Monday, February 21, 2011

How gun control disarms domestic violence victims in Boston

Our favorite Brady board member Joan Peterson wrote in her usual smug tone today:
Has any victim of domestic abuse been disarmed by my group? No. If they want guns, they can have them.
I argue that in my home state of Massachusetts, and especially in Boston, the gun control laws pushed by her group do indeed make it extremely time consuming and expensive for a woman at risk of domestic violence to have a handgun for self defense.

Here's how the process would work for a woman in fear of her life... 

She goes to the local gun shop and is turned away because she doesn't have a valid Class A License to Carry.

She takes time off from work to apply for her license to carry at Boston Police headquarters in Roxbury.  After driving around the block for an hour, she finally finds a parking space.  She's immediately turned away, not knowing she must take an 8-hour state police approved gun safety course.

She signs up for the safety course, which will be held in two weeks.  She pays between $100 and $175 for the course, then waits another week for her certificate. She has to pay for extra day care, because it's Saturday 8AM to 4PM. 

During the course, she finds out she must pass a 30-round qualification test with a double-action Ruger revolver firing .38 Special ammunition at the Boston Police range at Moon Island.  Massachusetts General Laws prohibit her from currently owning the gun she is expected to be proficient with, so she goes to the local range twice a week for a month to take a lesson with the instructor.  Each lesson is $20 to the instructor, and $35 for two boxes of ammo.  Oh, and her arthritis - she just has to deal with the excruciating pain in her hands from the 14 lb. double-action trigger (yes, 18 rounds of the test are mandatory DA one-handed).  There are no exceptions for disabilities.

After she's practiced enough to be able to pass the test, it occurs to her that it's January, and that she'll be firing a gun one handed, no gloves allowed, in 15 degree weather with a 30 MPH wind spraying salty water in her eyes, literally in the middle of Boston freakin' Harbor.  These conditions being insurmountable for her, she postpones the test until April, when the weather becomes reasonable.

A few months roll around, and she takes another day off to go to police headquarters to apply for the LTC and schedule the range test.  She pays her $100 (cash only), presents proof of safety course completion, citizenship and residency, is photographed and fingerprinted, and submits to a background check.  She is forced to sign extra statements containing legalese about acknowledgment of the use of deadly force. 

Two days later, she makes special arrangements for her kids' day care and takes another day off to show up at the range at 7AM.  The police officers are professional and polite, she handles the gun safely, and most of her bullets hit the target.  The range officer looks at the target for two seconds and mutters, "Eh, 275, you passed.  You'll get your license in 6 weeks."

Ten weeks later, her license shows up in the mail.  She heads out to the nearest gun shop, which is 20 miles away (HA! No, Mayor Menino doesn't allow gun shops in Boston!).

"Hello, my good man.  My ex-husband's been threatening to kill me quite a lot, so I'd like to get a new Glock 22, .40 caliber.  It makes sense to me to buy the same durable, safe, simple gun that my city's police use."

"Sorry, ma'am, we can't sell you a new Glock 22."

"Why not?"

"Because they're not on the list."

"What list?"

"The state's list of guns we're allowed to sell."

"This is the same gun that most of our state's police carry every day!  I saw that it's on the Approved Handgun Roster from the state's Executive Office of Public Safety."

"Well, yeah, it's on that list, but not the Attorney General's list."

"There are two lists?"

"Well, the EOPS list is the only actual list.  The AG's list is secret..."

"Fuck it, I can't understand this nonsense. How can I get my Glock 22?"

"You can either buy it from a private buyer who already has one in-state, or you can buy a scarce pre-1998 Glock from us for 50% over retail.  They were grandfathered in."

"Just ring me up for that Ruger over there, I don't care anymore.  I've spent $800 and five months of my time just just to get the government's permission to buy a gun."

[END SCENARIO]


And that, Joan Petersons of the world, is the typical time and expense women in Boston have to put up with to get their best means of self defense - you have been educated.

Victims of domestic violence most certainly have been discouraged and disarmed by your groups.

If Joan were honest, she would have said something like:
Has any victim of domestic abuse been disarmed by my group? No. If they want guns, they can have them.  All they have to do is wait a few months, pay several hundred dollars, endure pain if they're disabled or elderly, and take several days off from work.  It's common sense!

22 comments:

  1. Actually, Massachusetts has one of the lowest homicide rates in the country because of its tough laws. The challenge now is to get a handle on ILLEGAL guns, as Mayors Menino and Bloomberg are pushing. Any legitimate gun owner should support them in this effort.

    ReplyDelete
  2. The enactment of the "tough" gun laws in 1998 coincided with an already decreasing homicide rate.

    Sorry, but a lot of things influence state homicide rates, and gun control is at the bottom of the list.

