The NRA -- A terrorist organization

White 297

After reading this, I see no reason to ever waist my time with Salem News again.

Stay with me for one more story which is to be out by Wednesday.

Daniel, I'm going to give you a couple pieces of advice. When one makes bold claims as you have done in this article, typically it's important to back up those claims with information. Instead, you wrote a grand total of 427 words. This is the jounalistic equivalent of a drive by shooting. Bitterly ironic considering the subject of your "essay". The second and last piece of advice is this: We don't care what you think. Your opinion is every bit as impotent as the country you were born in. Your opinion does not matter to us.

Deputy Executive Editor, Salem-News.com If he doesn't reflect the views of Salem-New.com who does? Oh well, easy on-easy off.

I thought I had read some pretty good stuff on this site and even forwarded some to young friends. But this article is insane. Where has this writer been living? I've been to Canada a few times and didn't run into anybody this out of touch with reality.

“It’s long past time for the American people to wake up and realize that their so-called Second Amendment rights have gradually turned the National Rifle Association into a terrorist organization…” The vast majority of U.S. law enforcement officers receive their firearms training from NRA Certified Instructors, and the NRA has numerous programs for law enforcement officers. http://www.nrahq.org/law/index.asp Furthermore, criminologists have found that U.S. citizens use firearms for self-defense 2.5 million times a year. http://www.saf.org/LawReviews/KleckAndGertz1.htm U.S. firearms rights have been expanded over last several years, and more citizens are now free to carry firearms in more places. Yet, homicides, including homicides with firearms, as well as all other violent crime have been decreasing since 2006. Moreover, after a dramatic increase in firearms sales and ownership after the last Presidential election including an increase in first time firearms purchases and an increase in firearms carry permits, gun ban groups and zealot predicted that there would be a corresponding increase in murders. However, the U.S. homicide rate decreased from 5.0 per 100,000 in 2009 to 4.8 per 100,000 in 2010. http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2010/crime-in-the-u.s.-2010/tables/10shrtbl08.xls http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2010/crime-in-the-u.s.-2010/tables/10tbl01.xls http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2010/crime-in-the-u.s.-2010/tables/10tbl01a.xls Daniel, criminals certainly view the NRA as a terrorists organization.

Reviewing the comments on this article I see they are pretty much a reflection of why Americans have developed ino the most resourceful people on the planet. No doubt Americans have made many mistakes since our founding, and what country's have not? At any rate, we are an exceptional people as the below comments clearly acknowldge. Well off to the firing range...in the midst of teaching young children firearm safety.

Daniel, Reading this gem and also seeing the banner with "Stop Israeli Apartheid" on it, I would like to sincerely thank you for adding yet another piece of irrefutable evidence to the claim that liberalism is a disease that must be stopped at all costs. The two greatest threats faced by our society: Islam and Liberalism.

Breaking News. . . Breaking News #1. . Along with millions of Kindles, Angry Birds and gift cards, Santa left a record number of guns under Americans' Christmas trees, especially in Kentucky, according to FBI statistics on background checks. YET Breaking News #2. . ATLANTA (AP) - For the first time in 45 years, homicide has fallen off the list of the nation's top 15 causes of death, government health officials said Wednesday. Murder dropped enough in 2010 that it was overtaken at No. 15 by a respiratory illness called pneumonitis that is seen mainly in people 75 and older. This is the first time since 1965 that homicide failed to make the list, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ATLANTA (AP) - For the first time in 45 years, homicide has fallen off the list of the nation's top 15 causes of death, government health officials said Wednesday. =========== Mmm. . . More guns, less crime. . . How could that possibly be. . . Must make a liberal's head spin.

NRA isn't perfect, as a life member I know that. But it helps protect the second ammendment in all it's forms. Gun-banners know they have to split up gun owners into different camps, divide and conquer, as in the UK, and to do that they have to destroy the NRA as a political and financial force, Good luck with that.

The NRA is an extra-judicial body accountable to no one.

You are not nor have You ever been an American citizen, so Your opinion does not matter to Us.

Hi, here in South Africa government implemented a de facto mass gun restriction programme in 2004, over 800,000 weapons were handed in to date due to the prohibitive red tape, pointless training fees and rrelated additional expense to applicants. Result? Government are now hidinf the murder rate, (the highest in the world -outside of a war zone)under 'inquests'. So no, increasing gun restrictrion to the law-abiding does not decrease violent crime, ask John Lott et al, or ffor that matter any other serious researcher. Warm Greetings from the Gun Owners of South Africa. Rather have a gun and not need it than vice versa.

Who teaches more people about firearm safety than any other organization in the world? The NRA.

While I support the right to responsibly bear arms, I do not connect it to the forefathers and I wish none of it existed, having said that I think every person commenting here knows what Daniel is getting at and they refuse for the sake of pride to admit anything at all. The NRA is a group that has rallied one time too many against simple ideas that would promote safety and save lives. Just remember that the intensity of the NRA's efforts could lead to a real backlash if people aren't careful and their excessive determination and right wing position already alienates many gun owners. Oh they don't exactly talk openly about it, but the number of hunters who know the NRA's motives are not genuine are large.

