The Political Football

Penigma said:

...the 2nd amendment pretty clearly was enacted as a protection against that. Equally clear, though, is that such a protection is moot and when used to justify the extension of our "gun culture" it runs counter to the best interests of all of us. I would not see the right to bear arms stripped, but neither am I so foolish as to think it is anything more than a political football used to "gin up" those who put a little too much importance in being able to walk around with a .45 on their hip talking about liberty while they vote to deny such liberties as they desire to many others.

I responded:

Pen, Thanks for that wonderful description. I go a bit further myself in disparaging the value of the 2nd Amendment in today's world, but essentially you said it just right for me.

What do you think? Please leave a comment.

Anti-Abortion / Pro-Gun States

via Norwegianity from Crooks and Liars

If we changed the heading to "Pro-gun States" no one would notice.

The weird thing is how the pro-gun crowd is constantly harping about their rights. They also claim to not be racist or homophobic, so I guess it boils down to this, gunowners, gays, blacks and fetuses all have rights. Women do not.

What's your opinion? Please leave a comment.

Arma Virumque Cano

Laci explains it all.

Since my Latin was rusty after over 35 years, I thought it would be “Armed Man and Dog”, which would be something more like “Armatus canus virumque”.

It actually comes from the beginning of Virgil’s Aeneid:

arma virumque cano, Troiae qui primus ab oris

Italiam fato profugus Laviniaque venit

“I sing of arms and the man, who, at first (exiled by fate) from the shores of Troy, came to Italy and the Lavinian shores…”

I still like “armed man and dog” as a perfect description of the US.

I like that "armed man and dog" too.

I am the NRA

Getting Your Fetish from Auto to Home is Hard

Alabama:

BCSO said Jones told investigators that he had removed his Glock .40 handgun from the glove box of his truck and was walking through a screened porch area attached to the main house when he tripped and fell.

Jones had reportedly shot himself in his left leg just above the knee. His wife was upstairs bathing their young son when he called her for help.
Jones' wife ran to her husband where she tried to secure the gun, however, their son reached the gun first. As Aleisha Jones tried take the gun away from the boy the pistol fired one round. The bullet struck the child's mother in the neck.

So, How's that CCW Working for You?

Goshen, IN:

But when Jay Byler turned to help Brooklyn take off her snow gear, a gun that he had taken from his truck and placed in his coat pocket to safely secure in their house, apparently dropped out of his pocket and discharged.

A bullet struck Karlee in her head and she died.

This represents perhaps the greatest "victory" for the NRA--the fact this guy will get off with nothing but sympathy.  A man who becomes a meth addict and neglects his kids is probably going to lose his children to family services.  But some dude with a gun fetish that winds up killing his kid gets sympathy.

US/UK Comparison

Comparing 2006 figures.

In the United States, the annual rate of firearm homicide per 100,000 population is 3.36.

In the United Kingdom, the annual rate of firearm homicide per 100,000 population is 0.08.

To put it plainly, you are about 40 times more likely to be a gun homicide victim in the US than the UK.

In the United States, the annual rate of homicide by any means per 100,000 population is 5.62.
In the United Kingdom, the annual rate of homicide by any means per 100,000 population is 1.8.

So, when you hear gunloons like the dishonest Joe Huffman claim international comparisons mean nothing--it simply isn't true.