Gun Violence Down. Again.
A new report released this month by the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) tells us what we already knew: gun control advocates are full of it. Unfortunately, much of the population is buying what the anti-gunners are selling. According to a recent Pew Research Center Survey, only 12% of Americans believe that gun crime is lower today than it was 20 years ago while nearly 60% believe it is higher.
Some of the highlights noted in the BJS report include:
- Firearm-related homicides declined 39%, from 18,253 in 1993 to 11,101 in 2011.
- Nonfatal firearm crimes declined 69%, from 1.5 million victimizations in 1993 to 467,300 victimizations in 2011.
- About 70% to 80% of firearm homicides and 90% of nonfatal firearm victimizations were committed with a handgun from 1993 to 2011.
- From 1993 to 2010, males, blacks, and persons ages 18 to 24 had the highest rates of firearm homicide.
- In 2007-11, less than 1% of victims in all nonfatal violent crimes reported using a firearm to defend themselves during the incident.
- In 2004, among state prison inmates who possessed a gun at the time of offense, less than 2% bought their firearm at a flea market or gun show and 40% obtained their firearm from an illegal source.
These highlights seem a bit contradictory to the agendas that “mainstream” media and anti-rights zealots are foisting upon the ill-informed. Firearm-related murders are way down, yet “we need gun control now more than ever.” Victimizations involving firearms are way down, but “we need more control over who has firearms.” Most gun crimes involve handguns, but “we need to regulate ‘assault weapons.'” Nearly no firearms used in crimes come from private transfers at gun shows and flea markets, yet “we need to close the ‘gun show loophole.'”
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DiFi’s List of Endorsements for the “Assault Weapons” Ban of 2013
Perpetual opponent of the US Constitution Dianne Feinstein has posted a convenient list of enemies of basic human rights protected by the Second Amendment on her official website. This list is posted below, along with the ironic oath of office taken by US Senators take upon entering office.
US Senate Oath of Office
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.
2013 “Assault Weapon” Ban Endorsements
Law Enforcement
- International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators
- International Association of Chiefs of Police
- Major Cities Chiefs Association Continue reading
Ring in the New Year with Some Gun Control
Despite the bleating from gun control proponents and their continued claims that neither Obama nor other democrats have plans to come after gun rights (despite this being part of their official platforms), it should come as no surprise that Obama, Feinstein and their anti-gun pals plan continued attacks on Second Amendment rights in the coming year.
Feinstein recently released the following statement: “On the first day of the new Congress, I intend to introduce a bill stopping the sale, transfer, importation and manufacturing of assault weapons as well as large ammunition magazines, strips and drums that hold more than 10 rounds,” continuing to say that she is currently drumming up support in the Senate and House.
Feinstein’s bill seeks to stop (nearly nonexistent) “assault weapon” crime by prohibiting sale, transfer, importation and manufacturing (stopping short of posession) of numerous firearms based on certain characteristics. More than 100 specificly named firearms are also targeted. This bill is only the latest iteration in efforts to revive the 1994 “Assault Weapons Ban” which sunset in 2004. The CDC found no evidence that the ban had any effect on crime and a National Research Council panel echoed that sentiment, stating that “due to the fact that the relative rarity with which the banned guns were used in crime before the ban … the maximum potential effect of the ban on gun violence outcomes would be very small.”
Feinstein’s bill also targets Continue reading
BATFE to Accept Comments on Armor Piercing Ammo Through End of Year
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has posted a notification on their website soliciting comments regarding requests to exempt certain projectiles from regulation as “armor piercing ammunition.”
The posting states that ATF is “seeking public comments on specific projectiles or projectile cores which may be used in a handgun and which are constructed entirely from one or a combination of tungsten, alloys, steel, iron, brass, bronze, beryllium, copper, or depleted uranium, and whether these projectiles or projectile cores pose a threat to public safety and law enforcement, or are, ‘primarily intended to be used for sporting purposes” and therefore may be exempted from classification as “armor piercing ammunition.’” Continue reading
