World Examiner

Toronto Crackdown on Guns Leads to Knife Crime

globeandmail.com: On the knife's edge.

Use of firearms in crimes 'steady'-Pune-Cities-The Times of India

Link: Use of firearms in crimes 'steady'-Pune-Cities-The Times of India.

PUNE: Though the smuggling of firearms from places like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh to Pune is a disturbing trend, a study on firearms conducted by the city police has revealed that there has been no increase in the use of firearms involved in committing crimes.

Angry son tries to cope with mother's carjacking death | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

Link: Angry son tries to cope with mother's carjacking death | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle.

The son of a woman who was slain while fighting off a knife-wielding carjacker said his mother would have readily given her life to save her child.

UK Gun Control Leads to Infantiphobia

Link: LaPierre Blog: Afraid of the Children.

As if we needed any more evidence that England's gun ban has been a total failure, just look at the recent story from Time magazine. Twenty percent of Britons surveyed say they fear leaving their homes at night because of the rising tide of violent teens. 

Violent crime committed by those under the age of 18 has climbed by more than a third in the past three years, with no sign of it falling any time soon. These violent teens are partly responsible for the rise in knife- and gun-related crime in the country. Yes, crimes involving firearms are increasing, even though it's been a decade since the country banned handguns. 

Talk to a former British gun owner, and he or she will tell you, "Don't let it happen in America."  Gun bans don't work to reduce crime. They haven't worked in D.C., and they haven't worked in England. A "tough-on-guns/soft-on-crime" approach is lunacy, but that's exactly what they're doing in England. Frankly, it's what the gun-banning politicians are trying to do in Philadelphia right now, by pushing for more gun control laws without even mentioning the criminals committing the violent crimes.

Every day politicians try to blame law-abiding gun owners for violent crime is another day lost in our fight against the gang members and drug dealers who target our children. How long will the politicians play the blame game instead of tackling the problem head-on? Do things have to get so bad that we're afraid to leave our homes? Do we have to wait until we turn into England?

Ladera Ranch: "Loud Talkers" Highlighted While Bank Robbery Gets Minor Mention

UPDATE: My wife was at the bank with our daughter transacting some Brownie troop business at 2:10pm Thursday and saw a sheriff's deputy posted at the entrance.

Orange County Register's reporting of police blotter highlights "LOUD TALKERS" and only briefly mentions bank robbery at our main bank here in Ladera Ranch.

Link: News: Loud talkers an ongoing problem in Ladera | police, reported, informant, street, march - OCRegister.com.

------------------------------

Loud talkers an ongoing problem in Ladera

Sheriff's blotter from March 28 to April 3.

By RASHI KESARWANI

Police responded to a complaint on Sunday, March 30 that a loud-talking couple was disturbing the peace at the Laurel Glen apartment complex near Avendale Boulevard. Police say there were no signs of an argument, but that these loud talkers have reportedly been an "ongoing problem."

THURSDAY, APRIL 3

Robbery in Progress, 1:07 p.m. A male reportedly wearing a black beanie cap and a bandana over his face allegedly robbed the Bank of America at Antonio Parkway. Police say no weapons were seen, and the suspect ran on foot toward Windmill Avenue.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2

Suspicious Person In Vehicle, 6:02 p.m.A man allegedly

Armed Citizens Kill Four Times as Many Civilians in Self-Defense as Police

Interesting stat mentioned by NRA Dep. General Counsel Stefan Tahmassebi just now on www.nranews.com - have not heard this before - if I heard correctly, armed citizens "kill" four times as many felons in self-defense as do police, and this stat only accounts for justifiable homicides determined as a result of prosecution.  Not counted are the many cases not prosecuted.

Of course, DGU's do not always result in fatality and it is estimated that 80% are mere brandishings, harmless but effective. 

Violent Crime Much Higher in Britain than in US; Historically Low UK Murder Rate Also Trending Upward

UK has long had a low murder rate.  Until recently, it had a low violent crime rate.  The relevant statistic is that rates of both murder and violent crime have increased sharply in UK since gun control.  The UK violent crime rate is now much higher than the US rate.  (There is now even talk of knife control in Britain.)

Link: John Lott's Website: Robber with knife meets his match with a person with a permitted concealed handgun.

