Geez, the pathetic ass clowns in Washington have seen fit to shut down the government to make a point….so what shall we post about these days?
Remember Newtown? I ask because we Americans have a very short memory, especially if it does not involve us directly….we are very sympathetic in the moment and then we slip into apathy……
After Newtown there was a whole conversation about background checks, expanding them which everyone was in favor of several years ago and then the NRA decided that it was not a good idea and began buying votes in Congress…..and being the dutiful whores of special interests Congress went along willingly……
A recent survey by researchers at UC-Davis have found an astounding amount of people that favor background checks……
The survey found that most respondents (55.4 percent) supported a comprehensive background check requirement, with 37.5 percent strongly favoring it. Of those who favored comprehensive background checks, the strength of their support corresponded to the degree that respondents agreed it is too easy for criminals to get guns, recommended more severe sentences for illegal firearm purchasing and provided higher estimates on the prevalence of illegal gun sales by other retailers.
By wide margins, respondents endorsed three existing policies that deny handgun purchases to individuals convicted of aggravated assault involving a lethal weapon or causing serious injury, armed robbery, or domestic violence. They also strongly supported six of nine potential denial criteria proposed in the survey. The percentage of support for existing (*) or proposed criterion for denial of handgun purchases are detailed below:
- *Aggravated assault, involving a lethal weapon or serious injury, 99.1 percent
- *Armed robbery, 99.3 percent
- *Assault and battery on an intimate partner:/ domestic violence, 79.6 percent
- Publicly displaying a firearm in a threatening manner, 84.8 percent
- Possession of equipment for illegal drug use, 80.7 percent
- Assault and battery, not involving a lethal weapon or serious injury, 67.4 percent
- Resisting arrest, 53.1 percent
- Alcohol abuse, with repeated cases of alcohol-related violence, 90.1 percent
- Alcohol abuse, with repeated cases driving under the influence (DUI) or similar offenses, 70.7 percent
- Serious mental illness, with a history of violence, 98.9 percent
- Serious mental illness, with a history of alcohol or drug abuse, 97.4 percent
- Serious mental illness, but no violence and no alcohol or drug abuse, 91.2 percent
“Respondents very strongly supported an array of criteria for denial of handgun purchase by wide margins and in some cases nearly unanimously,” Wintemute said. “Support fell below a two-thirds margin in a single case: resisting arrest.”
And now I am going to do something that I have NEVER seen a right wing blogger or news person do before……I will give you the other side of this debate……….
This is taken from a statement made by the National Shooting Sports Foundation………
Anti-gun researcher and activist Garen Wintemute and his colleagues at the University of California at Davis have begun sending out surveys to firearms retailers across the country. A letter accompanying the survey, signed by Dr. Wintemute, claims the aim of their research is to better understand “the unique perspective of firearms licensees on important social issues and the firearms business itself.”
Dr. Wintemute, who serves as the director of the Violence Prevention Research Program
at UC Davis, is perhaps best known for authoring the anti-gun report “Ring of Fire: The Handgun Makers of Southern California.” More recently, Dr. Wintemute and his team conducted “undercover operations” of gunshows for their report, “Inside Gun Shows: What Goes on When Everyone Thinks Nobody is Watching.”Given Dr. Wintemute’s history, it is clear that this firearms retailer survey will be used as a tool to justify and support legislation to curb the lawful commerce of firearms and the individual rights of law-abiding Americans.
The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) — the trade association for America’s firearms industry — is urging extreme caution should retailers decide to participate in this survey. NSSF is encouraging all sportsmen, gun owners and firearms enthusiasts to contact Dr. Wintemute and his research team to politely express their objections to this agenda-driven, anti-gun research.
Come on…you have to admit that a statement from a group that makes its cash from the firearm industry would have anything good to say? We would have better conversation if everyone was willing to state both sides of the issue even if you do not agree with what is said……..
