I have realized most people seem to be uninformed on gun politics. Unfortunately most politicians seem not to have all the information.
A news organization's job to inform people of the facts of the situation accurately. The media organizations seem to have failed at this task. [Source: http://www.hillsdale.edu/newimprimis/default.htm]
First if we look at current laws we can see that the gun industry is heavily regulated by law and the BATF. The term “Assault Weapons†does not accurately describe any gun.
The National Firearms Act of 1934 bans all automatic weapons. This was later repealed and replaced by The Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA).
The GCA banned all fully automatic weapons without a special Federal License. Some of the restrictions include prohibiting “sawed-off Shotgunsâ€, rifle/shotgun sales to persons under 18, and handgun sales to people under 21. This means the people who robbed the bank in California with Automatic rifles possessed illegal guns. The guns they used had nothing to do with the 1994 law that expires on Monday, September 13, 2004.
The Firearm Owners’ Protection Act of 1986 protects the right of the citizens to keep in bear arms under the second amendment. It also reaffirmed the protection afforded under many of the amendments in the Bill of Rights. There is no question about the meaning of the Second Amendment.
The Undetectable Handgun law of 1988 made possession of a gun illegal that could not be detected by a x-ray machine. This law is completely worthless because from my knowledge there is no gun in existence that does not contain metal parts like the barrel.
The 1994 Public Safety and Recreation Firearms Use Protection Act (“The Crime Billâ€) only banned 19 specific guns and certain characteristics of other guns. From statistics we can clearly see that the drop in crime was started before this law and has continued even with the increase of states issuing Concealed Carry Permits.
Today, everyone who purchases a firearm must pass a NCIC background instant check. Anyone who wishes to obtain a Conceal Carry Weapon Permit (CCW) in Oklahoma must pass a county background check, state background check, and federal background check. The applicant must also have fingerprints taken; passport type photos, and attended a CLEET certified training on firearm use. There are many restrictions on where a concealed weapon maybe carried. For example, concealed weapons are not allowed in state buildings, schools, or in alcohol business. The rejection rates for NCIC check performed for gun purchases is only about 2% in 2001. [Source: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/bcft01.htm]
By definition “Criminals†perform actions that are illegal. The bank robbers in California broke four laws that I am aware of. They used a firearm in the commission of a felony, robbed a bank, possessed automatic firearms, and used body armor in the commission of a felony. None of these laws stopped them from performing the act. They were killed in commission of this crime so no charges were ever filed.
If we look at statistics from the Department of Justice we see that crime has been dropping since 1993. [Source: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/guns.htm, http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/glance/viort.htm] We can also see that only 2% of criminals used an “Assault Weapon†in their crime. Most who committed a crime with a firearm also received an enhanced sentence. [Source: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/fuo.htm] Gangs committed most homicides where a gun was used. [http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/homicide/circumst.htm#circumgun]
The National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) also reflects the drop in crime. [Source: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/cvict.htm] From the NCVS we see that 80% of criminals obtain their guns through illegal means. [Source: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/guns.htm] They rarely obtain a gun from a gun show or a licensed retailer. If we look at analysis of the NCVS we can see that guns are used defensively about 2.2 to 2.5 times a year. [Source: http://www.guncite.com/gcdgklec.html] Unfortunately the police are not required to protect us from crime. This is clearly illustrated in cases such as “Warren vs. District of Columbiaâ€.
I do not see a reason for a gun manufacturer to be liable for a criminal use of their product. Most of the cases that have been filed have been dismissed. This could be compared to suing Ford for someone using a Ford truck to run someone down. If a manufacturer can be shown to sell outside the law or a product that is not safe with proper use, I think they should be convicted or sued.
Some people tend to see the National Rifle Association (NRA) as a fanatical organization. I think if you actually look at the NRA position it makes sense and it has plenty of facts to support their position. No one seems to talk about the good things the NRA has done. This could include things such as “Project Exile†[Source: http://www.nrawinningteam.com/hestexil.html] (Which Enhances sentences for gun crimes) and the “Eddie the Eagle†[Source: http://www.nrahq.org/safety/eddie/] (Which teaches kids gun safety).
Most people do not know just how regulated the gun industry is in the United States. The statistical data does not show the availability of guns to lawful citizens to be responsible for any drop or rise in crime. Guns help some victims, but no one can say that a victim having a gun would prevent all crimes. I do believe we should have the option of possessing a gun. There are plenty of lawful uses for gun aside from personal defense. This includes hunting and target shooting. Both of these activities require a lot of skill. They oppose any restrictions to the right of law-abiding citizens. This included gun registration. In history, gun registration usually leads to gun confiscation or the infringement of rights of specific groups of people. Since the civil war in the United States things like marriage licenses and gun registration were used to prevent African-Americans from certain activities. There are plenty of examples of this occurring as early as 1968. (Ref: “Deacons of Defenseâ€)
The problem of crime in the United States is not the guns themselves, but the act of breaking the law itself. We should be focusing our attention on something that could help reduce crime further without infringing on the rights of law-abiding citizens.
