tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post5922520065684318636..comments2024-03-28T21:41:52.558-04:00Comments on The Elephant Bar: Islamic Schutzstaffel, SSDeuce ☂http://www.blogger.com/profile/13472858446242700869noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-25341947025981082962007-07-26T02:04:00.000-04:002007-07-26T02:04:00.000-04:00I knew a guy that was hit by lightning twice...but...I knew a guy that was hit by lightning twice...<BR/><BR/>but it was separate occasions, so maybe the old rule still holds, lightning doesn't hit the same spot twice(least in a row).bobalharbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12002916750686257873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-55411506474385492712007-07-26T02:01:00.000-04:002007-07-26T02:01:00.000-04:00The current issue of The New Yorker magazine (July...The current issue of The New Yorker magazine (July 23 edition) features a fascinating article by the world famous neurologist Oliver Sacks "A Bolt From the Blue: The Mysteries of Musicophilia." In it, Sacks details the NDE of a respected surgeon, Dr. Tony Cicoria, who was hit by lightening in 1994 and had an NDE that included an out-of-body experience. After recovering, Dr. Cicoria returned to his medical practice and everything seemed back to normal. Suddenly, six weeks after the incident, he had an insatiable desire to listen to piano music, followed by an overwhelming passion to play and compose music, a skill he did not have before. He describes that his own compositions "would come and take me over. It had a very powerful presence." Eventually this led to his playing Chopin and his own classical compositions in public, having had virtually no musical training before he was forty-two. Music has remained his true, all consuming passion in life. The article ends with a sentence paraphrasing Dr. Cicoria, "His was a lucky strike, and the music, however it has come, was a blessing, a grace – not to be questioned." This is a fascinating account of an NDE aftereffect of a type not often reported.<BR/><BR/>The author of the article, Dr. Oliver Sacks, has written many books and articles about interesting neurological cases for the general public, including the book Awakenings upon which the movie of the same name starring Robert De Niro and Robin Williams was based. In this article, Sacks cannot break away from the purely medical model to explain NDEs but he does leave the door open to alternative explanations. For example, referring to NDEs, he writes "Experiences like this are not easily dismissed by those who have been through them…." Or "One cannot suppose, any more than one can with out-of-body experiences, that such events are pure fancy; similar features are emphasized in every account." The bulk of the article attempts to offer neurological explanations for NDEs while admitting that science today cannot offer full explanations.<BR/><BR/>Unfortunately, The New Yorker article is not available online. If you do not subscribe to the magazine or are unable to purchase it at a newsstand we recommend you go to your local library to read it. It is an interesting read, although Sack's medical approach may be unsatisfying especially to those of you who are experiencers.<BR/>xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<BR/>I know a guy that was his by lightning twice--didn't do a thing for him, one way or the other. Nite.bobalharbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12002916750686257873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-69717310499568040512007-07-26T01:54:00.000-04:002007-07-26T01:54:00.000-04:00'If something breaks..' I gotta say, I didn't see ...'If something breaks..' I gotta say, I didn't see many cars busted down by the side of the road. One, or maybe two at the most. They just make them better, these days.bobalharbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12002916750686257873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-47097370211464164652007-07-26T01:52:00.000-04:002007-07-26T01:52:00.000-04:00I'd hardly know what to do with a gun. I know my w...I'd hardly know what to do with a gun. I know my way around a shotgun, but not a pistol. But it was of some comfort, out there in Wyoming, or Montana, beyond cell phone tower reach, with the sun going down.