In case you haven't noticed by now, the majority if not all of the comments on your article disagree with you. That should be a clue that you are probably wrong. Not only that but every measurable statistic says you are wrong. I disagree with some of the other posters who tell you to go back to Canada or other such nonsense. There is enough fault in your logic without resorting to ad hominem attacks. I would ask that you post one credible source that shows violent gun crime or accidents increasing in the last 3 decades while laws on gun ownership and ccw laws have been relaxed.

A bit of a hole in your own logic. There was once a time when almost everyone believed the earth was flat. Boy, were they shown up.

“….Peaceful and prosperous up here.” I’ve always believed the crime rate of Canada to be lower than the US, but that was an unverified impression. So in the interest of seeing how much lower, I did some research to find out how much lower. I live in two locations – Memphis, Tennessee and a small town in north-central Arkansas. Memphis is well known for its violent crime – usually in the top five (5) for cities in the US; conversely the small town in Arkansas is fairly low crime. I decided to see how Canada fairs compared to the places where I live by comparing high crime areas of Canada with Memphis and the lowest crime area in Canada with Heber Springs, Arkansas. I was surprised with the results. The Canadian data is from “National Post”/Statistics Canada – The New International Journal of Criminology (Canada) and is regional (rather than urban). Generally non-urban areas have lower crime rates than urban areas. Therefore, regional data will reflect lower crime rates than cities within the region. The Memphis data is from “Wikipedia” and the Heber Springs data is from “City Data”. Because the US data is for particular cities and the Canadian data is regional – the data comparison is somewhat skewed in favor of a lower crime rate in Canada – as explained earlier. All data is for the year 2010. The “high-crime” region for Canada is the north-west quadrant of Hudson Bay; and the low crime data for Canada is the lowest of any region for any particular type of crime (also skewing data in favor of Canada). All data is per 100k population. Here’s how the data order appears: Type of Crime – High Canada Regional/Memphis - Low Canada Regional/Heber Springs Homicide – 18.1 / 13.2 – 0.8 / 0 Sexual Assault – 608 / 62.6 – 41.4* / 54.1 (*PEI – PEI excluded rate is 64.7) Breaking and Entering – 2,035 / 1,944 – 414 / 104 Even with using regional data and “hand picking” the lowest crime rates for Canada – both of which skew data in Canada’s favor the violent crime rate Canada is actually higher than in the US; with the exception of sexual assault on PEI. Excluding PEI, violent crime in Canada is higher in every comparison. Maybe the illusion of “…peaceful and prosperous up here” is a better description. Edit To Add: So in “high crime Canada” - Homicide is +37% , sexual assault is +871% and BandE is +5% compared to Memphis (5th most violent city in US in 2010). In “low crime Canada” – Homicide, while low at 0.8 / 100k, is still infinitely higher, sexual assault -23% (for PEI) / +20% (excluding PEI) and BandE is +298% compared to Heber Springs, Arkansas. Wow ! Sexual assault 871% higher! Maybe if women in this region had the means to defend themselves the rate would be lower. Even the lowest sexual assault rate in Canada (PEI) is almost as high (86%) as the 5th most violent city in the US, and the next lowest Canadian regional rate is actually higher (103%) than 5th most violent city in the US. Apparently Canadians like sexual assault.

Another Side, #1 I say what I wish without fear of some boogey man. #2 firearm violence in this country is mostly fueled by the "drug war" I would also like to point out that the people of Bosnia would have quite a bit to say about what happens when you dont have weapons.Thier saving grace was the mafia because they were the only ones with weapons. Peace

My Next Post: [B]“….peaceful and prosperous up here.”[/B] I’ve always believed the crime rate of Canada to be lower than the US, but that was an unverified impression. So in the interest of seeing how much lower, I did some research to find out how much lower. I live in two locations – Memphis, Tennessee and a small town in north-central Arkansas. Memphis is well known for its violent crime – usually in the top five (5) for cities in the US; conversely the small town in Arkansas is fairly low crime. I decided to see how Canada fairs compared to the places where I live by comparing high crime areas of Canada with Memphis and the lowest crime area in Canada with Heber Springs, Arkansas. I was surprised with the results. The Canadian data is from “National Post”/Statistics Canada – The New International Journal of Criminology (Canada) and is regional (rather than urban). Generally non-urban areas have lower crime rates than urban areas. Therefore, regional data will reflect lower crime rates than cities within the region. The Memphis data is from “Wikipedia” and the Heber Springs data is from “City Data”. Because the US data is for particular cities and the Canadian data is regional – the data comparison is somewhat skewed in favor of a lower crime rate in Canada – as explained earlier. All data is for the year 2010. The “high-crime” region for Canada is the north-west quadrant of Hudson Bay; and the low crime data for Canada is the lowest of any region for any particular type of crime (also skewing data in favor of Canada). All data is per 100k population. Here’s how the data order appears: Type of Crime – High Canada Regional/Memphis - Low Canada Regional/Heber Springs Homicide – 18.1 / 13.2 – 0.8 / 0 Sexual Assault – 608 / 62.6 – 41.4* / 54.1 (*PEI – PEI excluded rate is 64.7) Breaking and Entering – 2,035 / 1,944 – 414 / 104 Even with using regional data and “hand picking” the lowest crime rates for Canada – both of which skew data in Canada’s favor the violent crime rate Canada is actually higher than in the US; with the exception of sexual assault on PEI. Excluding PEI, violent crime in Canada is higher in every comparison. Maybe the [I]illusion[/I] of “…peaceful and prosperous up here” is a better description.

