Who Guards the Guards: Canadian Edition

The anti-gun zealots like to note that every “illegal gun must have been legally owned originally,” and they like to imply that a legal gun owner sold the gun to a criminal. But what about the guns stolen from the police? This happens more often that you think, and it isn’t limited to the United States. Cnews.com is reporting:

“Ottawa police are reviewing how they award contracts to private companies after a security guard became the prime suspect in the theft of a cop’s gun.”

This incident occurred at a police HQ no less.

Who Guards the Guards: Cop Pulls Gun, Gets Desk Duty

Fox 12 in Oregon is reporting “A Portland police officer who pulled a gun during an off-duty traffic dispute has been reassigned to desk duty.”

This is just another sad incident that must remind us (and hopefully the anti-gun crowd) as to why we would be believe it would be unacceptable to live in a nation where only the police are armed, and private citizens are not. While we respect those in law enforcement very much, incidents like this are a wake up call as to why private citizens should also have the right to keep and bear arms.

Boston Globe Mommy Column Weighs in on Gun Issue

The issue of guns and children comes up a lot, but a letter to the Child Caring column in The Boston Globe clearly had an anti-gun bias. First the letter was written (and/or edited) to make it seem a bit more sensational than it needed to be:

“I have a 9-month-old daughter, and her dad and I have split up.  He has a .45 and he owns rifles that he uses to go hunting.  He keeps the rifles in his gun safe but has his .45 sitting in a drawer right next to the baby’s crib.” Read more

Guns Lead to Rising Health Care Costs?

Somehow gun sales are making the health care costs in this country go higher. That’s what Dr. Marie Crandall of Northwestern tried to say on Chicago’s Fox News TV station. According to the Web site recap:

“Medical professionals are pleading with lawmakers to require background checks on all handgun sales. They say legislation of this kind would reduce the escalating health care costs related to gun violence. Dr. Marie Crandall of Northwestern joined us.

“She said a loophole in Illinois law allows private gun sellers to skip the background check when selling a gun, which can allow people who wouldn’t otherwise qualify to get guns. Roughly 40 percent of gun sales in Illinois are private sales.”

We have to ask, why would private sales of guns have any affect on health costs? Her point is that guns can be used in crime or that people could accidentally shoot themselves. But what about the results of smoking and health care costs? What about the fact that there are car accidents every day all over the country? What about the fact that kids fall off bicycles, and swing sets? Guns are not the problem of “escalating health care costs” anymore than guns are fueling the drug war in Mexico. The cause and effect simply isn’t there. Instead this is just another anti-gun zealot who connects the dots, even if there isn’t actually a picture to be seen when the dots are finally connected.

Destroy Confiscated Guns Says The Register Citizen

In an op-ed piece The Register Citizen in Connecticut suggests that police departments should not sell confiscated guns, and instead these items should be destroyed least they fall into the hands of bad people. The editorial cites two unfortunate events, but fails to note that hundreds (or thousands) of guns are sold by police departments every year without event. Likewise, the editors even note:

“Even in a year when the state needs every cent it can raise, the legislation that would have left seized guns in circulation was ill-conceived”

Many states, not to mention local governments, are pinching pennies. It costs money to destroy guns, and as we at FirearmsTruth have pointed out history can be lost when guns are causally destroyed. These are as important to the history of the nation as any car, baseball card or other collectible. But more importantly, these items have value, and as we’ve noted criminals and those intending to do harm will always find a way to find a gun or other weapon. The police should auction the confiscated weapons when these have value, and sell them to law-abiding and responsible citizens. It is good for the bottom line and it might just save some history.

Better Way to Get “Guns” Off the Street

The NBC affiliate in Augusta, Georgia is reporting that there has been a major crackdown in drug dealers and other criminals, and the result could be big. This is the sort of “getting guns off the street” measure we like. This wasn’t a nonsensical attempt to “buyback” the guns, but rather go after the actual criminals. The news site reports:

“Dozens of drug dealers and hundreds of thousands of dollars in drugs and guns are off the streets in Aiken, Edgefield and Richmond counties. The drug sweep included officers at the local, state and federal levels.”

