Tuesday, June 21, 2005

Firearms in the home, are they safe? (Yes!)

The essay, which I've slightly modified here was originally written for my English 111 class.

Are firearms in the home safe? That is a question often brought up, especially after an incident of a child dying as the result of a firearms accident. Whether or not having firearms in the home is safe of not depends mostly on the owner of the firearm. Millions of Americans keep guns in the home for sport and protection. Accidental deaths only occur with a very small minority of the gun-owning population. Merely following the basic rules of gun safety would reduce gun accidents. Overall however, firearms account for relatively few home injury deaths.

A report published on the www.preventinjury.org website states that in 2002, 80 children aged 14 or under died as a result of firearm accidents. While of course, the death of a child is always tragic, the site also states that 620 children aged 14 or under, died of suffocation, 420 died of drowning, 320 died of burns and 160 choked to death.

The Home Safety Council states that for the years 1992-1999, home firearm accidental deaths numbered on the average, 590 per year. However during the same time span, falls accounted for 5,961 home injury deaths, poisoning for 4,833 deaths, fires and burns 3.402 deaths and choking for 1,092 accidental deaths.

While accidental gun deaths are rare, they are even more rare when compared to other home injury deaths and only involve a small minority of the gun-owning public. www.GunCite.com, citing as sources gun supply statistics from the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms and accident rates reported by the National safety Council that accidental gun deaths overall has declined 60% , from 1975 to 1995 despite gun ownership increasing by about 60% during the same time period. (3)

Obviously and especially if there are children around, guns should be secured from theft or misuse. There are many types of gun lockers and safes available, ranging from the fairly low-security, metal storage locker type to heavy-duty safes. If the gun is kept for self-defense, there are also small safes that can be programmed with electronic combinations so that the gun can be accessed quickly during an emergency. There are also a few biometric safes that can only be opened by the owner’s or other authorized person’s fingerprints that are recognized by an electric reader on the safe. One of the simplest ways to keep most guns safe from unauthorized use is to lock a padlock in the trigger guard, with the hasp behind the trigger which will keep the trigger being pulled completely. Of course, this only works if the hasp is big enough to block the trigger.

Firearms owners with children should consider teaching them about firearms. There are many anecdotal accounts of children being raised around guns and even growing up with guns readily accessible to them and never having any accidents. One of my older friends said his father kept a gun in his dresser drawer and told his children not to touch it without him around. My friend told me they didn’t. While few people these days would consider that an option, teaching them about guns is a wise thing to do.

Paxton Quigley, in her book Armed & Female writes that it would be instructive to show children what a gun can do by shooting a cantaloupe or a full can of soda. She writes that such a demonstration will show young people that guns are to be taken seriously. (My English teacher wrote in her notes on my paper that seeing a cantaloupe explode may increase the interest of children, to which I say Cool! The intention isn’t to make children afraid of guns and become ball-less liberals, it’s to teach them that guns should be respected.)

Although many Americans may only keep firearms for hunting and other sporting purposes, many others, me included keep guns for self-defense. One often-cited claim, initiated by Dr. Arthur Kellerman of the Emory University School of Public Health is that a gun in the home is 43 times more likely to kill a family member than an intruder.

Dr. Miguel Faria Jr., writing in the 30 September 1996 issue of The New American magazine states that in over half of the cases cited by Kellerman, the households had a history its members being arrested, over 30% of the households cited had a history of drug abuse. Dr. Faria (and many others) notes that Kellerman did not take into consideration incidents where a criminal was either frightened off or only wounded by an armed citizen.

Dr Faria also notes Professor Gary Gleck’s work in the book Point Blank: Guns and Violence in America, which reported that based on Gleck’s studies, guns are used defensively approximately 2.5 million times a year.

Are guns in the home safe? For the vast majority of law-abiding gun owners, yes. But it also takes common sense and education about gun safety.

Works Cited

Preventinjury.org Home Injury.

30 Nov 2004

Homesafetycouncil.org. Unintentional Home Injury Deaths

30 Nov 2004 <http://www.homesafetycouncil.org/state_of_home_safety/sohs_2004_w002.aspx

Guncite.com. Gun Accidents (and Kids & Gun Accidents)

< http://www.guncite.com/gun_control_gcgvacci.html>

Quigley, Paxton. Armed and Female. St Martin’s paperback edition, November

30, 1990.

Sunday, June 12, 2005

How I Spent Last Thursday (9 June 2005)

Last Thursday I attended two meetings, one consisting of “conservatives” the other, a group of God-hating/Republican-bashing Marxists, or as they call themselves, (in)Humanists.

