Time to compromise on gun control

 

There is little doubt that this will be the most controversial column I've written to date. But sometimes when working in a university environment one is exposed to ideas that one simply cannot repudiate. And this requires a modification of views -- even if those views are deeply held -- or very fun, or both.

 

 

Such an occasion happened last week on "Empty Holster Day" -- an event sponsored by the College Republicans at UNC-Wilmington. It began as an event designed to convince campus leftists that our laws should be modified to allow those above 21 years of age (with valid concealed carry permits) to carry on campus. But the event actually backfired, so to speak.
 
First (and Second) Amendment hero Tyler Millage -- a junior at UNCW -- organized the event. Beforehand, he invited Chancellor Rosemary DePaolo to attend. After the always accessible Chancellor ignored both of his emails he posted an open letter to DePaolo on Face Book -- and even brought a hard copy to her office. That got her attention and she responded 90 minutes later saying it would be inappropriate for her to attend and thus interject herself into the debate.
 
Then, after the local news showed up, UNCW released a written statement opposing our position on the gun issue. The statement was released by UNCW Marketing and Communications. That's the office in charge of disseminating DePaolo's political views to the tax-paying public at taxpayer expense. They always keep her name out so she won't have to actually defend her views. DePaolo is also an English professor -- a position perfect for people who have strong feelings but lack the courage to defend them.
 
This was reminiscent of the time two female students were murdered at UNCW -- both by male students with prior criminal records. I argued for background checks to protect the students. The university (DePaolo) disagreed. ABC's 20/20 invited both me and DePaolo to express our views on national television. I accepted. She declined. This was after DePaolo publicly expressed the need for open communication on the issue -- thus revealing her lack of courage and integrity.
 
But the same thing cannot be said of the UNCW political science professor who ultimately changed my views on gun control. He had really strong feelings and a willingness to face people who disagreed with his views. That's why he came to visit our "Empty Holster Day" table last Tuesday.
 
But, unfortunately, the political science professor let his feelings get the better of him, which led directly to my change of heart on gun control. He began hurling epithets like "stupid, ignorant, and crazy" to the 19-year-old Millage. He so badly disrupted the event that the College Republican president called me in my office asking that I come over to try and calm him down.
 
I gladly complied with her request -- largely because I know that these events generate intelligent debate until the first professor shows up.
 
When I got to the table, I was told that the political science professor said I am "unqualified" to discuss the issue because I am a "right-wing nut job." I ask if it was true that he said that about me. The professor admitted the quote was accurate.
 
Next, I calmly let him know that 60 percent of the refereed studies indicate that CCW (concealed carry weapon) laws reduce homicide rates while 40 percent show they have no effect. And none provide evidence that they actually increase homicide rates. I owe the professor an apology because I actually misquoted the number of studies indicating CCW laws reduce homicide rates. The number is actually 15, not nine as I had claimed. Thus, he was right to predict I would present a biased argument. But it was biased in his favor.
 
After he admitted he had read none of the literature on the topic, I made two requests: First, I asked that he familiarize himself with the literature so he can offer "qualified" commentary. Second, I asked that he stop yelling and hurling epithets at the students.
 
Surprisingly, the professor responded well to the rebuke. He apologized to me and then he apologized to the students. Then, with the professor under control, the students were able to resume with an informed debate on an important topic. I went back to my office and read the Book of Joshua.
 
As I was reading the Bible in my office, I reflected on all the childish name-calling by the professor. It was then I realized that a partial gun ban is necessary. Specifically, I concluded that liberals cannot be allowed to own guns, much less carry them on our college campuses. If they cannot control their emotions enough to engage in rational debate, they cannot be expected to handle a firearm responsibly. Handguns were not made for people with shaking hands and raised voices. They were made for those with self-control.
 
Maybe some will object to the notion that a constitutional right can only belong to one segment of the population. Or maybe their objections will be drowned out by campus feminists shouting "my body, my choice."

 

Dr. Adams will speak at Elon University on Thursday, May 1, at 7:30 p.m.

He'll buy a gun the next day.

 

Mike Adams is a criminology professor at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington and author of Feminists Say the Darndest Things: A Politically Incorrect Professor Confronts "Womyn" On Campus. This column is printed with his permission.

 

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It was then I realized that a partial gun ban is necessary. Specifically, I concluded that liberals cannot be allowed to own guns, much less carry them on our college campuses. If they cannot control their emotions enough to engage in rational debate, they cannot be expected to handle a firearm responsibly. Handguns were not made for people with shaking hands and raised voices. They were made for those with self-control.

 got to love this statement

NO, NO, NO!