<BR/><BR/>I think the best way to travel, if by car, is convoy, with two cars. Then you have backup if something breaks, and a way to get to communications. We've done it that way before, though it doubles the expenses, and I suppose, doubles the chances of an accident, too. But something to keep in mind, if it's a long trip, in the wilds.bobalharbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12002916750686257873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-21391853908629346442007-07-26T00:55:00.000-04:002007-07-26T00:55:00.000-04:00Please, smelt my guns, Lord! I wouldn't know what ...Please, smelt my guns, Lord! I wouldn't know what to bloody do with them!Martian Baristahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06289251598469195052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-64683527229106514932007-07-26T00:51:00.000-04:002007-07-26T00:51:00.000-04:00Ash thinks self defense is immoral and improper in...Ash thinks self defense is immoral and improper in the modern world, all because the world is a shitty unfair place beyond any of our explanations.<BR/><BR/>Hey, I just live here, man.Martian Baristahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06289251598469195052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-52440166843259483602007-07-25T22:35:00.000-04:002007-07-25T22:35:00.000-04:00brother b-day,I did a quick google and came up wit...brother b-day,<BR/><BR/>I did a quick google and came up with some stats. I didn't know the source any better then your previous one. We can parse the numbers till were blue in the face but I think we'd both agree that a few folks are getting shot up.<BR/><BR/>The constitutional issues are interesting, mostly in an academic/legalist way - parsing the founding fathers intentions as if what they wrote were handed down with the 10 commandments. My understanding is the founding fathers were most concerned with keeping us free from imperial designs of the King across the pond - no standing army, freely formed militias ect. Times change.<BR/><BR/>I find it interesting that the same motives propel DR and Bobal as well as the punk teen shoving struttin' the hood with a piece in his pants - the warm fuzzy feeling of power and the ability to defend oneself. I hate it when the twerps act on those feelings and start shooting. I could care less if gang bangers take each other out (reminds me of a emerg doctor from Denver I rode up a chair lift once who had a good laugh about a guy he treated who, after shootin' at some folk, jumped in his car to flee and tossed his gun in the back seat. The gun went off and shoot him in the back) BUT the problem becomes apparent when those idiots start shooting at each other and people get caught in the crossfire. An 11 year old girl bit it last weekend here in Toronto when two punks started shooting at each other at a birthday party...fools!!<BR/><BR/>What are we to do with these fools? Protect their right to conceal carry? Look to Baghdad for the logical extension of it all - gun control trying to limit a single AK47 for each household 'but what do we do if a member of the family need leave the house???? AK's for everyone!!!"Ashhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06232405130481114127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-13130688450664552112007-07-25T22:07:00.000-04:002007-07-25T22:07:00.000-04:00AQ Hospital<A HREF="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyPBRh2W-rA" REL="nofollow">AQ Hospital</A>samhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08208259520563205356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-29678336696937302062007-07-25T22:00:00.000-04:002007-07-25T22:00:00.000-04:00That's neat news about the Sandy, Bob.That's neat news about the Sandy, Bob.samhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08208259520563205356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-71301492494024496622007-07-25T21:52:00.000-04:002007-07-25T21:52:00.000-04:00But things are Heating Up In Vegas What a price to...But things are <A HREF="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070725/ap_on_sc/warmer_nevada_1" REL="nofollow">Heating Up In Vegas</A> What a price to pay, for a little gambling, and some hookers.bobalharbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12002916750686257873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-21652408123405380782007-07-25T21:50:00.000-04:002007-07-25T21:50:00.000-04:00SANDY, Ore.---The CEO of Oregon's largest utility ...SANDY, Ore.