tfromtulsa, Tulsa (2/25/2009 12:10:40 PM)

Good news. Thanks, Dan Boren!

douglassm, tulsa (2/25/2009 12:14:38 PM)

to the left to the left to the left .... like Beyonce says.

Moltron, Beggs (2/25/2009 12:15:56 PM)

I will wait to see how it actually turns out but sounds like a step in the right direction to me.

my view, Sand Springs (2/25/2009 12:52:28 PM)

Dan Boren is a strong supporter of gun rigths, I'm glad he heading up this committe.

tfromtulsa, Tulsa (2/25/2009 1:10:16 PM)

I'll bet he's a real thorn in Obama's side.

Webmeister, (2/25/2009 1:11:15 PM)

Representing the knuckle-dragging, ultra conservative Little Dixie Blue-Dog Democrat part of Oklahoma, Congressman Boren knows it is better to act like a fervent gun rights supporter.

Whether he really is, remains to be seen.

Ironhead82, (2/25/2009 1:11:17 PM)

Kudo's to Rep Boren. Now maybe I can go a day or two witout the NRA asking me for money to fight the left. One or two days is all I ask!

Bville, (2/25/2009 1:19:57 PM)

There needs to be a task force to monitor legislation?

wotko, Sapulpa (2/25/2009 1:43:30 PM)

douglassm,

I must have missed something but what traumatic event has triggered your unfounded fear of guns? There are lots of things which cause death and harm to humans. We cannot ban away problems they must be confronted and solved in a reasonable and logically manner. I am all for more stringent gun control, which keeps guns out of the hands of criminals and those who are too inept to use them. However, a total ban on guns or certain types of guns is ridiculous and is just as idiotic as those who wish to ban certain types of dogs (pit bulls).

Owning a pitbull or really any dog or a gun requires owners to be responsible (in some instances legally and in some instances only morally). Those who can not responsibly own guns or pit-bull should not own them but the majority (of people) should not be punished for the mistakes that uninformed citizens and criminals make. Make free training and free licensing mandatory for anyone who wants to own a gun or a pit-bull for that matter. Prove yourself to responsible enough to own a gun and you can obtain your license. If you want to be taken seriously by people quit harping on banning guns and realize that there are things for more important things that need to be addressed such like finding a cure for cancer (as President Obama mentioned last night), heart disease and diabetes (you don't have to be obese to have either one of these two diseases). Im not saying gun control shouldn't be addressed but in the big picture guns cause only a small fraction of the problem).

Below are some statistics that I copied and pasted. I provided references but left of the website addresses because if I remember correctly you are not supposed to provide links to other websites. I found one website called SoYouWanna that broke down accidental deaths into categories however, with a name like that I didn't feel that any of there information would be credible. Hopefully, this task force will provide a positive step towards the protection of gun owners rights and sure that both gun owners and non-gun owners are afforded the same rights and opportunities.
"FACT: In 2005 (the most recent year for which data is available), there were 30,694 gun deaths in the U.S:
12,352 homicides (40% of all U.S gun deaths),
17,002 suicides (55% of all U.S gun deaths),
789 unintentional shootings, 330 from legal intervention and 221 from undetermined intent (5% of all U.S gun deaths combined).
-Numbers obtained from CDC National Center for Health Statistics mortality report online, 2008.

FACT: Suicide is still the leading cause of firearm death in the U.S., representing 55% of total 2005 gun deaths nationwide. In 2005, the U.S. firearm suicide total was 17,002, a 1.5% INCREASE from 2004 suicide deaths. The state of Illinois saw a nearly 10% INCREASE in gun suicides from 387 in 2004 to 424 in 2005. Most suicides in the U.S. are committed with firearms.

