“That agenda is to use any tragedy they can to further the removal of the right of the American people to own and possess and carry self-defense firearms.”
With the release of the FBI Uniform Crime Statistics for 2016, it is once again obvious how our media, social networks, and legislators fall for the knee-jerk reaction to crimes that have very little impact on the grand scheme of things.
There has been a big push since the Las Vegas mass murder to ban certain parts of rifles. There have also been the typical legislative reactions to “ban assault rifles” and other such items. All of these sentiments are completely based on emotion — not facts.
First, let’s look at the numbers from the FBI Violent Crime Report for 2016. If any reporter, legislator, or individual interested in the real issues and causes of crime would bother to research, they would find that those nasty, deadly, horrific assault rifles caused very few of the murders in the country. In fact, they rank second from the bottom in terms of weapons used, only slightly ahead of shotguns.
That agenda is to use any tragedy they can to further the removal of the right of the American people to own and possess and carry self-defense firearms.
Weapons – such as hands, feet, knives and other items (bats, sticks, others) – kill far more people. Rifles were listed as the weapon used in 374 murders, while hands and feet killed 656. Knives and other cutting weapons killed 428% MORE people than rifles. Even hands and feet killed 174% more than rifles.
So, let me ask why there is such hysteria about banning rifle parts and assault rifles when they are so far down the list of weapons used to kill people? Because the media and many of our political parties have an agenda. That agenda is to use any tragedy they can to further the removal of the right of the American people to own and possess and carry self-defense firearms.
When we look at the numbers realistically, we also need to look at the real cause of many of the murders in the U.S. Look at the offenders. Are they gang-related? Are they known to the victim? Are they repeat offenders that have shown a propensity for violence? I think the answer to these questions would be very useful in engaging the public in realistic dialogue.
Until people are willing to admit that our media, celebrities, and political figures are very uninformed, we will not be able to have meaningful discussions on violent crime and what the real causes are.
To start you off here is a link to the breakdown of murder offenders by age and race. Think about this while viewing these numbers: what is the demographic make-up of the U.S., and what percentage of murders are committed by what groups, and against whom?
Is one group of offenders committing a disproportionate number of the murders? If so, why?
Are gangs, economic status, repeat offenders, and education all factors that have a bearing on these crimes?
What about offenders arrested for other violent crimes?
Here is a breakdown of those. Again, apply the same thought process.
Until we can have an open, honest, and in-depth look at these and other factors that cause crime, we will not be able to legislate a solution.