The first was a meeting or Republican women. The meeting featured a young Republican who said with a straight face that Bush Jr. was the most “Conservative” president we’ve had in years. While he’s obviously more Conservative than HilLIARy’s husband (who’s name I won’t soil my computer screen by typing it) and possibly slightly more Conservative than his father, he’s no Conservative in the classical sense. He’s spending more government money than a drunken Ted Kennedy, he’s pushing for amnesty for illegal aliens, appoints queers to public offices and supports treaties damaging to US sovereignty like CAFTA and the FTAA. He contrary to the myth, he supports the United Nations. Despite his many faults, given the same choices I would vote for him again.

The young (23) woman was delighted that Republican-lite Abel Maldonado was elected to the state senate. Again, Maldonado was the better choice over Democrat (Marxist-socialist) Peg Pinard. However, Maldonado prides himself on being an “independent” and says he sometimes votes against the GOP. While that in itself isn’t always a bad thing Maldonado supports classic socialists agendas like, socialized medicine and says he’s an environmentalist. He also supports open primaries.

She also mentioned that Bruce McPherson, a notorious Republican-lite, had been appointed secretary of state by Republican-very-lite Arnold Schwarzenegger. Frankly, I don’t trust any ”Republican” who’s married to a Democrat, much less a Kennedy. *spit*

Given the youth of this woman, she’s probably too young to remember what Conservative really means. Then again, she said her parents were liberals. I suppose to her anything to the right of that, no matter how slight could be considered Conservative.

Later on that night, I visited the heart of darkness side, a collection of people vile, disgusting and treasonous. People I only barely consider to be human beings. That night I went to a meeting of the Monterey Bay Area (in)Humanist Association.

The topic of discussion was the book, “Don’t Think of an Elephant”, written by George Lakoff. The book is imagined by the (in)Humanists to be “the antidote to the last forty years of conservatives strategizing and the right wing’s “stranglehold” on the political dialogue in the United States” Basically, they’re upset that Conservatives, however few still exist and that they can’t “yet” force them into silence. Lakoff claims his book will tell how Conservatives think and how to counter our arguments.

While I won’t bore you with a full account of their ramblings, I will mention some of the “highlights” of their talk. A CD was played of Lakoff addressing a group of like-minded “people”. Lakoff spoke of being confused when Conservatives spoke of family values, which is understandable as liberals have neither family values nor any moral values whatsoever.

Lakoff confused even me when he claimed he was puzzled as to what tax-cuts had to do with abortion and machineguns. (He claimed all Conservatives were for everyone owning a machinegun (?)) He spoke of the “contradiction” of Conservatives being pro-life, but pro-death penalty. He repeated the tired old liberal rant of tax cuts being for the “rich” and that Dr. James Dodson thinks only people with low morals need social programs.

One interesting part of the meeting was when Darby Moss Worth(less) (Women’s International League of Peace and Freedom, Peace Coalition-Monterey County) took time away from making announcements to ask me (I was attempting to keep a low profile) where in the Bible did Jesus favor the rich over the poor or when Jesus supported pre-emptive war. I think it was the association president, Mark Folsom who ended the interrogation. I did manage to add that Jesus valued rich and poor equally.

Also during the meeting, a man described what he thought would be the ideal speech for a U.S. president to make. He said the president should tell the world that the U.S. wants to dismantle its military and that if other countries agree to do the same, we would too.

Now really, is it possible for anyone over the age of twelve to be that simple-minded? I say no. Anyone that foolish would have to have a severe hatred for this Country or just complete fools or total imbeciles.

And how would any collection of Marxists get by without speaking of “overpopulation?” Of course that was brought up during the meeting. Given that the median age of the people there was about 72, they could contribute a bit to depopulation by dying off. Frankly, I think it’s too bad that we can’t start shooting these neo-Marxists pukes (young and old) right now.

But, dare to dream.

ROBOT

831-241-0484

Liberalism=Communism

I’m sure you’ve noticed, especially recently that liberals often use terms like fascism or Nazism when referring to Republicans. It’s ironic that they’ve been using those terms a lot when whining about the possibility of filibusters being halted when it comes to court appointments. Do I understand this right? Liberals, most of whom claim to be Democrats are opposed to the democratic process of voting when a vote may not go their way. Yet, they call the Republicans who want to have a straight (No offense to queers) up or down vote, fascists.

I think their gratuitous use of the terms fascism and Nazism gives an insight to their true political agenda. Lenin once said that Communism must be built with non-Communist hands. While I think it’s accurate to call most liberal Democrats Communists, for the sake of this posting, I’ll consider them the “non-Communist” hands, working to build Communism.

