LookieNoNookie
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Joined: 8/9/2008
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My brother sent me something interesting (he's a staunch gun owner, believes unabated in the 2nd Amendment ... I do as well, but for and, because of very different reasons...).
For those of you against guns, or for those of you that think we need more gun control....I hope you read the entire thing...it's a bit long.
I'll paste the short version of his email, you can skip through a lot of it but notice the section on percentages....they're quite telling, then I'll make my comments:
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PoliceOne.com Releases Survey of 15,000 Law Enforcement Professionals about U.S. Gun Control Policies
March 2013 survey of police officers covered proposed legislation and attitudes about arming citizens
SAN FRANCISCO – PoliceOne.com, the leading online resource for law enforcement, today released findings from a national survey of police professionals that provide insight into the opinions of American law enforcement regarding gun control policies and the root causes of and potential solutions to gun crime in the United States.
The survey, which was conducted in early March 2013, received 15,000 responses from law enforcement professionals. It found that the overall attitude of law enforcement is strongly anti-gun legislation and pro-gun rights, with the belief that an armed citizenry is effective in stopping crime. Response percentages varied only slightly when analyzed by rank and department size. Among the results:
86 percent feel the currently proposed legislation would have no effect or a negative effect on improving officer safety
Similarly, 92 percent feel that banning semi-automatic firearms, or “assault weapons,” would have no effect or a negative effect on reducing violent crime
Demonstrating the opinion that the best way to combat gun crime is through harsher punishment, 91 percent said the use of a firearm while perpetrating a crime should lead to a stiff, mandatory sentence with no plea bargains. Likewise, 59 percent believe increasing punishment severity for unlicensed dealers would reduce crime
Respondents were more split on background checks, with 31 percent agreeing that mental health background checks in all gun sales would help reduce mass shootings, while 45 percent disagreed
71 percent support law enforcement leaders who have publicly refused to enforce more restrictive gun laws within their jurisdictions
82 percent believe gun buyback or turn-in programs are ineffective in reducing the level of gun violence
91 percent support the concealed carry of firearms by civilians who have not been convicted of a felony and/or have not been deemed psychologically incapable
Likewise, 80 percent feel that legally-armed citizens would likely have reduced the number of casualties in recent mass shooting incidents
38 percent believe the biggest cause of gun violence in the United States is the “decline in parenting and family values”. This was trailed by “overly lax parole and short sentencing standards” at 15 percent and “pop culture influence” (eg. violent movies and video games) at 14 percent
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My response to my Brother:
Ya know...that's what it's all about...we have more folks incarcerated than any other country per capita, a good 40% (I've read...I may have this stat wrong) are there for marijuana and party sized (as in....going to a party to get high) amounts of cocaine and other drugs.
Things that every movie star, Marion Barry, the Mayor of D.C. (who even freakin got re-elected to MAYOR!!!! after he got OUT OF PRISON!!!!) and a host of politicians have used (some of which actually inhaled), every one of us has used, things that we laugh about and celebrate with celebrities like the Stones and the Doors ("how the hell can these guys still even fuck after all those drugs?")....while we let murderous assholes off because their civil rights were abridged or some hair brained concern for their humanity.
They've proven, they aren't human.
If they murdered (and it can be proved) a human being, they have no rights. They are automatically declassified as human beings. Make it an international law. Whether they're distraught or maniacal...they have signed the release form the minute that trigger was pulled: "I am no longer a part of the human race, do with me as you will".
I know of someone who spent years in a Washington State, Monroe prison "back in the day" because he had a "significant" operation in the local area.
Back then, 50 plants was "major". I have no idea what his amounts were, or the details behind his story, and I won't speak for him. I'm certain he doesn't want me to.
We need to get those folks on "social" drug charges out of prison. We need to get those people (who weren't "connected"...very few were back then) who were trying to buy a house, maybe save up enough in 3 years and then get out and buy a hardware store, saw a nice little margin in the risk (stupid, but hardly scurrilous), even those who were selling acid in the 70's who are still to this day in prison for taking the risk that everyone older than 12 in the 70's was quite happy to have them in the marketplace (and who, customers of, are now legislators, business people and your next door neighbor) and we need to change the federal laws so someone like Tommy Chong (of Cheech and Chong) selling bongs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Chong)...a simple ceramic or similar device, don't spend 9 months in federal prison because someone in their shipping office made a stupid mistake and mailed a bong to Pennsylvania, where paraphernalia is a federal offense.
And begin putting away murderers.
For life....x's 12.
I did every drug there was, never stuck a needle in my arm but, no doubt, looking back, likely destroyed far more brain cells than I ever produced and thankfully, can still function at a (somewhat) reasonably high functioning level...had an absolutely GREAT time...don't recommend it to anyone, would put up 16 foot tall, 12 foot thick roadblocks against any kid I saw today trying even the mildest of things I tried...but...we've got people in prison today that simply, not only never belonged there, but now that social more's are a smidge more rational....need to be let out, re-trained and make room for murderers, thieves, connivers and 3 x strikers.
And frankly, when it comes to any crime using a gun, I'd say 1 strike is adequate for life.
Having one in your possession, never having used it in the stated crime but...having one nonetheless...is enough (in my opinion).
Out...forever. Done....see ya!
THAT's what the entire gun control lobby and argument needs to focus on....more room in prisons for murderers, less room for Judges to allow minimum sentences because "there ain't no more space for these guys"...and a bit more reality in the way we move forward.
It ain't about guns...it's about people that misuse them...and current federal laws that let too many of them slip between the cracks because....there's no freaking room for these pricks, so the Judges use the bottom end of the sentencing spectrum.
Guns don't kill people....lack of enforcement of existing gun laws kill people.
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For those of you truly interested in gun control.... - 
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