-Caveat Lector- Subject: Handgun Deaths At 35-Year Low Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2001 16:51:30 EDT From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Neal Knox) Neal Knox Update, April 13 -- The Centers for Disease Control yesterday announced that the number of "gun-related deaths" had declined 25 percent since 1993, to the lowest levels since 1966 (Note: that was two years *before* the Gun Control Act of 1968 and the string of subsequent gun laws). According to an Associated Press story, CDC analysts credited "stricter sentencing in some areas, new laws that make it more difficult for criminals to get guns, the waning crack trade and low unemployment because of the booming economy." CDC, which has been attempting to convince the nation that violent crime is a disease, is right about stricter sentencing of gun-wielding criminals, but dead wrong about criminals having any difficulty obtaining guns. Despite decades-old bans on guns in high-crime cities like New York, Washington, D.C., and Chicago, criminals have all the guns they want. The AP report doesn't mention that the National Center for Health Statistics report for 1998 (latest available) shows that of the 30,708 total firearms- related deaths, only 11,798 - slightly more than a third - were homicides (some of which are justifiable). Suicides account for well over half of the gun deaths - 17,424, or 57%. An incredibly low 866 were accidents, and 620 were listed as "undetermined" or "other" -- which probably includes a lot more self-defense shootings. The NRA supposedly told the AP reporter that the lower death rates "are evidence that gun-safety programs are reaching Americans and that gun laws are working." NRA spokeswoman Patricia Gregory is directly quoted as saying: "There are tens of thousands of firearms laws on the books. Strict enforcement of existing law could reduce these numbers even further." NRA-ILA Director Jim Baker, after talking with Ms. Gregory, told me the reporter distilled the quote from a 15 minute interview. The reporter did not understand she was talking about enforcement of laws against criminal misuse. AP promised Baker to run a corrected story. -------------- <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance�not soap-boxing�please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html">Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
