The Truth About Gun Control

[USMC Retired]

* In the early/mid 1990's, criminals on parole or early release from prison committed about 5,000 murders, 17,000 rapes, and 200,000 robberies a year. (3)

* Americans use firearms to defend themselves from criminals about 760,000 times a year. This figure is the lowest among a group of 15 nationwide polls done by organizations including Gallup and the Los Angeles Times. (7)

* Approximately 11% of gun owners and 13% of handgun owners have used their firearms for protection from criminals. (3)

* When citizens use guns for protection from criminals, the criminal is wounded in about 1 out of every 100 instances, and the criminal is killed in about 1 out of every 1000 instances. (3)

* Washington D.C. enacted a virtual ban on handguns in 1976. Between 1976 and 1991, Washington D.C.'s homicide rate rose 200%, while the U.S. rate rose 12%. (1)

* Right-to-carry laws require law enforcement agencies to issue handgun permits to all qualified applicants. Qualifications include criteria such as age, a clean criminal record, and completing a firearm safety course. (13)

* In 1986, nine states had right-to-carry laws. (14)

* As of 1998, 31 states have right-to-carry laws, and about half the U.S. population lives in these states. (3)

* In 1996, Dr. John R. Lott of the University of Chicago Law School published the results of a crime study conducted using FBI data for all 3,045 U.S. counties from 1977 to 1992. (15)

* The study sought to answer the question, "What happens to crime when states adopt right-to-carry laws?" (15)

* Between 1977 and 1992, 10 states adopted right-to-carry laws. Dr. Lott's study found that the implementation of these laws created:

-- no change in suicide rates,
-- a .5% rise in accidental firearm deaths,
-- a 5% decline in rapes,
-- a 7% decline in aggravated assaults,
-- and an 8% decline in murder

for the 10 states that adopted these laws between 1977 and 1992. (7)

* Using 1995 numbers, this amounts to:

-- 1 more accidental gun death,
-- 316 less murders,
-- 939 less rapes,
-- and 14,702 less aggravated assaults

in these 10 states annually. (16)

* Florida adopted a right-to-carry law in 1987. Between 1987 and 1996, these changes occurred:
_______________________________Florida__________United States
homicide rate______________________-36%_____________-.4%
firearm homicide rate________________-37%____________+15%
handgun homicide rate_______________-41%____________+24%
(3)

* 221,443 concealed carry licenses were issued in Florida between October of 1987 and April of 1994. During that time, Florida recorded 18 crimes committed by licensees with firearms. (15)

* As of 1998, nationwide, there has been 1 recorded incident in which a permit holder shot someone following a traffic accident. The permit holder was not charged, as the grand jury ruled the shooting was in self defense. (7)

* As of 1998, no permit holder has ever shot a police officer. There have been several cases in which a permit holder has protected an officer's life. (7)


Full Text, Gun Control Facts

[Matt W]

I love it. You're proud of killing your own citizens. You glorify killing. How...barbaric.

[Mr.Vicchio]

And you glorify cowardice in the face of crime. I love it.

[USMC Retired]

[CENTER]CONSTITUTION[/CENTER]

* In the Bill of Rights, the second amendment to the Constitution reads:

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

* Gun control proponents have argued that the use of the word "people" in this Amendment, refers not to the civilian population of the United States, but to the State National Guard Units. (54)

* Gun rights proponents have argued that the use of the word "Militia" in this Amendment, refers not to the State National Guard Units, but to the citizens of the United States. (54)

* James Madison was responsible for proposing the Second Amendment and was one of three authors of the Federalist papers. The Federalist Papers were published in newspapers to explain, argue for, and support ratification of the Constitution. (55)(56)

* In Federalist Paper 46, James Madison argued that a standing federal army could not be capable of conducting a coup to take over the nation. He estimated that based on the country's population at the time, a federal standing army could not field more than 25,000 - 30,000 men. He wrote:

"To these would be opposed a militia amounting to near half a million of citizens with arms in their hands, officered by men chosen from among themselves, fighting for their common liberties, and united and conducted by governments possessing their affections and confidence."