"New Poll: NRA More Popular Than Biggest Teachers' Union. In a new Rasmussen Reports poll, 54% of likely voters viewed the NRA favorably, compared to only 42% who viewed the NEA (the largest teacher's union in America) favorably. And just to show which group is more in touch with America -- Rasmussen's poll also said that though 55% of the "political class" had a favorable opinion of NEA, "the plurality (45%) of Mainstream voters does not." When it comes to the NRA, 75% of the political class "don't care for" it, but 61% of mainstream voters do." http://townhall.com/tipsheet/elisabethmeinecke/2011/07/06/new_poll_nra_more_popular_than_biggest_teachers_union Given the popularity, and constitutional importance of the second amendment (to deter tyranny in govmt), then it stands to reason that all schools should offer classes in marksmanship and proficiency . "An armed society, is a polite society"

As a National Rifle Association Certified Instructor I believe the author of this article is uninformed and wrote a general opinion peace without facts or thought. The NRA prides itself of developing training programs to teach the gun owner on how to safely operate and store a firearm for self defense and sport. I would challenge the author to take a firearms course and spend some time with fellow gun owners and gun clubs in his local area or beyond. One can find a listing of Instructors and classes at http://nrainstructors.org/ and http://www.nra.org/nralocal.aspx .

Here in the real world a quick check of the gun laws and the FBI Uniform Crime Report reveals those places where citizens have the easist access to firearms have the lowest homicide and violent crime rates. It is notable that the US homicide rate was below 1 per 100,000 before the first consistently enforced gun law was enacted in 1905. By 1929, a series of restrictive gun laws sent the homicide rate soaring to 10 per 100,000 population. A rate not seen again until the Gun Control Act of 1958 sent 1962's 4.6 to 1972's 9.0 and 1980's 10.2. Violent crime and murder did not start to decline until the Concealed Carry laws the NRA pushed for started to be enacted in the early 1990's. The latest FBI estimate for 2011 suggests the current rate may be below 4.5 - the lowest rate in more than a century.

Access to firearms has become easier over the last ten years. The issuance of carry permits has increased dramatically over the last five years. This trend crosses party lines with 40% of Democrats and 55% of republicans reporting they own guns (from the 2011 Gallup survey). The support of a majority of the American public fuels these trends. The terrorists in this equation are criminals and the mentally unbalanced that get their hands on weapons of any kind and use them to threaten or harm their fellow citizens. One of the citizens that tackled Loughner was armed and did not draw his gun because he saw that he would not need to. Then there is Sarah McKinley from the Oklahoma City who defended herself and her baby from an intruder who meant to harm them. Armed citizens are not terrorists - terrorists are terrorists. Some use guns, some use bombs, and some use knives - but the thing they have in common is the intent to terrify and cause harm to innocent victims. Those are not traits promoted by the NRA or any other responsible organization that tries to protect the 2nd Amendment.

I am pleased we live in a country where even an irrelevant foreigner can be allowed to give an opinion that is contrary to not just common sense and statistical evidence, but also insults are government structure, then still we can have a non-violent discussion. The NRA is just one of many organizations that trumpet 2nd Amendment rights while also exposing the constant incursions by those who are essentially labeled "gungrabbers." The "gungrabbers" will never give up providing misleading information, and as any reasonably informed person knows, they have been losing traction as their arguments and their propagandized stats are successfully challenged in the forum of common sense. I consider outfits like the gungrabbers as the real terrorists, while the many different 2nd Amendment organizations (there are hundreds) are certainly patriots. Bottom line, as long as facts can be provided in a comprehensive format, the Second Amendment will continue in it's present legal interpretation, and various organizations like the NRA will continue to provide a valuable service to America, and the gungrabbers will certainly continue to wallow in the squalid foam of mediocrity they create.

This article is absolute drivel.

So what would you tell the hundreds of documented people who have used a firearm in self defense in the last few months? http://gunssavelives.net

“If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.” ― Samuel Adams

The NRA is hardly a terrorist organisation because it supports the rights of sports shooters. As for Canada, the majority of thinking Canadians want the boondoggle of the long gun registry gone. Wasteful and non-effective is the epataph for this Liberal fiasco. No tears for this one. Those that support a gun registry fit the definintion of insanity - doing the same thing over and over with the same result but expecting another. Time for a reality check and then move on!

