Those Pesky Facts

It’s important to remember that mass shootings are exceedingly rare in the United States. According to the Washington Post, there have been 25 deaths from mass shootings in 2018. Using the source of their data, the gun violence archive, I tabulated that there were 435 deaths associated with 346 mass shootings* in 2017. Compared with 15,614 total deaths in 61,635 reported incidents in 2017,

*The definition of “mass shooting” changes constantly, depending on what database, media outlet, government agency or research paper you cite. The Gun Violence Archive definition of mass shooting is “four or more shot and/or killed in a single event [incident], at the same general time and location not including the shooter” and makes no exclusions for gang violence or family violence.

I try Generally to Keep it Clean

but FUCK YES!!!

Finally there will be legal carry in IL by people that aren’t politicians. I really hope the Republican side of the ILGA sticks it hardcore to the Chicago group. Now that we have to pass a law, we should make it the closest we can to Vermont-style carry. Shall-issue, non-binding signage, few restrictions, etc. The anti-gun lobby had their chance to pass a restrictive bill earlier this year. They held it off by only 5 votes from a 3/5 majority needed. Now they’re the ones that need a vote, or it might just end up as Vermont-style carry by default.

Here’s a copy of the ruling:

http://www.hoffmang.com/firearms/moore/12-1269-Moore-Opinion-2012-12-11.pdf

The New Uniform

I was wandering about the web, and was snagged into retaking the Libertarian Purity Test. (I scored an 87)

This got me to thinking about wookiee suits, when, lo and behold: THIS!

With all of the ‘crazy’ things I apparently believe, as well as being a Star Wars fan from the age of five; I’m really hoping that this will be available at a price that isn’t too prohibitively expensive.

Another One for the Pile

I read and interesting quote the other day.

“Among the many misdeeds of the British rule in India, history will look upon the act of depriving a whole nation of arms, as the blackest.”
Mahatma Gandhi (Autobiography, by M.K. Gandhi, p.446)

I must confess an amount of ignorance concerning Gandhi and his life. I’ve heard him referenced before, and had a vague notion of what he stood for, but have never really studied him, even in passing. I’ll be adding his autobiography to the ever growing pile of books I need to consume.