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George Rebane by

In service of the massive ‘gun violence’ diversion revived and orchestrated by Obama to bolster Democrats’ hopes for November, we here in Nevada County have decided to suddenly observe the 15th anniversary of a local tragedy in which an insane resident went on a rampage and killed three of our neighbors.  Keenly aware that such dire happenings should not be wasted, one of our state’s congressional worthies invited the parents of a victim of the 10jan01 shootings to attend the president’s State of the Union speech.  The 12jan16 gun control extravaganza in the House chambers promises to be a doozy to highlight and advance one of our more prominent National Lies – ‘gun violence is out of control and growing because too many people have guns and there are not enough gun laws on the books’.  The graphic below sheds some light on the matter.

GunViolenceLie

In these pages we have also parsed the 32K+ annual gun deaths record for our readers (e.g. most recently here). But that makes no never mind to leviathan’s central planners whose current worry is that their chosen champion Hellfire Hillary may blow a tire on the way to her nomination.  The latest smoking gun to emerge is incontestable evidence that she intentionally subverted the nation’s security in how she and her instructed subordinates treated classified emails.  This is a curtain behind which no liberal invites a peek, and behind which we presume Director Comely and his investigative team are very busy sorting things out.  We await their finding.

Meanwhile back home today’s (9jan16) Union dutifully devoted its issue to an in depth recounting of the 2001 tragedy, and also honoring the anti-gun work of the Wilcox couple whose daughter Laura was one of those murdered by the mad shooter. I venture it’s safe to say that the 15th anniversary of pretty much any event is not one of those significant milestones that we normally observe.  So the Union’s extraordinary effort, in devoting its front page and even more real estate in its op-ed section to the shootings, also says/confirms its support of the administration and their war on the Second Amendment.  The Wilcoxes’ political invitation to the SoU extravaganza is definitely a noteworthy local news item, but a newspaper more supportive of gun rights could easily have done their journalistic duty with a less lavish observance of this anniversary.  However, given their established political leaning, none of this should come as a surprise, nor should anyone think less of The Union since they are just exercising their First Amendment rights as they see fit. 

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61 responses to “Political Expediency Ressurrects Local Tragedy”

  1. Gregory Avatar
    Gregory

    The “gun violence” metric is fundamentally flawed, a talking point in order to muddy the waters. Unjustified homicides are what people are worried about, not how some poor sap decided to kill themselves, or whether someone repelled a home invasion by shooting one or more of the perpetrators.
    Here’s a plot of suicide rates per 100k of a number of countries going back to 1960
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_in_the_United_States#/media/File:Suicide-deaths-per-100000-trend.jpg
    My first impression of that graphic was that it must have sucked to be Swiss in 1980, and that it still sucks to be Japanese. With one gun per person, the US has half the suicide rate as Japan does with effectively zero guns per person, and the US rate has been slowly dropping.
    What alarms people is the prospect of being shot or stabbed or beaten to death in an act of unjustified homicide by another… honest political discourse will keep to that metric.

    Like

  2. drivebyposter Avatar
    drivebyposter

    It’s probably best to split gun deaths into three groups. Accidental, suicide, homicide. Public policy arguments about one don’t really map well into another.
    To be fair, I wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of the drop in gun-based homicides is due to improvements in emergency medical techniques, although I couldn’t tell you by how much.

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  3. Gregory Avatar
    Gregory

    The suicide by gun rate is immaterial… what drives that metric is the will to kill oneself. Flood Japan with firearms and my guess is their suicide rate would stay pretty constant.
    Gun suicides are about half the suicides in the US across all age ranges.
    http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr64/nvsr64_02.pdf
    Gun accidents are pretty rare. Accidental firearms deaths? A total of 505 that year, out of 130,557 accidental deaths. Ten per state. Page 22.

