Cobb describes how the increasing use of federal law against lynchings in the 1950s played a part in restraining the most outrageous forms of anti-black violence, but the relatively relaxed gun control laws of the South and the widespread culture of gun ownership played a part as well. “Nighttime marauders had learned to keep a more respectful distance from their targets because the targets were increasingly prone to shoot back.” The return of so many combat-experienced black soldiers from the two wars meant that terrorizing blacks was no longer a risk-free activity (pp. 123-4). Indeed, it could and sometimes did get Klansmen killed.

Clayton Cramer
April 11, 2014
‘This Nonviolent Stuff’ll Get You Killed:’ Guns and the Civil Rights Movement
[Cramer is referring to Charles E. Cobb Jr. book This Nonviolent Stuff’ll Get You Killed: How Guns Made the Civil Rights Movement Possible (not yet released).

As was reported in Armed and Considered Dangerous: A Survey of Felons and Their Firearms (Social Institutions and Social Change) by Wright and Rossi (there is a second edition out too: Armed and Considered Dangerous: New Second Edition) violent criminals are far less concerned with the possibility of being caught, convicted, and sent to prison by the police than they are with a private citizen shooting them. The reason for this is that punishment via the legal system is at some nebulous point in the future, of relatively low probability, and most likely, of non lethal consequence. Whereas the private citizen with a gun, motivated by a violent attack on their person or a family member, is able and willing to deliver a lethal blow in seconds.

I expect the average Klansmen was of similar intelligence to the average violent criminal, of which he was subset, and could do the probabilistic calculations necessary to appropriately conclude there were more healthy life choices available.—Joe]

There can be no compromise with the gun haters. They want to ban all firearms and disarm everyone except the servants of the State. First vilification of firearms in the name of “safety”, then registration,then confiscation.

The Constitution is very clear. What part of “the right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed” is so hard to understand?

Danny Ross
April 15, 2014
Comment to America needs to find middle ground on gun control issue
[There are some issues for which there is no compromise. Can we compromise on the 13th Amendment (which made slavery illegal)? The Second Amendment is for the restraint of a tyrannical government. Almost any compromise on the Second Amendment is compromise with a tyrant.

The scale of the tyrant can vary from an individual criminal, to a gang, to a corrupt city government, to an entire nation. Anti-gun people are the allies and/or useful idiots of tyrants. You don’t negotiate or compromise with tyrants of any scale. You defeat them.—Joe]

The summit will feature experts, thought leaders, key advocates from across the country, and fellow Americans who have been personally impacted by gun violence. Participants will hone the skills needed to effectively engage friends, neighbors, media and elected officials in our national conversation about gun violence, and learn about what they can do in their community to help reduce gun violence.

The summit will close with a powerful day of citizen lobbying, as we join together to spread our message throughout the halls of Congress!

Brady Campaign
April 2014
2014 Brady National Summit: Bring It Home!
[I find the language used very interesting. “Thought leaders”? “Hone the skills needed to effectively engage…”? “Spreading our message”?

We don’t want people to have their “thoughts led”. We want people think for themselves.

We don’t “hone our skills” to engage people. We arm ourselves with facts.

We don’t “spread messages in congress”. We demand our congress critters obey the law and respect our rights.

They think differently from me. Perhaps more different than I can think.—Joe]

How sad that the Democratic Communists are now employing children in their war against the United States Constitution. Also, isn’t strange that the Constitution does not make any provisions for automobiles? But it does for firearms. Makes you wonder how they can make a comparison. In any case, using hate speech to violate Americans rights is simply a crime and those responsible should be arrested and jailed just as any other bigot or church burning hater.

AmericanHorseman
April 10, 2014
Comment to 8th graders’ gun control film wins national prize
[I have nothing to add.—Joe]