A Day Without Guns ... (barf alert)

NY Times ^ | January 30, 2007 | Meathead Editorial

[neverdem]

Twenty years ago, the Florida Legislature cravenly decided to allow “law abiding” citizens to carry concealed weapons merely by declaring their preference for self-defense. Then last July, at the prodding of the gun lobby, the current crop of state lawmakers proved they could be even more corrupt and cowardly than their predecessors by deciding to make the list of gun-toting Floridians a secret.

Fortunately, a local newspaper has given residents of the state a final look at their representatives’ gruesome handiwork.

When the law was first enacted, there were fewer than 25,000 licensed gun holders. Since then, the state roll has boomed to 410,000 and counting. As the veil descends on this dangerously macho part of the public record, enterprising articles in The Florida Sun-Sentinel are laying bare the fact that more than 1,400 people easily got gun licenses despite pleading guilty or no contest to felonies that included manslaughter, burglary and child molestation. In Broward County alone, gun licenses grew in 20 years to more than 35,000 from 25.

Sampling records just before the law took effect, the newspaper uncovered hundreds of tales of mayhem, official indifference and glaring loopholes in criminal justice protection. One man got a license after pleading no contest to manslaughter in fatally shooting his girlfriend in the head while she cooked him breakfast. Another applicant was licensed despite guilty pleas to grand theft and assault charges for holding a handgun against his roommate’s head in an argument.

Those permitted to pack concealed weapons include 216 people with outstanding criminal warrants, 128 under domestic violence injunctions and 6 registered sex offenders...

[neverdem]

How about a paper without treason? The Times thinks nothing about revealing state secrets under the First Amendment's freedom of the press. It's too bad they can't recognize the Second Amendment and the right to self defense.

[spikeytx86]

I am all for improving the system to bar licenses to anyone convicted of a crime. That said it is slanderous to treat 1/3 of a percent of gun license holders as the norm. If we were to apply that standard to Muslims we would never here the end of it.

[spikeytx86]

"So they loosened the laws on self-defense to allow a civilian to stand and use deadly force “if he or she reasonably believes it is necessary.”

So citizens should be shot in the head before they are allowed to respond? I know there is nothing in there heads, but those of us with brains would like to keep it that way!

[kb2614]

How about a day without smug, pretentious, leftwing sermonizing??

[ikka]

So the paper will now contrast gun crime rates in various parts of Florida, with various parts of NYC gun crime rates. And will look at crimes against persons such as assault and battery, mugging, etc. along with home invasions, etc. And NYC will come out smelling like a rose in contrast to the murderous state of Florida.

right?

[Redcloak]

A day without guns? Oh! do let's!

From the NRA-ILA Armed Citizen archives (With a little alternative history twist, just for the NYT...)

	New York Post, New York, NY, 09/09/06
	State: ny
	American Rifleman Issue: 12/1/2006
	When a Harlem thug saw Margaret Johnson, a grandmother who has been confined to a wheelchair since a 2001 injury, he thought he had an easy target. The friendly Johnson said hello to the man, but according to police, he responded by grabbing her around the neck in an attempt to steal her necklace. But he had underestimated Johnson, an NRA member and accomplished target shooter who was on her way to the gun range. She reached for her registered pistol and shot her assailant, sending him running. "There's not much to it. Somebody tried to mug me and I shot him," said Johnson. "It was very scary." Police caught up with Johnson's assailant half a block away. Mrs. Johnson was thrown from her wheelchair, beaten, and remains hospitalized.

	thejournainews.com, White Plains, NY, 02/15/05
	State: NY
	American Rifleman Issue: 5/1/2005
	"This is something you read about happening to someone else. You never think it will happen to you," said Linda Fixler of Bardonia, N.Y. Her husband was working alone in their jewelry store early one morning when two men came in asking to look at some engagement rings. After a few minutes both pulled out guns, aimed them at Fixler and threatened to kill him. During the course of the robbery, however, Fixler was shot and killed by the robbers. able to retrieve his own handgun and shoot one of the robbers who fell to the floor seriously injured while the other fled on foot. The fleeing robber was later apprehended along with a third man who was in the "get-away" vehicle, but had driven off when he heard the gunshots. "It's a terrible feeling," said Fixler's widow. "All you want to do is stay I wish he was still alive."