There is an excellent book on the murder rate in England over the last thousand years by Joyce Lee Malcolm entitled Guns and Violence. England has long had a low murder and violent crime rate, but that rate either stopped going down or went up after the gun control laws were passed. During 1900, before England had any gun control laws, London had something like three gun murders. Robberies with guns were similarly rare. By the way, for multiple reasons, while the murder rate in England is still significantly lower than the US rate, the violent crime rate in England is now much higher than the US.

OC Flasher Suspect Pursued by Citizen

Link: News: Man suspected of serial flashing asked pursuer to let him go | palacio, geis, fenn, viejo, tustin - OCRegister.com.

... chased the man for about 10 minutes, buying time for police, who arrived and arrested the Mission Viejo man in the parking lot of a Tustin grocery....the man who exposed himself to 91 people in Aliso Viejo, Dana Point, Irvine, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Mission Viejo, Tustin and Rancho Santa Margarita. For months, authorities distributed sketches and requested information on a man who targeted women near trails and apartment complexes. The man covered his face with a towel or shirt, and investigators dubbed him "the O.C. flasher."

Anti-Gun Class Action Lawyer Pleads Guilty to Obstructing Justice

Link: SayUncle » Schadenfreude.

5 Dead In Illinois Clothing Store Shooting

It's not too late for the Brady Campaign to adjust Illinois' score upward just a tad, possibly even five tads?  Link: cbs2chicago.com - 5 Dead In Tinley Park Clothing Store Shooting.

TINLEY PARK, Ill. (CBS) ― Five people are dead in a shooting Saturday morning at a Lane Bryant clothing store in a strip mall in Tinley Park, and police say the gunman is still on the loose.

Killings In D.C. Up After Long Dip - washingtonpost.com

Link: Killings In D.C. Up After Long Dip - washingtonpost.com.

Gun violence rose sharply in the District in 2007, with the number of homicides jumping 7 percent after several years of decline.

California State Senate Leader Carjacked

If this results in conversion, it won't be the first time.  Link: News: State senate leader safe after carjacking | oakland, say, red, gun, robber - OCRegister.com.

SACRAMENTO -- Oakland police say a gun-wielding man has robbed California Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata of his government-issue car. The Oakland lawmaker was not harmed in the Saturday afternoon carjacking. Perata's spokeswoman says he got out of the car when the robber tapped on the window of his red Dodge Charger with a gun. The senator was waiting at a red light at 51st Street and Shattuck Avenue in North Oakland at about 1:45 p.m. Police say a second man drove the robber to the intersection in a two-door gold Chevrolet Camaro that also was stolen.

Christmas Gun Violence in Gun-Free NY

Link: MyFox New York | Christmas Shootings in Brooklyn, Bronx Leave 4 Dead.

Nine people were shot in separate incidents in New York on Monday and early Tuesday, police said. Four of the victims died and five others are wounded. Detectives are investigating.

Lott: Gun bans lead to increase in violent crime

Link: JURIST - Hotline: Gun bans lead to increase in violent crime.

John Lott [Senior Research Scientist at the University of Maryland and author of Freedomnomics]: "The District of Columbia's request for cert made a simple argument: Whatever one thinks of the Second Amendment, banning handguns is a "reasonable regulation" to protect public safety. Indeed, most of the city's brief focused on public safety arguments. The problem for the city is that anyone who can look up the crime numbers will see that D.C.'s murder and violent crime rates went up, not down, after the ban. Prior to the ban DC's murder rate was falling. After the ban, DC's murder rate rose, and only once fell below what it was in 1976. But it is not just DC that has experienced increases in murder and violent crime after guns are banned. While DC points to Chicago's ban to justify its own, Chicago also experienced an increase after its ban in 1982. Taking a page from recent Supreme Court cases, D.C. points to gun bans in other countries as evidence that others think that gun bans are desirable. But the experience in other countries, even island nations that have gone so far as banning guns and where borders are easy to monitor, should give D.C. and its supporters some pause. Not only didn't violent crime and homicide decline as promised, but they actually increased.  D.C.'s brief specifically points to Great Britain's handgun ban in January 1997. But the number of deaths and injuries from gun crime in England and Wales increased 340 percent in the seven years from 1998 to 2005. The rates of serious violent crime, armed robberies, rapes and homicide have also soared. Similar experiences have been seen with other bans, such as those in Ireland and Jamaica.

