Talking about gun control after September 11

International Action Network on Small Arms (aka UN Gun Control) ^ | October 1, 2001 | IANSA

[FSPress]

FOR PERSONAL, NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence Advisory October 1, 2001

Talking about gun control after September 11

Dear Friends:

In the aftermath of September 11, many of us in the gun violence prevention movement have considered how and when to talk about the gun issue in the wake of the attacks. In light of recent reports of increased gun purchases across the nation, highlighting this issue is now important and necessary.

The Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence offers the following suggestions to help make sense of how our work fits in a troubled new world. We respect that these difficult times affect people in varied and unpredictable ways, and we recognize that these messages may not be fully satisfying to everyone in the movement. But we hope they will help you to communicate effectively about our common cause.

You are invited to use these messages as a template, and modify them in any manner you see fit, particularly if your organization is taking a position on arming airline pilots. We also invite any comments you have about how these messages could be improved. Should you have any questions, please contact Blaine Rummel at 202-408-0061 ext. 118.

Stronger gun laws mean better security.

Everyone agrees that airline security has been lax over the years, yet we did nothing about it. But our gun laws are also lax, and we need to be aggressive in strengthening them for the sake of our future security. Stronger gun laws must be a part of any plan to reduce the threat of terrorism in our nation. Keeping guns out of the hands of those who wish to harm us at home requires the same policies that can keep guns out of the hands of criminals.

Specifically, we need to require universal criminal background checks for every gun sale the same criminal background checks that are being instituted for airport baggage handlers.

Just as law abiding citizens understand the need to wait in longer lines at airports to guarantee their security, so too do they understand the need for a background check before buying a gun.

Weak gun laws allow the illegal gun market to thrive, making it easy for anyone to buy guns at gun shows, over the Internet, and through classified ads with no background check, no questions asked.

Terrorists could walk into a gun show this weekend and walk out with weapons. For proof of this, we need look no further than Michigan, where a terrorist took advantage of the gun show loophole last year to buy and send weapons to the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah.

Current federal law also expressly prohibits law enforcement from maintaining records of guns and their owners, which means that gun owners who sell guns to criminals or other prohibited purchasers cannot be identified and held accountable.

We understand the desire to protect ourselves in the aftermath of this tragedy, but buying guns won't make us safer.

Now more than ever, Americans understandably are demanding protection and security. A few are rushing out to buy guns in an effort to protect themselves and their families. But as Americans rush to buy weapons for protection, we must remember that others with more sinister motives can just as easily do the same. Real protection will mean ensuring that people who should not have guns cannot get them that means strong gun laws.

Further, people who are looking for protection and solace during this time would be better served to visit a grief counselor, priest, or rabbi, than to buy a gun.

We must remember what research has clearly shown: a gun in the home is far more likely to be involved in an unintended tragedy like the one in Virginia the week after the terrorist attacks, in which a three-year old accidentally shot himself with a handgun his father brought into the home to protect his family.

Specifically, research tells us that:

A gun kept in the home is 22 times more likely to be used in homicide, suicide, or accidental shooting, rather than to be used in self-defense.

The presence of a gun in the home appears to increase significantly the risk of adolescent suicide.

High community rates of gun ownership are associated with elevated rates of robbery murder, firearm suicide, and overall firearm death rates. Arming airline passengers is dangerous and counterproductive.

The last thing we need is hundreds of passengers armed with guns. It is a recipe for disaster.

Imagine what would happen if a nervous, trigger-happy passenger mistakenly believed another is up to no good. We instead stand by law enforcement, and applaud an increase in the number of trained air marshals armed to protect airline passengers.

We also must remember that airlines with a history of terrorist threats and a successful record for preventing them, such as Israel's El Al, don't allow passengers to carry weapons.

[FSPress]

These are the words of gun control terrorists. They are playing for all of the marbles, because their win means the disarmament of America and the ability the control the greatest nation on earth. The "we must give up a little freedom so we can be safe" types will ultimately deliver you into their hands. The "government and our leaders know best" types are their allies because this is about power and who weilds it. If we cannot muster the courage stop them when we are armed then we will never stop them when we are disarmed.

[KC_for_Freedom]

Gun dealers report a surge in gun purchases. I guess these people disagree.

[Batrachian]

"gun violence prevention movement"

Now there's a mouthful. I guess the phrase "gun control" has lost it's cachet. The NRA has existed for 125 years and has not deemed it necessary to change it's name. I think there's a lesson there somewhere.

[norton]

Gun control terrorists sounds like the perfect description - one we should put forward loud and often in the wake of the other attack on America.

That these one-track, misty eyed, morons are using the 9/11 murders to go once again after legal firearms is worse than immoral; it's that and treason as well.

So far since 9/11, airplanes, envelopes, box cutters, perhaps cropdusters and rental trucks, links with the 'peaceful" world of islam and hemorraging borders.

