People latch onto good ideas and good things happen, unfortunately they are just as likely to stumble upon bad ideas.
Gun rights or gun control?
It's amazing how many news stories there are about gun 'accidents' and 'shootings'; it's no wonder so many people fear guns. The media is making money sensationalizing these stories. If guns truly were inherently 'evil' and the cause of violence in America, why aren't the authorities do something about this problem? The answer is, there's not. Guns are not the problem. Bad people are the problem.
Let's set aside all the hype and sensationalism and lets take a rational and realistic look at the role of firearms in America.
The media. So why is it that there are so many news stories about guns in America? There is no doubt that Americans have a fascination with firearms. It's part of our heritage and history, after all without guns, there would be no America today. Our fascination with guns is why they are so popular in museums, in movies and found in nearly every home in our great country. This is also something the media recognizes and they use it to their advantage. The real reason there are so many news stories about violence with guns can be summed up in one word... ratings. Drama makes money. The more a story is sensationalized, the more compelling it becomes. We, as a society love drama, why do you think so many people watch Jerry Springer?
When it comes to firearms you hardly ever hear how they are used to deter criminals, or stop people doing violent acts. You always hear about 'guns in the streets', people being 'blown away' or a 'brutal attack with a gun'. This is sensationalism. So the next time you hear about a dangerous gun related catastrophe, remember that in the totality, a disproportional amount of attention is being paid because it is generating money.
The real danger. Statistically about 13 children die a year as a result of a vending machine falling on them, but people aren't out trying to pass laws to mandate bolting vending machines to the ground. Heck, about 450 people will die this year just falling out of bed, just living in this world is a very dangerous business. http://www.oddee.com/item_98002.aspx
Yes, statistics can be manipulated to make an argument in favor or against anything, so what are the facts? Odds are you almost certainly are going to die in your golden years by heart disease, cancer, or some other disease just like everyone else. Pretty boring stuff. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/lcod.htm But for those that want to sensationalize and make some money, lets go ahead and focus on accidents and murder. In all of 2011, approximately 2.5 million people died. Only a tiny fraction of them died (120,859) due to any unintentional injury (aka by accident). Only 16,259 were actually murdered; and the majority of them were murdered by criminals using firearms, mostly handguns.
Violence in American largely happens in major cities.
In the FBI's Uniform Crime Report (UCR) examining cause of death from 2000-2009 you can see some obvious trends. The bottom line, is most victims of 'gun violence' are also criminals themselves. http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s0310.pdf
How does race figure in on all this? I'll let you read the data and decide for yourself, but fair warning, it isn't pretty...
Gun rights. Since the failed assignation attempt of Ronald Reagan, and the anti-gun mobilization that led to the useless 'Brady Bill' in 1993, there has been a number of anti-gun groups cropping up. I believe that the majority of the people participating in and contributing to these groups are well meaning, but misinformed. The methods and opinions of many of these groups tends to be on the extreme side; often portraying guns as evil and gun owners as irresponsible. We know their tactics, demonize guns, make gun ownership as difficult, expensive and legally complicated as possible to discourage ownership. More insidiously some are using tactics aimed at children to make them fear guns in an effort to disassociate guns from the American culture for a generation. They seek to brain wash people into simply thinking of guns = bad.
If they can achieve this, it will be much easier to pass even more onerous laws, to achieve their ultimate goal of eliminating all firearms except in the most restrictive and controlled circumstances (like in the UK now, where it took 14 minutes for an armed police officer to shoot and stop two violent radical muslims).
There is an alarming number of people today that believe that you are better off unarmed and a victim, than defending yourself against violent criminals. These people think we live in a utopia, and I believe some of them are so afraid of guns because they don't trust themselves with them so they don't want you to have one either. Most people who have grown up with guns understand they are just tools and use them responsibly with little or no fanfare. So the point of my rant is that the anti-gun movement is really a front to make money, for the media, the entertainment industry and politicians. Politicians have made one of the most common and important tools in the American tool box a political object to invoke fear and raise money... from both sides. Every time there is a tragic shooting there is a small parade of people that rush in front of cameras to tell everyone what happened and how 'gun violence' is the problem. Ever wonder who these people are, what qualifications they have to speak, or if they have any experience with the very thing they are trying to legislate away? Their opinions are often idealistic and have nothing to do with the real world. They use emotional arguments and exaggerate the danger of firearms, they want you to believe that every argument will turn into a shoot-out and that guns endanger our police and families. The volume of research is growing, and we are finding the opposite is true; law-abiding citizens using firearms responsibly deter crime and make you and your family safer, it really is a personal choice.
