The myth of moderate gun control
The Times Union has a decent piece on how neither side in the gun control debate wants to compromise. It also features this neat quote on sensationalism:
“Every time we start to do something sensible about gun control, somebody shoots John Lennon and then we legislate to that”
On the polarization of the gun issue:
When it comes to guns in America, experts agree that debate and legislation are driven largely by politics, paranoia, ignorance and media sensationalism — forces that rarely result in sensible public policy.
Those who study the issue say pro- and anti-gun forces are so polarized and concerned about protecting their ideological points they stymie credible policies that could reduce gun violence. Last month’s expiration of the federal assault weapons ban, they say, is a case in point.
Critics of the assault weapons ban — including some backers of gun control — say it had little or no effect on crime. Yet many gun control advocates dismissed any question about the law’s impact and instead blamed the law’s demise on what they call a grotesquely powerful gun lobby — led by the 4 million member National Rifle Association.
I would also add media ignorance to the list as most folks think the ban actually affects assault weapons. Additionally, a little fact checking was done and noted in the article:
Arulanandam cited last year’s Violence Policy Center report “Officer Down,” which said that one in five law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty is slain with an assault weapon. The statistic was repeated by major news organizations in writing about the law, but it’s not quite right.
The Violence Policy Center acknowledges that it included officers killed with weapons that were not covered by the assault weapon ban, calling it an insignificant difference.
So, they lied and think it doesn’t matter? Unfortunately, the article goes on to sing the praises of Americans for Gun Safety as a non-partisan, non-political common sense gun law organization. This is simply not the case. This organization is anti-gun but it tries to wrap itself in a moderate package. You can’t polish a turd.
December 1st, 2004 at 1:49 pm
[…] ease firearm-related death and injury. Actually, the VPC conducts no real research. They tend to make it up.
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October 19th, 2004 at 8:27 am
Makes you wonder what the VPC considers “significant,” don’t it?
October 19th, 2004 at 2:55 pm
I think the article started to tilt left here: “Those who study the issue say pro- and anti-gun forces are so polarized and concerned about protecting their ideological points they stymie credible policies that could reduce gun violence.” It’s half true. I cannot think of a single credible policy that has been opposed by the gunners.