GunFacts Hasn’t Any (6)
Still not a single fact from GunFacts.
Today, pp. 4-5:
Myth: Police are against concealed carrying by citizens
Fact: 66% of police chiefs believe that citizens carrying concealed firearms reduce rates of violent crime.21
Author cites “21 National Association of Chiefs of Police, 17th Annual National Survey of Police Chiefs & Sheriffs, 2005.”
There’s a problem here, the survey cited may be found here. As can been seen, the 66% affirmative figure is not accurate. We also don’t know what the response rate was to this survey; we know it was sent to some 22000 folks–but we have no idea what response rate was achieved. I’d also question whether the phrasing of the question (Will a national concealed handgun permit reduce rates of violent crime as recent studies in some states have already reflected?) was legitimate.
It must also be noted that the largest organization of police chiefs is the IACP. They are not necessarily opposed to CCW but do strongly favor rigid regulations opposed by gunloons.
Fact: “All the horror stories I thought would come to pass didn’t happen …I think it’s worked out well, and that says good things about the citizens who have permits. I’m a convert.”22
Fact: “I … [felt] that such legislation present[ed] a clear and present danger to law-abiding citizens by placing more handguns on our streets. Boy was I wrong. Our experience in Harris County, and indeed statewide, has proven my fears absolutely groundless”.23
Author cites 22 Glenn White, president, Dallas Police Association, Dallas Morning News, December 23, 1997 and 23 John B. Holmes, Harris County Texas district attorney, Dallas Morning News, December 23, 1997.
Assuming the quotes are accurate, they are anecdotes not facts. They represent opinion.
Fact: Explain this to the Law Enforcement Alliance of America, Second Amendment Police Department, and Law Enforcement for the Preservation of the Second Amendment, all of whom support shall-issue concealed carry laws.
This highlights the rampant dishonesty of the author. The LEAA is a front organization of the NRA and is funded by an annual grant of $500K from the NRA.
The Second Amendment Police Department is a website and doesn’t represent law enforcement in any other form. Law Enforcement for the Preservation of the Second Amendment was the previous incarnation of the LEAA.
“Assuming the quotes are accurate, they are anecdotes not facts. They represent opinion.”
They actually DO represent facts.
The texas murder rate in 1993 was 2,147.
In 1994, it was 2,022. Then shall-issue ccw was passed. Murders in 1995 dropped to 1,693 and have never been anywhere near their height in 1991. Now I’m not saying that there’s a link between CCW and crime dropping (there might be, but you can’t prove it.) Likewise, you cannot say that CCW caused an increase in crime either. There was NOT blood in the streets after 1994, in fact, there was a lot less of it, so I’d say those comments DO represent facts.
http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/txcrime.htm
Comment by Ellgee — January 1, 2008 @ 12:46 am
The IACP is funded by the Joyce Foundation, which is an anti-gun organization. They’re just as biased as the LEAA, just in the opposite direction.
Comment by Ahab — January 2, 2008 @ 1:23 pm
Actually, the IACP has received funding from the Joyce Foundation, among others. The LEAA, OTOH, was created by the NRA.
Comment by Administrator — January 2, 2008 @ 5:35 pm