Narrative alert! . . . Mass shootings in gun-free nations
The global history of mass shootings demonstrates that the vast majority of these crimes are perpetrated in places where citizen firearms ownership is close to nil. While people can argue about cause and effect, the facts are indisputable.
This might seem surprising to people who read a recent article in the New York Times claiming that the mass shootings in the United States are a direct consequence of the high density of gun ownership in the country. But the article is analytically flawed, as Robert VerBruggen detailed for National Review Online. For example, the Times article is based on a study by a professor who refuses to allow skeptics to see his data or his methodology. But let’s hypothesize that the assertions by the professor are correct. It is still true that mass shooting fatalities are heavily concentrated in areas where citizen firearms possession is prohibited.
It may be a small bunch but it’s fiercely engaged . . . A minority of gun owners have a veto over gun laws
America’s powerful gun lobby, of which the National Rifle Association (NRA) is the most prominent group, is able to cow Republican legislators into inaction. Yet the organisation largely represents the extreme views of a minority of gunowners: the NRA claims 5m members, compared with the 17m Americans who hunt or the third of adults who own guns. NRA members are twice as likely to own five or more guns than non-member gunowners, and are twice as likely to carry a gun outside their house all or most of the time. Their policy preferences are much more hostile to any gun control. In the recent Virginia election, exit polls show that 37% of gunowners backed Ralph Northam, the Democratic candidate, for governor. Should such moderates organise effectively, they may be able to snap the NRA’s stranglehold over gun policy.
High Speed Gear® Revolutionizes the Magazine Carrier Market Again – Introducing the Polymer TACO®
High Speed Gear (HSGI), designers and makers of the 100 percent Made in the USA, Battle-Proven Tactical Gear™, is proud to announce that the next generation of magazine carriers are here. HSGI originally set the magazine carrier market on fire with its innovative TACO® design that allowed the carrier to be expanded or contracted side to side and back to front, all at the same time. Its revolutionary two-piece system provided the necessary retention and the ability to index just about any magazine on the market. Now, HSGI has built upon the success of the original TACO to a new Polymer TACO, incorporating all the same great patented features, but in a durable polymer material that offers light weight and water proof capabilities (does not water proof inserted items). And, like all of HSGI’s products, backed by a lifetime warranty.
Reality check time . . . Gun Control and Magical Thinking
Based on existing federal gun laws, Kelley’s record made him officially ineligible to buy firearms. But the Air Force failed to submit his records into the federal background-check database, allowing him to purchase the guns used in this weekend’s rampage.
Folks, that’s an unacceptable “oops.” It also isn’t an isolated incident of negligence. This week, questions have arisen about the military’s reporting system when it comes to domestic-violence cases. Meanwhile, in an interview after the shooting, Texas senator Ted Cruz noted that in 2010 alone, “48,000 felons and fugitives lied and illegally tried to purchase guns. [The government] prosecuted only 44 of them.”
Yikes . . . Vista Outdoor plunges 27% after slashing outlook
FQ2 sales of $587M fell 16% Y/Y on an organic basis. Adjusted EPS of $0.34 fell from $0.74, but topped estimates by $0.07.
CFO Stephen Nolan takes note of the competitive environment, with ongoing promotions and high inventory contributing to a “challenging quarter.”
The company is divesting two brands within its Sports Protection business, and Shooting Sports president Bob Keller is exiting.
Full-year EPS is now seen at $0.50-$0.60 vs. $1.10-$1.30 previously. Revenue is cut to $2.24B-$2.26B from $2.36B-$2.42B.
FN Collaborates With Nine Line Apparel on Four Exclusive Tees
FN America, LLC, maker of the World’s Most Battle-Proven Firearms.®, is pleased to announce a collaboration with Nine Line Apparel, on an exclusive collection of t-shirts based on FN’s most popular products. The collection will include four original designs and will be available for purchase online through the FN E-store starting Friday, Nov. 10, 2017.
“FN and Nine Line’s missions are extremely well-aligned and we share a lot of the same philosophies when it comes to support of America’s armed forces,” said Jarrod McDevitt, channel marketing manager for FN America, LLC. “We couldn’t have chosen a better creative partner than the men and women at Nine Line Apparel to showcase our Battle-Proven message and products.”
Prepare for blood running in the streets . . . “Good Reason” to Cheer – D.C. Carry License Applications Skyrocket in October
One estimate is that D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) had denied licenses to close to 80 percent of applicants because of a failure to satisfy the “good reason” rules. Now that this requirement has been judicially eliminated, carry license applications have jumped sharply. A year ago, October and November each showed only a single National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) check done in relation to permits in D.C., as was the case again in September of 2017. This October, however, 145 District residents have had permit-based NICS checks. It is unclear how many of these, if any, concern previous applicants who were denied because of “good reason” and who may now reapply, but the October 2017 NICS figure, by itself, comes very close to the total for permit-based checks in D.C. over the rest of 2017 combined.
The NSSF’s Larry Keane writes . . . Don’t ban America’s most popular rifle
Instead of banning America’s most popular rifle, our focus should be on preventing criminals and the seriously mentally ill from obtaining any type of firearm. Since 2013, the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s FixNICS initiative has improved reporting of all criminal and adjudicated mental health records to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, and it has led to 16 states adopting reforms.
Through the end of 2016, the number of disqualifying mental health records submitted rose 170% to nearly 4.5 million, from about 1.7 million in December 2012. Gun control groups may take credit, but we were the ones at work in the states. We must turn to the Defense Department to ensure all its appropriate records are submitted to the NICS.
Don’t worry…no firearms were harmed in the making of this photograph.