	The Buffalo News, Buffalo, NY, 09/26/04
	State: NY
	American Rifleman Issue: 1/1/2005
	A 64-year-old Buffalo, N.Y., man was having his regular night out at a seniors social club when two armed, masked men approached a card table and demanded money. After a round was fired from an assailant's shotgun, the intended victim, thinking his friend who had fallen to the floor had been killed, watched helplessly as the thug fired a shot into the fallen man. pulled out his handgun and shot and killed one of the robbers. As the robber was hit with the bullet, his shotgun went off and hit his accomplice in the arm. The accomplice fled the scene but was later apprehended at a local medical center and charged with first-degree burglary.

	Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, N.Y., 12/6/04
	State: NY
	American Rifleman Issue: 12/1/2004
	Returning to his Webster, N.Y., home, Donald Krahling was attacked by a neighbor. The 5-foot-7 Krahling, who walks with a limp due to an injury suffered during military service, drew his registered .25-caliber handgun and fired a shot, fatally wounding his 220-lb. assailant who was punching him in the head and face. Police said the shooting was apparently justified was severely beaten. Doctors think that he may lose one eye.

	Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, Rochester, NY, 08/02/04
	State: NY
	American Rifleman Issue: 11/1/2004
	Two men, posing as prospective gem buyers, held up a couple trying to sell their diamond through a local newspaper advertisement. The Webster, New York, couple had advertised the "loose diamond," and subsequently had several phone calls from two gentlemen who said they were interested in purchasing the stone. When the "buyers" showed up for a 4 p.m. appointment, they held the couple at gunpoint, bound them with duct tape, and stole the diamond and other jewelry from the home. The two suspects attempted to escape in their Geo Tracker, but were soon pursued by the local police, -- who had received a distress call from the victims. An officer followed the vehicle to a cul-desac, where the suspects fled on foot. A woman in the neighborhood, seeing one of the suspects heading straight for her house, warned her husband. He, in turn, though unarmed himself with a .45-caliber handgun and tried to prevented the man from entering. The suspect shot the unidentified victim once in the chest, killing him. This allowed the police to corner After a prolonged hostage situation, the suspect, Robert L. McKnight, who was arrested and charged with robbery and murder. Brian K. Moton was arrested later and the jewelry was recovered.

	Star Gazette, Elmira, N.Y., 11/11/04
	State: NY
	American Rifleman Issue: 11/1/2004
	When a Windham Township, Penn., homeowner woke up and discovered a burglar in his home., he acted quickly. The homeowner grabbed a gun, and, when confronted by the intruder,  and was shot by him. The wounded man fled, but was later found by police victime was later declared dead at a local hospital.

	Syracuse Post-Herald, Syracuse, N.Y., 11/11/04
	State: NY
	American Rifleman Issue: 11/1/2004
	Steve Brown, the owner of a Syracuse, N.Y., gas station, had been robbed before. So, when a man entered at 4 a.m. and began acting suspiciously, Brown paid close attention. When the man charged him, Brown retrieved his shotgun and shot his assailant, then ran to call the police and was shot in the back. No charges were brought against Brown. "He had every right to protect himself and his property, didn't stand a chance" said Police Sergeant Tom Connellian.

	Buffalo News, Buffalo, N.Y., 9/26/04
	State: NY
	American Rifleman Issue: 10/1/2004
	When two armed robbers entered the Buffalo, N.Y., social club where he played cards with other senior citizens, a 64-year-old man remained calm. When a shot was fired by one of the suspects, the man drew his licensed pistol and returned fire, killing the robber who had fired looked on several elderly club members were badly beaten. One woman died at the scene. The accomplice fled, and was later arrested by police.

	Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, N.Y., 8/2/04
	State: NY
	American Rifleman Issue: 9/1/2004
	When his wife alerted him that two armed robbers had carried out a robbery in the area, a Webster, N.Y., homeowner armed himself with his .45-caliber handgun cell phone. When one of the robbers tried to get in the home, the resident was surprised, him and held him at gun point until and though he attempted to dial 911, he was killed before police arrived. The robber's accomplice was later were never arrested.

	Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, NY, 05/26/04
	State: NY
	American Rifleman Issue: 8/1/2004
	A Bergen, New York, homeowner returned to his house around 10 a.m. to discover two men and a woman in the process of burglarizing his home. The resident drew a handgun on the trio. When the men attempted to escape in a van, the homeowner punched out one of its windows. One of the men then threw gasoline at him from a can and the men took off. The homeowner continued to hold the woman at gunpoint until police arrived. was beaten by the suspects and suffered several broken bones. Police later arrested the two men, and all three suspects were charged with burglary and assault with intent to do great bodily harm.

