Because of our “car culture” – 80 people die a day in auto accidents. Thus the US Taxpayer, which still owns part of GM is responsible for those deaths along with the AAA and license bureaus. Heck- 95 people die each year from lawnmower accidents. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac promoting home ownership should be held accountable because of a “homeowner culture”. Local communities should be held accountable too. They have ordinances about letting grass grow too high, thus a homeowner does it themselves if they can’t afford a landscaper.

jvalver
May 17, 2012
Comment to Racial issues: Face truth about gun violence
[Remember this the next time someone from the Brady Campaign, CSGV, or VPC says something about the NRA or gun manufactures are responsible for a death or injury inflicted by someone using a gun.

It might also be worthwhile to point out they have been creating a culture of hoplophobia and we should “hold them responsible” for the people that were unable to defend themselves because they didn’t have a firearm.—Joe]

What we really need is research and medical-treatment programs for the poor, unfortunate people who are terrified of guns, won’t go near guns, who would not defend themselves or their families if they had to, and who, very plainly, hate guns.

Hate is a terrible thing.

It must be confronted vigorously, righteously, and in a forthright manner. Logic and law do not confront hate, or help lessen it. We must learn not to tolerate gun hate, anywhere we find it.

Hoplophobic behavior in government, schools, and all facets of public life must be recognized for what it is, exposed, and rooted out or treated. Seemingly utopian pacifists are free to profess their love of a weapon-free world, but they must start by disarming the evil, criminal and tyrannical. Disarming the general public is a vent for their twisted fear and hatred, a grotesque affront to freedom, and unacceptable. Disarming an innocent person is an act of violence.

Alan Korwin
HOPLOPHOBIA–A modern scourge.
January 24, 2005
[As a Libertarian I’m generally more closely aligned with Phil (see the last paragraph of this post) than with any mainstream political party. However I would give consideration to a government paid for treatment facility for government employee first offenders hoplophobes as an alternative to prison. But as long as they present no threat to others the poor tormented souls of the Brady Campaign, Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, and the Violence Policy Center should pay for their own treatments.—Joe]

The National Rifle Association has caused more death and injury to Americans then any terrorist group.

James T. Brown
May 1, 2012
Letter: NRA lobby is an assault on U.S.
[If you squint and hold your head just right you might be able to say that he is technically correct. But the path is somewhat tenuous and leads to protective violence rather than criminal violence.

Brown, of course, did not intend his comments to be taken in this manner. Brown should be given all the scorn and ridicule normally given to those that claim teaching of evolution, mixed race marriages, or women being allowed to vote is responsible drought, earthquakes, and the milk cows going dry.—Joe]

Conceived it to be the privilege of every citizen, and one of his most essential rights, to bear arms, and to resist every attack upon his liberty or property, by whomsoever made.

The particular states, like private citizens, have a right to be armed, and to defend, by force of arms, their rights, when invaded.

Roger Sherman
Roger Sherman, during House consideration of a militia bill (1790)
Quoted in Debates in the House of Representatives: Third Session, December 1790 – March 1791. Ed. William C. diGiacomantonio et al. Baltimore: The John Hopkins University Press, 1996,. 92-93.
Volume 14 of the Documentary History of the First Federal Congress of the United States of America, March 4, 1789-March 3, 1791.
[Via Proclaiming Liberty: What Patriots and Heroes Really Said About the Right to Keep and Bear Arms by Philip Mulivor.

Update: As pointed out in the comments by Sean the nature of the argument is interesting. The states have the right to be armed just as private citizens do. As, I think it was, Lysander Spooner pointed out a government has no power which was not granted it by the individuals who formed the government. It is therefore a logical impossibility for the state to grant private citizens rights or powers since the state cannot have any rights or powers which the private citizen did not already have.—Joe]