BY MONICA VON DOBENECK
Of The Patriot-News
Annville-Cleona High School science teacher Tom Ritter said he thinks armed teachers would be a better deterrent against terrorists than lockdowns, and that the Classrooms for the Future course was a waste of time.
In a federal lawsuit against the school district, Ritter said he thinks those opinions, and his tendency to express them, led to his "unsatisfactory" rating from the administration.
He is seeking $10 million in damages from the district for violating his civil rights.
Ritter said Monday that the district is not allowing him to teach and has stopped paying him. He said he is waiting to see if the school board fires him at the April meeting.
Superintendent Marsha Zehner was out of town and could not be reached for comment. District solicitor Bob Frankhouser would not comment on the case, only saying that "I can assure you" the district will defend the lawsuit vigorously.
Ritter, 61, of Orwigsburg, said he is a good teacher and has the support of many of his students. He has been teaching chemistry and physics in the district since 1997 and was chosen by the class of 2004 to be the commencement speaker.
In his lawsuit, Ritter said the district had a lockdown drill several weeks ago. Ritter said that he thought the drill was dangerous and "would not prevent terrorists from massacring perhaps several hundred children before the police could act."
According to the lawsuit, he said publicly that "a much more effective deterrent would be to allow teachers to possess guns in school, a position that got him a tongue lashing from the superintendent."
Ritter elaborated on Monday, saying lockdowns, in which students are kept in the classrooms during dangerous situations, might be useful in Columbine or Virginia Tech type shootings, but not against terrorists "who know that American schools are gun-free zones."
According to the lawsuit, Ritter also said in a fall survey that he thought the Classrooms for the Future course given to teachers was worthless.
He said his responses were "entirely honest and, in fact, shared by most teachers who were forced to take the course."
The director of technology said Ritter's response to the survey could jeopardize a $650,000 state grant, according to the lawsuit.
A few weeks later, Ritter received the unsatisfactory rating, which he said was to harass him for his political views.
It's not Ritter's first run-in with the administration. He was suspended in May after he refused to grade a retest the principal gave a student. Ritter had given the student a zero for allegedly copying from another student's test.
In May 2007, Ritter received some notoriety by claiming that evolution was bad science in a debate with a university professor.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Not All Is Gloomy In Washington, D.C.
U.S. Senate Votes to Uphold Second Amendment in Washington, D.C.
Fairfax, Va. – The United States Senate has voted, with overwhelming bipartisan support, to adopt an amendment offered by Senator John Ensign (R-NV) that seeks to protect the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens in the District of Columbia.
The amendment, attached to S.160, the D.C. Voting Rights Act, will repeal restrictive gun control laws passed by the District of Columbia’s (D.C.) city council after the landmark D.C. v. Heller Supreme Court decision. The vote margin was 62-36.
“Today’s vote brings us one step closer to restoring the Second Amendment freedom of law-abiding D.C. residents,” said NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox. “It’s ludicrous that good people in our nation’s capital continue to be harassed as they try to defend themselves and their loved ones in their own homes. This vote reinforces the historic Heller ruling.”
After the Heller ruling, the D.C. city council passed a law requiring would-be gun owners to pay a registration fee, pass a 20-question multiple choice test, take a five-hour training course, undergo an invasive background check every six years, re-register any firearm every three years, and finally, submit all handguns for ballistics testing. Current D.C. law also bans an overwhelming majority of firearms commonly used for self-defense. This Ensign Amendment would also remedy that unjust practice.
“NRA would like to thank the lead sponsor, Sen. John Ensign for his efforts to reform D.C.’s gun laws and enable folks to protect their property and their loved ones,” concluded Cox. “It’s time for leaders in Washington to wake up to the fact that the Supreme Court decision is now the law of the land.”
-NRA-
Established in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America’s oldest civil rights and sportsmen's group. Four million members strong, NRA continues its mission to uphold Second Amendment rights and to advocate enforcement of existing laws against violent offenders to reduce crime. The Association remains the nation's leader in firearm education and training for law-abiding gun owners, law enforcement and the military.
