Detroit Buy Back Nets 400 Weapons, Even Media Asks If It Will Do Any Good
The City of Detroit has faced some hard times in recent years, and this week the police used donated funds to buy back some 400 weapons. But as Time magazine asked, “Can a Gun Buyback Program Stem Violence in Detroit?” We have to say we don’t believe it can.
Darrell Dawsey, writing for Time, questions the efforts further, saying, “I still can’t shake the feeling that this program will end up as little more than a giant symbolic placebo. Feels good to note, sure. But will it do any real good in the city’s streets. I have my doubts.”
Dawsey sees the same problems we see. Criminals don’t hand in guns, and there should be better efforts by policing than just paying a pittance to get people to clean out their closets.
Kansas City Star Editorial Says U.S. Shares Blame for Mexico’s Woes
In an editorial for The Kansas City Star, Mary Sanchez notes “Mexico’s drug problems are ours, and vice versa.” That is debatable. She tries to offer a misguided history lesson, which is fine. But then she attempts to point the blame at American firearms, and that’s where her editorial needs to be called out. Read more
Feuding Neighbors Shoot and Kill Each Other, Huff and Puff Blames CCW
In an editorial for the Huffington Post Josh Sugarmann, executive director of the Violence Policy Center in Washington, D.C., notes that two CCW holders shot and killed each other. He puts the blame not on the fact that these two men had a long-standing beef with each other, but instead points out that each had a concealed carry weapons permit.
The sad fact of this tragedy is that the two men might have met the same fate without or without the permit. So what exactly is Sugarmann trying to say?
Firing Back: Politicians and Guns – Does the Liberal Media Get it?
Apparently the liberal media will always find a way to get upset about guns, even when there isn’t much of a story. The most recent example is how gossip site TMZ reported that Levi Johnston – father of Sarah Palin’s grandson – stopped in a gun shop while on the campaign trail. Not much of a story there, especially given that this stop took place in Alaska! That in turn was picked up by liberal rag the Huffington Post. Each offered snide comments on the issue – and TMZ even Photoshopped (badly) a rifle on a photo of Johnston. Our “friends” at the Huff and Puff have noted how guns (gasp!) have turned up at various political rallies, as if it somehow indicative of a plot to overthrow the government – instead of merely being an expression of the state’s understanding of the Second Amendment.
All this begs the question, does the liberal media not get it? Read more
Who Guards the Guards: Former NYC Transit Officer Faces Federal Weapons Charges
A police officer turned furniture store owner faces federal weapons charges for allegedly attempting to sell a handgun and semi-automatic rifle to a convicted felon. The Albany Times Union reports the Stephen Dorfman was arrested after reportedly selling the firearms to Lance Potter, a convicted felon. Read more
Who Guards the Guards: Ex-FBI Agent Sent to Jail For Selling Guns
The Associated Press, via The Houston Chronicle noted this week that former FBI agent John Thomas Shipley has been convicted of violating federal firearms laws after he acted as a gun dealer, and illegally sold 51 weapons from 2005 to 2008.
The news story noted that at least one of these guns was later traced by Mexican authorities following a shootout south of the border.
War of Words Brewing in Portland?
Portland Mayor Sam Adams, who is a member of the infamous group “Mayors Against Illegal Guns” is looking to tighten gun laws in his city in the wake of recent shootings, and that has some in the gun lobby looking to fire back. KGW quoted Kevin Starrett, Oregon Firearms Federation Director as staying, “Sam Adams wants to do is to turn Portland into Chicago. More regulations and more crime.”
The real issue is that some local news outlets, such as KGW are making a bigger issue out of this. For example, the headline of the KGW story says “Mayor Sam Adams vs. gun lobby,” but is this really the case? While Starrett is quoted in several outlets, it doesn’t look as if there has been any real exchange between the two. Starrett issued a statement it seems in response to Adams’ call for new laws. This is hardly a “war of the words” as some media outlets have labeled it. Could this actually be a way for the mainstream media to stir up an issue where one doesn’t exist?
Bronx Borough President Calls for Stricter Gun Laws
In a nearly level headed editorial titled “Continuing Our Fight Against Illegal Guns” for The Huffington Post, Ruben Diaz Jr., Bronx Borough President in New York City, called for efforts to take illegal guns off the street and to reduce crime. He cited the problem of gangs violence, but then made one really bold statement that truly shows how naïve these calls from politicians really are. Read more
Buffalo Business First Editorial Fails to Look at How Guns Save Lives Too
In a rant-filled editorial for The Buffalo Business First, Gary Burns doesn’t pull any punches. He states clearly: “killing – that’s what guns are for.” He goes on to cite several examples of tragic shootings, but fails to offer so much as one example of how a firearm saved a life. Thus he never notes, “protection – that’s always what guns are for.” Read more
Who Guards the Guards: Long Beach Officer Charged With Stealing Guns
The Los Angeles Times is reporting that veteran Long Beach Police Officer Damian Ramos has been charged with more than a dozen felony counts for allegedly stealing weapons. These guns had been turned over by a local business.
The paper noted:
“Authorities allege that Ramos took the weapons between Aug. 2 and Aug. 5. According to police officials, he handled guns that had been turned over to the department by a Long Beach business. But police officials later found that the number of weapons taken from the business did not match those catalogued in evidence. Ramos took four firearms that were supposed to be booked as property, prosecutors said. The department has recovered one, but the other three are still missing, prosecutors said.”
The result is now that three firearms could be on the streets, and thus we can thank a former lawman for putting guns on the streets. But it also makes us question the policy of handing in guns. The business that had handed in those guns could have easily kept them and said firearms wouldn’t actually be on the streets now, would they?
