Quilbilly
Member
This whole Mayor Nickels gun ban thing here in Seattle has really been ticking me off. I have started to put together a page which will hopefully have TONS of stats and legal info about gun control. I am doing this to have something to show to the all the anti firearms people and people who have no idea what the actual firearm laws are (and for my own education). I just started it so it has no color and is mostly just a bunch of bits from different web sites that I have found. I am going to copy and paste it under this. There are a lot of you out there who know MUCH more about this than I do so I was looking for a little help. If you have any input, please voice it! Thanks!
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Statistics on Gun Ownership:
40% of all US homes have guns
81% of Americans say that gun control will be an important issue in determining which Congressional candidate to vote for.
91% of Americans say that there should be at least minor restrictions on gun ownership;
57% of Americans say that there should be major restrictions or a ban.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Right to Bear Arms:
The Supreme Court ruled in 1939, in a case called "US v. Miller," that the 2nd amendment only protects guns suitable for a well-regulated militia -- for example, sawed-off shotguns can be
banned because they're not "ordinary military equipment". Since 1939, the Supreme Court has not heard any further 2nd amendment cases; the most recent ruling, in 1997, overturned part of the 1993
Brady Bill, but did not address 2nd amendment rights. Hence, gun control issues are primarily the subject of Congressional legislation.
Amendment II to the US Constitution:
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. (1791)
Washington laws:
1.) Washington is an "open carry" state for firearms. This means a person may carry a firearm in an exposed holster without any kind of permit unless there is something that makes it specifically
illegal (For example, carrying a weapon onto primary or secondary school grounds or other prohibited places, or carrying a weapon by most felons or anyone convicted of a domestic violence crime.)
2.) Unlawful carrying (RCW 9.41.270 ) occurs when the person carries or displays a weapon “in a manner, under circumstances, and at a time and place that either manifests an intent to intimidate
another or that warrants alarm for the safety of other persons” This is something more than just walking around with an exposed firearm. If there is a dispute, for example, and one person, while angry,
displays the weapon to scare the other person.
3.) Unlawful carrying without a Concealed Pistol License (CPL) occurs when a person carries a concealed pistol on his person and does not have a CPL. A person may carry a loaded firearm in a
vehicle only if they have a valid CPL. Those without a valid CPL may carry a firearm in a vehicle only if the firearm is unloaded and in a secure wrapper or opaque case. (RCW 9.41.050)
4.) Due to state preemption, no city, town, county, or other municipality can restrict your right to keep and bear arms
more than the state (RCW 9.41.290)
5.) Carrying concealed (with a CPL) or openly in establishments that serve alcohol is allowed in Washington, so long as it is not carried into an area designated as “no minors allowed” by the
Washington Liquor Control Board (RCW 9.41.300)
6.) There is no stipulation that a Washington CPL holder MUST carry concealed. Furthermore, lawful open carry of a firearm is NOT grounds for revocation of a Washington CPL.
7.) IF IT IS NOT PROHIBITED BY STATUTE, IT IS LEGAL
Washington State Constitution Section 24 RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS.
"The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired, but nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to
organize, maintain or employ an armed body of men."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Florida
* Florida adopted a right-to-carry law in 1987. At the time the law was passed, critics predicted increases in violence. The founder of the National Organization of Women, Betty Friedan stated:
"lethal violence, even in self defense, only engenders more violence."