Fairfax, Va. – The United States Senate has voted, with overwhelming bipartisan support, to adopt an amendment offered by Senator John Ensign (R-NV) that seeks to protect the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens in the District of Columbia.
The amendment, attached to S.160, the D.C. Voting Rights Act, will repeal restrictive gun control laws passed by the District of Columbia’s (D.C.) city council after the landmark D.C. v. Heller Supreme Court decision. The vote margin was 62-36.
“Today’s vote brings us one step closer to restoring the Second Amendment freedom of law-abiding D.C. residents,” said NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox. “It’s ludicrous that good people in our nation’s capital continue to be harassed as they try to defend themselves and their loved ones in their own homes. This vote reinforces the historic Heller ruling.”
After the Heller ruling, the D.C. city council passed a law requiring would-be gun owners to pay a registration fee, pass a 20-question multiple choice test, take a five-hour training course, undergo an invasive background check every six years, re-register any firearm every three years, and finally, submit all handguns for ballistics testing. Current D.C. law also bans an overwhelming majority of firearms commonly used for self-defense. This Ensign Amendment would also remedy that unjust practice.
“NRA would like to thank the lead sponsor, Sen. John Ensign for his efforts to reform D.C.’s gun laws and enable folks to protect their property and their loved ones,” concluded Cox. “It’s time for leaders in Washington to wake up to the fact that the Supreme Court decision is now the law of the land.”
-NRA-
Established in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America’s oldest civil rights and sportsmen's group. Four million members strong, NRA continues its mission to uphold Second Amendment rights and to advocate enforcement of existing laws against violent offenders to reduce crime. The Association remains the nation's leader in firearm education and training for law-abiding gun owners, law enforcement and the military.
Thursday, September 04, 2008
Going Great Guns
Gun sales start TuesdaySeptember 3, 2008 - 11:03am
WASHINGTON - District residents will be able to buy handguns starting next Tuesday.
The District began registering handguns in mid-July in response to a Supreme Court ruling that overturned the city's long time ban. But, as of last month, only 11 handguns had been registered.
The low number could be because there was no way for residents to buy a handgun and get it transferred into the city. That's about to change.
"I do think the numbers will go up some once you can purchase in the District," says D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier. "I don't think it's going to skyrocket."
Because there are no gun stores in the city, residents have been unable to purchase a handgun. The guns registered so far have either been illegal guns that were registered under the amnesty program or guns that were being stored out-of-state.
Federal law requires that guns purchased out-of-state be shipped from the dealer who sells the gun to another dealer in the state where the buyer is going to register the weapon.
Charles Sykes, the only licensed firearms dealer in the District willing to transfer handguns for individuals, tells WTOP his office in Anacostia will be open for business next week.
Sykes says he will be charging a $125 fee to transfer each handgun. Gun stores in Maryland and Virginia charge as little as $25 for the same service. Sykes says he gets between one to two calls a day about transferring guns.
Sykes has been transferring handguns for security firms in the city for years, but had to have his license and permits renewed after he moved his office. Traci Hughes, a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police Department, says that process is complete and Sykes can begin transferring guns anytime.
"He is fully licensed by the ATF and the District," writes Hughes.
(Copyright 2008 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.) WASHINGTON - District residents will be able to buy handguns starting next Tuesday.
The District began registering handguns in mid-July in response to a Supreme Court ruling that overturned the city's long time ban. But, as of last month, only 11 handguns had been registered.
The low number could be because there was no way for residents to buy a handgun and get it transferred into the city. That's about to change.
"I do think the numbers will go up some once you can purchase in the District," says D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier. "I don't think it's going to skyrocket."
Because there are no gun stores in the city, residents have been unable to purchase a handgun. The guns registered so far have either been illegal guns that were registered under the amnesty program or guns that were being stored out-of-state.
