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What to make of the riots that began in parts of London and have spread to Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol and Liverpool? Are there any root causes we can identify? First, it is apparent that far too many commentators interpret these events based entirely on pre-conceived paradigms. For socialists like Ken Livingstone (former mayor of London), the riots are the fault of the government’s spending cuts and the “social division” they have supposedly fostered. Meanwhile, the far-Right British National Party characterizes the mayhem as a repeat of the race riots that occurred in Oldham in 2001. Only this time, the primary...

England has fallen. Quicker than I would have thought. Home Secretary Theresa May rules out use of the Army, Water Cannons. The situation is spiraling out of control. High Street areas, the ritzy places of Kensington, Notting Hill, and other "tony" areas have had rioters looting patrons of two-star Michelin restaurants. While Home Secretary May declares that "policing is done with the consent of communities." Code words for no action that the Black, Pakistani Muslim, and now Indian groups that have effectively colonized England would object to, will be taken. As the MP for Northern Ireland notes, both the Army...

It’s not yet sunset in the UK, so we don’t know if a fourth night of rioting will follow the first three. But the glee and impunity with which rioters torched and looted large sections of London are an indictment of two beloved project of British and other European elites: a disarmed citizenry and an all-encompassing, cradle-to-grave welfare state. It’s hard to imagine riots of these size going on for days on end in the American South or Midwest simply because so many armed, law-abiding citizens would stand ready to defend their lives, liberty and property. Once you’ve shot a...

Officers accused of inaction as looting mobs go wild Cameron leads calls for more robust policing Top Yard commander: 'We need to do more for London' All able-bodied officers and special constables called in Plastic bullets would be used for first time 'if deemed necessary' Shopkeepers joined an increasing chorus of voices today demanding to know what the police were doing as swathes of London descended into chaos last night. Business owners accused police of adopting a softly-softly approach which left their shops and businesses vulnerable to attack by baying mobs. While police were criticised in some quarters for being...

Click on the Read More Link to watch some excellent talks Should Students Be Allowed to Carry Guns on College Campuses? Where: National Press Club Ballroom When: noon until 5:00 PM, August 8th, 2011 Introductory remarks by Dan Crocker (SCC president) 5 minutes Personal experiences panel -- Crime and College Campuses 25 minutes Amanda Carpenter (10 minutes) Nicole Goeser (10 minutes) Debate over "Should Permitted Concealed Handguns be Allowed on College Campuses?" 50 minutes (18 minutes each, 4 minute rebutals) John Lott, author More Guns, Less Crime Colin Goddard, Assistant Legislative Director, Brady Campaign Panel by academics -- Academics talking...

For some time now, residents of some US cities have noted occasional incidents of seemingly random, racially motivated violence in which young Black males are involved. The hot weather and bad economy seem to be combining to generate a small but possibly significant uptick this year. The national media are doing their best to avoid looking too closely at this disturbing phenomenon, and perhaps for good reason. What the United States doesn’t need is a media firestorm that triggers copycat violence. Nevertheless some attention should be paid.

Too many people see the Second Amendment merely as a freedom. However, all of our rights, including those described in the Second Amendment, bear significant responsibilities. Those Second Amendment responsibilities become more obvious when tragedies like the terrorist attack in Norway or the mass murder at Virginia Tech occur. In both of those incidents, a madman had free reign to slaughter innocent people because none of his victims had a simple tool: a firearm. I argue that it is the responsibility of all free citizens to have firearms close at hand to defend themselves and others against vicious attack. “Active...

Washington, DC --(Ammoland.com)- Representative Ron Paul from Texas introduced HR 2613 on July 21, 2011. If passed, it would completely repeal the Federal Gun Free School Zones Act. As you know, the Fed GFSZA effectively prohibits all forms of unlicensed carry, and does not recognize concealed carry reciprocity agreements between states. It is currently a federal felony for any person to travel armed on public sidewalks, roads, or highways which pass within 1000 feet of any K-12 school’s property line, unless they have a CCW physically issued by the state that school is in. The vast number of schools in...

At least 11 people, including a 13-year-old boy, were wounded in shootings across the city over a hot and steamy night, according to Chicago police reports. Those shootings beginning Sunday evening added to a weekend violence toll that earlier included at least two deaths and 11 woundings by gunshot.