* When the law went into effect, the Dade County Police began a program to record all arrest and non arrest incidents involving concealed carry licensees. Between September of 1987 and August of
1992, Dade County recorded 4 crimes committed by licensees with firearms. None of these crimes resulted in an injury. The record keeping program was abandoned in 1992 because there were not
enough incidents to justify tracking them. (13)(15)
* Florida adopted a right-to-carry law in 1987. Between 1987 and 1996, these changes occurred:
Homicide rate Firearm Homicide rate Handgun Homicide rate
Florida -36% -37% -41%
United States -0.4% +15% +24%
* 221,443 concealed carry licenses were issued in Florida between October of 1987 and April of 1994. During that time, Florida recorded 18 crimes committed by licensees with firearms. (15)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accidents
* 1995 Fatal Accident Totals
Motor Vehicles-43,900
Falls-12,600
Poisonings-10,600
Drownings-4,500
Fires-4,100
Choking-2,800
Firearm-1,400 (1.5% of fatal accidents)
* For Children 14 and Under
Motor Vehicles-3,059
Drownings-1,024
Fires-883
Choking-213
Firearm-181 (2.7% of fatal accidents)
Falls--127
Poisonings-80
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
The specter of the private ownership of guns and their relationship to domestic violence casualties is a very significant variable used for political leverage in the policy debate. While many
shootings occurring in the course of a heated mutual argument of passion, others occur where a partner or family member of a "romantic" or familial relationship, who is an ongoing victim of domestic
physical abuse or sexual abuse uses the force of a firearm in self-defense action against the perpetrator who also happens to be known to or related to the victim. As a corollary, in such policy
advertising campaigns, the comparison of "domestic" gun casualties is usually not accompanied by murder and assault prosecution numbers stemming from the shootings occurring in that context. In
many of the latter cases, the victim firing in self-defense is frequently a woman or youth victim of a more physically powerful abuser. In those situations gun rights advocates argue that the firearm
arguably becomes an equalizer against the lethal and disabling force frequently exercised by the abusers.[92]
In a similar fashion, many gun control advocates point to statistics in advertising campaigns purporting that "approximately 9 or so children are killed by people discharging firearms every day
across the US,"[95] and argue that this statistic is seldom accompanied by a differentiation of those children killed by individuals from unintentional discharges and stray bullets, and of those "children,"
under the age of majority—which is 18-21 in the U.S.—who are killed while acting as aggressors in street gang related mutual combat or while committing crimes,[96][97] many of which are seen as
arising from the War on Drugs. There is further controversy regarding courts, trials, and the resulting sentences of these mostly "young men" as adults despite them not having reached the age of
consent. A significant number of gun related deaths occur through suicide.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the early/mid 1990's, criminals on parole or early release from prison committed about 5,000 murders, 17,000 rapes, and 200,000 robberies a year. (3)
As of 1998, nationwide, there has been 1 recorded incident in which a permit holder shot someone following a traffic accident. The permit holder was not charged, as the grand jury ruled the shooting
was in self defense. (7)
As of 1998, no permit holder has ever shot a police officer. There have been several cases in which a permit holder has protected an officer's life. (7)
Americans use firearms to defend themselves from criminals at least 764,000 times a year. This figure is the lowest among a group of 9 nationwide surveys done by organizations including Gallup and
the Los Angeles Times. (16b)
In 1982, a survey of imprisoned criminals found that 34% of them had been "scared off, shot at, wounded or captured by an armed victim." (16c)
Washington D.C. enacted a virtual ban on handguns in 1976. Between 1976 and 1991, Washington D.C.'s homicide rate rose 200%, while the U.S. rate rose 12%. (1)
New Jersey adopted what sponsors described as "the most stringent gun law" in the nation in 1966; two years later, the murder rate was up 46% and the reported robbery rate had nearly doubled.
In 1968, Hawaii imposed a series of increasingly harsh measures, and its murder rate tripled from a low of 2.4 per 100,000 in 1968 to 7.2 by 1977.
In 1976, Washington, D.C., enacted one of the most restrictive gun control laws in the nation. Since then, the city's murder rate has risen 134% while the national murder rate has dropped 2%
Evanston, Illinois, a Chicago suburb of 75,000 residents, became the largest town to ban handgun ownership in September 1982 but experienced no decline in violent crime.
Among the 15 states with the highest homicide rates, 10 have restrictive or very restrictive gun laws.[100]
Twenty percent of U.S. homicides occur in four cities with just 6% of the population—New York, Chicago, Detroit and Washington, D.C.—and each has (or, in the case of Detroit, had until 2001) a
virtual prohibition on private handguns.
UK banned private ownership of most handguns in 1997, previously held by an estimated 57,000 people—0.1% of the population.[101] Since 1998, the number of people injured by firearms in England
and Wales has more than doubled.[102] In 2005-06, of 5,001 such injuries, 3,474 (69%) were defined as "slight," and a further 965 (19%) involved the "firearm" being used as a blunt instrument.
Twenty-four percent of injuries were caused with air weapons, and 32% with "imitation firearms" (including BB guns and soft air weapons).[103] Since 1998, the number of fatal shootings has varied
between 49 and 97, and was 50 in 2005.
Australia forced the surrender of nearly 650,000 personal firearms in 1997. A study published in 2001[104] shows a 47% decrease of firearms related deaths, but also reveals an overall rise in non-
firearm related violent crime[not in citation given].