You're posting under multiple names, so your comment is deleted.

My point is that the NRA indirectly encourages violence by increasing gun ownership. Gun ownership is not the problem. Statistics prove that while the ownership rates of guns in the U.S. has been increasing, the rate of violent crime has been decreasing. It is worth noting that in American cities that have banned guns, such as Chicago and our own capital, Washington, D.C., the violent crime rate goes up. The NRA does not advocate criminals or other prohibited persons, the sorts of people who commit crimes, having access to firearms. Instead, it defends the right of people such as me to own the tools to defend ourselves, since the police don't have to.

And the Obama administration authorizing thousands of rifles to be obtained by drug cartels is being a good neighbor?

Over the last thirty years firearms enthusiasts have made great strides to the endeavor of preventing firearms accidents. The NRA deserves most of the credit, but the responsibility falls on all gun owners. This plays out in the fight for our rights. Whether you be for open carry, concealed carry, hunting only or just gun in the home, these facts work to support our cause and debunk the claims of our detractors. You cannot argue that the population has increased. And you have to admit there are more guns than ever. But why does nobody talk about the unintentional (accidents) death rate by firearms? The numbers below represent those taken by me this morning from the CDC database. unintentional death rate by firearms Year...........Deaths.............Rate per 100,000 1981..........1,871.......................82 1985..........1,649.......................69 1991..........1,441.......................57 1996..........1,134.......................42 1998..........866..........................31 2001..........802..........................28 2006..........642..........................21 I'm sure there are variables that can cut this up, but those are the numbers. While the anti's tout the dangers of guns and the millions of guns in America, they fall short of bring up the accident rate. Politics aside. What the NRA and gun owners have been doing in regards to safety and public education is working. And that is something I can believe in and support.

Editing and taking my posts out of context again I see... leave it to a liberal piece of shit canadian to cheat... the reason you dont have a car is because you are too lazy to work for one.. greenpeace? have you done ANY research on greenpeace? apparently not..and I will be writing Tim King yet again, to let him no you edit my posts.

Don't write TK again. He has already cut my pay in half.

another Canadian who hates the American constitution.

>>I'm with Mark Twain on this point: There are lies, damned lies and statistics. Statistics are often used to bolster weak arguments.


Typical lefty. . Don't care about the facts. “You should do what I say because I BELIEVE in it. . Oh, and to hell with what you believe because what I believe is far more intelligent and thoughtful.”

And by the way

>>I guess you've never studied any geography. Canada is not a part of England


Well I guess you’ve never studied any geography either, Canada is not part of Iraq.

I never said it was. It's just one of the many countries in the world that the Untied States has, over the last century, attacked, invaded or destabilized. As I said, you can meddle in other countries, but resent it when the shoe is on the other foot. 

FU and F Canada

Ah, the adults are posting now.

>> I've lived in Canada all my life. Peaceful and prosperous up here.

Well then maybe you should keep you nose OUT of internal American politics/affairs.

You can dish it out but you can't take it. The U.S. has been meddling in Canadian affairs for decades. Look what your country did to Iraq (total incompetence there) and the list goes on.

If you want to wrie about evil nasty guns, write about the failure of the Canadian gun registration project that ended up costing 3X more than estimated (~$600M) and cost $60M per year to operate with NO MEASURABLE POSITIVE EFFECTS!

Oh wait:

In February 2004, documents obtained by Zone Libre of Télévision de Radio-Canada suggest that the gun registry has cost around $2 BILLION so far.

The Canadian Auditor general stated: The program does not collect data to analyze the effectiveness of the gun registry in meeting its stated goal of improving public safety. The report states - The performance report focuses on activities such as issuing licences and registering firearms. The Centre does not show how these activities help minimize risks to public safety with evidence-based outcomes such as reduced deaths, injuries and threats from firearms.

92% of regular officers in Edmonton believe that the registry is ineffective and should be dismantled.

A survey in August 2010 revealed that 72 percent of Canadians believe the long-gun registry has done nothing to prevent crime.

On October 25, 2011, the government introduced legislation to scrap the long-gun registry

I'm with Mark Twain on this point: There are lies, damned lies and statistics. Statistics are often used to bolster weak arguments. 

Hey dufus if youdon't trust your fellowcitizen's,why should we trust you? You need to go back to Canada. We all know the violent crime rate in England is on the average 2x ours. WE also can see what happens when civil order breaks down in England.

I guess you've never studied any geography. Canada is not a part of England--politically or contiguously. I'm in Canada. 

If you look at the number of violent convicts who are allowed to re-offend because they are not kept off the streets, our violence due to handguns would drop dramatically. Where guns are not as common or where laws are more restrictive (e.g., Hawaii) knives are replaced as are other weapons. As someone who has a concealed handgun permit and has been toting guns for decades, the risk is not from law-abiding and responsible owners. It is from those who would own guns regardless of the laws. Where gun laws are the most restrictive, you find large gangs who use extreme force and intimidation in lieu of a weapon. This issue is violence, NOT weapons. Thanks for using opinion instead of doing your research Daniel.