-Numbers obtained from CDC National Center for
Health Statistics mortality report online, 2008."
REFERENCE

Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence.
(2008). Statistics, Facts & Quotes.
Number of deaths for leading causes of death
(In the US for 2005)

Heart disease: 652,091

Cancer: 559,312

Stroke (cerebrovascular diseases): 143,579

Chronic lower respiratory diseases: 130,933

Accidents (unintentional injuries): 117,809

Diabetes: 75,119

Alzheimer's disease: 71,599

Influenza/Pneumonia: 63,001

Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, and nephrosis: 43,901

Septicemia: 34,136

REFERENCE

Center for Disease Control (CDC). (2008). National Center for Health Statistics.

my view, Sand Springs (2/25/2009 1:59:30 PM)

Those that support out right bans on gun ownership, which is constitutionaly protected. Would have a greater fear later, in time other rights from the Bill of Rights may be banned. If you want to remove one right where will it stop.

wotko, Sapulpa (2/25/2009 2:13:21 PM)

my view,

You are exactly right. Our rights are being threatened and slowly being taken away.If those who take away our rights see that we will allow it then we continue to have our rights threatened and taken away. Ignorance is fueling the complacency for the rights, freedom and safety that people falsely believe we have. Those who seek to take away the rights of others for the benefit of themselves and what they believe to be in the best intrest of others as well are no better than criminals or terrorists.

Dubbya, Dallas (2/25/2009 2:15:29 PM)

Guns are pretty cool, but don't give one to Cheney.

douglassm, tulsa (2/25/2009 2:23:35 PM)

I think there is big difference to having a right and having a 2-for-1 sale at QuickTrip.
They should be harder to get, and not everyone should be allowed. Those with a criminal past, low IQs, history of violence and abuse should be off the list ... they don't give licenses to drunk drivers. Yes, I know that doesn't keep them from driving - but at least it's not condoned.
That and, statistically guns offer NO protection.

douglassm, tulsa (2/25/2009 2:49:45 PM)

Statistically, no they aren't good protection at all.

And there are many ways in this state to buy a gun. It's one of the easiest states in the country to make such a foolish choice.

wotko, Sapulpa (2/25/2009 3:24:38 PM)

Here are some more copy and paste references for those like to see documented proof. Notice that a 2004 review of gun control studies by the CDC revealed that there what not enough data available at that time to determine any negative or positive attributes of gun control.
Self-defense
Main article: Guns and crime

Both sides actively debate the relevance of self-defense in modern society. Some scholars, e.g. John Lott, claim to have discovered a positive correlation between gun control legislation and crimes in which criminals confront citizens - that is, increases in the number or strictness of gun control laws are correlated with increases in the number or severity of violent crimes. Other scholars, e.g. Gary Kleck, take a slightly different tack; while criticizing Lott's theories as (paradoxically) overemphasizing the threat to the average American from armed crime, and therefore the need for armed defense, Kleck's work speaks towards similar support for firearm rights by showing that the number of Americans who report incidents where their guns averted a threat vastly outnumber those who report being the victim of a firearm-related crime. The efficacy of gun control legislation at reducing the availability of guns has been challenged by, among others, the testimony of criminals that they do not obey gun control laws, and by the lack of evidence of any efficacy of such laws in reducing violent crime. While the debate remains hotly disputed, it is therefore not surprising that a comprehensive review of published studies of gun control, released in November 2004 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was unable to determine any reliable statistically significant effect, pro or con, resulting from such laws, although the authors suggest that further study may provide more conclusive information.
REFERENCE

Nation Master. Encyclopedia > Gun Rights
Also, see the website Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership, Inc. Once there go to Doctors and Guns and then to Statistics and “Gun Control.” For further information about the safety that guns provide to people. This website addresses common concerns of those who are anti-gun ownership and even includes references to the responses it gives for each concern. Just remember when looking at statistics that they can often be manipulated to support the agenda or goals of other side (pro-gun and anti-gun).

wotko, Sapulpa (2/25/2009 3:28:11 PM)

Also, I would love to know where I can legally buy guns at a 2 for 1 sale price. Right now all I am packing is a single shot bolt action .22 and two high powered pellet guns.