Violent crime accelerated in Jamaica after handguns were banned.[105]
In 1929, the Soviet Union established gun control. From 1929 to 1953, about 20 million dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
In 1911, Turkey established gun control. From 1915 to 1917, 1.5 million Armenians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Germany established gun control in 1938 and from 1939 to 1945, a total of
13 million Jews and others who were unable to defend themselves were rounded up and exterminated.
China established gun control in 1935. From 1948 to 1952, 20 million political dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Guatemala established gun control in 1964. From 1964 to 1981, 100,000 Mayan Indians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Uganda established gun control in 1970. From 1971 to 1979, 300,000 Christians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Cambodia established gun control in 1956. From 1975 to 1977, one million ‘educated’ people, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Defenseless people rounded up and exterminated in the 20th Century because of gun control: 56 million.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------AUSTRALIA
It has now been 12 months since gun owners in Australia were forced by new law to surrender 640,381 personal firearms to be destroyed by their own government, a program costing
Australia taxpayers more than $500 million dollars. The first year results are now in: . Australia-wide, homicides are up 3.2 percent . Australia-wide, assaults are up 8.6 percent . Australia-wide, armed
robberies are up 44 percent (yes, 44 percent)! . In the state of Victoria alone, homicides with firearms are now up 300 percent. (Note that while the law-abiding citizens turned them in, the criminals did
not, and criminals still possess their guns!) While figures over the previous 25 years showed a steady decrease in armed robbery with firearms, this has changed drastically upward in the past 12
months, since criminals now are guaranteed that their prey is unarmed.
There has also been a dramatic increase in break-ins and assaults of the ELDERLY. Australian politicians are at a loss to explain how public safety has decreased, after such monumental
effort and expense was expended in successfully ridding Australian society of guns. The Australian experience and the other historical facts above prove it.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Guns in the hands of honest citizens save lives and property and, yes, gun-control laws affect only the law-abiding citizens.
The next time someone talks in favor of gun control, please remind them of this history lesson. With guns, we are ‘citizens’. Without them, we are ‘subjects’. .
“Let us speak courteously, deal fairly, and keep ourselves armed and ready.” Theodore Roosevelt San Francisco, CA, May 13, 1903
Guns cause violence, which is why there are so many mass killings at gun shows.
Private citizens don't need a gun for self-protection because the police are there to protect them even though the Supreme Court says the police are not responsible for their protection.
Http://www.opencarry.org
http://www.idahoexaminer.com/dailymail/2806/gun-control-statistics
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_control
http://www.speakout.com/activism/guncontrol/
www.kc3.com/editorial/40reasons.htm
http://www.justfacts.com/guncontrol.asp
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Statistics on Gun Ownership:
40% of all US homes have guns
81% of Americans say that gun control will be an important issue in determining which Congressional candidate to vote for.
91% of Americans say that there should be at least minor restrictions on gun ownership;
57% of Americans say that there should be major restrictions or a ban.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Right to Bear Arms:
The Supreme Court ruled in 1939, in a case called "US v. Miller," that the 2nd amendment only protects guns suitable for a well-regulated militia -- for example, sawed-off shotguns can be
banned because they're not "ordinary military equipment". Since 1939, the Supreme Court has not heard any further 2nd amendment cases; the most recent ruling, in 1997, overturned part of the 1993
Brady Bill, but did not address 2nd amendment rights. Hence, gun control issues are primarily the subject of Congressional legislation.
Amendment II to the US Constitution:
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. (1791)
Washington laws:
1.) Washington is an "open carry" state for firearms. This means a person may carry a firearm in an exposed holster without any kind of permit unless there is something that makes it specifically
illegal (For example, carrying a weapon onto primary or secondary school grounds or other prohibited places, or carrying a weapon by most felons or anyone convicted of a domestic violence crime.)
2.) Unlawful carrying (RCW 9.41.270 ) occurs when the person carries or displays a weapon “in a manner, under circumstances, and at a time and place that either manifests an intent to intimidate
another or that warrants alarm for the safety of other persons” This is something more than just walking around with an exposed firearm. If there is a dispute, for example, and one person, while angry,
displays the weapon to scare the other person.
3.) Unlawful carrying without a Concealed Pistol License (CPL) occurs when a person carries a concealed pistol on his person and does not have a CPL. A person may carry a loaded firearm in a
vehicle only if they have a valid CPL. Those without a valid CPL may carry a firearm in a vehicle only if the firearm is unloaded and in a secure wrapper or opaque case. (RCW 9.41.050)
4.) Due to state preemption, no city, town, county, or other municipality can restrict your right to keep and bear arms
more than the state (RCW 9.41.290)
5.) Carrying concealed (with a CPL) or openly in establishments that serve alcohol is allowed in Washington, so long as it is not carried into an area designated as “no minors allowed” by the
Washington Liquor Control Board (RCW 9.41.300)
6.) There is no stipulation that a Washington CPL holder MUST carry concealed. Furthermore, lawful open carry of a firearm is NOT grounds for revocation of a Washington CPL.