So naturally the left wants gun control and greater diversity.

[DWSUWF]

Let's go back to our grade school math.

Class, take the set of gun owners and divide them into two subsets.

Subset A is the set of gun owners who will not surrender any (or all) of their weapons when told to. (Those who smile and turn in junk or sucker-bait guns, but keep the 'good stuff' are part of this set.)

Subset B is the set of gun owners who will bend over, spread their cheeks and produce their entire weapon inventory on command.

OK class. Which is the larger set?

Yes Johnny, that’s correct. Subset A is the largest set.

Moving on to the next problem now...

Set A is that set of Ninja-Nazis harvested by Patriots on the first day of a gun confiscation attack, and Set B is that set of Ninja-Nazis harvested by Patriots on the second day of a gun confiscation attack. Which set has more bullet holes in their backs and buttocks, in addition to their other wounds?

Yes, that's right Jane. Set B is the larger set.

Molon Labe !

[epow]

For proof of this, we need look no further than Michigan, where a terrorist took advantage of the gun show loophole last year to buy and send weapons to the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah.

You can't ship a firearm out of the country without a firearm export license from OMC (Office of Munitions Control), and they won't give you one unless you are a licensed gun dealer, licensed distributor, or licensed manufacturer. A licensed dealer could sell a gun to an alien and ship it directly to the alien's foreign address, but that would be a dealer sale complete with FBI background check, therefore the so-called "loophole" wouldn't enter into the equation. In any event, why would a Lebanese terrorist buy firearms at a U.S. gunshow when just around the corner in Africa combloc AKs are selling for $50 a pop and FALs are going for $100 on the black markets? IMHO whoever wrote this article is a liar.

[StarfireIV]

"A gun kept in the home is 22 times more likely to be used in homicide, suicide, or accidental shooting, rather than to be used in self-defense." This old lie has been around for a long time. Of course if these misguided malcontents actually did the math with 250+ million guns in this country, there would be far more tragedies than there actually are. How dare these people make politcal hay out of 5000+ lives lost in NY!

[FSPress]

People need to wake up and smell the facism. There is a very constitutional means of domestic security. We need to make people aware that they need to be selective about the remedies they adopt for the precieved ill of insecurity.

The thing that I wonder about when I read articles like this is are they telling us what's coming next. If there were several major incidents with multiple shootings due to the ben Laden terrorists the anti rights terrorists will have a field day in taking away our rights.

[Drew68]

bang!

[JWinNC]

For proof of this, we need look no further than Michigan, where a terrorist took advantage of the gun show loophole last year to buy and send weapons to the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah.

"...why would a Lebanese terrorist buy firearms at a U.S. gunshow when just around the corner in Africa combloc AKs are selling for $50 a pop and FALs are going for $100 on the black markets? IMHO whoever wrote this article is a liar."

I suspected it was another lie as well. Does anybody have any idea what they're talking about? I'll bet it's sheer fantasy.

JWinNC

[boris]

Unfortunately, the hijackers did not mistake the U.N. building for one of the WTC towers.

--Boris

[TERMINATTOR]

U.N. Building, NY USA

"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." - Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

To arms, to arms, the terrorists are coming!

America's Militia wants YOU!
Congress has provided (Article I - Section. 8, U.S. Constitution) the Militia with a means to arm themselves: CMP (Civilian Markmenship Program).

Luke 22:36 (KJV) --Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.

Got sword? (M1 Garand ==>CMP)

No mercy, no quarter!
May the jihadists burn in hell for eternity!
Help speed them on their way!

Please download and sign the Petition to Attorney General Ashcroft, asking him to enforce the Second Amendment.
Bible quotes in favor of annihilating jihadists
Molon Labe!

[MarkL]

Terrorists could walk into a gun show this weekend and walk out with weapons. For proof of this, we need look no further than Michigan, where a terrorist took advantage of the gun show loophole last year to buy and send weapons to the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah.

You know, I find this harder and harder to believe when I think about this... A terrorist decides to go to a Michigan gun show to buy weapons that he will ship to a terrorist group in Lebanon. Does anyone else find that really weird? This guy decides that he's going to try shipping weapons out of the US, into a country where there are automatic weapons for sale just about anywhere you go?

Something about this really stinks... I believe that it's either a lie or a setup... neither of which I would put past the anit-gunners.

Mark

[Dan from Michigan]

where a terrorist took advantage of the gun show loophole last year to buy and send weapons to the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah.

BS. There is no gun show loophole in Michigan. I know. I live here.

[MarkL]

Oops... Sorry, I hadn't read your post before firing off one of my own which was almost identical.

Mark

[Dan from Michigan]

It was a straw purchase if I remember right.

[Republican Wildcat]

These people are one brain short of having a brain.