STATISTICS SHOW GUNS NEEDED AGAINST CRIME
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Straight talk about what you can do to preServe your right to keep and bear armS citizenS committee for the right to keep and bear armS (a non-profit corporation) National Headquarters: 12500 N.E. Tenth Place Bellevue, Washington 98005 Capitol Hill Office: 1250 Connecticut Ave, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036 September 2006 Volume XXXI No. 9 Guns Against Terror 1 Bloomberg, a Blooming Idiot 2 Amicus Filed to Gut DC Ban 3 City Gun Grabbers 4 CCRKBA Acts on Vitter Amendment 5 Citizen Action Project 5 Defender of the Month 6 Quick Shots 7 IN THIS ISSUE CCRKBA Analysis: STATIS- TICS SHOW GUNS NEEDED STATISTICS SHOW GUNS NEEDED AGAINST CRIME “An analysis of crime figures released last month by U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics indicates that law-abiding Americans should continue to enjoy le- gal access to the possession and use of firearms,” John M. Snyder, CCRKBA Public Affairs Director, stated in Washington, D.C. “If anything, this access should be strengthened for the good of citizens and the safety of society,” he added. According to the justice report, 56 percent of the violent felons convicted in the nation’s 75 most populous counties from 1990 through 2002 had a prior conviction record, 38 percent had a prior felony conviction and 15 percent had been previously convicted for a violent felony. Thirty-six percent of the violent felons had a least one active criminal status at the time of their arrest, including 18 percent on probation, 12 percent on release pending disposition of a prior case and seven percent on parole. “What these numbers show, for the umpteenth time,” observed Snyder, “is that there is a violent criminal class in our country. Law-abiding people have to be able to protect themselves and their families and their property from these thugs. In order to be able to do this, they need access to the tools with which to do it. There is no better self-defense instrument than a gun, in particular a handgun. “People who seek to deny citizens this access, no matter how well-intended they may be, and whether they come from political, academic, professional, business, media or ecclesiastical backgrounds, in reality work against the interests of law-abiding citizens. To be blunt, they are allies of the violent criminal class.” Snyder pointed out that, “at present, there are a number of proposals in Congress and in state legislatures to loosen current legal restrictions on the individual Second Amendment civil right of law-abiding American citizens to keep and bear arms for lawful purposes. One of the most significant of these is a congressional proposal to free law-abiding residents of our Nation’s Capital from the draconian gun control system to which they have been subjected for 30 years. It’s time to overturn the D.C. gun law and allow law-abiding citizens in Washington, D.C. to own and carry handguns to protect themselves and their loved ones from the reign of violent crime that hand-wringing local officials seem incapable of effectively confronting. “There are a number of other pro-gun rights proposals on deck at various stages for congressional consideration. Congress should act favorably on them. Guns save lives,” Snyder said. “A number of scholarly studies can lead to this conclusion. “Surveys by Florida State Criminologist Gary Kleck show that law-abiding citizens use firearms about 2.5 million times annually in a defensive manner, and this includes about 1.8 million handgun uses. Research by the American Enterprise Institute’s John Lott indicates that rates of violent crime nosedive in areas that enact shall issue CCW legislation.”