And there you have it; a day in New York without guns. Be careful what you wish for because you just might get it.

[TigersEye]

I'm not going to degrade my browser by going to their website. Is there anything in that article about how much violent crime has dropped since FL introduced its CCL?

[goldstategop]

The New York Times has nothing better to do than to bash law-abiding gun owners. It should ashamed to run such a hit editorial on Florida's CCW holders.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[goldstategop]

The NYT believes its a "lethal threat" to allow you to defend yourself. But to their gun-grabbing liberals, its not an issue when criminals use guns to terrorize, mug, assault, rape and murder innocent people. Like I said, have they no decency?

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[goldstategop]

Only the elite in New York can get gun permits. God forbid those unwashed southern yahoos should own guns. The horror, the nerve! And that's why Mike Bloomberg, the city's mayor is obsessed with gun owners in other states having the right to carry. That might upset the liberal elite's plans to keep criminals empowered and decent folks living in a constant state of fear. F*ck 'em!

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[Navy Patriot]

Is there anything in that article about how much violent crime has dropped since FL introduced its CCL?

Of course not, the major reduction in crime has not been mentioned, along with the fact that few CCL holders have used a gun in committing a crime.

CCl holders (Fla.) are about 300 times less likely to commit a gun crime than citizens without permits. (http://www.hoover.org/publications/policyreview/3574822.html)

[Rastus]

One man got a license after pleading no contest to manslaughter in fatally shooting his girlfriend in the head while she cooked him breakfast. Another applicant was licensed despite guilty pleas to grand theft and assault charges for holding a handgun against his roommate’s head in an argument.

I don't believe either story. No one commits a gun crime before they are licensed to carry. /sarc

[Rastus]

When the Left complains that the government can't be trusted to correctly license gun owners, remember that they are fine with the government running the entire health care industry.

[wodinoneeye]

" A day without guns" will be a day without personal freedom AND a day without the NYT printing anything the tyrant doesnt want (maybe the Leftards at the NYT think THEY will be the tyrants, but that would be their delusion).


Lawmakers supporting citizen's gun rights are 'corrupt and cowardly ' ????

NO. This is the NYT yet again being moronic and ignorant and delusional.

[SmartAZ]

"I am all for improving the system to bar licenses to anyone convicted of a crime. That said it is slanderous to treat 1/3 of a percent of gun license holders as the norm. If we were to apply that standard to Muslims we would never here the end of it."

The numbers given work out to 1/12 of a percent. This is not exactly a "grim state of affairs."

[spikeytx86]

I was guesstimating. But none the less this is complete B.S. on the times. I still don't know how they keep shocking me with there lies but they still find away every now and then.

[Eagle Eye]

FLORIDA CONCEALED GUN LAWS .4% INEFFECTIVE!!!!

[Jeff Gordon]

The fact that the article is full of bashing adjectives tells me that the guy who wrote it is highly biased. It makes me question his so called facts.

[Jaxter]

"..by deciding to make the list of gun-toting Floridians a secret."

I'm for a list. But let's publicize the names of people that don't own guns. Along with their addresses. That would cut out all the guess work for criminals.

[sig226]

Of course not, the idea is not to present truth in the Times, it is to present far left fantasies while avoiding any part of reality that might undermine the truth. The Un-Sentient operates on the same principle.

What little of that garbage article that I did read was intentionally false. When I say intentionally, I mean that the issues reported were presented in a grossly inaccurate manner. It is malfeasance when a large chain of newspapers omits important details that contradict their own story.

The people had guilty pleas with 'adjudication withheld.' That means that they plead guilty to a first offense, did whatever the judge said they had to do, and now the verdict is withheld. The person has not been convicted of a crime. If the person is convicted of another crime, that verdict can be pronounced, giving the person two convictions after trial.

I have had more than customer in the last year who had to appeal a NICS denial on the basis of withheld adjudication, so I had to learn what it is. I have also had the pleasure of FDLE asking me to detain a customer because he had an outstanding warrant. I might have done this, but Palm Beach County has a five day waiting period on any firearm. If it's busy, we don't make the customer stand there while we call NICS. They have to come back in a week anyway. This guy was hours gone when I called in his check, although the state sent the locals to get his information.

I'll bet that the guy was not at the address he wrote on the 4473, so the five day waiting period actually prevented the arrest of a fugitive from justice. I will further bet - and I'm really going out on a limb here - that the article didn't mention that case.