Bet $5 you drive a Prius.

You lose. I don't drive a Prius. I haven't owned a car in more than ten years. Please donate the $5 to Greenpeace. Thank you. 

another Canuckledragger from Canuckistan (which facilitated the Chechen los angeles $3million firebug: Germany to Canada to Los Angeles)...figures.


All that book larnin' and nothing to show for it..

"he reads more books in a month than many people read in a lifetime. He also reads 100+ online articles per week. He knew early that in order to be a writer, you have to be a reader."

When you can't refute an argument, the unlettered attack, instead, the person. It's called ad hominem--look it up. 

"Untied States--look around you and ponder the unsolvable polarization and where it almost surely will go." From the earlier information I wrote, the polarization is not about firearms ownership. The polarization is capitalism vs. socialism (if you listen to the "left"). If you listen to the "right" it is about working vs. non-working. Approximately 42%-48% of the population is subsidized by the Federal Government (the taxpayers in the upper 40% of income - as the Federal Government has no significant income other than collection of taxes). I'm glad that you are proud of your country - I'm glad you see it as peaceful and prosperous. I'm proud of mine - and you insult it by referring to it as the "Untied States". Yes, the US has its problems, but so does every other country in the world - including Canada.

@Amanda Black Really? Who are these mythical "big contributors"? You do know that the entire US "Gun industry" is quite small. Look at Golf for example: Golfers spend $19.7 billion on public and private green fees and dues which accounted for 81 percent of all spending. They spent $4.7 billion on equipment (clubs, balls, bags, gloves, shoes). Look at beer: Approximately $97 billion (up 1.4%). Selling 211,489,982 barrels Now look at Halloween: $6.9 billion spent by Americans every year on Halloween Now look at guns: From Business wire magazine. . The US firearms industry includes about 200 companies with combined annual revenue of $2.3 billion. There are single companies in our nation that are 100 times larger than the entire firearms industry. Companies ranging from Toys R Us to Stanley Tools are many times larger than the entire gun industry. The NRA is supported by 4,000,000,000+ VOTING members who each send in a check for $35.00 every year. The NRA is far more a grass roots organization than most other organizations.

>> In the end he attended university over nine years (four full time) but never qualified for a degree because he didn't have the right number of courses in any particular field.

I wanted to find out more about you. . So I looked up "loser" in my dictionary, and yup, there was your picture. BWT, I'm no genius yet I managed to get: AAS Criminal Investigations, AAS Electronics Engineering, BS Computer Science, MS Computer Science, and now am working on my MBA.

>> the Untied States, is the only country in world, where remembrances could be held virtually every single day of the year for egregious killings of citizens by other citizens

You don't get around very much do you. there are MANY countries with much higher murder rates. The violent crime rate in the USA has been going down for several years now.

>> the Untied States

Step away from the bong.. If you have such a hatred of America and her culture, go back to Canada. Maybe they don't want you either.

I've lived in Canada all my life. Peaceful and prosperous up here. 

"My point is that the NRA indirectly encourages violence by increasing gun ownership."

The fallacy in this argument is that more firearms does not equate to more violent crime. There are currently more guns in the hands of citizens in the US than at any other time - and yet according to the FBI-UCR violent crime is down across the US. This is analogous to stating that the Association of Pool and Spa Professionals is encouraging children drowning because they promote swimming pool ownership.

"The NRA is an extra-judicial organization that is not accountable to the ordinary citizen."

And yet ordinary citizens overwhelming agree that they should have the right to use a firearm for defense outside of the home and the trend is increasing. In 1996 the Lawrence Research Group determined that 69% of registered voters were favorable in allowing law abiding citizens to acquire (HCP/CCW) permits. A similar Zogby study in 2009 determined that 83% of citizens supported permit laws, with 11% against and 6% unsure. Although the NRA is "not accountable" to US citizens as a group - it is certainly "in-step" with the opinion of the majority of US citizens relating to CCW/HCP permits and firearm ownership by non-felons or the mentally unstable. I have never seen an article in a NRA publication promoting firearm ownership by felons, misdemeanor domestic violence offenders or the mentally unstable.

"Untied States I wrote and Untied States I meant"

If you intentionally wrote "...the Untied States, is the only country in world..." then there is no such country in the world.

Untied States--look around you and ponder the unsolvable polarization and where it almost surely will go.

The NRA isn't a terrorist organization; you're just a sissy! Keep your butt in Canada - see just how much the rest of the free world mourns your absence. -Uzziel- III

Gun sales at record highs, and gun-related crimes, and gun accidents going down as per the FBI. The Second Amendment is not going to be changed anytime soon, nor it's recent Supreme Court interpretation. It would take a Constitutional Amendment to change, and for those who know how that works, then you know that will not happen. Then consider that well over 100 million gunowners are out there, and more people are becoming informed and weary of the anti-Second Amendment propagandists...so unlikely one will see many nationally elected politicians trying to put forth legislation. You will just see urban areas and progressive enclaves doing that, and they will lose in court, as usual. You are far safer living in an area of law abiding gun owners, just look at the stats. Look at the gun murder rates in Mexico.

