Straw Purchases are not a fantasy dreamed up by Washington Insiders who dream of disarming an impotent national constituency. They are a reality and not just a problem in Mexico (or in your study) the fantasy of Mexico’s American gun use.

Anywho, you acknowledged my point; that the only effective way to make any progress in this is for those who defend, this most sacred of all amendments, to self govern and eventually cut down drastically the mis-use, and certainly preventable tragedies such misuse can create.

Of the remaining 5 firearms, they are all easily traced. 3 are AK-47’s. These are not manufactured in the US. The other 2 rifles I identify as M-4’s- a carbine version of the M16. Also important to note is that they seem to be in a standard government-issue set up. These are manufactured in the US, however, civilian models do not typically come in the government configuration, they can, but most firearms shops I frequent (and I do frequent several) would not likely have such a configuration. As after-market components are not easily mounted to the fore end nor are optics easily mounted on the carry handle.

Therefore, 3 of 5 are obviously not American firearms. That leaves 40% of the displayed arms manufactured in the US. But if the remaining 40% are government-issue M4’s (which could be clarified by the presence of an auto/single shot select lever- and I’d bet you a steak dinner these two have ‘em) these rifles were purchased by the Mexican government from the US government and subsequently purchased from/stolen by/lost to Mexican cartels. One way, then, to understand this is that 40% of the firearms did come from the US. Further investigation suggests that neither was purchased in a gun shop in the US by a straw buyer. That would leave 0% of the displayed weapons to have anything to do with the Second Amendment, the NRA, Pro Gun groups, Anti Gun groups or any other group, straw buyers, or complex scheme of gun running. Leaving 100% of displayed firearms in Mexico courtesy of politicians involved in international arms trades and 0% related in any way to gun laws in the United States.

But seriously, what could actual facts have to do with anything?

As far as the 90% deal. You are right. In fact I have read several reports and the only thing I can say for sure is that there may not be an accurate statistic on this subject available anywhere. The 17% that Faux News is reporting is also reported as invalid.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2009/04/barack-obama-gun.html

My point is still the same and that is that people on the right, involved with these Pro Gun groups, should step up and self govern to win the confidence of the folks on the other side who are not against guns just the misuse of them. Thanks again

The Texas prison population, per capita, is very high. This is due in part to prisons who take undesirables from other states, and also that we really do send people to jail here. So quote that statistic with pride, because our jails hold persons that have wronged others- perhaps even in your community. Texans aren’t more likely to be incarcerated or more likely to commit a crime. We’re just very hospitable.

Secondly, property crime statistics are not specific to home invasion; it includes such things as vandalism, car burglary (which is the most common property crime in Texas) as well as non-felony, non-weapon related crimes. Criminals attack vacant cars in Texas because it’s just about all they have. Home invasions are rare, especially at night when people are more likely home. Aggravated assault, rape, and all measures of violent crime against people has been steadily falling since Right to Carry was approved in Texas, and has seen continued declines in the last 18 months since “Castle Doctrine” mandates that no Texan has a duty to retreat, even related to rendering assistance to another person.

What this means is that you’re statistically safer in my State, and in my city (Dallas) even if you and your family choose to have no means to defend yourselves simply because the thugs who are around know that not only do I have the right to defend myself, but that I have the right to defend you. I’d even defend Andy, who has his information so wrong on Mexican Cartels. Even the mainstream media has stopped reporting the “90%” thing because, well, in technical terms, it is a lie.

We’ve been hearing a lot lately about government’s “teeth” with regulation and policy. We need “common sense” gun laws with “teeth.” A not often used quotation of Washington is more like my particular opinion when he says that “Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself. They are the American people’s liberty teeth and keystone under independence.”

The American people’s liberty teeth.

Good post Garrett.
From my cold, dead hands.
ST

Garrett

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27399337/

A boy of 8 years old while under adult supervision at a gun show kills himself under the force of the recoiling gun. The gun flung back and shot the young child in his head. While not an NRA convention, gun control laws, in my opinion, are meant for people as stupid as this.

Is there a reason this child was allowed to be firing an uzi? Did it help him keep criminals at bay? Gun control laws are not meant to stop people from protecting themselves. Their intent is to regulate the types of guns and the people who can use them.

As for the whole “criminals still have guns” argument, of course criminals are still going to have guns. Criminals will always be dangerous, but that doesn’t mean I have to have an assault rifle in my closet.

I have no qualms with people owning guns; being a new homeowner, I have a gun. However, the regulation of weapons available to average citizens is necessary to prevent idiocies like the one linked to above.

“In cities such as Austin and Dallas where guns laws are quite relaxed, violent crime, murders, and manslaughter are significantly lower than cities of comparable size with stricter gun laws such as Baltimore and Philadelphia.”

To assume that those statistics are realized by the fact that control laws are more lax is ridiculous. Texas prisons are obscenely over crowded. take a look at these statistics:
http://www.nicic.org/features/statestats/?State=TX

It says that the crime rate was 19% higher than the national average and property crimes account for 89% of the incidents, which is 21% higher than the national average. As for their incarceration rate, Texas has a rate 33% higher than than the national average of incarcerated adults per 100,000″

If they do have a problem with people in those cities, it seems Texas just ops to lock those people up and not give them parole, rather than diligent citizens taking to the streets and fighting crime while brandishing their 2nd amendment rights.

Garrett

However, I strongly oppose any bill that severely regulates and limits gun ownership in America. In cities such as Austin and Dallas where guns laws are quite relaxed, violent crime, murders, and manslaughter are significantly lower than cities of comparable size with stricter gun laws such as Baltimore and Philadelphia.

As weird as it sounds, the best way to solve crime, is with the very weapon that “causes” it.

That being said, I think these organizations need to get past the politics of what there intentions may be perceived to be with in there own groups and do what is right for our Country and our neighboring Mexico. Gun control will never be a reality in America and there will always be collateral damage either way. We need people who stand up for the rights to confront the brutal facts and in many ways self govern the laws that they so vehemently defend.