Sensible gun measures curb violence

Carroll County Times (Maryland) ^ | 28 May 2013 | John Culleton

[Sgt_Schultze]

On May 22 the Board of Commissioners of Carroll County, with much pomp and puffery, passed a resolution declaring Carroll County to be a “Second Amendment Sanctuary County,” and declaring Maryland’s “Fire Arm Safety Act of 2013” to be unconstitutional.

This resolution will have all the legal effect of shaking one’s fist at a thunderstorm. It may make you feel better, but that doesn’t change the rainfall by a drop.

- snip -

In New York City, gun violence has been dramatically reduced by strong measures at the state level and even stronger measures sponsored by Mayor Michael Bloomberg. These include a measure making it very difficult for individuals to get concealed carry permits. The Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to that law. As a result, New York City has the second lowest homicide rate in the nation, 2.72 per hundred thousand residents, right behind San Jose.

In contrast, Baltimore City has 18.2 homicides per hundred thousand, more that six times as many deaths. So what is the difference? New York state and city have strict laws and enforce them vigorously. Baltimore has weaker laws, and Baltimore judges tend not to punish violators even if convicted. But it is safe to predict that the homicide rate in Baltimore will decline if and when the new state law is vigorously enforced.

- snip -

John Culleton writes from Eldersburg. His column appears every second Tuesday. Email him at cct@wexfordpress.com.

[wku man]

"New York City has the second lowest homicide rate in the nation, 2.72 per hundred thousand residents,"

Hogwash. Boise, population about 220K, had ONE murder in 2011...and that was a strangulation. Maybe they meant NYC has the second lowest homicide rate among CommieLib cesspool cities.

Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!

[budwiesest]

I’ve got a better idea. Allow everyone to “keep and bear arms” and blow holes in every punkass that presents himself. If the principle at Sandy Hook were alive today, I bet she’d agree.

[Darren McCarty]

Good for you. Go to North Michigan. It's as safe as can be.

What's Carroll County's homicide rate compared to NYC?

[Myrddin]

Selective enforcement of laws. Firearms violation (possession of a loaded weapon on public street)? Off to prison with you. Raping and robbing? Are you a brother? No problem. See you later. There will be enforcement, just not what you were expecting.

[ez]

Sensible Gun Measures? HAHAHAHAHAHA. When the Chief Executive and the Attorney General decided not to follow the law, so did a lot of other people.

[GilesB]

That is, in effect what happens today when buying from a licensed dealer. Select your gun, pay for a federal/state check, wait for certification (which for me has only ever taken a few to several minutes), purchase your gun.

One other restriction should be applied - anyone wiht a known association with a criminal gang will be denied. I don’t expect this to reduce the number of gang deaths, but it might give law enforcement the handles they need to put a lot of feral punks in prison.

[unlearner]

Even if the author is right, which he is most definately not, I would rather the horrible massacres and murders we read about would happen daily than to diarm the citizens for one simple reason. We know for a fact that when a government disarms its citizens, the murder and torture of millions will certainly follow.

We can debate continuously about the best way to deal with terrorism, gangsters, organized crime, workplace violence, etc. But taking away our guns is off the table. Period.

[MMaschin]

Thanks for the info.

I'm assuming that there IS a loophole, and some sales are legally made (ie - the 'gun show', and 'internet' sales), that do not now require a background check. The left is using these situations to create new controls that could lead to a 'gun registry', that might allow future confiscation. That is what must be avoided at all costs.

The left has legitimate ammunition to beat the right over the head with - if people can buy guns at a gun show without a background check, that does scare people. But the left is using this to implement their gun grab. Isn't the best way of stripping the left from it's 'ammunition' finding a solution that resolves the 'loopholes', and does it in a way keeping the federal government out of the solution?

[papertyger]

“Comments have been disabled.”

The first indicator of true propaganda.

[Pollster1]

In New York City, gun violence has been dramatically reduced by strong measures at the state level and even stronger measures sponsored by Mayor Michael Bloomberg. These include a measure making it very difficult for individuals to get concealed carry permits. The Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to that law. As a result, New York City has the second lowest homicide rate in the nation, 2.72 per hundred thousand residents, right behind San Jose.

Total murders in Carroll County, MD, 2 or fewer per year since 2005. Total Carroll County population? over 170,000. Murder rate? Well under NYC's "second lowest rate in the country". As Joe Wilson said (truthfully) to another liberal: You lie! The question isn't how many guns, it's how many guns in the hands of decent people. Baltimore makes it difficult for decent people to get guns, while Carroll County makes it easy.

[ought-six]

By this idiot’s logic Chicago should be the safest place in the country. But, of course, we know better.

[GilesB]

As usual, the left is twisting the truth to fit its needs. Just like the “assault weapon” lie (there is no logical reason an “assault weapon” should have greater restriction than a standard semi-auto hunting rifle) - you cannot go to a gun show and buy a gun from any of the dealers there without a background check (at least not in my experience). It is possible to buy from the very few private parties selling a gun(last one I was at I saw 2 private sellers). It is no different than me selling my .22 to my neighbor. THAT is the loophole they are all agitated about - it is NOT a gunshow loophole, it is a private sale loophole. If they called it a private sale loophole, folks wouldn’t get as excercised about it. If they call it a gunshow loophole everyone has visions of all those hordes of people going to gunshows able to buy any gun without background check or restrictions. It is an intentional deception - in other words, a flat-out lie!

Any time a liberal says, “The sky is blue” verify that information for yourself!