Corrections &=20 Clarifications

Friday<= /B>,=20 January 4, 2002

Charles Hardy is=20 spokesman and policy director for the Gun Owners of Utah. A Salt Lake= =20 Tribune story Dec. 26 incorrectly identified his affiliation.=20

----__JNP_000_5df3.2466.6b4e-- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Charles C Hardy Subject: SLTrib editorial against gun control ?!?!? Date: 08 Jan 2002 11:37:02 -0700 From today's sltrib. Never surrender, never compromise. We've got the antis on the run and this is the time to work even harder to regain our lost rights. charles Opportunism in Action Salt Lake Tribune January 1, 2002 http://www.sltrib.com/01082002/opinion/opinion.htm A few members of Congress have been using last year's terrorist attacks to justify another push for tough gun laws. Fear makes fertile ground for any law that promises greater security, but this effort is a stretch. Everyone knows that the only weapons used in the Sept. 11 hijackings were box cutters. A more legitimate link between firearms, 9/11 and citizens' safety can be found today in London, where armed robberies are up more than 100 percent. Cops have been pulled from the streets to guard sites that might be vulnerable to terrorists, and gun-wielding thugs have filled the void. Britain's rash of robberies -- more than 19,000 between September and November -- is an acceleration of a violent four-year trend. Firearms assaults were up 53 percent last year, and every category of violent crime, from simple mugging to rape, has been rising in steady leaps. Brazen British burglars now strike when residents are home about half the time. Those in favor of more gun restrictions might be interested in Jamaica, where firearms have turned Britain's former colony into one of the most violent places on Earth. About one of every 2,000 Jamaicans was a victim of homicide last year, an increase of 28 percent. Last week, about 30 armed thugs opened fire on a Kingston neighborhood and killed seven people, including two young sisters. The troubles in Britain and Jamaica might make a strong argument for tougher gun laws except for one inconvenient detail: The existing laws can't get much tougher. Britain outlawed handguns four years ago, the start of its current explosion in violent crime, while Jamaica's firearms restrictions fall just short of a total ban. The law-abiding citizens of both nations are disarmed and armed criminals are out of control. Is there a connection? That question is worth debating, but it seems far more plausible than the link some lawmakers are attempting to forge between America's gun rights and the terrorism of Sept. 11. ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Charles C Hardy Subject: Hansen retiring Date: 08 Jan 2002 12:41:33 -0700 From today's DesNews: http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,360007005,00.html? Hansen bowing out after 22 years on Hill By Lee Davidson Deseret News Washington correspondent WASHINGTON — Rep. Jim Hansen, R-Utah, made the surprise announcement Tuesday that he will not seek re-election this year, ending his congressional career after 22 years. Jim Hansen It comes as Hansen, 69, achieved a pinnacle of power during his now-final term, serving as chairman of the full House Resources Committee. He is the only House member from Utah to ever chair a full committee. "After a lot of thought, I feel it is time to move on, and I will not stand for election in 2002," Hansen said in a written statement. He announced his decision by faxing a press release to the news media, after calling other leaders in the morning. Hansen's decision, of course, will lead to a wide-open battle to succeed him in the 1st House District, which he has represented since 1980 when he defeated Rep. Gunn McKay, D-Utah. In a telephone interview, Hansen said a desire to spend more time with his family was his main reason to retire, but he also has had some minor health problems recently and was unhappy with the Legislature's redrawing of his district's boundaries. "I will have served 22 years at the end of this term. I will be 70 in August. I would like to do some things with my family and grandkids. My wife has been supportive and long-suffering, and I'd like to give her more attention. I feel there should be life after Congress," he said. [...] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Charles C Hardy Subject: Blather from the DesNews Date: 17 Jan 2002 11:30:51 -0700 If anyone is in the mood to write a letter to the editor, this editorial from the DesNews needs a response or 10. Their closing sentence is particularly appalling: The DesNews hopes the courts can determine "whether schools, colleges and other agencies are strictly bound by Utah's concealed weapons law." Gee, are any of us allowed to be anything other than "strictly bound" by all of the thousands of laws on the books? And why should Utah taxpayers have to foot both sides of a lawsuit? Just to give the egomaniacs at the U one more chance to disobey a law that was passed by the legislature, signed by the governor, and has now been given identical interpretations by both the State AG and the Legislatures' own counsel? It is time to impose some serious penalties in the finacial arena on the U and her sister institutions who incist on flaunting the law. Letters to the Deseret News editor can be emailed to letters@desnews.com. Letters must include a full name, address and telephone number. However, only name and city/State will be published. Charles http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,365008295,00.html? Litigate concealed weapons law Deseret News editorial University of Utah President