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The Gun Control Lobby, Thinking Small (Grieving loss of brother alert)
The Washington Post ^ | December 25, 2005 | Jenny Price

Posted on 12/25/2005 3:49:06 PM PST by neverdem

Five years ago an elderly Los Angeles woman who had agreed to move out of her daughter's apartment bought a handgun. She cleared the background check, passed the safety test and practiced on targets at the local shooting range. Then she shot and killed her daughter and her daughter's fiance -- my brother David.

As someone who has lost a member of my family to gun violence, I see the new federal legislation to limit gun manufacturers' liability as unconscionable beyond my ken. But what troubles me most is that the gun control lobby is pouring its resources into battles that probably won't save many lives -- and we're losing even those.

In the past decade, states have passed law after law to require safety locks, force gun-purchase waiting periods, trace bullets back to their sources and allow victims to sue manufacturers for negligence. That such measures have produced at best slight decreases in the rate of gun deaths is hardly surprising, because only 3 percent of gun deaths are accidents, and most murderers own their handguns legally and know how to use them safely. California has passed a raft of such laws in the past five years and

is widely praised as one of the most progressive states on gun control. In that same period, the number of handgun-related homicides has fallen and then risen again, with no correlation whatever.

The real problem is not that handguns aren't safe or well-regulated enough, or that you can't sue and try to bankrupt a corrupt manufacturer after someone you love has been killed. The problem is that 60 million people in the United States own handguns. The gun used to kill my brother was a Glock 19, a light and portable semiautomatic. These guns are designed to kill people: That's their...

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Editorial; US: California; US: District of Columbia
KEYWORDS: banglist; jennyprice
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To: neverdem

Well, to carry out this logic, cars should also be banned. As well as cement blocks, kitchen knives (any knives longer than 3 inches, probably), guitar strings, large rocks, two story buildings, baseball bats, box cutters, any kind of poison, cliffs and ravines, screw drivers, hammers, machetes, actually most hand tools, rope - actually, the list is endless.


21 posted on 12/25/2005 4:22:30 PM PST by little jeremiah
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To: 69ConvertibleFirebird

Most of 'em are. The good news is that Liberals are being out reproduced by Conservatives. So, in one sense, let's hear it for abortionists.

As an example, here's a 'modest proposal'for a bumper sticker.

Only Abortionists can prevent Liberals.

Or; Abortionists - Preventing Liberals Every Day.


22 posted on 12/25/2005 4:23:23 PM PST by GladesGuru (In a society predicated upon Liberty, it is essential to examine principle)
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To: neverdem

An oldie but goodie:

http://www.firearmsandliberty.com/unabridged.2nd.html


23 posted on 12/25/2005 4:25:50 PM PST by groanup (Shred for Ian)
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To: neverdem

"Then she shot and killed her daughter and her daughter's fiance -- my brother David."

I call bullshit. No way you accidentily kill two people at once. I don't believe her - she made it all up.


24 posted on 12/25/2005 4:26:04 PM PST by Fenris6 (3 Purple Hearts in 4 months w/o missing a day of work? He's either John Rambo or a Fraud)
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To: neverdem

I just noticed something - the mother-in-law was elderly. Perhaps she feared having no place to go.

How like Liberal to dump Mom on the street.

One can't help wondering what the mother had done in a previous life to deserve having a Liberal for a daughter.


25 posted on 12/25/2005 4:26:09 PM PST by GladesGuru (In a society predicated upon Liberty, it is essential to examine principle)
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To: Prime Choice
"The real problem is not that....you can't sue and try to bankrupt a corrupt manufacturer after someone you love has been killed."

Just what is corrupt about Glock for making an effective weapon which is what they say they do? What is corrupt is the reasoning that permits the accuser from using the word "corrupt" in this situation!

26 posted on 12/25/2005 4:27:51 PM PST by Attention Surplus Disorder (Funny taglines are value plays.)
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To: neverdem
First it was not the fault of the gun. The fault lies with the person who planned the murders. But why did she plan the killings, was there some violence , was she afraid for her life, was she being robbed or her home and place to live? I do not know these things and nothing in the story says anything about this, the story seems to want money from someone other that the person who did the deed.

A gun is made to kill. We all know that, that is why you never accept the fact that a gun is unloaded unless you yourself check, why you never point a weapon at anything you do not intend to harm or that is intending you harm.

The Constitution gives the people the RIGHT to keep and bear arms, just as it gives the people the freedom of speech and the other freedoms of the bill of rights.

