Jessica Carlson
Shoot like a Girl
I've had more then my fair share of gun related conversations with those both for and against more gun laws, assault weapons bans, and/or strictor regulations. Many of these conversations have brought up valid questions and/or concerns but more then anything I've noticed a severe lack of information or an abundance of misinformation on both sides of the argument. Common statements such as "I don't see why anyone should be able to own a fully automatic weapon", "Do you really need to own an AR15/AK47", "car's are more highly regulated then guns" and questions about the "flee market loop hole" deserve a more educated responce then the typical "fork's made me fat" and "ban the dangerous (fill in the blank)" item amongst an a cacophany of "it's my right" statments. So I've compiled a list of information I'd like to share to help combat this monopoly of misinformation and give gun owners and supporters a arsenal of information worth repeating.
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To start: It is important to note that the very definition of a militia is "A military force of civilians to supplement a regular army in an emergency." And as such it is our duty as American's to be prepared to defend our country in the event it should need us.
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For those misinformed about the existing gun control laws and the ability of just any person to buy any gun:
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And for those concerned about the flee-market loop hole:
In some states current laws permit private collectors to sell guns from their personal collection without becoming a licensed dealer, however there are still laws and rules they must abide by:
"It shall be unlawful for any person to sell or otherwise dispose of any firearm or ammunition to any person knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that such person—
(1) is under indictment for, or has been convicted in any court of, a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year;
(2) is a fugitive from justice;
(3) is an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance...
(4) has been adjudicated as a mental defective or has been committed to any mental institution;
(5) who, being an alien—
(A) is illegally or unlawfully in the United States; or
(B) except as provided in subsection
(2), has been admitted to the United States under a nonimmigrant visa...
(6) who has been discharged from the Armed Forces under dishonorable conditions;
(7) who, having been a citizen of the United States, has renounced his citizenship;
(8) is subject to a court order that restrains such person from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner of such person or child of such intimate partner or person, or engaging in other conduct that would place an intimate partner in reasonable fear of bodily injury to the partner or child, except that this paragraph shall only apply to a court order that—
(A) was issued after a hearing of which such person received actual notice, and at which such person had the opportunity to participate; and
(B)(i) includes a finding that such person represents a credible threat to the physical safety of such intimate partner or child; or
(ii) by its terms explicitly prohibits the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against such intimate partner or child that would reasonably be expected to cause bodily injury; or
(9) has been convicted in any court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence."
Laws vary by state and I believe in my state there is not a mandatory background check for person to person sales at this time however the rules are clearly spelled out and anyone not abiding them deserves the sentence they are charged with.
Reference: ATF Online - Firearms - Frequently Asked Questions - Unlicensed Persons
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For some interesting facts on gun murder and violent crimes commited with them:
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The number of known murders from ALL firearms in 2011 was 8,583 while the total number of all murders via knife, blunt object, hands/fist/feet, and other weapons was 4,081. So you are almost twice as likely to die from a firearm as say from a blunt object or fist. However, last year there were over 2,986,293 Forced rape or rape attempts, Robberies, burglaries, and aggravated assaults committed PER 100,000 people. Of those almost 3 million crimes only 11% of the attackers used a documented firearm the rest of those crimes (89% of nearly 3 million) were committed using something else for a weapon or their own hands. Depending on where you live (say an area populated by 100,000 people) that's an average of a 30% chance a violent crime will be committed against you in one year and of that there is a 3.3% chance he or she will have a firearm.
Furthermore, on average 32,367 motor vehicle related deaths (per 1 million people) occur each year. Considering the population of the US is roughly 315 million that's 10,199,531 motor vehicle related deaths a year....that means you are 1188 times more likely to be killed by in a motor vehicle accident then a firearm.
Incidentally, there were are roughly 1,206,192 abortions commited each year (sorry lost the reference to this one).
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References:
Just for fun a video on Violent Crime comparing the USA to other countries :
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And finally:
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Regulations, laws, and restrictions only affect law-abiding citizens, they do nothing to stop a criminal whose very intent is to break the law, which means stricter laws for law-abiding citizen's creates victim's not less crime. .... Ironically, if someone were to break into your home with a weapon the first thing you would do is call someone who has one, like the police, but their job is NOT to protect you. Their job is uphold the law. Peter Kasler makes a great point on self-reliance for self-defense and coincidentally summarizes many of the statements I would use anyway so here's some information showing the POLICE ARE NOT LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE TO PROTECT YOU. ... When seconds count the police are minutes away. Link Removed
If anyone has any additional question/comments/information please let me know as I am always looking to educate myself more. Thanks for reading.
.
.
To start: It is important to note that the very definition of a militia is "A military force of civilians to supplement a regular army in an emergency." And as such it is our duty as American's to be prepared to defend our country in the event it should need us.
.
.
For those misinformed about the existing gun control laws and the ability of just any person to buy any gun:
.
- 1791: Second Amendment Ratified to state: "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." See U.S. Constitution.
- 1934 National firearms act: eliminated automatic-fire weapons, short-barreled shotguns and rifles, parts of guns like silencers, as well as other "gadget-type" firearms hidden in canes. All gun sales and gun manufacturers were slapped with a $200 tax ($2,525 today if not more) on each firearm, and all buyers were required to fill out paperwork subject to Treasury Dept. approval.
- In 1938 the Federal Firearms Act required anyone involved in the selling of firearms was required to obtain a Federal Firearms License from the Secretary of Commerce and prohibited those same sellers from selling to those people who were convicted of certain crimes or lacked a permit.