Federal law requires that guns purchased out-of-state be shipped from the dealer who sells the gun to another dealer in the state where the buyer is going to register the weapon.
Charles Sykes, the only licensed firearms dealer in the District willing to transfer handguns for individuals, tells WTOP his office in Anacostia will be open for business next week.
Sykes says he will be charging a $125 fee to transfer each handgun. Gun stores in Maryland and Virginia charge as little as $25 for the same service. Sykes says he gets between one to two calls a day about transferring guns.
Sykes has been transferring handguns for security firms in the city for years, but had to have his license and permits renewed after he moved his office. Traci Hughes, a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police Department, says that process is complete and Sykes can begin transferring guns anytime.
"He is fully licensed by the ATF and the District," writes Hughes.
WASHINGTON - District residents will be able to buy handguns starting next Tuesday.
The District began registering handguns in mid-July in response to a Supreme Court ruling that overturned the city's long time ban. But, as of last month, only 11 handguns had been registered.
The low number could be because there was no way for residents to buy a handgun and get it transferred into the city. That's about to change.
"I do think the numbers will go up some once you can purchase in the District," says D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier. "I don't think it's going to skyrocket."
Because there are no gun stores in the city, residents have been unable to purchase a handgun. The guns registered so far have either been illegal guns that were registered under the amnesty program or guns that were being stored out-of-state.
Federal law requires that guns purchased out-of-state be shipped from the dealer who sells the gun to another dealer in the state where the buyer is going to register the weapon.
Charles Sykes, the only licensed firearms dealer in the District willing to transfer handguns for individuals, tells WTOP his office in Anacostia will be open for business next week.
Sykes says he will be charging a $125 fee to transfer each handgun. Gun stores in Maryland and Virginia charge as little as $25 for the same service. Sykes says he gets between one to two calls a day about transferring guns.
Sykes has been transferring handguns for security firms in the city for years, but had to have his license and permits renewed after he moved his office. Traci Hughes, a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police Department, says that process is complete and Sykes can begin transferring guns anytime.
"He is fully licensed by the ATF and the District," writes Hughes.
(Copyright 2008 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.) WASHINGTON - District residents will be able to buy handguns starting next Tuesday.
The District began registering handguns in mid-July in response to a Supreme Court ruling that overturned the city's long time ban. But, as of last month, only 11 handguns had been registered.
The low number could be because there was no way for residents to buy a handgun and get it transferred into the city. That's about to change.
"I do think the numbers will go up some once you can purchase in the District," says D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier. "I don't think it's going to skyrocket."
Because there are no gun stores in the city, residents have been unable to purchase a handgun. The guns registered so far have either been illegal guns that were registered under the amnesty program or guns that were being stored out-of-state.
Federal law requires that guns purchased out-of-state be shipped from the dealer who sells the gun to another dealer in the state where the buyer is going to register the weapon.
Charles Sykes, the only licensed firearms dealer in the District willing to transfer handguns for individuals, tells WTOP his office in Anacostia will be open for business next week.
Sykes says he will be charging a $125 fee to transfer each handgun. Gun stores in Maryland and Virginia charge as little as $25 for the same service. Sykes says he gets between one to two calls a day about transferring guns.
Sykes has been transferring handguns for security firms in the city for years, but had to have his license and permits renewed after he moved his office. Traci Hughes, a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police Department, says that process is complete and Sykes can begin transferring guns anytime.
"He is fully licensed by the ATF and the District," writes Hughes.
Saturday, June 07, 2008
Watch Out for Obama
From the NRA
Friday, June 6, 2008
The presidential primary season is finally over, and it is time gun owners took a careful look at just where apparent nominee Barack Obama stands on the Second Amendment. During the primaries, Obama hid behind vague statements of support for “sportsmen” or claimed his general support for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms.
But his real record, based on votes taken, political associations, and long standing positions, shows that Barack Obama is a serious threat to Second Amendment liberties.
