"Epidemic of Gun Violence" - Carl Levin (D-MI)

[Juna]

Sen. Carl Levin [D-MI] on Senate floor 3/9/07:

Madam President, the epidemic of gun violence is endangering many in our communities both large and small. Illegal guns are being used at an increasing rate to harm our children, our neighbors, and our police officers. We must not allow this spiral to continue.

One example of a community heavily affected by gun violence is in Pennsylvania, where in 2004 the State led the Nation in homicide rates among African-American victims. Handguns were used in 81 percent of the State's murders. In Pennsylvania's largest city, Philadelphia, more than 2,000 people were injured by firearms last year alone. According to the Philadelphia police department, this represents an increase of 31 percent in just 3 years. Philadelphia saw 406 people murdered in 2006, up from 380 in 2005.

Just a short trip south of Pennsylvania lies another example of the how guns are affecting our communities. According to the nonprofit organization Ceasefire Maryland, a crime is committed with an assault rifle every 48 hours in the State of Maryland. The Maryland State Legislature is attempting to address this horrifying statistic by considering a bill backed by Governor Martin O'Malley that would ban 45 different assault weapons statewide. This action could serve as an excellent example of a legislature taking a commonsense approach to reducing gun violence. Congress and President Bush have allowed the Federal assault weapons ban to expire.

Month after month, we watch these tragedies unfold on the news and yet Congress has not taken the necessary steps to help control these acts of violence or ease the anxiety that many parents and families feel each day as their loved ones go to school, church, or work. According to the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, gun crime rose 49.4 percent nationally between 2004 and 2005. Almost 5.9 million people were victims of gun violence between 1996 and 2005.

The American people have a right to demand that their schools, places of worship, and other public places be better protected from gun violence. Much more can be done to break the cycle of gun violence that plagues our communities. I urge my colleagues to take up and pass commonsense legislation that will help address this problem.

:banghead:

This is the same $*##$&&#$ who sends me verbatim form letters for every firearm related letter I send him.

 

[Jdoc]

No wonder i haven't got a.......

response from him concerning H.R. 1022. I have a feeling i don't want to now.. . That there just made me angry.

 

[fspitzdorf]

my only solice is that i did NOT fill in the bubble next to his name on the ballot... Nor Stabenow either

I wonder if electro-shock therapy could straighten out his misguided views...

 

[Titan6]

Gun crime is up 49% in one year! Holy smokes.


Oh wait those are Brady numbers never mind.....

 

[Atticus]

One example of a community heavily affected by gun violence is in Pennsylvania, where in 2004 the State led the Nation in homicide rates among African-American victims.

I wish those damned guns would stop shooting African Americans.

 

[nelson133]

In his case the D stands for dolt, he's a blight on Michigan.

 

[Turkey Creek]

Levin is one of the reasons I don't miss living in Michigan

 

[Nightcrawler]

Levin is one of the reasons I don't miss living in Michigan

Hear hear! Baghdad Carl is a disgrace to the Senate. Considering the company he's in, that's really saying something.

 

[Helmetcase]

You've seen the debunkings we've done on the Ceasefire 48 hours nonsense haven't you?

The Ceasefire dorks haven't seen fit to engage me in a public debate, despite numerous offers. I wonder why .

 

[K3]

Ya know, they make it sound like random people walking to church are being gunned down in huge numbers. I'm not buying that. I wonder how many kills are crook on crook. What percentage?

Politicians and statistics do not mix.

 

[TexasRifleman]

One example of a community heavily affected by gun violence is in Pennsylvania, where in 2004 the State led the Nation in homicide rates among African-American victims.

That is because the current firearms laws are racist.

By outlawing low cost firearms (Saturday night specials etc) and increasing the cost of purchasing firearms due to lawsuits against manufacturers and dealers, firearms laws have prevented the people that need a way to defend themselves the most from getting a gun. Inner city victims of shootings who were denied the ability to defend themselves should claim a Civil Rights violation against the government.

Criminals are always going to get guns, but when the victims start fighting back you see a drastic change in behavior.

Why is all that so hard to comprehend?

 

[benEzra]

Just a short trip south of Pennsylvania lies another example of the how guns are affecting our communities. According to the nonprofit organization Ceasefire Maryland, a crime is committed with an assault rifle every 48 hours in the State of Maryland. The Maryland State Legislature is attempting to address this horrifying statistic by considering a bill backed by Governor Martin O'Malley that would ban 45 different assault weapons statewide. This action could serve as an excellent example of a legislature taking a commonsense approach to reducing gun violence. Congress and President Bush have allowed the Federal assault weapons ban to expire.

That's ludicrous.

http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/05cius/data/table_20.html

In 2005, all rifles COMBINED accounted for four homicides in Maryland. Four homicides out of 551.

Sixteen times as many people were killed with knives as with all rifles combined.