Legal technicality my a**. Maybe Salem News should hire someone with some common sense. You should be ashamed for publishing such drivel.

Since Heller nor McDonald ruled on the validity of ALL the existing gun control laws, that was not carte blanche to implement more useless laws that only affect the law abiding. Unless of course you constitutional einsteins have rescinded Haynes vs US 390, 85, 1968 and 85% of all those unenforced gun control laws apply to felons in violation of the US Consitutions 5th amendment right? Get a clue rookies.

ATF Max 8 million CPL's US, approximately 186 million age 21 or older or 4.3% of the people licensed for CPL. Possible deaths from CPL holders in 3 year time span from Violence Policy Center report last year, 137 or 45 per year equals .00000562 per concealed license holder. You can also review Florida's data on CCW at licgweb.doacs.state.fl.us/stats/cw_monthly.html it says the same thing. JAMA jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/286/4/415 700,000 doctors in US kill 44,000 to 98,000 by medical malpractice every year or .14 per physician. Physician is .065 or .14 /.00000562 = 12,000 to 25,000 times more likely to harm you than a CPL holder. So where is the risk from concealed carry holders and why aren't you antis crying to ban doctors? So much for your more likely ka ka! Want more government data to choke on, keep posting!

Why is it, that the police, whose best response times are 4 minutes, avg 15-20 minutes can only solve 8.75% of all violent crimes committed on a yearly basis? FBI UCR 2008 1.38 mil VCR (Violent Crime Reported) 49% solved to prosecution, 80% success rate. But oh wait, we have to remember those 4.8 million violent crimes the government recognizes that were not reported USDOJ National Victimization report 2008. So based on that (1.38 mil x 49%) x 80%) / 1.38 mil + 4.8 mil = 8.75% of the violent crimes committed are solved each year.

The courts have ruled the police have no duty to protect individuals:
Bowers v. DeVito, 686 F.2d 616 (7th Cir. 1982) (no federal constitutional requirement that police provide protection) Calogrides v. Mobile, 475 So. 2d 560 (Ala. 1985); Cal Govt. Code 845 (no liability for failure to provide police protection) Calogrides v. Mobile, 846 (no liability for failure to arrest or to retain arrested person in custody) Davidson v. Westminster, 32 Cal.3d 197, 185, Cal. Rep. 252; 649 P.2d 894 (1982) (no liability for failure to provide police protection) Stone v. State 106 Cal.App.3d 924, 165 Cal Rep. 339 (1980) (no liability for failure to provide police protection) Morgan v. District of Columbia, 468 A.2d 1306 (D.C.App. 1983) (no liability for failure to provide police protection) Warren v. District of Columbia, 444 A.2d 1 (D.C.App 1981) (no liability for failure to provide police protection)

We see from US Census, and an average of NSSF and PEW surveys, that in 2009 40% of households have a firearm. That is an increase since 1997 of 9 million households to 80 million law abiding gun owners as recognized by the BATF. We see that since 1997 per FBI UCR, that violent crime has gone from 611 VCR (Violent Crime Reported) per 100k people to 429 VCR per 100k people in 2009. That is a 30% reduction in violent crime. Did we forget to mention that the same data shows a 20% reduction in murders? All while at the same time we see 13-16 more states implementing concealed carry to 49 states total, and 35 states implementing concealed carry in eateries that serve alcohol. 4 states and 72 universities implemented concealed carry. All without the predicted and much cried about blood baths predicted by such pundits as Sarge or Daniel suggests for oh what, something like the millionth time, yep. Those anti gun soothsayers really suck at predicting violence and mayhem from the law-abiding citizen, every single time. Hope they aren’t trying to make a living as a soothsayer they are starving if they do. So much for more guns equals more crimes BS people like Sarge like to have you believe.

1997 Australia, Canada, England Australia 1997 629 VCR per 100k 2007 1,024 VCR per 100k, a 32 person reduction in murders by firearms, exactly replaced by murders with knives. Funny how that trend was mirrored in England (ref AIC.GOV) Canada 1997 980 VCR per 100k people 2009 1,324 VCR per 100k people, murder rose from 560 to 610 (Ref Statcan) Canada $2 billion dollar plus registry, that hasn’t solved one crime, such a common trend. England 1997 820 VCR per 100k people 2009 1,667 VCR per 100k people, murders have reduced to 1997 levels after a 25% increase. (ref Home Office UK) So much for less gun equals less violence, a trend found in every single gun ban country, prove otherwise. Oh, use government data to try if you want, the above references ARE their government databases.

Funny how if one reviews more GOVERNMENT data, USDOJ National Gang Threat Assessment 2009, you would see the government acknowledges 80% of all violent crimes are committed by career criminals/gang members. But people like Ralphie have government data to prove otherwise right, NOT!

