For all ages, the fatal gun accident rate is at an all-time low, even as the per capita gun supply is at an all-time high. The annual risk level for a fatal gun accident is 0.22 per 100,000 population–about the risk level for taking two airplane trips a year, or for a whooping cough vaccination.
Category Archives: Quote of the Day
Quote of the day–Jerry M. Burger
The conclusion is not: ‘Gosh isn’t this a horrible commentary on human nature,’ or ‘these people were so sadistic. It shows the opposite — that there are situational forces that have a much greater impact on our behavior than most people recognize.
Jerry M. Burger
December 20, 2008
Shocking revelation: Santa Clara University professor mirrors famous torture study
[This is a reproduction of the infamous Milgram Experiments. I must conclude that this is either a facet of human psychology or at least a facet of multiple cultures. These results have tremendous impact on everything from the Holocaust, Jonestown, and civil rights to gun confiscation. Do not count on people to “do the right thing” if they are given the option of using the excuse “I was just following orders”.–Joe]
Quote of the day–M. Carol Bambery
Self-defense classes, particularly those involving training women to use handguns, often help to provide women the sense of self-worth necessary for them to feel equals in civil society. See Martha McCaughey, Real Knockouts: The Physical Feminism of Women’s Self-Defense (N.Y. Univ. Press 1997). Women who take such classes no longer see themselves as powerless potential victims, but as individuals who may demand that their rights be respected. There is some evidence that men recognize this transformation and alter their conduct toward those women. As one study noted, “[t]he knowledge that one can defend oneself – and that the self is valuable enough to merit defending – changes everything.” Jocelyn A. Hollander, “I Can Take Care of Myself”: The Impact of Self-Defense Training on Women’s Lives, 10 Violence Against Women 205, at 226-227 (2004). Therefore, even if women are never placed in a position to defend themselves with a firearm or their own bodies, there are less material but no less compelling justifications for allowing them that ability. E.g., Mary Zeiss Stange, From Domestic Terrorism to Armed Revolution: Women’s Right to Self-Defense as an Essential Human Right, 2 J. L. Econ. & Pol’y 385-391 (2006).
M. Carol Bambery
Brief of amicae curiae 126 women state legislators and academics in support of respondent in D.C. versus Heller.
Quote of the day–Phil @ Random Nuclear Strikes
I swear that they must have an IQ limit to enter public office these days or something.
Phil @ Random Nuclear Strikes
December 19, 2008
I’d say “He’s giving it to them”
[I think of it as politics being the free market at work. If someone has any brains and/or integrity they avoid politics. The effect is the same however.–Joe]
Quote of the day–Xenia Huffman-Scott
Quote of the day–Bruce Schneier
Why be rational, when you can stoke fear instead?
Bruce Schneier
December 16, 2008
Buying Fake Nintendo Consoles Helps Terrorists
[This applies to so many things.–Joe]
Quote of the day–Ry Jones
First, when you hit a home run, quit; even though you have 90 seconds, you don’t have to fill it all. Several speakers hit home runs, waited for the applause to die down, and finished with a pop fly. Don’t be that guy (or girl).
Secondly, be on topic; the topic tonight was “Seattle ban on firearms on Seattle-owned property”. I don’t care what you think the queers are doing to the soil, keep to the point.
Thirdly, if you have nothing to say, don’t say it. Who got the first big applause of the night? The guy who said “Everything I was going to say has been said, so I’ll not bore you”. Be that guy.
Fourthly, practice. You don’t have to memorize your speech; you should, though, read it aloud a few times. Use a clock and see if you’re in the ballpark for the time allotted.
Lastly, if you are a god damn idiot, stay at home… Several of the speakers went right out in front of God and everybody and confirmed that they were idiots. The three I’m thinking of (one pro, two con) I knew were god damn idiots as soon as I saw them step to the mic.
Ry Jones
December 15, 2008
On public speaking from our visit to the Seattle City Hall meeting where Mayor Nickels sought public comment on his illegal proposal to ban firearms from city property. Pictures here.
[I’ll have more on the meeting later.–Joe]
Quote of the day–Cullen Hightower
The mistakes made by Congress wouldn’t be so bad if the next Congress didn’t keep trying to correct them.
Cullen Hightower
[And instead of undoing what they did in the previous session they add to the previous mistakes.–Joe]
Quote of the day–Will Rogers
Budget: A mythical beanbag. Congress votes mythical beans into it, and then tries to reach in and pull beans out.
Will Rogers
[Something to keep in mind as our government debates what to do about the economic situation.–Joe]
Quote of the day–A. E. Newman
Crime does not pay … as well as politics.
A. E. Newman
[Apparently Rod (Pocket Rocket) Blagojevich was trying to capitalize on this assertion.–Joe]
Quote of the day–Brian Doherty
I also talked to a man named Joe Huffman about his use of guns. Huffman is more unusual in his dedication to the shooting arts. He runs a yearly event called Boomershoot in Idaho, at which people shoot hundreds of yards at four-inch square targets to set off high explosives.
It’s wild fun, of course–an intense experience most shooters don’t get to have. It attracts a lot of media attention for that reason. Like Hughes, when I pressed Huffman on the subject, he explained that more than just pleasure and amusement lies at the heart of his gun ownership. He thinks it’s important to cultivate arcane, high-skilled shooting arts in people he knows because a time may come, as the Founding Fathers knew, when such skills might be useful for more than just outré amusement.
