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How many more times will we have to witness these terrorists from within? These "random" killings seem to happen more and more often. This week alone, there have been three high profile shootings, with at least six people dead. The death toll in the Lancaster County, PA "Amish" killings may go up to seven.
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The FBI's Crime in the United States Report estimated that 67% of the 16,503 murders in 2003 were committed with firearms, or, over 10,000 murders.
Two months ago, two friends of our family were killed when hiking, shot by an unknown murderer. I wrote about the second amendment again, which elicited these comments:
Law abiding citizens giving up the right to own guns will not magically rid the world of criminals or guns. Keeping the right and (more importantly) exercising it, will, however, give innocent people the ability to defend themselves.
By Anonymous, at 7/28/2006 11:15 AM
The number of innocent people defending themselves is miniscule compared to the number of innocent people being murdered. The innocents all currently have the right to pack heat.The deterrent effect is complete and utter horseshit.I'm not really talking about giving up rights; I'm talking about extending our rights--by locking up every gun nut who refuses to surrender his weaponry.
By Jack Brummet, at 7/28/2006 12:37 PM
Your facts are not correct. Studies show there are about 2.5 million defensive gun uses per year in the united states ... people defending themselves from those who would do them harm.
By Anonymous, at 7/28/2006 1:59 PM
Yeah, that's the cops. I'll still let them keep their guns. . .until there is no longer any need!This argument--that if everyone was packing heat we'd all live in blissful harmony is not only disingenuous, but flat out crazy talk.
By Jack Brummet, at 7/28/2006 10:41 PM
Wrong again. That is ordinary citizens defending themselves. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but to have any worth, an opinion should be an informed opinion based on the facts.You clearly do not have a handle on the facts or really understand the issue. As a result, your opinion is just random babble.No rational person believes that crime or violence can be eliminated with any “silver bullet”, but, just because you would like to give up your right to defend yourself, does not mean that everyone should. I will be able to defend myself and my family if the need should ever arise, whether in a parking lot or hiking, whether against a person or a wild animal. I doubt you will be.If your friend was prepared to defend herself, say may well be alive today. It obviously would not be a guarantee, but at least she would have had a chance to protect herself and her daughter. It is a tragedy that she was not prepared.
By Anonymous, at 7/29/2006 1:41 PM
Disregarding your insults, we can pass half-baked theories back and forth all we want. For every argument that you gun guys come up with about how more guns=less crime (and you come up with plenty), there’s a more valid argument that they don’t. It’s time to make a reasonable conclusion about whether guns are safe or not. And the most reasonable conclusion is that, well, things designed to kill people are just not inherently safe. With no guns around, we just might find out that we just don't need them anymore.
By Jack Brummet, at 7/30/2006 12:31 AM
In December, 20004, I wrote about the tragic killing of "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott of the band Damageplan in a nightclub in Columbus. Many of the comments (see below) on this article focused on how more guns would make us safer:
Ralph said...
Both sick biscuits were sick on hearing the trash these people produce. Both got close enough to have killed the person with a knife or baseball bat...The gun is irrelevant.Ralph (not a memeber of the NRA) - but one who fears liberals more than guns.
4:49 PM, December 09, 2004
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Jack Brummet said...
I'm pretty sure you have never listened to Damageplan, and, OK, I'll respect your right to think the Beatles produced trash. Yeah, you're not in the NRA. You're saying that these guys could have done the same damage with a knife or baseball bat? Possibly. I'm not sure the guy could have killed five people with a knife. Isn't that being a little disingenuous? At least Abbott would have possibly had a fighting chance. He might have run. Or ducked. "The gun is irrelevant." For a guy who has called me "stupid" elsewhere, you don't seem all that swift yourself. But you write OK for a mouth-breather. 6:26 PM, December 09, 2004
Monkey said...
I was very saddened by this news - having been a fan of Dime - but I tell ya - it never crossed my mind or a SECOND that guns were to be blamed - I'm not in the NRA but can see where if more people packed guns this kind of thing would be a lot less likely to happen. - An armed society is a polite society.I'm sure you don't see it that way - it's interesting to read an opposing view though - you write well. Have a great weekend.
9:54 PM, December 09, 2004
Michael Morrison said...
There are people who claim the "music" (sorry, but I find most of the current noise not really music, but I also recognize that is an opinion, not one I would force on others) played by today's bands causes violence. Should, therefore, that so-called "music" be banned? There are smarter people who say "guns cause crime just as flies cause garbage." In truth, owning a gun is the same human right as owning, say, a DVD. A free human being has the right to OWN anything he has honestly acquired, whether it's a gun or a recording (even one most of us find distasteful) or a Bible or a plant. If one insists on laws controlling behavior, then the only rational and moral law is one against acts that initiate force or fraud; that is, one can properly advocate laws against killing or stealing or driving under the influence ... but NOT against ownership of ANYthing honestly acquired.
10:15 PM, December 09, 2004
Jack Brummet said...
Hi Monkey - The previous commentator pointed out a baseball bat could have done as much damage. But to kill four people would have required much more energy, and time, than standing and pulling the trigger. So, in a way, I agree with you AND the NRA..."guns don't kill, people kill." But people kill with guns. Israel has a handgun murder rate one sixth of ours, even though they are heavily armed. Switzerland, where virtually everyone owns a gun has about one third the murders we do. Most murders are crimes of passion, and the people who carry them out are not deterred by the consequences (like the killer last night, or a terrorist in Israel). I'd just like to hamstring them a little. /jack
10:21 PM, December 09, 2004
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Monkey said...
Jack:True, true - it'd be some work to kill 4 people with a bat - but it could be done.Interesting facts you point out about Israel & Switzerland - it's amazing how a country can be so well behaved with so many guns - I have no answer to that - it's a mystery I guess. I guess we Americans are just a little more crazy or something - but I'd not have it any other way - crazy or not, I love our country even if we waste each other ever now and again.But I still feel SAFER knowing that so many of my fellow Americans are packing - because I still feel there's more GOOD people in the world than bad - and I want good people to have and carry guns freely - if nothing else so they can waste away idiots like the guy last night, or the clown that comes into McDonald's blowing away innocent people. I will always feel safer with guns all around me - even though that sounds warped probably to you and others I feel they're a GOOD tool in the right hands. (Like in the hands of the cop at that concert who probably saved a lot of lives) Off to beddy-by-land. Good night.
10:50 PM, December 09, 2004
Jack Brummet said...
Well, I guess we agree to disagree. For me it is about proportion. . .People with bats or knives don't do a lot of collateral damage. Someone with a semi-automatic weapon and a pocketful of clips could kill dozens of people. Tjis guy killed at least four before he even reloaded. I didn't look it up, but I know there are statistics about how many crimes are actually thwarted by people carrying guns. The last I heard, I believe was that far far more people are killed than saved by guns.
10:01 AM, December 10, 2004
Anonymous said...
Guns make us safer Jack, the same way having nuclear missiles kept the Russians away and you'll probably never believe that. You talked about the low rates of killings in Switzerland and Israel, and you were right.
1:42 PM, December 10, 2004
Stephen Clarke-Willson said...
BTW, the article was this: http://www.hillsdale.edu/newimprimis/2004/september/default.htm
4:45 PM, December 13, 2004
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