Save more lives: Ban hands and feet not assault rifles.

Well the progressives are at it again.

They are eager to pass some new meaningless laws so they can feel better about themselves. No need for the new laws and regulations to actually do anything about the problem, just make some noise, demonize some conservatives and go home feeling especially good and superior. Oh, being a progressive is so easy. Sometimes I miss it – especially the part where you feel-good without actually having to do any critical thinking.

The current feel-good effort is gun control. Only the most cynical of politicians could take the Sandy Hook tragedy and attempt to use it for political gain. And when the most cynical and self-righteous president in my life time (no not Jimmy Carter) takes to the lectern, anything is possible. And the White House media types will simply sit in front of the “lecturer-in-chief” and nod sagely in agreement. After all he is one of them – smarter, more moral, less greedy etc. etc. Definitely smarter than those 2nd Amendment champions the troglodyte Koch brothers (David Koch MS Chemical Engineering MIT, Charles Koch MS Chemical Engineering, MS Mechanical Engineering MIT and Bill Koch PhD Chemical Engineering MIT). Why question the motives of someone, especially Barack Obama, when you know he is right? Or for that matter bother researching the issue for more insight?  After the Presidential press conference is over it’s time to begin the self-congratulatory tut-tutting at the nearby Bistro while sipping the 2002 Napa Valley Chardonnay from Nancy Pelosi’s vineyard. Serious research will have to wait.

Meanwhile progressives know with certainty conservative rednecks racists gun-nuts, are sitting in their pickup trucks with the gun-racks drinking Miller Lite out of a can, scratching themselves unceremoniously all while plotting the overthrow of the government. Why else would anyone need a gun?

The data is there why doesn’t anyone look at it?

It is not difficult to find data related to crime in America. The FBI has been doing it for over 30 years and has it all on line, easily accessible. You can find it all here.

When you take the time to actually look at homicide data (I know, it takes time away from the Chardonnay drinking) you find many truths that never make it to the 6 o’clock news. For example in 2011 the FBI says that out of 12,772 homicides nationwide:

1.  There were a total of 323 homicides from rifles (assault and non-assault), less than 3% of the total, compared to more than twice as many, 728, from “Hands, fists, feet etc.” Thus the title of this article.
2. There were a total of 1,694 homicides from “Knives or cutting instruments”. Thus knives etc. were the cause of 4 times more murders than rifles of all kinds. How about banning assault knives?
3. In Illinois there was exactly 1 homicide by rifle recorded. One, uno, singleton, solitary. Less than ¼ of one percent of all Illinois homicides. Meanwhile 46 times as many were killed by hands, feet and knives.

Are restrictive gun control laws the solution to gun homicides?

Meanwhile the most restrictive gun control laws in the nation are in Washington DC (see gun registration steps for DC here) and arguably the least restrictive laws are in Wyoming where not only can you carry a concealed weapon but gun license/permits from 32 other states are honored also. In Wyoming 60% of the population own guns, in DC a fraction of 1% own guns. Though similar in population (DC about 600,000, Wyoming about 550,000) DC has 7 times more homicides than Wyoming. So much for restrictive gun laws lowering the murder rate.

And incidentally neither DC nor Wyoming had any homicides by rifle in 2011 so neither assault rifle bans nor 30 round clip bans would have made any difference.

The real reason Sandy Hook happened was not assault weapons or 30-round clips it was arguably the most restrictive mental health commitment laws in the country.  In Connecticut you cannot commit a violent mentally ill person unless he goes voluntarily or commits a crime. Well, one just committed a terrible crime so now he’ll get committed, too late for 20 children but soon enough for Progressive politicians in Connecticut – and Washington DC.

If you really want to reduce gun violence in the USA then ban violent crazy people not assault rifles. And banning Progressive politicians would help too.