J. Bernard Machen makes a good point. If respective Utah officials and policymakers are ever to get to the bottom of the concealed weapons ban question, the matter needs to be litigated. What's more, Utah's attorney general agrees. While this issue appears headed for a "friendly lawsuit," it is regrettable that cooler heads couldn't have hammered out the issue at a conference table. While this page understands that Utah's law and state constitution are not identical to those in surrounding states, we can't help noticing that nearby Western states do not extend the concealed weapons permit privilege to schools or college campuses. For Machen, the gun issue is tied to academic freedom. He contends that the presence of firearms on a college campus would undermine a free exchange of ideas. We would further argue that college campuses are unique because they are gathering places of people with vastly divergent backgrounds and points of view. If Attorney General Mark Shurtleff is amenable to this challenge of Utah's concealed weapons law, which has very few exceptions, perhaps other affected public segments should join the litigation, among them public schools and agencies under the Department of Human Services. Public school districts and boards overseeing everything from mental health to foster care have created their own policies in this area, but it is not clear whether they could be enforced. The problem with legislating gun law is that common sense and scholarly investigation often take a backseat to political whim. Utah lawmakers relied heavily on the research of University of Chicago visiting scholar John Lott, which was published in the 1998 book "More Guns, Less Crime." What lawmakers didn't hear were the contrasting points of view of academics who have since dissected Lott's research, specifically, Daniel Webster of John Hopkins University and Jens Ludwig of Georgetown University. Webster and Ludwig, authors of "Myths about Defensive Gun Use and Permissive Gun Carry Laws," wrote "Errors aside, the fundamental problem with Lott's research can by summarized by the old social science adage 'correlation is not causation.' " We raise Lott's body of work not to impugn it. Even critics consider many of Lott's methodologies as relatively sophisticated and, in some respects, an improvement on previous evaluations of gun laws. Rather, it's an example that public policymaking too often is relegated to quieting the squeaky wheel rather than hearing all voices in a debate. While this page understands that the concealed weapon issue that would be decided in court is primarily a legal one, we are hopeful that in a setting removed from politics, the court can make a thoughtful and informed determination whether schools, colleges and other agencies are strictly bound by Utah's concealed weapons law. ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Scott Bergeson Subject: K-Mart in the News -- On the ropes. Time to give quarter? Maybe... Date: 17 Jan 2002 15:01:37 -0700 'Lo folks. Haven't written much, and the list has undergone some big changes -- so I don't even know if this is the right place, but heck, an idea virus has to travel as it can... K-mart experienced a very disappointing Christmas season. Now, the Board of Directors is meeting to discuss the direction for the future of the company. ONE of the options is to declare bankruptcy. If nothing else, they will probably close hundreds of stores. NOW is the time for all gun-owners to pipe up and ask them if it might have been different had they not sold the Second Amendment out. Now is the time to remind them what happened to Smith and Wesson, and hint -- only hint -- that maybe some public statements about the sanctity of the Second Amendment, and recanting their previous actions -- _enumerating and apologizing for them_ -- might actually get business from firearms owners who swore off the company after being betrayed by them. I know what you may be thinking... "it's better if they died, it'll serve 'em right". But I have been thinking on this... if a national organization publicly recants its previously anti-gun stance and then survives, I think it casts a much louder statement than if they slowly wilt and die and we crow posthumously. S&W was a victory, but still a loss... I think that if we could get KM to hang its head in shame while apologizing profusely, and then see it recover (even if only somewhat) we could claim a much bigger victory. Spread the word, and call/write/email K-Mart and let them know that their current situation is not just the economy. It MIGHT work. Of course, even tho' it's still winter, I don't think they've had any snow in Hell for several millenia. Marc Visconte τΏτ¬ ===== TO THE STATES. To the States or any one of them, or any city of the States, Resist much, obey little, Once unquestioning obedience, once fully enslaved, Once fully enslaved, no nation, state, city of this earth, ever afterward resumes its liberty. -- Walt Whitman, "Leave of Grass", 1881 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Charles C Hardy Subject: Ogden Standard gun cartoon Date: 17 Jan 2002 15:15:09 -0700 This message is in MIME format. Since your mail reader does not understand this format, some or all of this message may not be legible. ----__JNP_000_2cf7.4faf.670b Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit The following link is a great little political cartoon showing the hypocrasy of the current University hysteria over guns. http://www.standard.net/show_cartoon.html?sid=00020117080850482879 Ogden Standard gun cartoon Charles ----__JNP_000_2cf7.4faf.670b Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