---The CEO of Oregon's largest utility detonated explosives on the Marmot Dam on Tuesday, the beginning of the end of a 47 foot concrete hydroelectic dam that has blocked the Sandy River for nealy a century....When the Marmot Dam is totally dismantled later this summer, the Sandy will again be a free flowing river--from its origin high on Mount Hood to its mouth on the Columbia River.<BR/><BR/>"The bottom line is that it's good for the fish, and saves our customers money." The Dam had become uneconomical to operate due to maintainence and new environmental regulations.<BR/><BR/>A smaller dam on the Little Sandy River is to be removed also.<BR/><BR/>The Sandy was a legendary salmon and steelhead river, and should make a full recovery.bobalharbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12002916750686257873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-57180019957002020672007-07-25T20:53:00.000-04:002007-07-25T20:53:00.000-04:00"I've fired a machine gun. I was in Iraq and they ...<I>"I've fired a machine gun. I was in Iraq and they gave me machine guns to fire at a target. I've fired an Uzi and I fired a couple of other weapons. ... It's hard doing that and keeping it on target," Romney said.<BR/><BR/>"Those are difficult weapons to handle and our men and women have to handle them day to day out there."<BR/><BR/>He said participants in the Manchester GOP fundraiser would develop a better appreciation for the troops after the $35 fundraiser.</I><BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/07/25/romney_endorses_manchester_gop_fundraiser_with_automatic_weapons/" REL="nofollow">Automatic Weapons</A>samhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08208259520563205356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-9134229159943500652007-07-25T20:51:00.000-04:002007-07-25T20:51:00.000-04:00I was in the Idaho militia most all my life, and n...I was in the Idaho militia most all my life, and never knew it. It's in the Idaho Constitution. A life time of outstanding service, if I do say so myself, not one demerit, then they booted me out at age 50 I think it was, and never let me know. No ballpoint pen, no little flag for my desk, no nothing.bobalharbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12002916750686257873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-64937232206579293162007-07-25T20:46:00.000-04:002007-07-25T20:46:00.000-04:00More Rats A Swimming, From The Ship A Sinking<A HREF="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118539592996077778.html?mod=home_whats_news_us" REL="nofollow">More Rats A Swimming, From The Ship A Sinking</A>bobalharbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12002916750686257873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-18908137820872518792007-07-25T20:25:00.000-04:002007-07-25T20:25:00.000-04:00Ash,Interesting stats. Please note that I pulled m...Ash,<BR/><BR/>Interesting stats. Please note that I pulled mine (except for the FSU self-defense study) from the Centers for Disease Control. Not a pro-gun organization by any means.<BR/><BR/>I am quite familiar with the VPC, its agenda, and its "facts". I can probably go to the NRA, GOA and JPFO Web sites and get some "facts" from them that will make my argument more compelling, but then we are in "tastes great, less filling" territory.<BR/><BR/>However, your citation of the "collective right" interpretation of the Second Amendment requires a response.<BR/><BR/>The "collective right" is an invention of 20th century legal theorists. During the reign of America's Strong Man in the 1930s, this was but one of many federal precedents overturned since the ratification of the Constitution in 1789.<BR/><BR/>First, let's hear from some of the Founding Fathers:<BR/><BR/>"The advantage of being armed . . . the Americans possess over the people of all other nations . . . Notwithstanding the military establishments in the several Kingdoms of Europe, which are carried as far as the public resources will bear, the governments are afraid to trust the people with arms." (James Madison, Federalist Paper No. 46.)<BR/><BR/>"The great object is that every man be armed . . . Everyone who is able may have a gun." (Patrick Henry, in the Virginia Convention on the ratification of the Constitution.)