Are Guns the Issue or Gang Culture?
This is an important question to ask: are guns the issue or is it a culture of gangs and violence? We ask this as The Oregonian reports:
“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has selected Portland to be one of four communities to share a federal grant to find ways to prevent the kind of gun violence that has claimed the lives of nine young people in the city this year, largely due to gang shootings.”
This is a major issue because already we’re noting that the focus is on “gun violence” and not the larger issue of gangs. In other words, read the passage again. The grant is to “prevent the kind of gun violence,” but only later notes “largely due to gang shootings.”
So isn’t the issue, or rather shouldn’t the focus be on preventing “gang violence” and not focusing on the guns? This is blaming the items (i.e. guns) rather than the culture (i.e. gangs), and likely will cast blame at all gun owners as a result.
Chicago’s Real Problem – Gangs, Not Guns
The Chicago Tribune reported this week that members of the notorious gang “Almighty Gaylords” have been arrested for “selling an AK-47 assault rifle,” as well as being charged with “state drug and gang crimes.”
Chicago has extremely strict gun laws, and yet this street gang has retained power for decades, with its origin dating back to the 1970s. So is this really a gun problem in the Windy City or a gang problem?
Associated Press Notes UK gangs thrive in August riots
British gun control is held up as the standard by the American mainstream media, but this weekend the Associated Press noted that the larger gangs in UK, which are increasingly becoming a problem still obtain firearms. The story noted:
“The starkest difference between British and American gangs is the firepower. In gun-control Britain, only the bigger gangs make firearms — smuggled in with drugs shipments from Holland, North Africa and the Caribbean — their weapon of choice. For U.K. teenage apprentices and wannabes, the knife is still king.”
Now many in the American MSM might say that the British gun control laws therefore work, if ONLY the biggest gangs can get guns. But this says to use that if guns are smuggled into Britain, then it is likely if America adopts stricter gun control policies the gangs here will also just smuggle in guns as they do in the UK.
But let’s also examine the fact that gun control isn’t the same as “crime control” as the story also notes:
“Most of the more than 5,000 stabbings a year in Britain, according police and social workers, are gangs attacking rivals who strayed into their areas, muscled into their rackets, or simply insulted them.”
This passage suggests that again it is a crime problem NOT a gun problem. And as the recent violence has shown the UK is becoming a nation where the law-abiding are unarmed whilst the criminals are increasingly becoming armed to the hilt!
Media Misinformation: Sniper Rifle
Ever since the tragedy involving the “DC Sniper,” there has been a great deal of media misinformation on exactly what is and what is not a sniper rifle. To hear some in the mainstream media talk, a sniper rifles is some sort of magical weapon that makes it easier to shoot people.
While it is actually correct that a true “sniper rifle” is a finely made firearm that is more accurate than a normal off-the-shelf rifle, the truth is that the weapon itself doesn’t enhance the skills of shooting. In fact, a novice shot with a sniper rifle could actually be even less accurate because of the complexity of the firearm. Knowing how to use a scope takes a great deal of practice and understanding on various factors. Thus the bullet doesn’t magically hit where the cross hairs are aligned like in video games. Read more
Oprah Winfrey Guest Offers Numbers on Guns
Colin Goddard, a survivor of the Virginia Tech Shooting appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show this week, and while we feel for him, he made some rather outrageous statements. He has become the typical anti-gun zealot that offers misleading facts for his own purpose. Among those he says:
“On average there are 32 Americans killed by guns every day in this country—so 30,000 people a year.”
What Goddard doesn’t address is how many criminals are shot every day by law enforcement, how many would-be criminals are shot while breaking into someone else’s house with the intent to do bodily harm, or how many of these 32 are the victims of gang-on-gang crime. These are important numbers to consider.
Goddard also says, “When it comes to selling them (guns), it’s just like a TV or a sofa.” That may be true, but as a purchaser of a TV, sofa and a gun, I can personally state that I’ve never had to have a background check done to buy a TV. I’ve never had to fill out paperwork to get a sofa. And the fact remains that there is little (if any) black market for TVs or sofas.
Ban the guns, make it harder to buy and sell firearms and you only hurt the law-abiding citizen. Criminals will go to the black market, and they will still be armed.
BBC: Guns as Easy to Get as Groceries
Don’t we hear all the time how countries with tougher gun laws have less crime, and fewer shootings? Doesn’t the mainstream media in America note this all the time? Well, the BBC has an interesting story that debunks that opinion.
In a story about gangs and guns, one youth was quoted:
“Getting hold of a gun now is just as easy as walking into a shop and buying groceries.”
Not exactly the image that’s been painted in America about the U.K. But the truth is that gun crime is on the rise, despite the fact that public gun ownership is actually quite low. We fear this could be a future in America if the anti-gun zealots have their way. Guns will still be easy to get, as long as you’re willing to break the law.
CBS Headline Notes “Man Arrested… AK-47″ But Fails to Note “Charges Not Filed”
Only at the end of a sensationally titled story do the facts become clear: “Police determined (George) Grier had the gun legally. He has no criminal record. And so he was charged for the weapon.” If that was the lead it wouldn’t be as good as “Long Island Man Arrested For Defending Home With AK-47.” But in a news post from CBS New York, the lead is the key. Read more
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
Gangs Don’t Heed Gun Bans in City Parks
Following a shooting in a Seattle park, many – including those in the media – suggested that guns should be officially banned in all parks in Washington State. The problem is that criminals won’t heed these bans, as another shooting has proven. KEPR TV.com in Pasco, Washington reports:
“Pasco investigators have not said whether a shooting at Chiawana Park Sunday evening was gang-related, but witnesses say gangs are to blame.”
The sad truth is that criminals will never follow these bans, and that will just keep law-abiding citizens from being able to defend themselves in these situations.
Penn Live Story Offers Anti-Gun Bias in Reporting
The key word missing today from a lot of the media: attribution. It seems that thanks to blogs, website posts and quasi-news organizations that attributing a statement or belief to someone isn’t so important. This is certainly true of a recent PennLive.com news story. The site, which is associated with the Central Pennsylvania The Patriot News offered a story this week titled “Gun ‘culture’ stirs frustration and grief.” Already that has a zinger of a headline that shows a lean that is anti-guns in general.
The story does discuss the growing problem of urban gangs and a fascination of youths to use a gun as a fashion statement, and to show how tough one can be. We don’t agree that this is how guns should be used, nor would most law-abiding gun owners. That’s the key, law-abiding. These men are not law-abiding, so the story could be as much about “gang culture” as it is about “gun culture.” But the feature also offers a snappy kicker:
“Some believe the gun laws in Pennsylvania don’t go far enough.”
We’re sure “some” people don’t believe this gun laws go far enough, but some probably think they go too far. This is a weak argument, and weaker still because it lacks any attribution. Who is this some? Was it so hard to find an anti-gun group out there? But the point by the author, who is likely among the “some,” is still made.
