PSH
September 18, 2007
7:30 AM CST
I am indebted to several other bloggers for the term “pants-shitting hysteria” (PSH) which can be applied to all the timorous ninnies who scream ”We’re All Gonna Diiieeee!!!” whenever they see a hint of danger. It can be applied to global cooling/ warming/ cooling/ climate change/ warming alarmists like Al Gore [who?], but it is really best applied to Gun-Fearing Wussies, International. Here’s an example, regrettably a domestic instance:
The spray of bullets that killed a police officer and hurt three others this week came from something increasingly common on this city’s streets: a high-powered assault weapon, fast becoming the gun of choice for gang members and violent criminals.
And when the guns, once found solely in the hands of soldiers, are aimed at officers on patrol, there’s little authorities can do to escape.
“It’s almost like we have water pistols going up against these high-powered rifles,” said John Rivera, president of the Dade County Police Benevolent Association. “Our weaponry and our bulletproof vests don’t match up to any of those types of weapons.”
Omigawd, our police are being slaughtered by eeeevil assault rifles!!!! Except, of course, that the actual data to underpin the hysteria is errrrr lacking.
Federal officials don’t compile statistics on the number of crimes involving assault weapons like the AK-47, and municipalities’ numbers across the country are patchwork. But in Miami, at least, there are signs it is becoming a major problem.
In 2005, the Miami-Dade Police Department reported two homicides involving an assault rifle; last year there were 10.
But it’s all about feeeelings:
“We’ve noticed an increase in the amount of assault weapons that we’ve seen on the street, and certainly the amount that have been used in murders and other shootings,” said Detective Delrish Moss. “And it seems to be increasing every year.”
Well, duh. That’s because the number of violent crimes committed in Miami-Dade is also increasing. But let’s continue with the opinions:
The rising number of deaths by assault weapons reflects growing availability of the weapons and their elevation to a status symbol among gang members, said Carlos Baixauli, an agent with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. [oh yeah, now there’s an impartial source]
“In the early ‘80s to ‘90s, it was more common to have a handgun in your waistband and the bigger the caliber, the more powerful you were,” Baixauli said. “Now it’s escalated to the assault weapons.”
Numbers, please, Señor Baixauli.
Of course, this wouldn’t be a proper Associated Press report without the standard lie:
Another issue potentially at play is the 2004 expiration of the federal assault weapons ban, 10 years after its passage. The legislation outlawed 19 types of guns, including the semiautomatic AK-47.
Except that it didn’t, but regardless, it’s all the fault of the eeeevil Republicans. And another lie:
The guns are readily available on streets, Baixauli said, or can be ordered by mail for under $200.
...and the lies just keep coming. $200 for an AK? Gimme the source: I want to get me one. And through the mail, delivered right to my door? Errrrr not since 1968, dickheads.
And now it’s the turn of the eeeevil high-powered ammunition:
“These bullets are very powerful: they go through walls, they go through cars, and if you just spray the general vicinity you’re going to get innocent bystanders,” Acosta said. “A shooting that might have been an injury previously is now a death.”
This man has been watching Heat on continuous loop, methinks.
Of course, the cops are woefully outgunned. In addition to the “water pistols” comment above, we have this:
Rivera pleaded for leaders to allow police to carry higher-power weapons - though not necessarily as strong as some already on the street - and provide stronger protective vests.
“Give us a fighting chance,” he said.
...and more SWAT teams, no doubt. Or the National Guard.
Kevin Morison of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund said his organization is considering tracking when assault weapons are involved in police shootings. Officer shootings had been on a downturn until this year.
More U.S. police officers were killed while on duty in the first six months of 2007 - 101 - than during any such period since 1978, according to the organization.
So… is this a statistical aberration, or the beginning of an upward trend? One data point isn’t sufficient—but of course, we are talking about the lives of police officers.
Look, I don’t want to downplay this. There’s no doubt that this year, more cops have been killed in the line of duty than before. But there are two ways to combat this (and banning scawwwwy-looking semi-auto rifles ain’t one of them).
1. Make it a capital offense for an already-convicted criminal to commit a violent felony—robbery, assault, whatever—with a firearm (any firearm). Grant only an abbreviated period for appeals. Give first-timers a mandatory no time-off sentence of 20 years.
2. Stop plea-bargaining down violent crimes, which lets criminals back out onto the streets prematurely. If some SOB sticks up a jewellery store with a Glock, don’t go for the easy conviction of brandishing a firearm (six months suspended) when you have to work a little harder to get an armed robbery one. Padding your record with “easy” convictions may make you look good when it comes time for reelection or a merit bonus, but it does nothng for the community.
Keep the violent criminals off the streets, execute the really bad ones, and all will be okay. That policy worked just fine until 1970, when the liberals and hippies took over. Meet brutality with brutality (which is the only language these feral bastards understand), and let’s see what happens then.
Until then, let’s go easy on the PSH.
Oh, and if the Miami-Dade cops want better firepower (which, by the way, I support wholeheartedly)?
Buy them some of those $200 AK-47s.
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