Transcript of STATISTICS SHOW GUNS NEEDED AGAINST CRIME
Straight talkabout what you
can do topreServe your
right to keep andbear armS
citizenS committee
for the right to keep andbear armS
(a non-profit corporation)
National Headquarters:12500 N.E. Tenth Place
Bellevue, Washington 98005
Capitol Hill Office:1250 Connecticut Ave, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20036
September2006
Volume XXXI No. 9
Guns Against Terror 1Bloomberg, a Blooming Idiot 2Amicus Filed to Gut DC Ban 3City Gun Grabbers 4CCRKBA Acts on Vitter Amendment 5Citizen Action Project 5Defender of the Month 6Quick Shots 7
IN THIS ISSUE
CCRKBA Analysis:
STATIS-TICS SHOW GUNSNEEDED
STATISTICS SHOW GUNSNEEDED AGAINST CRIME
“AnanalysisofcrimefiguresreleasedlastmonthbyU.S.BureauofJusticeStatisticsindicatesthatlaw-abidingAmericansshouldcontinuetoenjoyle-galaccesstothepossessionanduseoffirearms,”JohnM.Snyder,CCRKBAPublicAffairsDirector,statedinWashington,D.C. “Ifanything,thisaccessshouldbestrengthenedforthegoodofcitizensandthesafetyofsociety,”headded. Accordingtothejusticereport,56percentoftheviolentfelonsconvictedinthenation’s75mostpopulouscountiesfrom1990through2002hadapriorconvictionrecord,38percenthadapriorfelonyconvictionand15percenthadbeenpreviouslyconvictedforaviolentfelony.Thirty-sixpercentoftheviolentfelonshadaleastoneactivecriminalstatusatthetimeoftheirarrest,including18percentonprobation,12percentonreleasependingdispositionofapriorcaseandsevenpercentonparole. “Whatthesenumbersshow,fortheumpteenthtime,”observedSnyder,“isthatthereisaviolentcriminalclassinourcountry.Law-abidingpeoplehavetobeabletoprotectthemselvesandtheirfamiliesandtheirpropertyfromthesethugs.Inordertobeabletodothis,theyneedaccesstothetoolswithwhichtodoit.Thereisnobetterself-defenseinstrumentthanagun,inparticularahandgun. “Peoplewhoseektodenycitizensthisaccess,nomatterhowwell-intendedtheymaybe,andwhethertheycomefrompolitical,academic,professional,business,mediaorecclesiasticalbackgrounds,inrealityworkagainsttheinterestsoflaw-abidingcitizens.Tobeblunt,theyarealliesoftheviolentcriminalclass.” Snyderpointedoutthat,“atpresent,thereareanumberofproposalsinCongressandinstatelegislaturestoloosencurrentlegalrestrictionsontheindividualSecondAmendmentcivilrightoflaw-abidingAmericancitizenstokeepandbeararmsforlawfulpurposes.Oneofthemostsignificantoftheseisacongressionalproposaltofreelaw-abidingresidentsofourNation’sCapitalfromthedraconianguncontrolsystemtowhichtheyhavebeensubjectedfor30years.It’stimetooverturntheD.C.gunlawandallowlaw-abidingcitizensinWashington,D.C.toownandcarryhandgunstoprotectthemselvesandtheirlovedonesfromthereignofviolentcrimethathand-wringinglocalofficialsseemincapableofeffectivelyconfronting. “Thereareanumberofotherpro-gunrightsproposalsondeckatvariousstagesforcongressionalconsideration.Congressshouldactfavorablyonthem.Gunssavelives,”Snydersaid.“Anumberofscholarlystudiescanleadtothisconclusion.“SurveysbyFloridaStateCriminologistGaryKleckshowthatlaw-abidingcitizensusefirearmsabout2.5milliontimesannuallyinadefensivemanner,andthisincludesabout1.8millionhandgunuses.ResearchbytheAmericanEnterpriseInstitute’sJohnLottindicatesthatratesofviolentcrimenosediveinareasthatenactshallissueCCWlegislation.”
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“Straight talk about what you can do to preserve your right to keep and bear arms.”
Editor JohnM.SnyderPublisher AlanM.GottliebManaging Editors J.H.Versnel DaveWorkmanAssociate Editors TomGresham MerrillJacobs BobKukla HerbStupp PeggyTartaro JoeWaldron
POINT BLANKispublishedmonthlybyCitizensCommitteefortheRighttoKeepandBearArms,LibertyPark,12500 N.E. Tenth Place, Bellevue,Washington98005.
Copyright©2006CCRKBA
CorrespondenceandmanuscriptsshouldbesenttoPOINT BLANK,CCRKBA,1090VermontAve.,N.W.,Suite800,Washington,D.C.20005Address Change:Writenewaddress, city, state,andzip codeonaplainpieceofpaper.Attachmailing label froman issueofPOINT BLANKand send toCCRKBA, 12500N.E. TenthPlace,Bellevue,Washington98005.Pleaseallowfourtosixweeksforchangetobecomeeffective.