The following link is a great little political cartoon showing the=20 hypocrasy of the current University hysteria over guns.

http://www.standard.net/show_cartoon.html?sid=3D= 00020117080850482879

Ogden=20 Standard gun cartoon

Charles ----__JNP_000_2cf7.4faf.670b-- ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Scott Bergeson Subject: The safest place to commit crime in America Date: 23 Jan 2002 20:29:12 -0700 The safest place to commit crime in America ---------- KABA by Alan L. Lundy "When one looks at the rest of the world, America is not necessarily the safest place to commit crime, yet, but if certain politicians, entertainers and special interest groups have their way, one day we will be. Where is the safest place to commit crime? Any place you know of where there will be little or no resistance to that crime." (01/22/02) http://keepandbeararms.Com/newsarchives/XcNewsPlus.asp?cmd=view&articleid=1312 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Scott Bergeson Subject: The Facts About Gun Shows Date: 24 Jan 2002 10:12:00 -0700 In "The Facts About Gun Shows", (http://www.cato.org/dailys/01-10-00.html) Associate Policy Analyst David B. Kopel demonstrates that there is no "gun show loophole." "Despite what some media commentators have claimed," he writes, "existing gun laws apply just as much to gun shows as they do to any other place where guns are sold." Attempts to shut down gun shows are simply further attacks on the First and Second Amendments. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Scott Bergeson Subject: Chicago Gun Registration and Confiscation Date: 22 Jan 2002 10:45:32 -0700 Confiscation of Registered Guns Begins in Illinois Source: Illinois State Rifle Association The Chicago Police Department and the Illinois State Police have teamed up to make good on Mayor Daley's pledge that, if it were up to him, nobody would have a gun. http://www.kc3.com/news/chicago_confiscation.htm - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Scott Bergeson Subject: Mark Shurtleff on Television Date: 25 Jan 2002 11:05:14 -0700 Heads up: Mark will be discussing Utah gun law and the University of Utah's concealed weapons ban on CNN's "Crossfire" tonight (Friday) from 5:45 to 6:00 p.m. ABC will also be doing an interview today that is set to air on Sunday's version of World News Tonight. Thought you might like a heads up. Take care, Ric Cantrell Community Action Director Utah Attorney General's Office P.S. Check out our new website at http://www.attorneygeneral.utah.gov. The current events addicts among you might find the News & High Profile Issues section especially helpful. If you have suggestions for the new site, just reply to this e'mail and let me know! - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Charles C Hardy Subject: Need help on DesNews gun poll Date: 25 Jan 2002 13:40:37 -0700 This message is in MIME format. Since your mail reader does not understand this format, some or all of this message may not be legible. ----__JNP_000_34e9.0f97.4488 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary=--__JNP_000_0a5d.6ad3.6ae3 This message is in MIME format. Since your mail reader does not understand this format, some or all of this message may not be legible. ----__JNP_000_0a5d.6ad3.6ae3 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit The on line version of the Deseret News is running a poll on our concealed carry law and Sen. Poulton's efforts to reduce the cost, time, and hassle of getting a permit by dropping the unneeded mandated training. We're not doing well so far and if current trends continue, this poll will be one more club to beat us with. I'm sure "improve" the test will be interpretted to mean, "add a live-fire requiremnt." Of course, if we turn the tide, we'll never hear about the poll since it is unscientific. But I'd rather have that than the alternative. To log your opinion, go to http://www.desnews.com. The poll is along the right edge of the page, near the bottom. You'll probably have to scroll down to see it. Thank you. Charles Here are current results: Thanks for voting! Question: Utahns who want a concealed-weapons permit have to take a class, familiarizing them with weapons and Utah's deadly force laws, and pass a test. Proposed legislation would eliminate those requirements. Part of the rationale is that the class is ineffective. What is your position? Keep the class and test 68 votes (17%) Eliminate the class and test 65 votes (16%) Keep and improve the class and test 272 votes (67%) ----__JNP_000_0a5d.6ad3.6ae3 Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