<BR/><BR/>"Every terrible instrument of the soldier is the birthright of an American. The unlimited power of the sword is not in the hands of either the federal or state governments, but where I trust it will ever remain, in the hands of the people." - Tench Coxe, Continental Congress, Pennsylvania Gazette 1788<BR/><BR/>With the Militia Act of 1792 Congress defined "militia of the United States" to include almost every free adult male in the United States. These persons were obligated by law to possess a firearm and a minimum supply of ammunition and military equipment. <B>This statute, incidentally, remained in effect into the early years of the present century as a legal requirement of gun ownership for most of the population of the United States.</B><BR/><BR/>In 1822, the Kentucky Court of Appeals struck down a concealed weapon law because it violated a citizen's right to bear arms.<BR/><BR/>In Nunn v State in 1837, the Georgia Supreme Court overturned a handgun ban as unconstitutional because the federal Bill of Rights protected all natural rights.<BR/><BR/>The Dred Scott case used the individual rights argument as a cudgel against slaves, that if they were recognized as citizens, they'd have the right to keep and bear arms.<BR/><BR/>In United States v. Cruikshank, the Supreme Court ruled that the Rights protected in the First and Second Amendments were not granted by the Constitution, but natural rights born to all people and therefore the Fourteenth Amendment had no jurisdiction over them.<BR/><BR/>1902<BR/>In re Brickey, 8 Ida. 597, at 598-99, 70 p. 609<BR/> "The second amendment to the federal constitution is in the following language: 'A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.' The language of section 11, article I of the constitution of Idaho, is as follows: 'The people have the right to bear arms for their security and defense, but the legislature shall regulate the exercise of this right by law.' Under these constitutional provisions, the legislature has no power to prohibit a citizen from bearing arms in any portion of the state of Idaho, whether within or without the corporate limits of cities, towns, and villages."<BR/><BR/>1903<BR/>State v. Rosenthal, 75 VT. 295, 55 A. 610, at 611.<BR/> "The people of the state have a right to bear arms for the defense of themselves and the state. *** The result is that Ordinance No. 10, so far as it relates to the carrying of a pistol, is inconsistent with and repugnant to the Constitution and the laws of the state, and it is therefore to that extent, void."<BR/><BR/>1921<BR/>State v. Kerner, 181 N.C. 574, 107 S.E. 222, at 224.<BR/> "We are of the opinion, however, that 'pistol' ex vi termini is properly included within the word 'arms,' and that the right to bear such arms cannot be infringed. The historical use of pistols as 'arms' of offense and defense is beyond controversy."<BR/><BR/> "The maintenance of the right to bear arms is a most essential one to every free people and should not be whittled down by technical constructions."<BR/><BR/>1922<BR/>People v. Zerillo, 219 Mich. 635, 189 N.W. 927, at 928.<BR/> "The provision in the Constitution granting the right to all persons to bear arms is a limitation upon the right of the Legislature to enact any law to the contrary. The exercise of a right guaranteed by the Constitution cannot be made subject to the will of the sheriff."<BR/><BR/>1950<BR/>People v. Liss, 406 Ill. 419, 94 N.E. 2d 320, at 323.<BR/> "The second amendment to the constitution of the United States provides the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. This of course does not prevent the enactment of a law against carrying concealed weapons, but it does indicate it should be kept in mind, in the construction of a statue of such character, that it is aimed at persons of criminal instincts, and for the prevention of crime, and not against use in the protection of person or property."<BR/><BR/>1952<BR/>State v. Nickerson, 126 Mt. 157, 247 P. 2d 188, at 192.<BR/> "The law of this jurisdiction accords to the defendant the right to keep and bear arms and to use same in defense of his own home, his person and property."<BR/><BR/>1972<BR/>City of Lakewood v. Pillow, 180 Colo. 20, 501 P. 2d 744, at 745.<BR/> "As an example, we note that this ordinance would prohibit gunsmiths, pawnbrokers and sporting goods stores from carrying on a substantial part of their business. Also, the ordinance appears to prohibit individuals from transporting guns to and from such places of business. Furthermore, it makes it unlawful for a person to possess a firearm in a vehicle or in a place of business for the purpose of self-defense. Several of these activities are constitutionally protected. Colo. Const. art. II, sec 13."