Lenin also prescribed the type of slander used by Liberals against their opposition. “Members and front organizations must continually embarrass, discredit and degrade our critics. When obstructionists (To the cause) become too irritating, label them as FASCISTS, NAZI or anti-Semitic. Constantly associate those who oppose us with those names which already have a bad smell. The association will, after enough repetition become fact in the public mind.”

Why do I consider democrats in general and liberals in particular as working to build and support Communism? Look at their record. Take into account the causes they support, the politics of the people they support and associate with and their seething hatred for the Christian religion and ideals that formed this Country.

During the 40’s and 50’s when Communists, both Soviet agents and fellow travelers infested government agencies such as the State Department, who were the main people opposing the investigations into the traitors? It was mostly Democrats. Back then, it probably wasn’t the majority of them. Several prominent Democrats actively opposed Communism. Names that come to mind are Hubert Humphrey, who helped purge Communists from the Democratic Farmer Labor Party in Minnesota, John F. Kennedy who supported the late, great and often slandered Sen. Joseph McCarthy. There was also Attorney Robert Kennedy who authorized the wiretapping of Martin Luther King because of his working with Communists during the civil rights movement.

On the other hand there are the Red Democrats. Bella Abzug, who has since passed on to hang with Lenin (V. Lenin and John Lennon) supported opposed going to war with Hitler during the time of the Hitler-Stalin pact, when the Communist Party USA (CPUSA) opposed war with Germany. When Hitler invaded Russia Abzug followed the CPUSA’s lead and supported was with Germany.

It was mostly Democrats who supported the Communists in Vietnam and again, it was mostly Democrats (Les Aspin David Bonior, Barbara Boxer, Nancy Pelosi, Barney Frank, Richard Gephardt, Charles Rangel, Pat Schroeder and many others who supported the Communist government of Nicaragua.

It is mostly liberal Democrats who oppose U.S. military spending, to include spending for the research of missile defense technology.

A good source for information for the goals of Red Democrats is www.dsausa.org.

While this list is somewhat dated, several of these people are still involved in Democratic politics.

Member/Position/District

Address

Phone

Website

Peter DeFazio
(OFFICER, OREGON-04)

2134 RHOB

225-6416

WEBSITE

Dennis Kucinich (Chairman)
(CHAIR, OHIO-10)

1730 LHOB

225-5871

WEBSITE

Barbara Lee (Vice Chair)
(OFFICER, CALIFORNIA-09)

426 CHOB

225-2661

WEBSITE

Cynthia McKinney
(OFFICER, GEORGIA-04)

124 CHOB

225-1605

WEBSITE

Major Owens
(OFFICER, NEW YORK-11)

2309 RHOB

225-6231

WEBSITE

Bernie Sanders
(OFFICER, VERMONT)

2135 RHOB

225-4115

WEBSITE

Paul Wellstone
(OFFICER, MINNESOTA)

136 HSOB

224-5641

WEBSITE

members

Member/Position/District

Address

Phone

Website

Neil Abercrombie
(MEMBER, HAWAII-01)

1502 LHOB

225-2726

WEBSITE

Tammy Baldwin
(MEMBER, WISCONSIN-02)

1022 LHOB

225-2906

WEBSITE

Xavier Becerra
(MEMBER, CALIFORNIA-30)

1119 LHOB

225-6235

WEBSITE

David Bonior
(MEMBER, MICHIGAN-10)

2207 RHOB

225-2106

WEBSITE

Corrine Brown
(MEMBER, FLORIDA-03)

2444 RHOB

225-0123

WEBSITE

Sherrod Brown
(MEMBER, OHIO-13)

2438 RHOB

225-3401

WEBSITE

Michael Capuano
(MEMBER, MASSACHUSETTS-08)

1232 LHOB

225-5111

WEBSITE

Julia Carson
(MEMBER, INDIANA-10)

1339 LHOB

225-4011

WEBSITE

William "Lacy" Clay
(MEMBER, MISSOURI-01)

415 CHOB

225-2406

WEBSITE

John Conyers
(MEMBER, MICHIGAN-14)

2426 RHOB

225-5126

WEBSITE

Danny Davis
(MEMBER, ILLINOIS-07)

1222 LHOB

225-5006

WEBSITE

Rosa DeLauro
(MEMBER, CONNECTICUT-03)

2262 RHOB

225-3661

WEBSITE

Lane Evans
(MEMBER, ILLINOIS-17)

2211 RHOB

225-5905

WEBSITE

Eni Faleomavaega
(MEMBER, AMERICAN SAMOA)

