Anti-Gun Groups: Same Old Lies. Same Old Distortions. No Wonder They're Losing
The Freedom State Alliance and Josh Sugarmann's Violence Policy Center have one thing in common. They've both seen a fairly significant reduction on their funding and influence over the past decade, with the former being folded into the States United to Prevent Gun Violence and ceasing to exist as an independent entity. This is a continuation of the withering and consolidation that's been happening among gun control groups for the past decade. But no wonder they've seen such declining fortunes, when they are still peddling the same old lies and same old distortions they have been trying to dupe the American public with for the past two decades.
Let's start with the distortions about so-called "assault weapons." It was Josh Sugarmann himself that back in 1988 conceived this massive fraud on the Ameircan Public, realizing that the many people, ignorant of the difference between heavily regulated fully-automatic machine guns and commonly owned semi-automatic firearms, could be easily duped into supporting a ban on the latter believing they were the former. The fact that millions of Americans use these types of firearms for legitimate sporting purposes, and for the purpose of self-defense, is not a concern to these groups as long as it helps ban more guns. All one has to do is go to any Sportsman's Club running matches sanctioned by the Civilian Marksmanship Program, nod they will see first hand that many people are using so-called "assault weapons" for sporting competition around the country.
Perhaps even more offensive than labeling millions of commonly owned rifles and pistols as "assault weapons," is Sugarmann's strategy of labeling millions of gun owners as puppets of some nefarious and conspiratorial "gun lobby." The NRA represents four million American shooters and gun owners. People who care enough about preserving their Second Amendment rights to fork over a 35 dollar membership fee every year to remain in good standing. Polling has shown upwards of 33 million Americans think they are NRA members. No group advocating gun control can claim anywhere close to this level of support. Josh Sugarmann might want to pretend this is a small minority, brainwashed and duped by the gun industry, but it's simply not true. A recent poll shows that a full 70% of Americans believe the Second Amendment guarantees an individual right to own a gun, with 44% reporting having a gun in their household. The right to keep and bear arms is a mainstream concern and not merely the province of cop killers, extremists and members of militia groups.
Without allies in the traditional media, able to parrot unchallenged the lies and distortions of radical gun ban advocacy groups, it's become increasingly more difficult for them to maintain credibility with the public. Social media, blogs, and forums are allowing the truth to be told, and the gig is up. More and more Americans are understanding that the right to keep and bear arms guaranteed by our Constitution is an important aspect of our freedoms and liberties. No wonder when it comes to facts and figures, the emperors of the gun ban movement are proving to indeed have no clothes.
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The NRA has 4 million members. That's a drop in the bucket to the actual number of gun owners. With America's population around 300 million, I would venture to say we have at least 150 million gun owners. But that's only a guess. No one actually knows the exact number. As it should be.
Sebastian worded this article rather well. It hit several valid points. I wish Sugarmann would give it the time of day and maybe learn something.
that's the argument?
that's a sport? join the army.
ridding the United States of the semi automatics for hunting and sport, is a small price to pay for a safer country.
can one really argue that lessening the number of guns will hurt our country?
skyler
*Your Future Health*
(try vegan -- for your health , the health of society , and the health of the planet.)
contact skyler @ superapollo@ufl.edu to learn more and get involved.
www.myspace.com/skylerspektor
-Feel good about the asinine comments!
When concealed carry law went into affect, increasing the odds of a victim being armed and able to respond to physical threats from criminals, the crime in States that passed the law went down significantly. When Federal background checks for licenses and/or permits to carry go up, crime is reduced.
The Brady Campaign uses Massachusetts as an example of gun control success, stating that Mass has lower crime rates . However, Vermont with it's liberal gun laws - allowing for any non-felon resident to carry - is also proven to have a low crime rate. Such facts knock your theory on its rear.
I don't use my semi-automatics for hunting or sport.
