Facts Demolish Gun Control Supporters' Assertions

There are so many lies being asserted by gun control supporters that it's hard to keep up with the little weasels and their endless, slippery comments that contradict the reality, and in many cases are based upon data that has never been proven and was conducted almost 20 years ago.

Here are some facts from the AP that clarify some of the assertions.

THE FACTS:

The claims that gun sales made without background checks comprise “more than,” “as many as,” “nearly” or “about” 40 percent of all gun sales are rooted in a poll looking broadly at gun ownership in America. Sponsored by the Justice Department through a grant to the Police Foundation, the poll’s principal relevance today is as a snapshot of the way things were when it was taken – 1994.

The research reported on the nature of gun acquisitions made in 1993 and 1994, asking people who had obtained guns then where the guns had come from and whether they thought the source was a federally licensed dealer. Transactions through licensed dealers were considered covered by the background check system, which was just then coming into effect.

Although the survey interviewed more than 2,500 Americans, just 251 had acquired guns during that time frame, a small sampling from which to make a general conclusion.

In all, 64 percent of those respondents reported acquiring a gun from a source they thought to be a licensed dealer, suggesting that 36 percent of gun acquisitions were in the secondary and unregulated market.

But the study’s researchers found considerable ambiguity and some apparent contradictions in the responses. With a clear picture eluding them, they estimated 30 percent to 40 percent of the acquisitions were off the books and would not have been subjected to a background check.

Only 4 percent of gun sales were thought to have come through gun shows or flea markets – a corner of the market that is a top concern today for those who want to expand background checks to close the “gun-show loophole,” as Obama’s proposals would do.

More than 17 percent of guns acquired in 1993 and 1994 came from a family member, according to the poll – a source of weapons that would remain largely unregulated in pending Senate legislation calling for expanded checks.

Discounting family acquisitions, the percentage of gun transactions eluding background checks – whatever that figure is – would be considerably less.

The statement by the coalition of mayors followed a Senate Judiciary Committee vote along partisan lines Tuesday to expand background checks. The bill’s prospects are uncertain.

In contending that 40 percent of gun transfers are conducted by private sellers, often “at gun shows and on the Internet,” the mayors stretched a thin claim even thinner.

They cited the same old study as everyone else – one that was done well before the spread of online commerce. The study considered purchases by mail order – 3 percent of reported gun acquisitions – but makes no mention of online transactions.

continue reading ...