Michael Lind: Guns have never saved us

[Clipper Nation]

Forget the Second Amendment. If opponents of stricter regulation of assault weapons had the courage of their convictions, they wouldn’t hide behind legalistic interpretations of the Second Amendment to the federal cons ution.

And if gun control nuts had a strong argument, they wouldn't need to politicize every gun-related tragedy and make it a platform for their agenda....

[Winehole23]

wrt to the 1994 "assault weapons" ban: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...rss_ezra-klein

[Winehole23]

http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/research...ath/index.html

[boutons_deux]

the (temporary, soon to be silent) talk about banning assault weapons and high capacity clips is pretty useless.

I hear there's about 1M AR-15 type guns already sold and probably many Ms of high capacity clips.

The horses are already out of the barn.

There are some great gun-and-ammo control ideas around, but the NRA and Repugs will kill them all, later if not sooner.

[spursncowboys]

That article
1. uses a 10 year sample from 88-97. With gang violence higher than any other point in history. Drug-inspired crime higher than any other point in history.

2. Does not group crimes from guns used by criminals v. private citizens.


If I had more time, I would like to research and see the difference from two metro areas where one eased gun carrying and the other restricted it. (Houston v. DC) . Go by the percentage increase of crimes involving weapons. I don't think we have a good idea of the difference it would make though due to the laws even in places like Texas. I don't have a C&C permit but always have one in my car. Every single one of my friends who do have a permit, leave it in their car because most businesses don't allow you to have one in their property.

[Winehole23]

With gang violence higher than any other point in history. Drug-inspired crime higher than any other point in history.

prove it. violent crime is now at levels not seen since the mid-1960's. except for a few sacrifice zones, violent crime is down pretty much across the board.

[spursncowboys]

Prove what? That the late eighties to early nineties were the worst time in American history for gang violence and drug related crimes? I thought that was common knowledge. Come on dude. Gangs and crack.
Did you and CD change usernames?

[Xevious]

Gun ownership has crossed a threshold where the law is not sufficient to curtail the problem. They are far too engrained into our culture now, so stiffening regulations on their production or sale would only increase demand and funnel money to illegal gun manufacturers. Given how horrible drug cartels are, I can only imagine what a gun cartel feeding the demands of a gun-obsessed but gun-starved USA would wreak.

I'd love to go decades back and ban the production and sale of assault weapons... , I'd love to rid the whole planet of all guns... But that's just not feasible at this point. There are too many guns and too many people who know how to make them.

I'm not taking a hard-line stance against any gun control legislation, I just don't think we'll see much effect from legislation alone. We need a real cultural change in our at ude towards guns. That's the only thing that will reduce the demand for guns.

THIS.

Outlawing guns increasing regulations would cause organized crime to go through the roof. And that's the best case scenario at this point. The worst case would be all out civil war, because you'd have millions of people that would see themselves as a militia fighting against a government that was taking away their cons utional rights.

As you said, guns are too engrained in this country's culture. I'd love to hear people come up with solutions, but the fact is that guns are here to stay regardless of what regulations the federal government puts on them, and bad people are going to continue to use them to kill.

[spursncowboys]

THIS.

Outlawing guns increasing regulations would cause organized crime to go through the roof. And that's the best case scenario at this point. The worst case would be all out civil war, because you'd have millions of people that would see themselves as a militia fighting against a government that was taking away their cons utional rights.

As you said, guns are too engrained in this country's culture. I'd love to hear people come up with solutions, but the fact is that guns are here to stay regardless of what regulations the federal government puts on them, and bad people are going to continue to use them to kill.

I don't think the average american would be up in arms. It would probably be like marijuana. Most Americans would become criminals in definition and most local municipalities would become sympathetic and look the other way.

[Winehole23]

you're making a point about 30 years ago? have you considered any of the updates?

[spursncowboys]

you're making a point about 30 years ago? have you considered any of the updates?

I'm a little confused on what exactly you are talking about

[Nbadan]

The controlled study do ented in these videos show that concealed carry permit holders are fooling themselves if they think they will be able to react effectively to armed aggressors. Most CCW holders won't even be able to un-holster their gun. They will more likely be killed themselves or kill innocent bystanders than stop the aggressor. For more details, see "Unintended Consequences: Pro-Handgun Experts Prove That Handguns Are a Dangerous Choice for Self-Defense.

[DMX7]

But packin' heat is fo da kool kids. I'll never give up my guns!

[The Reckoning]

meh i dont like the sighting on ar15s. i prefer russian models.