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Where's the Common Sense in 'Common Sense' Gun Laws?
Townhall.com ^ | March 29, 2018 | Larry Elder

Posted on 03/29/2018 3:01:53 PM PDT by Kaslin

Americans, many quite young, attended anti-gun violence rallies across the country. Many protesters demanded more federal "common-sense" gun control laws. But the push for common-sense gun laws lacks common sense, or at least perspective.

The protests, sparked by the murders of 17 people at a high school in Parkland, Florida, were billed as a "March for Our Lives." But according to criminologist James Alan Fox, over the last 25 years 10 students have died each year, on average, in school shootings. By contrast, every year about 300 Americans are struck by lightning. Most survive, but since 2000 an average of 35 people have died each year from lightning strikes.

One "common-sense" proposal is to reenact the "assault weapons" ban.

But of all homicides involving a firearm, only a small percent involve any type of rifle. Furthermore, the assault weapons ban did not achieve the objective of reducing murder and violent crime. Economist John Lott noted: "Since the Federal Assault Weapons Ban expired in September 2004, murder and overall violent-crime rates have fallen. In 2003, the last full year before the law expired, the U.S. murder rate was 5.7 per 100,000 people. ... By 2011, the murder rate fell to 4.7 per 100,000 people. One should also bear in mind that just 2.6 percent of all murders are committed using any type of rifle."

The "common-sense" gun control activists rarely ask, "What about the beneficial effect of gun ownership?" The Centers for Disease Control examined research on the defensive uses of guns. It concluded: "Studies that directly assessed the effect of actual defensive uses of guns (i.e., incidents in which a gun was 'used' by the crime victim in the sense of attacking or threatening an offender) have found consistently lower injury rates among gun-using crime victims compared with victims who used other self-protective strategies."

The CDC's report also found that "defensive use of guns by crime victims is a common occurrence." Exact statistics are hard to find because the police are not always notified, so the number of defensive gun uses is likely understated because they're underreported. "Almost all national survey estimates indicate that defensive gun uses by victims are at least as common as offensive uses by criminals," wrote the CDC, "with estimates of annual uses ranging from about 500,000 to more than 3 million per year, in the context of about 300,000 violent crimes involving firearms in 2008." The CDC noted one study of defensive gun users who believe that but for their own firearm they would have been killed.

Criminologist and researcher Gary Kleck, using his own commissioned phone surveys and number extrapolation, estimates that 2.5 million Americans use guns for defensive purposes each year. One in six of that number, or 400,000, believe someone would have been dead but for their ability to resort to their defensive use of firearms. Kleck points out that if only one-tenth of the people are right about saving a life, the number of people saved annually by guns would still be 40,000.

For some perspective, consider the number of Americans who die each year because of medical errors. A 2016 Johns Hopkins study called medical error the third-leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for about 250,000 deaths annually, or 10 percent of all deaths. Other studies put the number as high as 400,000 a year or more -- since medical examiners, morticians and doctors rarely put "human error" or "medical system failure" on a death certificate.

What about accidents that result from driving while texting or engaged in other distracting activities like playing a CD or applying makeup? In 2015, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 3,477 people were killed, and 391,000 were injured, in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers.

How many Americans die each year because of opioid abuse? According to the latest estimates from the CDC, more than 50,000 people died from opioid drug overdoses in 2016 -- 15,446 from heroin, 14,427 from prescription opioids and 20,145 from non-methadone synthetic opioids like fentanyl.

Finally, few of the demonstrators, at least publicly, called for the repeal of the Second Amendment. But the former Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens calls for the repeal of the Second Amendment on the grounds that it is "a relic of the 18th century." He argues that only a repeal of the Second Amendment would diminish the National Rifle Association's power and influence. Stevens does not even believe that the Founding Fathers intended an "individual right" to keep and bear arms. A repeal would require approval of two-thirds of both Houses of Congress and three-quarters of the states. Good luck with that.

A prediction. When the dust settles and the fury wanes, Congress will not pass additional gun control laws. It won't be for lack of passion. It will because the "common-sense" proposals suggested -- banning bump stocks, reenacting the "assault weapons ban" and others -- either would do nothing to reduce firearm crime or would violate the Second Amendment. In short, the "common-sense" measures are devoid of common sense.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS: banglist; commonsense; gunlaws; guns
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1 posted on 03/29/2018 3:01:53 PM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin
In short, the "common-sense" measures are devoid of common sense.

Precisely!

2 posted on 03/29/2018 3:04:05 PM PDT by The Mayor (Honesty means never having to look over your shoulder.)
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To: Kaslin
It's the same Common Nonsense they bring up every time.

3 posted on 03/29/2018 3:04:33 PM PDT by BitWielder1 (I'd rather have Unequal Wealth than Equal Poverty.)
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To: Kaslin

4 posted on 03/29/2018 3:05:22 PM PDT by DiogenesLamp ("of parents owing allegiance to no other sovereignty.")
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To: Kaslin

Common sense shouldn’t require a gambit of laws to make it complicated. Everyone has the right to self-defense. It’s not a government decision.


5 posted on 03/29/2018 3:05:32 PM PDT by Telepathic Intruder
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To: Kaslin

Gun control is about control, not guns.


6 posted on 03/29/2018 3:06:24 PM PDT by libertylover (Kurt Schlicter: "They wonder why they got Trump. They are why they got Trump")
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To: Kaslin

Nice Enfield Carbine!