<BR/><BR/>1980<BR/>Schubert v. DeBard, 398 N.E. 2d 1339, at 1341 (Ind. App. 1980) (motion to transfer denied 8-28-1980).<BR/> "We think it clear that our constitution provides our citizenry the right to bear arms for their self- defense."<BR/><BR/>1980<BR/>State v. Kessler, 289 Or. 359, 614 P. 2d 94, at 95, at 98.<BR/> "We are not unmindful that there is current controversy over the wisdom of a right to bear arms, and that the original motivations for such a provision might not seem compelling if debated as a new issue. Our task, however, in construing a constitutional provision is to respect the principles given the status of constitutional guarantees and limitations by the drafters; it is not to abandon these principles when this fits the needs of the moment."<BR/><BR/> "Therefore, the term 'arms' as used by the drafters of the constitutions probably was intended to include those weapons used by settlers for both personal and military defense. The term 'arms' was not limited to firearms, but included several handcarried weapons commonly used for defense. The term 'arms' would not have included cannon or other heavy ordnance not kept by militiamen or private citizens."<BR/>The 1903 Militia Act transformed the organized state militias into federally managed, trained and armed forces that conformed to Regular Army standards by 1908, i.e. the National Guard.<BR/><BR/>The reserve militia or unorganized militia, also created by the Militia Act of 1903, which presently consist of every able-bodied man of at least 17 and under 45 years of age who are not members of the National Guard or Naval Militia.<BR/><BR/>The National Defense Act of 1916 transformed the National Guard from state defense forces to a reserve component of the US Army.<BR/><BR/>In the US v. Miller case of 1939, Jack Miller, a bootlegger, was arrested by revenuers for the possession of a shotgun with a barrel shorter than 18 inches, in violation of the 1934 National Firearms Act.<BR/><BR/>The Supreme Court overruled the initial Circuit Court ruling in Miller's favor. The logic of the court was that the gun in question - a sawed-off shotgun - had no use in the militia. This was the prosecution's theory presented to the Supreme Court without Miller or his defense present. The case was adjudicated without having both sides present evidence.<BR/><BR/>The Supreme Court sent the case back to the lower court to do more work on what arms would be acceptable for militia use. However, Jack Miller died and so did the case with him.<BR/><BR/>Now here's the deal. In 1939, there was no militia. There was the National Guard, a part of the US Army, and the reserve militia - me and the guys and gals on this site with guns.<BR/><BR/>The "collective right" theory has it that the National Guard is the militia, which it legally is not. <BR/><BR/>The "collective right" theory would have it that the Second Amendment guarantees the US Army's reserve component to keep and bear arms and "the People" to keep and bear zilcho.<BR/><BR/>The "collective right" theory is the prime example of the Stalinist tendencies of the American Left to call sixty years of recent history "historical precedent" while 150 years of precedent are not worth noting.<BR/><BR/>The recent ruling of Parker v. District of Columbia may finally be the case that could settle the Second Amendment once and for all.<BR/><BR/>Even legal scholars known for their left-leaning views, like Alan Dershowitz, are acknowledging that the Second Amendment is an individual right supported by sound legal scholarship and precedent.<BR/><BR/>The Subcommittee on the Constitution said it very well back in 1982:<BR/><BR/>"The conclusion is thus inescapable that the history, concept, and wording of the second amendment to the Constitution of the United States, as well as its interpretation by every major commentator and court in the first half century after its ratification, indicates that what is protected is an individual right of a private citizen to own and carry firearms in a peaceful manner."Brother D-Dayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11416004913872204554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-45575009877537922602007-07-25T20:12:00.000-04:002007-07-25T20:12:00.000-04:00Cars kill people, lots of them. On my trip I didn'...Cars kill people, lots of them. On my trip I didn't