Laugh it up, eh!
Actually, Baron, what's really sad is that the issue you raise does have its own value. Let's see what can be found rather easily:
Well, that was easy. Finding it, I mean. The hardest part was cleaning up the line breaks from a sloppy text file.
Given the sheer number of firearms thefts that are reported (would you call the cops to report that some idiot had stolen your stolen firearm?), would you at least consider the possibility that some folks obviously don't protect their guns well enough? That's part of the point. Obviously, there comes a point when enough is enough, and you can't fault a gun owner if the gun is stolen. But what degree of security is proper?
What else is easy to find?
Of course, that page is very poorly typed, and I'm not sure what to think of the tutorials in that system. But here's the thing: at some point, we must ask how someone got hold of this or that particular gun. You are trying to laugh away a very real issue: If gun owners wish to pretend that securing their own weapons is a "non-sensical" expectation, yes, there is a problem.
Just give it some thought, Baron. For once, just give anything relevant some thought. Please. Because I really don't see the point of people who don't like or want to possess firearms getting guns in order to protect themselves from the people who like and want to own the things. After all, such a condition only means that even more of my neighbors will live in fear.
Perhaps it would just be easier for gun advocates to address the general question: What does it mean to be a "responsible gun owner"?
____________________
Notes:
Baron Max said:
What the hell does "family, friends.." mean??? That statement is absolutely absurd and means nothing ....
.... IF a family member robbed a gun store, then the brother got one of the guns and commited a murder, then.....? ...LOL!
Actually, Baron, what's really sad is that the issue you raise does have its own value. Let's see what can be found rather easily:
- The Victim Survey (NCVS) estimates that there were 341,000 incidents of firearm theft from private citizens annually from 1987-92. Since the survey does not ask how many guns were stolen, the number
of guns stolen probably exceeds the number of incidents of gun theft ....
.... Reports of stolen guns are included in the NCIC files when citizens report the theft to law enforcement agencies which submit a report to the FBI. All
entries must include make, caliber, and serial number. (BJS, 1995)
- The National Tracing Center of ATF traces firearms to their original point of sale upon the request of police agencies ....
Trace requests represent an unknown portion of all the guns used in crimes. ATF is not able to trace guns manufactured before 1968, most surplus
military weapons, imported guns without the importer's name, stolen guns, and guns missing a legible serial number.
.... Traced guns come from many countries across the globe. However, 78% of the guns that were traced in 1994 originated in the United States and most
of the rest were from--
Almost a third of the guns traced by ATF in 1994 were 3 years old or less. (ibid)
- During the 1987-1992 period, offenders fired their weapons in 17 percent of all non-fatal handgun crimes, missing the victim four out of five times. In 3 percent of the non-fatal crimes committed with handguns, about 21,000 annually, the victim was wounded. In addition, an average 11,100 were killed each year.
During the same period an estimated annual average of 62,000 violent crime victims (approximately 1 percent of all violent crime victims) used a firearm in an effort to defend themselves. In addition, an annual average of about 20,000 victims of theft, household burglary or motor vehicle theft attempted to defend their property with guns.
In most cases victims defending themselves with firearms were confronted by unarmed offenders or those armed with weapons other than firearms. During the six-year period, about one in three armed victims faced an armed offender. (BJS, 1994)
- BJS estimated that more than 340,000 crimes annually involved firearm thefts. During the period almost two-thirds of such losses occurred during household burglaries and almost one-third in larcenies. The survey does not report on thefts or burglaries from stores or other businesses. (ibid)
of guns stolen probably exceeds the number of incidents of gun theft ....
.... Reports of stolen guns are included in the NCIC files when citizens report the theft to law enforcement agencies which submit a report to the FBI. All
entries must include make, caliber, and serial number. (BJS, 1995)
- The National Tracing Center of ATF traces firearms to their original point of sale upon the request of police agencies ....