Don’t listen to his campaign rhetoric! Look at what he has said and done during his entire political career:
FACT: Barack Obama voted to allow reckless lawsuits designed to bankrupt the firearms industry.
FACT: Barack Obama has endorsed a complete ban on handgun ownership.
FACT: Barack Obama supports requiring law-abiding gun owners to register their firearms.
FACT: Barack Obama wants to re-impose the failed and discredited Clinton Gun Ban.
FACT: Barack Obama voted to ban almost all rifle ammunition commonly used for hunting and sport shooting.
FACT: Barack Obama supports local gun bans in Chicago, Washington, D.C., and other cities.
FACT: Barack Obama voted to uphold local gun bans and the criminal prosecution of people who use firearms in self-defense.
FACT: Barack Obama refused to sign a friend-of-the-court brief in support of individual Second Amendment rights in the Heller case.
FACT: Barack Obama wants to eliminate your Right to Carry.
FACT: Barack Obama was a member of the Board of Directors of the Joyce Foundation, the leading source of funds for anti-gun organizations and “research.”
FACT: Barack Obama supported a proposal to ban gun stores within five miles of a school or park, which would eliminate almost every gun store in America.
FACT: Barack Obama voted not to notify gun owners when the state of Illinois did records searches on them.
FACT: Barack Obama voted against a measure to lower the Firearms Owners Identification card age minimum from 21 to 18, a measure designed to assist young people in the military.
FACT: Barack Obama favors a ban on standard capacity magazines.
FACT: Barack Obama supports mandatory micro-stamping.
FACT: Barack Obama supports mandatory waiting periods.
FACT: Barack Obama supports repeal of the Tiahrt Amendment, which prohibits information on gun traces collected by the BATFE from being used in reckless lawsuits against firearm dealers and manufacturers.
FACT: Barack Obama supports “one-gun-a-month” sales restrictions.
FACT: Barack Obama supports a ban on inexpensive handguns.
FACT: Barack Obama supports a ban on the resale of police-issued firearms, even if the money is going to police departments for replacement equipment.
FACT: Barack Obama supports mandatory firearm training requirements for all gun owners and a ban on gun ownership for persons under the age of 21.
Friday, June 6, 2008
The presidential primary season is finally over, and it is time gun owners took a careful look at just where apparent nominee Barack Obama stands on the Second Amendment. During the primaries, Obama hid behind vague statements of support for “sportsmen” or claimed his general support for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms.
But his real record, based on votes taken, political associations, and long standing positions, shows that Barack Obama is a serious threat to Second Amendment liberties.
Don’t listen to his campaign rhetoric! Look at what he has said and done during his entire political career:
FACT: Barack Obama voted to allow reckless lawsuits designed to bankrupt the firearms industry.
FACT: Barack Obama has endorsed a complete ban on handgun ownership.
FACT: Barack Obama supports requiring law-abiding gun owners to register their firearms.
FACT: Barack Obama wants to re-impose the failed and discredited Clinton Gun Ban.
FACT: Barack Obama voted to ban almost all rifle ammunition commonly used for hunting and sport shooting.
FACT: Barack Obama supports local gun bans in Chicago, Washington, D.C., and other cities.
FACT: Barack Obama voted to uphold local gun bans and the criminal prosecution of people who use firearms in self-defense.
FACT: Barack Obama refused to sign a friend-of-the-court brief in support of individual Second Amendment rights in the Heller case.
FACT: Barack Obama wants to eliminate your Right to Carry.
FACT: Barack Obama was a member of the Board of Directors of the Joyce Foundation, the leading source of funds for anti-gun organizations and “research.”
FACT: Barack Obama supported a proposal to ban gun stores within five miles of a school or park, which would eliminate almost every gun store in America.
FACT: Barack Obama voted not to notify gun owners when the state of Illinois did records searches on them.
