Myth No. 3 — Guns are Bad

ABC News | 23 Jan 04 | John Stossel

[SLB]

20/20: Gun Myths

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As televised on ABC's 20/20 - January 23, 2004 - Lies, Myths and Downright Stupidity,

By John Stossel

Myth No. 3 — Guns are Bad VIDEO

America is notorious for its culture of gun violence. Guns sometimes do cause terrible harm, and many kids are killed every year in gun accidents. But public service announcements and news stories make it seem as if the accidents kill thousands of kids every year.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, however, fewer than 100 kids 15 and under are killed in gun accidents every year. Of course that's horrible, and I understand why demonstrators say we need more gun control.

But guess what? The Centers for Disease Control recently completed a review of studies of various types of gun control: background checks, waiting periods, bans on certain guns and ammunition. It could not document that these rules have reduced violent crime.

The government wants to say things like the Brady Gun Control Law are making a difference, but they aren't. 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.

It's a reason many states are passing gun un-control. They're allowing citizens to carry guns with them; it's called concealed carry or right to carry. Some women say they're comforted by these laws.

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.

[SLB]

I have not seen this on FR before. Don't know if it just slipped by or not.

[SLB]

Interesting.

[dfwgator]

"Guns are bad, you shouldn't use guns, mmmmmKay?"

[Joe Brower]

Yes, this was put on FR the other day, but from a different source.

Anyway, it's worth a second post!

[TBall]

I saw part of his show a couple of weeks ago. Very good. The DDT myth he exposed was tragic. All those children in Africa dying of malaria.

[SLB]

As I read through the lists of posts every day on FR it is very clear that many would be missing if there were more armed citizens. My family is praying for the safe return of the 11 year old girl in Florida. What if someone at the carwash saw the abduction and was armed? One less gobblin on the streets. What if the TCU professor had been armed, maybe she would not be on a cold steel table in the coroner's office.

[Clint Williams]

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.

So my libertarian side says let's rewind the clock (to 1968? or to 193x?) and undo all the so-called "gun control acts." They aren't accomplishing anything.

[whereasandsoforth]

The professor might have still ended up on the cold steel slab, but it would give me comfort to know she at least had a chance to protect herself. Her death would not be as hopeless if she had at least wounded or killed one of the animals that abducted her.

[VRW Conspirator]

Yes guns are bad. But the lack of such personal weapons...is worse, by magnitudes.

[bc2]

I think you should listen to your libertarian side more often...

[trebb]

All I can say is that we will rue the day we start allowing SUVs to carry guns - we'll all be doomed.

[Dead Corpse]

They aren't accomplishing anything.<p. It has taken some people 70 years to come to that conclusion. It'll be another 70 before anything meaningful gets done by government about it.

[Bluntpoint]

Unloaded guns with trigger locks, locked away in safes...are bad!

You might just as well have a cantalope locked up in such a fashion as far as defending your family with it!

[spodefly]

... 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.

What a surprise. I don't see any reference to this in any Brady literature.

[conservative golfer dude]

Guns aren't bad, idiots that use them wrong are bad!

[Bluntpoint]

What a surprise. I don't see any reference to this in any Brady literature.

These Bradys have never been honest!!!!

[SLB]

Link to an article in the local paper this morning - http://www.newsenterpriseonline.com/articles/2004/02/04/news/news04.txt

[Bluntpoint]

I have 4 kids. The range from 6 to 20. I never had to lock a gun away.

My kids grew up around guns. Hell, they grew up around power tools and chainsaws also.

Not one of them has shot themselves or others, drilled themselves or others, or chainsawed themselves or others.

[TERMINATTOR]

Unfortunately "gun control" "laws" are accomplishing a LOT, but it's all bad!

"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

Molon Labe!

[SLB]

Understand. I have 5 kids, ages 29 to 12. They grew up around guns, I grew up around guns. I have power tools that are dangerous if used incorrectly they understand that, they also understand a gun is simply a tool. Used correctly it does what it was designed to do. Used wrong it can hurt or kill.

Since we home school, we contacted NRA and have the Eddie Eagle course for them. Then one of the first things we did was take the curiosity out. Went to a field with a couple of watermelons and a .22 rifle and pistol. Showed them what that little bitty bullet would do to a melon and that it would do the same to a head.