see any gun violence, though I read about some. But I saw, and read about a massive number of fatality accidents. It's apples and oranges, I know, but if the goal is a safe society, we better all start taking the bus, or AmTrak, which is what I'm doing next time back east, if there is a next time. AmTrak, then rent a small car at the destination. All Aboard!bobalharbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12002916750686257873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-34148452497255031322007-07-25T18:11:00.000-04:002007-07-25T18:11:00.000-04:00If the Constitution tells me Roe, why doesn't it t...If the Constitution tells me Roe, why doesn't it tell me I can own guns? <BR/><BR/>Also, a public health argument against guns needs to answer the following:<BR/><BR/>-What criteria do we use to determine the harm of guns? <BR/><BR/>-What criteria do we use to determine the help of guns?<BR/><BR/>-What about the differences between gun harm/gun help compell us to treat them differently from, say, vaccines, drugs or medical treatments that are guaranteed to kill a % of patients? <BR/><BR/>What ratio of harm/help is acceptable AND <B>HOW DO WE KNOW THIS</B>? <BR/><BR/>It is the latter question above which I do not think the VPC or its ilk want anyone asking.Martian Baristahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06289251598469195052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-87148215871254772642007-07-25T17:57:00.000-04:002007-07-25T17:57:00.000-04:00Folks like Ash Fear other rights may soon be found...Folks like Ash <A HREF="http://www.infowars.com/articles/2nd_amendment/court_rediscovers_2nd_amendment.htma" REL="nofollow">Fear</A> other rights may soon be found.bobalharbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12002916750686257873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-75052619468103591392007-07-25T16:38:00.000-04:002007-07-25T16:38:00.000-04:00ahhh, stats. I came across these:Handgun Ban Back...ahhh, stats. I came across these:<BR/><BR/>Handgun Ban Backgrounder<BR/>America's gun problem is a handgun problem. Handguns exact an inordinate toll on American lives. The vast majority of gun death and injury–in homicides, suicides, and unintentional shootings–is carried out with easily concealable pistols and revolvers. The public health model as well as the traditional approaches employed in protecting consumer health and safety lead to one inevitable conclusion: handguns should be banned.<BR/><BR/><BR/>Firearms<BR/><BR/>There are an estimated 192 million firearms in civilian hands.1 Yet, fewer and fewer Americans own more and more guns.<BR/><BR/>Surprisingly, only 25 percent of adults own a firearm. Of these, three out of four own more than one gun.2<BR/><BR/>About 10 percent of the adult population owns 77 percent of the total stock of firearms.3<BR/><BR/><BR/>Handguns<BR/><BR/>There are about 65 million handguns in the United States. Handguns make up 34 percent of all types of firearms.4<BR/><BR/>Of all firearm-related crime, 86 percent involved handguns.5<BR/><BR/>Only one in six Americans own handguns.6<BR/><BR/>Unlike manufacturers of other consumer products, the industry that makes handguns is unregulated for health and safety.<BR/><BR/><BR/>Overall Firearm-Related Deaths<BR/><BR/>Since 1962, more than one million Americans have died in firearm homicides, suicides, and unintentional shootings. Handguns were used in more than 650,000 of these fatal shootings.7<BR/><BR/>In 1997—the most recent year available—there were 89 firearm deaths per day, or a firearm death every 16 minutes.8<BR/><BR/>In homes with guns, a member of the household is almost three times as likely to be the victim of a homicide compared to gun-free homes.9<BR/><BR/><BR/>Handguns and Homicide<BR/><BR/>On the average, if someone gets shot and killed, four out of five times it will be with a handgun. In 1997, for example, handguns were used in 79.4 percent of all firearm homicides.10<BR/><BR/>From 1990 to 1997, handguns were used in a majority (55.6 percent) of all homicides; that is, they were used in murder more than all other weapons combined.11<BR/><BR/>From 1990 to 1997, there were 293,781 firearm deaths—homicides, suicides, and unintentional shootings.12<BR/><BR/>From 1990 to 1997 in the United States there were more than—<BR/><BR/> * 160,000 homicides<BR/><BR/> * 110,000 firearm homicides<BR/><BR/> * 89,000 handgun homicides13<BR/><BR/>Handgun