CHICAGO (WLS) - Chicago's new top cop says the accessibility to firearms in America is an extension "of government-sponsored racism" that goes back to the days of slavery and Jim Crow. Speaking to parishoners at St. Sabina Church earlier this month, Chicago Police Supt. Garry McCarthy took to the microphone after Father Michael Pfleger spoke about gun control. McCarthy said the topic of race is a sensitive issue "because everybody's afraid of race" but that he wasn't afraid to broach to subject. So here’s what I want to tell you. See, let’s see if we can make a connection here....

CHICAGO (CBS) — The teenage robbery mobs are at it again on North Michigan Avenue. Some 50 young people barged into a Walgreens at Michigan and Chicago on the Magnificent Mile on Tuesday afternoon. They took bottled drinks and sandwiches off the shelves, then ran off, CBS 2′s Suzanne Le Mignot reports. A police report says authorities were able to nab three of the thieves. Walgreens says the store is working with police, helping investigators with video from the store security camera. The Mag Mile earlier this year was hit by similar mobs of young thieves. Attacks on commuters and...

Chicago Police Chief Garry McCarthy told parishoners at Saint Sabina Church earlier this month that the easy availability of guns in the United States is the extension of a tradition of "government-sponsored racism" that began with slavery and Jim Crow. McCarthy -— like many urban police officials an advocate of strict gun control -- was speaking at a liberal, activist church whose priest, Father Michael Pfleger, drew national attention for mocking Hillary Clinton in 2008. "This is sensitive. You know, because everybody’s afraid of race. Have you noticed that? Everybody’s afraid of race," McCarthy, a former New York and Newark...

June 15, 2011 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- A 15-year-old boy was mugged at gunpoint and struck on the head by a group of teens near the Ogilvie Transportation Center in the West Loop on Tuesday evening. The incident happened about 6:30 p.m. near an alley at 101 N. Clinton St., according to police News Affairs Officer John Mirabelli. The victim was approached by a group of seven male teens, Mirabelli said. One, who was armed with a handgun, approached the victim and demanded his money, according to police. A second teen struck the victim on the back of his head, Mirabelli...

As the U.S. economy collapses, the thin veneer of civilization that we all take for granted is going to begin to disappear. In fact, there are already an increasing number of signs that the collapse of society is accelerating. In cities such as Chicago, roving packs of young people are "mob robbing" local businesses, randomly assaulting tourists and shoppers and are even pulling people out of vehicles. This isn't just happening in the "bad areas" anymore. Over the past couple of months this type of crime has been common in some of the wealthiest areas of Chicago. In fact, many...

In two separate incidents, as many as 15 teens have stormed Chicago Transit Authority buses, attacked their victims and darted off with cell phones and other electronic devices, authorities said Tuesday. Both incidents were near the University of Illinois at Chicago campus, prompting city and campus authorities to issue community alerts. In the first attack, near West Roosevelt Road and South Loomis Street at about 11:40 p.m. Saturday, a victim was struck multiple times before the thieves ran off with his cell phone. About 25 minutes later, near South Racine Avenue and West 13th Street, a student said he was...

A man who was killed trying to protect his girlfriend and a 16-year-old girl were among six people killed and at least 21 others wounded in separate shootings over the Memorial Day holiday and into the night, officials said. Two of the non-fatal shootings took place at a South Side beach. The spate of violence came only a day after the redeployment of 500 police officers from two specialized units to high-crime districts. The first slaying happened about 7:49 p.m. on the 7600 block of South Eberhart Avenue in the city's Chatham neighborhood, police said.

It's like a flash mob gone bad. Security footage from a Manhattan Dunkin' Donuts shows a group of youths climbing on counters, throwing chairs and throwing tables in a violent attack on workers. It happened at the Dunkin' Donuts on Christopher Street in Greenwich Village. A $2,000 hot chocolate machine was reportedly destroyed in the attack. Similar attacks have targeted other stores in the neighborhood in the previous weeks. The video shows one of the teens throwing a chair and then running up to grab a donut. A few of the attackers also grabbed drinks out of a refrigerator near...

In the middle of a meeting called to discuss guns and safety at Berkeley High School, the deputy district attorney in charge of Alameda County's juvenile division stood up and announced that the community is not being realistic about how dangerous a place it is. . . .

The video of the discussion with Nikki Goeser and John Lott is available at the link.

(CNN) -- Nine people were shot at a bus station in the south side of Chicago Monday, police said. All but one of them suffered non-life threatening injuries. The ninth person was seriously hurt, police said. The shooting took place in the 7900 block of South Western Avenue and appears to be gang-related, officials said.