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  4. Walt Avatar

    Here you will find the stories the LIB press won’t publish. Atleast not where they can be easily found.
    https://www.nraila.org/gun-laws/armed-citizen/

    Like

  5. Jon Avatar
    Jon

    ..wrong topic, sorry…

    Like

  6. George Rebane Avatar

    Walt 506pm – Was not aware that trying to buy a gun was a felony. Only selling a gun to a member of a prohibited group, or possessing a gun as member of a prohibited group is illegal. Lots of people who try to buy guns have no idea that they are in a prohibited group – they discover that membership when their background check comes back.

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  7. Walt Avatar

    I don’t write the laws Dr.R. Someone who has been convicted, or is prohibited from getting a gun, the odds are, they know it. Illegals fall into that category. Yup that would be a “class” that would not really know. Still. No excuse not to prosecute and deport.
    The form you fill out today asks plenty of questions to your eligibility. Fibbing is not a good idea.

    Like

  8. George Rebane Avatar

    Walt 550pm – Agreed. But short of knowingly lying on your background form is not a felony when you’re standing at the counter of a gun store. But very definitely, those who lie on those forms are as a minimum committing perjury, and if they ever take possession of a gun, they are then committing a felony.

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  9. Walt Avatar

    You should see the “disqualifications” for a CCW. Have a MMJ card? Tough.. Your out of luck. Take prescribed meds? Any one of them might preclude your ability to carry.
    Just to play it safe, I take my guns apart just to drive to the gun range. OH the possibilities of breaking some state law where guns are concerned, and getting pulled over for a broken tail light. The state imposes gun restrictions faster the I can keep up.
    HELL! The state has outlawed more guns that can no longer be purchased within the state.
    The list of “Calif. compliant” is getting REAL short.

    Like

  10. Bill Tozer Avatar
    Bill Tozer

    Oh Walt, Obama does not want to take your guns. He said so himself. No, he will settle for gun registration to start with, then go after gun owners. He is after gun owners, not guns. BTW, I have some beach front property in Arizona to sell ya. 🙂

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  11. Russ Steele Avatar

    Walt@06:32PM
    Walt,
    One of the reasons the CA compliant gun list is growing shorter is the gun manufactures are not complying with the micro-stamping of the firing pin, thus new gun cannot be sold in CA. I spoke to a Springfield Arms manufacturing rep at the Range. He told me that Springfield is no longer submitting guns for CA certification due to the micro-stamping requirements. Once the Springfield pistols on the CA certification list expire, they will no longer sell any guns in CA. I am not sure if other gun manufacture are doing the same, but certainly could.

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  12. jon smith Avatar
    jon smith

    Walt- You are misinformed. I have a prescription for MJ from UCSF. It is not some $75.00 “recommendation” from Highland Springs. My script is on record with the state and the same NCSO who issued my CCW. My dose is two droppers a day 8 hours apart. I can take three droppers of CBD at a single sitting and will have less effect than a can of Coors light. The side affect is a headache and a strong urge to migrate to bed to take a nap. There is no “fun” involved.

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  13. Walt Avatar

    We all know that microstamping has yet to work.(at all)
    Manufactures are paying huge “extortion” fees to sell so-called “compliant” hardware.
    Right now I’m looking to buy another fine piece to add to my collection. Yes, the pick’ns are slim.(and pricey)

    Like

  14. Jon Avatar
    Jon

    “Walt- You are misinformed”.
    Understatement of the year. On about 90% of issues. Wild chaotic rambling and ranting about every conceivable topic does not make one informed.

    Like

  15. fish Avatar
    fish

    Posted by: Jon | 09 January 2016 at 09:11 PM
    Wild chaotic rambling and ranting about every conceivable topic does not make one informed.

    Pot meet kettle…..

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  16. Walt Avatar

    Jon Smith.. Now how did you pull that off???? I have in my hand a document I will need to sign to get mine that says otherwise.
    “FED law prohibits persons who are engaged in the use, or cultivation of MJ from possessing
    firearms” ( 18 u.s.c 922(g)(9-1)Although MMJ is legal within the state of Ca., the sheriff’s office cannot issue a CWP to anyone engaged in the use or cultivation.” (etc. etc.)
    So who did you need to screw?
    I have no problems with MMJ, It’s the profiteers I take issue with.

