Americans brush aside gun fears in desire to bear arms

ft.com ^ | October 3 2001 | By Betty Liu in Atlanta, Sheila McNulty in Houston and Christopher Bowe in Chicago

[freedomnews]

Americans brush aside gun fears in desire to bear arms

By Betty Liu in Atlanta, Sheila McNulty in Houston and Christopher Bowe in Chicago

Published: October 3 2001 One result of the terrorism crisis has been a rush by Americans to the nation's gun stores in a spending spree that promises to complicate the already complex debate on gun control.

The National Rifle Association (NRA) claims last month's attacks on New York and Washington are yielding a whole new group of supporters who in the past had not thought much about gun control.

For those who purport stricter gun laws, it has suddenly become harder to focus Americans on issues such as gun violence in schools - a central point in the debate this past year - when most are immediately interested in protecting themselves from terrorist assaults. Indeed, any gun control legislation in Congress is likely to remain untouched until the end of the year.

"One of the challenges is that most of our educational opportunities are enhanced when we have a bill to promote but that's not going to happen right now," says Desmond Riley, spokesman for the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence. "Things have been put on the backburner. It's not the time to debate such things."

If nothing else, the surge in gun sales has helped back those who advocate greater freedom to own firearms. In Texas, gun shops report sales increases of 10 to 25 per cent, with the clientele shifting from traditional hunters to white collar professionals.

"These are oil men and oil ladies, level-headed people in management positions," says one Texan gun shop owner.

At Landry's Guns in Louisiana, Dale Landry says customers are pouring in to buy bullet-proof vests and "ammo sales are through the roof". The purchases are often linked with other survival items such as military gas masks.

People are also crowding into shooting ranges across the US, some taping pictures of Osama bin Laden on to target boards.

The gun purchasing fervour is also boosted by the renewed sense of patriotism Americans are feeling now - helping to strengthen a belief that the right to bear arms is a part of all that is free in the US. In Florida last week, a state lawmaker introduced a bill to create a new licence plate that would celebrate the right to bear arms, featuring a revolutionary war soldier carrying a musket. In Ohio, state legislators are considering a bill that would allow citizens to carry concealed weapons.

Even the Air Line Pilots Association, the largest pilots union in the US, is lobbying for firearms in the cockpit for self- defence.

Not surprisingly, the NRA is finding itself in the spotlight. The association is publicly supporting the pilots' union and has been inundated with phone calls from people seeking firearms training or knowledge about guns, says Wayne LaPierre, chief executive of the association.

"Whenever you see fear or the possibility of a threat, people go back to their Second Amendment freedoms and run to the NRA as a defender of those freedoms," he says. "A ton of folks have called us saying 'I used to be against you but forget that now.' "

But this may also, in the end, benefit advocates of stricter gun control as well. Although the issue of gun violence in schools has been somewhat overshadowed, many are pointing out another contentious issue: lax procedures in purchasing firearms at gun shows.

"People can buy guns at these shows from certain dealers without undergoing background checks. A terrorist could purchase all sorts of weaponry from these shows," says Mr Riley. "For us, it's a great opportunity now to educate Americans about how easy it is to get guns because the ones buying the guns could be terrorists."

Though the gun control debate is likely to stay in the background for the months to come, problems surrounding gun ownership, of course, will continue. In Virginia recently, a three-year-old boy shot and killed himself while playing with a gun his father bought for protection against terrorists.

Such risks, gun control advocates say, outweigh any benefits - which they consider small - of carrying a weapon as a defence against terrorists.

[Objective Reality]

Such risks, gun control advocates say, outweigh any benefits - which they consider small - of carrying a weapon as a defence against terrorists.

I was trained as a journalist. The first thing to know about journalism is that journalists don't give a rat's damn about "objectivity." They purport to seek and report "the truth," and consider themselves the arbiters thereof. That said, always note what is often called the "stinger," or last expression of "truth," usually the last sentence, in any story - it's the flavor and phrasing of that which betrays the author's bias. Exhibit A, the above.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Here's what I posted on this other gun-related thread:

I think some jaws are gonna drop when the real retail figures come in and the most profitable sectors are means of self-defense and protection like guns and gas masks. The NY stores can't keep 'em in stock right now.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Yes, I noticed that too. (Spent time in journalism classes, myself - never majored in it, though.)

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

FYI bump

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Time for America to do away with ALL laws that violate the 2nd amendment.