7.) IF IT IS NOT PROHIBITED BY STATUTE, IT IS LEGAL
Washington State Constitution Section 24 RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS.
"The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired, but nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to
organize, maintain or employ an armed body of men."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Florida
* Florida adopted a right-to-carry law in 1987. At the time the law was passed, critics predicted increases in violence. The founder of the National Organization of Women, Betty Friedan stated:
"lethal violence, even in self defense, only engenders more violence."
* When the law went into effect, the Dade County Police began a program to record all arrest and non arrest incidents involving concealed carry licensees. Between September of 1987 and August of
1992, Dade County recorded 4 crimes committed by licensees with firearms. None of these crimes resulted in an injury. The record keeping program was abandoned in 1992 because there were not
enough incidents to justify tracking them. (13)(15)
* Florida adopted a right-to-carry law in 1987. Between 1987 and 1996, these changes occurred:
Homicide rate Firearm Homicide rate Handgun Homicide rate
Florida -36% -37% -41%
United States -0.4% +15% +24%
* 221,443 concealed carry licenses were issued in Florida between October of 1987 and April of 1994. During that time, Florida recorded 18 crimes committed by licensees with firearms. (15)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accidents
* 1995 Fatal Accident Totals
Motor Vehicles-43,900
Falls-12,600
Poisonings-10,600
Drownings-4,500
Fires-4,100
Choking-2,800
Firearm-1,400 (1.5% of fatal accidents)
* For Children 14 and Under
Motor Vehicles-3,059
Drownings-1,024
Fires-883
Choking-213
Firearm-181 (2.7% of fatal accidents)
Falls--127
Poisonings-80
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
The specter of the private ownership of guns and their relationship to domestic violence casualties is a very significant variable used for political leverage in the policy debate. While many
shootings occurring in the course of a heated mutual argument of passion, others occur where a partner or family member of a "romantic" or familial relationship, who is an ongoing victim of domestic
physical abuse or sexual abuse uses the force of a firearm in self-defense action against the perpetrator who also happens to be known to or related to the victim. As a corollary, in such policy
advertising campaigns, the comparison of "domestic" gun casualties is usually not accompanied by murder and assault prosecution numbers stemming from the shootings occurring in that context. In
many of the latter cases, the victim firing in self-defense is frequently a woman or youth victim of a more physically powerful abuser. In those situations gun rights advocates argue that the firearm
arguably becomes an equalizer against the lethal and disabling force frequently exercised by the abusers.[92]
In a similar fashion, many gun control advocates point to statistics in advertising campaigns purporting that "approximately 9 or so children are killed by people discharging firearms every day
across the US,"[95] and argue that this statistic is seldom accompanied by a differentiation of those children killed by individuals from unintentional discharges and stray bullets, and of those "children,"
under the age of majority—which is 18-21 in the U.S.—who are killed while acting as aggressors in street gang related mutual combat or while committing crimes,[96][97] many of which are seen as
arising from the War on Drugs. There is further controversy regarding courts, trials, and the resulting sentences of these mostly "young men" as adults despite them not having reached the age of
consent. A significant number of gun related deaths occur through suicide.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the early/mid 1990's, criminals on parole or early release from prison committed about 5,000 murders, 17,000 rapes, and 200,000 robberies a year. (3)
As of 1998, nationwide, there has been 1 recorded incident in which a permit holder shot someone following a traffic accident. The permit holder was not charged, as the grand jury ruled the shooting
was in self defense. (7)
As of 1998, no permit holder has ever shot a police officer. There have been several cases in which a permit holder has protected an officer's life. (7)
Americans use firearms to defend themselves from criminals at least 764,000 times a year. This figure is the lowest among a group of 9 nationwide surveys done by organizations including Gallup and
the Los Angeles Times. (16b)
In 1982, a survey of imprisoned criminals found that 34% of them had been "scared off, shot at, wounded or captured by an armed victim." (16c)
Washington D.C. enacted a virtual ban on handguns in 1976. Between 1976 and 1991, Washington D.C.'s homicide rate rose 200%, while the U.S. rate rose 12%. (1)
New Jersey adopted what sponsors described as "the most stringent gun law" in the nation in 1966; two years later, the murder rate was up 46% and the reported robbery rate had nearly doubled.
