Paul Helmke on the 90%

Thanks to kaveman for tipping me off to this latest post by Paul Helmke, in which Paul addresses the very popular question of what percentage of the Mexican guns come from America.

Mr. Helmke presented excerpts from the hearing in the House Foreign Affairs subcommittee about the Government Accountability Office report on American guns being trafficked to criminals across our southern border into Mexico.

That hearing included an exchange between Ranking Member Connie Mack, Jr. from Florida and Jess Ford of the GAO.

First Paul had this to say:

Rather than argue about percentages, let's focus on the fact that 20,000 trafficked guns from America have ended up at Mexican crime scenes.

With that kind of information, I hope our opposition will now acknowledge there is a serious problem that needs to be addressed:

In the exchange between Connie Mack and Jess Ford, it was made perfectly clear that the original ATF report which said 90% was misleading. The original citation was cleverly worded to say "90% of the guns traced." (Kudos to Mike W. and the others for pointing that out and I apologize for being so difficult about it.) Now, for the first time that I've seen, it's being clarified that only one-quarter of the guns seized were traced. If the other three-quarters contain no guns from America, which I think is unlikely, the true percentage would be less that 20%, a figure I've seen from commenters on this blog.

Were these unconscionable lies and manipulation? I don't think so. I'd call it spinning a bit or taking advantage of slick wording. Paul Helmke said what I've been saying all along, the real point is too many guns are going to Mexico. If 17% of the Mexican weapons are coming from the United States, and they number 20,000, I say that's too much. I echo what Paul said, this "is a serious problem that needs to be addressed."

What's your opinion? Do you think 20,000 weapons is so small a percentage that we shouldn't worry about it? Some people say that about the 30,000 gun deaths a year, percentage-wise it's small. What do you think?

Please leave a comment.

Bryan Miller on Plaxico Burress

NJ.com has a post up by Bryan Miller, Executive Director of Ceasefire New Jersey, about NY Giants receiver Plaxico Burress. Pulling no punches, Bryan quotes himself when he wrote that Plaxico should be inducted into the "Stupid Gun Owners Hall of Shame." How did he earn such distinction?

given his incredibly dumb and dangerous behavior, namely shooting himself in the leg with an illegally carried handgun in a Manhattan nightclub

In all fairness, I must say the fact that it's all true should not excuse the fact that Bryan's resorted to a little name calling and sarcasm, things which I continually strive to eradicate on my blog.

Having become aware of rumors that the Manhattan District Attorney's office is possibly going to go easy on Plax, Miller has this to say.

I also called on the Giants and the NFL to suspend Plax until his trial is complete and permanently expel him if convicted. I renew these calls today.

I tend to agree, but I wonder if there's another way. I wonder if there might be a way for the NFL to communicate the message that illegal guns and the gangsta persona are not cool. By not suspending him, do you think they sent the opposite message?

I don't follow American football so I don't know this guy. Is he as talented as Michael Vick? When I saw some of Vick's videos, all I could think of is what a shame for a guy like that to have to go to prison. Is Plaxico that great? Should that matter anyway? What's your opinion?

Please leave a comment.

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Guns and Women (updated twice)

From the book by Prof. David Hemenway, Private Guns Public Health, here are some statistics which support my very unpopular comment that "guns are bad news for women." The following chart describes female deaths.

High gun states: Wyoming, Montana, Alaska, South Dakota, Arkansas, West Virginia, Alabama, Idaho, Mississippi, North Dakota and Kentucky - total population 100.6 million

Low gun states: Hawaii, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey, and Connecticut - total population 100.6 million.



You can click on the chart for a clearer version. But what it shows is that where there are guns there are more incidents of gun violence. It's a sad fact that in America, women are brutalized by men too often, but what this chart shows is that when there's a gun in the house, it becomes lethal. The total figures on suicides indicate that the gun is especially effective. Where there are fewer guns, there are fewer successful suicides. (source is CDC WISQARS 2003)

Busy Weekend in Buffalo

The Buffalo News reports on several shootings which took place over the weekend leaving two dead.

Two young men were killed Saturday in separate shootings in Buffalo.

In both cases, gunfire appears to have been used to settle a dispute.

David D. Price, 18, of Dartmouth Avenue, was fatally shot early Saturday during an argument on the first block of Schreck Avenue in the city’s Bailey-Delavan area, police said.

