by The Last Gun- How Changes in the Gun Industry Are Killing Americans
66. “Gunmaker Is Surviving Fight Against .50-Caliber,” Nashville Tennessean, Jan. 9, 2005.
67. “What Did You Do in the War, Charlie?” Dallas Morning News, June 15, 2003.
68. “Charlie Wilson’s Death Touches Murfreesboro,” Murfreesboro Post, Feb. 14, 2010, www.murfreesboropost.com/charlie-wilson-s-death-touches-murfreesboro-cms-21921.
69. Violence Policy Center, Voting from the Rooftops, 28, fn q.
70. “Church Leader Fans Fires of Fear,” The Oregonian, Dec. 10, 1989.
71. “Arms Seized in Spokane Snare IRA Suspect in Miami,” The Oregonian, Jan. 19, 1990.
72. Violence Policy Center, Voting from the Rooftops, 30.
73. See Violence Policy Center, “Criminal Use of the 50 Caliber Sniper Rifle,” www.vpc.org/snipercrime.htm.
74. Violence Policy Center, Voting from the Rooftops, 34.
75. Violence Policy Center, Clear and Present Danger, 10–11.
76. Office of Special Investigations, U.S. General Accounting Office, “Briefing Paper: Criminal Activity Associated with .50 Caliber Semiautomatic Rifles,” No. GAO/OSI-99–15R, presented to representatives of the U.S. House Committee on Government Reform, July 15, 1999, 3.
77. Copies of the court documents from which this data was extracted are in the files of the Violence Policy Center in Washington, DC.
78. Colby Goodman and Michel Marizco, “U.S. Firearms Trafficking to Mexico: New Data and Insights Illuminate Key Trends and Challenges,” Working Paper Series on U.S.-Mexico Security Cooperation, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars: Mexico Institute and the University of San Diego Trans-Border Institute, Sept. 2010, 171–72.
79. Violence Policy Center, “Vast Majority of Mexican Crime Guns Originate in U.S., New ATF Trace Data Reveals,” news release, Apr. 26, 2012, www.vpc.org/press/1204atf.htm.
80. Goodman and Marizco, “U.S. Firearms Trafficking to Mexico,” 167–68.
81. Ibid., 172–73.
82. For TCO operations in Africa and their use of Africa as a conduit to Europe, see, e.g., “Statement of Michele M. Leonhart, Administrator, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Department of Justice, Before the House Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security, June 20, 2012,” CQ Congressional Testimony, June 20, 2012; Alex Pena, “DEA: Mexican Drug Cartels Reach Further Across Africa,” Voice of America, June 15, 2012, www.voanews.com/content/illegal-drugs-cartels-africa-mexico/1211572.html.
83. National Drug Intelligence Center, National Drug Threat Assessment 2011 (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, 2011), 7.
84. Ibid., 11.
85. National Drug Intelligence Center, The Economic Impact of Illicit Drug Use on American Society (Washington, D.C: U.S. Department of Justice, 2011), xi.
86. National Gang Intelligence Center, 2011 National Gang Threat Assessment: Emerging Trends (Washington, DC: Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2011), 26.
87. Ibid., 43.
88. Ibid., 46.
89. “100 Gang Members ID’d Locally,” Murfreesboro Post, Aug. 19, 2007.
90. “Indictments Show Gangs’ Spread in Middle TN,” Nashville Tennessean, Oct. 28, 2009; “Nine Charged in ’07 Violence,” Murfreesboro Daily News Journal, Oct. 28, 2009.
91. “Police Intensify Crackdown on Gang Activity,” Nashville Tennessean, Jan. 27, 2012.
92. “The Big Gun; Controversy over the .50-Caliber Rifle,” 60 Minutes, CBS News Transcripts, Jan. 9, 2005.
93. Ibid.
94. U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (now U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives), “Firearms and Explosives Application Inspection Summary,” for applicant Ronnie Gene Barrett, Jan. 20, 1984.
95. “Gunmaker Is Surviving Fight Against .50-caliber,” Nashville Tennessean, Jan. 9, 2005.
96. Ibid.
97. Ibid.
98. David Hemenway, Private Guns, Public Health (Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 2006), 1–3.
99. Jonathan Berr, “Gun Sales Go Soft as Economy Improves, Fears Subside,” Daily Finance, Apr. 14, 2010, www.dailyfinance.com/story/company-news/gun-sales-go-soft-as-economy-improves-fearssubside/19437972.
100. Frank Hobbs and Nicole Stoops, Demographic Trends in the 20th Century (Washington, DC: U.S. Census Bureau, 2002), appendix A, table 1, “Total Population for the United States, Regions, and States: 1900 to 2000.”
101. National Shooting Sports Foundation, “Small-Arms Production in the United States,” in Industry Intelligence Reports (Newtown, CT: National Shooting Sports Foundation, 2007), 2, table, “25 Years Small-Arms Production (1980–2005).”
102. “Industry Hanging onto a Single Category,” Shooting Wire, Dec. 17, 2008, www.shootingwire.com/archived/2008-12-17_sw.html.
103. “Man Accidently Shoots Wife,” Murfreesboro Daily News Journal, Mar. 2, 2009.
104. Jeff Woods, “Oops! Handgun Permit Holder Shoots His Wife While Watching Cher on TV,” Nashville Scene, www.nashvillescene.com/pitw/archives/2009/03/04/oops-handgun-permit-holder-shoots-his-wife-while-watching-cher-on-tv.
