Posted on 02/06/2007 8:46:09 AM PST by kiriath_jearim
In these politically correct days, ideology will often trump facts. This is especially true on issues such as gun control, which has passionate supporters on both sides.
Earlier this week, The New York Times condemned Florida concealed carry laws as “lethal” and “gruesome.” In the Sunshine State, it is relatively easy — if you’re a law-abiding citizen — to own handguns and to be legally entitled to carry a concealed weapon.
The problem with the NYT editorial is, although it expressed the displeasure of the Times, it contained no facts about the actual crime rates in Florida.
In fact, since what was called the Jack Hagler Self Defense Act was passed in 1987, crime in Florida has gone down.
After checking figures from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the New York Post noted, “firearm murders in Florida between 1987 and 2005 dropped in real terms to 521 from 697. Expressed as the number of firearm murders per 100,000 persons, the drop is even more dramatic, to 2.9 from 5.8.
That’s a change of 50 percent. The drop in violent crime overall is less precipitous but equally steady, including drops in the rates of murder, aggravated assault, robbery, and sexual assault.”
Let’s acknowledge that a drop in crime rates will be attributed to a number of different factors. So few social scientists would claim there is a direct correlation between the state’s concealed weapons law and a drop in crime rate. But it certainly may be a factor.
When the “Self Defense Act” was passed in Florida, critics said the crime rate would increase and there would be wild west shootouts in the streets. Clearly, this hasn’t happened.
Allowing law-abiding citizens to carry weapons to defend themselves is not “lethal” or “gruesome.” It’s a reflection of the Second Amendment and, in the case of Florida, appears to be a good crime prevention measure.
The science fiction writer Robert Heinlein quipped once that an armed society is a polite society. Perhaps the saying could be modified to “A society full of polite, armed people is a polite society.”
The Florida crime figures seem to bear that out.
If this is where society is going, God help us, but I for one plan on going there armed. - Chuck Scanland
I haven't joined the enemy.
I've just gotten close enough to guarantee I won't miss.
Good post!
The same people who would reveal secret information and put our troops in danger. We should listen to a bunch of office bound putz's in Manhattan who never saw a weapon they didn't hate.
Perhaps Baltimore City could learn a thing or two from the Florida case. But I doubt it.
IIRC, the state changed the license plates on rental cars so they were less easily identified. The thugs had taken to carjacking rental cars because the (presumed) out-of-state victim was less likely to be armed.
Somebody from FL confirm or correct me, please.
Rental cars used to have stickers on them advertising/identifying the company. Thugs figured out that they could follow one from Miami Int'l Airport and the driver would be guaranteed to be unarmed. After a couple of murders of international visitors they removed the stickers.
They could be mistaken. For example, the hubby and I learned that Florida and Pennsylvania have reciprocity for CC permits!
At what point may Real Americans conclude that the rootless cosmopolitan quisling vermin who infest and control the New York Slimes have become a clear and present danger to our God given and constitutionally protected freedoms? Situated as they are in one of the most corrupt, degenerate and crime-ridden cities in our country, the Slimes' insolent criticism of the citizens of other sovereign states for their exercise of their rights is nauseating in the extreme. Even more outrageous is the absolute silence of supposedly conservative politicians in the face of such lies and slurs.
That's not that much higher than Philly in real terms.
Wild West..... BWAHAHAHAHAHA
Given that the NY Slimes is in a secular death spiral it would seem wise for them to try to expand their dwindling readership beyond the upper east side, Martha's Vineyard, Beacon Hill, and the fever swamps of Georgetown and Cleveland Park. But they are a clear and present danger nonetheless.
You are correct. License plates on rental cars here in FL used to start or end with Y, I can't remember which now, but they have stopped that in the past several years.
The thugs weren't carjacking, they were people jacking, and you are right the state did allow the rental companies to use standard FL plates as a solution. I never liked the PC carjacking BS. It is peoplenapping and the appropriate penalty should always apply.
ny slimes don't need no stink'en fax, just ax'em.
Correct. The tags used to have special designation that indicated it was a rental. So it was well known that those cars were full of cash carry unarmed people.
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