The Irony of James Davis's Life and Death

[w1mnk]

I remember watching the movie "Conair". There is a scene in which Steve Buscemi's character is talking to Nicholas Cage ...."define irony. Irony is riding in a plane that's about to crash listening to a band that died in a plane crash"... (probably not the exact quote). The band, of course, was Lynard Synard.

I was lementing the death of New York City Counsilman James Davis, who devoted much of his adult life to eliminating violence from the inner cities. While I applaud the late Mr. Davis goals, I think that some of his directions were incorrect. Here is a quote from his Web site:

"In 1990, James founded "LOVE YOURSELF" Stop the Violence not-for-profit organization. Concerned with the growing violence in urban communities, James began waging a war against guns, drugs, teen pregnancy and school delinquency. "Teenagers are getting pregnant by irreponsible fathers. Young people are carrying guns to school and others are dropping-out, increasing their chances of becoming juvenile delinquents.""

( http://www.jedavis-stopviolence.org/meta2.html )

In the CNN article about his tragic death...

"Davis was shot in the torso. Davis was known to carry a licensed gun, but was unable to draw the weapon"

( http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/Northeast/07/23/ny.shooting/index.html )

The irony, of course, is that Mr. Davis believed that guns were the cause of inner city violence, instead of being a tool used by violent people. I feel sorry for the fact that Mr. Davis was killed. I applaud his efforts to reduce violence. I'm just sorry that he, like so many others, believed that the problem with violence was the gun and not the violent people using guns.

 

[brookstexas]

He's the guy

behind teh toy gun ban several years ago at toy store chains etc.

 

[Standing Wolf]

Shall issue laws have done more to reduce violent crime than all the leftist extremist victim disarmament laws ever have or ever could.

 

[SoCalGeek]

I know this isn't really the point of your post, but here's the exact quote for those who were wondering...

Garland Greene: "Define irony: a bunch of idiots dancing around on a plane to a song made famous by a band that died in a plane crash. "

 

[RangerHAAF]

The death of Councilman Davis was an unfortunate occurrence but what happened only goes to underscore my belief in arming the general public to be able to better defend itself against terrorism, crime, and mad dogs running loose,etc.

By the way, a few months back; wasn't he the guy that wanted to increase scrutiny and registration of ammunition sales in the metro New York area?

 

[Mute]

If the above is true, then, the fact that he'd help deny others a right that he seemed to be more than willing to excercise (CCW) just makes him another elitist.

 

[themic]

elitist or not, was he working for the government when he was trying to stop violence and drug use in inner cities? was he appealing to the government to regulate? or was he doing something more akin to charity work, education work.

remember, people are allowed to encourage other people to live their lives a certain way. it's when the government gets involved that things get a little pissy. which is often inevitable, i concede. just trying to make a generic thought point here.

 

[Drjones]

Anyone who would disarm the general public is an enemy of this country.

I don't think its a stretch to say that this man was for some gun control law or other, which we all know only serve to disarm law-abiding citizens.

I find it repugnant that he would choose to deprive the public of a tool which he so thoroughly understands the value of that he carried one himself.

I do not dance on his grave, but I do not shed a tear for his death.

Agreed that he may have had noble goals, but bad ideas.

 

[w1mnk]

SoCalGeek, thank you for the exact quote. It's appropriate in many circumstances, but I can never remember it, problably because I don't have the movie.