    Substitute "Vermont" into your first sentence and see how much sense your argument makes.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks for every other informative website. Where
    else could I am getting that type of information written in such an ideal manner?
    I've a venture that I am just now running on, and I've been at the look out for such information.
    Also visit my website ... free iphone

    ReplyDelete
  4. Excellent post. I used to be checking continuously this blog and I'm inspired! Extremely helpful information specially the last phase :) I handle such info much. I was looking for this particular information for a long time. Thank you and good luck.
    Here is my page elitecigarettestore.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. continuously i used to read smaller content which also clear
    their motive, and that is also happening with this post
    which I am reading here.
    Also visit my web page diablo 3 monk guide

    ReplyDelete
  6. Heya just wanted to give you a brief heads up and let
    you know a few of the images aren't loading properly. I'm not
    sure why but I think its a linking issue. I've tried it in two different internet browsers and both show the same outcome.
    Feel free to visit my web-site ; laser tattoo removal

    ReplyDelete
  7. When I originally left a comment I appear to have clicked on the -Notify me
    when new comments are added- checkbox and from now on every time a comment is added I
    get 4 emails with the same comment. There has to be a way you can
    remove me from that service? Appreciate it!
    Here is my homepage ; skin lightening pills

    ReplyDelete
  8. Yes! Finally someone writes about how ex.
    Also visit my weblog :: lose man boobs

    ReplyDelete
  9. I truly love your website.. Excellent colors & theme.
    Did you develop this site yourself? Please reply back as I'm wanting to create my own blog and would like to find out where you got this from or what the theme is named. Thanks!
    Also see my web site > lägenheter till salu Mahmutlar Alanya

    ReplyDelete
  10. It is perfect time to make some plans for the future and it's time to be happy. I've read this post and if I could I want to suggest you few interesting things
    or tips. Maybe you could write next articles referring to this
    article. I desire to read even more things about it!
    My page : Asunnot Bodrum

    ReplyDelete
  11. Your style is so unique compared to other people I have read stuff from.
    Many thanks for posting when you have the opportunity, Guess I'll just bookmark this page.
    Feel free to visit my blog post ... Bolig i Alanya

    ReplyDelete
  12. Your style is so unique compared to other people I have read stuff from.

    Many thanks for posting when you have the opportunity, Guess I'll just bookmark this page.
    My site > Bolig i Alanya

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hi there, yes this post is genuinely good and I have
    learned lot of things from it on the topic of blogging.
    thanks.
    Here is my site : www.yourtobaccosstore.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. Right here is the right webpage for anyone who wishes to find out about this
    topic. You understand a whole lot its almost hard to argue with you (not that I really will need to…HaHa).
    You definitely put a new spin on a subject that's been discussed for decades. Great stuff, just excellent!
    Here is my web-site - van nelle

    ReplyDelete
  15. hello!,I love your writing very a lot! percentage we be in contact extra about your post on AOL?
    I require a specialist on this area to solve my problem.
    May be that is you! Having a look forward to peer you.
    my page :: goldknighttech.com

    ReplyDelete
  16. Wow that was strange. I just wrote an really long comment but after
    I clicked submit my comment didn't show up. Grrrr... well I'm not writing all that over again.
    Anyway, just wanted to say fantastic blog!
    Here is my web site ; how to get rid of acne overni

    ReplyDelete
  17. After I originally commented I appear to have clicked the -Notify me when
    new comments are added- checkbox and from now on whenever a comment is added I recieve
    four emails with the exact same comment. Is there a means you are able to remove me from that service?
    Appreciate it!
    Also see my site: tattoo removal

    ReplyDelete
  18. You've made some decent points there. I looked on the internet for more info about the issue and found most people will go along with your views on this site.
    My web site ... www.consciousenergy.us

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hello there, I found your site by the use of Google while looking for a related matter,
    your site came up, it appears to be like good.
    I've bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
    Hello there, simply turned into alert to your blog via Google, and found that it's truly informative.
    I am gonna be careful for brussels. I will be grateful in the
    event you proceed this in future. Numerous other folks will be benefited from your writing.

    Cheers!
    Also see my page > fanbuzzy.com

    ReplyDelete
  20. I like what you guys are up too. This kind of clever work and exposure!
    Keep up the excellent works guys I've included you guys to my personal blogroll.

    Feel free to surf to my web-site ... coffee maker

    ReplyDelete
  21. Quality articles or reviews is the secret to invite the viewers to go to see the web page, that's what this site is providing.

    Here is my web blog Visit Website

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hello,I love reading through your blog, I wanted to leave a little comment to support you and wish you a good continuation. Wishing you the best of luck for all your blogging efforts. 5.7x28 ammo for sale

    ReplyDelete