 

[Titan6]

Don't know about racist but poor inner city people can't afford nice guns. And lots of minorities live in cities. Lots of other folks too.

They also can not afford the ammo needed to train.

Or have decent access to ranges.

Or CCL classes and lic. when they can get one.

Figure well over $1000 for a legal weapon, lic and training. Kind of hard if you are at the poverty line.

 

[MD_Willington]

I urge my colleagues to take up and pass commonsense legislation that will help address this problem.

Ramping up for HR1022... And I just bought a mini-van...

 

[creitzel]

We really need to get rid of this guy. While we're at it, we need to get rid of Stabenow too.

 

[erik the bold]

Link to the article PLEASE ??? :banghead:

 

[creitzel]

Erik,

it wasn't in an article. These were remarks he made on the senate floor on 3/9/2007. Here's a link to a transcript: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?r110:9:./temp/~r110QatFmY::

 

[LAK Supply]

This schmuck is just one of many of our "public servants" that need to be tried for treason. We need to start a movement that would help to make it a criminal offense everytime one of these elitists sponsors, co-sponsors, or votes for a bill that is not constitutionally valid. I think 90% of our "representatives" would be in prision.

 

[glockamolee]

Come on guys... Lenin; uh hem, I mean, Levin is a member of the Globalist, Anti Bill Of Rights, Anti-Americanism Council on Foreign Relations; just like the majority of Congress who belong to this, or to the Trilateral Commission.

Do you think that Congress WANTS free men and women owning weapons??
Especially members of those two "think tanks" I mentioned above?

(HINT... these think tanks have been active since 1923 and 1973; respectively, so don't call me a Conspiracy nut! thanks.)

 

[illspirit]

Erm, isn't it considered perjury or something to lie to the Senate? Oh, right, that doesn't apply to our reps.

 

[hillbilly in MI]

Levin is one of the reasons I don't miss living in Michigan

And one of the reasons I won't miss it either. While we're talking about Levin right now, lets not forget Stabenow - the even more liberal though a less influential senator giving this state a black eye in the minds of all those that appreciate freedom. I have NEVER voted for either of these statists .

 

[Travis McGee]

Just wait until Hillary is pres, with a 'rat congress.

The RINOs will "compromise" with the 'rats, and we'll see a much worse AWB than last time.

 

[scurtis_34471]

I did some number crunching on those FBI statistics for the entire country for 2005. Here is what it works out to:

Total murders: 14,860
Handguns: 7,543 (51%)
Rifles: 442 (3%)
Shotguns: 517 (3%)
Unknown Firearm: 1,598 (11%)
Knives: 1,914 (13%)
Other Weapon: 1954 (13%)
Bare Hands: 892 (6%)

These are the real numbers and they show that twice as many people are beaten to death with bare hands and feet than are shot with rifles. Almost twice as many people are stabbed as are shot with rifles and shotguns combined. Where is the epidemic of rifle violence? Where are they getting their numbers? The politicians have access to this information. The only conclusion I can come to is that they are either willfully ignorant or knowingly lying to the American people.

 

[thexrayboy]

The politicians have access to this information. The only conclusion I can come to is that they are either willfully ignorant or knowingly lying to the American people.

So are you saying that politicians are willfully ignorant liars? That description works for me.

 

[scurtis_34471]

A Letter to my Senators

I am sure you are aware that a new ban on nearly all semi-automatic rifles is moving through the House Judiciary Committee and there has already been some discussion on this issue on the Senate floor. I therefore want to direct your attention to the FBI statistics for murder by weapon type for 2005.

Total murders: 14,860
Handguns: 7,543 (51%)
Rifles: 442 (3%)
Shotguns: 517 (3%)
Unknown Firearm: 1,598 (11%)
Knives: 1,914 (13%)
Other Weapon: 1954 (13%)
Bare Hands: 892 (6%)

These are the real numbers and they show that twice as many people are beaten to death with bare hands and feet than are shot with rifles. Almost twice as many people are stabbed as are shot with rifles and shotguns combined. Where is the epidemic of rifle violence?

Here is a quote from Senator Carl Levin's comments on the Senate floor on March 9, 2007"

"Just a short trip south of Pennsylvania lies another example of the how guns are affecting our communities. According to the nonprofit organization Ceasefire Maryland, a crime is committed with an assault rifle every 48 hours in the State of Maryland. The Maryland State Legislature is attempting to address this horrifying statistic by considering a bill backed by Governor Martin O'Malley that would ban 45 different assault weapons statewide. This action could serve as an excellent example of a legislature taking a commonsense approach to reducing gun violence. Congress and President Bush have allowed the Federal assault weapons ban to expire."

This entire commentary is a bald faced lie. The only people this gun ban will effect are honest, law-abiding Americans who use semi-automatic rifles for hunting, target shooting and legitimate defense of their homes. Please do not deny your constituents their Constitutional rights in an attempt to solve a problem that does not exist.

Sincerely,

XXXXXXXXXX