We hear the boringly predictable cry of “ban ‘assault rifles’” after two mass murders of police in recent weeks. In Oakland, as discussed earlier in this blog, four officers were murdered by a stone criminal. Few of the editorials mention that the first two were slain with an ordinary 9mm pistol. The last two victims were killed with a semiautomatic 7.62X39 rifle, by various accounts either an SKS or an “AK47.” The slayer was a paroled, convicted felon with no right to own any firearm, in a state where “assault rifles” are ALREADY forbidden.
In Pittsburgh, three officers were murdered by an obvious sociopath who was wounded by one of his victims, and surrendered when his vaunted “AK47 assault rifle” jammed. By some accounts, he used an ordinary shotgun to ambush his first two victims.
When the latter killer learned that a fourth officer he had shot was wounded in the hand as he courageously attempted to drag a mortally wounded brother officer to cover, the confessed murderer expressed surprise and apparent dissatisfaction that he hadn’t killed this cop, too. (Link here.) He told police he had been hoping to “go out in a blaze of glory,” but chose to live so he could write a book about his exploits. Apparently no one told this cretin about laws that prevent convicted criminals from publishing things that bring them profit from their evil deeds.
In the wake of this and other recent high-profile mass murders, a man wrote THIS essay in which he implies that availability of guns to law-abiding citizens is one reason such atrocities take place. He confesses that he once planned such a rampage himself. A man so selfish he would murder others because he didn’t get a promotion at work? And he’s going to lecture normal people? Truly, the inmates are attempting to run the asylum.
It isn’t about the guns.
It’s about soulless, selfish, sociopathic monsters.
You’ve really hit it on the head here, Mr. Ayoob. Being a grad student at a large university, I get into arguments with people all the time about this, and the single logical breakdown that frustrates me the most is the idea that gun control advocates have, that criminals already doing illegal things with illegal weapons will suddenly stop if we only make it MORE illegal. Wasn’t it Franklin who said that the definition of stupidity was to do the exact same thing and expect different results? They’re CRIMINALS, people! Even if, in some imaginary dream world where we magically made all guns disappear, these psychos would run through the streets with swords and improvised bombs, instead. You’re absolutely right, it’s the killers, not the weapons!
These killers are of the same mentality as terrorists. Maybe if they are finally viewed as such, then the appropriate response will follow, namely eternal vigilance and quick counterattack/neutralization.
The left all stick their heads in the sand on basic economic issues.
They currently call themselves “progressives”, but socializing the private sector has a failed history going back 100 years. Progress comes from invention and investment, never government.
Bans of goods that large numbers of people want will always lead to black markets-be it prohibition alcohol, narcotics or guns.
Bans will at LEAST lead to simple substitution. Ban handguns and thugs will substitute sawedoff shotguns. Even if ALL guns were magically eliminated, the spree killer would substitute the low-tech molotov cocktail. Neither of those developments constitute progress.
As I read that essay, the author appears to blame a sense of powerlessness and oppression due to discrimination, not the ready availability of firearms. He already had the rifle, so ease or difficulty in obtaining a weapon cannot have been what stopped him.
I couldn’t have said it better brother.
It’s gonna be a bad summer, I’m ‘fraid…
Mas, I agree with your statements completely. It is automatic when some nut kills the media and politicians cry for gun control. I don’t know what the answer is. How do you educate these fools who won’t see that stacking more laws on top of the ones that aren’t working won’t help?
I think Judy may need to watch her back. The guy still looks postal in his picture.
But they can’t ban the people… can they?
Mas,
I truly don’t know if it is possible to get people that want to ban guns, or people that are afraid of guns to understand that it is not the guns but the evil people wish to do. We’ve had examples of non-gun mass murder overseas several times, and examples here of people running vehicles into crowds intentionally and unintentionally. It seems the knives and cars are seldom blamed. I think it gets close to the concept of “Don’t confuse me with the facts.”
Unfortunately I think we are seeing the beginning of a horrible trend of police/criminal confrontations that will continue to get worse. I believe we are starting to see criminals that have learned lessons from shows like COPS and from other criminals in prison that they are learning to exploit/counter current LE tactics. It is disturbing. I also believe LEO in some areas need to truly look at their mindset anytime they go into a confrontation. They have to understand that they are going to face more and more criminals that are not afraid of them and are willing to confront them. SWAT teams and patrol officers might want to start considering protective gear that will decisively stop rifle rounds at close range.
Cheers, oh speaker of the truth.
I am nowhere near as parinoid as I used to be, or worried.
But I will never in my lifetime forget that there is a struggle between good and evil.
While one man can make a difference in his acts of evil,
How many GREAT men do you know of that go the route of the unsung hero? I’m blessed that I cannot count the number of truly great people that grace my life, I will mourn my brothers loss, but I will give thanks, that there are far more men of honor, that out-weigh their opponents evil actions, with there own selfless service.
I once planned to do this my self. “Suicide by cop” after shooting up a mall. Then I got medical help and medication.
Now I no longer think or feel that way.
The White House, congress- proof the inmates are running the asylum. The media has so brainwashed the populace against guns most may be unable to be educated about the truth. The lawmakers know the truth and they don’t care. It doesn’t fit in their agenda. Pelosi doesn’t want to waste this crisis, bleating already.
I wholeheartedly agree that this is the problem. It seems our lawmakers do not want anything but a supposed quick fix. [bans] Without slamming either party, it seems as if congress looks for simple answers to difficult problems even at the expense of our second amendment rights! One Senator told me, “We have to have a balanced solution” The way I read our second amendment rights I can not find anything about, “balanced” only The word, “Infringed” I believe our rights were, “balanced” when the Bill of Rights was first written! Instead of looking to cut an arm off to cure a hangnail, we should be looking for answers in the criminal justice system, courts, schools, and homes! Thats where the answers are! Not in the firearms, or the banning of them!