I live in the city; my guns are mostly outfitted for self-defense and anti-home invasion. If I lived in a rural area I may have more than the one hand -me-down bolt-action rifle that's suitable for hunting. I make no effort to hide the fact that the semi-automatic firearms I own are designed to be used against human threats (i.e. criminals with intentions or hurting or killing me and my family ).
insecure people make personal attacks when defending a definately questionable stance.
where are the facts?
what about the percentage of semi automatics used for hunting sport and crime ?
what about most people facing remotely possible home invasion? why would one need a semi automatic?
skyler
*Your Future Health*
(try vegan -- for your health , the health of society , and the health of the planet.)
contact skyler @ superapollo@ufl.edu to learn more and get involved.
www.myspace.com/skylerspektor
- In 1996, a nationwide study showed that violent crime decreased in States which allowed concealed carry . Homicide down, 8.5%. Rape down, 5.0%. Aggravated Assault down, 7%. The study was conducted using data between 1977 and 1992.
- John Lott: "If those states which did not have right-to-carry concealed gun provisions had adopted them in 1992, approximately 1,570 murders; 4,177 rapes; and over 60,000 aggravate assaults would have been avoided yearly."
It is difficult to get the number of defensive uses of firearms each year because of the number of crimes which never occur as a result. The overall issue with deterrents themselves is they work to prevent crimes in the first place. As far as documented cases of law -abiding citizens wielding semi-automatics, I suggest the following YouTube link. Judging from your MySpace profile, you enjoy videos : http://www.youtube.com/user/TheArmedCitizen
- According to a study by criminologist Gary Kleck of Florida State University, “[R]obbery and assault victims who used a gun to resist were less likely to be attacked or to suffer an injury than those who used any other methods of self-protection or those who did not resist at all.” In approximately 2.5 million instances each year, someone uses a firearm, predominantly a handgun, for self defense in this nation.
- But since adopting a concealed carry law Florida’s total violent crime rate has dropped 32% and its homicide rate has dropped 58%. Floridians, except for criminals, are safer due to this law. And Florida is not alone. Texas’ violent crime rate has dropped 20% and homicide rate has dropped 31%, since enactment of its 1996 carry law.
- Statistics from the FBI’s Uniformed Crime Report of 2007 show that states with right-to-carry laws have a 30% lower homicide rate, 46% lower robbery , and 12% lower aggravated assault rate and a 22% lower overall violent crime rate than do states without such laws. That is why more and more states have passed right-to-carry laws over the past decade.
Remotely possible home invasion? Where do you live? It's obviously a crime-free oasis. All of my neighbors, between both houses I've lived in, have seen their unfair share of robberies and home invasions during the twenty-eight years I've lived in Miami. And I haven't lived in terrible neighborhoods either. It's much worse in other areas of the county.
The most recent incident was the house adjacent to mine. Three young males jumped the fence and broke in through the back door. They did not realize that the children (19 and 20 y/o) were still home. The intruders heard the noise and fled. Luckily that incident did not end in a tragedy . Other incidents in the past have.
Firearms aren't going to be necessary in every instance, man. They aren't the utilitarian problem-solvers that movies make them out to be. Your head should always be your number one tool for deciding how you use any other tools. But semi-automatics have their function in the correct self-defense application. If you make the decision not to embrace this, that is your comfort and preference.
You can not outlaw something based on what someone MIGHT do with that power. You can't use "If I had that power, I'd..." as a case for what another individual might do. You might be an emotional person. Hell, I might be an emotional person! But your state of mind should never overtake your responsibilities and obligations. Self-control comes easier for some than others. Some people can not be trusted and will prove themselves unable to be trusted via our court system...
...yet the courts take care of it after the fact. You are the only one obligated to take a bullet for yourself when a gun is aimed at you. Are you going to let a criminal kill you? Are you going to use your fists? Are you going to run? Are you going to do everything he says and hope for the best? I'm just saying... if you and/or a family member ( wife , husband, children, parents) is going to die as a result of your inaction, you might feel differently.
The only thing that helps me to get over the idea of how many people are murdered , raped, and permanently injured by criminals is the knowledge that some people have not only the courage and will to stand up for themselves but the RIGHT to do it as well.
Very few countries allow you such fundamental means of survival as firearm ownership. It's the responsibility of free people. Eliminate crime and I'll unload, sir.