Posted on 12/30/2004 4:21:31 AM PST by Lazamataz
National Academy of Sciences, Justice Dept. reports find no benefits to restricting ownership of firearms
WASHINGTON – While it is an article of faith among gun-control proponents that government restrictions on firearms reduces violence and crime, two new U.S. studies could find no evidence to support such a conclusion.
The National Academy of Sciences issued a 328-page report based on 253 journal articles, 99 books, 43 government publications, a survey of 80 different gun-control laws and some of its own independent study. In short, the panel could find no link between restrictions on gun ownership and lower rates of crime, firearms violence or even accidents with guns.
The panel was established during the Clinton administration and all but one of its members were known to favor gun control.
"Policy questions related to gun ownership and proposals for gun control touch on some of the most contentious issues in American politics: Should regulations restrict who may possess firearms? Should there be restrictions on the number or types of guns that can be purchased? Should safety locks be required? These and many related policy questions cannot be answered definitively because of large gaps in the existing science base," said Charles F. Wellford, professor in the department of criminology and criminal justice at the University of Maryland and chairman of the committee that wrote the report.
However, the National Research Council decided even more thorough research on the topic is needed.
Many studies linking guns to suicide and criminal violence produce conflicting conclusions, have statistical flaws and often do not show whether gun ownership results in certain outcomes, the report said.
A serious limit in such analyses is the lack of good data on who owns firearms and on individual encounters with violence, according to the study.
The report noted that many schools have programs intended to prevent gun violence. However, it added, some studies suggest that children's curiosity and teenagers' attraction to risk make them resistant to the programs or that the projects actually increase the appeal of guns.
Few of these programs, the report concludes, have been adequately evaluated.
The report calls for the development of a National Violent Death Reporting System and a National Incident-Based Reporting System to begin collecting data.
The study by the Research Council, the operating arm of the National Academy of Science, was sponsored by the National Institute of Justice, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Joyce Foundation, Annie E. Casey Foundation and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation.
"While more research is always helpful, the notion that we have learned nothing flies in the face of common sense," said John Lott, resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute and a critic of gun-control laws. "The NAS panel should have concluded as the existing research has: Gun control doesn't help."
Meanwhile, a study released by the Justice Department suggesting background checks at gun shows would do little to keep firearms out of the hands of criminals.
The study noted the number of criminals who obtained guns from retail outlets was dwarfed by the number of those who picked up their arms through means other than legal purchases. The report was the result of interviews with more than 18,000 state and federal inmates conducted nationwide. It found that nearly 80 percent of those interviewed got their guns from friends or family members, or on the street through illegal purchases.
Less than 9 percent were bought at retail outlets and only seven-tenths of 1 percent came from gun shows.
The Justice Department's interviews also showed so-called "assault weapons" are not a major cause of gun violence. Only about 8 percent of the inmates used one of the models covered in the now-expired assault weapons ban, signed into law by the Clinton administration in 1994.
I had a puppy like that once.
Less expensive.
Nothing on earth compares to a good woman!
From the article:If the media weren't biased against guns, that would read:
In short, the panel could find no link between restrictions on gun ownership and lower rates of crime, firearms violence or even accidents with guns.The panel was established during the Clinton administration and all but one of its members were known to favor gun control.
In short, the panel could find no link between restrictions on gun ownership and firearms violence or even accidents with guns.The real news here is that a bunch of lefties, predisposed to be positive to gun control "benefits," couldn't find any actual evidence of benefits from gun control laws, even with a big budget and a lot of time and research effort.
Hey, she's housebroken too!
A bit extreme, but I like it. Mine were holstered with empty chambers, but I just know they dipped into the mags when I wasn't looking.
I seldom keep my handguns in the safe. They are usually cocked and locked and placed around the house, glovebox in truck, small of back holster, etc.. They really learned their lesson and the other handguns still make fun of them.
That's the point of good, effective punishment. You are to be commended. *Tough Love*!
I'm sure it taught the other handguns to not act up around you.
Yes they now wait for me to direct their activity.
I am reminded of a graphic that is sometimes posted on troll threads - it's of a cat jumping in midair and firing an automatic weapon. Cracks me up every time I see it.
I like that one too. It's like a MAC10 I think or some other machine pistol.
The bullet holes sprayed into the TV behind it are a hoot. That's what reminded me of your guns out of control.
Yep!
I worked at an urban nightclub in college, and I've been shot at and been in the vicinity of drive bys and carjackings. Having been in that environment, I can't tell you how much of a relief it is to be allowed to carry concealed and have the outcome of my life in my own hands.
This is a truly momentous outcome, and I hope that more states adopt shall issue right to carry legislation, esp. DC!
Happy New Year to you all and God Bless America!
That is how I was brought up.
The real kernel of the article:
" The study noted the number of criminals who obtained guns from retail outlets was dwarfed by the number of those who picked up their arms through means other than legal purchases. The report was the result of interviews with more than 18,000 state and federal inmates conducted nationwide. It found that nearly 80 percent of those interviewed got their guns from friends or family members, or on the street through illegal purchases.
Less than 9 percent were bought at retail outlets and only seven-tenths of 1 percent came from gun shows."
Uhh Duhhh?
I agree the first 2 rules are so painfully simple:
Rule #1. Never point the muzzle of a loaded gun at that which you do not wish to destroy.
Rule#2 Every gun is loaded!
I resemble that remark!
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