FACT: Barack Obama voted against a measure to lower the Firearms Owners Identification card age minimum from 21 to 18, a measure designed to assist young people in the military.
FACT: Barack Obama favors a ban on standard capacity magazines.
FACT: Barack Obama supports mandatory micro-stamping.
FACT: Barack Obama supports mandatory waiting periods.
FACT: Barack Obama supports repeal of the Tiahrt Amendment, which prohibits information on gun traces collected by the BATFE from being used in reckless lawsuits against firearm dealers and manufacturers.
FACT: Barack Obama supports “one-gun-a-month” sales restrictions.
FACT: Barack Obama supports a ban on inexpensive handguns.
FACT: Barack Obama supports a ban on the resale of police-issued firearms, even if the money is going to police departments for replacement equipment.
FACT: Barack Obama supports mandatory firearm training requirements for all gun owners and a ban on gun ownership for persons under the age of 21.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Moderates fuel big McCain wins
By Stephen Dinan
Sen. John McCain won a solid share of yesterday's Super Tuesday slate of primaries and caucuses, grabbing a big lead in delegates, but he was denied total victory by surprising victories chalked up by Mitt Romney out west and Mike Huckabee in the South. (See Our Right for more info on candidates.)
On the strength of his organizational skills Mr. Romney won seven states, mostly caucuses in western states, while Mr. Huckabee won five Southern states — and in the process both exposed conservative voters' continuing inability to win over the conservative voters that make up the party's base.
Recognizing that, Mr. McCain last night declared as much of a victory as he could, but already turned his rhetorical arrows at trying to nail down conserative Republicans.
"We've won a number of important victories in the closest thing we've ever had to a national primary," he told supporters at his post-election party in Phoenix, saying he now considers himself "the Republican Party front-runner for the nomination."
"I promise you, if I am so fortunate to win your nomination, I will work hard to ensure that the conservative philosophy and principles of our great party ... will again win the votes of a majority of the American people and defeat any candidate our friends on the other side nominate," he said.
Mr. McCain won in New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Connecticut, Delaware, Arizona, Missouri, Oklahoma and California. Mr. Huckabee won contests in Arkansas, Alabama, West Virginia, Georgia and Tennessee. And Mr. Romney won in Massachusetts, Utah, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota and Colorado and Alaska.
Most important for Mr. McCain, his victories in winner-take-all big states and his domination in California, which splits votes by congressional district, will score him a huge number of delegates needed to win the nomination at September's Republican convention in Minneapolis.
With 87 percent of precincts in California reporting as of 8 a.m. today, Mr. McCain was winning in all but two of the state's 53 congressional districts, and Mr. Romney was only close in a handful of others.
Mr. Huckabee's strong showing left him to declare that he had topped Mr. Romney as the conservative alternative to Mr. McCain.
“Over the past few days, a lot of people have been trying to say that this is a two-man race. Well, you know what? It is, and we're in it,” the former Arkansas governor said at his victory party in Little Rock last night.
Mr. Romney vowed to continue running and told his supporters in Boston last night that he still sees a path to the nomination.
“There are some people who thought it was all going to be done tonight, but it's not all done tonight. We're going to keep on battling,” he said.
Still, he failed to narrow the race to the man-on-man contest that he had sought with Mr. McCain, which means conservatives will continue to split their votes.
Mr. Huckabee said Mr. Romney's window is closing even as his own is opening.
“The conservatives do have a choice because the conservatives do have a voice,” he said.
And those conservatives are apparently still shopping.
Exit polls showed that only in Connecticut did Mr. McCain actually win a plurality of self-identified conservative voters, barely topping Mr. Romney in the Northeastern state. In every other state, he trailed Mr. Huckabee, Mr. Romney or both.
In Utah he was tied for second with Rep. Ron Paul, well behind Mr. Romney, among conservative voters.
Even in his own home state of Arizona, Mr. McCain trailed badly among conservatives, with just 36 percent to Mr. Romney's 47 percent. And in California, Mr. Romney won nearly half of conservative voters, with 48 percent, according to the MSNBC exit polls.
