70 Million More gGuns, 38% Less Crime

Data released by the FBI on Monday showed that in 2005, the nation's total violent crime rate was 38% lower than in 1991, when violent crime hit an all-time high. Rates of the individual categories of violent crime were also much lower in 2005 than in 1991. Murder was 43% lower, rape 25% lower, robbery 48% lower, and aggravated assault 33% lower. The FBI's report came on the heels of a Bureau of Justice Statistics crime survey that found that violent crime was lower in 2005 than anytime in the survey's 32-year history.

Defying the anti-gunners' claim that more guns means more crime, from 1991-2005 the number of privately owned guns increased by more than 70 million.

The news media often characterize violent crime as a primarily gun-oriented problem, but the FBI's report showed that only one in every four violent crimes in 2005 was committed with a gun. In 2005, as in previous years, most violent crimes were robberies and aggravated assaults, most of which were committed with knives or bare hands.

Recently, anti-gun politicians and activists have intensified their rhetoric over the "lack" of bans on handguns, so-called "assault weapons", and .50-caliber rifles; gun registration, gun owner licensing, and mandatory background checks on sales of guns between friends and family members; and limits on the frequency of gun purchases, all of which they say are necessary to reduce the nation's murder rate. But for the last seven years, the murder rate has been steady¾in the 5.5-5.7 per 100,000 population range¾at all times lower than anytime since the mid-1960s. In 2005, for example, the murder rate was 5.6.

Naturally, anti-gunners will downplay the downward trend in violent crime since 1991, and focus on the fact that the FBI's report showed a 1% increase in total violent crime, and a 2% increase in murder in 2005, compared to 2004. But those changes are miniscule, compared to the huge decrease in crime over the last 14 years.

The FBI's report once again confirmed that violent crime rates are lower in states with Right-to-Carry (RTC) laws. In 2005, RTC states had, on average, 22% lower total violent crime, 30% less murder, 46% lower robbery, and 12% lower aggravated assault rates, compared to the rest of the country.

As usual, Washington, D.C., which leads the nation in anti-gun laws, led the nation in murder, with a rate six times higher than the rest of the country. Neighboring Maryland, where gun control advocates have been particularly active recently, once again had the highest robbery rate among the states, but also tied for the unenviable distinction of "first place" in murder among the states. However, despite Maryland's high crime counts, CeaseFire Maryland, the local Brady Campaign affiliate that recently released a paper demanding an "assault weapon" ban, was unable to point to any crimes in the state involving such a gun.

The FBI's report must have displeased New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg (R). Despite the mayor's recent posturing on the gun issue, and his self-laudatory comments about fighting crime, the Big Apple's murder rate was more than double that of the rest of the state. Similarly, in Philadelphia, where anti-gun politicians are calling for a statewide one-gun-a-month law, the murder rate was more than seven times higher than the rest of Pennsylvania.

Adding to the reasons why voters should "Dump Doyle" in Wisconsin's upcoming gubernatorial election, their state had the greatest total violent crime rate increase (15.1%) between 2004-2005. Murder was up 25.2%; robbery up 11.2%; and aggravated assault up 20.2%. Wisconsin is one of only two states that prohibits Right-to-Carry entirely, but in 2005, 11 of the 12 states that had the greatest decreases in total violent crime, and 12 of the 14 states with the greatest decreases in murder were Right-to-Carry states. The seven states with the lowest total violent crime rates in 2005, and 11 of the 12 states that had the lowest murder rates, were Right-to-Carry states.

Last, but not least, is good news from Florida, the state that during the last 20 years has been most often attacked by anti-gunners, for (among other reasons) setting the Right-to-Carry and "Castle Doctrine" movements in motion. In 2005, Florida recorded a murder rate 13% lower than the rate for the rest of the country (4.96 per 100,000, vs. 5.67 for the rest of the country). For the record, Florida's 2005 murder rate was 58% lower than it was in 1986, the last year before the state's landmark Right-to-Carry law took effect.

And don't forget this:

Action needed!

PRO-GUN BILLS MAKE WAY TO HOUSE FLOOR!

The House of Representatives may act as early as next week on critical pro-Second Amendment reform bills. These bills need your support today:

H.R. 5092--the "Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE) Modernization and Reform Act of 2006," by Reps. Howard Coble (R-N.C.) and Bobby Scott (D-Va.) -- will curb the agency's efforts to revoke dealers' licenses for minor paperwork errors, improve the appeals process for dealers, and, establish new guidelines for BATFE investigations. This bill was drafted in large part to address recent, blatant BATFE abuses at Richmond, Virginia gun shows highlighted in hearings before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security. (See next story on Brady Center's blatant misrepresentation of this bill.)

