Gun-related crimes on the rise in Massachusetts, proclaims the headline at the Boston Globe, factually enough. And then the strap-line: Firearms flowing across borders. In other words, firearms-related crime is on the rise in Massachusetts because “The quality of your gun-licensing laws is only as good as those surrounding you.” Ayup. Northeastern University criminologist James Alan Fox pins the blame for the Bay State’s gun-related crime on adjacent states’ firearms freedom. I mean lax gun laws. Interesting that the article starts with the blame shifters and then reveals the rate of rising gun crime. Just for S&Gs, let’s do it their way . . .
Many guns found in Massachusetts travel only a short distance: 133 crime guns were traced to New Hampshire in 2011, and 79 to Maine, according to the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Those states alone accounted for nearly one-third of the 669 crime guns traced to states outside of Massachusetts.
New Hampshire and Maine, unlike Massachusetts, do not require a permit or license to buy a gun, although weapons bought at federally licensed gun shops are subjected to a background check.
“If you’re a kid in New Bedford and you had a beef with somebody, what do you do? You drive three hours to Maine to buy a gun,” said New Bedford Mayor Jonathan Mitchell, a former federal prosecutor in Boston, who appeared with Menino and other Massachusetts mayors last week to press for stricter gun laws.
If Maine had tougher gun laws, the bad guys would just give up and forget about the whole thing, I suppose. Lest we forget, Maine gun dealers don’t have to run buyers through a NICS background check. Oh wait, they do. And non-dealer firearms sales to felons are legal in Maine. Oh wait. They aren’t.
And God knows there aren’t any illegal guns already in Massachusetts. Oh wait. There are. In fact, here’s a handy little chart detailing the origin of guns used for Massachusetts firearms-related crimes (according to the Globe).
I wonder why NONE of the guns listed are from Massachusetts. What are the odds?
Anyway, 212 out of 366 guns in the survey come from adjacent states: New Hampshire and Maine (RI doesn’t get a look in). But it’s also true that almost half—154 of the 366 guns in the survey—came from way the heck out of state.
Thirty-eight guns (more than 10 percent) migrated from California (with some help, presumably). Why that’s one of the only states with tougher (i.e. more unconstitutional) gun control laws than Massachusetts!
And while we’re talking about stats, let’s see how the civilian disarmament movement’s doing in Massachusetts, reducing crime-wise:
In 2011, Massachusetts recorded 122 murders committed with firearms, a striking increase from the 65 in 1998, said Fox, the Northeastern professor. Nationwide, such murders increased only 3 percent from 1999 to 2010, the CDC says.
There were increases in other crimes involving guns in Massachusetts, too. From 1998 to 2011, aggravated assaults with guns rose 26.7 percent. Robberies with firearms increased 20.7 percent during that period, according to an FBI analysis conducted for the Globe.
The rise in Massachusetts shootings extends beyond crime. All gunshot injuries not resulting in death, including accidents but excluding suicide attempts, increased 20 percent from 2001 to 2011, according to the state Department of Public Health. Across the country, the rise was 18 percent, the CDC reported.
To be fair, the Globe checks in with Massachusetts gun rights advocates, who deride the “it’s not working so we need to do more of it” mindset. It’s odd that no one mentions the fact that gun rights are not dependent on any sort of crime calculus. But there it is. The article ends with this little afactual gem.
Gun-control advocates scoff at the notion that rising gun violence can be attributed to the 1998 laws. Instead, they suggest, the problem is linked to large cuts in police budgets, recession-related poverty, and the continuing flow of guns from out of state. “Since 2000, law enforcement funding has been cut by billions across the nation,” said John Rosenthal, founder and chairman of Stop Handgun Violence, an advocacy group based in Newton.
Yes, police budgets have been cut, but it’s worth noting that police budgets have been ballooning for decades. Click here for a list of how much government spends per resident per year on police throughout Massachusetts. Not taxpayers. Residents.
How much of that money goes to police pensions? Dunno. But I do know that Massachusetts gun owners’ Constitutionally protected right to keep and bear arms is about to get hammered. Again. Still.
Its shows every one most oppose the fascist agenda of gun grabs.
This fools nuts because Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, COMMIENECTICUT, and even little ole Rhody (The second most dangerous state in NE) are all a much safer place to live than the “PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF MA”. No one should be surprised by this fact because that’s what happens when you live in a repressed nanny state that insists on running your entire life. I guess the drugs and slums have nothing to do with the sad condition of this state.
Just like socialist, blame everything but the bad guys doing the crime. Hey Gov. how about the Mafia in Boston. Due they count in crimes?
Nice to see another lady join us.
To paraphrase Stefan Molyneux, the reason gun crimes go up when guns are restricted or banned, is that by disarming the average citizen, a gun becomes an even more effective tool for the criminal. And since you cannot eliminate all guns, criminals will go to whatever lengths necessary to obtain them as they become a more and more effective tool for crime.
Seems reasonable to me that we reduce the number of places of opportunity for crazies to go shooting unopposed. You know…”Gun Free Zones.”
