Nightline on Obama, gun control

[unixronin]

Nightline broadcast a good and pretty balanced segment last night, discussing Barak Obama's gun control position and the massive gun buying rush that's going on across the US now by people concerned that if they don't buy them now, they won't be able to.

Particular points to note:

• The customer who keeps repeating to the reporter, "Never mind Obama's words, look at his actions."¹
• The gunshop owner reporting Obama supporters coming into his store wearing their Obama buttons, who just voted for him but are still afraid he'll ban guns.

[1]  You might have seen me say this once or twice.  Assuming you've been paying attention.

Comments

Re: (kind of) slipery slope

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

The reason NYPD changed its rules to forbid officers from attempting to shoot fleeing felons was because of a study of NYPD shootings in the 60s-70s. the study found the typical level of NYPD marksmanship to be so bad that on average, an NYPD officer shooting at a fleeing felon was something like 60% more likely to hit an innocent bystander than to hit his target.

perspicuity's point about your recent local shooting is on the mark, too. As I recall, the drunk fired five shots. The fact he used a semi-automatic is irrelevant; he could have done the same with any revolver in the world without having to stop to reload.

The real tragedy of the shooting is that he was such a wretched shot he couldn't even hit his target at arms' length, and the woman he actually killed did nothing but be in the wrong place at the wrong time. I have a friend who is a shooting and personal protection instructor in Los Angeles, who has on several occasions seriously suggested offering free training to gangbangers, on the principle that if they could actually shoot, they might kill more of each other and less innocent bystanders.