Brady Campaign Releases State Gun Control Grades

[ca4106]

The Brady Campaign To Prevent Gun Violence recently released the results of a survey where they gave various states school-grade values based upon the severity of that particular states gun control laws.

California got the highest marks from the Brady Campaign, followed by New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, and New York.

The state receiving the lowest grade in the survey was Utah.

This entire exercise is a farce, as going by the criteria of the Brady Bunch, only California and New Jersey received what they consider passing grades.

Try telling a gun owner in New York that the state doesn’t have tough enough laws restricting firearms ownership.

The report also makes no mention of the fact that the murder rate has been dropping in the U.S. since 1991, nor does it make a comparison of violent crime rates in the cities of the states it views favorably.

Many consider Utah to be a more “rural” state, but an examination of violent crime rates in some major cities reveals some facts that the Brady Bunch gun-grabbers would prefer you didn’t know.

Reports of violent crimes submitted to law enforcement for the first six months of 2009 (Latest available):

Berkeley, California (pop. 101,170): 310
West Jordan, Utah (pop. 105,772): 72

Elizabeth, New Jersey (pop. 124,823): 599
West Valley, Utah (pop. 124,128): 256

Lowell, Massachusetts (pop. 110,136): 553
Provo, Utah (pop 119,189): 76

I could keep going with this, however, I think you get the idea.


If you dig deep enough into the Uniform Crime Report and do an analysis of the data, you will find that the state at the top of the Brady Campaign’s “good” list, California, has a violent crime rate that averages 13% higher than the rest of America.

While the state at the bottom of their list, the one that they claim has the least restricive gun control laws, Utah, has a violent crime rate that is 56% lower than Utah’s.

The Brady Campaign To Prevent Gun Violence puts California at the top of their list.

Call me crazy, but I’d feel much safer living in Utah.

 

[jsg]

Oh no, Utah bumped us (KY) out of last place. I know KY is last place on a number of lists but I was actually pround of our last place finish on this list.

 

[CoRoMo]

The scorecard.
http://www.bradycampaign.org/xshare/bcam/stategunlaws/scorecard/StateRatings.pdf

★★★★ CALIFORNIA 79
★★★ NEW JERSEY 73
★★★ MASSACHUSETTS 54
★★★ CONNECTICUT 53
★★★ MARYLAND 52
★★★ NEW YORK 50
★★ RHODE ISLAND 45
★★ HAWAII 42
★★ ILLINOIS 28
★★ PENNSYLVANIA 25
★ MICHIGAN 23
★ DELAWARE 21
★ NORTH CAROLINA 19
★ OREGON 17
★ VIRGINIA 17
★ WASHINGTON 17
★ ALABAMA 16
★ COLORADO 15
★ MINNESOTA 15
★ IOWA 14
★ MAINE 11
★ OHIO 11
0 SOUTH CAROLINA 10
0 WISCONSIN 10
0 WYOMING 10
0 NEVADA 9
0 NEW HAMPSHIRE 9
0 TEXAS 9
0 GEORGIA 8
0 NEBRASKA 8
0 TENNESSEE 8
0 VERMONT 8
0 KANSAS 7
0 FLORIDA 6
0 INDIANA 6
0 MISSISSIPPI 6
0 ARKANSAS 4
0 MISSOURI 4
0 MONTANA 4
0 NEW MEXICO 4
0 NORTH DAKOTA 4
0 SOUTH DAKOTA 4
0 WEST VIRGINIA 4
0 ALASKA 2
0 ARIZONA 2
0 IDAHO 2
0 KENTUCKY 2
0 LOUISIANA 2
0 OKLAHOMA 2
0 UTAH 0

★★★★ 75-100 points
★★★ 50-74 points
★★ 25-49 points
★ 11-24 points
0 stars 10 points and under

 

[mljdeckard]

We knew this. We passed car carry, parking lot carry, and we are no longer duty to inform. We were pleased to make the grade.

Most of the crime in Utah is concentrated to the suburbs of west Salt Lake (Rose Park, West Valley, Magna, etc.) committed by illegal and transplant (from CALIFORNIA) gang members and drug traders.

 

[MikePGS]

Yeah those Utah guys were bragging about this a week or so ago and rightfully so. Michigan has a long way to go. Apparently we have at least 23 points worth of laws we need to get rid of.

 

[danprkr]

Darn, TX is got a 9. We'll have to study harder.

 

[HGUNHNTR]

Is it me, or do we seem to making progress. Every couple years my state goes "down" a few notches on this list.

 

[CoRoMo]

Colorado will never get below 7 points. The Columbine shooting brought on mandated NICS checks at gunshows, and that alone gives my state 7 points. We were at 16 in 2008, but gained a point on gun dealer inspections by local police being mandated. The Brady loons then dropped one category from their ratings; Deadly force not allowed to be a first resort in public, which took 2 points back off of our score.

So we sit at 15 with no change in sight.:banghead: Makes me want to move to Wyoming.

 

[mordechaianiliewicz]

I'm happy MO is down to 4. That puts us on the same level as Montana. Oh happy day!

Things have gotten continously better and better since we got rid of the handgun permit. We have castle doctrine, and no permit required car carry. Only 4 points to go.

 

[Kingofthehill]

Darn, TX is got a 9. We'll have to study harder.

Serious!.. we need Open Carry laws here in TX to get that grade a little better.

to any that say OC is stupid, How nice would be be to not have to worry about reaching for something or picking something up not being in fear of printing or showing. Would be nice

Lucky Utah!!!!!!!!

 

[jakemccoy]

The Brady Campaign is avoiding the violent crime issue altogether. Here's what Brady says about our winner Utah:

http://www.bradycampaign.org/stategunlaws/scorecard/UT

Utah has the nation’s weakest gun laws that help feed the illegal gun market and allow the sale of guns without background checks, according to the Brady Campaign. In the organization’s 2009 state scorecards released for all 50 states, Utah has the weakest gun laws in the U.S.