Oh wait, you can review Haynes vs US 390, 85, 1968. You know, the ruling where felons are not legally held to follow any law that requires them to violate their 5th amendment right of no self incrimination. Funny how that means 85% of the existing gun control laws, dont apply to felons.

Mr Johnson's makes a nonsensical argument. It is somehow the NRA's fault that a fifteen (15) year old brings a pellet gun to school, is told to drop the pellet gun, then points the pellet gun at the Law Enforcement officers? The result would be as expected - LE countered to what any reasonable person would assume to be a lethal threat and fired at a non-compliant suspect. I haven't read a single article in an NRA publication which encourages this behavior. In fact - as a multi-disipline NRA instructor - I know the opposite to be true. The NRA teaches to always keep the muzzle of an airgun or firearm pointed in a safe direction - this is the first rule of safety established by the NRA.

There is nothing "so called" about the 2nd Amendment or the preexisting (lex naturalis) right to self defense which is recognized by the 2nd Amendment.

There are ~271 US federal gun laws - and 1000's more state/local laws - there are more than enough gun laws "on the books" - the need is in enforcement and punishment.

The NRA does not promote the illegal or unsafe use of firearms, in fact it was established to promote firearm safety through education and is still the primary goal.

As an aside, most people would expect a journalist, especially and "executive editor" to be able to spell "United" - even if they are from Cannnaddda.

Untied States I wrote, and Untied States I meant. 

Poor ralphie, maybe you can enlighten everyone how the BATF and Government fail to enforce the Background check more than 1% of the time? USDOJ Background Check and Firearm Transfer report 2008, since 1994, less than 1% of the 930,000 felons who were stopped from buying from a licensed source were prosecuted. Since over 95% of felons do not attempt to buy from a licensed source to begin with, why again are you more afraid of the law abiding gun owners? Oh thats right, you infer because you are afraid and incapable, all others must surely be, pathetic.

I always like the part about how CH both read the bible for TV and rallied for guns... The guy was a good actor but a walking contradiction.

Using your logic, then spoons must be the reason for obesity... something a hoplophobe would never understand, but the VAST majority of guns are NEVER involved in crime or terrorism. Only a very small percentage of LEGAL guns are used in commision of any criminal act and are used millions of time per year in self defence, often times without a shot being fired.

Really? Guess you have never been to Africa or South America where gun initiated deaths well exceed the United States. If you could get honest reporting from jolly ol' England you would be appaled at the number of deaths due to guns... and their illegal there! You are simply feigning ignorance and blaming an inanimate object instead of the real source of the problem... humans.

I am a Patron Life member of The NRA; I am a Life member of SAF. Without these fine organizations, you don't have a Second Amendment as we know it. I am a True Firearms owner, shooter and collector.

"In the same situation would you hesitate, saying to yourself--hmmm, is that a real gun or a replica?" If it were up to you I would never have the choice, just die.

NRA is truly a terrorist organization.

True firearm owners do not like the NRA. The NRA has been taken over by the elite. No, not democrat or republican, the elite use the NRA to end our second ammendment. People should do their research, the NRA is totally new world order and ending gun rights..they just do it more stealth and more slowly using

I won't resort to name calling here. It's counterproductive. Instead the moral high ground of the Second Amendment and firearms belongs to JPFO, Inc. at www.jpfo.org. JPFO, Inc. along with The John Birch Society (www.jbs.org) has already done considerable "in depth" research on this issue and thus deserve credit. Gun Owners of America at www.gun owners.org is another.

well, my comment got censored again... I will just write Tim directly thru email..

Johnson, you're not merely stupid, you're weapons grade stupid. As proof I present the last paragraph in your silly article. "Right to terrorize?" Unbelievable.

Just how many murders do you think would be stopped if every gun in the world disappeared? My guess is: Not many. People have been killing each other since there has been people and though the methods change, the killing doesn't. In the UK, they have strict gun control so now the criminals either stab you, beat you to death with a club or throw you off a tall building. So now they prohibit clubs, and knives from being carried. And they actually have "stabless" knives. How retarded is that? You can choke someone to death with your bare hands, are we to outlaw hands? How far do we go? My suggestion to all you who have zeroed in on guns as the ultimate evil is this: Focus your energy on the real problem. People. In particular, criminals. Because the only people that laws really stop are those that are law abiding. Criminals, by their very definition, ignore them anyway, and they certainly aren't deterred by laws that limit gun ownership. In fact they love them. Just means that their victims are guaranteed to unarmed and unable to defend themselves. I hope I never have to live in the world some of you imagine.