CCRKBA COMMENDSHOUSE LEADERSHIP
CCRKBA recently praised theUnited StatesHouse of Represen-tativesforitspassagethissummerof the proposedDisaster PersonalProtectionAct. “We commend the House, andespeciallytheHouseleadership,forbringing thismeasure to the floorandpassingitwitha322-99bipar-tisan vote,” said John M. Snyder,CCRKBAPublicAffairsDirector. Thebill,H.R.5013,introducedbyCongressmanBobbyJindalofLoui-siana, would prohibit any agencyusing federal disaster relief fundsfromseizingfirearmsfromlaw-abid-ingcitizensintheircars,homesandbusinesses.Itwouldapplytofederallawenforcementormilitaryofficers,along with local police receivingfederalfunds.Thelegislationwouldnotpreventconfiscatinggunsfromconvictedfelonsandwouldhavenoeffectonlawenforcementoperationsoutsideofdisasterreliefsituations.H.R.5013wouldallowindividualstorecovercourtcostsandsueiftheirrightswereviolated. Theissuearoseasaresultofcon-troversy last year associated withHurricane Katrina. A number ofreportsindicatedthatsomefederaland state law enforcement agentsconfiscatedgunsfromlaw-abidingNewOrleans residents. A federalcourt’stemporaryrestrainingorderbroughtahalttotheillegalguncon-fiscations. Earlier,theSenateendorsedbyan84-16voteanamendmentbySen.David Vitter of Louisiana to theHomelandSecurityappropriationsbill for fiscal year 2007 toprohibittheuseoffundsappropriatedunderthebillfortheconfiscationoflaw-fullypossessedfirearmsduringanemergencyormajordisaster.That
bill,H.R.5441,nowgoesbacktotheHouse,whereitoriginatedwithouttheamendment,forconsideration. While the two bills now appearsimilarwithregardtotheconfisca-tionissue,H.R.5013wouldbemorecomprehensive.CCRKBAsupportsbothofthem. “TheHousepassageofH.R.5013puts322Representativesonrecordasactingtoclipthewingsofover-zealouspublicofficials,”saidSnyder.“The gun-grabbing officials andthe 99 Representatives who votedagainst H.R. 5013 apparently justdon’tgetit.Theydon’tunderstandthatAmericansneedgunstoprotectthemselves,theirfamiliesandtheirpropertyfrompredatorycriminals.Especially predatory violent crimi-nals. And most especially duringtimesofpublicemergency. “TheHousevoteonH.R.5013 isavictoryfortheindividualSecondAmendmentcivilrightoflaw-abid-ingAmerican citizens to keep andbeararms.ThatbillnowgoestotheSenate,wherewehopeitsoonwillbetakenup,passedandsenttothePresidenttosign.” CongressmanJindalsaidthatthevote in theHousewas “importantfor the people of Louisiana. TheHouseofRepresentativesreaffirmedthatintimesofdisasteryoucannotthrowouttheconstitutionalamend-ment that guarantees the right ofthepeople tokeepandbeararms.I amhonored that somanyofmycolleagues came out in support ofthisbillthatwillpreventlaw-abidingcitizens’ firearmsfrombeingtakenwithoutjustcausebybureaucratsinthewakeofnaturaldisasters.” JindalsaidalsothatfirearmseizuresafterHurricaneKatrinaleftresidentsunabletodefendthemselves.
“Manyofthemweresittingintheirhomeswithoutpower,withoutwater,withoutcommunication,”henoted.“Itwasliterallyimpossibletopickupaphoneandcall911.” Hismeasure itself stipulates thattheHurricaneKatrina“confiscationsand prohibitions, and the meansby which they were carried out,deprived the citizens of Louisiananotonlyof theirrighttokeepandbeararms,butalsototheirrightstopersonal security, personal liberty,andprivateproperty,allinviolation
oftheConstitutionandlawsoftheUnitedStates.”