The on line version of the Deseret News is running a poll on our = concealed=20 carry law and Sen. Poulton's efforts to reduce the cost, time, and hassle = of=20 getting a permit by dropping the unneeded mandated training. We're = not=20 doing well so far and if current trends continue, this poll will be one = more=20 club to beat us with. I'm sure "improve" the test will be interpretted= to=20 mean, "add a live-fire requiremnt." Of course, if we turn the = tide,=20 we'll never hear about the poll since it is unscientific. But I'd = rather=20 have that than the alternative.

To log your opinion, go to http://www.desnews.com.

The poll is along the right edge of the page, near the bottom. = You'll=20 probably have to scroll down to see it.

Thank you.

Charles

Here are current results:

Thanks for= =20 voting!

Question: Utahns who want a concealed-weapons permit have to take= a=20 class, familiarizing them with weapons and Utah's deadly force laws, and = pass a=20 test. Proposed legislation would eliminate those requirements. Part of the= =20 rationale is that the class is ineffective. What is your position?=20

Keep the class and test		68 votes (17%)
Eliminate the class and test		65 votes (16%)
Keep and improve the class and test		272 votes (67%)=20

<= /BODY> ----__JNP_000_0a5d.6ad3.6ae3-- ----__JNP_000_34e9.0f97.4488-- ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Charles C Hardy Subject: Rolly & Wells stirring up anti-gun sentiment. Date: 28 Jan 2002 14:15:04 -0700 This message is in MIME format. Since your mail reader does not understand this format, some or all of this message may not be legible. ----__JNP_000_1fb6.1a17.1365 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit The following is from today's SLTrib. By these numbers, CCW permitees are not very likely to commit a crime. 64 felonies out of 41,800 permit holders works out to about 1 1/2 felonies per 1000. And 480 revocaktions for non-felony convictions works out to only about 11 non-felony convictions per 1000. If the general populace did so well we would have only seen between 1500 and 3000 felony convictions last year STATEWIDE. We have between 1 million and 2 million adults in the State and since only those over 21 can currently get a permit, let's compare apples to apples. Similar numbers on the non-felony side would have resulted in only 11,000 to 22,000 non-felony convictions STATEWIDE. Anyone got actual numbers on what kind of business we are seeing in Utah's courts in terms of felony and non-felony activities? Charles http://www.sltrib.com/01282002/utah/171318.htm Rolly and Wells: Not All Holders Of Gun Permits Are Good Guys Monday, January 28, 2002 Paul Rolley and JoAnn Jacobson Wells The Salt Lake Tribune David Tubbs, a former FBI supervisor and director for the Utah Olympic Public Safety Command, told The Associated Press recently that Utah has 41,800 concealed weapons permit holders and he doesn't know of any who have used a weapon unlawfully. He may want to check his facts. According to the "Firearms Statistical Review" prepared by the Utah State Bureau of Criminal Identification, 64 concealed weapons permit holders have had their permits revoked due to felony convictions since 1994. Five were convicted of homicides, 20 for rape or sexual assault, three for aggravated assault, three for burglary, eight for drugs, four for fraud, six for theft, one for kidnapping and 14 for various other offenses. Another 480 permits were revoked for nonfelony convictions. Still, the Capitol Preservation Board ruled that concealed weapons holders can carry their guns inside the Capitol during the legislative session, and lawmakers are considering bills to relax gun-safety class requirements and fees to get a concealed-carry permit. ----__JNP_000_1fb6.1a17.1365 Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

