Illinois State Police rely on incorrect statistics regarding gun control
The Illinois State Police gives some amazingly bad advice that doesn't seem to be based on anything:
Use of a firearm to protect yourself or property is not recommended.
-Guns stolen from residences are a primary way of getting guns into the hands of criminals.
-Half of all the women that fire a gun trying to protect themselves shoot someone they do not want to, i.e. friend, neighbors, relatives, etc.
But for quite different information see page 9 of this BJS report for information that 9.9 percent of criminal guns came from theft or burglary. Purchased, obtained from family or friend, and rented or borrowed were all much more common sources.
I have called up and asked about both claims. At least on the second claim they had a source, but the source that they pointed to claims that they didn't provide the information. The state police were then called back to figure out where it came from, but so far no source.
The website also advises women to fight their attackers:
Concentrate on these areas only when combating an assailant.
groin
eyes
ears
nose
throat
For information on the safest course of action see this link.
I was sent this link for the Illinois State Police a few days ago and I apologize for forgetting who sent this to me, but I did appreciate it.
-Guns stolen from residences are a primary way of getting guns into the hands of criminals.
-Half of all the women that fire a gun trying to protect themselves shoot someone they do not want to, i.e. friend, neighbors, relatives, etc.
But for quite different information see page 9 of this BJS report for information that 9.9 percent of criminal guns came from theft or burglary. Purchased, obtained from family or friend, and rented or borrowed were all much more common sources.
I have called up and asked about both claims. At least on the second claim they had a source, but the source that they pointed to claims that they didn't provide the information. The state police were then called back to figure out where it came from, but so far no source.
The website also advises women to fight their attackers:
groin
eyes
ears
nose
throat
For information on the safest course of action see this link.
I was sent this link for the Illinois State Police a few days ago and I apologize for forgetting who sent this to me, but I did appreciate it.
Labels: GunControl, Research
posted by John Lott at 5:00 AM
4 Comments:
Where did they get the statistic on "half of women" (or whatever it was) shoot the wrong person?
Sounds untrue to me, since most NRA instructors concede women are the best students.
Someone who was writing about this same issue on a forum pointed out that the statistical claim actually said that women "shoot someone [they did] not want to". Not the WRONG person, just someone they didn't want to shoot. Many women use guns to defend themselves against violent husbands or boyfriends, and just about anyone would say that they did not "want" to shoot their attacker, but "had to". It's simply a semantic trick.
"Use of a firearm to protect yourself or property is not recommended."
So the Illinois State Police keep their guns holstered when someone starts shooting at them? Or are they despicable hypocrites of the worst sort?
I'm seriously considering leaving this state after grad school, in part for these very reasons.
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