"Besides the advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation, the existence of subordinate governments, to which the people are attached, and by which the militia officers are appointed, forms a barrier against the enterprises of ambition, more insurmountable than any which a simple government of any form can admit of. Notwithstanding the military establishments in the several kingdoms of Europe, which are carried as far as the public resources will bear, the governments are afraid to trust the people with arms." (56)

* Quotes from Thomas Jefferson, the author of The Declaration of Independence:

"What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms."
--Thomas Jefferson to William Stephens Smith, 1787.

"A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercises, I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise and independence to the mind. Games played with the ball, and others of that nature, are too violent for the body and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun therefore be your constant companion of your walks."
--Thomas Jefferson to Peter Carr, 1785.

"The constitutions of most of our States assert that all power is inherent in the people; that they may exercise it by themselves in all cases to which they think themselves competent (as in electing their functionaries executive and legislative, and deciding by a jury of themselves in all judiciary cases in which any fact is involved), or they may act by representatives, freely and equally chosen; that it is their right and duty to be at all times armed; that they are entitled to freedom of person, freedom of religion, freedom of property, and freedom of the press."
&nbsp--Thomas Jefferson to John Cartwright, 1824. (57)(58)(59)

[Matt W]

Putting words in my mouth, are we, Mr. V?

I'm happy to defend myself, using whatever comes to hand. I'm not happy to randomly shoot at someone. Fairly simple, I thought.

[USMC Retired]

Quote by: Matt W I love it. You're proud of killing your own citizens. You glorify killing. How...barbaric.

Quite the opposite, Matt. I do not ever want to see a law abiding citizen harmed/killed. It's the CAREER CRIMINAL who preys on the law abiding citizen that I want to see locked up and/or put to death. The career criminal who rapes and robs, and MURDERS, time and time and time again. There may be no way to keep such crimes from happening once....... but there's a dammed SURE way to keep it from happening again!

Barbaric???? Perhpas in YOUR opinion, Matt. Thankfully however, YOUR opinion doesn't rule in the United States of America!

[Matt W]

So, the 16-year old kid shot by Mr. Martin was a 'career criminal', was he? What a short career he had.

No, my opinion doesn't rule the US - but neither does yours rule here - nor in all of the US, I note. I, like you, am truly thankful.

[Mr.Vicchio]

When entering anothers home with the intent to steal, you have forfited ones life. If that home owner is armed, and attacks you, it's not the home owners fault. It's yours.

I have no pity for theives and criminals whether its their first crime or just the latest in a long stream of crimes. Home Intrustion isn't a random crime, it's a thought out intentional crime.

[USMC Retired]

Quote by: Matt W So, the 16-year old kid shot by Mr. Martin was a 'career criminal', was he? What a short career he had. No, my opinion doesn't rule the US - but neither does yours rule here - nor in all of the US, I note. I, like you, am truly thankful.

Go pull the RAP sheet on your sweet loveable 16 year old..... how many TIMES had he been picked up before, and for what? Fun lovin' "pranks"? Or assult, robbery, rape perhaps? Had he MURDERED someone yet? Or was it just a matter of time? Obey the LAW.... don't rape, rob, murder, assult..... and you won't have to worry about getting shot!

As for your second comment, if you are happy living in a country where you do not have the basic God given RIGHT to protect yourself and your family, then more power to you. I am happy right where I am, in a country with a CONSTITUTION that allows me the RIGHT to protect me and mine.

[Chris the Chees]

Quote by: Mr.Vicchio Chris, you are an idiot then if you cannot accept that areas and states with gun owernership have lower crime rates vs areas and states without private gun ownership. Youa re a tool of the anti-gun nutz. Reality > you. Poey, I know the stats, I only ask you do the research. Which means hitting mroe then "www.gunsareevil.com" websites. It's a teaching technique that I find the left fails miserably at, because they see things they refuse to accept.

Ad hominem attacks? The first sign of the desperate, I wait in baited breath for your next enlightening remark.

Chris, you are an idiot then if you cannot accept that areas and states with gun owernership have lower crime rates vs areas and states without private gun ownership.


But I have already displayed that on a national level this is not the case.

Do feel free to try again.

How...barbaric.

I wouldn't go that far, the patriot acts are barbaric.

[Mr.Vicchio]

On a national level....

You have described nothing but numbers without context. Try again. Spouting numbers with little meaning in the real world mean NOTHING.