The following is from today's SLTrib.

By these numbers, CCW permitees are not very likely to commit a=20 crime. 64 felonies out of 41,800 permit holders works out to about 1 = 1/2=20 felonies per 1000. And 480 revocaktions for non-felony convictions = works=20 out to only about 11 non-felony convictions per 1000.

If the general populace did so well we would have only seen between = 1500=20 and 3000 felony convictions last year STATEWIDE. We have between 1 = million=20 and 2 million adults in the State and since only those over 21 can = currently get=20 a permit, let's compare apples to apples. Similar numbers on the=20 non-felony side would have resulted in only 11,000 to 22,000 non-felony=20 convictions STATEWIDE.

Anyone got actual numbers on what kind of business we are seeing in = Utah's=20 courts in terms of felony and non-felony activities?

Charles

http://www.sltrib.= com/01282002/utah/171318.htm

Rolly=20 and Wells: Not All Holders Of Gun Permits Are Good=20 Guys

Monday<= /B>,=20 January 28, 2002

Paul=20 Rolley and JoAnn Jacobson Wells
The Salt Lake=20 Tribune

    David Tubbs, a former = FBI=20 supervisor and director for the Utah Olympic Public Safety Command, = told=20 The Associated Press recently that Utah has 41,800 concealed weapons= =20 permit holders and he doesn't know of any who have used a weapon=20 unlawfully.
    He may want to check his facts.=20 According to the "Firearms Statistical Review" prepared by the Utah = State=20 Bureau of Criminal Identification, 64 concealed weapons permit = holders=20 have had their permits revoked due to felony convictions since 1994. = Five=20 were convicted of homicides, 20 for rape or sexual assault, three for= =20 aggravated assault, three for burglary, eight for drugs, four for = fraud,=20 six for theft, one for kidnapping and 14 for various other offenses.= =20 Another 480 permits were revoked for nonfelony convictions.=20
    Still, the Capitol Preservation Board ruled = that=20 concealed weapons holders can carry their guns inside the Capitol = during=20 the legislative session, and lawmakers are considering bills to relax= =20 gun-safety class requirements and fees to get a concealed-carry = permit.=20

