From the Harrisonburg, VA newspaper:
Guns And Crime
This is in response to Ben Fordney’s letter.
First, "Americans for Gun Safety," an assault weapon is correctly defined as one which is capable of select-fire, meaning it can be fired in both semi-automatic and fully-automatic "machine gun" mode. It was coined as a military designation for a military weapon. Civilian versions of these guns are correctly termed "assault-style" weapons. They look like true assault weapons, but they fire only in semi-automatic mode. One pull of the trigger fires one projectile, just like all semi-automatic rifles and pistols made for the last century or so. Cosmetics, design features, and menacing looks notwithstanding, these controversial weapons are no more dangerous or efficient at killing than their more innocuous looking conventionally styled, but functionally identical, hunting and target shooting counterparts.
Furthermore, the misnamed "assault weapons ban" Mr. Fordney advocates renewing has been in force now for nearly a decade with absolutely zero documented effect on crime. It has proven to be a useless law and is rightly scheduled to die this year. In contrast, violent crime has declined significantly in every state that has passed a "shall issue" concealed carry law. The few states which have chosen to deny their citizens the means to defend themselves are coincidentally the seven states which Mr. Fordney brags "ban assault weapons altogether." Not coincidentally, but as a direct result of these misguided gun control laws, these states have the highest violent crime rates in the nation. Those states, for anyone who cares to check the veracity of that assertion, are Calif., Conn., Hawaii, Ill., Mass., N. J., and N. Y. Washington, D.C., also shares these dubious distinctions.
What correlation, then, can be made between gun control laws and crime? Only this: gun control is inversely proportionate to crime control. The more guns and gun owners are controlled, the less violent crime and criminals are controlled.
Finally, let’s debunk the intimation that the group Mr. Fordney alludes to, "Americans for Gun Safety," has anything whatsoever to do with "safety" as it applies to the handling of firearms. "Americans for Gun Safety" does not spend one penny to promote gun safety. This crowd believes "gun safety" is synonymous with "gun restriction" and, ultimately, "gun elimination."
Let’s expose the gun control laws of this nation for the farce that they truly are, and admit that law-abiding citizens are not the problem, regardless of how many, or what style of, guns they choose to own.
Allen G. Lough
Penn Laird
Guns And Crime
This is in response to Ben Fordney’s letter.
First, "Americans for Gun Safety," an assault weapon is correctly defined as one which is capable of select-fire, meaning it can be fired in both semi-automatic and fully-automatic "machine gun" mode. It was coined as a military designation for a military weapon. Civilian versions of these guns are correctly termed "assault-style" weapons. They look like true assault weapons, but they fire only in semi-automatic mode. One pull of the trigger fires one projectile, just like all semi-automatic rifles and pistols made for the last century or so. Cosmetics, design features, and menacing looks notwithstanding, these controversial weapons are no more dangerous or efficient at killing than their more innocuous looking conventionally styled, but functionally identical, hunting and target shooting counterparts.
Furthermore, the misnamed "assault weapons ban" Mr. Fordney advocates renewing has been in force now for nearly a decade with absolutely zero documented effect on crime. It has proven to be a useless law and is rightly scheduled to die this year. In contrast, violent crime has declined significantly in every state that has passed a "shall issue" concealed carry law. The few states which have chosen to deny their citizens the means to defend themselves are coincidentally the seven states which Mr. Fordney brags "ban assault weapons altogether." Not coincidentally, but as a direct result of these misguided gun control laws, these states have the highest violent crime rates in the nation. Those states, for anyone who cares to check the veracity of that assertion, are Calif., Conn., Hawaii, Ill., Mass., N. J., and N. Y. Washington, D.C., also shares these dubious distinctions.
What correlation, then, can be made between gun control laws and crime? Only this: gun control is inversely proportionate to crime control. The more guns and gun owners are controlled, the less violent crime and criminals are controlled.
Finally, let’s debunk the intimation that the group Mr. Fordney alludes to, "Americans for Gun Safety," has anything whatsoever to do with "safety" as it applies to the handling of firearms. "Americans for Gun Safety" does not spend one penny to promote gun safety. This crowd believes "gun safety" is synonymous with "gun restriction" and, ultimately, "gun elimination."
Let’s expose the gun control laws of this nation for the farce that they truly are, and admit that law-abiding citizens are not the problem, regardless of how many, or what style of, guns they choose to own.
Allen G. Lough
Penn Laird
