Just for fun let's imagine that at 17 seconds we have a glimpse of Linoge, Mike W. and Joe Huffman peeking into a gun control gathering, rewarded a short time later with the sight of what they knew all along, Paul Helmke in red robes.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Nobody Can Spin It Like Prof. Lott
Fox News published an article by John Lott which is well worth reading. Basically he says that gun control folks are lying when they suggest that misuse of firearms by concealed carry holders is significant. And those making the ridiculous claims, according to Lott, fail to mention the number of DGUs, which is significant.
So, not only is the number of cases incredibly small, "the vast majority were apparently for people who accidentally carried their concealed handgun into a gun-free zone." Now, that's what I call some fancy spinning.
Another problem I have with his description, aside from the fact that he's guessing at what the "vast majority" might be, is the fact that he fails to allow for all the lesser incidents. He's talking about people who have actually lost their permits, the worst of the worst.
When John Lott counts 2,5 million DGUs per year, he includes all the undocumented cases of simple brandishing of the weapon which supposedly prevented crimes. But, when he counts the concealed carry license holders who have misused their guns, he counts only the ones who have actually been convicted of a crime and have forfeited the license.
When he makes one argument he uses the loosest standard possible to include every case. When he makes the other argument, he counts only the worst of the worst in order to keep the numbers as low as possible.
That's what I call spinning. What's your opinion? Please leave a comment.
While the state doesn't provide a precise breakdown of the reason for those revocations, the vast majority were apparently for people who accidentally carried their concealed handgun into a gun-free zone, such as an airport or school.
Throughout the past 29 months, beginning January 2008, only three additional permit holders have had their permit revoked for a firearms-related violation. With more than 729,000 active permit holders, that is an annual revocation rate of 0.00017 percent.
So, not only is the number of cases incredibly small, "the vast majority were apparently for people who accidentally carried their concealed handgun into a gun-free zone." Now, that's what I call some fancy spinning.
Another problem I have with his description, aside from the fact that he's guessing at what the "vast majority" might be, is the fact that he fails to allow for all the lesser incidents. He's talking about people who have actually lost their permits, the worst of the worst.
When John Lott counts 2,5 million DGUs per year, he includes all the undocumented cases of simple brandishing of the weapon which supposedly prevented crimes. But, when he counts the concealed carry license holders who have misused their guns, he counts only the ones who have actually been convicted of a crime and have forfeited the license.
When he makes one argument he uses the loosest standard possible to include every case. When he makes the other argument, he counts only the worst of the worst in order to keep the numbers as low as possible.
That's what I call spinning. What's your opinion? Please leave a comment.
Chicago Cop Gets Probation
The Chicago Sun Times reports on the sentencing of an off-duty cop who pulled a gun on a cabbie over a fare dispute.
The article did not make it very clear if he lost his job and became a disqualified person for his trouble. Do you think a conviction for aggravated assault implies both those sanctions?
If that's the case, I don't have any problem with his not going to jail. What I oppose is the slap-on-the-wrist punishment which leaves the offender armed and dangerous.
What's your opinion? Please leave a comment.
An off-duty Chicago Police detective who pointed a gun at a cabbie over a fare dispute avoided jail time Thursday -- a resolution that angered the victim.
"I think they gave him a [break] because of his" job, cabbie Karl Clermont told the Chicago Sun-Times after the sentencing. "Any normal civilian who would pull a gun on a person would have gotten a jail sentence. I feel like he's a disgrace to the badge."
John Killackey faced up to one year in jail after being found guilty last month of aggravated assault and theft of service for the April 23, 2009, incident. Instead, Judge Thomas Byrne imposed 18 months' probation and 60 hours' community service.
The article did not make it very clear if he lost his job and became a disqualified person for his trouble. Do you think a conviction for aggravated assault implies both those sanctions?
If that's the case, I don't have any problem with his not going to jail. What I oppose is the slap-on-the-wrist punishment which leaves the offender armed and dangerous.
What's your opinion? Please leave a comment.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Hartmann and Lott
I wish Thom Hartmann would have let Dr. Lott speak a bit more, but he made a good point about the inequality.
Fr. Guido Sarducci on Glenn Beck
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