Step up effort to get guns off the streets

The Baltimore Sun ^ | December 17, 2001 | Daniel Webster

[the]

A RECENT study reported Maryland had the highest rate of handgun murders involving juveniles among the 50 states from 1995 through 1999. Some might take this as evidence that the state's gun laws are ineffective.

But there are several reasons why such a conclusion is premature, at best.

First, longstanding problems with gun violence led to the enactment of new gun control laws in Maryland. Our state ranks high in youth homicides because, compared with other states, its population is more urban and suffers from the many social ills of concentrated urban poverty.

[the]

Their crime rate stinks, they pass more gun controls, their crime rate gets worse then what do they do?

That's right, they call for more gun control. That's like complaining that a room is too hot, adjusting the thermostat the wrong way, then when you realize it is hotter you adjust the thermostat again in the same direction!

population is more urban

Urban? Isn't urban a modern day liberal code word for something, what was it again?

But in Maryland, handgun purchase applications are based on the "honor system."

I've never heard risking criminal prosecution for not following the law referred to as an "honor system" before.

The overwhelming majority of citizens...

Though this does happen to be true in "The Free State", that doesn't make it any less wrong of an idea. Choosing what to do based on pure majority rule results in nothing less than mob rule, no matter the sanctity of your cause, then the majority is seeking to violate civil & human rights.

[the]

Sorry, I forgot the barf alert.

[Campion]

Some might take this as evidence that the state's gun laws are ineffective.

They would be people with functioning brain cells, none of whom work for the Sun.

[gramho12]

From the state that elected Glendening (and no, I did not vote for the moron), and the city that gives us the Baltimore Sun which no one reads except the politicians, here comes a perfect example of the death of common sense and logic.

Instead of getting rid of the dead weight in the liberal courts in Maryland, and enforce the laws on the books, and build some prisons(none have been built under 8 years Glendening) rather than putting these guys back out on the street, we need to fingerprint those guns of law-abiding citizens.

Makes my blood boil.

[Travis McGee]

bttt

[Standing Wolf]

Leftist so-called "gun control" is to America
as the Taliban were to peace and freedom!

[AAABEST]

34% of felons said they personally had been "scared off, shot at, wounded, or captured by an armed victim."
69% said that they knew at least one other criminal who had also.
34% said that when thinking about committing a crime they either "often" or "regularly" worried that they might get shot at by the victim."
James D. Wright & Peter H. Rossi, Armed and Considered Dangerous: A Survey of Felons and Their Firearms (1986).

In 1982, Kennesaw, Atlanta passed a law requiring heads of households to keep at least one firearm in the house. The residential burglary rate subsequently dropped 89%.
Gary Kleck, 'Crime Control Through the Private Use of Armed Force,' Social Problems 35 (February 1988):15.

3/5 of felons polled agreed that 'a criminal is not going to mess around with a victim he knows is armed with a gun.'
U.S., Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice, 'The Armed Criminal in America: A Survey of Incarcerated Felons,' Research Report, (July 1985): 27.

74% of felons polled agreed that 'one reason burglars avoid houses when people are at home is that they fear being shot during the crime.'
U.S., Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice, 'The Armed Criminal in America: A Survey of Incarcerated Felons,' Research Report, (July 1985): 27.

57% of felons polled agreed that 'criminals are more worried about meeting an armed victim than they are about running into the police.'
U.S., Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice, 'The Armed Criminal in America: A Survey of Incarcerated Felons,' Research Report, (July 1985): 27.

Courtesy of gunfacts.org

[copycat]

But there is plenty of evidence that some dealers allow or even directly facilitate many illegal gun sales.

Ever notice how libs always claim "plenty of evidence" without citing the evidence?

[copycat]

Our current criminal justice policies focus almost exclusively on punishing criminals after they shoot someone.

Duh...they are not criminals until they commit a crime.

[angkor]

After reading this insane and Orwellian interpretation of Maryland's "gun problem," I have to wonder exactly what sort of brain malady is taking over at The Sun. Maryland, the Land Of Pleasant Living, hardshell crabs, beer, Johnny Unitas, Brooks Robinson, The United States Naval Academy.

But it has become the first refuge of tryanny, getting increasingly more ludicrous than Massachusetts (and Maryland's next governor will likely be a Kennedy!)

By the way, Maryland's other "gun problem" is Prince George's Country, which is the effective extension of Northeast DC. 'Nuff said.

It is not the state I grew up in, but it's certainly the state I'd do anything to avoid.

[Cobra64]

It appears that with the way things are going with HCI selling American's Second Amendment Rights down the toilet, there is a terrific opportunity in growing the gray/black market for home self defense.

If a person can get a grenade look-alike on a commercial aircraft with all of Tom Ridge's security morons patrolling airports, it would be a simple task in getting a freighter full of all sorts of militia (long guns and pistols) on to our soil.

[Shooter 2.5]

No one is entirely useless. They can always serve as a bad example.- Old Saying

[Mulder]

Crime goes up:

"There is too much crime. We need more gun control"

Crime goes down:

"See how well gun control works? We need more gun control"

[Zon]

The overwhelming majority of citizens, including gun owners, want stricter gun laws and for law enforcement to crack down on illegal gun sales and carrying. What are we waiting for?

The overwhelming majority of citizens want a million dollars so I guess since the majority rules, crank up the press and send out the checks. What a moron the author, Daniel Webster must be.