John Stossel / ABC News Explode Gun Control Myth

MCRGO (Internet) ^ | 1/24/04 | Stu Chisholm

[Glockslinger]

Last night's ABC News magazine program, "20/20," had a pleasant surprise for the pro-gun community in a segment called "Lies, Myths and Downright Stupidity."

John Stossel, known for his segments called "Give Me A Break," who now also has a book by the same name, exposed many of the commonly held beliefs that we usually just accept, but have no true basis in fact.

One in particular, labeled "Myth #3: Guns Are Bad," pointed out many things that second amendment advocates have known for years; that guns are used much more often for defensive uses than in crime. Citing data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), he also exposed data showing that popular methods of gun control, such as the Brady Bill, have had little if any effect on crime.

Interviewing a group of prison inmates, Stossel reports, "Some maximum security felons I spoke to in New Jersey scoffed at measures like the Brady law. They said they'll have no trouble getting guns if they want them. A Justice Department study confirmed what the prisoners said. But get this: the felons say that the thing they fear the most is not the police, not time in prison, but, you, another American who might be armed."

Stossel goes on to say to say that many states have passed what he refers to as "gun un-control" in the form of concealed carry laws, which have been shown to be an effective deterrent to violent crime. Some women say they're comforted by the new law, according to the report.

The segment concludes by saying, "Many people are horrified at the idea of concealed carry laws, and predict mayhem if all states adopt these laws. But surprise, 36 states already have concealed carry laws, and not one reported an upsurge in gun crime."

What is amazing about this exemplary, straight forward report is that is appeared on a prime-time ABC news program, a network that has a reputation for being very un-friendly to the NRA and the pro-gun community at large. Whether or not ABC has reconsidered it's official policy, or if it is simply John Stossel's own research and opinion remains to be seen. In any case, ABC is to be commended for it's airing of the truth behind an often controversial, yet vital issue.

See the whole program at: http://abcnews.go.com/sections/2020/2020/myths_john_stossel_040123-1.html

~Stu Chisholm

[Squantos]

My Pups preempt my pistolas in most oh dark thirty bump in the dark incidents. When did Rocky go to doggy heaven ? Sorry ya lost him. Did ya note in that Open Range movie that they were more upset at the fact they shot their dog than their friend ?

Stay Safe !

[wardaddy]

Rocky ascended on 1-02-04 about 2PM...just laid down and died on his LL Bean bunk.

A great dog.

We'll get another at some point.

Yep, never shoot a serious man's dog.

[Squantos]

Damn....Sorry to hear that. How old was he ?

[wardaddy]

Yea...I know. I'm talking off the top of my piehole.

Anything happens at my office, I'm ducking and sending lead their way.

At a car wash collection, it will probably be in the open and who knows, I'm a good shot and have seen some elephants driving Mercedes and Land Rovers in the third world (a long time ago) but I don;t know now. If it's a gang with Tech-9s, I better hope they are lousy shots. Of course I do pay attention to my surroundings...I picked that up keenly "somewhere"..lol

At home, damn if I know...startled and half awake...I'll do my best.

Good incentive to get another alpha male dog, they up yer odds exponentially and if they are trueheart, they will fling themselves at Godzilla if need be. I keep a lot of lead handy...edges too. I will do my best. I do not tolerate threats anymore....nosiree....been there, and EFF THAT! Any sign of threat and I go for my guns....it's that simple and my family knows it.

and sometimes you just get caught with yer britches down and have to try to retreat to get better position and avoid the problem at that time if possible. I am mighty vulnerable in parking lots with 2 babies in tow and don't go places where I am exposed if possible.

Remember that nearly 70 year old marine that shot the two armed intruders near me last year with his .357 loaded with ratshot in his mansion...he said God saved them since he didn't grab his 1911 in the dark...well, if that crusty old fart can take it straigh to too doper home invaders who were armed with an AK-74 and some sort of pistol then so can we. They shot it out in his 5 car garage and he popped both of them as they fired wildly. He claimed he does practice...a good lesson.