These guys who shoot up the police and buildings full of people are not making it any easier for us law abiding citizens to keep our guns. I wonder how many mass shootings have to occur before publice sentiment swings even farther to the left. It’s going to be a rough road ahead.
Recently heard on radio in Oz: ‘Is there no way of stopping lunatics from getting guns?’ I doubt that there is, tho some loonies do stand out in the crowd. None of us really know what we will or won’t do when pressed. One solution: everybody armed. As for banning guns: a well-placed fist, a thrown rock or stick, a pen or pencil inserted subcutaneously; all can kill. Once, I stopped an assault in progress, by threatening to toss a brick from my balcony. Guns are great for hunting; ’tis a pity that many are never so used. Them that do not intervene are as guilty as the evildoer. Even the sword would make a huge difference to general behaviour.
Massad, great comments!!
Couple of concerns, why are so many “police organizations” against the 2nd Amendment. Know it’s probably because of politics and political correctness of senior bureaucrats, but it sure would help things if there were a large credible voice from the enforcement community that could help “fight the fight”.
I’m a regular reader of several shooting mags and have read dozens of articles penned by many police officers in support of what you so bravely continue to voice (and by the way, you have become THE hero of a 50 year old conservative, highly educated professional who has entered the shooting sports and CCW ranks late in life. I read everything I can get my hands on that you’ve penned).
Isn’t there a way to pull these voices together? Or, is the political consequences just too much? To be honest, everytime I read one of these articles, I worry about the careers of the officers that penned them. . . that doesn’t say a whole lot positive about the situation.
Thoughts?
Even if the left somehow managed to rid the world of all those Evil,Black “assault weapons”, criminals will use whatever they can get their hands on. I have a lot of anti’s in my own family who make comments like………. ” I’m not for banning hunting guns,I just don’t see why anyone needs a AR-15 or AK-47 or a handgun that holds 15 rounds ”
High capacity,because many times you’ll have to deal with more than one attacker(Wolfs travel in packs,right)plus “suppressive fire”is not just for the Military,because you might be forced to move towards family members/kids room or evacuate and firing strings of rounds at the BG’s to keep them busy is probably a good tactic. A lot of people are perplexed when I explain an AR-15 fires a tiny .22 caliber bullet ,which is a very controllable round that in many situations & which with the right ammo will over-penetrate(walls of your/neighbor’s home) less than many handgun gun rounds as Clint Smith of Thunder Ranch has demonstrated on occassion. A common hunting gun would be a .30-06,which is FAR more powerful than the .223/5.56,but they have trouble believing that since an AR just “looks so scary” compared to a traditional Bolt Action Deer gun it must be oh so much more powerful & deadly. Forcing us to use a 30-06 as a self-defense gun?,talk about overpentration & endangering innocent bystanders!
Excellent piece Mr. Ayoob. Ann Coulter writes a somewhat humerous but associated piece here: “Let’s All Surrender Our Weapons — You First!”
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=31406
Mas, we had a deputy killed here ( Lenoir County, NC)and another wounded on Tuesday night. He supposedly was shot ( I dont have first hand info) with a 7MM Magnum rifle. One bullet passed through the first, and hit the second deputy in the neck. Luckily, he survived.Both were wearing Level 3 armor.I’m not sure if it was a bolt action or what, but it wasn’t an assault rifle. Will.
Nother mass shooting:
so, idea….since our culture has gotten so wack, that this behavior appears to appeal to people seeking notoriety, why not call them for what they are? COWARDS.
Not ill, not repressed, not a disaffected worker, not anything but — coward. No analysis, or profiles, or the slightest hint of interest in the Coward’s background or motive.
As this latest set-to unfolds, and the Major Media gets on it’s gun control horse whilst Sarah Brady weeps, why not spread this idea around to boards and blogs?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Dear Major Media,”
“When referring to the murdering coward who did this despicable act, call them just that — “THE COWARD”, on the news. No name, period. No picture of his house, his family, interviews with associates, or speculation as to motive.”
“The COWARD has forfeited by his act, any attention recognizing him as an individual. He must be forever forgotten, without a name or memory of him. He merits nothing, at all.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If the ‘honest, equitable and professional’ newswhoxes insist, then post any personal data on their webpage. But never again will the COWARD be referred to or spoken of in public as anything but ‘that COWARD’.
Want to change a culture? Then change perceptions: of acts, objects, and ideas. The Great Auntie-gun Association does it all the time. I say, steal their meaning, steal their momentum, pull the cultural rug out from under their feet.
Every time, on every gun board, where ever we meet, whatever we write to blogs, whenever we make commentary to the media and politicians use ‘the COWARD’, when referring to murdering pixxants like the latest one. Or any one of these acts, past or present.
Oh, don’t confuse the opinion moulders with ideas like responsible self defense. There’s no brain cell receptors at home for such a concept in those culturally mis-channeled media/political brains. Just note the evening news special propaganda this Fri eve, “What if I had a gun?” or “how to make untrained people handling large unfamilair objects look like cowering dolts. “The Network news: ever vigilant in the fight to keep out populace living in a state of perpetual fear.”
“the COWARD”.
Use it. make it common. Every time you write, speak, or otherwise communicate about this subject, hammer it home.
“the COWARD”
That man obviously had problems far beyond owning weapons. And if he didn’t own a gun, he would have devised a different way to complete his plan. The end would have been the same regardless.