Americans and guns - Slaughter on the streets demands we outlaw possession of handguns

The Kentucky Post ^ | 11-19-2003 | Stephen C. Richards

[jdege]

Americans and guns

Slaughter on the streets demands we outlaw possession of handguns

By Stephen C. Richards

There is a national debate about handgun ownership and concealed carry. Although I have read some of the vast literature on the subject, I do not profess to know all sides to this debate. I do not own a firearm. Nevertheless, I think we need to consider passing legislation to outlaw the private ownership of handguns.

Americans own at least 200 million firearms. Every year tens of thousands of people in this country are killed by guns, and many more are wounded. Today, more people are killed by gunfire than auto accidents. The majority of these murders, suicides and accidents are the result of handguns.

The FBI reports that between 1971 and 1997 80 percent of homicides were committed with handguns. Criminals who use firearms nearly always use handguns. Crime surveys indicate that handguns were employed in over 90 percent of murders, rapes, robberies and assaults where a firearm was displayed or discharged.

Homicide is the leading cause of death for young African-American men. The rate of death is approximately 10 times what it is for African-American women and white men, and 50 times the rate for white females. The vast majority of these deaths result from handguns.

Despite the best efforts of law enforcement, urban areas across the nation are besieged by gunfire. Every day we read about more people shot dead in the streets. Some people think the solution is to arm the law-abiding citizens and allow then to "conceal and carry." They suggest that people have a right to protect themselves by strapping on a piece. Further, they might act as Good Samaritans and protect us all.

No thank you Roy Rogers. I prefer to take my chances without your protection. I recognize that Americans have a right to bear arms to secure their freedom and protect their homes. Still, this does not require handgun ownership. A good, old-fashioned shotgun or hunting rifle is more than sufficient for this task.

There were over 300,000 firearms stolen last year. Despite the Brady Law and other federal and state legislation, handguns are easy to purchase on the streets, at gun shows and from gun dealers. With handguns as common as television sets or personal computers, there is simply no way to prevent criminals from stealing or purchasing handguns.

It is time to face reality. If we are serious about doing something about the slaughter on the streets then let's outlaw the private possession of handguns.

Stephen C. Richards is an associate professor of criminology at Northern Kentucky University and co-author of "Behind Bars: Surviving Prison and Convict Criminology."

[jdege]

I do not profess to know [...] Nevertheless, I think [...]

What more needs to be said?

[jdege]

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[TheAngryClam]

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?

Never, ever, will they get my 1911.

[semaj]

"I do not own a firearm."

Shut your pie-hole! What a dufus.

[Joe Brower]

"Slaughter on the streets"

I stopped right there. Such utterly absurd and obvious hyperbole deserves no consideration whatsoever.

You want slaughter, Prof. Richards? Why don't you come over and try to take my guns away. Worthless coward.

"Slaughter". Pshaw. You don't know the meaning of the word.

[Frank_Discussion]

Yeah, take the handguns away, the murder rate will turn to clubs and knives. Yeah the killing will stop when the guns are removed, yeah, give me another hit...swpppttt!

[Astronaut]

This idiot is an associate professor? His article is so stupid I dont even know where to begin. The reasoning is flawed, and the statistics are bogus. More people killed by guns than in auto accidents? Oh really. How about a source to back that up, "professor".

Hillary, Schumer, Kennedy, and all you commie gun grabbers listen up! You will NEVER get my guns. NEVER.

[Prime Choice]

Well, if they want to try confiscating my guns, then let them come to my house.

I'll meet them at the door with my guns in hand.

"From my cold, dead hands!"

[AlaskaErik]

The dealers who supply the drugs this guy is high on will also be importing the handguns that will then only be sold to criminals. This moron needs a reality check.

[Cindy]

[dirtboy]

Today, more people are killed by gunfire than auto accidents.

Lie. In 2000, there were 28,163 deaths by firearms, and of those 16,586 were suicides where presumably, had a gun not been available, most folks would have figured out another way to off themselves. Meanwhile, in 2001 there were 42,196 automotive deaths. Discredits the little weasel right there.

[You Gotta Be Kidding Me]

"It is time to face reality. If we are serious about doing something about the slaughter on the streets then let's outlaw the private possession of handguns."

You want reality? You can't handle reality!!" Move to London England and see how their gun ban worked out. Come back and we'll talk in a year........assuming you're not dead from a street thug armed with an "outlawed" gun.

[Puppage]

The FBI reports that between 1971 and 1997 80 percent of homicides were committed with handguns. Criminals who use firearms nearly always use handguns. Crime surveys indicate that handguns were employed in over 90 percent of murders, rapes, robberies and assaults where a firearm was displayed or discharged.

Where's the part about the LAW ABIDING CITIZEN here?????????

[E. Pluribus Unum]

I think we need to consider passing legislation to outlaw the private ownership of handguns.

Why, of course.

Outlawing drugs has worked so well that we need to outlaw everything else.

[germanicus]

You want to see slaughter in the streets. Start collecting our handguns. Won't be pretty.

[Sir Gawain]

Stephen C. Richards is an associate professor of criminology at Northern Kentucky University

He didn't learn much from that criminology degree. This sounds like it was written by a third grader.

[dirtboy]

There were over 300,000 firearms stolen last year. Despite the Brady Law and other federal and state legislation, handguns are easy to purchase on the streets, at gun shows and from gun dealers. With handguns as common as television sets or personal computers, there is simply no way to prevent criminals from stealing or purchasing handguns. It is time to face reality. If we are serious about doing something about the slaughter on the streets then let's outlaw the private possession of handguns.

I guess this idiot hasn't read up on the skyrocketing gun crime in England, where they have outlawed just about all gun ownership.

[Puppage]

Never, ever, will they get my 1911.

Damn straight. Not my Kimber TLE II, my Sig P239, or any one of my other toys.

[dep]

Rape, bastardy on the streets demand we outlaw possession of penises
By Stephen C. Richards
There is a national debate about penis ownership and unconcealed carry. Although I have read some of the vast literature on the subject, I do not profess to know all sides to this debate. I do not have a penis. Nevertheless, I think we need to consider passing legislation to outlaw the private ownership of penises.