John Lott's Website: Most Acquaintance Murders in NYC involve Criminals Killing Criminals

Link: John Lott's Website: Most Acquaintance Murders in NYC involve Criminals Killing Criminals.

This is a point that I have tried to make in my books on crime. Too often the term acquaintance murder is used to imply people who are somehow emotionally close to each other

Machete v. Firearms: Taylor Murder Illustrates Gun is Most Reasonable Weapon

Taylor deserves to be remembered for putting up a valiant defense, but his death illustrates tragically that a firearm is the most reasonable choice of weapon for protecting one's family.

Link: Four Are Arrested in Killing of Redskins’ Taylor - New York Times.

Sean Taylor had been asleep in his bedroom early Monday with his girlfriend, Jackie Garcia, and their 18-month-old daughter, also named Jackie, when noises in the house awakened them. Taylor grabbed a machete he kept for protection, but an intruder appeared at the door and fired two shots

Wave of Home Invasions Puts the Wealthy on Alert - WSJ.com

Residential "robberies" rise 13% from 2002 to 2006, per FBI.

Link: Wave of Home Invasions Puts the Wealthy on Alert - WSJ.com.

In the past year, billionaire investors Warren Buffett and Ernest Rady, socialite Anne Bass and professional basketball players Eddy Curry and Antoine Walker all have joined a group to which they would rather not belong: victims of home invasion.
....
In home-invasion robberies -- unlike burglaries -- thieves hope to confront the occupants, often intending to force victims to open a safe or divulge bank-card PIN numbers.
....
Experts believe home invasions are underreported. Security experts who serve high-profile clients say their clients often don't report attempted robberies to the police because of privacy concerns.
....
"I have gone out to estates that are absolutely magnificent and have been shocked that they have the same level of security as for a rowhouse in Queens," says ......firm does complimentary "personal risk assessments" for high-net-worth clients of .....

British Violent Crime Understated (By 2,000,000)

From The Independent:

An extra two million violent crimes a year are committed in Britain than previously thought because of a bizarre distortion in the Government's flagship crime figures, it was claimed yesterday.

WorldNetDaily: 25 years murder-free in 'Gun Town USA'

Link: WorldNetDaily: 25 years murder-free in 'Gun Town USA'.

As the nation debates whether more guns or fewer can prevent tragedies like the Virginia Tech Massacre, a notable anniversary passed last month in a Georgia town that witnessed a dramatic plunge in crime and violence after mandating residents to own firearms.

France bans citizen journalists from reporting violence

CUG warns us of more frightful developments in France.  Link: Macworld: News: France bans citizen journalists from reporting violence.  (Via Conservative UAW Guy.)

The French Constitutional Council has approved a law that criminalizes the filming or broadcasting of acts of violence by people other than professional journalists. The law could lead to the imprisonment of eyewitnesses who film acts of police violence, or operators of Web sites publishing the images, one French civil liberties group warned on Tuesday.

UT, PA, CA: Multiple Victim Shootings Reported

Link (in re ## 1 and 2): Shoppers slaughtered in rampage - World - smh.com.au.

Three multiple victim shootings were just reported here in the US:

1. Shopping mall in Salt Lake City (unknown # of fatalities, shotgun apparently)
2. Business meeting in Philadelphia (four fatalities)
3. Party in Fremont, CA (six shot but no fatalities, even though one person was shot eight times)

Details yet emerge, but each of these tragedies could have been substantially mitigated by an armed citizen.  We know homicides have been escalating in Philadelphia.  Salt Lake City is a surprise, but of course mall shootings can happen anywhere, and I just hope that if police were not IMMEDIATELY present, then given the number of permits issued in Utah an armed citizen would have quickly engaged the shooter or otherwise assisted in minimizing loss of life, just as Dan McKown did in the Tacoma Mall shooting incident several years ago.  (Dan was guest of honor at last year's Gun Blogger Rendezvous in Reno.)

London's Property Crime Rate 39% Higher than New York's

John Lott links to a Gallup study indicating property crime victimization is greater in London (32%) than in New York (23%), and draws the implication that violent crime is greater in London by an even wider margin.  Link: John Lott's Website: London's Property Crime Rate 39% Higher than New York's.