I think the Bedford Forrest attitude is a good one but of course he didn't face semi-autos but he did face cannon fire...something I hope to avoid here in the private sector..lol

[wardaddy]

9 and a 90 lb Dobie..quite large...it was his time...he died well.

We buried him behind mom's place and will erect a cross and dust him with some of dad's ashes soon. He was my dad's last dog and dad took him everywhere. Dad in his ostentatious black MB S500 and a large man himself with his Stetson on and his Dobie sitting in the passenger seat next to him like a business associate rigid as a piece of rebar...lol...you would have had to see it. He would show teeth to folks who pulled up next to them at stoplights...he loathed anyone staring at his eyes...Rotts don't like that either btw.

When my dad was on his deathbed and I came home to fetch the dog after being there all night with dad, the dog was terrified of me and would not let me close...he just hunkered and trembled. He thought I had killed master I guess. We took him to the hospice room and thereafter everyday...he just laid there and licked dad's hand and growled at anybody besides family that got too close.

Boy, that had everyone misty eyed down there. Yea, he was a good dog. My mom found him, she was freaked out. We were lucky there was some spoil behind the house from one of dad's many home improvement projects..lol....middle TN is all rock after about 6" of top soil....I'm talking boulders and slabs.

[Lancey Howard]

Whether or not ABC has reconsidered it's official policy, or if it is simply John Stossel's own research and opinion remains to be seen. In any case, ABC is to be commended for it's airing of the truth behind an often controversial, yet vital issue.

ABC remains a loyal mouthpiece for the DNC and for the liberal lobby in general, and John Stossel must mortify the newsroom, especially Peter Jennings and the View crew. But ABC knows that putting a thumb on John would be a public relations nightmare for them, so they can only hold their collective breath whenever John does a piece. All John needs to do is go with the facts and keep telling the unvarnished truth, and as Rush has shown for over a decade, that's all you need to do to win (thinking, reasonable) people over.

By the way, I have seen John post here in the past and I bet he lurks often, as many newspeople do.
Hello, John. Please keep up the nice work.

[Travis McGee]

Working at your office and "interfacing with the public" as you do, you probably have a very much higher risk of facing armed robbers than most of us. And I wouldn't discount the risk that bangers might size you up, and decide to follow you home to see where Mr. Rich Whitey lives. I think a dobie that went everywhere with you would be cool, like the Phantom's wolf.

[wardaddy]

yea...I used to take Rocky to the office a lot when he was with us and not mom. He definitely gave folks pause and I warned everyone he was not a pet. If someone came in, he was up and staring at their every move with those back paws scratching and that shoulder hump raised...unless it was a child.

I have a friend who owns car washes in Jackson Miss ...all in da hood. He takes a white Alsation with him everywhere and a .44 mag Redhawk. The dog gives one a perimeter moat and an alarm and offense all in one.

I am at the warehouse less and less...down to 3 days/week now and can see one day soon when I will only "fill in" but collecting from the car washes is another story. There was a fellow near here some goblin boyz jumped last year and debated whether to execute him. One talked the other out of it. Everyone I know in that business has something. This fellow did not that day and it almost cost him all. I will always have something, no doubt....and I may keep a spare scattergun in the operations room too.

[Travis McGee]

The less you interface with the "urban youths" the better. You don't need that kind of trouble, let others run it day to day. Geez, imagining having your execution discussed by a couple of low life's with pistolas at your head. Who needs to live with that risk? I know, "it's a living." But remember the immortal words Josey Wales, in another context: "Dyin' ain't much of a way to make a living."

[ExSoldier]

Where I shoot, we break into squads on two lanes, each lane about 50 feet wide and 100 feet deep. Only ONE lane shoots at a time. Targets, both moving and static appear and disappear as the shooters move through the course. Movement is in any direction to solve the problem without ever breaking the 180 safety fan. Cover must always be utilized and so too must the tactical reload. The only time you can drop your mag is when you are at "slide lock." If we start from a position opposite to that of the target, the draw can't be completed until you're facing the target to prevent a sweep of nearby shooters and safety officers. There will be times where it is necessary to "go prone" because the only available cover is a simulated street curb or something similar. Likewise, when shooting from cover it is necessary to "slice the pie" in engaging targets and only 50% of any "A" zone on your body can be exposed at any time, including your head. You know how tough a shot that is when you must fire over the hood of a car or a wall? I swear, the guys who design our courses studied under the Marquis de Sade. Remember, you're dropping points for any hit outside an "A" zone (center mass either torso or head) and for time and for hits on the plentiful "no shoot" or hostage targets available. Failure to "DO RIGHT" is a major penalty which means you act in such a way as to "win the competition" rather than to solve the problem as you would on the street.

