U.S. vs Norway in Gun Deaths

via Alan Colmes

via Dennis Henigan at the Brady Campaign

There are some in America who will use this shooting to assert that Norway's strong gun laws don't work or to support the American gun lobby's campaign to make it easier to carry guns in public places.  That would be a tragedy. It should not be forgotten that, in a typical year, Norway loses fewer than 10 of its citizens to gun homicide; America loses an average of 12,000.

Since the Norway massacre, there have been at least four mass shootings in the U.S., leaving six dead at a roller rink in Texas, one dead and eight wounded in Stockton, CA, nine teens wounded at a party in Florida, and seven wounded at a Casino in Seattle.  Our hearts go out to these victims and their loved ones as well.

Whereas a mass shooting in Norway is an extraordinary event, it is a regular occurrence in America. Whereas 84 shooting deaths in a single day is a historic event in Norway, described by the nation's prime minister as a 'national disaster,'  84 dead is essentially the everyday toll of fatal gun violence in America.

I think we're on the same page with Mr. Henigan. What do you think?

Please leave a comment.

I'm Always Correct; It's a Gift

The world's best beer.

Period.

Hitler on Glenn Beck

via Democratic Underground

Cenk on the Economy

via Democratic Underground

The better he gets the more he reminds me of George Carlin.

Getting to Know Doc Holliday

via The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence where you'll find a wonderful interview with Mary Doria Russell author of Doc.

It turns out the famous participant in the shootout at the OK Corrall was not such a gunman after all.

In 1880, a year before the famous gunfight, he got into an argument with the gambler Johnny Tyler over who was allowed to run card games in which Tombstone saloons. Milt Joyce decided to end the argument by picking Doc up bodily and flinging him into the street. Infuriated, Doc obtained a gun (it was illegal to carry one in Tombstone), returned to the saloon and emptied the revolver, hitting Joyce in the palm and a bartender in the big toe. I'm not downplaying those injuries—Milt Joyce almost lost the hand, and the bartender was lamed—but they are hardly evidence of deadly accuracy.

The final question and answer of the interview I especially enjoyed.

Do you still own a gun or have one in your house?

My dad always wanted me to keep a pistol in the house “for protection.” I always told him, “I believe in statistics. Any bullet fired in the middle of the night by a startled, stupefied homeowner is more likely to hit a family member, a pet, or a neighbor in the house next door than an alert intruder.”

A few years ago, my father—an ex-Marine, career policeman, five-term sheriff—was showing a pistol to one of the grandkids. It went off and the bullet went through the sliding glass door and into the neighbor's back yard. Dad was stunned and said, as people always do, “I was sure the gun wasn't loaded.”

It was: Q.E.D.

So no guns in my house. But I have a very ferocious dachshund.

What's your opinion? Please leave a comment.

15 Victories for the Good Guys

 via States United to Prevent Gun Violence

As most state legislature's sessions come to an end The Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus reports that 15 states defeated guns on campus legislation. The biggest defeats came in Arizona, Louisiana, Nevada, and Texas. "For the most part our side prevailed, despite huge odds in places like Arizona and Texas" said Andy Pelosi, director of The Campaign.

You know what it is? It's the Peter Principle of gun-rights ascendancy.  I hope they've enjoyed themselves and stocked up enough, because it's all down hill from here.

What's your opinion?  Please leave a comment.

Indianapolis Gun Shop Robbed

Indystar.com reports

Police last week seized 485 guns and $107,000 in cash from Williams' home.

Investigators also found gun accessories in two storage units Williams used. Prosecutors say he had $200,000 stashed in several bank accounts.

Hilton estimated that Williams took more than $300,000 in guns and gun accessories and $1 million or more in cash.

Should the owner of the gun store be responsible for any of that? Yes, indeed.

How else can we expect gun shop owners to be properly careful about whom they hire? Some of them obviously are not sufficiently motivated by the potential losses, they need to be constrained by law to be more diligent.

It's the same with the home owner who leaves unsecured weapons around the house and then shrugs his shoulders when they're stolen, saying "It wasn't my fault."

What's your opinion? Please leave a comment.