I will not allow any more of my constitutional rights to be taken away.  I do not own a gun, and have never fired a gun, but this looney is siding with the facsist/socialist group who would like to make us slaves! I cannot believe this article was posted to this forum, of all places.  We patriots who are ardently fighting to keep what’s left of our Constitution and stop the destruction of our Bill of Rights.  We are guaranteed the right to gun ownership.  It is the heart of man that kills. 

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"Background checks" that count arrests as convictions and put the burden of proof on the applicant, like Colorado does, should be stopped.   The gun control BS should not include denial of rights based on false arrests, especially long ago, where records have been destroyed.  The burden of proof should be on the agency denying Constitutional Rights.  There are thousands in this predicament of unConstitutional Rights denial based on arrest records, not conviction records(and do not recognise Federal and other states' recognised by the Feds, total Rights Restorations), in this state alone.

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What?

Did you read the article?  Or is the problem that he said liberals shouldn't be allowed to have guns?  If so, maybe you haven't read Mike Adams before.  That sort of sarcasm is his trademark.  He uses well to provoke both thought and laughter.

Anyone who wants to read his hillarious columns can find them at Townhall.com (http://www.townhall.com/Columnists/Mi... ) or read his book, Welcome to the Ivory Tower of Babel.

Relax Lab,

Mike Adams is a 2nd amendment advocate and his call to limit gun ownership was surely tongue-in-cheek.  Even though the sentiment is probably correct, no red-blooded, yellow-bellied liberal would be caught with a gun, so it is self-regulating.

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I am not sure why I am asked to post on this thread. I did not read every post on the other thread...

My "gripe" as one that passes the litmus test pertaining to legal carry of a handgun, is not being allowed to possess my means of protection on employer property. I know there are those that keep weapons in their vehicles on employer property regardless of what the liberal heads of the company outline as "corporate policy". I don't violate the "corporate policy" for the simple reason I violate the terms of the license that grants me the priviledge to have a handgun in concealed possession otherwise outside of the rules that restrict carry on Federal property , public meeting places, UIL sponsored athletic events, etc. etc.

The "corporate policy" irritates me because in all likelihood the one and only time I may be violated will be to and from work or at my place of employment. As far as I am concerned, having passed the litmus test, I should be allowed to protect myself while working from my desk. I.E. I don't have a problem with myself and others that have also passed the litmus test having tucked away right under the shirt, skirt, whatever the most comfortable hardware one prefers for self-defense purposes.

 

 

 

 

Funny article, great satire on the prohibiting libeals from owning/carrying firearms.  But Feed Fwd: libs aren't red-blooded -- they're anemically pink-blooded, pansy-yellow bellied, saffron-hearted ninnies...and Lab: chill, brother...Adams writes some hysterically funny jibes at the Left...and considering that the man lives & works in the most despotic of leftist environments -- academia -- we have to credit the dude with having gigantic, solid titanium stones...

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FeedFwd said:

Relax Lab,

Mike Adams is a 2nd amendment advocate and his call to limit gun ownership was surely tongue-in-cheek.  Even though the sentiment is probably correct, no red-blooded, yellow-bellied liberal would be caught with a gun, so it is self-regulating.

 

thank you!   I was responding to the second post and got so excited I just reacted!

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jColes said: Funny article, great satire on the prohibiting libeals from owning/carrying firearms.  But Feed Fwd: libs aren't red-blooded -- they're anemically pink-blooded, pansy-yellow bellied, saffron-hearted ninnies...and Lab: chill, brother...Adams writes some hysterically funny jibes at the Left...and considering that the man lives & works in the most despotic of leftist environments -- academia -- we have to credit the dude with having gigantic, solid titanium stones...

 

Pink works for me, but I specifically said red as in communist as opposed to blue-blooded and I believe Labrador is a sister, not a brother.

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I get his point ,

  Most criminology scholars are aware of the numbers and the reality of restricting free lawabiding citizens their "God-Given " right of protection.  \

It takes an idealistic liberal to dream up a false solution to a problem. 

I am more alarmed that we have been bombarded with ads from big pharma and the one common denominator in the mass shootings of the last several years was not gun ownership but people with a history of troubling and usually documented violent behavior, who have had a history of depression and who's shrinks have treated them with powerful drugs that have recognized violent and suicidal side-effects.   

   I know lots of non-medicated gun owners and they don't get their name in the paper for causing harm to co-workers, schoolmates, etc.   Maybe we should really view the mass violence in a proper problem solving manner and quit trying to make sure we don't hurt secular psychology and big pharma's feelings with the truth.   

   Madison and Jefferson had it right and still do unless freedom is not worth keeping.   We owe it to those who fought for our freedoms over the last century to uphold all of the freedoms and not let fear remove our ability to reason.

God Bless the United States of America and her Constitution.   I hope we leave it to the next generation intact.