----__JNP_000_1fb6.1a17.1365-- ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Scott Bergeson Subject: THE MISSING GUN By JOHN R. LOTT, JR. Date: 28 Jan 2002 18:49:10 -0700 THE MISSING GUN By JOHN R. LOTT, JR. http://nypost.com/postopinion/opedcolumnists/38115.htm January 25, 2002 -- ANOTHER school shooting occurred last week and the headlines were everywhere the same, from Australia to Nigeria. This time the shooting occurred at a university, the Appalachian Law School. As usual, there were calls for more gun control. Yet in this age of "gun-free school zones," one fact was missing from virtually all the news coverage: The attack was stopped by two students who had guns in their cars. The fast responses of two male students, Mikael Gross, 34, and Tracy Bridges, 25, undoubtedly saved multiple lives. Mikael was outside the law school and just returning from lunch when Peter Odighizuwa started his attack. Tracy was in a classroom waiting for class to start. When the shots rang out, utter chaos erupted. Mikael said, "People were running everywhere. They were jumping behind cars, running out in front of traffic, trying to get away." Mikael and Tracy did something quite different: Both immediately ran to their cars and got their guns. Mikael had to run about 100 yards to get to his car. Along with Ted Besen (who was unarmed), they approached Peter from different sides. As Tracy explained it, "I aimed my gun at him, and Peter tossed his gun down. Ted approached Peter, and Peter hit Ted in the jaw. Ted pushed him back and we all jumped on." What is so remarkable is that out of 280 separate news stories (from a computerized Nexis-Lexis search) in the week after the event, just four stories mentioned that the students who stopped the attack had guns. Only two local newspapers (the Richmond Times-Dispatch and the Charlotte Observer) mentioned that the students actually pointed their guns at the attacker. Much more typical was the scenario described by the Washington Post, where the heroes had simply "helped subdue" the killer. The New York Times noted only that the attacker was "tackled by fellow students." Most in the media who discussed how the attack was stopped said: "students overpowered a gunman," "students ended the rampage by tackling him," "the gunman was tackled by four male students before being arrested," or "Students ended the rampage by confronting and then tackling the gunman, who dropped his weapon." In all, 72, stories described how the attacker was stopped without mentioning that the student heroes had guns. Unfortunately, the coverage in this case was not unusual. In the other public school shootings where citizens with guns have stopped attacks, rarely do more than one percent of the news stories mention that citizens with guns stopped the attacks. Many people find it hard to believe that research shows that there are 2 million defensive gun uses each year. After all, if these events were really happening, wouldn't we hear about them on the news? But when was the last time you saw a story on the national evening news (or even the local news) about a citizen using his gun to stop a crime? This misreporting actually endangers people's lives. By selectively reporting the news and turning a defensive gun use story into one where students merely "overpowered a gunman" the media gives misleading impressions of what works when people are confronted by violence. Research consistently shows that having a gun is the safest way to respond to any type of criminal attack, especially these multiple victim shootings. John Lott is a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute and the author of "More Guns, Less Crime." - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: charles hardy Subject: Fw: THE MISSING GUN By JOHN R. LOTT, JR. Date: 28 Jan 2002 20:47:20 -0700 I think a few elected officials, University officers, and media types ought to read the following. Sadly, few will and even those that do will dismiss it out of hand. ---------------- Charles Hardy --------- Forwarded message ---------- THE MISSING GUN By JOHN R. LOTT, JR. http://nypost.com/postopinion/opedcolumnists/38115.htm January 25, 2002 -- ANOTHER school shooting occurred last week and the headlines were everywhere the same, from Australia to Nigeria. This time the shooting occurred at a university, the Appalachian Law School. As usual, there were calls for more gun control. Yet in this age of "gun-free school zones," one fact was missing from virtually all the news coverage: The attack was stopped by two students who had guns in their cars. The fast responses of two male students, Mikael Gross, 34, and Tracy Bridges, 25, undoubtedly saved multiple lives. Mikael was outside the law school and just returning from lunch when Peter Odighizuwa started his attack. Tracy was in a classroom waiting for class to start. When the shots rang out, utter chaos erupted. Mikael said, "People were running everywhere. They were jumping behind cars, running