Clear thinking on mass killings and gun control is slowly emerging

Efforts to prevent future mass killings, like the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting where 20 children and six adults died last year, continue on Capitol Hill. These efforts, however, are symbolic, not substantive, and focus too much on guns, magazines and related firearms issues, instead of on what causes people to commit these horrible crimes. The key element in these shootings is the mental condition of the killers and what things fostered their desire to kill people, and that must be addressed.

Whatever Congress comes up with will certainly put the liberties and privacy rights of Americans at risk, as limits on 2nd Amendment rights and invasions of private medical information will necessarily be under consideration.

We will not reduce mass shootings by limiting what law abiding gun owners can purchase, since they won't use them to hurt other people. Vice President Joe Biden's insulting implication that people don't really "need" an AR-15, and just want one because of how it feels ignores a basic tenet of the nation that elected him: we have personal liberties here, and that's all the reason we need to buy any gun.

Similarly, a blanket denial of 2nd Amendment rights to those with any record of treatment by or consultation with mental health professionals is excessive.

There has been strong support for the idea that guns, high-capacity magazines, etc. are responsible for mass shootings and should be restricted or banned, but that support is waning. More important is that this truly misses the point, and basing policies on missed points is a prescription for failure.

And now there is more compelling evidence that banning or restricting guns or magazines won't work, and even will make things worse, and it comes from a group that has instant credibility on this issue: police officers.

In March, PoliceOne, which serves police officers across the nation and has more than 450,000 registered members, "conducted the most comprehensive survey ever of American law enforcement officers’ opinions on the topic gripping the nation's attention in recent weeks: gun control," so states the introduction to PoliceOne's report.

"More than 15,000 verified law enforcement professionals [70 percent of whom are field-level law enforcers who are face-to-face in the fight against violent crime on a daily basis] took part in the survey, which aimed to bring together the thoughts and opinions of the only professional group devoted to limiting and defeating gun violence as part of their sworn responsibility," the introduction noted, in discussing the nearly-thirty question survey.

Here are some of the takeaway points from that survey:

** Ninety-five percent said that a federal ban on manufacture and sale of ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 rounds would not reduce violent crime.

** Seventy-one percent said that a federal ban on the manufacture and sale of some semi-automatics would have no effect on reducing violent crime. And, more than 20 percent say any ban would actually have a negative effect on reducing violent crime.

** Roughly 85 percent said passing the White House’s currently proposed legislation would have zero or a negative effect on their safety.

** They cited things they felt would help prevent mass shootings: more permissive concealed carry policies for civilians, 28 percent; more aggressive institutionalization for mentally ill persons, 19 percent;

more armed guards/paid security personnel, 15 percent.

** Nearly 90 percent believe casualties would be decreased if armed citizens were present at the onset of an active-shooter incident.

** More than 80 percent support arming school teachers and administrators who willingly volunteer to train with firearms and carry one on the job.

** More than half of respondents feel increased punishment for obviously illegal gun sales could reduce gun violence.

** The officers were about evenly split on whether citizens should be required to complete a safety training class before being allowed to buy a gun.

** They believe that cultural/societal influences promote gun violence: violent movies and video games, 14 percent; early release and short sentencing for violent offenders, 14 percent; poor identification/treatment of mentally-ill individuals, 10 percent. However, 38 percent cited a decline in parenting and family values.

The majority plainly does not support the ideas being pushed by gun-control advocates favoring restrictions on weapons and magazines, and many feel those controls will negatively affect their ability to fight violent crime. They also support enforcing existing laws before passing new ones.

The mainstream media openly supports restrictions on personal liberty, at least where guns are concerned, and suppresses news of gun owners stopping crimes. Many of our elected public servants, who prefer an unarmed and therefore compliant populace, also support gun control.

But the majority of police surveyed overwhelmingly favor an armed citizenry, would like to see more guns in the hands of responsible people, and are skeptical of any greater restrictions placed on gun purchase, ownership, or accessibility.