Mr. McCain's problems with conservatives only deepened when James Dobson, the influential founder of conservative powerhouse Focus on the Family, said yesterday that he would rather stay home in November than vote for Mr. McCain.
“A spoonful of sugar does not make the medicine go down,” he said. “I cannot, and will not, vote for Sen. John McCain, as a matter of conscience.”
Conservative direct-mail guru Richard Viguerie said the discontent goes deep.
“It's not just famous conservatives who feel this way. ... It's grass-roots conservatives, who remember what the senator did on taxes, immigration, freedom of speech, the gay 'marriage' amendment, 'global warming,' and a score of other issues,” he said.
Mr. McCain argues that Republicans will unite behind his strong national defense message and says his record shows he can reach across party lines and build a coalition that can help him compete for votes across the country in November.
He has a chance to make inroads tomorrow when he is scheduled to address the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington — a gathering he snubbed last year.
Sen. John McCain won a solid share of yesterday's Super Tuesday slate of primaries and caucuses, grabbing a big lead in delegates, but he was denied total victory by surprising victories chalked up by Mitt Romney out west and Mike Huckabee in the South. (See Our Right for more info on candidates.)
On the strength of his organizational skills Mr. Romney won seven states, mostly caucuses in western states, while Mr. Huckabee won five Southern states — and in the process both exposed conservative voters' continuing inability to win over the conservative voters that make up the party's base.
Recognizing that, Mr. McCain last night declared as much of a victory as he could, but already turned his rhetorical arrows at trying to nail down conserative Republicans.
"We've won a number of important victories in the closest thing we've ever had to a national primary," he told supporters at his post-election party in Phoenix, saying he now considers himself "the Republican Party front-runner for the nomination."
"I promise you, if I am so fortunate to win your nomination, I will work hard to ensure that the conservative philosophy and principles of our great party ... will again win the votes of a majority of the American people and defeat any candidate our friends on the other side nominate," he said.
Mr. McCain won in New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Connecticut, Delaware, Arizona, Missouri, Oklahoma and California. Mr. Huckabee won contests in Arkansas, Alabama, West Virginia, Georgia and Tennessee. And Mr. Romney won in Massachusetts, Utah, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota and Colorado and Alaska.
Most important for Mr. McCain, his victories in winner-take-all big states and his domination in California, which splits votes by congressional district, will score him a huge number of delegates needed to win the nomination at September's Republican convention in Minneapolis.
With 87 percent of precincts in California reporting as of 8 a.m. today, Mr. McCain was winning in all but two of the state's 53 congressional districts, and Mr. Romney was only close in a handful of others.
Mr. Huckabee's strong showing left him to declare that he had topped Mr. Romney as the conservative alternative to Mr. McCain.
“Over the past few days, a lot of people have been trying to say that this is a two-man race. Well, you know what? It is, and we're in it,” the former Arkansas governor said at his victory party in Little Rock last night.
Mr. Romney vowed to continue running and told his supporters in Boston last night that he still sees a path to the nomination.
“There are some people who thought it was all going to be done tonight, but it's not all done tonight. We're going to keep on battling,” he said.
Still, he failed to narrow the race to the man-on-man contest that he had sought with Mr. McCain, which means conservatives will continue to split their votes.
Mr. Huckabee said Mr. Romney's window is closing even as his own is opening.
“The conservatives do have a choice because the conservatives do have a voice,” he said.
And those conservatives are apparently still shopping.
Exit polls showed that only in Connecticut did Mr. McCain actually win a plurality of self-identified conservative voters, barely topping Mr. Romney in the Northeastern state. In every other state, he trailed Mr. Huckabee, Mr. Romney or both.
In Utah he was tied for second with Rep. Ron Paul, well behind Mr. Romney, among conservative voters.