Text of the Second Amendment
"A well regulated Militia
being necessary to the security of a free State,
the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed."
Anyone who actually reads AND understands the 2nd Amendment
will see that there is no constitutional authority for any type of gun registration
and *there is no need for anyone to have to apply for a license to carry a gun.
*NOTE Vermont is the only state that understands this!
Any political party, politician, judge (etc), organization or individual who trys to convince you that:
1) you must register a firearm
2) you must pass a background check
3) you must wait (x) amount of days before you can get your firearm
4) you need to have a license to carry a gun
is either uneducated about OUR rights as citizens
OR is actively working to undermine OUR country.
How Did the Founders Understand the Second Amendment?

How the Brady Bill Passed (and subsequently - "Instant Check")
When the Brady Bill was passed into law on November 24, 1993,
the Senate voted on the Conference Report
and passed the Brady Bill by UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

NOT ONE SENATOR FROM EITHER PARTY VOTED AGAINST THIS.

[tbeatty]

Actually, now might be a good time to try and get the Assault Weapons cosmetic prohibition lifted.

[Dan from Michigan]

Bump back

[Don Joe]

I was trained as a journalist. The first thing to know about journalism is that journalists don't give a rat's damn about "objectivity." They purport to seek and report "the truth," and consider themselves the arbiters thereof. That said, always note what is often called the "stinger," or last expression of "truth," usually the last sentence, in any story - it's the flavor and phrasing of that which betrays the author's bias. Exhibit A, the above.

I'm a writer and I concur.

I've also spoken with psychologists who say that the "last thing said" rule is an acknowledged "truth detector" when listening to someone to find out what they really believe. (scare quotes mine)

[The KG9 Kid]

It sunsets in 1994. I would love to see it go away.

[SevenDaysInMay]

As Grey Davis ponders gun registration in Kalifornistan...

Violations of our 2nd Article of the Bill of Rights are rampant in the hearts and minds of socialist politicians.

The police powers of the State will protect you as well as the World Trade Center.

[Squantos]

Sales in the state of Texas are through the roof...... And IMHO if the dealers don't start restocking the inventory soon the customers will start coming "in" through the roof.

Stay Safe "H" !

[Travis McGee]

Just wait until the BATfags get to try out their new anti-terrorism powers on folks with "too many guns".

[AnnaZ]

Though the gun control debate is likely to stay in the background for the months to come, problems surrounding gun ownership, of course, will continue. In Virginia recently, a three-year-old boy shot and killed himself while playing with a gun his father bought for protection against terrorists.

Such risks, gun control advocates say, outweigh any benefits - which they consider small - of carrying a weapon as a defence against terrorists.

Such risks outweigh any benefits? ANY?!

The intensity of the insanity is mind-boggling.

1 child > 1000s of casualties

"For the children" > "For liberty"

This guy needs to talk to Spock.

[rockfish59]

well, i even saw FAT ROSIE at the range!!! (or maybe she was the range)

[The Schnoid from Sheboygan]

Americans brush aside gun fears in desire to bear arms

Just a small correction to the title of the article. Americans don't have "gun fears."
To quote that ol' liberal baiter and conservative himself:

"There are two kinds of people in this country --- Americans and liberals."
--- James Watt, ca. 1982

[Skibane]

At Landry's Guns in Louisiana, Dale Landry says customers are pouring in to buy bullet-proof vests

Is anyone out there really buying bulletproof vests right now? This sounds like more disinformation to me.

[aquila48]

...gun control advocates say...

Note the source he quotes - probably himself!!

[joeyman]

a spending spree that promises to complicate the already complex debate on gun control.

There is nothing complex about gun control. It's quit simple really, the commie authoritarian crowd believes only bad guys, military and police should have guns and that middle class citizens should be disarmed. They know that their new world utopia could only be implemented by forcing it upon an unwilling population - check the Soviet Union for further details.

"People can buy guns at these shows from certain dealers without undergoing background checks. A terrorist could purchase all sorts of weaponry from these shows," says Mr Riley

Uh, Mr. Riley, to buy any firearm covered by the 1968 Gun Control Act from a dealer without a background check is against the law. If what you say is true, then these dealers should be brought up on charges. On the other hand, perhaps you are just making it all up because you feel your cause is so rightous that lying is justified. In that case I guess we've finally established just what kind of person you are and just how rightous your cause is.