Street Person to Blame for Sharp Rise in Philadelphia Homicides

NRA Exec VP Wayne LaPierre says Mayor John Street needs to self-reflect and quit blaming others for Philadelphia's out-of-control crime wave.  Link: No Street Sense on Crime (Wayne LaPierre's blog).

Gun Guru Warns Against Philadelphia Crime Cheese

Link: Corrupt Philly Streets (Wayne LaPierre's blog). 
NRA Exec VP Wayne LaPierre tells us about Philadelphia's "No. 1" health problem:

...what the media won't tell you is that the mayor has allowed a culture of corruption that's getting people killed.

Ride Fast & Shoot Straight: Bay Area lawmaker proposes spanking ban...

Fodder points out that NAMBLA may want to lobby for an exemption from the recent proposed anti-spanking law.  Link: Ride Fast & Shoot Straight: Bay Area lawmaker proposes spanking ban....

The whole thing reminds me of an anecdote that's been around awhile, origin unknown:

Mexico lays blame for crime on US guns

(Via Ride Fast & Shoot Straight.)  AWB was proven ineffective, yet Mexico advocates its re-passage, blaming our guns for their crime.  We must listen carefully, as one out of ten Mexicans are already here in the US.  Their voices will be heard on this issue, more and more.

Link: U.S. guns pour into Mexico (AzCentral.com).

Gun Lobby Chief in Street Fight

NRA Exec VP Wayne LaPierre takes on Mayor Street of Philadelphia.  Link: A Philadelphia Phony.  Excerpt:

Back in 2005, after Philadelphia had set yet another record for murder, Mayor Street's response was to blame law-abiding Right-to-Carry permit holders.

Now the Mayor wants to lay off a dozen prosecutors. 

Of the criminals, by the criminals, for the criminals...

SayUncle » Another alleged gun study

SayUncle updates us on the blogosphere's analysis of the latest foundation-funded "study" attacking gun rights.  Folks, if you ever set up a foundation get some good advice so the foundation does not end up making you look like an evil, genocidal idiot for all eternity.

Link: SayUncle » Another alleged gun study.

Bahamas: Murders Up, Firearms Use Down

Link: Murders Up; Firearms Use Down (Bahama Journal). Excerpt:

Police statistics have revealed that while there was a 15 percent increase in the number of homicides that occurred in the country in 2006, there was an eight percent reduction in the use of firearms during such crimes.

Mr. LaPierre's Take on Inverse Relationship Between Safety and Brady Gun Grades

Link: When It's Good To Fail.  Handgun Control Inc., Brady Campaign....maybe it's time for another name change, the way they keep messing up.

Oakland is No. 2 in Kaliforniastan - Guns Blamed

Oakland blames guns as homicides soar 55%.  Link: Ride Fast & Shoot Straight: Oakland is No. 2 in Kaliforniastan - Guns Blamed.

Home Office Report on UK Gun Carry

Report by British Home Office indicates guns can be had in the UK (illegally) for as little as fifty pounds.  The report also supposedly looks into why people want to carry guns, but from the BBC story it looks like the only British who want to carry guns are criminals?!

Link: BBC NEWS | UK | 'Having a gun feels like power'.

New Study Re: Aussie Gun Buyback

UPDATE: see Kath's comment for critique of study.  Thanks, Kath.

Chicago: Law Firm Shooting: Gunman and 3 others dead - MSNBC.com

Link: Chicago police: Gunman, 3 others dead - Crime & Punishment - MSNBC.com. Excerpt:

"Carrying a cache of weapons into a bustling downtown office, a gunman chained a law firm’s doors closed and fatally shot three people before a police sniper killed him as held a hostage at gunpoint, authorities said."

The "cache of weapons" was a revolver, knife and hammer packed in a large manila envelope.  The gunman was escorted to the law firm by security.  The gunman did not work there but demanded to see one of the victims.  Fourth victim shot in foot.

Gun held to girl's head in robbery | NEWS.com.au

Link: Gun held to girl's head in robbery | NEWS.com.au.

In Australia, little girl put at risk by robber seeking her mother's laptop.  (Similar to recent story from Britain, where carjackers did the same to little boy.)

Scotland: Gun ownership not linked to gun crime

Link: BASC: Gun ownership not linked to gun crime.  Scottish crime figures indicate 7% rise in crime involving banned handguns, despite 6% drop in crime involving legal guns.  (Via Wayne LaPierre's blog.)