homicides hit record highs in the early 1990s, peaking in 1993. That year there were 13,258 such killings—out of a total of 16,120 firearm homicides.14<BR/><BR/>As part of an overall drop in crime, in 1997 handgun homicides fell to 8,503.15<BR/><BR/><BR/>Suicide<BR/><BR/>The largest category of firearms fatality is suicide, not homicide. In 1997, 54 percent of all gun deaths were suicides, and 42 percent were homicides.16<BR/><BR/>About six out of 10 suicides are committed with firearms.17<BR/><BR/>For firearm suicides, it is estimated that handguns are used twice as often (69 percent) as rifles and shotguns.18<BR/><BR/>For all suicides, it is estimated that more than four out of 10 were committed with handguns.19<BR/><BR/>From 1990 to 1997—<BR/><BR/> * there were more than 147,000 suicides committed with a firearm<BR/><BR/> * an estimated 90,000 involved a handgun20<BR/><BR/>People living in a household with a gun are almost five times more likely to die by suicide than people living in a gun-free home.21<BR/><BR/><BR/>Self Defense<BR/><BR/>For every time a gun in the home is used in a self-defense homicide, a gun will be used in—<BR/><BR/> * 1.3 unintentional deaths<BR/><BR/> * 4.6 criminal homicides<BR/><BR/> * 37 suicides22<BR/><BR/>In 1997 there were 15,690 homicides.<BR/><BR/> * Of these, 8,503 were committed with handguns.<BR/><BR/> * Among handgun homicides, only 193 (2.3 percent) were classified as justifiable homicides by civilians.23<BR/><BR/>For every time in 1997 that a civilian used a handgun to kill in self-defense, 43 people lost their lives in handgun homicides alone.24<BR/><BR/><BR/>Costs<BR/><BR/>For every firearm death, there are nearly three gun injuries requiring emergency medical treatment.25<BR/><BR/>By conservative estimates, gunshot injuries cost about $4 billion a year in medical expenses.26<BR/><BR/><BR/>Public Attitudes<BR/><BR/>Polls over the past 20 years have consistently shown that one out of three Americans support a ban on handgun possession (except by law enforcement officers).27<BR/><BR/>Several polls taken in 1999 show this level of support reaching as high as 44 percent to 50 percent.28<BR/><BR/><BR/>The Second Amendment<BR/><BR/>No gun control law has ever been overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court on Second Amendment grounds. Such laws include federal bans on machine guns and semiautomatic assault weapons as well as local community bans on the sale and possession of handguns.<BR/><BR/>Every federal Court of Appeals that has considered the meaning of the Second Amendment has held that it protects the right of states to maintain a militia, not an individual right to own a gun.<BR/><BR/> * In 1981 the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals stated that "possession of a handgun by individuals is not part of the right to keep and bear arms."<BR/><BR/> * In 1976 the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals noted "the erroneous supposition that the Second Amendment is concerned with the rights of individuals rather than those of the states."29<BR/><BR/>http://www.vpc.org/fact_sht/hgbanfs.htmAshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06232405130481114127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-70151429544056528252007-07-25T16:30:00.000-04:002007-07-25T16:30:00.000-04:00Leading causes of death according to the CDC (2004...Leading causes of death according to the <A HREF="http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/pubs/pubd/hestats/finaldeaths04/finaldeaths04_tables.pdf#2" REL="nofollow">CDC (2004):</A><BR/><BR/>Heart Disease = 652,486 dead<BR/>Malignant neoplasms = 553,888 dead<BR/>Cerebrovascular diseases = 150,074 dead<BR/>Chronic lower respiratory diseases = 121,987 dead<BR/>Accidents = 112,012 dead<BR/>Diabetes = 73,138 dead<BR/>Alzheimer's = 65,965 dead<BR/>Flu and pneumonia = 59,664 dead<BR/>Nephritis and nephrosis = 42,480 dead<BR/>Septicimia = 33,373 dead<BR/>Suicide = 32,439 dead<BR/>Cirrhosis and related = 27,013 dead<BR/>Hypertension = 23,076<BR/>dead<BR/>Parkinson's = 17,989 dead<BR/>Homicide = 17,357 dead<BR/>All other causes = 414,674 dead<BR/>Total 2004 deaths = 2,397,615<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/homicide.htm" REL="nofollow">Firearm homicides (2004):</A> = 11,250<BR/><BR/>Homicide % total deaths = .7%<BR/>Firearm homicide % of total deaths = .5%<BR/><BR/>In other words, 99.5% of all the people who died in the US in 2004 died of something other than a firearm homicide.