dfariswheel
February 8, 2004, 10:44 PM
My local paper did a nice front page story on where and how local criminals and citizens in the "hood" get their guns.
A Missouri State study of people in State prison showed that they got their guns from the following sources:
Retail store.........13.9%
Pawnshop.............3.8%
Flea Market............1.0%
Gun show.................7%
Friends or family...39.6%
Street/illegal.........39.2%
A similar national Federal study showed that criminals got their guns from the following sources:
Family/illegal................80%
Flea market/gun show...2%
Gun shop/retail............12%
Locally, 90% of shootings involve BOTH parties, or ALL parties shooting at each other. In other words, general gun battles in the streets, alleys, and back yards of the South side of town.
The paper interviewed two local professional criminals who specialize in illegal gun sales.
Both said that sales are for straight cash or crack cocaine, and the reason for the high crime rate/gun violence among local blacks is....a justice system set up for failure, poverty, and racism.
Their solution for their illegal sales of guns they KNOW will be used to shoot other blacks....jobs, hope, and education.
Both said that neither they or their customers knew anything at all about guns, including how to load or unload them.
Neither have any problem with sales to children. If you're old enough to hand over the cash or drugs, they'll sell you the gun.
The fact that they KNOW you're going to use it to shoot someone is of no concern.
Both said that of the guns used locally, nine out of ten are being procured in.....Illinois.
That's right, good ol' gun controlling Illinois, where you have to have an ID card, and jump through hoops to buy a firearm....supposedely.
The article quoted a number of local sources that say that most firearms that are stolen locally were bought illegally, are never reported as stolen, and are quickly replaced by another illegal gun.
They say that guns are loaned and given quite freely, with no more concern that the loan of a cup of flour or a couple of dollars.
The fact that someone wants to borrow a gun to use in a dispute is seen by the 'hood as sound strategy.
Guns that are used in shootings are routinely passed around in families or neighborhoods.
The police say that nearly 100% of the local shootings are over verbal confrontations, and the police find out about it when somebody shows up at the hospital, or is dead in the street.
Few victims or witnesses talk to the police, because they view the police as intruders in "street justice". The parties involved figure to "settle up" on their own.
Apparently getting a permit to buy from the local Sheriff, a full Brady check, laws against felons possessing guns, laws against buying and selling guns across State lines, and laws against carrying concealed weapons just aren't doing the job.
Obviously, what we need is some "good, common sense gun control".
A Missouri State study of people in State prison showed that they got their guns from the following sources:
Retail store.........13.9%
Pawnshop.............3.8%
Flea Market............1.0%
Gun show.................7%
Friends or family...39.6%
Street/illegal.........39.2%
A similar national Federal study showed that criminals got their guns from the following sources:
Family/illegal................80%
Flea market/gun show...2%
Gun shop/retail............12%
Locally, 90% of shootings involve BOTH parties, or ALL parties shooting at each other. In other words, general gun battles in the streets, alleys, and back yards of the South side of town.
The paper interviewed two local professional criminals who specialize in illegal gun sales.
Both said that sales are for straight cash or crack cocaine, and the reason for the high crime rate/gun violence among local blacks is....a justice system set up for failure, poverty, and racism.
Their solution for their illegal sales of guns they KNOW will be used to shoot other blacks....jobs, hope, and education.
Both said that neither they or their customers knew anything at all about guns, including how to load or unload them.
Neither have any problem with sales to children. If you're old enough to hand over the cash or drugs, they'll sell you the gun.
The fact that they KNOW you're going to use it to shoot someone is of no concern.
Both said that of the guns used locally, nine out of ten are being procured in.....Illinois.
That's right, good ol' gun controlling Illinois, where you have to have an ID card, and jump through hoops to buy a firearm....supposedely.
The article quoted a number of local sources that say that most firearms that are stolen locally were bought illegally, are never reported as stolen, and are quickly replaced by another illegal gun.
They say that guns are loaned and given quite freely, with no more concern that the loan of a cup of flour or a couple of dollars.
The fact that someone wants to borrow a gun to use in a dispute is seen by the 'hood as sound strategy.
Guns that are used in shootings are routinely passed around in families or neighborhoods.
The police say that nearly 100% of the local shootings are over verbal confrontations, and the police find out about it when somebody shows up at the hospital, or is dead in the street.
Few victims or witnesses talk to the police, because they view the police as intruders in "street justice". The parties involved figure to "settle up" on their own.
Apparently getting a permit to buy from the local Sheriff, a full Brady check, laws against felons possessing guns, laws against buying and selling guns across State lines, and laws against carrying concealed weapons just aren't doing the job.
Obviously, what we need is some "good, common sense gun control".