To ignore or condemn firearms as a legitimate and effective self-defense tool is near sighted. To severely limit the availability of firearms and ability of citizens from carrying them for any legitimate purpose, especially self-defense is irresponsible and morally reprehensible. The police can not be everywhere all the time, nor do we want to live in a police state; your best defense against violent criminals is you... with a gun. Forget all the propaganda you've heard and look at the big picture; we need to take immediate steps to right the wrongs that have already been committed.
Firearm ambassadors. We know that the trend in America has been to allow more law-abiding citizens to carry firearms unless they are disqualified for good reason (i.e. felons, illegals, habitual drug/drunks, etc.); these are called 'Shall Issue' laws. We know that in every state that has become 'Shall Issue' there has not been an increase in violent crime, the evidence indicates violent crime generally goes down; is there a correlation? Who knows, but we do know that it must be working because every state that has gone 'Shall Issue' has not gone back to the more restrictive 'May Issue' (like Maryland), or 'No Issue'.
It's important to realize that people are only going to save what they care about. They are only going to care about what they know and what they understand. As a society we are becoming more urbanized and people are losing that connection with firearms and shooting sports that we have always enjoyed. It's not just happening here in Maryland, or the US, it's happening all over the world. Most people don't even realize that there are people with guns concealed around them, literally within shooting distance, nearly ever moment they are in public. At the mall, tot-lot, at the grocery store, community picnic; virtually everywhere, all the time. They don't realize that they are safer because there are numerous lawfully armed citizens around. The only people likely to abide by the so called 'No gun zone', is a law-abiding citizen. For criminals, everywhere is a no-gun-zone so putting up a sign has no affect on them what-so-ever. People who don't own guns, or have no experience with them have absolutely no desire to help protect their rights, or our rights to own and possess them. So we need to introduce more citizens to the awesome experience of shooting a firearm. Every new gun owner becomes a new firearms ambassador. To defend our rights, public education and awareness is paramount.
So the next logical question is, how do we make people aware of the situation? Nothing is going to get and keep peoples attention like participating in shooting sports. Everything from youth rifle programs such as the 'Apple Seed Project' to adult tactical pistol and 3-Gun competitions. The personal and emotional impact of safely manipulating and shooting a firearm well is a rewarding and character building exercise. Each of us as firearms ambassadors has the opportunity to inspire the public to help conserve our heritage, our rights and self-reliant and independent way of life; in a way that no amount of literature is ever going to do.
Again for those that may have fallen for the anti-gun propaganda, it is not an atrocity for responsible children to be introduced to shooting sports under the careful supervision of an adult. We need our children to be safe at home, school, and where they play. All children should be given fundamental firearms safety and awareness training.
The future. Even though we are facing some serious threats to our rights at the moment, there is good cause for hope. First we are able to understand our past and recognize our current situation. The fact that we understand there is a problem is a giant first step to fixing it. Secondly there are some good people out there doing good work. These people have dedicated significant parts of their lives educating, and defending our rights. Keep in mind there is no one right way to advocate for gun rights; sometimes we are our own worst critics. It will take a lot more of us standing up, and lending a hand to do what must be done. We must all do our part to protect the rights and ability of the next generation to own, be protected by, and enjoy firearm ownership. I understand that not everyone enjoys the same passion for a well made swiss-watch or exotic firearm; but if you are unable to help, please don't make it harder for the people that are helping.
"Condemnation without investigation is the height of ignorance." -Albert E.
For those people who have a genuine desire to make a difference, I urge you to take an active role in protecting the right to self-defense and firearm ownership. If we all do our part we can insure guns are enjoyed by future generations. We can help to make Maryland the place that it once was and that we now hope that it again, one day will be.