Even in his own home state of Arizona, Mr. McCain trailed badly among conservatives, with just 36 percent to Mr. Romney's 47 percent. And in California, Mr. Romney won nearly half of conservative voters, with 48 percent, according to the MSNBC exit polls.
Mr. McCain's problems with conservatives only deepened when James Dobson, the influential founder of conservative powerhouse Focus on the Family, said yesterday that he would rather stay home in November than vote for Mr. McCain.
“A spoonful of sugar does not make the medicine go down,” he said. “I cannot, and will not, vote for Sen. John McCain, as a matter of conscience.”
Conservative direct-mail guru Richard Viguerie said the discontent goes deep.
“It's not just famous conservatives who feel this way. ... It's grass-roots conservatives, who remember what the senator did on taxes, immigration, freedom of speech, the gay 'marriage' amendment, 'global warming,' and a score of other issues,” he said.
Mr. McCain argues that Republicans will unite behind his strong national defense message and says his record shows he can reach across party lines and build a coalition that can help him compete for votes across the country in November.
He has a chance to make inroads tomorrow when he is scheduled to address the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington — a gathering he snubbed last year.
Brady Campaign Misses the Point Again
Brady Campaign Gives 48 States “Failing Scores” on Gun Control,Though Violent Crime is at a Historic Low
Every year since 1997, Brady Campaign has pretended to “grade” the states, with states that have the least gun control getting the fewest points, based upon Brady’s presumption that less gun control means more crime. It released its 2007 “State Report Cards” in January 2008.
Because most states do not have the laws Brady considers essential, and some have none, Brady gives most states “failing scores.” This year, out a possible 100 Brady points, 42 states got 28 or fewer points, six got 43-54, one got 63, and one got 79. “Our gun laws are so weak,” Brady’s president lamented.
Nevertheless, violent crime is at an “historic low,” according to the Department of Justice.* Since 1991, total violent crime is down 38%, murder is down 42%, rape is down 27%, robbery is down 45%, and aggravated assault is down 34%. During 2004-2006, violent crime was lower than anytime since 1974. For the last eight years, the murder rate has been lower than anytime since 1965. Preliminary data from the FBI indicate that violent crime declined again in 2007.
In 2007, Brady would have given a state 100 points if it had limited the frequency of gun purchases, prohibited private gun sales, required gun show customers to sign ledgers handed over to the police, prohibited the sale of guns that do not engrave a serial number on fired ammunition and require registration of such guns’ purchasers, licensed and regulated gun dealers at the state level, prohibited handguns that do not have “smart” gun features, prohibited detachable-magazine semi-automatics and some pump-action rifles and shotguns, allowed the arbitrary rejection of Right-to-Carry permit applications, allowed local jurisdictions to impose gun laws more restrictive than the legislature, and allowed the criminal prosecution of people who use guns for protection.
Every year since 1997, Brady Campaign has pretended to “grade” the states, with states that have the least gun control getting the fewest points, based upon Brady’s presumption that less gun control means more crime. It released its 2007 “State Report Cards” in January 2008.
Because most states do not have the laws Brady considers essential, and some have none, Brady gives most states “failing scores.” This year, out a possible 100 Brady points, 42 states got 28 or fewer points, six got 43-54, one got 63, and one got 79. “Our gun laws are so weak,” Brady’s president lamented.
Nevertheless, violent crime is at an “historic low,” according to the Department of Justice.* Since 1991, total violent crime is down 38%, murder is down 42%, rape is down 27%, robbery is down 45%, and aggravated assault is down 34%. During 2004-2006, violent crime was lower than anytime since 1974. For the last eight years, the murder rate has been lower than anytime since 1965. Preliminary data from the FBI indicate that violent crime declined again in 2007.