As for being the police being “outgunned” … really? What do you think the Second Amendment was about? Obama may have been a “constitutional scholar” but not the Constitution governing the United States. We are supposed to be on par with our military, as we are members of the citizen militia, per the Second Amendment, recognition in the Constitutions of many states and the writings at the time, including the Federalist papers.
Seems “reasonable” to me to see what happens in those places that have allowed adults to carry in schools and other places…oh wait, we’ve seen that. It appears to work to prevent or diminish any incident.
Carrying a gun doesn’t mean you will win. But it does mean you have a shot at winning.
Hell yes.
Common sense and facts have no place when you’re driving an agenda!
You mean FREE gear? Get to break the scheisse out of FREE gear, write about it, and travel on their dime (or is that out of Robert Farago’s account?) all across America doing it??
Lucky bastaz!!!
Awesome news for our head Nerd in Chief and TTAG!
Bravo Nick!!!
Wonder how FNH would feel if Nick were to ‘upgrade’ their SCAR’s with GG&G’s Non-Reciprocating charging handle mod… hm…
/watch?v=8xnA8uh6tyc
I used to respect Ron Paul even though I disagreed with his stance on Islamic terrorism. No more respect; he can FOAD.
Meanwhile, the US economy had negative growth in the 4th quarter of 2012. Good to know Obama has his priorities straight – pushing to violate our civil rights while letting the economy collapse due to his incompetent policies.
#include ObligatoryJokeAboutShoulderThingThatGoesUp.h
I liked it. He was passionate and emotional.
We know the facts, statistics and history are on our side. The civilian disarmament crowd is just going on emotion. Maybe we can gain some ground countering emotion with emotion. Again today BHO said the line about saving one life. It appeals to our emotion, but lacks reason and logic.
One of my brothers good friends died after he slipped while hiking and fell down a cliff. It was tragic. I didn’t see any politicians rushing forth to ban hiking, not even to close the trail he was hiking. But if we can do something to save one life … shouldn’t they have proposed it?
Mr. Stevens, I salute you sir.
Molon Labe
I have to believe that pro-gun rallies do advance our cause. If I choose to accept that such rallies do nothing then I must also believe that ALL other rallies are meaningless and thus my First amendment right to freedom of speech has become purposeless.
Rallies in favor of protecting and extending our Second amendment rights are important, just as the rallies (throngs, mobs?) against the Townshend Act, the Tea Act in the 1770’s were important. Even if the politicians don’t listen friends, neighbors and countrymen will overhear; how can they not? These individuals who remain undecided on an issue are the true target of such rallies. If each of these rallies converts, to corrupt the words of President Obama, “just one” to our cause then they will have been a rousing success.
The only way to ensure our own eventual defeat in this matter would be to give up our resolve, to answer this particular question of the day with an apathetic – “Meh…”
During the late 1950’s and 1960’s such rallies as these led to marches and to protests, finally to civil disobedience and the affirmation of Rights for a group of people who had long been neglected. While of course these rights were preexisting apathy and ignorance coupled with selective interpretation of the letter of the law allowed many to be repressed and abused for decades.
Such is the situation that American gun owners find themselves in today.
That’s why we need to rally and to march and to protest. The fact is however that we’re winning, these rally’s are accomplishing their purpose already such demonstrations and efforts by pro-2A groups have backed our Chief Executive and his ilk off of legislation. This of course has forced him to show his true colors in a way that can’t be equivocated as he attempts to expand the Executive branch’s power above it’s peers through government by executive fiat.
So yes. I believe that these rallies just like the countless rallies throughout American history ARE accomplishing their purpose slowly and surely. This victory will not be pretty it will be one of attrition, we do not need to retake ground at this juncture, but instead we must fight a war of attrition on this and other issues by being willing to fight as hard as needed simply to prevent our political opponents from gaining ground.
Actually, he fancies himself a “ruler”.. However, he probably doesn’t have twelve inches…
Mr. Farago, you wrote:
Condescension? You, Mr. Farago, are the person with the condescending attitude, not Mr. Stevens. I’ll leave it to others to determine exactly where you can shove it.
Thanks for speaking out, Ed!
Seems really unfair to me the fact that the overall rating lost an entire point for customization. If the gun is so good out of the box (I have experienced it personally and found all good things mentioned to be true) why would you want to customize it? It’s like people who like iPhones only because of all available accessories…
Honestly, what else would you ask from a ccw/duty pistol than been reliable, accurate and comfortable to bear and shoot?
I recall in the first day or two of the event that the police response time was 20 minutes, according to a major news outlet.
I can’t find it now, perhaps my search-fu is off.
If it is anywhere near true, it would be another meme-buster.
So for the fools that wasted their vote(s) on Ron Paul I hope you finally realize why he never wins the GOP presidential primary. The Ron Paul love affair must come at an end now.
As a MA resident, I am saying enough. My wife, children, and I are packing up am moving elsewhere. Heading south where there is a little common sense left.
Hmmm, I already have a takedown rifle that can accept 22lr as well as higher calibers. It’s an AR15.
Nonplussed,
Why was the AR reported by the first responders on day one as being found in the car and now being reported the school. the change didn’t happen untill outside forces rewrote the story .