Date: Sun, 28 Jan 2001 19:46:08 -0700 From: r.destephens@WORLDNET.ATT.NET (Richard DeStephens) Subject: Weak Story To: AZRKBA@asu.edu
I just survived reading "Loaded: The Second Amendment Sisters."
An interesting opinion piece from a writer who sacrifices research for inflamatory attacks.
"Take Maria Heil, who is clearly oblivious to the near-perfect irony of her Nazi-esque surname."
The writer, known only as Neil, is oblivous to the fact that the Nazis (national socialists) were proponents of very strict gun prohibitions, using the registration lists of the Weimar Republic to confiscate the "military" weapons of German subjects (a deer rifle would qualify) an every weapon owned by Jews (1938 Nazi Weapons Law), see www.jpfo.org .
"And then there's crime. "Ninety per cent of all crimes are carried out with the use of a weapon," she says."
I don't know if this was a misquote or not, but the statistic is incorrect at least to firearms as a weapon. Knives, clubs, and cricket bats, I can't estimate. In America on 8% of violent crime are linked to the use of a firearm, which it at least important to his abortion of an opinion piece.
"In Texas alone, 16 million people own handguns. Each year more than 30,000 Americans die from gunshot wounds."
I have never read a statistic that estimated Texas handgun ownership (there is no registration in most of America). The population of Texas is 17-million. That would leave one handgun for every man, woman, and child. Now, if this figure included all firearms (rifles and shot guns), it would not be far off. Most of those would be "sporting" or "hunting" arms, but we understand that your Prime Minister isn't to impressed with the sport of hunting. Takes me back to the Stuart Kings, doesn't it?
As for the 30K deaths by firearm per year, over 20,000 of that is suicides which studies have shown are firearm independent (see Japan which has a virtual ban and a suicide rate 60% higher than America, with very rare use of firearms for the purpose). The vast majority of the remaing gun-related homicides are criminals killing other criminals. They seem to see homicide as a solution to their problems, whereas British criminals don't.
"I remind Heil that Britain decided to remove the gun from our culture after horrible crimes "
And you violent crime rate went through the roof (higher than America). There are still very few murders in England, but England had even lower homicide rates when there were not gun laws at all. As well, last year, the Sunday Times reported that there were 3-million illegal firearms in England. More than enough for every criminal.
"But Heil is smart; in between extolling the virtues of motherhood, she's something of an encyclopedia on her country's history and constitution - which also makes her quite frightening."
An accurate knowledge of one's country's history makes her frightening? Maybe if you are Senator Ted Kennedy.
--snip-- "Haven't you heard about the kids in California?" she asks conspiratorially. "A naked man wielding a pitchfork broke into their house when their parents were out. The guns had been locked away and the kids couldn't get to them. Two were pitchforked to death."
Now, I've been a crime reporter for many years and believe me, I would have heard of this incident - given that it sounds like the script of Scream 3. In fact, I searched for the story in our news-cuttings service and I'm a little suspicious that Heil may be doling out some urban myths by way of a defence. --snip--
True story. It was all over the news. I can't vouch for the attacker being naked. What I can say was that the girl ran into a neighbors house with the pitchfork-wielding man in pursuit. She asked the neighbor to get a gun. He couldn't they were locked up.
"Frankly, I'm not shocked by this. I'm now prepared to hear anything by way of a justification for the carrying of weapons."
Just as we are prepared to hear anything as way of a justification for the banning of firearms.
"Like Waco, I ask her, referring to David Koresh and his Christian cult members who went head to head with the Federal authorities over the vast array of arms"
No. The BATF agents were not there because of lots of guns (which were perfectly legal), they were there because the BATF fudged a search warrant saying they were looking for "EZ Kits" (which don't exist).
"dying amid blazing buildings at the end of a gun battle with the FBI."
The FBI denies ever shooting on that day. We know they are lying, of course. You may wish to go to www.amazon.com and buy the Oscar-nominated and Emmy-awarded documentary "Waco:The Rules of Engagement" and "Waco: A New Revelation."
"I'm about to quote the bible to her as this seems an apt point to introduce the concept of swords being turned into ploughshares."
At the last supper, Jesus' final instructions to the apostles begin: "When I sent you without purse, bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?" "Nothing," the apostles answer. Jesus continues: "But now, if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one." He ends by observing "what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment." The apostles then announce, "Lord, behold, here are two swords," and Jesus cuts them off: "That is enough." (Luke 22: 36-38).
Whoever wrote the column for The Herald is an idiot.
Rick Phx, Arizona