Proponents of civilian disarmament love the term “gun violence.” It shifts attention away from criminal responsibility for a criminal act and focuses it on the gun (which had no say in the matter). The mainstream media has adopted the term with Daddy Warbucks-like fervor. So I was hardly surprised when I read the headline Judge shot in March calls for end to gun violence at detroitnews.com. Nor was I taken aback by the ballistically-impaired judge’s pronouncement, “This is a time for our city to experience a liberation from the scourge of gun violence.” But what actually happened to U.S. District Judge Terrence Berg was interesting . . .
Speaking on Good Friday, Berg called for a “spiritual conversion” in Detroit. The key to reducing gun violence, he said, is more jobs, better schools and more police officers.
“I am sorry to have become a victim of gun violence, but I know I am much more fortunate than so many Detroiters who are injured and killed by gun violence every year,” Berg said.
Sorry. That’s not the tale. I just wanted to highlight The Big Lie repetition lavished on the term “gun violence,” and the Judge’s failure to acknowledge the fact that arming citizens is a key part of any anti-crime initiative. OK, here’s what went down . . .
A federal judge since 2012, Berg was shot March 5 outside his home near Seven Mile and Livernois in Detroit while taking out the trash. Two men between the ages of 18 and 25 demanded to be let inside his home. They shot Berg in the right leg when he refused, then fled in a dark-colored sedan, the FBI said.
Berg underwent two surgeries, has metal rods in his leg and was released from the hospital March 11. Last week, he returned to work part time from his home.
On Thursday, federal officials increased the reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction in the shooting of Berg to $50,000 from $35,000. The FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Detroit Police are investigating.
TTAG advises all People of the Gun to home carry. Our detractors – and many of our readers – consider this advice “extreme.” It isn’t. Home carry is especially recommended if you hold a job where you deal with a great many potentially violent or known-to-be-violent people who emerge from the encounter unhappy with the fruits of your labors. A job like, oh, a federal judgeship.
I bet U.S. District Judge Terrence Berg has taken out a lot of trash in his time. He should have done so while armed. He should do so armed, now. For all we know, he does. If he does, hat tip. If he doesn’t, heads-up! Those bad guys are still out there. Offering them better jobs or more education won’t do much to stop them. A gun might.