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Myth No. 3 — Guns are Bad
ABC's 20/20 ^ | January 23, 2004 | John Stossel

Posted on 02/03/2004 5:07:09 AM PST by tberry

As televised on ABC's 20/20 - January 23, 2004 - Lies, Myths and Downright Stupidity,

By John Stossel

Myth No. 3 — Guns are Bad VIDEO

America is notorious for its culture of gun violence. Guns sometimes do cause terrible harm, and many kids are killed every year in gun accidents. But public service announcements and news stories make it seem as if the accidents kill thousands of kids every year.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, however, fewer than 100 kids 15 and under are killed in gun accidents every year. Of course that's horrible, and I understand why demonstrators say we need more gun control.

But guess what? The Centers for Disease Control recently completed a review of studies of various types of gun control: background checks, waiting periods, bans on certain guns and ammunition. It could not document that these rules have reduced violent crime.

The government wants to say things like the Brady Gun Control Law are making a difference, but they aren't. Some maximum security felons I spoke to in New Jersey scoffed at measures like the Brady law. They said they'll have no trouble getting guns if they want them.

A Justice Department study confirmed what the prisoners said. But get this: the felons say that the thing they fear the most is not the police, not time in prison, but, you, another American who might be armed.

It's a reason many states are passing gun un-control. They're allowing citizens to carry guns with them; it's called concealed carry or right to carry. Some women say they're comforted by these laws.

Many people are horrified at the idea of concealed carry laws, and predict mayhem if all states adopt these laws.

But surprise, 36 states already have concealed carry laws, and not one reported an upsurge in gun crime.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS: bang; banglist; guns; myths; protection; truth
Please activate the Source URL to get the original article then click on "VIDEO". The 20/20 clip is great.
1 posted on 02/03/2004 5:07:10 AM PST by tberry
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To: *bang_list
Please activate the Source URL to get the original article then click on "VIDEO". The 20/20 clip is great.
2 posted on 02/03/2004 5:08:40 AM PST by tberry
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To: tberry
36 states already have concealed carry laws, and not one reported an upsurge in gun crime.

In fact, in most of those states crime has gone down.

3 posted on 02/03/2004 5:18:10 AM PST by Puppage (You may disagree with what I have to say, but I will defend to your death my right to say it)
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To: tberry
“Guns sometimes do cause terrible harm, and many kids are killed every year in gun accidents.”


Amazing how guns alone cause such terrible harm. Notice how even when we argue in support of gun ownership we use lines such as this. We have been indoctrinated and brainwashed for so long that I think on some subconcious level we tend to repeat anti-gun sentiments without realizing it. It is similar to saying such things as, "SUV's kill many people every year in car accidents." True, SUV's may be involved in accidental deaths caused by wreckless driving,etc. but they do not "kill" people as if they are out on a hunt...
Excellent Post.
4 posted on 02/03/2004 5:21:51 AM PST by AfghanIraqVeteran
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To: tberry
The statistics for accidental shootings and school shootings have been on the decline for years, despite the fact that the number of gun owners increased significantly over the same period.

States with Concealed Carry laws that allow civilians to carry weapons have experienced a decrease in violent crime. Cities like Washington DC, LA, and New York City with the strictest gun control have not had the same result.

Any time you hear someone justifying gun control to reduce crime rates they either start the argument by saying "Well I feel ..." or they quote statistics directly from HCI or Sara Brady's website. Whenever I've tried to site actual statistics from the CDC or FBI they tune me out.

5 posted on 02/03/2004 5:23:50 AM PST by mbynack (<a href="http://www.michaelmoore.com/" title="Miserable Failure">"Miserable Failure"</a>)
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To: tberry
According to NFPA, 459 children five and under died in house fires in 1999.
6 posted on 02/03/2004 5:25:09 AM PST by Agnes Heep
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To: Puppage
More guns less crime!
So true.
7 posted on 02/03/2004 5:28:56 AM PST by e5man_r_u? (A Man's mission: Build, Protect, Provide)
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To: tberry
WHY I USED A GUN TO DEFEND MY FAMILY AND MY HOME
8 posted on 02/03/2004 5:30:52 AM PST by soozla (LIBERALS are the suckiest bunch of suckers that ever sucked!)
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To: tberry
"felons say that the thing they fear the most is not the police, not time in prison, but, you, another American who might be armed"

A well founded fear. As I am retired from the military and no longer work in law enforcement I feel no obligation to accept surrender or provide "due process" on a 1 to 1 basis with some scumbag who has threatened me, my family, or property. Since these encounters are, by nature, usually not witnessed by third parties the perp would have to look to Jesus for mercy as I would only offer powder burns and lead poisoning. I consider it my civic duty to keep the court system unclogged and the prisons free from over crowding.

9 posted on 02/03/2004 5:32:07 AM PST by Feckless
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To: Agnes Heep
Yes, but we all know the pro-house lobby will distort that statistic. After all, they'll just trot out that old saw, "houses don't kill people, people kill people."

Ban houses AND matches NOW! Save the children!

10 posted on 02/03/2004 5:53:41 AM PST by LibertarianInExile (THIS TAGLINE VETTED BY THE TSA...it was sharp and had a point before they got to it.)
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To: tberry
36 States have CCW laws?

Hmm, at one point yesterday on FNC I heard 'someone' say 44 states had CCW. Now I did think 44 was rather high, but I wonder which is correct?

BTW, here in the Peoples Republik of Illinois, we almost had CCW passed in 1999(?) when republicans controlled the state house. It only lost by a few votes and looked like it would pass in the next session. BUT when scum-bad and soon to be convicted felon George Ryan (RINO) became governor, he made a deal with the demoncRATS and killed the bill from then on as it was sent to that nether-world of government, 'committee' and tabled.

So now, thanks to Ryan's greed and criminality, the Daley Machine controls the state and not only is CCW impossible, Daley's proposed 'Assault Weapon Ban' bill almost passed (it's MORE restrictive than the Fed law and surpasses Cal's). It only failed because a few down-state dems said no-way and 'defected'.

11 posted on 02/03/2004 6:05:15 AM PST by Condor51 ("Leftists are moral and intellectual parasites." -- Standing Wolf)
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To: Condor51
"So now, thanks to Ryan's greed and criminality, the Daley Machine controls the state and not only is CCW impossible, Daley's proposed 'Assault Weapon Ban' bill almost passed (it's MORE restrictive than the Fed law and surpasses Cal's). It only failed because a few down-state dems said no-way and 'defected'."

And it doesn't help that the Chicago Tribune regularly runs front page articles exclaiming Chicago as "The Murder Capital of the United States"!!!!

12 posted on 02/03/2004 6:55:05 AM PST by soozla (LIBERALS are the suckiest bunch of suckers that ever sucked!)
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To: soozla
When a gang decides you are their next target it must be frustrating for them to have the target display his 'balancing tool' with the hammer cocked back and the safety off.
13 posted on 02/03/2004 9:30:36 AM PST by B4Ranch ( Dear Mr. President, Sir, Are you listening to the voters?)
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To: Condor51
I believe that 36 states are "shall issue" and the rest of the 44 are "may issue".
14 posted on 02/03/2004 9:49:08 AM PST by Britton J Wingfield
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To: Agnes Heep
Well, let's just ban houses. If only those simpleton home-owners weren't such Neanderthals, the really intelligent people could get something done.
15 posted on 02/03/2004 10:50:53 AM PST by wildbill
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