A Bit Of Brady Campaign History, 1979 "OMG, 50 Million Handguns"

[GreenStormCloud]

http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Federal/Read.aspx?id=5970

In 1979, the group now known as the Brady Campaign said "over 50 million handguns flood the houses and streets of our nation. . . . If we continue at this pace, we will have equipped ourselves with more than 100 million handguns by the turn of the century. One hundred million handguns. Will we be safer then?"

In 2008, after the Supreme Court struck down Washington, D.C.'s handgun ban in District of Columbia v. Heller, D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty said, "introducing more handguns into the district will mean more handgun violence."

And in 2010, after the Court ruled in McDonald v. Chicago that the Second Amendment protects a fundamental, individual right to arms nationwide, Chicago Alderwoman Freddrenna Lyle said, "If people bothered to read, as opposed to getting their news from the 'Tea Party Times,' they would understand and see that there is more harm done by the proliferation of handguns than there is benefit."

That's the kind of fear-mongering, naive and sarcastic rhetoric we've heard from the Second Amendment's opponents over the years. Now here are some facts:

Since 1980, the number of handguns has increased 50 percent, and the nation's murder rate has decreased 52 percent. After Chicago imposed handgun registration in 1968, murders in the city increased. After D.C. banned handguns in 1976, its murder rate rose 201 percent through 1991, while the U.S. rate increased 12 percent. After Chicago banned handguns in 1982, its murder rate increased 49 percent through 1994, while the U.S. rate decreased one percent. And in the year following the repeal of D.C.'s handgun ban, its murder rate decreased 24 percent. In sum, the number of handguns is at an all-time, and the nation's murder rate is at a 45-year low.

The Joyce Foundation continues to pay them to play that same tune.

[glowing]

1. It is not a true correlation to show that banning hand guns increases or decreases murders.

I would say it has more to do with economic conditions.. The worse off people are, the more desperate. Also, the old "war on drugs" has increased inner city violence at the same time losing jobs that can keep one comfortable in the working class.

[GreenStormCloud]

2. This fact remains.

There has been a huge increase in the number of handguns owned in America and the Brady prediction of more crime failed.

[PavePusher]

3. The O.P. did not claim a correlation...

nor did the linked article.

But the data certainly destroy the myth that "more guns means more crime".

[MisterBill45]

4. that's a canard

The NRA isn't claiming that more guns=less crime. they ARE claiming that less guns don't = more crime. That's not even subject debate at this point, which is why the VPC etc. has to lie consistently, cherry pick data and generally play on people's fears. Every single data point they've relied upon for years has been BS.

This is abotu fear and control. It's always been the thing that gun control advocates rely upon.

And finally, there is pretty conclusive evidence at this point that there is no direct correlation between overall economic conditions and crime. Crime went up the most in the 60s and early 70s, a time at which the economy was relatively robust for the most part. It went up again in the 80s, yet another point at which the economy was overall doing well.

Crime went down in the 90s because of stricter, longer term punishment and age demographics more than anything else.

[Straw Man]

5. Correction?

The NRA isn't claiming that more guns=less crime. they ARE claiming that less guns don't = more crime.

Not to put words in your mouth, but didn't you mean to say

more guns don't = more crime

?

[Pullo]

8. I think that's what he meant n/t

[MisterBill45]

11. Woops

yep

[krispos42]

9. True; correlation does not equal causation.

[PavePusher]

10. But of course!

Fighting Scurvy decreases highway deaths! Eureka! :bounce:

[Statistical]

13. So you agree than banning guns or heavily restricting their use by law abiding citizens ...

serves no purpose.

Given that no correlation between number of firearms and level of violence has been established.

[aikoaiko]

6. I had no idea the Brady Campaign was around in the 70s,

I had assumed they formed after the Reagan assassination attempt that left James Brady injured.

wiki says they formed in 1974.

[Pullo]

7. They called themselves "Hangun Control Inc." back then

When their name became a political liability they shamelessly exploited Mr. Brady's tragedy, bringing Sarah Brady on board and thus taking the name "Brady Campaign"

They've been crying wolf for 30 years, and now pretty much the only people who take them seriously anymore are themselves.

[Statistical]

14. Reinvented themselves using a tragedy for political expediency..

Handgun CONTROL more correctly illustrated their intent. After Brady injury and finding a willing partner in Mr & Mrs Brady they changed their name to hide behind a crippled man.

Same organization, they just changed their name.

Of course name change or not they now have <60,000 members, virtually no funds, and are selling their mailing list to spammers to stay afloat.

"Circling the drain" is kinda mean ... to the drain.

[Nomorehannity]

12. Gun haters hate being reminded of history, or their own statements

lol