The media myth of a gun-violence America
Undoubtedly you've heard of gun-violence in America, you've probably been told it is of epidemic proportion and most likely you've been told that more laws are necessary to save lives - now for what you haven't been told. America, bar none, is the largest free society in existence, people in America have more freedom of expression and action than any other Nation on the planet (no matter what some in the media would have you believe). One of the foundations to this freedom is the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights, deemed to every American citizen by their Creator - not by their Government. In these rights you're provided, as a Citizen, speech, religion, security protections from intrusion, equality, fair justice and one other item, one that guarantees the others, the 2nd Amendment - the Right to Bear Arms.
The RtB is more than just a passing note between the 1st and 3rd Amendments, there is a reason it was so prominently featured in the Bill of Rights, it is paramount to the Citizens controlling the Government. It is the RtB that has helped America get to where it is today, just as much if not more than every other element of our Foundational documents. But today, the RtB finds itself under constant and unscrupulous attack by many. The attacks on the foundational right come in the form of tears, security, loathing, and above all legislation.
The media has worked nearly hand in hand with those that would destroy the RtB to paint a picture of violence, a picture painted in the blood of children and applied on the canvas of humanity with a brush of steel and lead. And while this picture at first blush demands action, it requires equal action in regards to truth.
America is one of a very few countries in the world that allows private gun ownership, and the only that deems it a right of the society. There are over 100,000,000 firearms in private ownership in America, that is nearly 1 for every 3 people in the Country. Now the media and Constitutionally-Descructive legislators would tell you that this is a problem, I tell you this is the definition of what makes America great. America averages just under 13,000 firearm related fatalities per year, down from its peak in the mid-1990s - horrific in number, but statically less than 0.0001% of the population. And while we all would agree 0 would be the perfect number, when you account for the sheer numbers of firearms in private ownership this is an amazing act of self control. Over 99.9% of privately owned firearms have never hurt a soul, never injured a person, never murdered a child. 99%, consider that number, 9 out of 10 - that is huge.
Now another thing the BtR haters will push on society is that America, because of guns and ultimately RtB, is one of the most violent places in the world - completely and entirely inaccurate. In fact, according to statistics from an International Bureau the following was found - America has the most guns (which we knew) but considerably more in private hands - see the image.
Now what you probably didn't know was that America doesn't even make the top 10 in intentional homicides, not the top 20, top 50, top 100...America ranks 103rd in intentional homicides with roughly 5 out of 100,000 people (Canada is 3 per 100K, Britain 2 and Mexico >20).
You see guns aren't the issue, they never were at least not when it comes to murder in a Nation. Guns are liberators, equalizers, in fact the Nations with the most homicides are the ones with the fewest Citizen rights. Think about that the next time you're quick to believe that guns are a problem in America, think about it.
Ref:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Number_of_guns_per_capita_by_country
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_intentional_homicide_rate
The RtB is more than just a passing note between the 1st and 3rd Amendments, there is a reason it was so prominently featured in the Bill of Rights, it is paramount to the Citizens controlling the Government. It is the RtB that has helped America get to where it is today, just as much if not more than every other element of our Foundational documents. But today, the RtB finds itself under constant and unscrupulous attack by many. The attacks on the foundational right come in the form of tears, security, loathing, and above all legislation.
The media has worked nearly hand in hand with those that would destroy the RtB to paint a picture of violence, a picture painted in the blood of children and applied on the canvas of humanity with a brush of steel and lead. And while this picture at first blush demands action, it requires equal action in regards to truth.
America is one of a very few countries in the world that allows private gun ownership, and the only that deems it a right of the society. There are over 100,000,000 firearms in private ownership in America, that is nearly 1 for every 3 people in the Country. Now the media and Constitutionally-Descructive legislators would tell you that this is a problem, I tell you this is the definition of what makes America great. America averages just under 13,000 firearm related fatalities per year, down from its peak in the mid-1990s - horrific in number, but statically less than 0.0001% of the population. And while we all would agree 0 would be the perfect number, when you account for the sheer numbers of firearms in private ownership this is an amazing act of self control. Over 99.9% of privately owned firearms have never hurt a soul, never injured a person, never murdered a child. 99%, consider that number, 9 out of 10 - that is huge.
Now another thing the BtR haters will push on society is that America, because of guns and ultimately RtB, is one of the most violent places in the world - completely and entirely inaccurate. In fact, according to statistics from an International Bureau the following was found - America has the most guns (which we knew) but considerably more in private hands - see the image.
Now what you probably didn't know was that America doesn't even make the top 10 in intentional homicides, not the top 20, top 50, top 100...America ranks 103rd in intentional homicides with roughly 5 out of 100,000 people (Canada is 3 per 100K, Britain 2 and Mexico >20).
You see guns aren't the issue, they never were at least not when it comes to murder in a Nation. Guns are liberators, equalizers, in fact the Nations with the most homicides are the ones with the fewest Citizen rights. Think about that the next time you're quick to believe that guns are a problem in America, think about it.
Ref:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Number_of_guns_per_capita_by_country
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_intentional_homicide_rate
Comments
Post a Comment