this creature remind you of anybody else?

We're the Only Ones Uncharged Enough

The parents of a Kennesaw police recruit killed by an instructor during firearms training said Wednesday they are frustrated and angry that the veteran officer responsible was neither charged with a crime nor fired...

The sheriff's administrative report on the shooting was released nearly six months after the shooting. It said that Jackson fired a single round during a drill in which recruits faced each other, drew their weapons, pulled the trigger, ejected the magazine, reloaded and pulled the trigger a second time, according to the sheriff's report.

Jackson took the place of the recruit facing Drummond to demonstrate the procedure, the report states. Jackson's semiautomatic pistol fired a live round when reloaded with the second magazine, striking Drummond in the chest, investigators reported.

I guess the grand jury foreman checked the wrong box...?

[More from "The Only Ones" files...]

[Via The Claire Files]

Why Kill a Dream When You Can Kill a Disarmed Victim?

The Chicago PD, which did such a stellar job keeping those people at Citcigroup Center from getting killed the other day, want to ensure even more disarmed human targets in the victim pool.

I've resisted posting this for some time, but enough is enough with these stupid "buy backs":


Think I'd get in trouble if I did this...?

Well, I can always dream--as long as I'm alive.

[Link to Chicago PD flyer via HZ]

We're the Only Ones Shooting First Enough

San Bernardino County Supervisor Josie Gonzales closed a spontaneous address to hundreds of county staffers Wednesday with an unexpected and somewhat shocking message to county public safety employees.

"Shoot first and ask questions later," she said. "I'll take care of the lawsuits."

...her final remarks drew applause and cheers from the audience...

Public safety employees should shoot the public that employs them to ensure public safety. How very circular. And that "drew applause and cheers."

Oh, wait. She was only joking.

Whew!

Ha ha. Good one. (But if it was a joke, how come the audience applauded and cheered, instead of laughed?)

Maybe we can address our co-workers and joke about shooting our employers, too. I'll bet our bosses would appreciate the humor as much as our applauding and cheering (but not laughing) fellow employees. I'll bet they'd also appreciate being treated like subjects, and even enemies.

Who wants to try it and report back on how it went?

[More from "The Only Ones" files...]

This Day in History: December 14

On this day in 1777, the Continental Congress names Irish-born Thomas Conway to the post of inspector general of the United States. Conway, who was born in Ireland but raised in France, entered the French army in 1749. He was recruited to the Patriot cause by Silas Deane, the American ambassador to France, and after meeting with General George Washington at Morristown in May 1777, he was appointed brigadier general and assigned to Major General John Sullivan’s division.

Preaching to the Choir

I just read a comment over at Blogonomicon that I see time and again on forums, in comments, and in emails I receive:

You're preaching to the choir.

The following is from "You Say You Want a Revolution?," published several years back in GUNS AND AMMO:

If only this assumption was true. We would be invincible!

The choir is comprised of the volunteers up there doing the work, singing. These are the people who learn the music and the words and the programs. They take significant time out from their demanding professional and personal lives to practice, to learn and to perform. And they’ll do it again next week, and the next.

The overwhelming majority of gun owners are, at best, spectators. They may occasionally attend a service, they may even put a couple dollars in the plate when it’s passed, but to actually put forth time, effort and financial support on a continued basis, to do real work and make real sacrifices, is something they typically find reasons for not doing.

I have no way of knowing if the comment poster who was the catalyst for this rant is in "the choir" or not, and don't mean to imply otherwise. It's just that I see this comment tossed around cavalierly by others, and think it important to point out the reality, that most who claim membership are giving themselves more credit than they're due.

Please Accept Our Self-Promoting Condolences

Last Friday's tragedy at the Citigroup Center was a sad reminder of what can happen when an armed person becomes overwhelmed with rage.

The tragedy and outrage is, none of his victims had the ability to defend themselves, and these miserable traitors are doing their utmost to impose this contemptible helplessness on the rest of us.

I note the Bradys never issued a sympathy statement to the families of Peyton Strickland, Kathryn Johnston or Sean Bell. Apparently, "gun violence" perpetrated by "The Only Ones" is A-OK with them.

