Gun Owners are the True 99 % -- BOTE Math on American Gun-Related Deaths

Current mood: irate

For the uninitiated, "BOTE" stands for "back of the envelope" – cocktail napkins rip and tear too much to used for anything other than as napkins.

32,000 – annual number of firearms-related deaths in America (source: CDC)

270,000,000 – number of guns in America's private sector (BATFE estimate – other estimates double or triple this number)

Now we simply divide the first number (32,000) by the second number (270,000,000) to get a guesstimate of the number of guns involved in fatal incidents in America. Granted, this is rather inaccurate in that it assumes that each fatality involved a separate gun – the recent spree killers in Aurora, Colorado and Newton, Connecticut that Senator Feinstein is gleefully using to justify her latest victim disarmament scheme used the same firearms to kill multiple people. The fact is, that VD movement was rather stagnant here in the States after the year 2000 – this is just what the Senator needed to kick-start it back to life. As the adage goes, "never let a crisis go to waste."

(32,000) / (270,000,000) = 0.0001185185 – that's 0.0118518519 % of American guns are the ones that "kill people in America" (guns don't kill people – when was the last time you saw one fly around on its own, load itself, point itself at anyone and pull its own trigger? But try telling that to an advocate of victim disarmament.)

So to comply with the Senator's demands, allegedly to prevent spree killers like Lanza and Horton, the other 99.9881481481 percent of American gun owners simply must give up their liberty and property. Never mind that the 99% here never engaged in such evil, nor have any desire to do so.

Never mind that the 1994 "assault weapon" ban signed by Waco Willie Clinton was a dismal failure in stopping such massacres (or any other sort of crime) – the 101 California Street shootings were carried out using two pistols that the State of California had declared illegal six years before (the crappy Intratec TEC-9). What Feinstein wants, Feinstein is determined to get, and to Hell with the truth, or the consequences.

Calculations done with Libre Office Calc

Here's some more from the international scene:

Figure 1 – Gun-related deaths vs guns per capita, by country
The data used to make the above graph [PDF]

Sources for the above graph

List of countries by firearm-related death rate, Number of guns per capita by country

Graph made using Gnumeric

---

NOTES

1. Reposted –
   
   
   1. Personal micro-blogs – Facebook / Google Plus / Twitter / Xanga
   2. Personal blogs – Wordpress / Xanga
   3. The Weekly Sedition – Facebook / Wordpress

---

Copyright © 2012 Mike Blessing. All rights reserved.

Produced by KCUF Media, a division of Extropy Enterprises. Webmaster Mike Blessing.

This blog entry created with Notepad++.

Guns aren't the problem, and never really were

Current mood: irate, pissed

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Fwd: Guns aren't the problem, and never really were
Date: Tue, 18 Dec 2012 22:16:38
From: Mike Blessing
To: LPNM Discussion list @ Yahoo!, My Public Email Archive, The Weekly Sedition @ Yahoo!, New Mexicans for Liberty
BCC: [80 individuals]

Re: Gun Arguments Die in Latest Massacre

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Guns aren't the problem, and never really were
Date: Tue, 18 Dec 2012 01:51:55
From: Libertarian Party of New Mexico <lpnm.chair@gmail.com>
To: <llinthicum@abqjournal.com>, <opinion@abqjournal.com>

"And it’s time for Americans to stop talking about our individual rights and start accepting our collective responsibilities."

With that one sentence, Ms. Linthicum disavows the one thing that separates America from the rest of the world – the United States is the only country with the notion of individual rights written into its core documents: the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

She says "I don’t want to hear that it’s not guns that are the problem, people are." Well, she's going to, and not just from me, from what I see on the Journal's website. Because it's the truth. Inanimate objects such as guns, knives and baseball bats don't cause violent crime, as she alleges. That's like saying cars cause drunk driving.

Then she says she doesn't want to hear about how an armed teacher could have prevented the tragedy. Again, she doesn't want to hear the truth. She's got an agenda to promote and doesn't want anything to get in the way.