Individual state scores range from 0 to 79. Utah is the only state that scored zero out of 100 possible points. “Because Utah does not require Brady criminal background checks on all firearm sales, including those at gun shows, gun traffickers can easily funnel illegal guns to felons and gang members,” said Gary Sackett, spokesman for the Gun Violence Prevention Center of Utah.

Brady's angle is illegal gun trafficking. So, according to Brady logic, Utah is highly responsible for illegal gun trafficking in America. That would make California (Brady's winner) barely responsible for illegal gun trafficking in America. As a California resident, I am pretty darn sure there are quite a number of illegal guns being trafficked in California, especially Los Angeles County where getting a CCW permit is basically not possible for regular people.

Wow, these guys don't even care how much the crap smells coming out of their mouths.

 

[TexasBill]

Looks to me like 28 of 50 states flunked. Another 12 have one star, so there's hope for them, too. That leaves just 10 states in the union with 2 or more stars. I believe the majority has spoken and the news ain't good for the Brady Bunch.

 

[Webbj0219]

Utah beats out Alaska, didnt know that. NH is a 9. Lets see if we can lower these scores guys. But good work so far. I wonder about all this stuff going on in California, it would be great to see that state drop down a few notchs.

Also very proud of the fact that more than half the states didnt even get a star. Great Great job out there guys.

Also we can make a difference. We cant forget about the first ammendment, we need to petition our government. this score card is actually encouraging me in making change.

 

[Ronsch]

WooHoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Alaska has zero stars...We rock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Mr.Davis]

I'm wondering how we in KY earned our two points.

...I mean, we allow open carry in Starbucks and everything

 

[LemmyCaution]

I just don't understand how Alaska and Vermont can rate above zero.

I want my ZERO!!!!!!

 

[TexasRifleman]

Brady's angle is illegal gun trafficking. So, according to Brady logic, Utah is highly responsible for illegal gun trafficking in America. That would make California (Brady's winner) barely responsible for illegal gun trafficking in America. As a California resident, I am pretty darn sure there are quite a number of illegal guns being trafficked in California, especially Los Angeles County where getting a CCW permit is basically not possible for regular people

That's the same story Bloomberg is telling, that it's all those guns sold in other states that's causing the crime problem in NY.

Interesting that the FBI reports show less than 2% of guns used in crime were bought at a gun show, and that 80% of them came through "illegal sources" (straw purchases, theft, etc).

But as usual, facts can't get in the way of a nice press release ......

 

[HK G3]

I really wish AZ would pass University CCW so we could earn our Zero

 

[FROGO207]

Ya know up here in Maine they say "the way life should be". Looks like we have some serious work ahead of us to get that zero.:banghead: I think that all the Brady's gang should move to Cali and erect a fence at the border to keep themselves safe. After it is finished we need to add a moat, manned machine gun towers, and razor wire to keep them from getting back out again!!!

 

[jakemccoy]

Louisiana has only 2 of 100 points. However, during Katrina, the authorities of New Orleans tried to make the place a gun free zone. Exactly when the folks of Louisiana needed their guns the most, the government tried to take the guns away.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-taU9d26wT4

Here's my point: Don't be lulled into a false sense of comfort just because your state scored low on the Brady scorecard. I think I'll always have a healthy distrust of any state government. I'm a bit jaded, but it's not my fault.

 

[Webbj0219]

Ive heard that most of these polititians read something like the New York Times or the Washington Post to get their finger on the pulse of the people. I know this isnt the activism forum, just thinking that maybe some of this gun control is our own fault by us not getting involved. We need to make our voice heard. These major news papers dont always accurately represent the ppl of this country. But if we keep quite thats probable where our representatives are getting their information. Some big shot newspaper says this and that is what americans want, so the representatives think this and that is what americans want. Usually not the case though. Ive never done a petition before, so Im no expert on this. But masybe this is the way that texas will eventually allow open carry. Just as an example. Or Maybe NH will reconsider carry in a courthouse? my .02 cents.

 

[Action_Can_Do]

I'm surprised that Pennsylvannia did so poorly. I always thought we were one of the better states.
Especially compared to the other northeastern states.

 

[bdgackle]

Whenever the Brady bunch releases a rating list like this, I'm tempted to donate a dollar to the campaign, along with a thank you note for a very useful source of information in pro RKBA activism.

 

[IdahoLT1]

Louisiana has only 2 of 100 points. However, during Katrina, the authorities of New Orleans tried to make the place a gun free zone. Exactly when the folks of Louisiana needed their guns the most, the government tried to take the guns away.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-taU9d26wT4

Here's my point: Don't be lulled into a false sense of comfort just because your state scored low on the Brady scorecard. I think I'll always have a healthy distrust of any state government. I'm a bit jaded, but it's not my fault.

Depends on the State. Idahos constitution/laws state: " No city or county may in any manner regulate the lawful ownership, possession, or transportation of firearms when carried or transported for purposes not prohibited by state law.

During a declared disaster emergency, neither the Governor nor any agency of any governmental entity or political subdivision shall impose restrictions on the lawful possession, transfer, sale, transport, storage display or use of firearms and ammunition."

If they try to take firearms during a disaster, the citizens would be justified by the letter of law for self defense.

Im not sure how the Brady bunch made this scorecard, but some of the States arent where they should be. Obviously Vermont and Alask should be higher because they dont require a license to conceal carry. Idaho only requires it inside city limits. Maybe, like another poster suggested, its based on obtaining firearms.

 

[yakkingallover]

Very proud to be a Florida Failure. Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition.....