Gun rights or gun control?
It's amazing how many news stories there are about gun 'accidents' and 'shootings'; it's no wonder so many people fear guns. The media is making money sensationalizing these stories. If guns truly were inherently 'evil' and the cause of violence in America, why aren't the authorities do something about this problem? The answer is, there's not. Guns are not the problem. Bad people are the problem.
Let's set aside all the hype and sensationalism and lets take a rational and realistic look at the role of firearms in America.
The media. So why is it that there are so many news stories about guns in America? There is no doubt that Americans have a fascination with firearms. It's part of our heritage and history, after all without guns, there would be no America today. Our fascination with guns is why they are so popular in museums, in movies and found in nearly every home in our great country. This is also something the media recognizes and they use it to their advantage. The real reason there are so many news stories about violence with guns can be summed up in one word... ratings. Drama makes money. The more a story is sensationalized, the more compelling it becomes. We, as a society love drama, why do you think so many people watch Jerry Springer?
When it comes to firearms you hardly ever hear how they are used to deter criminals, or stop people doing violent acts. You always hear about 'guns in the streets', people being 'blown away' or a 'brutal attack with a gun'. This is sensationalism. So the next time you hear about a dangerous gun related catastrophe, remember that in the totality, a disproportional amount of attention is being paid because it is generating money.
The real danger. Statistically about 13 children die a year as a result of a vending machine falling on them, but people aren't out trying to pass laws to mandate bolting vending machines to the ground. Heck, about 450 people will die this year just falling out of bed, just living in this world is a very dangerous business. http://www.oddee.com/item_98002.aspx
Yes, statistics can be manipulated to make an argument in favor or against anything, so what are the facts? Odds are you almost certainly are going to die in your golden years by heart disease, cancer, or some other disease just like everyone else. Pretty boring stuff. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/lcod.htm But for those that want to sensationalize and make some money, lets go ahead and focus on accidents and murder. In all of 2011, approximately 2.5 million people died. Only a tiny fraction of them died (120,859) due to any unintentional injury (aka by accident). Only 16,259 were actually murdered; and the majority of them were murdered by criminals using firearms, mostly handguns.
Violence in American largely happens in major cities.
In the FBI's Uniform Crime Report (UCR) examining cause of death from 2000-2009 you can see some obvious trends. The bottom line, is most victims of 'gun violence' are also criminals themselves. http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s0310.pdf
How does race figure in on all this? I'll let you read the data and decide for yourself, but fair warning, it isn't pretty...
Gun rights. Since the failed assignation attempt of Ronald Reagan, and the anti-gun mobilization that led to the useless 'Brady Bill' in 1993, there has been a number of anti-gun groups cropping up. I believe that the majority of the people participating in and contributing to these groups are well meaning, but misinformed. The methods and opinions of many of these groups tends to be on the extreme side; often portraying guns as evil and gun owners as irresponsible. We know their tactics, demonize guns, make gun ownership as difficult, expensive and legally complicated as possible to discourage ownership. More insidiously some are using tactics aimed at children to make them fear guns in an effort to disassociate guns from the American culture for a generation. They seek to brain wash people into simply thinking of guns = bad.
If they can achieve this, it will be much easier to pass even more onerous laws, to achieve their ultimate goal of eliminating all firearms except in the most restrictive and controlled circumstances (like in the UK now, where it took 14 minutes for an armed police officer to shoot and stop two violent radical muslims).
There is an alarming number of people today that believe that you are better off unarmed and a victim, than defending yourself against violent criminals. These people think we live in a utopia, and I believe some of them are so afraid of guns because they don't trust themselves with them so they don't want you to have one either. Most people who have grown up with guns understand they are just tools and use them responsibly with little or no fanfare. So the point of my rant is that the anti-gun movement is really a front to make money, for the media, the entertainment industry and politicians. Politicians have made one of the most common and important tools in the American tool box a political object to invoke fear and raise money... from both sides. Every time there is a tragic shooting there is a small parade of people that rush in front of cameras to tell everyone what happened and how 'gun violence' is the problem. Ever wonder who these people are, what qualifications they have to speak, or if they have any experience with the very thing they are trying to legislate away? Their opinions are often idealistic and have nothing to do with the real world. They use emotional arguments and exaggerate the danger of firearms, they want you to believe that every argument will turn into a shoot-out and that guns endanger our police and families. The volume of research is growing, and we are finding the opposite is true; law-abiding citizens using firearms responsibly deter crime and make you and your family safer, it really is a personal choice.