2422 RHOB

225-8577

WEBSITE

Sam Farr
(MEMBER, CALIFORNIA-17)

1221 LHOB

225-2861

WEBSITE

Chaka Fattah
(MEMBER, PENNSYLVANIA-02)

1205 LHOB

225-4001

WEBSITE

Bob Filner
(MEMBER, CALIFORNIA-50)

2463 RHOB

225-8045

WEBSITE

Barney Frank
(MEMBER, MASSACHUSETTS-04)

2252 RHOB

225-5931

WEBSITE

Luis Gutierrez
(MEMBER, ILLINOIS-04)

2452 RHOB

225-8203

WEBSITE

Earl Hilliard
(MEMBER, ALABAMA-07)

1314 LHOB

225-2665

WEBSITE

Maurice Hinchey
(MEMBER, NEW YORK-26)

2431 RHOB

225-6335

WEBSITE

Jesse Jackson, Jr
(MEMBER, ILLINOIS-02)

313 CHOB

225-0773

Sheila Jackson-Lee
(MEMBER, TEXAS-18)

403 CHOB

225-3816

WEBSITE

Stephanie Tubbs Jones
(MEMBER, OHIO-11)

1516 LHOB

225-7032

WEBSITE

Marcy Kaptur
(MEMBER, OHIO-09)

2366 RHOB

225-4146

WEBSITE

Tom Lantos
(MEMBER, CALIFORNIA-12)

2217 RHOB

225-3531

WEBSITE

John Lewis
(MEMBER, GEORGIA-05)

343 CHOB

225-3801

WEBSITE

Jim McDermott
(MEMBER, WASHINGTON-07)

1035 LHOB

225-3106

WEBSITE

James P. McGovern
(MEMBER, MASSACHUSETTS-03)

430 CHOB

225-6101

WEBSITE

Carrie Meek
(MEMBER, FLORIDA-17)

2433 RHOB

225-4506

WEBSITE

George Miller
(MEMBER, CALIFORNIA-07)

2205 RHOB

225-2095

WEBSITE

Patsy Mink
(MEMBER, HAWAII-02)

2210 RHOB

225-4906

WEBSITE

Jerry Nadler
(MEMBER, NEW YORK-08)

2334 RHOB

225-5635

WEBSITE

Eleanor Holmes Norton
(MEMBER, D.C.)

2136 RHOB

225-8050

WEBSITE

John Olver
(MEMBER, MASSACHUSETTS-01)

1027 LHOB

225-5335

WEBSITE

Ed Pastor
(MEMBER, ARIZONA-02)

2465 RHOB

225-4065

WEBSITE

Donald Payne
(MEMBER, NEW JERSEY-10)

2209 RHOB

225-3436

WEBSITE

Nancy Pelosi
(MEMBER, CALIFORNIA-08)

2457 RHOB

225-4965

WEBSITE

Bobby Rush
(MEMBER, ILLINOIS-01)

2416 RHOB

225-4372

WEBSITE

Jan Schakowsky
(MEMBER, ILLINOIS-09)

515 CHOB

225-2111

WEBSITE

Jose Serrano
(MEMBER, NEW YORK-16)

2342 RHOB

225-4361

WEBSITE

Hilda Solis
(MEMBER, CALIFORNIA-31)

1641 LHOB

225-5464

WEBSITE

Pete Stark
(MEMBER, CALIFORNIA-13)

239 CHOB

225-5065

WEBSITE

Bennie Thompson
(MEMBER, MISSISSIPPI-02)

2432 RHOB

225-5876

WEBSITE

John Tierney
(MEMBER, MASSACHUSETTS-06)

120 CHOB

225-8020

WEBSITE

Tom Udall
(MEMBER, NEW MEXICO-03)

502 CHOB

225-6190

WEBSITE

Nydia Velazquez
(MEMBER, NEW YORK-12)

2241 RHOB

225-2361

WEBSITE

Maxine Waters
(MEMBER, CALIFORNIA-35)

2344 RHOB

225-2201

WEBSITE

Diane Watson
(MEMBER, CALIFORNIA-32)

2413 RHOB

225-7084

WEBSITE

Mel Watt
(MEMBER, NORTH CAROLINA-12)

2236 RHOB

225-1510

WEBSITE

Henry Waxman
(MEMBER, CALIFORNIA-29)

2204 RHOB

225-3976

WEBSITE

Lynn Woolsey
(MEMBER, CALIFORNIA-06)

2263 RHOB

225-5161

WEBSITE


I’ll continue my discussion of the threat liberals pose to the Country at a later date.