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  17. Walt Avatar

    “jon”.. You sure know how to own the meaning of asshole.

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  18. Jon Avatar
    Jon

    “Walt”, I calls em as I sees em.

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  19. Walt Avatar

    Then pull your head out for a better view.

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  20. fish Avatar
    fish

    Posted by: Walt | 09 January 2016 at 09:38 PM
    ZING…..!

    Like

  21. Walt Avatar

    How the “jon” hasn’t been choked to death by his own sphincter, is a wonder all it’s own.

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  22. George Rebane Avatar

    Gentlemen – please polish your reading skills. What the hell does MJ have to with the topic of this post?

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  23. Walt Avatar

    It must be my fault Dr. I just happen to have mentioned it(see above) where getting a CWP is concerned.

    Like

  24. drivebyposter Avatar
    drivebyposter

    re: gun accidents.
    I admit that they are remarkably rare, but it’s not uncommon to trot them out as a raison d’etre for firearms legislation. I suppose it’s not dissimilar to the various modern European versions of TASS using dead-kid-on-the-beach pictures as justification for the mass movement of millions of people.

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  25. George Boardman Avatar

    I think you’re reading too much into The Union’s recap of the Thorpe shootings. I haven’t discussed this with The Union’s editor, but I think the decision to revisit the event on its 15th anniversary had more to do with providing subscribers with a “good read” than promoting an anti-gun agenda or–a real stretch–creating a diversion from Hillary’s legal issues.
    The Thorpe shootings are by far the biggest news event to happen in western Nevada County during the 15 plus years I’ve lived here. The recent news that the mother of one of the victims has been invited to the state of the union address has, as they say in the news biz, provided a news hook for revisiting the original event.
    This decision has more to do with giving readers what they want than anything else. If you look at the list of the most popular stories in The Union last year, they fall into three categories: Crime, mayhem, personal tragedy. The Thorpe shootings had all three. End of story.

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  26. George Rebane Avatar

    GeorgeB 947am – Given the surrounding evidence of the national campaign, the politicized invitation, and the alarming state of Hillary’s scandals, I respectfully disagree that suddenly on the 15th(?!) anniversary the newspaper just wanted to provide its “subscribers with a “good read”‘. Too many stars had to have aligned randomly to make that argument.
    As icing on this presumptive cake, we’ll keep tabs on the number of ‘gun violence’ columns and letters that continue to appear in the newspaper. But I do agree with the ever popular trifecta of crime, mayhem, and personal tragedy for attracting readership. And when these can be aligned with promoting an ideology, what’s there not to like?

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  27. jon smith Avatar
    jon smith

    Walt- 1/9/16 9:24
    CBD is to marijuana as digitalis is to Foxglove or aspirin is to willow. When isolated it is a non-psychoactive medically approved medicine. Here is a casual link to the legal status of CBD. I don’t believe half their claims are true but at least you’ll see why it is legal in all 50 states. Not 1 cop in 100 understands the legality of it, hence a prescription or recommendation is a common sense thing to carry. http://cbdoilreview.org/cbd-cannabidiol/10-cbd-facts-you-need-to-know/
    I don’t grow mj and haven’t used any for probably 30 years. I prefer alcohol.

    Like

  28. George Rebane Avatar

    jonS 1053am – Mr Bronson’s 924pm was not an invitation to divert this to a discussion of MJ and away from the post’s topic. That’s why God invented the sandbox.

    Like

  29. Walt Avatar

    Thanks Mr. Smith for that info.

    Like

  30. rl crabb Avatar

    George 9:58 – We board members take our marching orders from Chairman Mao, via the company oujia board. But you already knew that.

    Like

  31. Jon Avatar
    Jon

    I noticed that RL. Such a lefty Rag.
    The fear and fervor of world events has ramped up the paranoia here to unprecedented levels.

