From Rich Dempsey
The single most important factor in lethality is bullet placement.
You know that. There is a huge difference between a bullet to the head and a bullet to the leg.
A .223 bullet, properly aimed, will bring a deer down. CTDEEP raised the caliper in order to prevent “unnecessary suffering” due to lousy shooters not killing quickly.
I agree with you that there is a decidedly higher handgun rate. This is usually one on one shooting such as domestic homicide, suicide, gang fights and robbery.
While the numbers (count) of spree killings aren’t dramatically jumping higher, the numbers of dead within each shooting is getting higher.
You choose to look at the numbers of incidents; I look at the numbers of dead.
You also chose to not comment on the fact that only 278 times in 2011 was a gun used to kill someone in a self protection incident. The chance of getting struck by lightning is higher than the chance you’d use your gun to kill an intruder.
I picked out the AR15, Uzi and Tec 9 because they are the most popular weapons used. Any rapid fire gun, short or long, can kill a human. The faster they shoot, the higher the potential dead count.
Who will pay for the database? You will.
Let’s apply the second amendment.
“Well Regulated”
The Random House College Dictionary (1980) gives four definitions for the word “regulate,” which were all in use during the Colonial period and one more definition dating from 1690 (Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd Edition, 1989). They are:
1) To control or direct by a rule, principle, method, etc.
2) To adjust to some standard or requirement as for amount, degree, etc.
3) To adjust so as to ensure accuracy of operation.
4) To put in good order.
Well regulated and user funded, like the gas tax.
There are registration fees for cars and license fees for drivers. In a national NCIC plan, you pay to get a national gun permit, approved in all states, after you complete a certified firearms course. Concealed carry permits cost a bit more and should have local approval.
Each weapon should have a registration fee assigned to it. The higher the caliper and capacity, the higher the fee.
The fees will cover the costs, and can be adjusted accordingly.
Personally, I’d like to see a weapons insurance requirement in place too. (For the Dick Cheney’s out there).
Why bother? What is the value, in money, of one less murder?
A study by Iowa State University found that each burglary in the United States—a car break-in, for example—costs $41,288. For armed robberies the cost increases eightfold, to $335,733. Every aggravated assault costs $145,379. Each rape costs $448,532.
Then there is murder. The researchers, led by sociologist Matt DeLisi, put the price tag at a whopping $17,252,656. ( 17 million bucks) That means in 2009, according to the FBI, murder cost the United States almost $263 billion—nearly as much the federal government annually spends on Medicaid.
http://archive.news.iastate.edu/news/2010/sep/costofcrime
The FBI report for 2012 actually reports the following:
Preliminary figures indicate that, as a whole, law enforcement agencies throughout the nation reported an increase of 1.9 percent in the number of violent crimes brought to their attention for the first 6 months of 2012 when compared with figures reported for the same time in 2011. The violent crime category includes murder, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. The number of property crimes in the United States from January to June of 2012 increased 1.5 percent when compared with data from the same time period in 2011. Property crimes include burglary, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft. Arson is also a property crime, but data for arson are not included in property crime totals. Figures for 2012 indicate that arson increased 3.2 percent when compared to 2011 figures from the same time period.
http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2012/preliminary-semiannual-uniform-crime-report-january-june-2012
My point still is that there are many perfectly legal gun owners out there that change over time. Remember the two volunteer firefighters shot and killed in upstate New York while they responded to a fire some nut had set? That could have been us.
I think the cops ought to know what they are responding to. Civilians don’t have the right to access NCIC data. It’s a perfect, proven place for this data.
Parts of California actually have police teams that go and collect guns involved in new restraining orders.
Guns, like cars don’t kill people. The rules for guns could follow the motor vehicle model and make us all a little bit safer. There were 32,000 vehicular deaths in 2011, down from a high of 54,000 back in the 70’s. Those deaths decreased because we imposed more regulations and safety devices (seatbelt, airbags, etc).
We can do the same with guns.
No one is saying all gun owners are crazy. Gun owners are people and people are fallible. They make mistakes and some change and people die.