Stuff your opportunistic and exploitive crocodile tears, Jennifer Bishop. I'll bet you'd be real useful in a life-or-death confrontation against a violent attacker. And try not to slip in all that blood you're dancing in.

The Ammunition Loophole

Criminal offenders bought handgun ammunition from nine stores in Monmouth and Ocean counties, according to testimony heard Tuesday by a state panel investigating the link between bullet sales and street violence...

Then they violated 18 USC § 922(g), which states in part:

It shall be unlawful for any person...to ship or transport in interstate or foreign commerce, or possess in or affecting commerce, any firearm or ammunition; or to receive any firearm or ammunition which has been shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce.

I'm just sayin'...but apparently that's not good enough:

Other witnesses suggested making it illegal for criminal offenders to buy ammunition, requiring special identification cards for ammunition buyers, and equipping vendors with computers to log purchases.

Yeah, make it more illegal--and put additional burdens on the rest of us. That always works.

Taking Aim

WHAS 11 Louisville has done a surprisingly encouraging report on teaching kids gun safety--including how to shoot--and it all takes place at Barry Laws' new OpenRange facility on Crestwood.

This Day in History: December 13

On this day in 1776, American General Charles Lee leaves his army, riding in search of female sociability at Widow White’s Tavern in Basking Ridge, New Jersey.

MISTAKE?

A day after authorities announced that a former New Hanover County deputy had been indicted in the shooting death of a Durham teen during a raid on a Wilmington home, members of the grand jury now say the indictment was a mistake...the foreman checked the wrong box on the indictment...

Three deputies fired shots into the home, and sources close to the case said they believe several shots were fired before Strickland opened the door.

Any guess if the wrong box would get checked if you or I made a similar "mistake"?

We're the Only Ones Waving Enough

A beer-spitting, tequila-swilling Framingham detective faces criminal charges and may be bounced from the force for allegedly waving a loaded pistol at two fellow officers.

The “extremely” drunk 35-year-old cop is also accused of pointing his pistol out of a car the same night as his buddies were trying to drive him home...

Doherty has been on paid leave since Oct. 10...

"Paid leave"?

"May be bounced from the force"?

Only "The Only Ones"...

Deputy Charged With Murder in Strickland Shooting

Go read.

MORE

Vive le Difference!

In their response to our supporter, the NRA spokesperson, on behalf of Sandra Froman, president of the NRA, made several statements that are contrary to what JPFO believes gun rights organizations should support.

"...we support certain federal laws relative to firearms..."

"The Association does not object to many of the federal laws..."

"...greater emphasis should be placed on enforcing existing laws..."

"...NRA did not object to the increase in funding to BATF..."

JPFO's response letter is here. It addresses many points very well, but in my opinion, since NRA placed such emphasis on Project Exile in their letter, an opportunity to further expose that program for the fraudulent failure it is was missed.

[Via Dave Licht]

Little Pig, Little Pig, Let Me Come In

Police also plan to ask home owners at times for consent to search their homes without a probable-cause warrant, District Attorney Lynne M. Abraham said Monday.

Or I'll huff, and I'll puff and I'll blow your door in, and you with it.

[Via John Schaefer]

UK "Middle Classes are Tooling Up"

A widow who lives alone in a Wiltshire farmhouse has taken to sleeping with a Smith & Wesson Saturday Night Special under her pillow. It belonged to her husband and is more than capable of stopping an intruder, of which she has had three in the last two years...

Owning a weapon is becoming a habit for rural homeowners who feel unprotected now that so many police stations have closed.

I have never seen a police car in my village and violent crime in the county, of course, is up.

Defend yourself with a weapon. You'll see a police car soon enough.

It's heartbreaking to see the odds stacked so high against those in the UK who would retain the rights of freemen. And it ought to be apparent that our fate will closely follow theirs should we not act now with everything we've got.

[Via 1894C]

This Day in History: December 12

On this day in 1787, Pennsylvania becomes the second state to ratify the Constitution, by a vote of 46 to 23. Pennsylvania was the first large state to ratify, as well as the first state to endure a serious Anti-Federalist challenge to ratification.