What we all know and what the opposition denies

[JuergenG]

http://hamptonroads.com/2012/11/analysis-g...-firearms-sales

His analysis shows the number of gun purchases soared 73 percent in the six-year period, while gun-related offenses fell

more than 27 percent. Baker says the comparison seems to contradict the premise that more guns lead to more crime in Virginia.

q.e.d.

[EJER Fuchs]

And, while firearms sales have been rising for the past DECADE in the US, gun accidents per capita are dropping.

Not that you'll read that in the main-stream media.

[EJER Fuchs]

Here is the CT "assault weapon" statute. Note that the term includes:

1. REAL "assault weapons;" i.e., those capable of burst or full-auto fire;

2. A specific laundry list of semi-automatic guns; and

3. Criteria based on the expired (and soon to be revived, I fear) Federal "assault weapons ban" that criminalized cosmetic features:

Sec. 53-202a. Assault weapons: Definition. (a) As used in this section and sections 53-202b to 53-202k, inclusive, "assault weapon" means:

(1) Any selective-fire firearm capable of fully automatic, semiautomatic or burst fire at the option of the user or any of the following specified semiautomatic firearms: Algimec Agmi; Armalite AR-180; Australian Automatic Arms SAP Pistol; Auto-Ordnance Thompson type; Avtomat Kalashnikov AK-47 type; Barrett Light-Fifty model 82A1; Beretta AR-70; Bushmaster Auto Rifle and Auto Pistol; Calico models M-900, M-950 and 100-P; Chartered Industries of Singapore SR-88; Colt AR-15 and Sporter; Daewoo K-1, K-2, Max-1 and Max-2; Encom MK-IV, MP-9 and MP-45; Fabrique Nationale FN/FAL, FN/LAR, or FN/FNC; FAMAS MAS 223; Feather AT-9 and Mini-AT; Federal XC-900 and XC-450; Franchi SPAS-12 and LAW-12; Galil AR and ARM; Goncz High-Tech Carbine and High-Tech Long Pistol; Heckler & Koch HK-91, HK-93, HK-94 and SP-89; Holmes MP-83; MAC-10, MAC-11 and MAC-11 Carbine type; Intratec TEC-9 and Scorpion; Iver Johnson Enforcer model 3000; Ruger Mini-14/5F folding stock model only; Scarab Skorpion; SIG 57 AMT and 500 series; Spectre Auto Carbine and Auto Pistol; Springfield Armory BM59, SAR-48 and G-3; Sterling MK-6 and MK-7; Steyr AUG; Street Sweeper and Striker 12 revolving cylinder shotguns; USAS-12; UZI Carbine, Mini-Carbine and Pistol; Weaver Arms Nighthawk; Wilkinson "Linda" Pistol;

(2) A part or combination of parts designed or intended to convert a firearm into an assault weapon, as defined in subdivision (1) of this subsection, or any combination of parts from which an assault weapon, as defined in subdivision (1) of this subsection, may be rapidly assembled if those parts are in the possession or under the control of the same person;

(3) Any semiautomatic firearm not listed in subdivision (1) of this subsection that meets the following criteria:

(A) A semiautomatic rifle that has an ability to accept a detachable magazine and has at least two of the following:

(i) A folding or telescoping stock;

(ii) A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon;

(iii) A bayonet mount;

(iv) A flash suppressor or threaded barrel designed to accommodate a flash suppressor; and

(v) A grenade launcher; or

(B) A semiautomatic pistol that has an ability to accept a detachable magazine and has at least two of the following:

(i) An ammunition magazine that attaches to the pistol outside of the pistol grip;

(ii) A threaded barrel capable of accepting a barrel extender, flash suppressor, forward handgrip or silencer;

(iii) A shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely encircles, the barrel and that permits the shooter to hold the firearm with the nontrigger hand without being burned;

(iv) A manufactured weight of fifty ounces or more when the pistol is unloaded; and

(v) A semiautomatic version of an automatic firearm; or

© A semiautomatic shotgun that has at least two of the following:

(i) A folding or telescoping stock;

(ii) A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon;

(iii) A fixed magazine capacity in excess of five rounds; and

(iv) An ability to accept a detachable magazine; or

(4) A part or combination of parts designed or intended to convert a firearm into an assault weapon, as defined in subdivision (3) of this subsection, or any combination of parts from which an assault weapon, as defined in subdivision (3) of this subsection, may be rapidly assembled if those parts are in the possession or under the control of the same person.

(B) As used in this section and sections 53-202b to 53-202k, inclusive, the term "assault weapon" does not include any firearm modified to render it permanently inoperable.

I do not know exactly what configuration the gun used in the massacre was, not that it matters. None of the slaughtered children were bayonetted, killed with grenades or by the dissipated muzzle blast from a flash suppressor. As always, those indicia of an "assault weapon" were utterly irrelevant.

Further, the mother had bought an AR from a CT dealer, That strongly indicates the gun WAS compliant and, therefore, was not an "assault weapon" under the CT or the old Federal definition.

Not that any of this will matter in the least.

[tar]

Increased gun sales in Califonia mirror positive experience:

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_162-5756...ties-goes-down/

"Gun sales in California are booming. More than 600,000 were sold in 2011. However by last year, sales had jumped to 817,000. That's an increase of 36 percent. But we noticed the number of people wounded by gunfire is dropping."

"California gun sales have steadily risen from 350,000 in 2002, to last year's record. Yet despite the rise in gun sales in California, there has not been a corresponding rise in gun deaths or gun injuries. Hospitalizations for gun injuries have actually dropped nearly 28 percent and gun deaths by 15 percent."

[EJER Fuchs]

On what is known as "Black Friday" in the US; the Friday after Thanksgiving and the start of the Christmas feeding frenzy, retail gun sales set a national record.

The Newtown Massacre was on a Friday; the following day, dealers were cleaned out of whatever "assault weapons" they had not already sold to those who, having already waited too long, were desperate to get one before they were again banned.

Yet the anti-gun rights proponents proclaim that people don't need and shouldn't have such guns and that the "national mood" is swinging in their direction.

Of course, I'm sure there was a run on liquor just before that other imbecilic attempt to ban what people want, Prohibition, went into effect.

[JuergenG]

The latest brain fart from Connecticut: Single shot pistols only.....

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2013/TOB/S/2013SB-00122-R00-SB.htm