[LiquidTension]

I'm the "guest speaker" in my Judicial Process class tomorrow (well, I guess it's today now) and I'm going to be talking about - you guessed it - gun rights. There are a few specific things that I need that I don't seem to have bookmarks for:

1 - one of those lists of the top ten causes of death in the US (CDC? Census?)
2 - Good, factual, accurate information about Waco and Ruby Ridge, especially the events leading up to these fiascos (like government screwups and lies that are documented)

I didn't find out about this until the last minute or I would have done some research before now. I've got a tough test in my criminal law class tomorrow as well, so that's taking up all of my evening. I've got most of the stuff that I need, but any info or suggestions are welcome. The teacher told the class to come in "knowledgeable" about this issue, so hopefully there will be some lively discussion. I have no fear that any antis will be able to stump me or refute my arguments, but I want hard facts that I can hold up a piece of paper and show where they came from - they won't be able to do that because they have no facts supporting their position. I know there have been several posts like this before, but I'm really pressed for time here and I can't scour through them all before my deadline. I'd really appreciate any assistance you guys could lend in helping me to further the cause :)

[MuzzleBlast]

Here's a good place for cause of death stats:
http://webapp.cdc.gov/sasweb/ncipc/mortrate10.html

[geekWithA.45]

http://www.gunfacts.info/

IMO, you might want to stay away from the ATF travesties in a judicial process class, I suspect they'd lead you further afield than the scope of the class really calls for. There was very little going on there that was either judicial or process.

[Elmer Snerd]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?threadid=39604

[LiquidTension]

geek - you'd think so, but this teacher is very slack. We often get off topic and talk about things that have nothing whatsoever to do with judicial process. This is basically a chance for the class to try and embarass me because earlier in the semester I questioned the teacher's word on the 2nd Amendment and corrected her in front of the class. She didn't really care, but I kinda volunteered to have a debate with everyone. What it has to do with judicial process is beyond me (except NFA and US v Miller of course) but she doesn't seem to mind and it's a chance for me to put my knowledge to use and maybe convert some people.

[ARperson]

http://www.guntruths.com

Try this one as well. Full of usefull facts and figures.

[Keith]

You can make an excellent point with those CDC stats by pointing out how ant-gun groups lump ages up to 24 as "children". Pull up the Brady Bunch data and compare them to the actual mortality numbers from CDC.

Keith

[spacemanspiff]

i dont have the data in front of me, but i can tell you that firearm-related deaths made up 1.2% of all deaths in 2001 (2,416,425 / 29,573).
approximately 75% of all deaths annually in this country are from sickness and diseases.
one extra tidbit: gun deaths in 2001 were 25% lower than in 1993, the year with the highest number of gun-related deaths.

[LiquidTension]

Is there an online source for the Nazi gun control laws from the 20s and 30s? I'd like to juxtapose them with GCA 1968.

[Billll]

jpfo.org has that.

[another okie]

Avoid discussing Ruby Ridge and Waco. Anything you say will just mark you as a right wing militia survivalist nut.

Stick to the original intent and text of the Second Amendment, and the many legal commentaries on it that make it plain it is an individual right.

[Jeff OTMG]

Here is a neat little search engine provided by our friends at the CDC.

http://webapp.cdc.gov/sasweb/ncipc/leadcaus10.html

[Art Eatman]

Note that where guns are involved in deaths, about half are suicides. According to various psych studies, someone bent on suicide will find a way if one particular method is precluded.

"Assault weapon" trivia: In 1993 in New York state, there were some 2,400 non-handgun homicides. Three assault weapons were involved; the majority of the rest were fists, feet and clubs. (I forget where I read this.)

If the purpose of the Bill of Rights--as stated in the introductory statement--is to serve as a restraint on the State, how can any of them be seen as a restraint on the people? And, why would "the people" be individual in one Amendment, but not in all? Why would the writers have been so inconsistent in their use of words?

Art