Gun Nuts Media

A recent study of world firearms ownership rates shows that there are 9 guns for every 10 Americans. My reaction to that would be “awesome”. What’s interesting about the study, conducted by a group based out of Geneva, is that 1) there are a lot more guns in civilian hands than previously believed; 2) there is no apparent correlation between high levels of gun ownership and high levels of crime.

That last bit will more than likely be completely ignored by the anti-gun crowd, because it doesn’t fit their definition of how things work. However, straight from the horses’ mouth:

“There’s no clear relationship between more guns and higher levels of violence,” Krause said, pointing to low ownership and high crime rates in Latin America.

Fascinating. Krause appears to work for a group called the Small Arms Survey which actually appears to be relatively neutral on the issue of personal gun ownership, a stark contrast to IANSA.

One of the major problems that the survey points out in the actual illegal traffic of firearms is corrupt government organizations.

The problem is worsened when members of government or police forces sell ammunition on the black market, Krause said.

In Rio de Janeiro, “a combination of factors suggest that state security forces — most notably the police — are the source of much of the assault rifle ammunition in the hands of criminal gangs,” the report said.

Fascinating. For whatever reason lately, it’s like all the bullshit that the anti-gun movement surrounds themselves in is just coming unraveled. Of course, I highly doubt that facts and reason will have any effect whatsoever on their efforts, if anything it will cause them to “try again, only harder” because their ideology simply cannot be wrong.
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Jesse Jackson has an editorial in the Sun Times today, which details what he hopes to gain from his little protests. Taking his talking points apart is going to be like hitting batting practice pitching with an aluminum bat – that means it will be both fun and easy.

1. Enforce the laws we do have; lift the shackles on the ATF to enforce the law. ATF is notoriously underfunded. The Department of Justice estimates it would take 22 years for it to inspect all federally licensed dealers given current manpower. Its enforcement powers have been crippled by limiting its ability to suspend licenses and issue fines to gun dealers that trample the laws.

You know, I actually agree with the first part of that statement, but that’s it. I believe that our existing gun control laws are quite enough, thank you please, and would rather have people punished for committing crimes instead of taking firearms out of the hands of collectors, hunters, and law abiding gun owners everywhere.

I completely disagree with “removing the shackles” on the ATF. People who actually pay attention to what’s going on realize that the ATF pretty much runs around does whatever they damn well please, which includes harassing legitimate dealers for clerical errors (Ask Red’s about that), ignoring rulings from federal judges, and trying to make law by executive fiat.

2. Extend background checks to all gun sales. In the age of al-Qaida, with gun violence growing, let’s make no exceptions. Every sale requires a background check — no check, no sale.

Every. Gun. Sold. By. A. Dealer. Requires. A. Background. Check. I honestly don’t understand how this is so hard for people to get. This means that licensed dealers at gun shows have to run background checks. I fail to see how mandating background checks if Joe Sixpack wants to sell his hunting rifle, or Ruger revolver, or Beretta 92F to his next door neighbor is going to stop a scumbag from getting a gun. I mean, if someone could actually explain how that would work in a way that makes logical sense, that would be really helpful.

3. Ban large-volume sales of guns. Someone coming into a gun show to purchase 10 or 20 weapons at once isn’t going hunting for deer. Some states have limits, but many do not. Limits make the use of straw purchasers more difficult.

How do you know he’s not going hunting? Maybe that person collects Smith & Wesson revolvers, or old military rifles, or Beretta pistols and they found a deal on a bunch of them. They’re not doing anything illegal, and it’s downright insulting to assume that someone buying “a lot” of guns is up to some nefarious purpose. As much as I dislike the guns/cars analogy, assuming that someone buying a lot of guns is doing so with the intent to break the law is like assuming that someone bought a Porsche with the intent to drive drunk at high speed.

There is another bit in the editorial, before the talking points where Jesse mentions how people on the “terrorist watch list” can buy guns. Now, I understand that the concept of that may sound scary, but when you realize that the terrorist watch list is essentially a worthless piece of crap then you’ll understand why I’m not concerned about that. Of course, I don’t like secret government databases.

What’s frustrating about all of this is that these are the same talking points that we’ve heard over and over from the gun banners for ages now. At The Smallest Minority, Kevin has an excellent post up which examines the inherent cognitive dissonance present in the gun control mindset. This quote from him essentially sums up what must go through the minds of the anti-gun movement.

The philosophy cannot be wrong! Do it again only harder!

Take one part Reasoned Discourse, two parts Sulking because You’re Loosing, add a dash of Pants-Shitting Hysterics, and season to taste with a bit of Nanny-state, bake for a week and you end up with Laura Washington’s latest op-ed in the Sun Times.

If you actually click the link above, you’ll be treated to what sounds like a petulant teenager indulging in a fit of sulking.

It looks like the petulant, gun-toting NRA stalwarts have won the first round.

Last time, I used this space to ask where you stand on the issue of gun control. A torrent of e-mails later, it’s clear: Gun-control advocates were outgunned, four to one.

See, there’s the sulking I was talking about. Plus, it’s nice that she starts off with insults, it really helps drive the point home. It’s funny that whenever someone asks for responses about gun control, the pro-gun people basically man up and kick the crap out of the antis, especially in the electronic format. Fortunately for Laura, she’s really good at selectively citing facts.

The gun lovers were legion, robust and vitriolic. Many of you told me to go places where the sun doesn’t shine and the temperature is way too hot. Yet, if you believe public opinion polls, that reaction is an anomaly.

Nice of her to get her Reasoned Discourse on there. She goes on to point to an NBC and CBS poll about gun control, while completely ignoring the recent Zogby poll which says, well, the exact opposite.

After that, the whining really kicks in. Laura asks what’s wrong with gun control advocates, and why are pro-gun people always winning, etc. It’s really priceless, actually. Of course, the whining is immediately followed by the PSH, in the form of the “stranger with a gun” canard.

Do you want to be standing in line for gas, popcorn or a gallon of milk and find yourself next to someone who’s packing heat?

That is what you call a straw-man argument, designed to instill fear of the “pro-gun boogeyman” into Suzy Soccermom. It ignores the fact that concealed carry holders are generally among the most responsible people you’ll meet. It’s playing on the rather annoying media stereotype of all gun owners as bloodthirsty maniacs just waiting to blow someone away. It’s a blatant lie, and it used to be easy to get away with, but not any longer.

The next few paragraphs basically consist of Laura begging. Uncle has some pretty good coverage of that, so I won’t go into details. Suffice to say, Uncle nails the root cause of the begging directly to the wall.

Ms. Washington (thankfully) closes her op-ed with the aforementioned Nanny-state rhetoric, which is basically the cherry on top of the hysterical, sulky sundae.

Let’s get organized and shove tougher gun policies right down their throats.

That is how the entire anti-gun movement feels. Don’t let the “we want reasonable gun laws” crap fool you. The believe that their cause is truly righteous, and they don’t really give a rat’s ass about your freedoms in any way, shape, or form. “Shove…down their throats” is a crude way of saying that “We know what is best for you, so come along nicely and no one gets hurt.” That is the contempt for your liberties that they have.
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