Unify Gun Laws Says LoHud.com
Here is probably the most idealistic view we’ve seen in a while, “Study shows need to unify gun laws.” The study of course is that from the anti-gun group Mayors Against Illegal Guns, and the editors at LoHud.com seem to believe the hype.
The story offers this passage:
“The research offers rare insight into how even residents of distant states can pay a price for another state’s weak gun laws.” Read more
Gun Collecting: Understanding the Basics of Buying a Machinegun
Separating the truth from the fiction can be difficult at times. When it comes to buying certain types of guns you certainly don’t want to cross into any gray area. This is especially true when it comes to machineguns. Despite numerous misconceptions, buying a fully functional machine gun involves a lot more than merely going to a gun show. It can be a long and often times tedious process, one that includes no small amount of paperwork, and when all that is done, be prepared to do some waiting.
With the kind help from our friends at GunBoards.com they offered some thoughts on what it is actually involved in buying a machinegun. Read more
New York Post Tells of Double Standard in How City Addresses Guns
One of our big complaints about some big city gun laws is that there is typically a double standard. This is most certainly the case in New York City, where the rich and famous don’t have to go through the normal procedures to obtain a gun permit. When the law is broken however, is when the differences are most notable.
The rich and famous, often with rich and famous lawyers, get a slap on the wrist whilst others face serious penalties for breaking the city’s draconian gun laws. The New York Post noted in a story this past weekend that “half of the gun scofflaws packing heat illegally in the city wriggle out of jail sentences or do minimal time.”
The paper notes that a Florida man, with no criminal record, is facing two years in jail for illegally possessing a 9mm pistol during a traffic stop. Yet, many celebrities – those with past criminal records – escape with far lighter sentences. Consider the case of thug rapper Lil’ Wayne, who was arrested with a .40 caliber pistol following multiple drug arrests, received merely a year in prison.
Election 2010: Eric Schneiderman Calls for “Justice on Main Street”
In his campaign for New York State Attorney General, Eric Schneirderman is calling for “Justice on Main Street.” The Buffalo News reported that this justice would likely tighter gun laws. The question is whether these effects would actually address the issue of crime, or would just be aimed at law-abiding gun owners?
The paper noted:
“One of his first steps would be the creation of a multistate coalition of lawmakers and law enforcement officials to deal with cross-border smuggling of guns.”
The paper also noted that Schneiderman is the co-chairman of Legislators Against Illegal Guns, and he is in favor of passing a “microstamping” law. Clearly Schneiderman hopes to make guns and issue, and we hope this issue is enough to keep him out of office in New York State.
Capitol Weekly Shows Anti-Gun Bias in Reporting on Gun Legislation
Maybe someone should tell the staff at Capitol Weekly, “The Newspaper of California Government and Politics” to watch some old episodes of Dragnet and just tell “the facts, just the facts.” The paper reported on “A graveyard for key bills at the 11th hour” and shows some serious anti-gun bias. Read more
Daley Says Gun Owners Not Jumping Through Hoops
Some choice quotes from Chicago Mayor Richard Daley this week, as reported by The Chicago Sun Times:
“We’re not jumping through hoops. We have to have accountability. … This is protection of the city from lawsuits from a lot of people. You have to ask for reasonable gun laws. Until the federal government seizes more illegal guns, that is the issue.”
This is just one of several choice quotes from Daley, and it makes us seriously think he doesn’t understand the greater issue. How again does allowing law-abiding citizens to have greater access to firearms cause more crime? And how exactly would a crackdown on illegal guns reduce lawsuits against the city?
To us it appears that Daley is scrapping the bottle of the barrel and grasping at straws to make his argument. The problem is that law-abiding citizens are still caught in the ensuing cross fire.
Arizona Republic Calls For “Middle Ground on Guns”
This week in an editorial responding to the tale of two gun laws, The Arizona Republic argues that a middle ground needs to be found. The paper suggests that Chicago’s absolute ban on handguns had been too strict, but also questions the Arizona law with an interesting choice of words:
“Arizona, meanwhile, has enacted some of the most liberalizing gun laws of any state in recent years. They include permitting gun-owners to carry weapons in places like restaurants and bars and, still more sensationally, allowing most people over 21 to carry a weapon, open or concealed, without requiring a permit. That latter law is scheduled to go into effect July 29.”
While this might be extreme to some, it brings up an interesting point – one that the editors only touch upon. Chicago has become a wild west with mob rule practically in place. Yet Arizona, which was truly part of the real Old Wild West, doesn’t have nearly the same amount of gun violence. However, Arizona faces a threat as criminal elements from Mexico are causing problem in the border region. This isn’t noted in the editorial, and it is important to note as residents in those parts should have the right to be armed as the thugs from south of the border seldom care if innocent people get caught in the cross fire.
John Lott Takes Aim at Gun Laws and Gun Critics
Kudos again to John Lott, who set the record straight again when it comes to how the media covers gun crimes. As Lott notes many news features offer quotes from anti-gun groups, often times without checking the full facts.
Lott’s story can be read at FoxNews.com
Chicago Tribune: Guns Will Still be Hard to Own
In a blog post for The Chicago Tribune, some interesting facts were presented, and readers were asked to pick the laws they think would be best for the Windy City. Here’s the link:
- If Chicago’s gun ban were overturned, vote for the gun laws used elsewhere you think would work here
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.