out in front of traffic, trying to get away." Mikael and Tracy did something quite different: Both immediately ran to their cars and got their guns. Mikael had to run about 100 yards to get to his car. Along with Ted Besen (who was unarmed), they approached Peter from different sides. As Tracy explained it, "I aimed my gun at him, and Peter tossed his gun down. Ted approached Peter, and Peter hit Ted in the jaw. Ted pushed him back and we all jumped on." What is so remarkable is that out of 280 separate news stories (from a computerized Nexis-Lexis search) in the week after the event, just four stories mentioned that the students who stopped the attack had guns. Only two local newspapers (the Richmond Times-Dispatch and the Charlotte Observer) mentioned that the students actually pointed their guns at the attacker. Much more typical was the scenario described by the Washington Post, where the heroes had simply "helped subdue" the killer. The New York Times noted only that the attacker was "tackled by fellow students." Most in the media who discussed how the attack was stopped said: "students overpowered a gunman," "students ended the rampage by tackling him," "the gunman was tackled by four male students before being arrested," or "Students ended the rampage by confronting and then tackling the gunman, who dropped his weapon." In all, 72, stories described how the attacker was stopped without mentioning that the student heroes had guns. Unfortunately, the coverage in this case was not unusual. In the other public school shootings where citizens with guns have stopped attacks, rarely do more than one percent of the news stories mention that citizens with guns stopped the attacks. Many people find it hard to believe that research shows that there are 2 million defensive gun uses each year. After all, if these events were really happening, wouldn't we hear about them on the news? But when was the last time you saw a story on the national evening news (or even the local news) about a citizen using his gun to stop a crime? This misreporting actually endangers people's lives. By selectively reporting the news and turning a defensive gun use story into one where students merely "overpowered a gunman" the media gives misleading impressions of what works when people are confronted by violence. Research consistently shows that having a gun is the safest way to respond to any type of criminal attack, especially these multiple victim shootings. John Lott is a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute and the author of "More Guns, Less Crime." ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Charles C Hardy Subject: Fw: [UTGOA] Good News! HB 183 passes committee Date: 29 Jan 2002 14:20:48 -0700 --------- Forwarded message ---------- GOOD NEWS! HB 183, Firearm Criminal Background Check Amendments, sponsored by Rep. Morgan Philpot passed the House Judiciary Committee this morning. Thank you to those of you who took the time to attend the hearing! This bill, if passed, will eliminate the current $7.50 fee charged for background checks on firearms purchases. Rep. Philpot did an excellent job of presenting his bill and promoting the principle that no one should be charged a fee to exercise a Constitutional right, and most committee members responded favorably to his principled arguments. UTGOA will try to post some of Rep. Philpot's comments when we have time to transcribe them. Thanks also to Reps. Mike Thompson and Kathy Bryson for speaking in favor of the bill, as well as Rep. Jim Ferrin for asking some good questions. Committee Chair Glenn Way kept the discussion on topic, despite efforts by Maura Carabello to sidetrack the committee into a discussion of the "importance" of background checks. Charles Hardy of GOUtah! and Sarah Thompson of Utah Gun Owners Alliance spoke in favor of the bill, and Maura Carabello of the Utah Gun Violence Prevention Center spoke against it. The vote was a straight party vote with Republicans voting YES, Democrats voting NO, with the exception of Rep. Tyler who appeared not to vote, and Rep. Curtis who was absent. HB 183 will now go to the entire House for a vote. HB 219, Firearm Fee Amendments, also sponsored by Rep. Philpot, was briefly presented. As UTGOA mentioned before, Rep. Philpot has separated his initial HB 219, which dealt with both background check fees and permit fees into two separate bills. The background check fee half is now HB 183, above. The new, or substitute, HB 219 deals only with fees for CCW permits. The bill is now formally called 1st substitute HB 219, and can be found at http://www.le.state.ut.us/~2002/bills/hbillint/hb0219s1.htm Due to the fact that discussion of this bill will be involved and fairly controversial, and the fact that there was little time left in the meeting, the bill was "held". We don't know yet when it will be rescheduled, and will let you know when we do. WHAT YOU MUST DO! 1. Call YOUR OWN Representative and insist that s/he support HB 183. Contact info is at: http://www.utgoa.org/resources/legcontact02.html 2. Call Speaker of the House Marty Stephens and let him know that you expect him to support the bill, to do everything possible to help it pass, and to make sure it is funded. We expect opponents to try to "kill" the bill by refusing to provide funding to implement it. The cost is approx. $500,000, which is minimal compared to Utah's multi-billion dollar budget. Stephens's office number is 801-538-1930 and home is 801-731-5346. 