Ironhead82, (2/25/2009 4:15:56 PM)

wotko, I too love my pellet rifle! I own 8 different guns, but I shoot my Gamo the most. Just ask the neighborhood squirrels! I also have a single shot shotgun in the bedroom with NON-LETHAL shell inside. Ownership of firearms is constitutionally protected, and the founding fathers deemed it so important that they put it second only to the right to say stupid things. I exercise both frequently!

douglassm, tulsa (2/25/2009 4:47:50 PM)

I'm happy you found the keyboard shortcut for cutting and pasting ... but you must realize that an infinite number of sources can be cited for any argument. I'll just use logic and actual statistics over command C command P.

Have that, America (2/25/2009 4:48:18 PM)

haha...douglassm...

you really have no clue at all what you're talking about...its cute. I cant help but wonder how old you are and if you are just on here posting for a middle school project you're doing.

I just bought a new handgun this weekend and had to go through the background check just the same as everyone else does when they buy a gun. had to register the gun...just like everyone else. and had to fill out all the paperwork...just like everyone else.

there is a system of steps that you have to go though to purchase a firearm. and while oklahoma may have fewer hoops to jump through than some place like california...the ammount of gun violence in this state per capita is so much lower than there its not even funny.

you really REALLY need to educate yourself on what the adults are talking about here before you just post and make yourself look like a fool.

Incredulous, (2/25/2009 4:49:21 PM)

I want to be able to "bear" my arms on my hip. Where is the wimpy NRA on this issue?

douglassm, tulsa (2/25/2009 4:58:42 PM)

Oh cute, Have That is trying to think. You should be sure to have the ambulance and/or the funeral home numbers on your refrigerator for when you become another statistic.
Seems like jumping through hoops is a better pastime for you.

moogle, Tulsa (2/25/2009 5:03:09 PM)

The problem is not lack of gun control. The problem is lack of birth control.

douglassm, tulsa (2/25/2009 5:04:22 PM)

Touché!

lucky girl, (2/25/2009 5:10:58 PM)

moogle, too true!

tfromtulsa, Tulsa (2/25/2009 6:34:37 PM)

You little boys who are afraid of guns should definitely stay away from them.

Just remember how effective your whining is against the armed intruder who breaks into your home, ignoring your "No guns allowed" sign.

droopy, wagoner (2/25/2009 8:54:33 PM)

Several poster children for birth control right here.

Biker Patriot, Broken Arrow (2/25/2009 10:36:15 PM)

"Statistically, no they aren't good protection at all."

Some thug breaks into my house and that statistic will change...

wotko, Sapulpa (2/26/2009 8:35:19 AM)

douglassm,

Its a lose-lose situation. I voiced my opinion and provided actual statistics and references to actual statistics. People complain when someone voices there opinion because they cant trust it. I provide statistics and you still want to use the make believe statistics and logic that you develop.

douglassm, tulsa (2/26/2009 8:56:01 AM)

Again, the internet is full of statistics that can "prove" anything either way ... you need to decipher them and apply them to the actual situation. For instance comparing Oklahoma's gun problems to California's is not quite apples to apples.

Roy D Mercer, (2/26/2009 9:08:58 AM)

There are those who prefer to use Jackie Chan moves on armed intruders.

But the first time an armed intruder is killed by Jackie Chan moves then the push will be on to ban all Jackie Chan movies.

Roy D Mercer, (2/26/2009 10:16:06 AM)

Manatwork, that's good stuff. It's ironic how the left wants to ban guns because someone might get hurt or killed but advocate killing unborn babies in the name of birth control.

wotko, Sapulpa (2/26/2009 10:28:06 AM)

Dude (douglassm) . . . Lol. Where do you think the statistics are developed from? Oh yeah thats right actual situations! You are wrong and you know you are so your pulling out all your last ditch efforts and nitpicking everything. I provided references for real statistics. One of the references was even from a council who was against the violence that handguns creates. The stats given were for the entire United States (not for Illinois even though its an Illinois council). But now you say the that the tragedies that happen throughout the country are not the same as those, which happen in Oklahoma. You are wrong to say it is like not like comparing apples to apples. It is EXACTLY like that. . . tragedies caused by guns in Oklahoma might be like Gala apples whereas tragedies caused by guns in California might be like Pink Lady apples. They maybe be different but they are both still apples (tragedies).

