Better Gun Law Enforcement, And Better Fact-Checking

Inspired by the recent Aurora IL shooting the NY Times takes a fair and balanced look at the recurring problem that our existing gun laws are not enforced. We learn that safety is neither safe nor cheap:

Still, only eight states have laws that provide an explicit mechanism so that people suspected of having guns in violation of those prohibitions are actually required to give them up. And some of those states merely allow — but do not require — the police to seek a court order to confiscate such guns.

That was the case in Illinois, where the authorities knew for more than four years that Gary Martin was a violent felon but apparently did nothing to ensure that he surrendered the laser-sighted Smith & Wesson handgun that he used to kill five co-workers in Aurora, Ill., on Friday.

...

Unlike Illinois, most states do not have an explicit process allowing the police a way to confiscate guns from people suspected of being prohibited owners. But even in those states that do, two factors explain why many police and sheriff’s departments use these laws so infrequently: time and danger.

“That’s a challenging situation for law enforcement to knock on a door and say, ‘Hey, we’re here to take your guns, Mr. Dangerous Criminal,’” said Adam Skaggs, chief counsel of the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, which advocates tighter gun laws.

Well, yes, police work can be dangerous. Showing up after a shooting is not so threatening physically, but then again, showing up with a shooting is also dangerous - six officers were injured in the Aurora shoot-out, so danger deferred is not always danger denied.

As to budgets:

But when Illinois lawmakers sought to tighten state law so that the police would be mandated to confiscate guns owned by people barred from possessing them, or at least verify that the guns had been transferred to legal owners, concerns about manpower helped doom the proposal.

“Law enforcement didn’t object to the essence of the law,” but said they would need far more money to carry it out, said State Representative Kathleen Willis, a Democrat from suburban Chicago who is pushing to toughen the law.

Freedom isn't free and safety isn't cheap.

And, on to a fact-check. This one becomes Blue-on-Blue. The Times quotes a Brady spokesperson:

One in five gun purchases is estimated to occur with no background check, such as through sales over the internet or at gun shows, said Kris Brown, president of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence. That attracts buyers who would fail a check.

“You’d have to assume that if you are a prohibited purchaser, you are aware of that loophole, and that’s how you’re going to get a gun,” Ms. Brown said.

Do note the word "purchases", which ought to be "transfers". Here is the 2017 study, but Politifact has already tackled this:

The fact checks, and experts we contacted, instead cited a study authored by researchers from Northeastern and Harvard universities that was published in January 2017. They did an online survey, in 2015, of 1,613 adult gun owners.

Among gun owners who said they obtained their most recent gun within the two previous years:

• • 22 percent overall said they obtained the guns without a background check. But that includes guns that were purchased or received in another way, such as through a gift or an inheritance.

• • 13 percent who purchased firearms -- for example, from a friend or online -- said they had done so without a background check.

The lower figure applies here, given that Bullock’s claim is about gun sales.

Blue-on-blue. And let's note that the unchecked purchases includes family, friends and acquaintances as well as gun shows and online. In fact, a quick glance at the relevant table tells me that family, friends and acquaintance transfers outnumber the online and gun show transfers. Of course, thugs and nut jobs have friends and family too.

As to the infamous gun show loophole, per this survey, 4% of transfers in the past two years were at gun shows, with no one claiming to gave avoided a background check. Not exactly the point the Brady person made.

 

Comments

[MissMarple2]

On this date in 1980, the US Men's Hockey team defeated the USSR at the Lake Placid Olympics. Here is the final minute of the game:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gfD134ED54&feature=player_embedded

[MissMarple2]

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/02/22/rod-rosenstein-my-time-as-deputy-ag-coming-to-an-end/

[matt - deplore me if you must]

Maybe the Libs can consider reparations to the families of the 350,000 Union troops who died in the war.

I like the cut of that priest's jib.

[MissMarple2]

matt,

Me, too!

[MissMarple2]

Don Jr. commenting on the Charles Barkley clip:

Donald Trump Jr.
‏Verified account @DonaldJTrumpJr
2h2 hours ago

We’ve officially reached a point where basketball commentators are delivering more accurate and honest social/political coverage than the “news” anchors.