Fact is, Linthicum's pet cause of victim disarmament legislation has been a stagnant one since the year 2000. Twenty dead kids in a public school is just what she needed to bring it back to life.

Why hasn't she asked any questions about Adam Lanza's psychiatric state at the time of the tragedy? Was he doped up on Ritalin, Prozac or any other anti-depressant?

And about the shootings themselves:

Why is it that not many (if any) people shoot up private schools or religious schools like this? What makes the public schools so special in this regard?

Why is it that there's never any coverage of these sort of incidents happening with homeschooling families? After all, quite a few of those in the homeschooling movement are also supporters and exercisers of the right to own and carry weapons.

Why is it that these sorts of shootings never seem to happen at gun shows, at gun stores or at shooting ranges? After all, by Linthicum's brand of thinking, these are the places that they should happen the most at – lots of guns present, lots of ammo present.

Anyway, Linthicum wants us to put our inalienable Constitutional, civil, God-given human rights aside for her notion of "collective responsibility." Well, what happens when her side loses an election, and she becomes subordinate to someone else's notion of "collective responsibility" – a version that she doesn't particularly care for? Maybe then she'll learn to appreciate that "outdated" notion of individual rights?

I can only hope so.

_______________________________________________________________________

Mike Blessing / Phone – 505-249-1248
State Chair, Libertarian Party of New Mexico

Who owns you? Who runs your life? Who should – you or someone else?
Freedom is the answer – what's the question?

"If you wanna live long on your own terms
You gotta be willing to crash and burn"– Motley Crue, "Primal Scream"

---

NOTES

1. Links to this post
   
   
2. Reposted –
   
   
   1. Personal micro-blogs – Facebook / Google Plus / Twitter / Xanga
      
      
   2. Personal blogs – Wordpress / Xanga / Yahoo!
      
      
   3. LPUSA / LPNM – LPNM Blog / LPNM Official Facebook group / New Mexico Libertarians Facebook group / [LPNM-discuss] Yahoo! group
      
      
   4. The Weekly Sedition – Facebook / Wordpress / Yahoo!
      
      
   5. Duke City Fix / NMPolitics.org / Tea Party Nation
      
      

---

Copyright © 2012 Libertarian Party of New Mexico and Mike Blessing. All rights reserved.

Produced by KCUF Media, a division of Extropy Enterprises. Webmaster Mike Blessing.

This blog entry created with Notepad++.

Quote for the Day -- Sunday, 16 December 2012

Current mood: irate, pissed

"Laugh at me. Call me mad. Call me evil. But just remember me when you or your loved ones are being raped, or mugged, or dragged off never to be seen again – and you are an obedient, disarmed little citizen who can do nothing about it."
– Sean Gabb, Director, Libertarian Alliance
   from The Libertarian Enterprise #701, 16 December 2012:
   The War Against Armed Crime: We Need Guns to Make Us Safer

---

Copyright © 2012 Mike Blessing. All rights reserved.
Produced by KCUF Media, a division of Extropy Enterprises. Webmaster Mike Blessing.
This blog entry created with Notepad++.

It's "Romney AND the Rules Committee"

Current mood: aggravated, annoyed, bitchy, cranky

Subject: It's "Romney AND the Rules Committee"
Date: Tuesday, 28 August 2012 21:54:41 MST
To: ABQ C4L, KCUF Media [Y!}, The Weekly Sedition [Y!]
BCC: [71 Republicans, Libertarians, etc.]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Romney versus the Rules Committee
Date: Tuesday, 28 August 2012 15:42:01 -0400 (EDT)

8/28/2012 1:42 PM:

> It is a curious thing that although I have not yet finished studying the proposed Rules Changes and the many e-mails regarding them, some
> are hastening to condemn Mitt Romney for the rule proposal – despite the fact that all reports state it is the Republican Establishment
> faction of the Rules Committee that is behind the attempt.

I take it that the writer of this message didn't bother to watch any of today's C-SPAN coverage of the RNC Circus?