[Pooeypants]

Quote by: Mr.Vicchio Chris, you are an idiot then if you cannot accept that areas and states with gun owernership have lower crime rates vs areas and states without private gun ownership. Youa re a tool of the anti-gun nutz. Reality > you. Poey, I know the stats, I only ask you do the research. Which means hitting mroe then "www.gunsareevil.com" websites. It's a teaching technique that I find the left fails miserably at, because they see things they refuse to accept.

As far as I know, I've never been on Anti firearm websites. When ever I do a google search it usually comes up with Pro Gun.
So before you make another silly accusation again, I suggest you just reply as you should to my questions or don't bother posting.

[Pooeypants]

Quote by: USMC Retired Well we DO believe in capital punishment over HERE, thank God for that! Add to that, I live in the state of Texas, where we put more criminals to death than in any other state, a practice of which I am in full support of. Career criminals DESERVE death.

I'm glad you support state sponsored murders.

Quote by: USMC Retired Now, you keep trying to make some point out of the fact that they were "fleeing" and "unarmed". So what??? They shouldn't have been IN the mans house to begin with. Had they NOT been there, they wouldn't have been shot. I have no pity for the two criminals. They got what they deserved.

Death from being a petty thief? Is that what happens in your area?

Quote by: USMC Retired You say that the criminals were "running away". How do you KNOW that???? How do you know they were running away? For all you or anyone else knows, they could have very well been turning to get a weapon to attack the home owner with, or turning to get help from friends waiting just outside. Placed in the same situation, I would have done exactly what Mr. Martin did. I would have made dammed well sure that I got THEM.... before they could get me!

Well, if their backs are turned and they're moving in the direction away from the home owner, I'd call that running away. Even if they had a weapon, it wouldn't have been a firearm because for some time thieves it is thankfully not a viable option,

[Chris the Chees]

Quote by: Mr.Vicchio On a national level.... You have described nothing but numbers without context. Try again. Spouting numbers with little meaning in the real world mean NOTHING.

If you are not smart enough to place the figures into context, I will be more than happy to spell it out for you.

The numbers have absolute relevance to the real world, as they are real world statistics.

Quit digging Mr. V.

[Mr.Vicchio]

As they are real world statistics.

Profound.

What do they show in terms of gun crimes committed by illegally owned and obtained weapons?
Nothing, NOT A DAMN THING.

So what good would banning guns do based on those numbers.
Nothing.

Oh, Snap.

[Osborn F Enready]

Patrick Henry said:
Osborn, when are you gonna learn to use the quote function? Scrib didn't write what you replied to... PATRICKHENRY did!!

I say:
Patrick, Scribbler, I apologize for the mistake. I have been working too many hours, and sleeping too few. That is the reason I have been posting so little lately also. I have a lot to say, but after a 12 hour day, I find myself not quite up to getting worked up to respond to posts for hours before going to bed and starting the whole cycle again. :eek:

USMC retired, Vic, I completely agree with you on this topic.

[PatrickHenry]

My sympathies, Osborn. De nada. No importa.

[Scribbler1]

Too much to do and so little time. I've been there my man.
Hope your schedule gets back on track soon.

[USMC Retired]

Quote by: Pooeypants Well, if their backs are turned and they're moving in the direction away from the home owner, I'd call that running away. Even if they had a weapon, it wouldn't have been a firearm because for some time thieves it is thankfully not a viable option,

And you KNOW this......... how???? You know beyond any shadow of a doubt that they COULDN'T have been carrying a firearm...... how?

More to the point, had YOU been in the situation would you have risked your life and the lives of your family on what you THOUGHT they MIGHT be doing?

[Pooeypants]

Quote by: USMC Retired And you KNOW this......... how???? You know beyond any shadow of a doubt that they COULDN'T have been carrying a firearm...... how? More to the point, had YOU been in the situation would you have risked your life and the lives of your family on what you THOUGHT they MIGHT be doing?

Because statistically speaking, small time thieves here don't easy access to guns and neither do they want to. After all, they'd probably do more time for carrying guns than burglary.
If I were in that situation and I saw they running away, I wouldn't shoot one of them twice in the back. Again, you seem to assume all criminals are bloodthirsty killers, where did you get this idea from?