To ignore or condemn firearms as a legitimate and effective self-defense tool is near sighted. To severely limit the availability of firearms and ability of citizens from carrying them for any legitimate purpose, especially self-defense is irresponsible and morally reprehensible. The police can not be everywhere all the time, nor do we want to live in a police state; your best defense against violent criminals is you... with a gun. Forget all the propaganda you've heard and look at the big picture; we need to take immediate steps to right the wrongs that have already been committed.
Firearm ambassadors. We know that the trend in America has been to allow more law-abiding citizens to carry firearms unless they are disqualified for good reason (i.e. felons, illegals, habitual drug/drunks, etc.); these are called 'Shall Issue' laws. We know that in every state that has become 'Shall Issue' there has not been an increase in violent crime, the evidence indicates violent crime generally goes down; is there a correlation? Who knows, but we do know that it must be working because every state that has gone 'Shall Issue' has not gone back to the more restrictive 'May Issue' (like Maryland), or 'No Issue'.
It's important to realize that people are only going to save what they care about. They are only going to care about what they know and what they understand. As a society we are becoming more urbanized and people are losing that connection with firearms and shooting sports that we have always enjoyed. It's not just happening here in Maryland, or the US, it's happening all over the world. Most people don't even realize that there are people with guns concealed around them, literally within shooting distance, nearly ever moment they are in public. At the mall, tot-lot, at the grocery store, community picnic; virtually everywhere, all the time. They don't realize that they are safer because there are numerous lawfully armed citizens around. The only people likely to abide by the so called 'No gun zone', is a law-abiding citizen. For criminals, everywhere is a no-gun-zone so putting up a sign has no affect on them what-so-ever. People who don't own guns, or have no experience with them have absolutely no desire to help protect their rights, or our rights to own and possess them. So we need to introduce more citizens to the awesome experience of shooting a firearm. Every new gun owner becomes a new firearms ambassador. To defend our rights, public education and awareness is paramount.
So the next logical question is, how do we make people aware of the situation? Nothing is going to get and keep peoples attention like participating in shooting sports. Everything from youth rifle programs such as the 'Apple Seed Project' to adult tactical pistol and 3-Gun competitions. The personal and emotional impact of safely manipulating and shooting a firearm well is a rewarding and character building exercise. Each of us as firearms ambassadors has the opportunity to inspire the public to help conserve our heritage, our rights and self-reliant and independent way of life; in a way that no amount of literature is ever going to do.
Again for those that may have fallen for the anti-gun propaganda, it is not an atrocity for responsible children to be introduced to shooting sports under the careful supervision of an adult. We need our children to be safe at home, school, and where they play. All children should be given fundamental firearms safety and awareness training.
The future. Even though we are facing some serious threats to our rights at the moment, there is good cause for hope. First we are able to understand our past and recognize our current situation. The fact that we understand there is a problem is a giant first step to fixing it. Secondly there are some good people out there doing good work. These people have dedicated significant parts of their lives educating, and defending our rights. Keep in mind there is no one right way to advocate for gun rights; sometimes we are our own worst critics. It will take a lot more of us standing up, and lending a hand to do what must be done. We must all do our part to protect the rights and ability of the next generation to own, be protected by, and enjoy firearm ownership. I understand that not everyone enjoys the same passion for a well made swiss-watch or exotic firearm; but if you are unable to help, please don't make it harder for the people that are helping.
"Condemnation without investigation is the height of ignorance." -Albert E.
For those people who have a genuine desire to make a difference, I urge you to take an active role in protecting the right to self-defense and firearm ownership. If we all do our part we can insure guns are enjoyed by future generations. We can help to make Maryland the place that it once was and that we now hope that it again, one day will be.
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