A news organization's job to inform people of the facts of the situation accurately. The media organizations seem to have failed at this task. [Source: http://www.hillsdale.edu/newimprimis/default.htm]
First if we look at current laws we can see that the gun industry is heavily regulated by law and the BATF. The term “Assault Weapons†does not accurately describe any gun.
The National Firearms Act of 1934 bans all automatic weapons. This was later repealed and replaced by The Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA).
The GCA banned all fully automatic weapons without a special Federal License. Some of the restrictions include prohibiting “sawed-off Shotgunsâ€, rifle/shotgun sales to persons under 18, and handgun sales to people under 21. This means the people who robbed the bank in California with Automatic rifles possessed illegal guns. The guns they used had nothing to do with the 1994 law that expires on Monday, September 13, 2004.
The Firearm Owners’ Protection Act of 1986 protects the right of the citizens to keep in bear arms under the second amendment. It also reaffirmed the protection afforded under many of the amendments in the Bill of Rights. There is no question about the meaning of the Second Amendment.
The Undetectable Handgun law of 1988 made possession of a gun illegal that could not be detected by a x-ray machine. This law is completely worthless because from my knowledge there is no gun in existence that does not contain metal parts like the barrel.
The 1994 Public Safety and Recreation Firearms Use Protection Act (“The Crime Billâ€) only banned 19 specific guns and certain characteristics of other guns. From statistics we can clearly see that the drop in crime was started before this law and has continued even with the increase of states issuing Concealed Carry Permits.
Today, everyone who purchases a firearm must pass a NCIC background instant check. Anyone who wishes to obtain a Conceal Carry Weapon Permit (CCW) in Oklahoma must pass a county background check, state background check, and federal background check. The applicant must also have fingerprints taken; passport type photos, and attended a CLEET certified training on firearm use. There are many restrictions on where a concealed weapon maybe carried. For example, concealed weapons are not allowed in state buildings, schools, or in alcohol business. The rejection rates for NCIC check performed for gun purchases is only about 2% in 2001. [Source: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/bcft01.htm]
By definition “Criminals†perform actions that are illegal. The bank robbers in California broke four laws that I am aware of. They used a firearm in the commission of a felony, robbed a bank, possessed automatic firearms, and used body armor in the commission of a felony. None of these laws stopped them from performing the act. They were killed in commission of this crime so no charges were ever filed.
If we look at statistics from the Department of Justice we see that crime has been dropping since 1993. [Source: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/guns.htm, http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/glance/viort.htm] We can also see that only 2% of criminals used an “Assault Weapon†in their crime. Most who committed a crime with a firearm also received an enhanced sentence. [Source: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/fuo.htm] Gangs committed most homicides where a gun was used. [http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/homicide/circumst.htm#circumgun]
The National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) also reflects the drop in crime. [Source: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/cvict.htm] From the NCVS we see that 80% of criminals obtain their guns through illegal means. [Source: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/guns.htm] They rarely obtain a gun from a gun show or a licensed retailer. If we look at analysis of the NCVS we can see that guns are used defensively about 2.2 to 2.5 times a year. [Source: http://www.guncite.com/gcdgklec.html] Unfortunately the police are not required to protect us from crime. This is clearly illustrated in cases such as “Warren vs. District of Columbiaâ€.
I do not see a reason for a gun manufacturer to be liable for a criminal use of their product. Most of the cases that have been filed have been dismissed. This could be compared to suing Ford for someone using a Ford truck to run someone down. If a manufacturer can be shown to sell outside the law or a product that is not safe with proper use, I think they should be convicted or sued.
Some people tend to see the National Rifle Association (NRA) as a fanatical organization. I think if you actually look at the NRA position it makes sense and it has plenty of facts to support their position. No one seems to talk about the good things the NRA has done. This could include things such as “Project Exile†[Source: http://www.nrawinningteam.com/hestexil.html] (Which Enhances sentences for gun crimes) and the “Eddie the Eagle†[Source: http://www.nrahq.org/safety/eddie/] (Which teaches kids gun safety).
Most people do not know just how regulated the gun industry is in the United States. The statistical data does not show the availability of guns to lawful citizens to be responsible for any drop or rise in crime. Guns help some victims, but no one can say that a victim having a gun would prevent all crimes. I do believe we should have the option of possessing a gun. There are plenty of lawful uses for gun aside from personal defense. This includes hunting and target shooting. Both of these activities require a lot of skill. They oppose any restrictions to the right of law-abiding citizens. This included gun registration. In history, gun registration usually leads to gun confiscation or the infringement of rights of specific groups of people. Since the civil war in the United States things like marriage licenses and gun registration were used to prevent African-Americans from certain activities. There are plenty of examples of this occurring as early as 1968. (Ref: “Deacons of Defenseâ€)
The problem of crime in the United States is not the guns themselves, but the act of breaking the law itself. We should be focusing our attention on something that could help reduce crime further without infringing on the rights of law-abiding citizens.
