Nonsense on the Delaware

The Dems in Washington make much merry over the asserted "politicization" of the US Attorney’s office. Query: where were all the outraged leftist voices, when a group of NJ prosecutors – apparently with too much time on their hands – gathered on the Delaware to lament that Pennsylvania treats its residents with more respect than does NJ. That is, it’s easier for a law abiding citizen to purchase a firearm in PA – or mainland China, for that matter – than it is here in Blue Jersey.

Now, not only does advocacy for gun control seem an exceptionally political issue – last I looked, the job description of the Prosecutors involves enforcing the laws we have, not advocating for new restrictions – but chastising another state for being freer than NJ is even dumber. (Can you imagine the howls of outrage if PA officials, let alone Prosecutors, stood on the banks of the Delaware and demanded that NJ adopt laws to prevent PA minors from circumventing parental notification laws on abortion?)

Most gun control measures are profoundly silly, operating only to prevent law abiding citizens from availing themselves of the same firepower as criminals – who, obviously, pay scant attention to legal restrictions on their instrumentalities – possess. Too, a government which does not fear its citizens has small reason to fear them being armed. Only tyrants quake before an armed free people.

Demonstrating the complete non-sequitor which tends to permeate the gun grabbers’ thoughts, one of the Prosecutors held up a weapon which looked like an AR-15, contending that such weapon, illegal in NJ, could be bought in PA. Pity some intrepid reporter didn’t ask a simple question: "just how many crimes were actually committed in NJ with AR-15's or similar ‘assault weapons’", because the answer is: almost none. Even given that the definition of such weaponry in NJ is both broad and senseless (according to one source, a gun with a flash suppressor or a bayonet lug might be an assault weapon, whereas the same gun, without that accouterment, would not), the number of such weapons used in crimes is minuscule. Nationally, about one out of every hundred murders involves such a weapon and, then, generally, its status as an "assault weapon" had nothing to do with the crime. (That is, the crimes were committed under such circumstances as the kind of firearm used made no difference)

If I read the State Police crime statistics right, not a single murder –not one – was perpetrated with a rifle in 2005 (the most recent year I could find on line). Unless one of the handguns used in the 65% of all murders for which they account somehow qualifies as an "assault weapon", there was not a single murder with such a weapon. Not one. Meanwhile, 61 people were stabbed to death; 20 bludgeoned; 40 pummeled with hands or feet, etc. The headlines this week report on several deaths by lightning here in NJ, demonstrating, yet again, that one is significantly more likely to be struck by lightning than to face the business end of an "assault weapon".

Indeed, one is much likelier to fall victim to one’s neighbors’ firebomb, noose, poison, or fists than to be shot with his "assault weapon". It’s simply irrational to fear such weapons in the hands of otherwise law abiding citizens. While bans on scary-looking guns make for good politics – all too often, the people do not think rationally – they constitute lousy policy. With such foolish laws, we sacrifice a measure of our freedom, and receive precisely zip in return.

But far be it from the Politically-Correct Prosecutors to let the facts get in the way of a good photo op.

Indeed, this brings to mind a recent Canadian official who, confronting the death – by stabbing – of a school child, offered that the solution rested in a "war on handguns". (I can only assume that the perp stabbed the victim to death with the barrel of the gun) THIS passes for intelligent commentary?

There exists precisely no evidence that PA "assault weapons" are somehow sneaking across the border. If, as the Prosecutors suggest, anyone can easily secure an "assault weapon" in PA, the fact that not a single criminal chose to pack that kind of heat should speak volumes.

Too, as a PA official noted, virtually all of the weapons – handguns, mostly – sold in PA which turn up in NJ, were acquired illegally in the first instance, often stolen. Just how, pray tell, would more anti-freedom restrictions in PA solve the problem of criminals breaking the laws which already exist?

But, as with most good liberals, the Prosecutors don’t let logic interfere with policy, and forget that the problem isn’t that criminals are armed, it’s that they’re criminals. The gun is not the problem; it’s the bad guy behind it.

Our Prosecutors, I thought, had their hands full trying to convict those who break the law in NJ. Apparently, they believe that their job description includes advising – or hectoring – the PA Legislature. If they wish to run for office in PA, they should resign their positions and move (as have so many other productive, freedom loving citizens, fleeing NJ’s increasingly oppressive climate). Until that time, if they wish to agitate for policy change (here in NJ, where they might actually receive a hearing), they would be well advised to advocate for long periods of incarceration for the violent thugs who abuse our freedom and an effective, expeditious death penalty for murderers.

Otherwise, they should keep their political opinions – and ill-informed, extra-territorial ones at that – to themselves.