A new analysis of 56 mass shootings across America since 2009 finds women and family members are the most frequent victims, and that the shooter almost always acquired his guns legally, in cases where the gun source is known.
“In at least 32 of the cases (57 percent), the shooter killed a current or former spouse or intimate partner or other family member, and at least eight of those shooters had a prior domestic violence charge,” the Mayors Against Illegal Guns report on mass shootings said, suggesting that the problem of gun violence is far more related to violence against women in homes than rampages in public settings such as schools and theaters.
The study also found that in the cases where the source of the guns was known, almost all were acquired legally: only two examples were given of mass killings with a stolen or illegal gun. That finding runs counter to the gun lobby’s oft-cited rhetoric that only criminals abuse guns.
“We had sufficient evidence to judge whether the shooter was a prohibited gun possessor in 42 of the 56 incidents,” the report said, referring to laws barring ex-felons, mentally ill people, drug addicts and other categories of people from owning guns. “Of those 42 incidents, 15 (36 percent) involved a prohibited possessor and 27 (64 percent) did not.”
You know personally I already knew this to be true but it is good to see it backed up with data.
Now the only question is can we get it out to the public at large, and help to change the debate that has for too long been shaped by the NRA and other 2nd Amendment fetishists?
OMG, Gryphen, could you have posted a more vile and disgusting image than that? Wow. Really disturbing, I have to say. In fact, sort of sick and twisted. I know you're trying to make a point, but geeze, please warn us next time.
ReplyDeletePuhleeze! Your faux OTT reaction is such sillyness.
DeleteYou know, I agree with you Anon 2:51. I'm a tad disturbed about the several recent sexual innuendos in gun posts, i.e., penis size compensation of owners of large guns (which begs the question, what about compensation issues for women gun owners?) and now this posting of a man licking a pistol! Sheesh!
DeleteAnd yes, I know statistics/graphs don't have near the reader attraction that OTT photos do, but still...
By the way, I'm a safe and sane, responsible, gun owner but my handgun is a small frame semi-auto. OMG! What does that say about my anatomy wishes? *collapsing on fainting couch*
There are people who have a gun fetish. You're not one of them, obviously, but I'm sure you some some who are.
DeleteMy partner and I have a gun, he knows how to shoot it, I don't. However, the only reason we could ever see to use it is if we were absolutely starving and had to shoot one of the moose that cruise our property, and we'd hate to have to do that, more than just about anything in this world. Suffice it to say, he can kill it, and I can butcher it, but really, I hope in my lifetime it never comes to having to kill wild game for a meal!
ReplyDeleteThat picture is disgusting. First thing that I thought when the page came up.
ReplyDeleteAnother day in the (gun crazy) U.S.A.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/02/25/1189743/-Another-day-in-the-gun-crazy-U-S-A
Obama Gun Control Likely To Be Broken Into Pieces By Senate
ReplyDeletehttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/25/obama-gun-control_n_2761488.html
This is O/T, Gryphen, but I thought you'd enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteColbert Drops Character, Delivers Hilarious Introduction For Sister At South Carolina Bowling Fundraiser
Stephen Colbert announced on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon last week that he would be hosting a fundraiser for his Congressional candidate sister at a South Carolina bowling alley this past weekend, and the late night host did not disappoint. Colbert treated the crowd in attendance to a heartfelt endorsement of Elizabeth Colbert-Busch, noting that she’s the first political candidate he’s actually supported.
Discussing the “character Stephen Colbert” from The Colbert Report, he said, “He talks about politics all the time, and he has stuck his toe in the waters of American politics, and occasionally his finger in the eye of American politics, but I have never actually supported any candidate before.” Colbert added that if he didn’t support Colbert-Busch, he 92-year-old mother would be very “disappointed.”
From there, he went on to praise his sister, retelling some of the charming childhood stories he shared during the only time he has discussed her candidacy thus far on his show and sharing details about her career.
His relatively private speech, now public thanks to one YouTube user in attendance, was also a rare chance to see an out-of-character Colbert. Rather than use his right-wing pundit guise to ironically mock Republicans, he went after them directly for opposing no-brainer legislation like the Violence Against Women Act.
One of the biggest cheers Colbert received during his speech came when he said South Carolina’s first Congressional district needs Colbert-Busch “not just because she’s hard-working and talented and intelligent and dedicated. But because she’s sane!”
Watch video below:
http://www.mediaite.com/online/colbert-drops-character-delivers-hilarious-introduction-for-sister-at-south-carolina-bowling-fundraiser/
This is why they put lawmkers balls in a vice about any kind of research, studies, data collection re: gun violence, discharges, accidents and whatnot. They know the data would reveal their threat to the public health, and the 346,000,000 non-NRA members would have something to say about that.
ReplyDelete"56 mass shootings across America since 2009"
ReplyDelete56!!!!! In 3 years!!!! Houston, we have a problem.
If this is true, then I suggest guns be treated like cars. You need to renew certain paperwork every year or pay a big fine. In my state we have to get our cars inspected and emissions tested. You must have insurance to get this done as wellSo, for guns, you have to have your gun safe inspected and gun safety checked. If not, you lose your gun.
ReplyDeleteThere. I just created some jobs.
Gryphen, you know - as do most of the constant visitors here - that I am all for banning assault rifles and the oversized magazines available. So, having said that, I am going to ask a question - at the risk of being slammed for it.
ReplyDeleteSince it is a known fact that it is extremely easy to lie with statistics, would you tell us please what they define as "Mass Shootings"?
The gun report the NRA killed with the help of the GOP:
ReplyDelete"What the research showed was not only did having a firearm in your home not protect you, but it hugely increased the risk that someone in your family would die from a firearm homicide. It increased the risk almost 300 percent, almost three times as high."
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/02/26/what-researchers-learned-about-gun-violence-before-congress-killed-funding/
I see no shock value whatsoever in the graphic Gryphen chose for the post. Sex sells, and it's no worse than advertising for guns, cars, cosmetics, etc.
ReplyDeleteWhat bothers me most is the violence against women act SHOULD be the main topic of the conversation, and we've got to somehow link gun control law reform with the VAWA. A protection order is an oxymoron and a useless form to soothe people's consciences into feeling like they've done something to protect women from violence, including gun violence.
I want to add to the "treat guns like cars" comment, but use same requirements as a drivers license. Do away with background checks and just make getting a gun licence as stringent and time consuming as drivers license. All problems will resolve themselves. How could the NRA argue against that. You have to:
ReplyDelete1. Take a $400 gun course ____ "shooters education" that includes all the same type info and requirements as drivers ed.
2. Have a provisional gun licence for nine months
3. Have to log 80 hrs of "practice" with a licensed gun owner
4. Take a shooting/safety test
5. Require shooters insurance.
6. Renew every four years..... Defeating mandatory.
Cars don't kill people, people do. Guns don't kill people, people do. The mentally ill would not get through this rigorous safety, practice, provisional use period of time. The 2 objects that cause the most,death....guns and cars. One takes 3 days with no preperation and the other a minimum of a year with much classroom, practice, and testing. Go figure! Seems like very simple solution that is difficult to argue against. Any thoughts??