To my readers:
Some of you may not enjoy or agree with my opinion in this blog. That is ok! “To each his/her own,” is what I like to say. The subject written about here is controversial to say the least and there are many differing opinions. This is mine and mine alone. Agree or Disagree, respectfully please.
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Is Murder Wrong?
The definition of Murder is: The crime of unlawfully killing a person with malice (according to Meriam Webster’s Dictionary).
If it is unlawful then one must assume that it is wrong. But how about in self-defense. If I kill a person who is trying to kill me … I’ve murdered the person in self-defense and that is not unlawful … so it is right – not wrong.
How about by accident. Let’s say I am driving down the street (not drunk but perhaps a little tired) and a woman walks out in front of my car where I failed to slow down for a stop sigh that I could not see because a truck was blocking it. I go to court and am found guilty of Vehicular Homicide. Vehicular homicide is a crime that involves the death of a person other than the driver as a result of either criminally negligent or murderous operation of a motor vehicle. It does not matter that it was truly an accident … I was criminally negligent and therefore charged with a crime.
Now what happens if that woman is pregnant. It does not matter where she was going … she was pregnant and I accidently killed her and the baby she was carrying in her womb. I could be found guilty of not one but two homicides or murder.
But let’s face the fact … most murders are not vehicular – or are they? Take a look at these facts from centeronaddition.org:
- In 2016 in America there were …
- 40,000 motor vehicle related deaths
- 39,000 firearm related deaths (including suicides)
- 64,000 drug over-dose related deaths.
Is more gun control really needed?
In 2018 there were only 14,623 gun related deaths in America. I say “only” because of another number I will give you in a moment. This number actually fell from 15,658 in 2017 and neither includes Suicide Victims from self-inflicted gun shots.
Of this 14,623 Gun Related Deaths …
- 3,492 were children
- 1,720 were mass shooting victims and
- 1,597 were accidental or unintentional shooting victims.
As for who was killed by what … this may help some of you:
NUMBER OF MURDER VICTIMS IN THE UNITED STATES IN 2017 BY WEAPON
In this chart from QZ.com we see that while there are 316 million Americans in 2013 there was an estimated 270-310 million guns owned by these Americans.
If only 14,623 murders by gun took place in 2018 when considering the number of guns (even though it is people that kill not guns that kill) that would be a percentage of 0.005% of the people that were killed with a gun.
Actually only about 22-29% of the people in America own a gun (that is registered). This means about 79 million people have at least one gun (I have three and may get more). One survey found that the average gun owner has 3 guns. More than half of them just own 1 or 2, whereas 14% of them (7.7 million – or 3% of the population) owns between 8 and 140 guns. This 3% of the population owns 50% of all the guns in America that are owed by individuals. I don’t know … 140 guns for one person may be a little much. I could understand 8 – 10 depending on the type of shooting one may want to do.
I watch a lot of Alaskan shows and those folks normally take 3 – 4 guns with them each time they head out to the boonies. Small round gun for smaller animals and larger round guns for larger animals. Perhaps a sniper gun for extremely long distance shots, a pistol for quick needs or to scare a bear away and perhaps a shot gun for flying animals.
The point is … the gun is not the problem … it’s the people that is the problem. You can’t change the people by having more regulation on guns. The criminal will always get what they want, when they want it, regardless of laws.
Here below is a comparison of a Liberals thoughts on the Second Amendment as compared to a Conservatives thoughts:
Liberal
The Second Amendment does not give citizens the right to keep and bear arms, but only allows for the state to keep a militia (National Guard). Individuals do not need guns for protection; it is the role of local and federal government to protect the people through law enforcement agencies and the military. Additional gun control laws are necessary to stop gun violence and limit the ability of criminals to obtain guns. More guns mean more violence.
Conservative
The Second Amendment gives citizens the right to keep and bear arms. Individuals have the right to defend themselves. There are too many gun control laws – additional laws will not lower gun crime rates. What is needed is enforcement of current laws. Gun control laws do not prevent criminals from obtaining guns. More guns in the hands of law-abiding citizens mean less crime.
Full text of the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
Here’s a question for you: What kills more than guns or drugs in America?
Now let’s talk about another form of what I consider – in most cases – to be pre-meditated murder … ABORTIONS.
According to what I was able to find on Wikipedia about abortions in the United States I uncovered this:
- In 1970 there were 193,491 Abortions in America – 52 for every 1,000 live births.
- By 1990 this number had grown to 1,429,247 – 345 per 1,000 live births.
- In the late 90’s and so far in the 2000’s the number has began to decline – but not far enough.
- In 2015 there were still 638,169 abortions in America – 188 per 1,000 live births.
- Since 1970 and through 2015 it is estimated that 45,789,558 babies have been aborted in America.
Yes, that’s 638,169 dead babies on purpose in 2015 … and the Liberal Left is looking for more stringent gun laws and less stringent abortion laws! Here’s is the thought processes of Liberals vs. Conservatives on Abortion
Liberal
A woman has the right to decide what happens with her body. A fetus is not a human life, so it does not have separate individual rights. The government should provide taxpayer funded abortions for women who cannot afford them. The decision to have an abortion is a personal choice of a woman regarding her own body and the government must protect this right. Women have the right to affordable, safe and legal abortions, including partial birth abortion.