[Neo]

Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez falsely accused Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's former chief of staff, Josh Holmes, of running a bot network.

"If you notice a lot more trolls on social media re: politics, it's [because] Mitch McConnell's former Chief of Staff helps run a multimillion dollar operation to have bot accounts manipulate online discourse," Ocasio-Cortez wrote on Twitter

How could you tell ?
Everybody on Twitter sounds like a bot.

[Captain Hate]

When does Adam Schiff accuse Sir Charles of colluding with the rooskis?

[Tom Bowler]

Sorry for your loss, James D.

[henry]

Trump retweeting Strassel:

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1098976205238398976

[MissMarple2]

A must read by @KimStrassel! https://t.co/Gfyrfpy55b

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 22, 2019

Link goes to a tweet and a link to a WSJ article by Kim Strassel.

[Manuel Transmission]

What is this “open a new tab” that people are discussing?

I think my JOM home page tab has been open since the summer of 08.

I have been logged off by typepad maybe three times since we were forced into signing up.

[Buckeye]

"Mr. Smollett is a young man of impeccable character and integrity who fiercely and solemnly maintains his innocence betrayed by a system that apparently wants to skip due process and proceed directly to sentencing.”

That shit isn't going to work, but the attorneys can empty his bank account at a rapid pace:)

[Captain Hate]

Katshit 2?

https://pjmedia.com/blog/liveblogevent/live-blog-192/entry-254181/comments/

[Extraneus]

Wut?

Virginia elementary school issues apology after gym class plays runaway slave game during Black History Month

[henry]

oooh, Patriot Act cell phone spying nabs Jussie's phone data:

https://twitter.com/juliansrum/status/1098833844336291842?s=12

[caro]

James, thinking of you. It has been a tough time but going out with a smile is a good thing. You are a son to be proud of.

Sorry to be so far behind :(.

[Extraneus]

Vermont House Passes Bill Legalizing All Abortion

"Every individual who becomes pregnant has the fundamental right to choose to carry a pregnancy to term, give birth to a child, or to have an abortion," the bill reads.

It passed by a vote of 106 to 36.

The bill would also strip unborn children of any rights or recognition of their personhood by the state.

"A fertilized egg, embryo, or fetus shall not have independent rights under Vermont law," it reads.

[GUS]

This SMOLLAY stuff is hilarious. The best part is where JUSSIE claims to have "punched back" the WHITE GUY , wearing the MAGA hat.

Yes, the NIGERIAN WHITE GUY. With the NEW YORK accent.

[Buckeye]

Katshit 2?

Another GOPe guy stinkin' up the joint.

My fears being realized.

[Extraneus]

Btw, the VT senate has a Dem supermajority and the Dem governor has already indicated he'll sign it, the most extreme abortion law in the country.

GND, reparations, infanticide. Dems are feeling their oats.

[Jim,SunnyvaleCA,USA]

Compares two MAGA incidents. Jussie in Chicago.
And a TDS Dem in a parking lot in Kentucky who threatened to kill an unarmed stranger because he wore a MAGA hat.
http://bejohngalt.com/2019/02/a-tale-of-two-maga-assaults/

[jimmyk]

“I use Firefox too. I have a worse problem on my Ipad than I have on my laptop. I'll have to check for adblocker.”

MT’s experience is closer to mine.

But I also sacrifice a live goat every week to the Typepad deity as a supplication not to log me off or drop my posts.

[pagar]

If the Democrats would get off of their support for the illegals and fund the money President Trump needs to get the wall built to protect America all of this need to move money around would go away.

May God protect President Trump!

[Rocco]

The haunted vagina's of Vermont...

[henry]

Paunchy punchy boy from Berkeley ID'd by anons:

https://twitter.com/jimmyed5/status/1098949545013141504?s=12

[Manuel Transmission]

But I also sacrifice a live goat every week to the Typepad deity as a supplication not to log me off or drop my posts.

Crap! I thought I was the only one who knew that trick.

[henry]

piling on:

Breaking News Feed @pzf
10m

Prosecutors in New York are preparing state charges against Paul Manafort in an effort to ensure he goes to prison even if Trump pardons him for federal crimes - NYT

[sbwaters]

Jane, in Firefox, I always leave my JOM tab open.