    Like

  32. George Rebane Avatar

    rlcrabb 318pm – Good, then it’s settled.
    jon 458pm – It seems that you limit your readings to the lamestream and RR. The fear of which you talk is real and has been felt nationwide for some years now. You would know that if only you’d …
    Have removed the latest off-topic comments from here that should be in the sandbox.

    Like

  33. Tom Dukrkin Avatar

    Would you say what you said if Laura Wilcox was your daughter?

    Like

  34. Bill Tozer Avatar
    Bill Tozer

    Mr. Crabb. I would strongly suggest you treat playing with the company oujia board with much fear and trepidation. Oujia boards are bad ju-ju.
    Back too crazies with guns. All the arguments have been put forth thousands of times from all quarters great and small. Here is my take, which is nothing new.
    http://patriotpost.us/cartoons/22819
    http://patriotpost.us/posts/39903

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  35. drivebyposter Avatar
    drivebyposter

    “Would you say what you said if Laura Wilcox was your daughter?”
    T. Dukrkin
    It’s unclear what you are responding to. The original post perhaps?
    Just to pipe up on this matter. It’s impossible to say, given that the situation is just hypothetical to me, but my general take is:
    . Have a trial and make darned sure that the accused is guilty. Maybe even have a second trial to make double sure.
    . Knock together a scaffold and hang the guilty party.
    . Get on with my life as best as possible.

    Like

  36. George Rebane Avatar

    TomD 216am – While it’s not clear which “you” you are questioning, one’s relationship to the murder victim should have little to do with interpreting the reasons motivating actions in the public square, especially as they may affect the making of public policy.
    However, absent a deeper sense of perspective or of principle, the ‘but what if it were your …?’ argument is a common refuge for those for whom reason is either a burden or may lead to an off-agenda conclusion.
    However, I do appreciate your comment and was actually waiting for one our regular progressive readers to provide such a timely response (welcome to RR!). Guiding debate into such side tracks is also a symptom of caudophobia, and historically it has been the harbinger of a very large collection of bad/harmful public policies. I have expanded on the topic here –
    http://rebaneruminations.typepad.com/rebanes_ruminations/2015/06/caudaphobia-the-tragedy-of-the-tails.html

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  37. Bonnie McGuire Avatar

    I think you’re all missing the point of the Thorpe shooting. The man was totally disgusted and angry. Why? Because he wasn’t getting any help from the mental health dept. Just more drugs that didn’t do a thing. They probably contributed to what he did…as with so many others. Cause and effect tragedy. That’s what I noticed. Like with so many other shootings. Drugs, drugs drugs. They were all users of prescribed drugs.

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  38. George Rebane Avatar

    BonnieM 247am – Are you aware if anyone else has come to the same conclusion in the intervening 15 years? I’m not sure what other points have been advanced or are being advanced here that miss your consummate point. Can you expand?

    Like

  39. Robert Cross Avatar
    Robert Cross

    Is not your drivel about “political expediency,” political expediency? Your daughter is still alive. Are you not using this opportunity to make a political point yourself? Does the term hypocrite ring a bell? Those of your ideological bent are the first to blame and the last to take responsibility.
    “he wasn’t getting any help from the mental health dept.” Do you think budget cuts have anything to do with this.

    Like

  40. George Rebane Avatar

    RobertC 1023am – Of course I’m countering a political point with a political point – FYI this is a socio-political blog. “Hypocrite”??!! It appears that you have not looked up the meaning of that word for a while – it has not changed. And what “blame” and “responsibility” are you talking about?? Unless you can give us a reasonable basis for throwing in these terms, we will have to chalk your anger as being based on that unique tool of reasoning called liberal logic.
    http://rebaneruminations.typepad.com/rebanes_ruminations/2009/11/why-reason-fails.html#more
    http://rebaneruminations.typepad.com/rebanes_ruminations/2014/07/liberal-logic-always-remarkable-and-harmful.html
    However, I do admit that RR has been a difficult read for progressives over the years. I do hope you persevere.