If anything, the GOP's rules changes were designed to shut out the Ron Paul people, on behalf of Romney.

Maybe this writer missed the parts of the vote count where the various speakers from the state delegations reported their states' votes, and the lady at the podium repeated the numbers for Romney back to the audience?

What happened there was that the lady repeated ONLY the numbers for Romney. In several instances, Ron Paul got more of a state's votes than Romney did, but Paul's votes weren't repeated back. For example, the Nevada delegation reported 17 votes for Paul and 6 for Romney, yet she only repeated back "6 votes – Romney."

So when I labeled this a "Coronation Circus" recently, I hit the bullseye:

What About the Coronation Circus in Tampa?

Because of this, a good bit of the Ron Paul people are determined not to vote for Romney. In fact, one of those in the New Mexico delegation contacted me late Friday night for some Gary Johnson bumper stickers and flash cards, so he could pass them out in Tampa. But since Steve Pearce reported that all 23 of New Mexico's delegation voted for Romney, I have to wonder if there was some last-minute re-arranging of the delegation, specifically to remove those supporting Paul.

Some will switch to supporting Gary Johnson. Others will write in Ron Paul. Still others will either cast a blank (not vote for anyone in the presidential race) or stay home entirely on election day.

> Those who dislike Romney are quick to pass judgement on him without knowing what is actually taking place in D.C. They howl with a sort of
> pathetic despair, toward which one cannot feel any sympathy at all. Such howlers are playing directly into the hands of the Leftists.

I'm not at all "quick to pass judgement" against Romney – I've been researching his brand of Big R socialism and mercantilism for the past few months now.

> I'm on the phone a lot with many voters. Some tell terrible stories about what the present economic climate is doing to them. I feel deeply
> for their anger and their plight. And I admire their fortitude. They will vote despite their anguish. Would that the howlers had as much
> gumption and clarity of mind.

It's not "fortitude," it's cognitive dissonance, where you tell yourself that eating from the dumpster is in fact gourmet dining. That way, when you repeat it to others, you really do believe it a bit and thus you're not really lying.

> This comment from me is to warn my readers not to be taken in by the howlers, not to be swayed by them, not to give up the fight to make
> Romney the next POTUS. Most of all it is to remind us all that we must not give up our commitment to shift the direction of the Republican
> Party toward a free-market, limited government restoration of individual rights.

Seriously – what's to like about Romney from a "Tea Party" mindset of standing up for free markets, Constitutionally-limited government, individual rights and public-sector fiscal restraint?

Romney as Governor of Massachusetts signed off on an "assault weapons" ban, stumped for the Brady Bill, and helped to socialize health care.

OK, DON'T take it from me.

See what Carla Howell (who ran against Romney for Governor in 2002) said about him:

LP Monday Message: Mitt Romney = Big Government

See this article from Reason magazine:

Consultant in Chief

See what Gun Owners of America has to say:

Where Does Romney Stand Today on the Second Amendment?

Romney signs off on permanent assault weapons ban

> We must be on guard against those who continue to rail against Romney – no matter whether they identify themselves as: "conservatives,"
> "Republicans" or "patriots." Such individuals will not help our effort to stop this nation from going "Forward" into the abyss of socialism.
> No matter what their protestations, the howlers are attempting to demoralize us with their bad-mouthing of Mr. Romney, with their
> sarcasm and hostility toward him and their obnoxiousness.

Let me shorten this paragraph for you:

"Block up your ears, shut up and do as the RNC tells you."

> Keep in mind that no matter what your evaluation of Romney – and I personally am coming to value him more highly the more I research him –
> the alternative will make doubly difficult our struggle to restore the ideals our Founding Fathers identified in the Declaration of
> Independence and in our Constitution. It is these ideals that are most important. With Romney we have better odds in our fight.

Romney as a guardian of the ideals set forth in the Constitution and Declaration of Independence? That's good for a laugh, but not much else.

For example, I've noticed that the meme the campaign is pushing is that Obama cut Medicare to fund Obamacare.