7 posted on 03/29/2018 3:07:15 PM PDT by headstamp 2 (My "White Privilege" is my work ethic.)
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To: Kaslin

any time i hear “Common sense” describing any legislation, I automatically think it really means bypass the constitution.


8 posted on 03/29/2018 3:07:39 PM PDT by stylin19a (Best.Election.of.All-Times.Ever.In.The.History.Of.Ever)
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To: DiogenesLamp
funny_picdump_916_640_02_zpsfe183b47
9 posted on 03/29/2018 3:14:59 PM PDT by SkyDancer ( ~ Just Consider Me A Random Fact Generator ~ Eat Sleep Fly Repeat ~)
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To: libertylover
Gun control is about control, not guns.


10 posted on 03/29/2018 3:20:21 PM PDT by DiogenesLamp ("of parents owing allegiance to no other sovereignty.")
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To: Kaslin
Whenever you hear the labels "common sense" or a "modest proposal", you can be certain neither label is honest. The intent is to cloak a horrific concept with false virtue to prevent discussion of what is really intended. Another smelly phrase is doing something "for the greater good". What the hell is that? An ethereal excuse to indulge in grossly immoral behavior on the pretense that is is necessary even if nobody else agrees.
11 posted on 03/29/2018 3:23:46 PM PDT by Myrddin
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To: SkyDancer
:)

I saw that one years ago. Still makes me smile. :)

12 posted on 03/29/2018 3:29:58 PM PDT by DiogenesLamp ("of parents owing allegiance to no other sovereignty.")
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To: Kaslin

Common sense is not so common.


13 posted on 03/29/2018 3:35:32 PM PDT by Qiviut (Obama's Legacy in two words: DONALD TRUMPIt)
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To: headstamp 2

I wonder if that is new or some sporterized custom.


14 posted on 03/29/2018 3:41:36 PM PDT by MileHi (Liberalism is an ideology of parasites, hypocrites, grievance mongers, victims, and control freaks.)
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To: Kaslin

“Common sense” gun control, meaning a new “Assault Weapons Ban”????
-Black gun
-Pistol grip
-30 round magazine

Don’t let Dianne Feinstein see this:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9IVCwYPjFXc


15 posted on 03/29/2018 3:42:21 PM PDT by Wildbill22 ( They have us surrounded again, the poor bastards- Gen Creighton William Abramsp)
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To: Telepathic Intruder

Common sense would be to give EVERY school child the opportunity to learn about guns of all kinds, up close and in depth. This instruction should begin at least by age 13, and continue through to high school graduation.

First of all, the very topic of guns would be demystified, and the “magical” power of guns would sink to the same level as power tools or automobiles. Now, “common sense” as it applies to power tools or automobiles, includes the course of instruction in proper use, feeding, grooming and accepted methods of storage of these devices when not in use.

Likewise with pistols, rifles, and shotguns, all of which have their purposes in our daily lives, and which are already ubiquitous in the world. There is no way to create an absolute confiscation of such weapons of self-defense, that genie has long since escaped the bottle. And even if the various components of a gun could be somehow erased from the lexicons of technology, even the fact they once existed would be reason enough they would be re-invented.

More importantly, those youth whom, by reason of basic disregard of simple caution, or those whom harbor malice intent, would soon be identified, and may be steered away from any situation in which they may even lay hands on a projectile weapon. And for the perpetually timid, those who would never touch a gun under any circumstances, it would be prudent to teach them the elements of avoidance, evasion, escape, or even how to distract the gunman with malice aforethought, up to and including the direct assault on the gunman while unarmed. Also, it may be advisable to tattoo the Social Security number some place on their bodies so they may be more easily identified later.

For the vast majority of the others, there would be a large cadre of knowledgeable individuals with working knowledge of how to acquire a target, frame it, draw down a bead, and fire the weapon with some degree of accuracy. As part of this course of instruction, a solid grounding in the ethics and appropriate selection of of the target would be an absolute requirement. In the long run, the military and law enforcement services would have a much larger pool of potential recruits, and an armed civilian population would a very active deterrent for any invasion or insurgent activity that may arise.

“To invade the United States would prove most difficult because behind every blade of grass is an American with a rifle.”


16 posted on 03/29/2018 3:44:50 PM PDT by alloysteel (There are old pilots, and there are bold pilots. There are no old, bold pilots.)
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To: Kaslin

This is what we get when we let children dictate gun policy 15 minutes after they have been the victims of a heinous crime. In America, victims are experts.


17 posted on 03/29/2018 3:58:22 PM PDT by Dr. Pritchett
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To: Kaslin

Common sense to the Left means confiscation.


18 posted on 03/29/2018 4:11:08 PM PDT by ealgeone
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To: All
Where's the Common Sense in 'Common Sense' Gun Laws?

I will tell you exactly where. No. Where. There isn't any "Common Sense" Gun laws because only law abiding citizens have to obey the law.

Criminals couldn't care less about Gun Laws only that they wish they would be taken away from law abiding citizens so they could really run amuk.
19 posted on 03/29/2018 4:50:22 PM PDT by ssfromla
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To: Kaslin

Repeal. Registration. Confiscation.

Those are the Democrats’ goals about guns. Any of them who says otherwise is a filthy liar.

“Mr. and Mrs. America, turn ‘em all in! NOW!!!”


20 posted on 03/29/2018 4:51:13 PM PDT by elcid1970 ("The Second Amendment is more important than Islam. Buy ammo.")
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