Last month I put off the writing about gun legislation. The media was in a frenzy about the school shootings in CT, Diane Feinstein was threatening to introduce her Gun Ban plan for 2013, and New York Governor Cuomo was in a hurry to make New York State’s laws the toughest in the country.
I thought if I waited a month maybe some of this would sort itself out. Maybe there would be an honest look at some of the other contributors to not only these highly publicized multiple shootings, but also the routine violence we are seeing in cities like Detroit and Chicago.
Well here we are a month later; the President just took the opportunity during the “State of the Union” speech to campaign for gun control with a backdrop of supporters and victims, while you and I are again being treated like a Pariah, a scourge of society.
If it feels like every anti-gun person is jumping on the bandwagon, you are not wrong. A review of media stories since the shooting in CT shows an 8 to 1 ratio of stories demonizing guns and gun owners; versus positive stories about firearms.
Almost daily, liberal lawmakers are introducing legislation hoping to make their new gun law tougher than the last. There are 157 types of guns banned and magazine capacities limits: first 10 rounds , then 7 now 5. One even suggested a magazine capacity of 1, a single round in the chamber and one in the mag effectively making the gun a “Two Shooter”.
Two Missouri state reps introduced legislation that would require gun owners to hand over “Assault Weapons” to the appropriate law enforcement agency within 90 days or become a felon. Similar bills are under consideration in a half dozen other states; although most are not likely to pass and would be challenged in court if they did pass.
With all rifles involved in only 3% of shootings, and so-called “Assault Weapons” in even less, why are they doing this? This number is less than the percentage of murders committed with hammers and other blunt objects.
The reason being that this action is a “first step.” The 1994 Assault Weapons Ban (AWB) did nothing to lessen gun violence and neither would this one. However, there will be Anti-gun Liberal law makers on record as voting for this ban, and pro-gun Conservatives on record as voting it down. The next time there is a horrific shooting, and there will be a next time, these votes will be trotted out along with all the usual array of victims and “experts” to hold the pro-gun people responsible. This will continue until the real contributors to this violence are addressed.
Where is the legislation on mental health reporting and the effects of psychotropic drugs? Links between violence in movies, videos games and how they influence young people. How do we restore the positive family influence that teaches morals, responsibility and the value of life to a culture lacking respect for others?
Where is the crackdown on violent offenders that are let loose in society with little or no punishment? FBI data shows that Chicago had 1,893 shootings in 2012, and only 6% (116) were actually prosecuted for the crimes. That record is no deterrent at all; most of these shooters know they have almost no chance of being caught.
Recently William Lansdowne, San Diego Police Chief stated:
”If the lawmakers play it right, Americans can be completely disarmed within a generation”
There is no mistake, this is their intent. You are not to be trusted with firearms because they know what is best for you.
Please visit these sites to see how you can help:
www.supportsecondamendment.com/
Next Month: My “Bucket List” of Guns