How does defending a 1960s-era socialist wealth-redistribution scheme against a 21st-century socialist wealth-redistribution scheme make you a "free marketer" ?

> The Rules Committee Establishment Republicans as best as I can make out, are on a collision course. We need to get rid of them, not a man
> who can benefit this nation far more than the howlers care to consider.

How will Romney "benefit this nation far more," exactly?

Maybe he'll re-make Obamacare into a federal version of RomneyCare?

How does that support free-markets and limited government?

---

NOTES

1. Reposted –
   
   
   1. Personal blogs – Blogspot / Wordpress / Xanga / Yahoo!
      
   2. KCUF Media – Yahoo!
      
   3. LPUSA / LPNM – [lpnm-discuss] Yahoo! Group / New Mexico Liberty Yahoo! Group

---

Copyright © 2012 Mike Blessing. All rights reserved.
Produced by KCUF Media, a division of Extropy Enterprises. Webmaster Mike Blessing.
This blog entry created with Notepad++.

Some Details about Me

SOME DETAILS ABOUT ME

Screenames:		GunsSaveLives, StarshipTrooper, RAH4Pres
Birthday:		21 February
Birthplace:		Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Current Location		Albuquerque, New Mexico
Eye Color:		Greyish-blue
Hair Color:		Dark brown (that was 2005 – now it's more grey)
Right Handed / Left Handed / Ambidextrous:		Right handed
Your Heritage:		Polish / German, from what I've been told by family
Family:		Scattered around the country – ABQ, NM, Philly, PA, Tampa, FL, others in WV and VA/DC
Named after:		No one that I know of
Shoes:		Boots / Sneakers / Sandals
Your Weakness:		Procastination, hesitation
Skills, Talents:		Computers, copiers, fax machines, firearms, radio operator, land navigation
Your Fears:		Rejection / Failure
Your Perfect Pizza:		Sausage and pepperoni (from Papa Murphy's)
Goal You Would Like To Achieve This Year:		Lose some weight
Your Most Overused Phrase On an instant messenger:		LOL
Thoughts First Waking Up:		"Oh shit, I have to get up?!?!"
Your Best Physical Feature:		My brain
Your Bedtime:		Work days – 12 AM / Off days – 2-3 AM
Most Missed Memory:		If I knew what it was, it wouldn't be missing, would it?
Soft Drinks:		Cherry Coke / Vanilla Coke / Root Beer
Fast Food:		Subway / Wingbasket / Jack In The Box
Single or Group Dates:		Single
Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea:		Either – Iced tea is my preferred drink
Ice Cream:		Strawberry, butterscotch
Cappuccino or Coffee:		Neither
Do you Smoke:		I'm a non-smoker, as opposed to an anti-smoker.
Do you Swear:		Sometimes
Do you Sing:		In the car
Do you Shower Daily:		Yes
Have you Been in Love:		Yes
Do you want to go to College:		Yes
Do you want to get Married:		If the right person comes along and wants to
Do you belive in yourself:		"Do you belive in myself"? Never heard the word "belive" before.
Most important lesson in life:		Don't start fights, but be prepared to finish them.
Do you get Motion Sickness:		Not really
Do you think you are Attractive:		A bit
Are you a Health Freak:		No
Do you get along with your Parents:		Sometimes
Do you like Thunderstorms:		Yes, as long as I'm not online – already had a burned-out hard drive
Do you play an Instrument:		The CD player
In the past month have you drank alcohol:		Not lately, but I prefer Makers Mark or a beer or two
Smoking:		No
Most used drugs:		Acetominophen / Ibuprofen (tried pot, but it didn't do anything for me)
In the past month have you gone on a Date:		No
In the past month have you gone to a Mall:		Yes (Cottonwood)
In the past month have you eaten a box of Oreos:		No
In the past month have you eaten Sushi:		Tried it a few years ago – wasn't impressed.
In the past month have you been on Stage:		Not for about two years.
In the past month have you been Dumped:		No
In the past month have you gone Skinny Dipping:		No
In the past month have you Stolen Anything:		No
Ever been Drunk:		Yes
Ever been called a Tease:		Yes, and I am.
Ever been Beaten up:		Yes, and I've done my share of the beating, too.
Ever Shoplifted:		Yes (not exactly proud of it)
How do you want to Die:		In bed with a beautiful woman
What do you want to be when you Grow Up:		Do I have to?
What country would you most like to Visit:		Not sure.