H.R. 5005--the "Firearms Corrections and Improvements Act," by Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Tex.) -- will protect gun owners' privacy by creating a permanent version of the "Tiahrt Amendment," preventing disclosure of gun owner records outside of legitimate criminal investigations. The bill also includes a ban on BATFE retrieving out-of-business dealers' records by the gun owner's name-making permanent an appropriations restriction that's been in effect for the last 10 years. Among other reforms, H.R. 5005 will also permanently ban federal fees on instant background checks and roll back various restrictions on firearms industry activities.

With the legislative clock running out, this may be our last chance to pass these essential reforms before the November election--so please be sure to immediately contact your U.S. Representative at (202) 225-3121, and urge him or her to VOTE FOR H.R. 5092 and H.R. 5005 when they are brought to the House floor! Additional contact information can be found by visiting http://www.nraila.org/, clicking the "Take Action" icon, and then clicking the "Write Your Representatives" icon.

Please be sure to contact your Representative TODAY, and urge your family, friends, and fellow firearm owners to do the same!

Thank you for your continued support as we work to make these legislative reforms the law of the land!

How can it be??? The BradyGang emailed me just yesterday with the following B.S. filled propaganda fundraising letter:

""With Gun Crime Up, Why Would The House Protect Criminals?
Tell Your U.S. Representative to Oppose H.R. 5092 and 5005

Dear Dana,

Last week, the Justice Department released a report that found criminal gun violence grew by an alarming 49.4% between 2004 and 2005, and affected more than 477,000 victims, or 146,000 more than were affected just the year before. This number of victims was also the highest since 2001.

Yet, instead of taking action to make communities safer, the U.S. House Judiciary Committee approved two bills that would protect corrupt gun dealers. These bills could be voted on by the entire House very soon. Your past efforts have raised awareness about these dangerous bills. Let's keep up the pressure: tell Congress that you oppose these attacks on law enforcement and public safety.

CLICK HERE TO EMAIL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE TODAY
Tell him/her: "Don't Protect Corrupt Gun Dealers.
Stand with Law Enforcement and Oppose H.R. 5092 and 5005"

H.R. 5092 is the misnamed "Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Modernization and Reform Act." Rather than modernizing or reforming ATF, H.R. 5092 would cripple the Bureau's enforcement powers and protect gun dealers who repeatedly violate federal law. This legislation would largely replace ATF's revocation powers with minimal fines and temporary license suspensions.

H.R. 5092 would make it virtually impossible for ATF to shut down rogue gun dealers, who repeatedly violate federal law. With gun violence and crime increasing across the nation, it is time to crack down on, not coddle, corrupt gun dealers.

Another unnecessary and counterproductive effort, H.R. 5005 would limit the information available to law enforcement, other government officials, and the public about crime guns, their connection to gun dealers, and the effectiveness of gun laws in disrupting the illegal market. Previous reports released by ATF, along with the efforts of state and local law enforcement, have helped shut down many corrupt gun dealers who were routinely violating federal law and supplying murderers, drug dealers, and other thugs with guns.

In addition, H.R. 5005 would undermine other federal firearm laws including: creating a loophole in the federal ban on importation of non-sporting firearms, including assault weapons, and reducing parental supervision of minors using handguns.

At a time when communities across the country are desperately seeking help against violent and deadly gun criminals, the backward proposals in H.R. 5092 and 5005 would actually make the situation worse. Congress should reject H.R. 5092 and 5005 and, instead, provide law enforcement with stronger tools and resources to fight gun crimes.

Here's What You Can Do Today to Help:

1. Email Your U.S. Representative Today.
Tell him or her: "Oppose H.R. 5092 and 5005. Stand with Law Enforcement, not Corrupt Gun Dealers." Click here to send your Representative an email.

2. Make a Donation of $25 or More.
Support our efforts to stop the NRA from weakening law enforcement by passing these egregious bills before the fall elections. Click here to contribute now.

3. Spread the Word.
Use our easy form to forward this email to everyone in your address book. Congress needs to hear loud and clear from those who support sensible gun laws. Click here to forward this email to friends.

Please tell your U.S. Representative today to stand with cops, not with corrupt gun dealers: don't make it easier for gun traffickers and criminals to get guns.

