More homicides were recorded in Milwaukee in August than in any other month over the past 25 years ... total of 24 homicides in August was the highest since July 1991 ... the city’s per capita rate was even higher than that of Chicago.Oh wait, this doesn't count, because it's the city of Milwaukee, "the anchor holding back the ship of state," or so says Republicans Rep. Bob Gannon:
Chief Edward Flynn (said) police have recorded a slight increase in domestic violence homicides this year “But the biggest driver of our homicides is arguments and fights and retaliation among people with criminal records.
Gannon focused his comments on problems with unemployment and crime ... and said the city is "the anchor holding back the ship of state as far as jobs is concerned ... if only our largest city would clean up the murder and mayhem on their streets ... Could one make a connection between employment opportunities and the level of crime on those same streets? What employer will build or expand when they fear muggings, car jackings, attempted murder, or other serious criminal threats to their employees?"Republicans under Scott Walker washed their hands of Milwaukee a long time ago, and in fact, have done everything they could to shut down any chance the city had for economic expansion. By adding guns to the American way of life there it's not to surprising that fire arms are now being used to settle all kinds of disputes:
Concealed Carry Killers is an on-line VPC resource that tallies news reports of killings by concealed handgun permit holders ... “It is now commonplace for mass shooters to be licensed to carry concealed handguns. It is clear that the licensing systems are completely ineffective at weeding out applicants who are likely to kill in anger rather than self-defense.
Of the 125 incidents in 28 states that resulted in the 213 deaths, in more than half (71 incidents) the concealed handgun permit holder has already been convicted, committed suicide after the incident, or was killed in the incident. Of the 54 cases still pending, the vast majority (44) of concealed handgun permit holders have been charged with criminal homicide, two were deemed incompetent to stand trial, two incidents were unintentional shootings, and six incidents are still under investigation.
My conservative friend called me and told me how mad he was two concealed carry owners had a very public shootout. He said it makes them all look bad. I told him it’s not just that dangerous shootout, but the now casual way people are using weapons. We've opened a Pandora’s Box.
No one is safe anymore from a supposedly perfectly legal and “responsible” gun owner. Right now, we’re all sitting ducks.
jsonline: Two Milwaukee men — each with a state permit to carry a concealed weapon — traded dozens of shots in a rolling shootout through two sides of town and down a freeway, the kind of scenario concealed-carry opponents feared would turn road rage incidents deadly. Eric Adamany, 27 (one of the shooters) estimated people in the other vehicle fired 50 to 100 rounds at his car. The gunfight is bound to spark more debate over concealed carry.
It didn't. Pointing out the new mindset we’re seeing with gun violence in Milwaukee:
Mayor Tom Barrett said "This has always been one of my concerns (with the concealed-carry law) — that things like road rage could turn out like the wild, wild West," he said. "Here we are."
But hey, actual concealed carry owners would never do that, unless of course only the irresponsible ones do it. That's what gun nut Nik Clark says:
Nik Clark, president of Wisconsin Carry Inc., a gun rights advocacy group, said both Adamany and Scott's actions fell well outside of any kind of responsible gun owner training.Ya think:
But he also said their irresponsible gun use is outweighed by at least five instances … "The fact that we now have a single instance where a CCL holder may have broken the law doesn't change the reality that concealed carry works," Clark said.
Losers like Nik Clark continue to downplay the significance of this development with contradictory excuses and lies. It wasn't the only case:
In another recent case, a concealed-carry license holder was charged in a shooting … the two men got into a fight after visiting taverns together … told police he fired when he feared Banks was about to attack him again.
Although I can see the author's point, he hasn't really proven a direct cause and effect relationship between the concealed carry law and the increase in homicides. There are so many other questions that need to be answered about this situation: 1) Were the CCL holders already registered gun owners or did they purchase their weapon after the law went into effect? 2)I am not in Wisconsin, but did all of these individuals pass the necessary background checks before being issued the CCL permit or were they just rubber stamped by the local police organization in charge of approvals? Even his friends at Concealed Carry Killers question the effectiveness of the licensing procedures. 3)The Police Chief of Milwaukee attributed the increase to "fights and retaliation among people with criminal records". If this is the case, the author is attempting to somehow ignore this fact and show some kind of relationship between CCL holders and the increase in homicides. Convicted felons are not permitted to own weapons and I doubt that any of the 'criminals' that Chief Flynn is referring to has a CCL. In my opinion the author fails to prove anything and instead uses the story to launch into his rant against Republicans, responsible gun owners and conservatives in general.
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