Rich Dempsey EMT
Woodstock CT
These opinions are mine and do not reflect any organization. (Especially anons)
Sportsmen already pay enough.The Pitman Robertson act collected 371 million $ in 2012. These funds are from an excise tax on firearms,ammo and related items.These funds cover a wide variety of topics to maintain quality outdoor programs.
If there was a registration,insurance mandate that would most likely break the back of main stream Americans since the average income is around 50,000$ a year. That would make guns unaffordable to keep. Then only the wealthy and elites would have firearms. Oh ya criminals and gang’s would still have them. Drugs are illegal also but there doesn’t seem to be a shortage of them.
Not all murders need to be done with a firearm.
If there was a database that was established to keep track of those who keep cash and jewelry in their homes so the police would know who potential robbery victims were would that be ok?
Yes i remember the N.Y. F.F.er’s the nut did not legally obtain the rifle.
So he was not a perfectly legal gun owner that changed.
Anon,
The Pittman Robertson act was a tax to prevent hunters from causing the extinction of certain animals. It changed a pre-existing excise tax on firearms and ammunition. Instead of that money going to the U.S. Treasury as it did before 1938, it now goes to the Secretary of the Interior.
That money is used to provide gun training, counting ruffed grouse and the study the sex habits of bighorn sheep, among other things. (This is clearly one of those instances where we really should look at how that money is spent
That money could be directed into law enforcement in order to track down street guns and prosecute the criminal element.
If all that money and the money that goes to the NRA each year went to, let say, the U.S. Marshals in order to round up and prosecute the street weapons, wouldn’t that be a good idea?
Imagine, legal gun owners actually contributing to the elimination of illegal firearms instead of using those street guns as an excuse.
I’m more worried about the lives of our kids than I am about how much of an increase in the number of ruffed grouse there is right now.
The number of gun deaths has been rising steadily since 2000 and it’s predicted to exceed the number of motor vehicle deaths by 2015.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-12-19/american-gun-deaths-to-exceed-traffic-fatalities-by-2015.html
I paid sales tax when I bought my car and pay gas tax and excise tax each year in addition to the registration fees and license fee and mandatory insurance. It’s the cost of ownership. If you can’t afford a car or truck, you don’t get one.
Why can’t the same be done for guns? If you want them, apply the “well regulated” rules according to the second amendment, pay the fees and have fun.
I’m not sure what “Not all murders need to be done with a firearm.” means. Murders don’t “need” to be done at all. When we were kids, we’d duke it out with our fists, today’s kids break out the UZI.
The violent crime rate out here in the Valley isn’t so bad that we need to arm ourselves from the roving gangs. I’ve done one firearm death in the eight years I’ve been with you know who, (wink wink)
The wacko that shot and killed those firefighters got his neighbor to purchase the gun for him since he was a felon. Not a legal purchase at all. I wonder if she would have bought a gun for a felon if the penalties were serious federal time.
I would have to object to the jewelry database right now. You let me know when the number of deaths from jewelry starts to climb.
I’m counting on you to keep an eye on it.
Rich Dempsey EMT
West Woodstock
P-R also has secured land for bird watchers,hikers ect.even if you dont buy firearms or ammo you benefit from the sportsmen expense.
The funds that would go to gun training would be a PROACTIVE movement to benefit Police,by properly educating people in safety,proper,storage.
The sportsmen shouldnt have to pay for Marshals to round up street guns.Its not a problem just related to sportsmen.
Everyone is worried about kids safety,but protect money with guns,high ranking officials,with guns,celebrities have security, but the moment our kids get on the school bus they have Absolutely nothing.The thing is someone doesnt even need a gun,just spray the bus driver with pepperspray.They are not supposed to get out of the seat so where is the protection?
Why pay a tax on something that is a 2nd Amendment right.There is nothing about fees or taxes. A car is not a right it is a privelage.
Some or most firearms may not even leave ones house,much like a T.v. or dishwasher but they dont get taxed.