Sincerely,
Your Friends at StoptheNRA.com""

It is amazing that the Brady-losers and their ilk have the nads to send out letters like this in the face of cold, hard facts. They truly are stuck on stupid and just repeating the "Big Lie" enough times in the hope that it will stick in people's minds. If there is a god they are so screwed for trying to deny hundreds of millions of decent people of the right to self-defense.

P.S. I am the NRA!

FL's murder rate is down 58% since the shall issue CCW law was passed in 1987. I was living in FL when that law was being debated. It was passed once by the legislature but Democrat Governor Bob Graham vetoed it. The next year it passed again, and this time Republican governor Martinez signed it into law. The media was beside themselves when the law was being debated, they were predicting wild west shootouts on every street corner and at every traffic light, and blood running like rivers in the gutters.

Now 20 years later neither the media nor the Brady Bunch has conceded that the result of the CCW law has been exactly the opposite of what they had tried to con the public into believing. You would think that if reducing crime is truly their goal they would be glad to see the dramatic reduction in crime which is undeniably linked to the passage of CCW laws in almost every state. But of course that isn't their agenda and they will continue to demand more gun laws until the RKBA is totally eliminated. We have to make sure that our Federal and state lawmakers are aware of the new FBI crime stats, and emphatically remind them that we will hold them accountable at the polls if they try to resurrect the AWB or pass any more restrictive gun laws of any type.

""With Gun Crime Up, Why Would The House Protect Criminals?

Either the FBI crime stats are a big fat lie or the Brady bunch is lying. My money is on the FBI report, the Brady's have been proved to be liars over and over again. But that doesn't stop them from fabricating more bogus stats and repeating the same old lies they used 4 decades ago to get the '68 GCA passed by a Democrat Congress and signed by LBJ.

If anyone is planning to vote for a Democrat Congressman or Senator this year because the Repubs have let us down on some other issues, I hope they will reconsider and remember that Democrats will be trying to get the AWB passed again, as well as the whole bundle of anti-gun laws that the Dems have in their bag of tricks.

Among other reforms, H.R. 5005 will also permanently ban federal fees on instant background checks

Unless you buy quite a few guns the $10 fee for a background check isn't a big expense item for most buyers, but even so it should be free since there is still a WWII era Federal excise tax paid by the manufacturer and built into the wholesale price of every new gun you buy.

Gun buyers in my state, GA, didn't have to have the FBI checkout if the buyer had a GA carry permit until recently when we were notified that the much more thorough background check required by GA to obtain a carry permit would no longer be accepted by the feds and we would have to pay for a new FBI check each time we buy a gun. It's supposed to be another way to prevent would-be terrorists from buying guns, but that doesn't make sense. If a person goes through the GA background check required for a carry permit, anything fishy in his or her record will be brought to light. A new checkout at every gun purchase is a total waste of time and money. If H.R. 500 becomes law the $10 fee for that redundant FBI check will not be charged to any gun buyer, including those of us who have carry permits.

If you like that idea please call or write your Congresscritter and tell him/her to vote yea on HR 500 if he/she wants your vote next time.

From the Brady fundraising letter:

H.R. 5092 would make it virtually impossible for ATF to shut down rogue gun dealers, who repeatedly violate federal law. With gun violence and crime increasing across the nation, it is time to crack down on, not coddle, corrupt gun dealers.

That's a flat out lie and the Brady bunch knows it. All HR 5092 would do is prevent lawyers for mayors of cities like New York from suing law abiding gun dealers in other states out of business, which is what Bloomberg is attempting to do with suits against dealers in VA, GA, and other southern states.

Bloomberg and the gun-hating liars at Brady know that a small gun shop owner in VA or some other state can't afford the many thousands of $ it would take to defend his business from a lawsuit brought by NYC, which can spend millions of $ on each lawsuit it takes to court. The result of those harassing lawsuits will be many small gun shops put out of business in states with reasonable gun laws, not because they broke any gun laws, but because Bloomberg and his ilk want as many gun dealers as possible shut down.

This is the exact same tactic that big city mayors were using to sue gun manufacturers out of business until Congress passed the law protecting manufacturers from the same kind of harassing lawsuits that retail dealers are now forced to contend with. If this works for Bloomberg, and it will unless Congress acts to stop him, you can be sure that scores of other big city liberal mayors will get in line to follow his example, and when that happens no gun store in the US will be safe from those goons. If we want our local gun shops to stay in business instead of being forced out by Bloomberg or his fellow nazi mayors in other cities we need to urge our Congress people to pass HR 5092 in this current session.

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