More than 12 hours later, Jamal Palmer, 22, of Bissell Avenue, was fatally shot in the head while sitting on a porch in the Genesee-Moselle area.

In addition to the two fatalities, there were a couple others wounded.

Shortly after 5 p.m. Friday, two young men were wounded while sitting on a porch at 59 Emerson Place, between Michigan and Masten avenues in the Masten District.

DeGeorge said Eric Hemphill, 20, who was struck in the upper body, remained in critical condition Saturday in ECMC. Marcus Young, 19, also of Buffalo, was treated in ECMC for a wrist wound.

To me it sounds like there are too many guns in the hands of too many people who shouldn't have them. What do you think? If gun control people had their way, and the availability of firearms were severely diminished, do you suppose the results would have been the same? Would these bad boys have done as much damage with knives, as has been suggested around here?

Where do you suppose the guns are coming from? Don't you think they started out in the legal market, owned legitimately by some lawful gun owner and then somehow transferred into the criminal world? Isn't that how it happens? Wouldn't that implicate the foolish gun owners who allow their guns to become part of the black market? Would this sharing of guilt and responsibility only apply to those who exercised negligence, for example, the guy who doesn't secure his guns properly and as a result they get stolen too easily?

What's your opinion?

Louisville Police Officer Charged with Domestic Violence

WAVE3.com out of Louisville Kentucky reports on the domestic violence charges of one of their policemen.

The wife of a Louisville Metro Police Lieutenant who says he beat her two weeks ago while on vacation in Florida has filed for divorce. Sheri Fifer filed the papers for dissolution of marriage in Clark Superior Court on Monday.

WAVE 3 has obtained a copy of the petition for dissolution of marriage and it shows that Shari Fifer as asking for full custody of their three children including child support.

Jerald Fifer is being charged with false imprisonment, domestic violence and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

The story brings up some questions for me. When we talk about 50 million or 80 million lawful gun owners, are we including cops? Are we including security guards? How does that work?

If they're included, a guy like this, if he's guilty, would be a good example of the 10%ers who so often go bad. Wouldn't he?

Another question occurred to me about this. Are policemen held to the same standard as other citizens as far as losing their right to bear arms, and therefore their jobs, when convicted of domestic violence? In some states even a misdemeanor of this type can result in the loss of rights. What about for the cops?

One part of the article made me sceptical. It sounded so outrageous as to be incredible.

According to court documents he allegedly pulled out a weapon and then hit, kicked and strangled his wife while she was driving.

What do you think? What's your opinion? I think the normal procedure is for the department to conduct an investigation to determine if there is merit to the charges, then to decide on suspension or some other administrative interim solution. It's during that process that they erect the "blue wall of silence" and strive to find a way to circumvent the usual and sensible conclusion. Or, do you think that doesn't happen at all and I'm just biased against cops?

Maybe it would help if Officer Jerald Fifer attended religious services at Pastor Pagano's church. What do you think?

Please leave a comment.

Gun Flow into Mexico - Part 3

The New American site reports on the latest efforts in Houston to stem the tide of weapons flowing from that city into Mexico.

At the behest of the Mexican government, federal agents are scouring the streets of Houston in search of guns and information. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives recently sent 100 agents from around the country to do the job. The plan is part of the ATF’s project Gunrunner, the agency’s battle plan to slow the flow of American guns into Mexico.

I couldn't help but notice the famous 90% figure was missing. Why do you think that is? Is this New American site known for more accurate and non-inflammatory reporting? Or could it be that finally the claim that 90% of the Mexican guns come from America is being recognized as too high? For me it's much preferred because in any report which contains the 90% claim, the pro-gun commenters immediately become more concerned with it than with the substance of the report, which is basically the same. Too many guns are moving from America to Mexico.

As an example of the kinds of leads these 100 additional ATF agents are following up on, the article offered this.

One of their targets, according to the Houston Chronicle report, was a police officer. “He said he bought a few military-style rifles, left them in his car and — on the same night — forgot to lock a door. He couldn’t explain why he didn’t file a police report or why he visited Mexico the day after the alleged theft.” Another tip led them to a pastor’s house who said he bought two pistols for target practice.

What's your opinion? Do you think it's right to investigate situations like these? Wouldn't stricter controls such as background checks for all transactions eliminate much of this problem?

Is it all a big waste of time, given the Iknadosian case? Even when overwhelming evidence that a particular FFL gun dealer is supplying this market, convictions are not forthcoming.

Please tell us what you think?