    Like

  41. Robert Cross Avatar
    Robert Cross

    You blame liberals for all that is wrong in this country, yet take no political responsibility for the negative effects that conservative agendas (i.e. citizens united, austerity, climate change, etc.) have had.

    Like

  42. fish Avatar
    fish

    Posted by: Robert Cross | 14 January 2016 at 11:03 AM
    You blame liberals for all that is wrong in this country, yet take no political responsibility for the negative effects that conservative agendas (i.e. citizens united, austerity, climate change, etc.) have had.

    Citizens United: Funny…..there is a grudging acknowledgment from both sides of the political spectrum that the huge money donors are not having nearly the influence that they would have liked since the decision (see Jeb! Bush PAC contributors).
    Austerity: President Bunny has had at least 8 trillion dollars over and above what normal revenues and deficit spending would have been available during his time in office! What austerity?!
    Climate Change: Prove it or go peddle crazy somewhere else!

    Like

  43. Walt Avatar

    Climate change?? So Progressives like YOU don’t drive cars? No heat in the house?
    The house wired into thin air? Never mind the goods in that computer or smart phone your spewing with had to be mined or extracted.
    Nice try.
    Austerity? Pay your own damned way, and stay out of my pockets.

    Like

  44. Bill Tozer Avatar
    Bill Tozer

    Hey, the good news is that Global Warming will delay the next Ice Age by 100,000 years according to the recent report by experts. They even used the term “Global Warming” in this day and age. They know best, they are experts, unlike us. Google it.

    Like

  45. Gregory Avatar
    Gregory

    “Citizens United” was SCOTUS applying the Constitution, not a conservative agenda. The negative effect of it seems mainly unhinging the Left upset that big bad business was again on an even keel with big bad labor.
    Just wait for Friedrichs v. California Teachers Ass’s to hit the Golden State. Did you read the SCOTUS arguments? The Kagan/Ginsberg wing had all but given up trying to negate the case being made and were trying to make a stare decisis case that ruling for the rights of Friedrichs and friends would be too disruptive to what had been settled law.
    Climate Change? You mean giving the Left carte blanche to do what they wanted to do even before they had CO2 as a rallying cry? The bad news for you is that most of the world does not care… they want the economic development access to affordable energy has given the west… the good news for all is that CO2 has never been a major driver of the climate and continued use of carbon based fuels won’t be driving temps in the coming centuries.The good news is also that CO2 has been in a relative deficit for hundreds of thousands of years (mammals and plants did most of their evolving in closer to a 2000ppm CO2 atmosphere, and even the small increase of 100ppm has contributed to a greening of the earth already… and where do you think the Triassic levels of CO2 went in the first place? It’s the carbon cycle, stupid!
    Austerity? What austerity? Government Gone Wild! is still the dominant paradigm and it’s government employees who have gold plated insurance, higher than average salaries and retirement pay way beyond what is available in the private sector for the same sorts of jobs.
    Robert Cross, you may be a fresh face here brought in by George’s piece on KVMR, but forgive me for thinking you’re more likely one of the usual suspects with a freshly laundered sock.

    Like

  46. Jon Avatar
    Jon

    Greg,
    Majority of the world DOES care about climate change and you know it. Its only the majority of the far right in America that cannot tolerate the reality of a warming globe. Even China realizes its entire existence hinges on this long term issue. Come to the Wild and Scenic Festival this weekend and learn something.
    Thanks.

    Like

  47. Don Bessee Avatar
    Don Bessee

    Oh the ‘jon’ keeps ignoring the UN’s world poll of concerns that shows global warming is not even registering in real peoples concerns. We know, keep saying it often enough and it’s the truth.

    Like

  48. Jon Avatar
    Jon

    Donnie, I take it you won’t be attending any of the Activist Workshops this weekend?

    Like

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