The NRA supported the 1934 National Firearms Act, the 1968 Gun Control Act and recently the disarmament of returning veterans. Hardly a group that supports increased gun ownership. Also, increases in gun ownership do not coincide with increase in violence perpetrated with guns. Since 2008, firearms ownership has increased but crime and violence has decreased. It's obvious the author doesn't care about facts but for those interested, referenced facts about guns can be found at http://gunfacts.info/ "Gun Facts version 6.0"

It is amazing to read such combative, defensive, and downright silly comments. Regrettably, in the 2008 case of District of Columbia vs. Heller, the Supreme Court did find that Americans have a Second Amendment right to "keep and bear arms." However, this does not mean that federal and state governments cannot pass and enforce gun control laws. In fact, most gun control laws have been found to be valid after the Supreme Court decision. I carried a 45 caliber standard issue handgun while serving in the U.S. Army in Vietnam. Otherwise, I have never owned or carried a gun or intend to ever own or carry a gun and I do not feel any safer knowing that there are about 200 million privately-held firearms in the U.S.

The problem in America is not the Second Amendment and legal gun ownership, the problem is criminals killing each other and sometimes law abiding citizens. Banning guns means that only the criminals and the police have them. The law abiding can't protect themselves, and the police don't have to. The NRA does not support crime or criminals, it supports the rights of law abiding citizens to have the means, not just the right, to defend themselves.

I never mentioned banning guns. My point is that the NRA indirectly encourages violence by increasing gun ownership. The NRA is an extra-judicial organization that is not accountable to the ordinary citizen. Look into the origin of the NRA after the Civil War and see if that coincides at all with what they do now. 

I am the NRA - along with 4 million or so of my like minded Americans. I do not like being held responsible for crimes I did not commit. How do you think that makes me feeeeeellll commie scum?

What a sad, deluded little fool. I can name a lot of nations with strong "gun control" and high murder rates: Venezuela, Mexico, South Africa, Brazil, Russia, Zimbabwe, etc. All "gun control" does is keep the means of self defense out of the hands of the law abiding.

The article is shit.

"Born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, Daniel Johnson as a teenager aspired to be a writer." Trust me, he's still aspiring.

Geez, read it in school, another side. Difference is the writer believes it should be that way. So before you comment further, refute the data and facts of which only a very small portion showing the writer is so full of schiite he cant fly. Which of course you cant, or just state your belief that ve stupid peasants are incapable of making any decision without government first approving like Daniel wants. Dasvadanya Komrade

Why is a Canadian writing an article in an American news paper? This Canadian has fallen and bumped his head to many times. Next article will read that GM and Ford are terrorist group also because automobiles kill people too just like firearms kill people...oh wait...

People who want to red rid of guns are just afraid of guns. Stop make honest humps era responsible for the stupidity of some kid or some nut case. You take guns from honest citizen who need to protect themselves leaves the real criminals in total control. Because of liberal scrum like you and this paper who printed this dir we have a dictator and pier in Chief in the White House. Move to Cuba

So 2 individuals get shot using toy guns like they were real guns and that makes the NRA a terrorist organization? I think its more like if you play stupid games you'll win stupid prizes.

Benson and Jarhead should read or reread George Orwell's Animal Farm before commenting further

At least spell United States right! How do write an article for a US newspaper from Calgary Alberta? looking at the photo of you, i bet your the only person thats ever seen your own weener! stupid canuck

Untied States I wrote and Untied States I meant.

Firearms are the teeth of liberty . Nuff said.

Want some more data Herr Goebells, oh thats right, you are too afraid to publish facts you cant refute, how Nazi like you are!

Sieg Hiel, Sieg Hiel, das uber fuhrer Daniel johanson deems ve should all ve good widlle nazis and goose step into ze gas chambers as ve simple peasants are much too stupid to handle anything and must have da gooberments approval vor anyving ve do.

No, this sheeple did not aspire to be a writer, he aspired to be the second coming of Joseph Goebbel's, the prime propagandist for Adolf Hitler and his 1,000 year third Reich. Is the NRA in charge of any of the police departments, or BATF, uh no. So why then arent you holding them accountable for failing to prosecute more than 1% of the 930,000 felons stopped from buying from a licensed source since 1994 Background Checks? USDOJ Background Check and Firearm Transfer report 2008. Dont forget those others rejected since then, 750,000 plus that included all those crazies you are so afraid of. Hey, just like in Canada, our government acknowledges that 70% of violent crimes (4.8 mil) do not get reported. USDOJ National Victimization report 2008. So reviewing our FBI UCR government database (yours is STATCAN), we see that examnple of 2008, 1.38 mil violent crimes reported, only 381,000 involved a firearm. Uh wait, if guns are the root cause of violence, how come all violent crimes reported did not involve a firearm, we'll let you get back to that one einstein. Then there was a 49% completion of invetsigation to trial and an 80% successful prosecution rate. So lets see just how good the police are at protecting the public. (1.38 mil x 49%) x 80%/ 1.38 mil reported violent crimes + 4.8 mil unreported violent crimes = 8.75% Man the police really suck at protecting the public, and funny thing, that % is similar to your Canadian police, truth sucks eh. Courts have ruled in the US and Canada the police are not legally liable to protect the individual citizen, yet Goebbels wannabe here infers they are.

Too many big contributors who do not allow for a change. When we lost, or had wounded Presidents to lack of of gun control,one should realize, there is more to the NRA than meets the eye.