Conservative
Human life begins at conception. Abortion is the murder of a human being. An unborn baby, as a living human being, has separate rights from those of the mother. Oppose taxpayer-funded abortion. Taxpayer dollars should not be used for the government to provide abortions. Support legislation to prohibit partial birth abortions, called the “Partial Birth Abortion* Ban.”
(*Partial Birth Abortion: the killing of an unborn baby of at least 20 weeks by pulling it out of the birth canal with forceps, but leaving the head inside. An incision is made in the back of the baby’s neck and the brain tissue is suctioned out. The head is then removed from the uterus.)
Here’s how Capitalism Magazine supports pro-choice:
A fetus does not have a right to be in the womb of any woman, but is there by her permission. This permission may be revoked by the woman at any time, because her womb is part of her body… There is no such thing as the right to live inside the body of another, i.e., there is no right to enslave… a woman is not a breeding pig owned by the state (or church). Even if a fetus were developed to the point of surviving as an independent being outside the pregnant woman’s womb, the fetus would still not have the right to be inside the woman’s womb.
As for the Libertarian mind-set … here we see what Ron and Rand Paul have to say about it:
Anti-abortion Libertarian and former Republican congressman Ron Paul says in “Abortion and Liberty”:
It’s no coincidence that today’s argument over abortion comes at a time when freedom in general is threatened in the United States, as well as in other Western countries. Nor was it accidental that genocide, abortion, and euthanasia were all practiced under Hitler, and that all three characterize totalitarian states. Even today, Communist governments vary their positions on abortion strictly on economic calculations of whether more or fewer slaves are needed.
His main position calls for overturning Roe v. Wade and letting the states decide the issue. Ron Paul’s son, Republican Senator Rand Paul, calls himself “totally pro-life” and supports “any and all legislation that would end abortion or lead us in the direction of ending abortion”. In 2008, the Libertarian Party candidate for President was Bob Barr who has called abortion “murder” and opposed legalized abortion.
I find it interesting …
I find it interesting that people do not want to call a fetus a living human – unless I were to accidently kill a pregnant woman walking across the street (even though she may have been headed to the abortion clinic).
I find it interesting that people will call a micro-organism on the planet Mars “Life” but will not admit that organism in the woman’s womb is also “Life” if the people are on the left.
I find it interesting that people will admit genocide (the deliberate and systematic destruction of racial, political or cultural groups) is wrong and punishable by law – but abortion is okay and a woman’s choice if they are pro choice.
I find it interesting that people will admit that euthanasia (the act or practice of killing or permitting death to hopelessly sick or injured individuals or animals in a relatively painless way for reasons of mercy) could be right or wrong – but that abortion is always right if you are on the left or are for pro-choice.
Summary
As I said in the beginning. Many of you will have your own opinions that are different from mine – and that is your right. Here is mine:
We don’t need any new gun laws. We need current gun laws to be enforced. It does not matter if it is an assault rifle or a derringer. A gun in the wrong hands can kill – just like a car or van with the wrong driver behind the wheel.
We do need better abortion laws. If a driver can go to jail for killing an unborn baby by accident … then a doctor and a mother (and any one else involved) should be held accountable and go to jail for killing an unborn baby on purpose. Naturally, like anything, there should be exceptions – like killing the baby in self defense of the mother (but that is about the only one).
You have my take … I’d be interested in hearing yours!
Jerry Nix – Freewavemaker, LLC
Here are the websites used in this article (copy and paste them to your browser if you want to see them as I have not linked them).
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abortion_statistics_in_the_United_States
https://www.thetrace.org/2019/01/gun-deaths-2018-america-mass-shootings-suicide/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libertarian_perspectives_on_abortion
I find the article interesting, there will always be pros and cons to the articles discussed. My opinion is the laws need to make it harder for the criminals to obtain guns as they will always have access to firearms. As for abortion laws, will keep my opinion to myself.
Sheila, thank you very much for commenting on my article. Hopefully I have not upset you with some of my opinions as that is all they are … my opinions. Everyone has a right to theirs. I agree we need to make it harder for criminals to obtain guns … but the fact is if we did … and they wanted to kill … they would find another way to accomplish it whether it be knives, cars or plain old hands. We can’t outlaw everything and call this a free society. Hopefully I will be in touch with you in the next month or two. I did keep a list of all my favorite clients phone numbers but promised Forrest I would make no phone or face to face contact for at least a year. June 30 I will be celebrating one year of retirement. Then I plan to touch base with old friends and clients occasionally on the phone. Again, thanks for the comments. — Jerry Nix
Great stuff as always Jerry!