To think that you should be able to sue a manufacture for something that was used to kill is stupid. Those killed with axes, knives, baseball bats, tire irons, poison, rope, belts, fists, tasers, hands, concrete feet, or the thousands of other means no one seems to care only those that want the criminals only to have guns want to sue the manufacturers of guns.
27 posted on 12/25/2005 4:28:45 PM PST by YOUGOTIT
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To: neverdem
Sounds like there were a few more problems in that family than the gun.

But, of course, why blame the person who fired the weapon? She just went through all the hoops the feds and state government said to, bought the gun and then pulled the trigger.

I say blame the perp.
28 posted on 12/25/2005 4:30:23 PM PST by PeteB570 (Guns, what real men want for Christmas)
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To: neverdem

So the author's premise is that because her brother's fiancee's mother is a crazed murderer, then I can't Keep and Bear Arms? Sorry Leftists, your argument has one again been rejected by the rational citizenry due to lack of substance and merit.


29 posted on 12/25/2005 4:30:33 PM PST by Mad_Tom_Rackham (De gustibus non est disputandum.)
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To: saganite

Excellent post bump!


30 posted on 12/25/2005 4:36:50 PM PST by investigateworld (Abortion stops a beating heart)
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To: Attention Surplus Disorder
That's Liberal "logic" for you. Anyone who makes something they don't like is automagically "corrupt"!

This coming from idiots who think the Clinton impeachment was "only about sex."

31 posted on 12/25/2005 4:42:22 PM PST by Prime Choice (We are RepubliCANs, not RepubliCAN'Ts.)
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To: Fenris6
No way you accidentily kill two people at once.

Actually you can, and more, but let's not dwell on the past. I'm a lot more careful now.

32 posted on 12/25/2005 4:43:47 PM PST by KarinG1 (Some of us are trying to engage in philosophical discourse. Please don't allow us to interrupt you.)
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To: neverdem
"I don't know anyone here that's been killed with a handgun."
33 posted on 12/25/2005 4:48:00 PM PST by granite
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To: neverdem
she shot and killed her daughter and her daughter's fiance -- my brother David.

The author correctly used the word "she", and then promptly forgot why. Who would the author blame had she tossed her brother out a window?

Blaming the gun is about as ignorant and as irresponsible as blaming a pencil for a misspelled word.

34 posted on 12/25/2005 4:51:46 PM PST by MosesKnows
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To: saganite
Nice post. The answer is MORE gun ownership, not less. Would former future monster-in-law have been able to murder those two if they'd been packing?

This is really about moral laziness. It's burdensome to be armed. You have to ask yourself did you lock the gun safe, are all the guns put away, did you remember to check the shotgun, and so forth. You have to keep a check on yourself, your emotions, your drinking. You've got to act like an awake, aware grown-up. You've got to live the responsibility that freedom requires.

That's too much like work for the average liberal. They'd rather lose the freedom. It's really that simple.

35 posted on 12/25/2005 4:55:07 PM PST by Mad Dawg (Allahu Fubar! (with apologies to Sheik Yerbouty))
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To: neverdem
Then she shot and killed her daughter and her daughter's fiance -- my brother David

I've got a news flash for you sweetums. The problem is not the pistol, particularly mine. The problem is grandma. Without any more information which is curiously lacking, it's hard to say anything more specific than that. I can however, say with certainty, it had nothing at all to do with my firearms so buzz off.

36 posted on 12/25/2005 4:58:15 PM PST by paul51 (11 September 2001 - Never forget)
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To: neverdem
This bimbo is just making things up!
37 posted on 12/25/2005 5:03:56 PM PST by Uri’el-2012 (Y'shua <==> YHvH is my Salvation (Psalm 118-14))
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To: neverdem

She fears that the government will limit her opportunities to profit from her brother's death by suing the deepest pockets she can find that are at least tangentially related.


38 posted on 12/25/2005 5:04:45 PM PST by ThanhPhero (di hanh huong den La Vang)
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To: investigateworld

Consider sending a letter to the editor. Most editors can count. It is about as much trouble as an email.


39 posted on 12/25/2005 5:04:51 PM PST by Donald Meaker (You don't drive a car looking through the rear view mirror, but you do practice politics that way.)
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To: clee1

An elderly lady traveling by air declared that she had a .38 special revolver. The clerk told her that that she could have to hand it over, and it would be returned to her upon completing the trip. She reached in her purse, and pulled it out, placing it on the counter.

The clerk said "It is loaded. Please unload it."

She says "Young man, when I want to unload it, I will pull the trigger!".

He was pleased, even unctiously enthusiastic, to unload it himself, placed it into a small box, and arranged for it to be delivered to her on the other end.


40 posted on 12/25/2005 5:10:25 PM PST by Donald Meaker (You don't drive a car looking through the rear view mirror, but you do practice politics that way.)
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