One arrest at a man’s house resulted in said home – which was already condemned – being raised to the ground, while he faces 30 years in prison. Kudos to the law enforcement involved in this case. This is the kind of efforts we’re happy to report about at FirearmsTruth.

Who Guards the Guards: Police Instructor Shoots Self

This quote sums it up:  “People ask how these things happen, but this goes to show you that if you get complacent or get in a hurry accidents can happen.” As we’ve long said, and continue to maintain, guns need to be treated with respect. But last week a retired police officer, and who is now an instructor, accidentally shot himself during a demonstration to recruits. The Dayton Daily News noted:

“Robert J. Stewart, 55, was demonstrating the use of a 9mm Smith & Wesson semiautomatic pistol at about 7:51 p.m. at the firing range when he shot himself in the upper right thigh in front of 24 recruits and several instructors at Butler Tech’s Public Safety Education Center, said Butler County Sheriff’s Sgt. Chuck Laymon.”

We wish Stewart a speedy recovery, and hope that the recruits also learn from this mistake.

Biased Take on Arizona Gun Law

The Arizona Daily Star offered a bit of bias in a feature on the state’s new legislation that would allow adults to carry a concealed weapon. Here is the spin the paper put on this measure:

“Arizona is on the verge of becoming the third state to let just about any adult carry a concealed weapon. Without a word of debate, the House voted 36-19 on Wednesday to eliminate the criminal penalties that now exist if someone has a hidden gun without the necessary state permit. The Senate already has approved the measure.”

What is missing from this explanation is a criminal can already carry a concealed weapon, but a law-abiding citizen cannot (or else he/she becomes a criminal for breaking the law). This new law just ensures that private citizens can protect themselves, but clearly the paper doesn’t see it that way.

Who Guards the Guards: Houston Cop Accidentally Shoots Himself

One argument made time and time by the anti-gun crowd is that gun owners can accidentally cause harm to others or themselves. While the vast majority of gun owners are very responsible, it is true that accidents do happen. And we are sad to report that it has happened with a police officer, something that makes us question the opinion that it is somehow OK for the police to be armed and private citizens not armed. The Houston Chronicle noted:

“A police officer was injured when he accidentally discharged his weapon at an off-duty job in southwest Houston late Saturday afternoon, authorities said… He was taking his pistol out of his waistband and placing it in his police holster when he accidentally discharged it.”

Clearly this was an accident, and we are relieved that the paper added that he was only grazed by the bullet. This could have been far worse of course. But it is also proof that police officer’s are people just like anyone else. They can make mistakes too. But should we rely on police protection as our only line of defense from criminals?

Luzerne Country Sheriff’s Office Not Notifying Gun Owners About Expiration of Permits

Could this be a set up to go after gun owners for letting their permits lapse? While we agree that it is the responsibility of every gun owner to keep track of the expiration dates of their respective gun permits, just as everyone needs to keep track of expiration dates for driver’s licenses and passports, the news from CitizensVoice is a concern:

“The Luzerne County Sheriff’s Office has not been complying with a state mandate to notify gun owners when a license to carry a concealed weapon is about to expire, according to two state legislators. State Rep. Phyllis Mundy, D-Kingston, and state Rep. Ed Staback, D-Archbald, sent a letter dated March 29 to Acting Sheriff Charles Guarnieri about the compliance failure. Staback, chairman of the House Game and Fisheries Committee, said Guarnieri is required to send renewal forms to license holders 60 days before a license expires.”

We are happy to see that two Democrats are also upset about this, and regardless of party lines this isn’t an issue that should be taken lightly.

And to everyone, if you are required to have a permit for your guns, check to make sure you’re not coming due or worse that it is already expired!