Brian Doherty
Gun Control on Trial–Inside the Supreme Court Battle Over the Second Amendment
Copyright 2008
ISBN 978-1-933995-25-0
[I admire myself for my modesty.
See also Interview about the gun culture.
Numerous other gun bloggers should also be receiving a free copy of this book soon. You’re welcome.–Joe]
Quote of the day–Abraham Lincoln
No man is good enough to govern another man without that other’s consent.
Abraham Lincoln
[Additional justification for Roberta X’s position in the first line of the second paragraph that I quoted from yesterday.–Joe]
Quote of the day–Roberta X
As far as I’m concerned, all governments cross my “line” on Day One. But governments are not like a single baddie confronting one in an alley; you cannot simply shoot them when they try to do you harm. Life can become very inconvenient for you if you even try.
Roberta X
December 10, 2008
Governments, Sandlines And Me
[Roberta hasn’t said anything previously in the “Three Percenter” vs. “Pragmatist” debate and I have said very little. She explains why for both of us.–Joe]
Quote of the day–Bruce Schneier
Of course the terrorists used Google Earth. They also used boats, and ate at restaurants. Don’t even get me started about the fact that they breathed air and drank water.
Bruce Schneier
December 8, 2008
Mumbai Terrorists Used Google Earth, Boats, Food
[Apparently some people are making sounds about how bad it is that Google Earth exists. Essentially, because something can be used for evil purposes the “government should do something”. It’s the same mindset that has lead them to restricting knives (for all the good it has done) and banning fire extinguishers in the UK. It’s not guns, knives, or Google Earth that are the problem yet some people continue to push forward with their brain set to “11” on the insanity scale. As near as I can tell there are few explanations:
- The people “in charge” are unwilling to use rational thought when addressing the situation.
- The people “in charge” are unable to use rational thought when addressing the situation.
- The people “in charge” have ulterior motives for increasing government control of society.
- Some combination of the above.
Regardless of the pathology these people have no business receiving a government paycheck let alone making decisions that adversely affect the lives of millions of people.-Joe]
Quote of the day–Joe Waldron
Ah, yes, the three great lies:
The Mercedes is paid for;
the mortgage check is in the mail, and
“Lawful gun owners have nothing to fear.”
Joe Waldron
8:44 AM, December 8, 2008
Washington state CCW email list
Quote of the day–Thomas Paine
Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.
Thomas Paine
[Which is why every effort should be made to keep government at the smallest size necessary to accomplish its necessary and authorized functions.–Joe]
Quote of the day–William Earl Dungey
So, since I know how to use machine guns, automatic weapons, submachine guns, rifles, pistols, explosives and other such – like I know how to find the proper place and time to defecate so as not to upset the public nor my friends and family – I don’t need the regulations, laws and infringement on my rights to be armed and dangerous. I also don’t advocate destruction of my community, government nor world to make it my way – but then I do think there are more good people in the world than bad – but the bad ones tell lies, cheat and dishonor their ancestors for personal gain and general stupidity. I remain, armed and dangerous, but then that is all in my mind and not in yours, you never think about me – just the old man in the back of the room.
William Earl Dungey
December 6, 2008
One issue people, arise and think…. it matters
Quote of the day–Cherry River Blog
Can anyone here imagine a group of ten ordinary American police officers standing, cowed, behind building corners and simply watching such a slaughter? I doubt it. There may be tactical considerations, and some reasonable self-preservation making a degree of caution possible, but a two-man team with AKs and grenades would not last long even in a place like Los Angeles. Transplant that same situation into most of the rest of America, that beyond the deep-urban elites, and the conclusion of the attack would be swift, brutal, and total, and not in favor of the attackers.
Let those same terrorists figuratively come ashore in a place like Pennsylvania, Texas, or Wyoming, and the police would be arriving only in time to distribute body bags and take pictures.
Cherry River Blog
December 4, 2008
Mumbai
Via David Hardy.
[As pointed out in the comments to the post: one word, “Columbine”. But from both Columbine and 9/11 (flight 93) the police and private citizens learned valuable lessons. Sometimes fighting back NOW is the proper course of action. As long as people have the tools to fight I think the proper mindset will surface when the situation presents itself–even if it is somewhat repressed by modern society.–Joe]
Quote of the day–Richard K. Willard
Just as studies showing the dangers of prejudice and error in jury trials should not undermine a criminal defendant’s Sixth Amendment rights, neither should studies purporting to show the dangers of private gun ownership undermine law-abiding individuals’ Second Amendment rights.
Richard K. Willard
D.C. versus Heller–brief Amicus Curiae Of The Heartland Institute in support of respondent.
Quote of the day–Ride Fast
Why some choose to disarm in the face of a violent enemy is easily explained. Insanity. It’s really no different than fighting a fire by throwing away an extinguisher. Or treating an infection with a Chinese fire drill. It does look like they’re doing something, but I call it surrender.
There are times when negotiation is pointless and accommodation is only seen as weakness. Open carry of legally owned arms would go a long way toward throttling a criminal at the “thinking about it” stage of a violent crime.
Why the good people of Scotland and California continue to elect cowards that codify their fear into law is beyond me.
Ride Fast
December 2, 2008
Gun Control in Scotland
[My outrage is not easily translated into words and probably would be incriminating as well. I think I’m sexist because seeing injured females creates a visceral reaction unmatched by similar injuries to men. And you really don’t want to know what I’m thinking right now.–Joe]