<BR/><BR/>Florida State University conducted a study in 1994 that determined that firearms were used defensively against criminals 2.5 million times in a year, or once every 13 seconds. <BR/><BR/>This translates to guns being used to prevent murder 222 times more than to commit murder in a 2004.<BR/><BR/>There are over 200 million guns in the hands of 80 million to 150 million Americans.<BR/><BR/>If each murder were committed by a different perp, that would mean that .01% on the high end to .008% on the low end of gun owners committed murder, or conversely, 99.99% to 99.992% of gun owners didn't kill anyone that year.<BR/><BR/>Denying 99.99% of the law-abiding, gun-owning, sheepdog-minded public (or 26% to 50% of the total population when you count the sheeple)of their inalienable rights of self-defense and life to control .01% of the gun owning population (or .004% of the total population when you count the sheeple.) seems counterintuitive to me.<BR/><BR/>Then again, maybe I am missing something.Brother D-Dayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11416004913872204554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-15411730182114567322007-07-25T16:21:00.000-04:002007-07-25T16:21:00.000-04:00The manufacturers of hand guns are pretty easy to ...The manufacturers of hand guns are pretty easy to identify. Sure some black market manufacturers would sprout but it could be made much more difficult for one to obtain and carry about a handgun. Yes, some previously law abiding citizen's would be restricted from tooling about packing heat. Better that then the carnage we are see today.Ashhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06232405130481114127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-86251154124768368912007-07-25T15:45:00.000-04:002007-07-25T15:45:00.000-04:00Handguns and drugs, ash.How long has the "War of D...Handguns and drugs, ash.<BR/>How long has the "War of Drugs" been part of the Federal program?<BR/><BR/>Illicit "Drugs" are illegal, it does not stop the inportation, their sale or their use.<BR/><BR/>The same is true with guns, your proposal is to disarm the honest citizen and empower the psuedo terrorists.<BR/><BR/>Those two suspects in CT, home invaders, rapists, arsonists amd murderers, strangled or burned the victims alive. They are not reported tp have used a firearm.<BR/><BR/>If the mother had access to weapon she may have detered those evil doers, she'd have had a chamce. The Doctor had his head beaten in with a baseball bat, effective range 4 feet. A .38 Special double action revolver is an accurate weapon at 21 feet, over five times the baseball bats' range.<BR/><BR/>Doc could have saved his family, with one or two well place rounds, that he did not, his bad.desert rathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02369546288659566961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-24853389435874923272007-07-25T15:26:00.000-04:002007-07-25T15:26:00.000-04:00Crows of crowds, or crowds of crows, or something,...Crows of crowds, or crowds of crows, or something, gather to watch <A HREF="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=470579&in_page_id=1770" REL="nofollow">Light Display</A> over Bill Shakespeares home digs.bobalharbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12002916750686257873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-18041334976665992642007-07-25T14:55:00.000-04:002007-07-25T14:55:00.000-04:00If you want to get guns out of the hands of "gang ...If you want to get guns out of the hands of "gang bangers" and other unsavory characters one will have to make it difficult for them to get (i.e. ban handguns or otherwise greatly restrict their availability) and two, bust them for possessing them (hopefully before they've had a chance to use them). The other option seems to be the status quo, which is easily obtainable hand guns for everyone and the carnage continues.Ashhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06232405130481114127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-60901089981038641562007-07-25T13:29:00.000-04:002007-07-25T13:29:00.000-04:00*From someone who both went to school with gangban...*From someone who both went to school with gangbangers, and had at least two former friends go to jail for armed robbery.*Jackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10089498195545182330noreply@blogger.com