Technology to fight gun crime hobbled by skepticism and disuse – “Even among departments that use the system, only a handful have been using it the way ATF intends. NIBIN has been hobbled by years of inattention inside ATF, according to more than two dozen current and former NIBIN officials and law enforcement agents, some of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk about it. Because the technology requires a considerable commitment of personnel and money, many departments have adopted it in a scattershot way: They enter shell casings inconsistently and fail to follow up on leads.” The Justice Department won’t prosecute people who lie on their 4473’s and the ATF blows $300 on an apparently effective system through disinterest and poor implementation. But more gun control laws are the answer.
The Ferguson Effect in action: Chicago Police Officer Says She Feared Using Gun While Being Beaten – “A Chicago police officer who is hospitalized after she was severely beaten said she was afraid to use her gun because of the scrutiny she would have faced, Supt. Eddie Johnson said. On Wednesday morning, police responded to a car crash at Roosevelt and Cicero on the city’s West Side where officers encountered a man that police allege was violent and under the influence of drugs. Three officers were hospitalized in the incident.”
Meanwhile, in another part of Mogadishu on Lake Michigan:
One gun’s journey — 42 bullets fired, 2 killed, 5 wounded – “The story of the Glock’s journey from safe to shoebox comes at a tumultuous time for Chicago as homicides spike to levels unseen in the city for two decades. Chicago police say the proliferation of guns plays a key role in the seemingly endless cycle of violence, particularly in impoverished pockets of the South and West sides. As police battle the glut of firearms, the Glock illustrates the devastation — both human and financial — that a single gun can leave behind.” A legally owned and properly stored firearm was stolen and used in a series of crimes. But remember, it’s the gun’s fault.
Accuracy is the thing: Hasbro’s new Accustrike Nerf guns want you to be a sniper – “Hasbro previewed its newest line of Nerf guns at its pre-New York Comic-Con event in New York last night, and while they lack the speed and size of some of the more notable Nerf guns in recent history they look pretty interesting on their own. The Accustrike line is a new set of Nerf guns with a redesigned dart for more accurate shooting.”
Don’t forget about the Biden Effect: Police: Clowns flee after homeowner fires warning shot – “A homeowner in Pampa fired a gunshot after two people dressed as clowns apparently entered his front yard, the city said Wednesday. The Pampa Police Department responded to a suspicious persons call in the 2500 block of Charles Tuesday around 10:30 p.m. A resident in the neighborhood told police he was working in his garage when he heard two disguised people laughing outside.The homeowner reportedly told them to leave, then retrieved a pistol as they advanced closer to his home.”
Elsewhere on the ever-expanding insurgent clown front:
Second Amendment For The Win: Woman Draws Gun, Scares Away Creepy Clown – The woman, who lives in Auburn, ME and did not want to be identified, said that she was relaxing on her porch when an SUV pulled up by her house. In the back seat sat a man in clown makeup, who “formed a gun shape” with his fingers and said “bang.” In response, the woman revealed that she was armed with a gun of the non-finger variety, and that was enough to scare the clown away. She then reported the incident to the police, saying the whole thing “freaked [her] out.”