Gun-Free Zones Are a Magnet for Attacks Like the Tragedy In Binghampton

Fox News ^ | April 3, 2009 | John R. Lott, Jr.

[JohnRLott]

Time after time multiple victim public shootings occur in gun free zones, public places where citizens are not legally able to carry guns. The horrible attack today in Binghamton, New York is no different. Every multiple victim public shooting that I have studied where more than three people have been killed has taken place where guns are banned.

You would think that it would be an important part of the news stories for a simple reason: Gun-free zones are a magnet for these attacks. Extensive discussions of these attacks can be found here and here. We want to keep people safe, but the problem is that it is the law-abiding good citizens, not the criminals, who obey these laws. We end up disarming the potential victims and not the criminals. Rather than making places safe for victims, we unintentionally make them safe for the criminal.

At some point you would think the media would notice that something is going on here, that these murderers aren’t just picking their targets at random. . . . .

[HotLead61]

Those are to get me to the truck.

Just curious now, would the truck have something even juicier, or would the truck be used to haul a$$?

[ChocChipCookie]

I believe in AZ they have 60 days. I was told to take it directly to DPS in order to speed it up a bit.

[HotLead61]

WHEN is the unarmed citizenry going to wake up and realize that they, and they alone, are responsible for their own safety and become an ARMED CITIZENRY?

Don't know if they ever will, but I guess some will. The vast majority, though, will need such a violent jolt to get the job done, that it will then be too late for them to rectify the situation.

Maybe if some of them get rescued by folks like us, then they'll become convinced once & for all, and can help us in getting things put back together the RIGHT way...

[HotLead61]

I have to concur with Squantos. My G17 mags come out cleanly with a push of the thumb. You may want to have it looked at, as that is not normal behavior. Good luck!!

[HotLead61]

I was told to take it directly to DPS in order to speed it up a bit.

Good advice indeed. I was told the same. Not only do they have it in hand, but you get a real-time receipt with the date on it. Don't wanna trust the USPS with something that important..

[21twelve]

The Tacoma Mall (Washington State, 2005, 6 wounded) shooting was stopped after the shooter was confronted by a citizen with a pistol. Although the citizen did not fire but was shot and paralyzed, the shooter retreated into a store with no more shots fired.

The mall shooting in Utah (2007??) was in part stopped by an off-duty cop with his family IIRC.

[mountainbunny]

The Tacoma Mall (Washington State, 2005, 6 wounded) shooting was stopped after the shooter was confronted by a citizen with a pistol. Although the citizen did not fire but was shot and paralyzed, the shooter retreated into a store with no more shots fired.

The mall shooting in Utah (2007??) was in part stopped by an off-duty cop with his family IIRC.

I forgot about those. Thank you for for the reminder.

There was also the Appalachian School of Law shooting. Like the Virginia Tech shooting, and like the one in new York, it was caused by an immigrant who went on a rampage. Unlike the VT or New York shootings, two students had weapons and helped subdue the gunman before he could do more damage (he shot and killed 3 innocent people and injured 3 more).

I don't know if being an immigrant had anything to do with anything, but it does seem a bit of an odd coincidence that at least 4 of the mass murders I can think of (Utah mall, Virginia Tech, Appalachian School of Law, the New York case), involved immigrants. Hmmm.

This case has been mentioned in the past as being indicative of the media's bias against guns, since it was two students with guns who helped stop the killer, but that aspect is rarely mentioned.

When discussing this sorts of shootings, these are the ones which should be mentioned, and if they are "forgotten" by the media, it is up to pro-2A citizens to serve as reminders. Write letters to the editor or to station managers or producers, make phone calls, etc., until both sides of the story are told.

For the record: The off-duty police officer's name was Ken Hammond in the Utah incident, and the citizen gun owner in Tacoma was Dan McKown. They, along with Jean Assam (New Life Church) plus gun owners Tracy Bridges and Mikael Gross (Appalachian School of Law) and Ted Besen (an unarmed student at AS of L who helped disarm the criminal) should be commended and remembered as the heroes they are.

[21twelve]

Dan McKeown (sp?) was honored as Hero of the Year by the American Legion. He remains paralyzed and in a wheelchair but is working on regaining the use of his legs. And also is still promoting his homemade (?) comedy DVD.

When hearing that the shooter was charged with 2nd Degree attempted murder he quipped something like “What? I’m not worth a 1st Degree charge!?”

[21twelve]

Opps, you’re right on the spelling - McKown. And the shooter was a Dominick Sergio Maldonado, 20 years old. An “arab looking boy” according to a quote from McKown. No search came up with his ethnicity however.!?