[pepperdog]

"An armed society is a polite society."

You are so right. We were in Tucson a few years ago and our rv park manager carried as did the maintenance man, both in full sight in holsters. Later in the day I saw one of my rv neighbors with is gun strapped on. I did notice that everyone was ever so polite to everyone else. I felt very protected and secure.

[Travis McGee]

Man, that is impressive. I need to get out of Cali and find something like that! The only thing I might disagree with (but I haven't seen it so I'm not sure) is the prone behind a curb for cover. If it's like a small wall in front, fine. But if it's a wide sidewalk above the curb, not so good, because bullets coming at you don't bounce off streets or walls like a pool table to go over or past you. They tend to mash and follow the street or wall very closely, so the sidewalk, street or wall (vertical orientation) will actually guide the bullet right into you. The military now teaches troops NOT to hug walls on street patrols for this reason, and to be very careful firing around cement wall corners. On attack, they now teach "skip shooting" to use the street or walls to guide ricochet bullets right into your enemy who is hugging them.

[Ancesthntr]

To John Stoessel:

Thank you for being an objective reporter. People like you are, regrettably, very rare in the media these days. I watch you all the time, and I'm never disappointed. Keep up the good work, no matter who dislikes your conclusions.

[SWake]

I received my Stossel letter tonight with his book tour dates attached.

Washington, D.C., Tuesday, Jan. 27 Cato Institute Reception and Signing 5:00 p.m.
Los Angeles, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 28 Orange County Forum Hyatt Regency Irvine
San Francisco, Calif., Friday, Jan. 30 Pacific Research Institute — Breakfast, Talk and Signing 8:00 a.m.; Commonwealth Club of California 12:00 p.m.
Chicago, Il., Wednesday, Feb. 4 Heartland Institute 12:00 p.m.
Princeton, N.J., Tuesday, Feb. 10 Princeton University Bookstore 7:00 p.m.
New York, N.Y., Friday, Feb. 13 Barnes & Noble — Lincoln Center Store 7:30 p.m.
Houston, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 17 Ronald Reagan High School 6:00 p.m.
Dallas, Texas, Wednesday, Feb. 18 National Center for Policy Analysis 11:30 a.m.
Wycoff, N.J., Saturday, Feb. 28 Bennet Bookstore 2:00 p.m.

[xzins]

It's election time.

Wait until after the election if a liberal wins the presidency.

[Blue Jays]

bump/ping/BTT

[TBall]

I thought the DDT segment was very good as well. That footage from the 50's with the family eating at the pic knick table getting sprayed was hysterical.

[4CJ]

That footage from the 50's with the family eating at the pic knick table getting sprayed was hysterical.

And being in the pool covered by the spray.

ECO-freaks are repsonsible for millions of preventable deaths.

[cinFLA]

In addition MOST of these criminal murders are DRUG related . Another wonderful effect of the STUPID WOD

Right! Make cocaine legal and all these thugs will become up-standing, law-abiding, role-model citizens. Right!

[FourtySeven]

Feeling good is all that matters [to liberals].

You know, after debating some liberals in the last few days, I've come to realize this MUST be true about most of them, at least, if not all of them. LOL

I've thought for a long time that most people who are liberal are just too lazy to find out the truth for themselves, and not necessarily stupid. NOW however, I'm really starting to wonder.

Ah, heck, I'll probably go back to believing they're "ignorant, but not stupid" again; I'm just too optimistic. It's difficult to keep that outlook sometimes though.

I digress from the thread topic though. BUMP for John Stossel! I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I think the man has some real DIRT on some ABC execs........I really don't know how he's lasted this long in such a "hostile" environment. hehe