TG

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The number of physicians in the U.S. is 700,000. Accidental deaths caused by Physicians per year are 120,000. Accidental deaths per physician is 0.171. Statistics courtesy of U.S. Dept of Health Human Services.

Now think about this: The number of gun owners in the U.S. is 80,000,000. Yes, that's 80 million. The number of accidental gun deaths per year, all age groups, is 1,500. The number of accidental deaths per gun owner is .000188. So, statistically, doctors are approximately 9,000 times more dangerous than gun owners. Guns don't kill people, doctors do. FACT: NOT EVERYONE HAS A GUN, BUT ALMOST EVERYONE HAS AT LEAST ONE DOCTOR.

Out of concern for the public at large, I have withheld the statistics on lawyers for fear the shock would cause people to panic and seek medical attention.

G47, the problem is every time there are shootings, liberals jump right out and shoot "gun control", and they still think the shooters care.

I want to shot some guns also, too bad I live in city. 

Well then, KM, come on down to my place in East Lower Alabama. As a (formerly certified but I let the paper lapse) NRA weapons instructor (pistol, rifle & shotgun), I'll be happy to teach a fellow FS member how to safely use, store and transport your weapon of choice...don't own a weapon? I'll provide weapon & ammo for the training.

Same offer applies to any on FS who'd like to learn about personal weapons, weapons safety, storage, transportation...the whole gamut.

Your travel is on you...one of our guest suites and meals are gratis to you.

If anyone wants to take advantage of the offer send me a PM, please.

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jColes said:

Well then, KM, come on down to my place in East Lower Alabama. As a (formerly certified but I let the paper lapse) NRA weapons instructor (pistol, rifle & shotgun), I'll be happy to teach a fellow FS member how to safely use, store and transport your weapon of choice...don't own a weapon? I'll provide weapon & ammo for the training.

Same offer applies to any on FS who'd like to learn about personal weapons, weapons safety, storage, transportation...the whole gamut.

Your travel is on you...one of our guest suites and meals are gratis to you.

If anyone wants to take advantage of the offer send me a PM, please.

 

Well, I hope I have the chance (and have the gut, lol) to leave northeastern state and go to other states and check it out someday.

do you need some kind of permit to shoot down there? 

KM...nope, no permit required to shoot...those who want to carry have to get a permit, but Alabama is a 'must-issue' state for all qualified citizens of the state...Quailfied means no felony conviction ever, no misdemeanor conviction within the past five years and no history of mental health problems...They do a NCIC background check plus state & local records check...I think people born after 1973 have to take a firearms safety course or have completed the hunter safety course and have their certificate available...of course to hunt or fish one needs a license...

But to shoot on private property outside of city limits -- no sweat...or at one of the many commercial ranges, again no problem...

Seriously, you or any other of our FS partners are invited.

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The answer to gun control of any kind whether it would be a compromise or anything is NO!

 

hmm, interesting...

NYC has like the strickest gun laws, according to my ex-cop professor, you need each permit to process, to store, and shoot a target, really troublesome.

Well, I do love to shoot some guns (I am a guy, you know, want to have some totally new fun, not to practice to shoot someone, lol). I have no idea what shooting guns is like. I don't think I would ever have any luck within the city to touch a real gun, even within NY state. But, in this moment, I don't have much funding to go out a long way though, lol.

Well, jcoles, if you are seriously serious, I would like to "reserve" a spot. Who knows, one day I may be ready to really go down to Alabama for a few days. But this may take me a few years though, and assume you are still alive and well at that time :D

Gerald47 said:

The number of physicians in the U.S. is 700,000. Accidental deaths caused by Physicians per year are 120,000. Accidental deaths per physician is 0.171. Statistics courtesy of U.S. Dept of Health Human Services.

Now think about this: The number of gun owners in the U.S. is 80,000,000. Yes, that's 80 million. The number of accidental gun deaths per year, all age groups, is 1,500. The number of accidental deaths per gun owner is .000188. So, statistically, doctors are approximately 9,000 times more dangerous than gun owners. Guns don't kill people, doctors do. FACT: NOT EVERYONE HAS A GUN, BUT ALMOST EVERYONE HAS AT LEAST ONE DOCTOR.

Out of concern for the public at large, I have withheld the statistics on lawyers for fear the shock would cause people to panic and seek medical attention.

 

I don't care who you are, that's funny right there.  And very sad at the same time.

 

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Elana...the best humor is always based on reality...doctors & hospitals really are dangerous...I avoid both like the plague (pun intended).

 

KM-- of course I'm serious...come on down whenever you can get away...It's a three-hour plane ride to Montgomery, AL, or two short driving days by car...if the NT to New Orleans train still runs it's one full day & part of a night to Montgomery...I'll meet you...just give me two days notice. 

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