Trace requests represent an unknown portion of all the guns used in crimes. ATF is not able to trace guns manufactured before 1968, most surplus
military weapons, imported guns without the importer's name, stolen guns, and guns missing a legible serial number.
.... Traced guns come from many countries across the globe. However, 78% of the guns that were traced in 1994 originated in the United States and most
of the rest were from--
Brazil (5%)
Germany (3%)
China (3%)
Austria (3%)
Italy (2%)
Spain (2%).
Germany (3%)
China (3%)
Austria (3%)
Italy (2%)
Spain (2%).
Almost a third of the guns traced by ATF in 1994 were 3 years old or less. (ibid)
- During the 1987-1992 period, offenders fired their weapons in 17 percent of all non-fatal handgun crimes, missing the victim four out of five times. In 3 percent of the non-fatal crimes committed with handguns, about 21,000 annually, the victim was wounded. In addition, an average 11,100 were killed each year.
During the same period an estimated annual average of 62,000 violent crime victims (approximately 1 percent of all violent crime victims) used a firearm in an effort to defend themselves. In addition, an annual average of about 20,000 victims of theft, household burglary or motor vehicle theft attempted to defend their property with guns.
In most cases victims defending themselves with firearms were confronted by unarmed offenders or those armed with weapons other than firearms. During the six-year period, about one in three armed victims faced an armed offender. (BJS, 1994)
- BJS estimated that more than 340,000 crimes annually involved firearm thefts. During the period almost two-thirds of such losses occurred during household burglaries and almost one-third in larcenies. The survey does not report on thefts or burglaries from stores or other businesses. (ibid)
Well, that was easy. Finding it, I mean. The hardest part was cleaning up the line breaks from a sloppy text file.
Given the sheer number of firearms thefts that are reported (would you call the cops to report that some idiot had stolen your stolen firearm?), would you at least consider the possibility that some folks obviously don't protect their guns well enough? That's part of the point. Obviously, there comes a point when enough is enough, and you can't fault a gun owner if the gun is stolen. But what degree of security is proper?
What else is easy to find?
- Of 626 shootings in or around a residence in three U.S. cities ... for every time a gun in the home was used in a self-defense or legally justifiable shooting, there were four unintentional shootings, seven criminal assaults or homicides, and 11 attempted or completed suicides. (WebPath)
Of course, that page is very poorly typed, and I'm not sure what to think of the tutorials in that system. But here's the thing: at some point, we must ask how someone got hold of this or that particular gun. You are trying to laugh away a very real issue: If gun owners wish to pretend that securing their own weapons is a "non-sensical" expectation, yes, there is a problem.
Just give it some thought, Baron. For once, just give anything relevant some thought. Please. Because I really don't see the point of people who don't like or want to possess firearms getting guns in order to protect themselves from the people who like and want to own the things. After all, such a condition only means that even more of my neighbors will live in fear.
Perhaps it would just be easier for gun advocates to address the general question: What does it mean to be a "responsible gun owner"?
____________________
Notes:
Zawitz, Maryanne R. Guns Used in Crime: Firearms, Crime, and Criminal Justice--Selected Findings. U.S. Dept. of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics. July, 1995. See http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/ascii/guic.txt
Press Release. Record Number of Handgun Crimes--Nears One Million a Year. U.S. Dept. of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics. May 15, 1994. See http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/press/hvfsdaft.pr
WebPath. "Statistics, Gun Control Issues, and Safety". Firearms Tutorial, Univ. of Utah. See http://www-medlib.med.utah.edu/WebPath/TUTORIAL/GUNS/GUNSTAT.html
Press Release. Record Number of Handgun Crimes--Nears One Million a Year. U.S. Dept. of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics. May 15, 1994. See http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/press/hvfsdaft.pr
WebPath. "Statistics, Gun Control Issues, and Safety". Firearms Tutorial, Univ. of Utah. See http://www-medlib.med.utah.edu/WebPath/TUTORIAL/GUNS/GUNSTAT.html