Monday, June 06, 2005

AGS - One Hand Clapping

On April 14, 2005, Americans for Gun Safety applauded the efforts of the notorious anti-RKBA Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich to undermine the constitutional rights of gun owners. Of course, they don't express their agenda in such clear terms:

AGS - Press Release Detail:


Illinois Governor Announces Groundbreaking Gun Trafficking Program

Americans for Gun Safety Praises Governor Blagojevich’s Efforts to Stem the Tide of Crime Guns

WASHINGTON – Today, Governor Rod Blagojevich announced the formation of a groundbreaking effort designed to stop the flow of illegal weapons into the hands of criminals in his state, of Illinois. This program addresses the central, yet ignored, aspect of the gun debate, the methods by which criminals arm themselves.

“Americans for Gun Safety has worked very closely with Governor Blagojevich on this program, and we are very pleased to see him take these crucial steps,” said John Lacey, Communications Director for Americans for Gun Safety, a centrist gun policy group. “The Governor has studied Illinois’ gun problem and formulated a response which we are confident will keep guns out of the hands of dangerous criminals. We urge all communities affected by gun violence to follow the Governor’s lead.”

This program is designed to go after the sources of guns used in Illinois crime before criminals have a chance to use them. The majority of crime guns in Illinois come from states with weaker gun laws. More crime guns flow into Illinois from Indiana and Mississippi than from any other state. According to recent data, 777 crime guns from Indiana and 532 crime guns from Mississippi were located in Illinois. Crime guns from these two states alone nearly equal the total number of crime guns from the next 10 states combined.

Nationwide, close to 90 percent of guns used in crimes are trafficked.

That sounds fairly 'centrist' (previous quote's emphasis is mine) , doesn't it? All they want to do is to get prevent guns, which are 'trafficked' from 'states with weaker gun laws', from falling into the hands of criminals. To do that, Blagovijevich has announced a 'program' ... but I don't see a reference to a law. I'll have to look that up ... more later. (Without legislation, this is nothing but smoke and mirrors.)

So far, this is a disengenuous attempt to restrict 'trafficked' guns from being imported into the state.
(Note that there are already federal laws which prohibit the purchase of guns out-of-state. )


Then, on May 18, AGS addressed the question of 'criminals with guns' in the state of Pennsylvania:

AGS: PA Gun Commission Moves Beyond Divisive Gun Politics to Address Problem

Report Includes Key Recommends Made by Americans for Gun Safety

WASHINGTON – Americans for Gun Safety applauds the Pennsylvania Commission on Gun Violence’s report outlining a comprehensive approach to the problem of gun violence. The Commission’s report, released yesterday, represents an honest look at the problem of gun violence and gun policy, and includes solutions that can taken at the local level.

“With this report, the Commission was able to accomplish something rarely seen when it comes to guns” said John Lacey, Communications Director for Americans for Gun Safety, a centrist gun policy group. “They moved beyond the traditional divisive politics of guns to focus on the real problem: criminals and the ease with which they can access firearms.”

The report highlights law enforcement, legislative, and public education recommendations submitted to commission by Americans for Gun Safety. These recommendations include: increased use of gun tracing by all levels of law enforcement; legislative steps designed to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and children; and, the Felon Warning Project, a public education initiative designed by Americans for Gun Safety Foundation in partnership with the American Probation and Parole Association to warn felons they are prohibited from possessing a firearm.

The report also recognizes the local nature of Pennsylvania’s gun problem, and proposes local solutions.

“The vast majority of guns used in Pennsylvania crime come from Pennsylvania,” said Lacey. “Gun violence solutions need to address the local aspect of this problem, otherwise criminals will continue arming themselves unabated.”

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives data show that the majority of firearms in Pennsylvania are first purchased at retail within 10 miles of where they are used in a crime. While the firearm may changes hands several times between retail sale and crime, the close proximity of the two events clearly indicates the local nature of Pennsylvania’s crime gun problem and the key role local Pennsylvania officials should play.

Apparently, in Pennsylvania, the problem isn't with gun 'trafficking' from other states. The problem is that guns are purchased in-state.
So the problem is either that guns are available from other states, or that guns are available locally.

Ultimately, according to that great 'centrist' organization Americans for Gun Safety', the problem isn't where the guns come from. The problem is that guns exist.

There's nothing 'centrist' about that, folks. This may come as a surprise, but AGS puts up a front about being 'centrist' (or 'moderate') but the truth is that they are 100% totally anti-gun. They adopt the camoflauge of a group of people who just want to get along, but their agenda isn't very cleverly hidden.

They want to remove firearms from American Society. It doesn't matter whether they take guns from criminals, or from immigrants, or from you. They want them OUT.

The truth is, of course, that Criminals will ALWAYS have guns. Ultimately, they aren't campaigning to remove firearms from the hands of criminals. They're campaigning to deprive you of your right to defend yourself, or to hunt, or to engage in shooting competition, or just to have guns because it's no damn business of the AGS whether you have firearms and they don't LIKE that!

.........

In another unrelated incident, Pittsburgh (Pa) police were recently involved in a shooting in which nobody was injured. One hundred three rounds were expended, but nobody was hit.

Sounds like a reasonable argument for Gun Control. As in: the police need to learn how to control their guns.

.........

On the other hand, here's an anecdotal report from a member of the Unofficial IPSC List:

Well.....after all the reports of Law Enforcement having itchy trigger fingers and expelling a few more than req'd amounts of ammo, our local sheriff came into the gun shop the other day and said " before I tell you anything else....I only took 2 shots!!" (smiling)

Then he proceeded to tell us how he was called out to dispatch 2 cows that were unning thru and raising hell in a near by town and the owner refused to do anything about it. He shot them both with his .308, dropped them on the spot and the meat went to the local food shelf. He wanted to make sure that we knew this irst, before it made the newspaper ... of course ... it never did.
The Americans for Gun Safety would be proud of him. Of course, PETA thinks he exercised undue force.

This is the one time when I may be inclined to side with PETA.

What do YOU think?

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