I have a unique perspective on the subject that few may have. In addition to 20 years of financial practice/consultant and analyst I also have about 10 years of law enforcement experience in Little Rock Arkansas. If you keep up with crime stats you should know that Little Rock AR is a high crime rate per capita. My requested patrol district has been on the FBI’s national top 10 most dangerous communities for over 40 years straight. With a 1 in 4 chance of personally being involved in a violent crime (rape, murder etc). The liberals stating that it is the responsibility of law enforcement to protect us is not only preposterous it is completely not possible. I realized early on that we as cops were grossly outnumbered as well as outgunned. Therefore, went to the people for help. I began setting up multiple crime watches and attended each weekly meeting. I advised them to not be naive and to arm themselves for personal protection. Since the dawn of time it has been our own responsibility to protect ourselves and our loved ones.
The media is so left wing that they kowtow to these liberals and only report their agenda, even going so far as to lie and falsely report the facts.
I have an enhanced CCL and carry a concealed weapon almost everywhere including church. Even though I no longer am under ‘the oath’ I still live by it and will serve and protect my own and those around me. If a man/woman has the means, knowledge and experience to prevent violence and do nothing they are guilty by their very lack of action.
We need more guns on the street being carried by conscientious and law abiding citizens. If so, we will have more incidents of violence being avoided simply by following the golden rule!
And coming from an experienced officer I can tell all your readers that firearms WILL ALWAYS be accessible to those who wish to do evil. Period. The never ending gun control laws only hurt those who could be helping the situation.
Lastly, I sincerely appreciate all the men and women of our armed forces and their hard work. However, I’ve been shot, knifed and shot at more times than I can count (literally). I’ve left my blood, sweat and tires on the streets and delivered more than a few babies and I’ve yet to hear thank you from the populace. That’s a shame and should be corrected for those who still hold the line here at home.
Jerry, thanks for all you do!
Printer Plumlee
PS. I am actually trying to talk my spouse into letting me come out of retirement and rejoin the blue line in the fight against crime. Maybe an old man can still make a difference.
Sent from my Printer’s iPad
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Printer, very interesting comments. I really appreciated getting them and have read them at least 4 times already. My only regret is that you and I never got to know each other better. I think together we could have really done some great things. Anyhow, I’d like to use your comments in an upcoming article I am writing about how it is impossible for police to protect us all. As long as I don’t use your name, would that be okay to do? Thanks and I will await your approval before suing anything. Jerry Nix
As always great perspective on the reality of what is happening around us.
I’ve always felt if a women wants an abortion let the child live then abort her uterus(or at least a tubal ligation) then no more worries of killing innocent lives.
And yep guns don’t kill, people do. We have to help change the out of control anger in the hearts of individuals.
David, thanks so much for the notes on my article. I really appreciate your support as I try to get through some of the maze out there. I was gaining quite a following (not that I am really seeking such) but probably lost a few after this article – even though I started out by saying it was simply my opinion on a couple of things. It looks like you and I think alike on guns and abortion. Seems to me your female Alabama Governor thinks like us on Abortion as well. The only disagreement I have with the new anti-abortion bill in Alabama is that there is not criminal punishment for the woman carrying the baby … only the doctor gets punished (10 to 99 years in prison – what happened to the death penalty). To me that’s like punishing the corner drug dealer and leaving the drug king pin alone free and clear. Looking forward to seeing you in a few weeks and meeting your wife. I don’t think I have ever met her. See you on the boat soon! Jerry Nix
I own 103 guns and I have ammo for everything in my gun safes. Yes, every one of them is secured in a very heavy professional grade gun safes. To me my guns are nothing more than tools , like a ink pen for a writer. There are some guns that I have not shot at all and others that I have shot 40 years ago. That includes a Browning shotgun collection that I purchased in 1973-75.
I have killed people many times, but not murdered them. (Twenty Two years of active military service).
I feel that none of my machine guns, Sniper rifles, handguns and two dozen of various “assault” weapons I own are a threat to humanity. Mental health issues are the cruxes of our society, including the countless fatherless homes in America. To put it simply When I grew up I knew that when Elmer Fudd shot the rascally rabbit that it was only a cartoon.
I am getting older now , really don’t have the interest in collecting weapons that I had in the past. I am thinking about selling off all of them and buying a boat.
Dennis – dad gum it – I knew I was forgetting something … COLLECTORS. I should have mentioned that those that have over 8 guns are probably serious gun collectors and not killers … sorry pal! I am glad that you responded to my article though. I was trying to make to make the point that political people want to stop killing on one hand (Gun Restrictions – which will not work) and encourage it on the other hand (Abortion). To me killing is killing whether it is done with Guns, Drugs, or Forceps. And if it is the taking of an innocent life … it has to be Murder. I would never accuse anyone in the military or police force of being a murderer since their killing is a job that someone has to do. I would never accuse a person protecting themselves or their family of being a murderer since the person they were protecting against was not an innocent person if they needed to protect themselves from them. On a different line of thought … how can the accidental death of a fetus due to an auto “accident” be considered “Vehicular Homicide” if the Fetus is not considered a Human Being? It just makes no sense to me. Anyhow, please keep reading and following my articles. As for the boat, if you thinking of selling your collection and buying one it must be a big one you are considering. Hope it works out better than the damned ELIO – LOL. Take care man and tell Mary Hello for me – Jerry Nix