Regardless of the differences our situations to those in California, they are essentially the same. Sure each situation has different variables but the outcome is the always the same. Each state has Federal regulations along with their own to control the ownership and sale of guns as they see fit. Rules and regulations may vary from state to state but the goal of the rules and regulations are to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and to avert tragedies. No matter how many rules or regulations there are (even banning guns), criminals will still obtain guns because they are criminals and don't care if they break laws. The only thing extremely stringet gun control laws or a ban would do is make honest hard working citizens into criminals. Put your passion to use for something good and form a non-profit group or something to help educate people of the dangers of gun ownership and the need for training and responsilbe gun ownership.

wotko, Sapulpa (2/26/2009 10:34:38 AM)

Also,

Drugs may be illegal but yet they are still obtained by people. Making guns illegal would just yield the same results except for the fact the good citizens of this country who do not do drugs and have committed no crimes would be turned into criminals simply for choosing to keep their guns.

H_Harl, (2/26/2009 12:38:09 PM)

douglass....if you've never been assaulted by someone who could easily hurt you, you don't know if a gun is good protection or not. you just repeat things you hear or read because it sounds good. i've been in the situation. unless you were there, which you, NOR the police were, don't EVEN begin to tell me i didn't need a gun to defend my family.

H_Harl, (2/26/2009 12:39:57 PM)

another thing. douglass, you stated in an earlyer post that people with criminal records should be banned from owning guns. guess what. they already are. but it doesn't seem to be working too well does it? you know why? because criminals don't care if it's illegal or not.

CPT Ron, Lawton (2/26/2009 8:25:12 PM)

When guns are banned, only outlaws will have guns. The only purpose in registering guns is to make a list so it is easier to confiscate them later. The reason for the 2nd Amendment Right to Own and Carry Guns (Keep and Bear Arms) is so that Government abuse of citizens will never reach the level that requires citizens to take up their guns and overthrow the Government.

GTG, Collinsville (2/26/2009 8:52:45 PM)

douglassm,

Careful, your liberal bias is showing. You know nothing about guns except that they scare you. That's why we gun owners advocate choice. You should choose to stay away from guns because they may make you look silly and emotional.

Don't worry, those of us with guns will protect ourselves. You can feel good in knowing that you'll help a criminal's self esteem when he makes you a statistic.

Daniel Day Simpson, Edmond (2/27/2009 6:50:03 AM)

Very true about statistics. Fold them up into a paper airplane and hope to hit your next armed assailant who storms into your child's bedroom in the eye.
Remember, armed robbers support gun control! They never let silly gun laws get in their way.

52favoriteteacher, teaching young minds with issues (2/27/2009 12:09:05 PM)

The guns I own will be an asset.

They will defend me and my family

They will be used wisely

They will not be given up

booboo-boohoo, (2/27/2009 2:04:32 PM)

douglassm
I only have one question............what are you going to do when someone kicks in your front door, has a gun on you - wants your keys, and attempts to take one of your loved ones out the door with them? "Talk to them"....I dont' think that will work very well. My last statement,..."Don't expect sympathy from me".
I'd rather be judged by 12 as carried by 6!
sign me
9mm Mama

Ignatz, Broken Bow (2/27/2009 4:10:14 PM)

Yawn. This is like Bill O'Reilly's annual crusade to keep "Merry Christmas" from being outlawed. Just a self-aggrandizing pol tooting his own horn over non-issues in order to get that coveted Senatorial seat his daddy once held realizing that only crazies get elected in OK anymore. Big Deal!