Newsgroups: talk.politics.guns
From: [w--g--s] at [lonestar.utsa.edu] (William W. Hughes)
Subject: Gun Opponents, Where Are Your Numbers?
Date: Sun, 9 Jan 1994 18:23:03 GMT

From the San Antonio Express-News, a division of the Hearst Corporation
Sunday, 9 January 1994, Editorial section, page 4-M
San Antonio Express-News, P.O. Box 2171, San Antonio TX 78297-2171

[begin disclaimer]
Reproduced  without  permission. Transcribed by hand, so all  typos  are
likely mine (I gotta get a scanner...).
"I do not work for, nor represent, the San Antonio Express-News"
                              William Hughes [[w--g--s] at [lonestar.utsa.edu]]
[end disclaimer]

[begin article]

ANOTHER VIEW [extended reader's letters -- wh]

GUN OPPONENTS, WHERE ARE YOUR NUMBERS?

Scott M. Dulaney

     Gun  control  is an issue very much in the news these  days.   And,
more  often  than not, we are treated to the opinions of one  person  or
another  telling us how good tougher gun laws will be for America.   But
the only thing missing in their arguments is any factual data to support
these claims.

     Over the past 10 years I have spent a great deal of time and effort
researching the issue of gun control in America.  And during that time I
have  yet  to  come across any documentation that  such  legislation  is
effective in reducing crime.  However, the facts that I have accumulated
do make for some interesting reading.

     According  to professor Gary Kleck, a Florida criminologist,  hand-
guns  are used to commit nearly 550,000 violent crimes each year in  our
nation.   But  during that same year, private citizens  use  rifles  and
handguns to stop or apprehend nearly 650,000 violent offenders.  Add  to
that  another 300,000 who use rifles and shotguns to thwart  attacks  on
their homes and families.  That makes nearly 1 million crimes that  were
prevented  by  private  gun owners over a 12-month  period.   But,  that
doesn't make good copy for an antigun editorial.

     Another  issue  in the news these days is the proposed  ban  on  so
called "assault weapons."  They are purported to be the weapon of choice
for  America's criminal element.  Yet the FBI's published Uniform  Crime
Statistics report clearly shows that these "bad guns" are actually  used
in  less  than  1 percent of all crimes committed.  As far  as  being  a
"weapon  of choice," blunt instruments and kitchen knives  rank  higher,
statistically speaking.

     Then  kids  with guns are a problem, right?  Well,  yes  they  are.
But, the problem is not as simple as it has been portrayed.

     Last  year,  the FBI conducted a study of juvenile  delinquency  in
America.  As far as kids with guns are concerned, the agency's  findings
were quite illuminating.

     For  example,  the  feds found that kids who own  guns  legally  --
meaning they didn't get them on the street -- had a delinquency rate far
below that of kids who acquired their guns illegally.

     And  the  rate of delinquency for kids owning legal guns  was  even
slightly less than that of children who do not own guns.  Then, to go  a
little further, the report actually stated that socialization for  chil-
dren who own guns legally seems to take place in the home, while social-
ization for illegal gun owners seems to take place on the street.  There
it  begins to sound more like an issue of parental  responsibility  than
anything else.

     And,  as far as all of the malicious comments that have  been  made
regarding the National Rifle Association, I feel that some clarification
may be in order.  This organization has been with us now for nearly  123
years, and has a membership of almost 3.5 million.  And that number  was
growing by nearly 2,000 per day at last count.

     The  interesting  thing is that the NRA's membership is  about  six
times that of all the gun control groups in America combined,  including
Congress.   So,  you tell me who legislators should listen to  when  the
issue of gun control is raised.

     Finally,  for those of you who still feel that your pious  comments
about  guns and gun owners are justified, let's see your numbers.   It's
time to put up or shut up.  Although I doubt you are capable of either.

[end article]
-- 
[w--g--s] at [lonestar.utsa.edu] (William Hughes) | In memory of 85 un-charged,
UTSA doesn't agree with me. They're wrong. | un-convicted victims of the U.S.
Politicians Prefer Unarmed Peasants        | government in Waco, Texas -
Politically Incorrect and proud of it!     | including over 20 children.