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Wisdom of Barnyard Bruke: Gun Statistics, Enterestin' Observations

Greetings ta ever one in western Illinois and all readers of "The Quill".

I'm a a hope'n this column finds your week go'n well thus far.

There has been a lot of information and news put out about guns of late. Look'n into some gun death statistics the follow'n information came up which can cause a feller to ask "why focus on guns?" Lets revisit the truth about gun deaths:

There are 30,000 deaths per year by firearms, and this is not disputed. U.S. population 324,059,091 as of Wednesday, June 22, 2016. Do the math: 0.0000925 of the population dies from gun related actions each year. Statistically speaking, this is insignificant! What is never told, however, is a breakdown of those 30,000 deaths, to put them in perspective as compared to other causes of death:

• 65% of those deaths are by suicide which would never be prevented by gun laws.
• 15% are by law enforcement in the line of duty and justified.
• 17% are through criminal activity, gang and drug related or mentally ill persons- gun violence.
• 3% are accidental discharge deaths.
• So technically, "gun violence" is not 30,000 annually, but drops to 5,100. Still too many? Well, first, how are those deaths spanned across the nation?
• 480 homicides (94%) were in Chicago.
• 344 homicides (67%) were in Baltimore.
• 333 homicides (6.5%) were in Detroit.
• 119 homicides (2.3%) were in Washington D.C. (a 54% increase over prior years).

So basically, 25% of all gun crime happens in just 4 cities. All four of these cities have strict gun laws, so it is not the lack of the law that is the root cause.

This basically leaves 3,825 for the entire rest of the nation, or about 75 deaths per state. That is an average because some states have much higher rates than others, For example, California had 1,169 and Alabama had 1.

Now, who has the strictest gun laws by far? California, or course, but understand, it is not the guns causing this. It is a crime rate spawned by the number of criminal persons residing in those cities and states. So if all cities and states are not created equally, then there must be something other than the tool causing the gun deaths.

Are 5,100 deaths per year horrific? How about in comparison to other deaths? All death is sad and especially so when it is in the commission of a crime but that is the nature of crime robbery, death, rape, assault all is done by criminals and thinking that criminals will obey laws is ludicrous. That's why they are criminals.

But what about other deaths each year?

• 40,000+ die from a drug overdose- THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THAT!
• 36,000 people die per year from the flu, far exceeding the criminal gun deaths.
• 34,000 people die per year in traffic fatalities (exceeding gun deaths even if you include suicide).

Now it gets good:

• 200,000+ people die each year (and growing) from preventable medical errors. You are safer in Chicago than when you are in a hospital!
• 710,000 people die per year from heart disease. It's time to stop the double cheeseburgers! So what is the point? If the anti-gun movement focused their attention on heart disease, even a 10% decrease in cardiac deaths would save twice the number of lives annually of all gun-related deaths (including suicide, law enforcement, etc.). A 10% reduction in medical errors would be 66% of the total gun deaths or 4 times the number of criminal homicides......Simple, easily preventable 10% reductions!

So you have to ask yourself, in the grand scheme of things, why focus on guns? It's pretty simple: taking away guns gives control to governments.

The founders of this nation knew that regardless of the form of government, those in power may become corrupt and seek to rule as the British did by trying to disarm the populace of the colonies. It is not difficult to understand that a disarmed populace is a controlled populace.

Thus, the 2nd amendment was proudly and boldly included in the U.S. Constitution. It must be preserved at all costs.

So the next time someone tries to tell you that gun control is about saving lives, look at these facts and remember these words from Noah Webster: "Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed, as they are in almost every kingdom in Europe. The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword, because the whole body of the people are armed and constitute a force superior to any band of regular troops that can be, on any pretense, raised in the United States. A military force at the command of Congress can execute no laws, but such as the people perceive to be just and constitutional; for they will possess the power."

A gun is like a parachute. If'n ya need one, and don't have one, ya will probably never need one again!

Well there ya have it, some enterest'n stats you won't read in the "liberal" press.

Enterest'n Observations.

More enterest'n observations follow:

I read that 4,153,237 people got married last year. Not to cause any trouble but, shouldn't that be an even number?

• Today a man knocked on a door and asked for a small donation towards the local swimming pool. He was given a glass of water.
• I want to die peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather. Not screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car.
• I find it ironic that the colors red, white, and blue stand for freedom until they are flashing behind you.
• When wearing a bikini, women reveal 90% of their body, men are so polite they only look at the covered parts.
• A recent study has found that women who carry a little extra weight, live longer than the men who mention it.
• Relationships are a lot like algebra. Have you ever looked at your X and wondered Y?
• America is a country which produces citizens who will cross the ocean to fight for democracy but won't cross the street to vote.
• You know that tingly little feeling you get when you like someone? That's your common sense leaving your body.
• Did you know that dolphins are so smart that within a few weeks of captivity, they can train people to stand on the very edge of the pool and throw them fish?
• My therapist says I have a preoccupation with vengeance. We'll see about that.
• I think my neighbor is stalking me as she's been googling my name on her computer. I saw it through my telescope last night.
• Money talks..but all mine ever says is goodbye.
• I always wondered what the job application is like at Hooters. Do they just give you a bra and say "Here, fill this out."
• My therapist said that my narcissism causes me to misread social situations. I'm pretty sure she was hitting on me.
• My 60 year kindergarten reunion is coming up soon and I'm worried about the 175 pounds I've gained since then.
• Denny's has a slogan, "If it's your birthday, the meal is on us." If you're in Denny's and it's your birthday, your life sucks!
• The pharmacist asked me my birth date again today. I'm pretty sure she's going to get me something.
• The location of your mailbox shows you how far away from your house you can be in a robe before you start looking like a mental patient.
• I think it's pretty cool how Chinese people made a language entirely out of tattoos.
• Money can't buy happiness, but it keeps the kids in touch!
• The reason Mayberry was so peaceful and quiet was because nobody was married. Andy, Aunt Bea, Barney, Floyd, Howard, Goober, Gomer. Sam, Earnest T Bass, Helen, Thelma Lou, Clara and, of course Opie were all single. The only married person was Otis, and he stayed drunk.

Well, there ya have it then- some enterest'n thoughts to ponder on fer a spell. I reckon the boys will dwell on em over a cup of coffee or two.

Have a good rest of the week. Hope'n ta see ya in church this weekend, if not before.

Remember, wherever ya are, whatever ya be a do'n "BE A GOOD ONE!"

Keep on Smile'n

Count yer many Blessings

Catch ya later,

Barnyard Bruke