3. Call members of the House Judiciary Committee. THANK those who voted for HB 183. Encourage all of them to support HB 219 when it comes back to the committee. See previous alerts for talking points. D, Patrice M. Arent, parent@le.state.ut.us, 801-272-1956, 801-538-1650 R, Chad E.Bennion, cbennion@le.state.ut.us, 801-281-1607 R, Ron Bigelow, rbigelow@le.state.ut.us, 801-968-4188 R, Katherine M.Bryson, kbryson@le.state.ut.us, 801-226-2061 R, Greg J.Curtis, gcurtis@le.state.ut.us, 801-943-3091 D, Scott Daniels, sdaniels@le.state.ut.us, 801-582-8080 R, James A. Ferrin, jferrin@le.state.ut.us, 801-224-6823 R, Ben C.Ferry, bferry@le.state.ut.us, 435-744-2997 D, Neal B. Hendrickson, nhendric@le.state.ut.us, 801-969-8920 D, Eric K. Hutchings, ehutchings@le.state.ut.us, 801-963-2639 R, Mike Thompson, mthompson@le.state.ut.us, 801-226-5032 R, A. Lamont Tyler, atyler@le.state.ut.us, 801-272-1218 R, Glenn L. Way, gway@le.state.ut.us, 801-798-2295, 801-636-0509 Please also send Rep. Philpot a short note letting him know you appreciate his principled support of gun rights and our Constitution. His email is mphilpot@utah.gov. Copyright 2002, Utah Gun Owners Alliance, Inc. and Sarah Thompson PO Box 1185 Sandy, UT 84091 801-566-1625 http://www.utgoa.org Director@utgoa.org PLEASE SUPPORT UTAH GUN OWNERS ALLIANCE! JOIN US TODAY! Did someone forward this to you? Please SUBSCRIBE NOW! That way you'll receive our FREE alerts as soon as they're released. During the legislative session, we send urgent, time limited alerts. Don't risk missing important information because someone else neglected to forward important information. Our alerts are low volume and average less than one alert per day. To subscribe to the UTGOA list, send a blank email to utgoa-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or use the form on our web site, http://www.utgoa.org. For more information, see http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/UTGOA. Utah Gun Owners Alliance is completely dependent on your generosity to cover our operating costs. Please consider joining us or sending a donation. Membership information is at: http://www.utgoa.org/pages/join.html Donations may be sent to: PO Box 1185, Sandy, UT 84091 Checks should be made payable to Utah Gun Owners Alliance, Inc. or UTGOA. Thank for your support! UTGOA is written and distributed by, Utah Gun Owners Alliance, Inc. www.utgoa.org, and Sarah Thompson, M.D. All information contained in these alerts is the responsibility of the author, unless otherwise attributed. Permission is granted for distribution of these alerts so long as no changes are made, UTGOA is clearly credited, and this message is left intact. Archives of the UTGOA alerts can be found at: http://www.utgoa.org/cgi-bin/alerts Utah Gun Owners Alliance, Inc. is a Utah non-profit corporation. ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Charles C Hardy Subject: DesNews gun poll sliding against us Date: 30 Jan 2002 12:06:34 -0700 The Deseret News on-line poll was looking really good for a couple of days, but has started to take a turn against us again. These polls are not scientific and you can rest assured that if it goes our way, in support of the RIGHT to own and carry guns, we won't hear about it. However, if it goes against us it will be trotted out to beat us over the head. Yes, the whole thing is stupid, but it is easy enough to counter, that we might as well do so. I believe the poll site is using some method to prevent casting multiple ballots from the same machine so don't waste time voting multiple times. But if you haven't made it the site yet, please take 60 seconds and cast a vote for the second option, "Eliminate the class and test." Poll is at http://www.desnews.com on the lower right edge of the page. You'll need to scroll down to see it. Current results, after hitting a high of 49% wanting to Eliminate the Class, 11% Wanting to keep the satus quo, and the remainer wanting to "improve" the class and test is: Question: Utahns who want a concealed-weapons permit have to take a class, familiarizing them with weapons and Utah's deadly force laws, and pass a test. Proposed legislation would eliminate those requirements. Part of the rationale is that the class is ineffective. What is your position? Keep the class and test 256 votes (13%) Eliminate the class and test 823 votes (43%) Keep and improve the class and test 824 votes (43%) Charles Hardy ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/. -