In 2007, Brady would have given a state 100 points if it had limited the frequency of gun purchases, prohibited private gun sales, required gun show customers to sign ledgers handed over to the police, prohibited the sale of guns that do not engrave a serial number on fired ammunition and require registration of such guns’ purchasers, licensed and regulated gun dealers at the state level, prohibited handguns that do not have “smart” gun features, prohibited detachable-magazine semi-automatics and some pump-action rifles and shotguns, allowed the arbitrary rejection of Right-to-Carry permit applications, allowed local jurisdictions to impose gun laws more restrictive than the legislature, and allowed the criminal prosecution of people who use guns for protection.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms
VIRGINIA TECH CASE PROVES BLOOMBERG LIES ABOUT GUN TRACE DATA ACCESS
BELLEVUE, WASH. – It took less than 24 hours for authorities to trace two handguns used by Virginia Tech gunman Cho Seung Hui, proving that New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is lying when he claims that legitimate law enforcement access to trace data is being blocked by federal law, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA) said today.
CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb noted that Bloomberg’s campaign to undo federal legislation that prevents “fishing expedition access” to gun trace data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has just been shown to be based on “fabrication and falsehood.”
“Local police, working with the BATFE, were able to trace both handguns quickly, even though Hui apparently filed off the serial numbers from both guns,” Gottlieb noted. “That could only happen if police currently can access BATFE trace capabilities. Bloomberg’s hysteria-driven effort to undo the federal law that now protects that sensitive data from politically-motivated demagogues like himself is a flimsy sham.
“The swiftness of the law enforcement investigation proves that Mayor Bloomberg has been lying all along about legitimate access to the federal gun trace data,” he said. “This data has remained available for legitimate, on-going criminal investigations despite the federal law, and he knows it.
“Bloomberg’s sole interest in broadening access to that data is so that he and other anti-gun politicians can use it to mount more bogus gun shop stings and bully firearms retailers with harassment lawsuits,” Gottlieb added. “The federal statute was adopted specifically to protect the privacy of American gun owners from politicians like Bloomberg, and to prevent the kind of grandstanding he launched last year with his vigilante operation against gun shops in five states.
“This isn’t about stopping gun crimes, it’s about invading the privacy of law-abiding citizens,” Gottlieb stated. “The speed with which authorities traced the guns used by the Virginia Tech gunman prove that the system works just fine for a legitimate criminal investigation. If Michael Bloomberg continues saying otherwise, that’s a lie.”
BELLEVUE, WASH. – It took less than 24 hours for authorities to trace two handguns used by Virginia Tech gunman Cho Seung Hui, proving that New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is lying when he claims that legitimate law enforcement access to trace data is being blocked by federal law, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA) said today.
CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb noted that Bloomberg’s campaign to undo federal legislation that prevents “fishing expedition access” to gun trace data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has just been shown to be based on “fabrication and falsehood.”
“Local police, working with the BATFE, were able to trace both handguns quickly, even though Hui apparently filed off the serial numbers from both guns,” Gottlieb noted. “That could only happen if police currently can access BATFE trace capabilities. Bloomberg’s hysteria-driven effort to undo the federal law that now protects that sensitive data from politically-motivated demagogues like himself is a flimsy sham.
“The swiftness of the law enforcement investigation proves that Mayor Bloomberg has been lying all along about legitimate access to the federal gun trace data,” he said. “This data has remained available for legitimate, on-going criminal investigations despite the federal law, and he knows it.
“Bloomberg’s sole interest in broadening access to that data is so that he and other anti-gun politicians can use it to mount more bogus gun shop stings and bully firearms retailers with harassment lawsuits,” Gottlieb added. “The federal statute was adopted specifically to protect the privacy of American gun owners from politicians like Bloomberg, and to prevent the kind of grandstanding he launched last year with his vigilante operation against gun shops in five states.
“This isn’t about stopping gun crimes, it’s about invading the privacy of law-abiding citizens,” Gottlieb stated. “The speed with which authorities traced the guns used by the Virginia Tech gunman prove that the system works just fine for a legitimate criminal investigation. If Michael Bloomberg continues saying otherwise, that’s a lie.”
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