Gun Control in Infamous Regimes
The Bemidji Pioneer of North Central Minnesota offered an interesting point about gun control. Control being the key word. Jean Nyquist argues that with gun control you actually have a form of citizen control. Here are a few examples that Jean compiled:
- In 1929, the Soviet Union established gun control. From 1929 to 1953 about 20 million dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
- In 1911, Turkey established gun control. From 1915 to 1917 , 1.5 million Armenians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
- Germany established gun control in 1938 and from 1939 to 1945, a total of 13 million Jews and others who were unable to defend themselves were rounded up and exterminated.
- China established gun control in 1935. From 1948 to 1952, 20 million political dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
- Guatemala established gun control in 1964. From 1964 to 1981, 100,000 Mayan Indians, unable to defend themselves were rounded up and exterminated.
- Uganda established gun control in 1970. From 1971 to 1979, 300,000 Christians unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
- Cambodia established gun control in 1956. From 1975 to 1977, one million educated people, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Maybe those anti-gun groups shouldn’t label themselves as “The Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence,” but rather “The Campaign to Promote a Dictatorship,” or “The Campaign to Prevent Freedom.” Something to think about.
Gun Collecting: Japanese Rifles of World War II
Type 38 "Arisaka" Rifle
Japanese rifles often get a bad rap, at least when compared to the rifles of the other major combatant powers of World War II. Even collectors of militaria view the Japanese rifles as being of a lower quality, but this isn’t quite true. One reason for this misconception is that much of what survived, and is now in collections is actually from the later war years, thus not up to the highest quality.
“The fit, finish & overall quality of manufacture on early Japanese weapons equals if not surpasses weapons made by other participants of World War II,” explains advanced Japanese militaria collector Jareth Holub. “It wasn’t until the very last two years, due to U.S. air strikes, that factories started producing subpar products.” Read more
Fourth of July Editorial From Brady Center Misses the Mark
If you believe the word from The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, the United States leads the world in gun related homicides. In a misplace Fourth of July editorial, which appeared on the Tauton Daily Gazette website, the Brady Bunch offered this thought:
“On this Independence Day weekend, as Americans reflect on the history of the nation’s founding and contemplate its future, the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence has released the latest edition of its God Bless America poster, documenting that, in one year, guns murdered 17 people in Finland, 35 in Australia, 39 in England and Wales, 60 in Spain, 194 in Germany, 200 in Canada, and 9,484 in the United States.”
Where is Afghanistan or Iraq on this list? While maybe a very different picture of “gun homicides,” we question why these nations weren’t included? What about other wartorn nations in Africa and Asia? Why aren’t those nations included? Many experience violence every day? This is because those nations lack the freedom of the United States?
Where does China rank on the list? In China it is a capital offense to even be caught with a gun, yet gun violence happens. In Mexico it is hard to legally obtain a gun, yet here too we see regular violence that is all too common.
No, the picture that the Brady Center offered is not a good one of the United States, but it isn’t a fair one either. Are those deaths really because we have guns however, or because we have a criminal element? That’s the question that isn’t being asked enough.
Dorchester Reporter Offers Rant Filled Editorial
While meant to be humorous, James W. Dolan’s rant about guns for The Dorchester Reporter is anything but funny. He is a retired Dorchester District Court judge who now practices law. We suggest to Mr. Dolan that he keep his day job because no amount of practicing with comedy is going to get him near Carnegie Hall – or even a local open mic night in Dorchester for that matter.
He writes, in response to pending Massachusetts legislation that would limit the number of guns that could be purchased each month by individuals in the state, that the United States has a strange fascination with guns. The problem with this type of humor (if you can call it that) filled piece is that he mixes facts with jokes. For example:
“Germany produces good cars. In France, it’s food. In Italy, it’s fashion. Here in America, it’s guns. We are the most ‘rootin-tootin,’ ‘gun-toting,’ ‘butt-kickin” ‘make-my-day’ country in the world.”
Actually, Mr. Dolan Germany has a large arms industry as well. I mean (to take a cue from you) this is Germany – the nation that celebrated by building up an empire with a World War! Germany created one of the most popular bolt-action rifles ever, which was essentially copied by everyone! Germany invented the first assault rifle with the MP-44, a gun widely noted for looking a heck of a lot like the later AK-47. Today many nations used H&K small arms. H&K is as German as strudel and Volkswagen.
Italy might also be a fashion hub, but Beretta isn’t just an old TV show from the 1970s. It is also one of the world’s oldest gun makers – and it is as Italian as spaghetti and Fiat. France… OK, you got me. France makes crappy guns. They always have, they probably always win. But in fairness, I think their food sucks too.
But in all seriousness, the problem with rants such as Dolan’s is that they don’t really explain the facts. Clearly Mr. Dolan is an anti-gun zealot who has no facts to back up his argument. So instead he tries silly humor. The problem is that it isn’t funny. Let’s hope for the sake of his clients that Dolan is a better lawyer than comedian.
John Lott Recalls Tragic Shooting to Set Record Straight
The American mainstream media likes to point out the waves of shootings that have occurred in the United States over recent decades, noting that most other countries don’t have this problem. But John Lott, writing for FoxNews, sets the record straight, writing that of the top five worst school shootings in the world, only one actually occurred in the United States:
“The very worst one occurred in a high school in Erfurt, Germany in 2002, where 18 were killed. The second worst took place in Dunblane, Scotland in 1996, where 16 kindergarteners and their teacher were shot. The third worst high school attack, with 15 murdered, happened in Winnenden, Germany. The fourth worst shooting was in the U.S. – Columbine High School in 1999, leaving 13 killed. The fifth worst school related murder spree, with 11 murdered, occurred in Emsdetten, Germany.”
Now any event of this type is a true tragedy, but Lott makes his point. Germany had three of the vive worst shootings – and yet has extremely strict gun laws compared to the United States. Thus tighter gun laws, which take away our Second Amendment rights, aren’t going to keep anyone safer.
Paintball Ban Debated in Germany
In March of this year a troubled 17 year old went on a shooting spree in a German school, killing 15 before the youth shot himself. This has led the German government to consider new firearms laws. In this paranoid atmosphere, members of parliament are considering a ban on paintball, the popular game where participants shoot colored paint at each other. Read more