Why would you be opposed to a money and jewelry database? i didnt say people were dying from those items. It would be used to identify potential robbery scenes so the Police would know where they could be responding to in the future.
I dont see that throwing a ton of money into a bunch of unproven and untried methods is going to have an immediate response to the issue at hand.
The thing i think is funny though is in every post you have to throw a little snide reminder about your affiliation(wink wink)and i havent brought it up. Reminds me of grammer school.
intersting story in Readers Digest many years ago.HUsband and wife out in a boat. The man brought 2 fishing poles and the wife brought a book. Game Warden comes to the boat and asks for fishing licences.The man shows his and the women says she doesnt have one.Game Warden says 2 poles,2 people,2 fishing licences,Wife says i am just along for the ride and to read my book.Husband says i just brought a spare pole but could you please call an Ambulance? Game Warden says why are you feeling ill? Husband says no you have a gun so if you are implying my wife will be fishing without a licence because i have 2 poles i would like an Ambulance called because you have a gun and are going to shoot us. The Warden left them ticket free to fish and read.
Two more babies get in the way of innocent bullets because gun owners think their right to bear arms is more important than the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
We, as humans, have to begin to find a way to work together to fix this problem. Pack up the rhetoric, put away your fears and let’s begin to have an honest dialog on how to fix it.
Question 1 :How do we stop the killing of innocent people?
Rich you still use rhetoric to stop using rhetoric what gives? I read on mybumbphone on WFSB 3 that ct has a law already that was enacted in response to the lOTTERY SHOOTING.
It stated that CT. had issued around 250 warrants and confiscated over 2000 guns from people with mental illness or restraining orders.
So many times peoples cryies for help are either ignored or not taken seriously,then after something happens everyone says oh ya well they did say last week or a month ago that they felt a certain way or had thought of strange things.
The problem is we also live in a rehabilitative society.Everyone can be cured or treated for something and be just fine.
MAybe some cant afford their med’s or refuse to take them.
That is something that people are very aware of but must likely be taken seriously. IE. so and so must have forgotton to take their meds today or they are off their rocker, tomorrow should be better .
FAmily members will be able to identify these individuals and know who they are TODAY.So they need to take action to sefeguard them and others and take precautions.Make sure they see a DR., take med’s,seek counseling if needed.
I will agree that firearms should be stored in a fire proof safe.not the metal gun cabinet or glass fronts.They are too easily pried open.
Maybe Norwich State Hospital should be reopened.
I wonder if we are protected by the castle doctrine here in CT? As horrible as gun deaths are elderly citizens beaten by home invasions are also.
I see no benefit to restricting weaker citizens from protecting themselves.
This story could have have had a different ending.
I personally have no issue with killing in self defense.
Feb19th 2013
DALLAS -
An elderly man shot and killed a would-be burglar inside his Oak Cliff home.
Police say the homeowner saw Deyfon Pipkins, 33, trying to climb into the window and fired his weapon at least once at the intruder.
The homeowner is legally protected by the Castle Doctrine, which allows a person to defend his or her home against an intruder.
“It means they don’t actually have to retreat once someone comes in their home,” Sergeant Calvin Johnson, Dallas Police Department, said. “You have the option of using deadly force if you believe your life is in danger.”
After police notified relatives of Pipkins’ death, some showed up at the house. They were upset, and questioned the homeowner’s actions.
“He could have used a warning,” Lakesha Thompson, Pipkins’ sister-in-law, said. “He could have let him know that he did have a gun on his property and he would use it in self-defense.”
Pipkins had a lengthy criminal record. He served time in prison and was convicted of theft, possession of a Controlled Substance and criminal trespassing.
The homeowner has not been charged with anything, but Dallas police will refer the case to the Grand Jury to decide if he acted criminally in shooting the intruder.
Db
SELF-DEFENSE; CASTLE DOCTRINE
No matter what the situation or location “deadly physical force cannot be used UNLESS the actor reasonably believes that the attacker is using or about to use deadly physical force or inflicting or about to inflict great bodily harm.” [emphasis mine]…(see Con’s new article. Admin).