If Typepad logs me off, I sign in as usual using typepad. Once signed in, I look for the left=facing arrow in the upper left of the screen. I click and hold on that arrow.

That lowers a menu of past pages. If I select the page just below the sign in page, I'm right back to the page where I was before having to sign in -- but, happily, it shows me signed in.

Never fails and only a minor inconvenience.

[GUS]

Boy the CRACKER JACK NY prosecutors. Couldn't get MANAFORT 1O plus years ago, but now they are on his trail.

[MissMarple2]

It's fascinating to me how many different workarounds people have found for the "logged off - log in" problem. Pretty good examples of creative thinking, if you ask me!

[jimmyk]

More blue on blue:

Austin Petersen
‏Verified account @AP4Liberty

A new rule adopted by the DNC may block Bernie Sanders from running as a Democrat in 2020

https://twitter.com/AP4Liberty/status/1098726079123070976

[Buckeye]

I think the only way to wear a MAGA hat is while you open carry.

"you've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well do ya, punk?"

[MissMarple2]

" For its project to work, it doesn’t need the massive reach of a Fox News or a Rush Limbaugh—it just needs to make D.C. dinner parties and greenroom visits uncomfortable for the Trumpist elite."

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2019/02/bulwarks-quest-shame-high-profile-trump-backers/583354/

[henry]

Breaking News Feed @pzf
58s

BREAKING: Patriots owner Robert Kraft charged with soliciting a prostitute in Florida - NBC Boston

[Extraneus]

Typepad won't let me post a full comment on this with excerpt and pics, but maybe they'll allow a link.

(I was going to call particular attention to the $330 multi-hour 'healing session'.)

https://tinyurl.com/y67goxue

[MissMarple2]

YASSS! Pandas rolling around in the snow🐼 I CAN'T STOP WATCHING!!

These pandas took full advantage of the snow in Washington DC.
ADORABLE! pic.twitter.com/qEzWfkvmop

— Jennifer 🔱🇺🇸🔱 (@Jenn198523) February 22, 2019

Video of pandas at the DC zoo at link. Happy pandas!

[Old Lurker]

No workaround required for me.

I use Chrome on my PC (with Adblocker & Killfile running), and Safari on my iPad.

I think I have only been logged off two or three times since this started.

The few times I have had to login, I always use the Typepad options since I don't use Twitter or Facebook or those other things.

Don't jinx me, Bro!

[Extraneus]

Same with me, OL, but I use Brave, which blocks ads natively (and doesn't allow Google to track your browsing history). I think I've been logged out once or twice. No idea why.

[Old Lurker]

I was with Conrad Black right up to his first sentence of his final paragraph:

"Without realizing the proportions of the emergency, America has survived the greatest constitutional crisis since the Civil War."

I think the jury is still out on that and we will not like the verdict if the two tiered system of justice is seen to survive much longer. At the moment it is alive and well, and there is no visible evidence that it is changing.

[lurkersusie]

Paul Manafort Could Face New York Charges If Trump Pardons Him - Bloomberg

New York state prosecutors have put together a criminal case against Paul Manafort that they could file quickly if the former chairman of Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign receives a presidential pardon.

New York County District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. is ready to file an array of tax and other charges against Manafort, according to two people familiar with the matter, something seen as an insurance policy should the president exercise his power to free the former aide. Skirting laws that protect defendants from being charged twice for the same offense has been one of Vance’s challenges.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-02-22/new-york-is-said-to-prep-manafort-charges-if-trump-pardons-him

[MissMarple2]

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1098980996442025985.html

Thread: What Saul Alinsky's Socialist Agenda for The United States Did to the Once Patriotic Democrat Party

[Jane]

SBW,

The "left arrow" as in "go back"?

[henry]

for you FB users:

CNBC @CNBC
7m

Facebook reportedly gets deeply personal info from some apps, like ovulation times and heart rate

https://twitter.com/CNBC/status/1098994922932314112

[Jane]

OL,

I loved that Conrad Black article. I think the Russian hoax is pretty much toast, but the open questions are if the bad guys will be held accountable and if the media will ever report on it.