September 2006 Page 3
“I’verunmybusinesswithhonestyandintegrity,andItakeprideinbe-ingpartofthefirearmindustry. “WewillfighttoprovetheConstitu-tionoftheUnitedStatesisstillintactandthatBloomberg’sfighttoabolishtheSecondAmendmentmust andwillfail,”saidEdwinMarger,whofiledthelawsuitwithBarr. Barr’s13-pagecomplaint filed inlateJulymaintainsthatBloombergandseveralothersinhisadministra-tionsmearedthedealer’sreputationandthatitsundercoverinvestigatorslied on federal Bureau of Alcohol,Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives(BATFE)forms. Some speculate that Barr’s legalactioncouldbethefirst inastringof lawsuits againstNewYorkCityin connection with Bloomberg’slawsuit,reportedThe New York Sun. “NotonlydidBloombergengageinanimproperandunlawfultransac-tion,”Barrtoldthenewspaper,“butthen he and others issued publicstatementsthatwebelieveareslan-derousanddefamatory.” TwootherGeorgiagundealerssuedby Bloomberg for allegedly sellingfirearms illegally, A-1 Jewelry andPawnandAAAGun&PawnBrokers,agreedtoasettlementwithNewYorkCitythatputstheirsalesandinven-toryunderaspecialmonitor. Thatsettlement,accordingtotheNationalShootingSportsFoundation(NSSF),thetradeassociationforthefirearmsindustry,wasredundanttoexistingfederalregulatoryoversightand joint educational programsbetweenthefirearmsindustryandBATFE. The agreement calls for the twodealers to receive additional train-ing inconducting lawfulsalesand
FormerCongressmanBobBarrofGeorgiarecentlyfileda$400millionlawsuitagainstNewYorkCityMayorMichael Bloomberg on behalf of aGeorgiagundealer. Barr, a CCRKBA DistinguishedAdvisorandholderofCCRKBAGunRightsDefenderAwards, said thatBloomberg’sattempttocrackdownongundealerswas“careless,willfulandclearlyillegal.” Barr filed the lawsuit in CobbCountySuperiorCourt.ItcameinresponsetoalawsuitthatBloombergfiledinMaystatingthat15firearmbrokers in five states, includingGeorgia,were“roguegundealers,”reportedtheAssociatedPress. Bloomberg, through his chiefspokesman,StuLoeser,calledBarr’sfilinga“publicrelationsstunt.” BloombergrecentlywenttoGeor-giatodiscusshiscampaignagainstthe gun industry with the Mayorof Atlanta, Shirley Franklin. ShehasjoinedBloomberg’scoalitionofmayorspromotingmorerestrictivenational gun control legislation aswell as lawsuits against the gunindustry. Barr ’s lawsuit maintains thatBloombergmademisleadingstate-mentstothemediathatweredefam-atorytowardAdventureOutdoors,aSmyrna,Georgiagundealer. “We didn’t start this fight,” Barrtolda cheeringcrowd inMarietta,Georgia’scitysquare,“theydid.Butweintendtofinishitandwin.” Bloomberg’s lawsuit alleges thattheGeorgiadealersold21gunsinaseven-yearperiodthatwereusedincrimesinNewYork.Thegunshop’sowner,JayWallace,saidthathisnamehasbeen“trashedinthepubliceyeofthenation.
detecting and preventing sales toillegitimate “straw” purchasers.“ThefirearmsindustryhasforyearspartneredwithBATFE,theappropri-ate and legally authorized federalregulatoryagency,toprovidedealerswitheducationandtrainingonhowto prevent illegal straw purchasesthroughour‘Don’tLiefortheOtherGuy’program,andonhowtocomplywiththeextensivelawsandregula-tions governing the lawful sale offirearms through our ‘Partner forProgress’ seminars, said LawrenceG.Keane,NSSFseniorvicepresidentandgeneralcounsel.“It isdisappointing that themayorcalls for more dealer educationbutcontinuestorebuffourprovenprograms,” Keane added. “Ourresponsibleindustryisproudofitslongstanding cooperative relation-ship with law enforcement, andwelookforwardtocontinuingthisvaluablepartnership.”Eachdealerreceivesextensiveeducationaltrain-ingfromBATFE. A-1 Jewelry and Pawn and AAAGun&PawnBrokersalloweda“spe-cialmaster,”tobeselectedandpaidbyNewYorkCity,tomonitortheirlawfulandhighlyregulatedbusinesspractices.“Themonitor’soversightwillbelargelyredundanttothatofBATFE,”saidKeane.Themonitorwillbeabletofinethedealersforviola-tionsofthesettlementagreement. Keanenoted thatBloomberghashadanadversarialrelationshipwithBATFE.WhenBloomberginMayan-nouncedhisfederallawsuitagainstgundealers,heclaimedBATFE“wasasleepattheswitch”andnotdoingitsjob.Bloombergorderedstingopera-tionstobeconductedat45dealerswithout notifying either BATFE ortheNewYorkPoliceDepartment.
BOB BARR TARGETSMAYOR BLOOMBERG
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CCRKBA HITS ACTIONSOF CITY GUN GRABBERS
September 2006 Page 5
citizen action proJect
SENATE VOTE FOLLOWSCCRKBA ACTION ALERT
Page 6 September 2006
AMERICAN DIPLOMATTHE CCRKBA DEFENDER
September 2006 Page 7
Page 8 September 2006
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