Police officers patrolling America’s streets have a legitimate interest in making sure that we make decisions about guns that support their work and do not make things worse. With this survey, their voice has been heard, and they disagree with the current mania.

Perhaps it would be smart to listen to them.

It's Not The Guns, It's The Madman Doing The Killing!

By Findalis
Monkey in the Middle

After the tragedy of last Friday, the leftist of the nation, headed by President Barack Hussein Obama, are demanding that the nation dismantle the 2nd Amendment and take guns away from the citizens of the land.  It seems that every time a tragedy happens, the left want to remove the guns as if it was the panacea that will cure all the ills of the land.

This panacea has been tried through out Europe and other places.  In Great Britain they removed guns from the hands of the people and violent crime has risen by 25%.  The problem in some areas is so great that the average Brit is afraid to leave his or her home at night.  In fact home invasion robberies are on the rise and the new self-defense weapons (knives, baseball and cricket bats) are now being outlawed.  They are destroying their nation in order to achieve a Utopia.

In Australia guns were removed from the people 5 years ago.  Violent crime has risen 6000%.  The people are demanding their guns to be returned.  They are not safe, the police are not helping and they have no way to defend themselves.

In the City of Chicago there have been 436 murders so far this year.  That is up from 435 for the total of last year.  Chicago has some of the strictest gun laws in the nation.  Yet the murder rate is climbing to be almost 2 murders a day.  That is about 60 deaths a month.  Way more than the 26 at Newtown, CT.  Yet the leftists in the city call for more gun control.  It doesn't work.

Now we are hearing the same cries.  Get rid of the guns.  Get rid of the assault weapons.  Get rid of the large magazines.  Get rid of the bullets.  But not the true reason for the massacres.

BLAME THE MURDERER!  GET THE MENTALLY ILL VIOLENT MURDERERS OUT OF OUR MIDST!!!

Now I've just said a horribly bigoted thing.  After all, these people have an illness.  They cannot be just thrown into a hospital.  The old State Mental Hospitals were eliminated because they were cruel placed.  The mentally ill have rights!   They need to be allowed out amongst us.  They have the right to a life.

What the bleeding heart liberals refuse to recognize is that not all the mentally ill are able to be amongst us.  In fact, it is for our safety that they need to be locked away.

The great number of the mentally ill (90%) take their medicine, see their doctor, live quite normal lives.  They are not violent.  They are our neighbors and friends.  They are no harm to themselves and others.

A smaller amount need a more structured environment.  A group home or the like will be fine for these people.  They need a person telling them how to live each day or even each hour at time.  They might become violent or self-destructive, but can be controlled better.

The last group, a very small minority, are extremely violent.  They WILL hurt themselves or others.  They WILL find a way to acquire guns, explosives or even knives.  These are the madmen who WILL commit a murder, murder/suicide, or even a mass murder.  They have no feelings for others, no consciences.  Killing is just another high for them.  These are the mentally ill that MUST be hospitalized before they kill.

Unfortunately there is no way to commit a young person to a State Hospital to protect society.  Until a person commits a crime, and is "in the system", one cannot commit a dangerous individual.  In fact it is only until a mentally ill commits the crime, he or she will not even get any help.  Over 50% of prisoners in US prisons are mentally ill.  In fact our prison system has become our State Mental Hospitals.  Prison budgets are being bloated by the care of the mentally ill.  By the drugs and therapy these people need every day.  And true criminals, many who will repeat their crimes over and over without any mental illness, are put upon the streets of our cities in order to care for the mentally ill.

This should not be.  In fact the tragedy in Newtown, CT could have been prevented if Nancy Lanza had been able to call a state run hotline, explained her fears, and gotten Adam into a state facility for evaluation.  If that had been an option for her, she would be alive and 26 innocent victims would be celebrating the season.

Should we not address the guns which did not kill anyone, but the mentally ill man who commits this crime.