[Dave (in MA)]

henry | February 22, 2019 at 11:52 AM

He was set up by Goodell.

[Jim,SunnyvaleCA,USA]

Now that I've completed it and about to return to the library, let me confirm a recommendation for the non fiction science book What A Plant Knows by Dan Chamovitz.
Written for us amateurs, digests the latest in research of what plants perceive and the mechanics of how perception is translated into action.
A fast moving field of research

[henry]

Dave, he was checking inflation.

[pagar]

"The resolution sponsored by Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) had 222 cosponsors".

IMO, 223 Anti-American lawmakers hating everything about America.

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-02-22/democrats-introduce-resolution-overturn-trumps-national-border-emergency

How can someone who has been elected to national office admit they hate America as much as these who are not willing to defend America?

[Captain Hate]

BREAKING: Patriots owner Robert Kraft charged with soliciting a prostitute in Florida - NBC Boston

Did he pay by check? He's been acting like a perverted goat since his wife died.

[Jim,SunnyvaleCA,USA]

Will we be seeing goat-kebab recipes soon?

[henry]

Whoever had "rehab" on their Smollett bingo card just won.

Vicki McKenna @VickiMcKenna
24s

Jussie Smollett now claims he has DRUG problem thesun.co.uk/news/8486826/j…

https://twitter.com/VickiMcKenna/status/1098999825717256193

[Rocco]

Can we call this InflateGate?

[James D.]

Adam Schiff is my mosted hated person in Congress. And I want to see him jailed for his role in Russian collusion.

Aren't I open-minded?

Yes, you are, Jane. Because I'd rather see him publicly disembowled like they did to Mel Gibson at the end of Braveheart.

[Stephanie Nene Not Your Normal Granma]

discussing logoffs is like saying beetlejuice 3x. I just had to log in. :)

[MissMarple2]

henry,

Boy, that is the typical Hollywood excuse.

Now he will check into a private clinic.

Amazing!

[henry]

Vicki McKenna @VickiMcKenna
now

POLL: Suburban women want the wall; Trump approval up in nearly all demos washex.am/2Iy1mBB

[sbwaters]

The "left arrow" as in "go back"?

Yup. Held down on it and I had to go back about two pages.

[MissMarple2]

https://www.apnews.com/23ee68b222674fd99f2a3f0ec8f87c66

Cyclorama to be unveiled again amid diverging views of past

This is about the Cyclorama in Atlanta, portraying the Battle of Atlanta. Great photos and interesting background on its creation. Good read!

[jimmyk]

The Hill piece on Kraft is shameful. First the headline is that Kraft is "charged in a prostitution ring," which sounds a lot worse than just solicitation. Then the lead paragraph is "Robert Kraft, a long-time friend of President Trump and owner of the New England Patriots, faces charges in a prostitution sting...."

So "ring" gets changed to "sting," but of course the important thing is to link him to Trump.

[Rocco]

David Portnoy aka El Presidente founded the soft porn/sports news website Barstoolsports.com. He's done very well for himself and featured on Tucker Carlson's show lately.

So with a very strong warning about the language he uses, don't click on the link if this offends. He blames Goodell, LOL!

Emergency Press Conference - Mr. Kraft Was Framed

[Extraneus]

Let's go to the video tape!

Police said Kraft was involved in two incidents in the last month at the Orchids of Asia Day Spa in Jupiter and there is video evidence showing the Patriots owner in the act

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/new-england-patriots-owner-robert-kraft-arrested-for-soliciting-a-prostitute-in-florida-2019-02-22

[pagar]

As near as I can find there are 235 Democrats in the US House. If 223 have signed a statement saying they care more about illegals than Americans; that must mean that only 12 care about legal Americans over illegals.