Advanced Global Personality Test Results Extraversion |||||||||||||| 60% Stability |||||||||||||| 60% Orderliness |||||||||||||| 53% Accommodation |||||||||||| 50% Interdependence |||||||||||| 50% Intellectual |||||||||||||||| 63% Mystical |||||||||| 36% Artistic |||||||||||| 43% Religious || 10% Hedonism |||||||||||||| 56% Materialism |||||||||||||||||||| 83% Narcissism |||||||||||| 50% Adventurousness |||||||||||||| 56% Work ethic |||||||||||||||| 70% Self absorbed |||||||||||| 43% Conflict seeking |||||||||||||||| 63% Need to dominate |||||||||| 36% Romantic |||||||||||||||||||| 83% Avoidant |||||||||||| 43% Anti-authority |||||| 30% Wealth |||||| 23% Dependency |||||||||| 36% Change averse |||||| 30% Cautiousness |||||||||||||||| 70% Individuality |||||||||||||||| 63% Sexuality |||||||||||||||| 70% Peter pan complex |||||||||||| 50% Physical security |||||||||||||||||||| 83% Physical Fitness |||||| 30% Histrionic |||||||||||| 43% Paranoia |||||||||||||| 56% Vanity |||||||||||| 50% Hypersensitivity |||||||||||| 50% Female cliche |||||||||||| 43%

Results Summary

Stability results were moderately high which suggests you are relaxed, calm, secure, and optimistic.

Orderliness results were medium which suggests you are moderately organized, hard working, and reliable while still remaining flexible, efficient, and fun.

Extraversion results were moderately high which suggests you are, at times, overly talkative, outgoing, sociable and interacting at the expense of developing your own individual interests and internally based identity.

Trait snapshot

social, outgoing, worry free, optimistic, upbeat, tough, likes large parties, makes friends easily, rarely irritated, open, enjoys leadership, trusting, dominant, thrill seeker, strong, does not like to be alone, assertive, mind over heart, confident, controlling, feels desirable, likes the spotlight, loves food, social chameleon, hard working, concerned about others

---

NOTES

1. Reposted –
   
   1. Personal blogs – Wordpress / Xanga

---

Copyright © 2012 Mike Blessing. All rights reserved.

Produced by KCUF Media, a division of Extropy Enterprises. Webmaster Mike Blessing.

This blog entry created with Notepad++.

Holographic TV Coming Soon?

Current mood: nerdy, pensive

For those fed up with wearing those stupid glasses while watching 3-D movies and TV, this could be a bit of relief:

While it's an interesting development, the title of the clip embedded here is "Holographic TV coming in 2012." Well, it's almost the end of 2012, and there doesn't seem to be any commercial version of this tech being pushed to market any time soon.

---

NOTES

1. Links to this post
   
   
2. Reposted –
   
   1. Personal micro-blogs – Facebook / Google Plus / MeetMe / Twitter / Xanga
      
      
   2. Personal blogs – Wordpress / Xanga

---

Copyright © 2012 Mike Blessing. All rights reserved.

Produced by KCUF Media, a division of Extropy Enterprises. Webmaster Mike Blessing.

This blog entry created with gedit Notepad++.

The Title Says It All

Current mood: bitchy, cranky

The title of this video clip – "Why our Country is Going Down The Drain" – really is self-explanatory.

---

NOTES

1. Reposted –
   
   1. Personal blogs – Wordpress / Xanga

---

Copyright © 2012 Mike Blessing. All rights reserved.

Produced by KCUF Media, a division of Extropy Enterprises. Webmaster Mike Blessing.

This blog entry created with Notepad++.