kel

Averett,
Because we know that Washington DC and New York don't have the highest crime rate of most any city in the US. If you aren't picking up on the sarcasm they do.

Washington DC has more violent crime involving firearms then almost every city in the nation of similar population density. That is to say it has more crime then most every city period. Heck of alot more then we have in Seattle, a Shall Issue state where every citizen has the right to carry a firearm on their person. Interestingly enough, Washington DC is also a city that bans handguns.

What we should be learning from this is that handguns and "assault weapons" are not the problem. Taking them away won't fix anything. Don't believe me? Look at Britain. Crime of all kinds in Britain are out of control. It's so bad that they have to outlaw "assault knives." People under the age of 18 will not be allowed to buy knives of any kind under a new proposed law. (Doesn't affect all of Britain, only areas where knifing is a problem, think 7500 incidents a year)

And the sad thing is that you won't read what I have to say, you won't check the statistics published by the FBI, CDC, NIH, or any of the tens of other acronyms that can all tell you the same story.

The problem is a social and economic one. Gun control treats the symptoms but not the underlying disorder. Think Clinical Medicine vs. Homeopathic treatment. Treat the disease not the symptom. Taking away one tool is like treating a fever with a fever reducer. It lowers the fever for a time or not at all and doesn't stop the virus from eating away at your body. I can't beat that analogy to death it so fundamental to understanding the problem and working on a solution.

Look at what has been accomplished with sex education. Sex is a far more basic desire that everyone experiences. The teenage pregnancy rate is at an all time low due to the greater availibility of sex education and birth control. It hasn't reached some segments of the population (we all know who they are) but we can hope to do better with more research into why certain people aren't being reached.

I agree with Guthmund, the problem here is not the firearm nor the fact that he had it with him while fishing. It's obvious that person has not had the training necessary to form a proper mindset for concealed carry. Carrying an unloaded firearm off his person and not in his direct control? Concealed carry should require regular training, bi-yearly at least with a minimum of 6-8 hours of class time. And for christs sake make it federal law! That would go a long way towards resolving many of these incidents before they arise.


DANG IT... and here I am looking like an idiot with on stats or documentation links... I will repost in this thread at some point to various reports on what really goes on in this country.


Okay last edit I swear!!

Here it is, no whing about the guys extreme views and tin foil hat. His numbers crunch which is all that counts.
http://www.tinyvital.com/BlogArchives/000220.html

And another unrelated piece I just found that was interesting
http://www.tinyvital.com/BlogArchives/000834.html

Don't despair, more facts are coming to compare cities across america. Specifically I want to look at murder rates on one axis and gun ownership on the other. Not an easy thing to write up.

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