Philippines Businessmen Argue Against Gun Ban

Link: ABS-CBN Interactive.  Philippines businessmen argue against gun ban, citing US success with Right to Carry.

WorldNetDaily: Illegal aliens murder 12 Americans daily

Link: WorldNetDaily: Illegal aliens murder 12 Americans daily.  Excerpt:

"Twelve Americans are murdered every day by illegal aliens, according to statistics released by Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa. If those numbers are correct, it translates to 4,380 Americans murdered annually by illegal aliens. That's 21,900 since Sept. 11, 2001."

ABC News: Australian PM Calls for Better Gun Control

Link: ABC News: Australian PM Calls for Better Gun Control.

"Australia's prime minister appealed Friday for a further tightening of gun control laws..."

This, despite a recent study indicating gun control has not worked in Australia.

Ohio: Shop Owner Protects Customers, Shoots Suspected Robber

Link: Shop Owner Protects Customers, Shoots Suspected Robber - News - NewsNet5.com | WEWS.  Excerpt:

"Cleveland police said a suspected robber tried to hold up a barber shop Wednesday night, only to find the barber was armed."

(H/T to Dr. John Lott.)

Elderly Woman Injured in Pellet Gun Robbery

Link: News 8 :: KFMB Stations, San Diego, California. Excerpt:

San Diego Police said the woman was shot several times when she refused to give up her purse.

Cincinnati Enquirer - Police: Homicides often in self-defense

Link: Cincinnnati Enquirer - Police: Homicides often in self-defense.  Excerpt:

Cincinnati police say as many as nine of the city's 75 homicides this year could be cases of self-defense.

John Lott's Website: More on Chicago hiding murders to keep down official murder rate

Link: John Lott's Website: More on Chicago hiding murders to keep down official murder rate.

Chicago appears to be fudging murder stats.  (That's what happens when dead people vote.)  Hat tip to Cam Edwards, who queries whether the same thing is done in New York.

Gun Control Group Calls NRA 'a Criminal's Best Friend'

Link: CNS News: Gun Control Group Calls NRA 'a Criminal's Best Friend' -- 10/27/2006.

This reminds me of a line from one of Woody Allen's movies (Sleeper, I think) describing the NRA as an organization that helps criminals.  Maybe that's where the Brady Center got this information.

How anyone can say this about the NRA, whose instructional programs train thousands of law enforcement officers and law enforcement instructors; whose executive offices are filled with former law enforcement officers; whose legislative proposals are routinely supported by the nation's largest organization of law enforcement officers, is beyond me.

Journalists need to learn the difference between police chief politics and the real life concerns of the rank and file. 

UPDATE: David Hardy discusses correlation of homicide/violent crime rates with Brady Campaign's grading of states on their gun laws.

David Hardy Defends Utah Stats

Link: Of Arms and the Law.

In response to an anti-selfdefense group's criticism of Utah's lack of gun regulation, David Hardy writes:

"...in that year it had a homicide rate of 2.3, the 42nd lowest in the country (the absolute lowest rate was Vermont, which allows concealed carry without a permit, and the highest rate, 35, was the District of Columbia). In total violence crime it was 47th -- only Vermont, New Hampshire and South Dakota had less violence."

Victims Of Gun Crime Not Seeking Support Charity Says

Link: Victims Of Gun Crime Not Seeking Support Charity Says (from Ealing Times).

MOST victims of gun crime and other serious crimes in London are not receiving adequate support to cope with their ordeal [according to] Victim Support London (VSL).

I could suggest a way of coping, but would they listen?

UPDATE: link problem

Australian Buyback (Confiscation) has no effect on murder rate

Via Dr. John R. Lott

Link: Buyback has no effect on murder rate - National - smh.com.au.

"HALF a billion dollars spent buying back hundreds of thousands of guns after the Port Arthur massacre had no effect on the homicide rate, says a study published in an influential British journal."

UPDATE: .pdf of this study, via Arms and the Law

FBI Crime Stats for 2005

Statistics for 2005 just released by the FBI confirm that violent crime has dropped precipitously since 1991 (despite a huge increase in firearm ownership), and that the drop correlates with right-to-carry legislation: NRA-ILA :: Current Legislation - State