[joan]

Oh, my, look at the arrogant expressions on Beto O'Rourke's young team. They are going to show us all how to beat President Trump in the next election.

https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/02/22/beto-orourke-campaign-strategy-2020-225193

"Here's What Beto Could Unleash On Trump"

[D]

I believe Goodell could be involved.
Next move is to take the franchise away from him.
George WBush acted admirably after 9/11.
No problem with security initiated or establishment of Homeland Security.
Conrad Black Article is top notch.
We have to hold the criminals accountable.
Otherwise, we will have a weekly Jussie Smollett event with the next wannabe going for his 15 minutes of fame.
Glad Smollett is eliminated from the last 2 episodes of Empire.
Immediate consequences are the only way drugproblemed individuals learn a valuable lesson.
Lying and accusing others of heinous crimes has steep consequences for you.

[Dave (in MA)]

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/NFL-owner-Kraft-Charges-Exonerated-Officials-Invoke-Obscure-'Tuck%20Rule'-State-Statute

[Dave (in MA)]

jjm, they're going to mount a formidable campaign if their parents let them stay up late enough on school nights to work on it.

[henry]

Shakedowns for lunch money:

Vicki McKenna @VickiMcKenna
5m

HOMESCHOOL COPS?! Illinois Lawmakers Want to Send Government Agents into Every Home School Home to "Investigate" The Families. WOW.

https://t.co/GWkmjgtHiq

[Buckeye]

If 223 have signed a statement saying they care more about illegals than Americans; that must mean that only 12 care about legal Americans over illegals.

More likely those 12 are screwing off on some junket.

[Dave (in MA)]

henry , they need to make sure those kids are being properly indoctrinated.

[D]

Henry:
It could be called truant officers run amok!
Do I think some parents just let their high school kids just stay home?
Yes.
However this smacks of a Gestapo police action

[D]

Buckeye:
Some Dems just barely won and want to be re- elected.
Their talking points are different.

[henry]

CNBC Now @CNBCnow
20s

BREAKING: U.S. and China discussing late March summit between Trump and Xi at Mar-a-lago, sources say. (via @kaylatausche)

cnbc.com/id/105731056

[Dave (in MA)]

uSTADIUM@uSTADIUM
On SportsCenter, Adam Schefter just said that a
source told him Robert Kraft is "not the biggest name"
caught up in this sting.

[Jane]

Jimmy,

Rush says it's the only thing the liberal media are reporting on today: Kraft.

[Buckeye]

I know Maryrose, but can't you just go with the flow of my fantasy sarcasms:)

[sbwaters]

Someone did my Made You Look hat!

[Dave (in MA)]

sshhh

[Extraneus]

My ex used to run a daycare in our home (she still does, only it's now my ex home), and would get occasional visits by state inspectors. It's no problem, they just make sure the adults are really there in the allowed kid/adult ratios, numbers of kids don't exceed the allowed max, place looks safe and and kids look like they're being taken care of ok. If they didn't do this, lots of home daycares would surely break the rules with some ill effects. I don't see why it's a problem for home schooling.

[Buckeye]

From my vantage point, a rich 77 year old guy passing out Benjamins at a "message parlor" is likely taking a bunch of 20 somethings out for a "night on the town".

Just sayin':)

[Dave (in MA)]

Of course, the "not the biggest name" thing has already led to the inevitable online fantasies about you'll-never-guess-who...

[henry]

Dave, Mueller? (always start good rumors)

[Old Lurker]

What you miss, Ext, is that the State is just fine with DayCare and is only sorry they can't all be paid for by the State.

The State HATES homeschooling for all the reasons we know so well.

Those inspections will be frightening to exactly the people who feel they must do it.

[D]

Dave:
Who?

[Extraneus]

https://nypost.com/2019/02/22/patriots-delete-happy-ending-tweet-after-krafts-prostitution-bust/

[Jane]

LOL Dave!

[Extraneus]

Good point, but they don't like non-unionized home daycares, either.

[Extraneus]

Did they get Mueller on video, too?

[GUS]

Let the deflate his balls jokes commence.

[Dave (in MA)]

Who? A rich guy with a residence in FL.

[Dave (in MA)]

N
  e
    w

[GUS]

Beto's team?? The GAY DUDE is priceless. Including the stick up his ass posture and hair-DOOOOOO.

[Jim,SunnyvaleCA,USA]

JamesD: "I'd rather see him publicly disembowled"

Good to see you back and in fine form

[Jim,SunnyvaleCA,USA]

per Dave: NEW