Grand Rapids Press Offerings “Findings” From Six-Month Gun Investigation
The Grand Rapids Press, via MLive.com, offered some interesting findings from a six-month investigation, titled: “Guns gone bad: Six-month investigation traces how legal firearms end up in the hands of criminals.” It should also be noted that the paper offered the disclosure that this “marks the beginning of a partnership with Silent Observer to get illegal guns off the street.”
However, it was noted in the story that a lot of “illegal” guns were actually stolen, which is a fact that is often never reported by the media. The paper offered one interesting fact that most in the mainstream media also seem to ignore:
“More importantly, there was no single person making multiple purchases — what police call a ‘straw buyer’ — for convicts needing guns.”
This is an interesting point, since it contrasts the notion that criminals go to gun shows or use straw buyers to purchase guns. Kudos to the Grand Rapids Press for setting the record straight.
First Gun Shop in 20 Years to Open in Holland, Michigan
Bullet Hole Firearms might just hit a bulls eye. WZZM from Grand Rapids, Michigan is reporting that Dennis Johnson and Ben Philips, two men who are out of work due to the economic slowdown, have opted to open a unique gun shop.
After hearing that the local barber shop in their native Holland, Michigan closed when the owner retired, the two saw it as an opportunity to get into the retail game. This is the first gun shop to open in Holland in 20 years, so this should come as good news to residents. In addition to offering new firearms, the store will also selling guns on consignment. We wish them the best of luck!
Bullet Hole Firearms on Facebook
Election 2010: NRA Endorses Gary McDowell in Michigan
The National Rifle Association announced its support for Gary McDowell, the Democratic candidate seeking to hold the seat held by outgoing Congressman Bart Stupak in Michigan’s 1st District.
According to the NRA:
“The NRA-PVF is endorsing Gary McDowell because he is a proven defender of the Second Amendment freedoms of law-abiding gun owners, hunters and sportsmen in Michigan,” said Chris W. Cox, chairman of the NRA Political Victory Fund. “On November 2, I urge those in Michigan’s 1st District to vote Gary McDowell for Congress.”
McDowell received the NRA’s “A” rating and endorsement based on a record of not just saying he supports gun rights but also a record of actually voting to protect and expand those rights.
The NRA noted that McDowell has proven his commitment to Second Amendment rights by voting for legislation removing barriers to youth hunting, voting to prohibit gun confiscation during states of emergency, voting to repeal unnecessary post-purchase inspections of hand guns and voting to restore the rights of law-abiding citizens to defend their property. The NRA also noted McDowell opposes re-enacting the Clinton gun and magazine ban, supports national right-to-carry reciprocity and believes sportsmen should have access to federal lands for hunting, fishing, trapping and recreational shooting.
Gary McDowell Official Website
Michigan Church Holds Buyback – Resells Half the Guns
We remain dubious of any buyback program, as we maintain that these efforts do little to actually get guns off the streets. However, the buyback this past weekend held at the Hope Light Ministries in Muskegon, Michigan offered a bit of a twist. WZZM reports that the church, which uses no public money, will instead resell half the guns taken in.
We’re still not in favor of this move, because we simply don’t know who will determine which guns get resold, and which ones will be melted down. But at least this event doesn’t cost taxpayers anything, and the church does resell the guns, complete with federal background checks. Read more
Royal Oak Arts Festival Bans Firearms
The question now raging in fashionable Royal Oak, Michigan is whether it the city can ban firearms at the Arts, EAst and Beats festival that will be held on the city streets. In Michigan, it is legal for those with concealed weapons permits to carry guns legally, but the ban would make it a crime to do so. The Royal Oak City Commission is meeting about this tonight (August 9, 2010).
Herald Palladium Notes Number of Guns Destroyed Each Year
The number is shocking. According to the Herald Palladium of Southwest Michigan, some 10,000 to 12,000 guns are sent to the blast furnace every year – and only those request by police departments for their own use are spared. That is a little upsetting, because obviously the significant sporting rifle or obscure and collectible military rifles aren’t going to be spared.
Imagine if vintage cars seized from drug dealers were destroyed, or houses taken from gangsters were leveled. There would be an outcry at the waste. Why isn’t there more of an uproar that historically, and potentially value firearms are being destroyed.
Six-Year Old Suspended From School for Make Believe Gun
Now it seems even a pretend gun can land a child in trouble. We’re not talking a realistic toy gun, or even a picture of a toy gun; we’re talking about a child using his fingers while playing! The Grand Rapids Press in Michigan noted:
“Mason Jammer, a kindergarten student at Jefferson Elementary in Ionia, curled his fist into the shape of a gun Wednesday and pointed it at another student, school officials said it was no laughing matter.”
For the record we have no problem with the reporting on this one, but we must question Ionia’s school board on this judgment. The child just turned six-years old, and some other form of discipline should have been used.
Gun Owner Raided… Because Maybe He Was Selling Guns
Does anyone care about the Second Amendment anymore? WWJ radio in the Detroit area is reporting that a Warren Michigan man had his house raided by the ATF. The radio station reports:
“Over a hundred guns were discovered at a home in Warren Wednesday, thanks to a joint effort by the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, and Explosives, the Detroit Police and Michigan State Police.”
It further adds this quote from Donald Dawkins from the ATF:
“We don’t know if he was selling them, we think he may have been selling some of them. But some of them, you know, he had a big storage there so we don’t know if he was selling all of them or not, or planned to sell them.”
First, I’m going to ask why the Detroit Police were involved in an investigation in Warren, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit? But let’s examine the quote a bit more closely: “We don’t know if he was selling them.” But that seems to be enough for the ATF to stage a raid, and for the media not to question it.
