Mass Moves to Ban BB Guns....

I found two articles about BB guns and Massachusetts. One is the rather hysterical rant you cite and the other is this:

BB gun ban

Now, it doesn't appear to me that the goal is confiscation of BB guns but rather that look-alike toys be somehow marked as such (by painting them bright colors apparently) in order to avoid shootings by police of folks they believe to be wielding deadly firearms.

Furthermore, it seems that this is not a state law, but rather a suggestion by one local government that such a law be considered.

The issue of BB gun prohibition per se is a debatable one, but seems like overkill (no pun intended) IMO. The issue of nonoperating lookalikes being mistaken for real weapons seems like a more serious issue that ought to be examined a little more carefully.

I hate it when facts rear their ugly heads and besmearch some idiots rant.

"Brian K. Gomes , councilor at large, said he plans to introduce a motion that would call on the city's Beacon Hill delegation, as well as legislative leaders, to push for a wide-ranging ban on fake firearms that could confuse police. The proposed bill would ban all sales of BB and pellet guns, as well as replicas of handguns and sawed-off shotguns, unless they are brightly colored.

"If the requested legislation is passed, future tragedies . . . will be reduced or averted because there will be fewer legal pellet guns, BB guns, and no replicas that could be mistaken for the real thing," said Gomes. "There has been enough heartbreak caused by previous misfortunes and tragic events occurring throughout the Commonwealth."

On Oct. 26, two police officers encountered Lamont S. Cruz in a New Bedford crack house. Cruz, a recovering drug addict who was studying to become a drug counselor, drew a pellet gun, authorities said. Officers Justin Kagan and Arthur Hegarty fired their guns, killing Cruz. Both officers remain on paid administrative duty while the office of Bristol District Attorney Paul F. Walsh Jr. investigates the shooting."

This is silly.

What's next? Do we ban wallets because someone reached for his wallet and the police shot him 49 times?

I do not blame the police in either case. People have to use thier heads. When the police say freeze.... YOU FREEZE!

Well, I did post the wrong link. Plus my original post only says it is a "proposal". Definitely a stupid one though.

I'm beginning to enjoy my "anti-cj" fan club.

You can never be too vigilant. Let your paranoia flag for one minute and next thing you know there'll be UN troops going door to door confiscating pellet guns...

Jacka--es such as yourself make me very paranoid indeed.

Don't worry, your BB guns are safe.

Gun safety should be part of every middle and high school's curriculum. Maybe they should ban bunsen burners - those things are deadly.

Perhaps when Bunsen burners become the cause of 80% of teen homicides and 50% of teen suicides, somebody will suggest that.

Any you have a link for those stats? Doubt it....because they are false.

Take your lies elsewhere "bs".

You'll shoot your eye out!

Jeez, what a jerk.

Child Trends databank

Now launch into some windy, dissembling explanation about how that's not really true because some pro-gun knucklehead says it ain't.

No, you are the "jerk" with blinders on. From your own link:

"...in 2002 nearly three-quarters of homicides of teens were attributed to gang violence"

Gang violence - at least they got that right and didn't say "gun violence". Pay attention, I'm teaching you something here kid, since your parents apparently didn't.

I have lived in "No Gun" Massachusetts and "Everyone's got a Gun" Arizona. From what I hear there is little difference in the crime rates.

And those gangs were armed with stones and clubs?

Yeah, you've taught me something alright... That your reading comprehension is as weak as your debating skills.

I think you missed this bit, cj:

Debate is also based on perception. My perception is that you don't care about bad parenting and gang violence because your agenda needs to ignore those issues.

I'm guessing you work for Brady and are a member of HSUS.

Or you are Craven in disguise giving me ****.

You conveniently left out the part about gang violence. I don't really care much about gang related deaths, they're just going to wind up in prison anyway robbing the taxpayer. In Australia they took away guns so the gang bangers took up sword fighting. So they banned swords too. I suppose razors and knives are next, so lots of beards and stir fry...