- The 1968 Gun Control Act restricted handgun sales over state lines; the list of persons dealers could not sell to grew to include those convicted of felonies (with some exceptions), those found mentally incompetent, drug users and more. The act also defined persons who were banned from possessing firearms and prevented the purchase of firearms via mail order.
- In 1986 the Law Enforcement Officers Protection Act made it illegal for anyone to manufacture or import armor piercing ammunition, or "cop-killer bullets," which are capable of penetrating bulletproof clothing. While the Firearms Owners' Protection Act eased restrictions on gun sellers and the sale of some guns. Imposed additional penalties for persons using a firearm during certain crimes and persons with robbery or burglary convictions who are illegally shipping guns.
- In 1990 the Crime Control Act aimed at enforcing a "drug-free school zones," included criminal penalties for possessing or discharging a firearm in a school zone and outlawed the assembly of illegal semiautomatic rifles or shotguns from legally imported parts.
- 1994 the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act aka "Assault weapons ban" banned the manufacture, possession, and importation of new semiautomatic assault weapons and large-capacity ammunition feeding devices (or magazines) for civilian use. In addition to prohibiting juveniles from possessing or selling handguns. It also directed the attorney general to evaluate proposed and existing state juvenile gun laws.
- In 1994 to 1998 the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act imposed a five-day waiting period and background check before a licensed gun importer, manufacturer or dealer can sell or deliver a handgun to an unlicensed individual and requires all gun dealers to run background checks on all potential buyers using the National Instant Criminal Background Check system which is run by the FBI.
- and in 1999 the Gun Bill Requires Trigger Locks A bill is passed which requires all newly made hand guns to have a trigger lock. The bill also extends the waiting period and background checks of firearms being sold at gun shows.
- Long story short the last significant federal gun law was 1994' s Assault Weapons Ban, passed five years BEFORE Columbine and almost 9 years BEFORE this years shootings.
.
And for those concerned about the flee-market loop hole:
In some states current laws permit private collectors to sell guns from their personal collection without becoming a licensed dealer, however there are still laws and rules they must abide by:
"It shall be unlawful for any person to sell or otherwise dispose of any firearm or ammunition to any person knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that such person—
(1) is under indictment for, or has been convicted in any court of, a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year;
(2) is a fugitive from justice;
(3) is an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance...
(4) has been adjudicated as a mental defective or has been committed to any mental institution;
(5) who, being an alien—
(A) is illegally or unlawfully in the United States; or
(B) except as provided in subsection
(2), has been admitted to the United States under a nonimmigrant visa...(6) who has been discharged from the Armed Forces under dishonorable conditions;
(7) who, having been a citizen of the United States, has renounced his citizenship;
(8) is subject to a court order that restrains such person from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner of such person or child of such intimate partner or person, or engaging in other conduct that would place an intimate partner in reasonable fear of bodily injury to the partner or child, except that this paragraph shall only apply to a court order that—
(A) was issued after a hearing of which such person received actual notice, and at which such person had the opportunity to participate; and
(B)(i) includes a finding that such person represents a credible threat to the physical safety of such intimate partner or child; or
(ii) by its terms explicitly prohibits the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against such intimate partner or child that would reasonably be expected to cause bodily injury; or
(9) has been convicted in any court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence."
Laws vary by state and I believe in my state there is not a mandatory background check for person to person sales at this time however the rules are clearly spelled out and anyone not abiding them deserves the sentence they are charged with.
Reference: ATF Online - Firearms - Frequently Asked Questions - Unlicensed Persons
.
For some interesting facts on gun murder and violent crimes commited with them:
.
The number of known murders from ALL firearms in 2011 was 8,583 while the total number of all murders via knife, blunt object, hands/fist/feet, and other weapons was 4,081. So you are almost twice as likely to die from a firearm as say from a blunt object or fist. However, last year there were over 2,986,293 Forced rape or rape attempts, Robberies, burglaries, and aggravated assaults committed PER 100,000 people. Of those almost 3 million crimes only 11% of the attackers used a documented firearm the rest of those crimes (89% of nearly 3 million) were committed using something else for a weapon or their own hands. Depending on where you live (say an area populated by 100,000 people) that's an average of a 30% chance a violent crime will be committed against you in one year and of that there is a 3.3% chance he or she will have a firearm.
Furthermore, on average 32,367 motor vehicle related deaths (per 1 million people) occur each year. Considering the population of the US is roughly 315 million that's 10,199,531 motor vehicle related deaths a year....that means you are 1188 times more likely to be killed by in a motor vehicle accident then a firearm.
Incidentally, there were are roughly 1,206,192 abortions commited each year (sorry lost the reference to this one).
.
References:
- 2011 - Murders by state and type of weapon used: FBI ? Table 20
- 2011 - Crimes per 100,000 persons (divided by population group) FBI ? Table 19
- Motor Vehicle statistics 2011: http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811701.pdf
- Current population: U.S. & World Population Clocks
Just for fun a video on Violent Crime comparing the USA to other countries :
And finally:
.
Regulations, laws, and restrictions only affect law-abiding citizens, they do nothing to stop a criminal whose very intent is to break the law, which means stricter laws for law-abiding citizen's creates victim's not less crime. .... Ironically, if someone were to break into your home with a weapon the first thing you would do is call someone who has one, like the police, but their job is NOT to protect you. Their job is uphold the law. Peter Kasler makes a great point on self-reliance for self-defense and coincidentally summarizes many of the statements I would use anyway so here's some information showing the POLICE ARE NOT LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE TO PROTECT YOU. ... When seconds count the police are minutes away. Link Removed
If anyone has any additional question/comments/information please let me know as I am always looking to educate myself more. Thanks for reading.