In 1968, Hawaii imposed a series of increasingly harsh measures, and its murder rate tripled from a low of 2.4 per 100,000 in 1968 to 7.2 by 1977.
In 1976, Washington, D.C., enacted one of the most restrictive gun control laws in the nation. Since then, the city's murder rate has risen 134% while the national murder rate has dropped 2%
Evanston, Illinois, a Chicago suburb of 75,000 residents, became the largest town to ban handgun ownership in September 1982 but experienced no decline in violent crime.
Among the 15 states with the highest homicide rates, 10 have restrictive or very restrictive gun laws.[100]
Twenty percent of U.S. homicides occur in four cities with just 6% of the population—New York, Chicago, Detroit and Washington, D.C.—and each has (or, in the case of Detroit, had until 2001) a
virtual prohibition on private handguns.
UK banned private ownership of most handguns in 1997, previously held by an estimated 57,000 people—0.1% of the population.[101] Since 1998, the number of people injured by firearms in England
and Wales has more than doubled.[102] In 2005-06, of 5,001 such injuries, 3,474 (69%) were defined as "slight," and a further 965 (19%) involved the "firearm" being used as a blunt instrument.
Twenty-four percent of injuries were caused with air weapons, and 32% with "imitation firearms" (including BB guns and soft air weapons).[103] Since 1998, the number of fatal shootings has varied
between 49 and 97, and was 50 in 2005.
Australia forced the surrender of nearly 650,000 personal firearms in 1997. A study published in 2001[104] shows a 47% decrease of firearms related deaths, but also reveals an overall rise in non-
firearm related violent crime[not in citation given].
Violent crime accelerated in Jamaica after handguns were banned.[105]
In 1929, the Soviet Union established gun control. From 1929 to 1953, about 20 million dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
In 1911, Turkey established gun control. From 1915 to 1917, 1.5 million Armenians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Germany established gun control in 1938 and from 1939 to 1945, a total of
13 million Jews and others who were unable to defend themselves were rounded up and exterminated.
China established gun control in 1935. From 1948 to 1952, 20 million political dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Guatemala established gun control in 1964. From 1964 to 1981, 100,000 Mayan Indians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Uganda established gun control in 1970. From 1971 to 1979, 300,000 Christians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Cambodia established gun control in 1956. From 1975 to 1977, one million ‘educated’ people, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Defenseless people rounded up and exterminated in the 20th Century because of gun control: 56 million.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------AUSTRALIA
It has now been 12 months since gun owners in Australia were forced by new law to surrender 640,381 personal firearms to be destroyed by their own government, a program costing
Australia taxpayers more than $500 million dollars. The first year results are now in: . Australia-wide, homicides are up 3.2 percent . Australia-wide, assaults are up 8.6 percent . Australia-wide, armed
robberies are up 44 percent (yes, 44 percent)! . In the state of Victoria alone, homicides with firearms are now up 300 percent. (Note that while the law-abiding citizens turned them in, the criminals did
not, and criminals still possess their guns!) While figures over the previous 25 years showed a steady decrease in armed robbery with firearms, this has changed drastically upward in the past 12
months, since criminals now are guaranteed that their prey is unarmed.
There has also been a dramatic increase in break-ins and assaults of the ELDERLY. Australian politicians are at a loss to explain how public safety has decreased, after such monumental
effort and expense was expended in successfully ridding Australian society of guns. The Australian experience and the other historical facts above prove it.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Guns in the hands of honest citizens save lives and property and, yes, gun-control laws affect only the law-abiding citizens.
The next time someone talks in favor of gun control, please remind them of this history lesson. With guns, we are ‘citizens’. Without them, we are ‘subjects’. .
“Let us speak courteously, deal fairly, and keep ourselves armed and ready.” Theodore Roosevelt San Francisco, CA, May 13, 1903
Guns cause violence, which is why there are so many mass killings at gun shows.
Private citizens don't need a gun for self-protection because the police are there to protect them even though the Supreme Court says the police are not responsible for their protection.
Http://www.opencarry.org
http://www.idahoexaminer.com/dailymail/2806/gun-control-statistics
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_control
http://www.speakout.com/activism/guncontrol/
www.kc3.com/editorial/40reasons.htm
http://www.justfacts.com/guncontrol.asp