5. The Third Wave: Beyond the Gunshine State
1. For a summary of Florida’s national influence toward relaxation of gun laws, see “Florida: Fertile Ground for Pro-Gun Laws,” Miami Herald, Mar. 27, 2012.
2. “‘Gunshine State’: How NRA Attained Dominance in Florida,” Palm Beach Post, Apr. 7, 2012 (Florida’s “reputation as the ‘Gunshine State’ is rooted in politics, culture and the seemingly irresistible force of Marion Hammer”); Daniel Ruth, “More Madness in Gun-Happy Florida,” St. Petersburg Times, op-ed, Jan. 21, 2011 (“But this is Florida, the Gunshine State, where barely conscious yahoos can arm themselves right up to the drool”); “Firearms Issue: Concealed Weapons Law Is Riddled with Flaws—Some Potentially Fatal,” South Florida Sun-Sentinel, editorial, Feb. 1, 2007 (“Such is life in the ‘Gun shine State’ ”).
3. “How Did Florida Get Its Nickname, the Sunshine State?” MyFlorida.com, Aug. 7, 2002, http://myflorida.custhelp.eom/app/answers/detail/a_id/695/~/how-did-florida-get-its-nickname,-the-sunshine-state%3F.
4. “About NRA-ILA,” NRA Institute for Legislative Action, www.nraila.org/about-nra-ila.aspx.
5. Hammer won the “Roy Rogers Man of the Year” Award in 1985. “Marion P. Hammer,” Winning Team, http://nrawinningteam.com/hammer.html.
6. “Pistol-Packin’ Populace: Florida Up in Arms; Gun Sales Soar Under the State’s New Liberalized Law,” Washington Post, Oct. 22, 1987.
7. “Marion P. Hammer.”
8. Text accompanying “Unified Sportsmen of Florida Membership Application,” downloaded from www.scgaa.org/usf.pdf. According to the National Rifle Association, “Ms. Marion Hammer, Executive Director of Unified Sportsmen of Florida, did business with the NRA in the amount of $122,000 for 2011.” National Rifle Association of America, “Report of the Secretary to the Annual Meeting of Members,” Apr. 14, 2012 (in the files of the Violence Policy Center).
9. See, e.g., “Marion Hammer,” St. Petersburg Times, Aug. 11, 1996 (“The new president of the National Rifle Association glances up at several aides holding two-way radios, and growls, ‘If one of those things squawks during my best sound bite, I’ll kill you’ ”); and “Leader as Hard as Nails Is Taking Reins at N.R.A.,” New York Times, Apr. 14, 1996 (“Instead of getting rid of all firearms to end the seething national debate over gun control, she wonders out loud, why not just ‘get rid of all liberals?’ ”).
10. “Pistol-Packin’ Populace.”
11. One gun control activist in Florida, Joe Shutt, concluded exactly that in 1987. “The citizens of Florida got exactly what they deserved,” he said. “Outgunned,” Miami Herald, Sept. 27, 1987.
12. For an editorial summary of ALEC’s role in state gun legislation, see Paul Krugman, “Lobbyists, Guns and Money,” New York Times, Mar. 26, 2012.
13. See “National FOP President: Reject SB 1!!!” Fraternal Order of Police, Grand Lodge, www.fop.net/servlet/display/news_article?
id=4515&XSL=xsl_pages/public_news_individual.xsl&nocache=8133486.
14. “Insanity Defense,” 2011 Florida Statutes, sec. 775.027.
15. “Cop Killer Gets Death,” Tampa Bay Times, Feb. 11, 2012.
16. “Man Held in Shooting Was Officer,” Tampa Tribune, Aug. 21, 2009.
17. “Records Detail Slaying of Tampa Officer,” Tampa Tribune, Dec. 9, 2009.
18. “Family Describes Delgado’s Delusions,” St. Petersburg Times, Nov. 10, 2011; “Fear Gripped Murder Suspect,” St. Petersburg Times, Oct. 25, 2011.
19. “Family Describes Delgado’s Delusions.”
20. “Records Detail Slaying of Tampa Officer.”
21. “Man Held in Shooting Was Officer.”
22. “Doctor: Fears Drove Delgado,” St. Petersburg Times, Nov. 11, 2011; “Records Detail Slaying of Tampa Officer.”
23. “Accused Cop Killer’s Life Revealed,” 10connects.com, Dec. 8, 2009.
24. “Accused Police Killer: Who Is He?” 10connects.com, Aug. 21, 2009.
25. “Officer Was on His Back When Shot,” St. Petersburg Times, Sept. 1, 2009; “Affidavit for Search Warrant,” Sixth Judicial Circuit, Pinellas County, FL, filed Aug. 20, 2009, by Detective Salvatore J. Augeri, Tampa Police Department, and Detective Keith Johnson, Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.
26. “Guns Plus, Spring Lake, NC,” NC Gun Owners forum, www.ncgunowners.com/forum/showfhread.php?tid=477.
27. “Outfitting the Modern Sporting Rifle,” Shooting Industry, Mar. 1, 2012.
28. “Officer Was on His Back When Shot”; “Police: Tampa Cop-Killing Suspect Is Ex-Officer,” Associated Press State & Local Wire, Aug. 20, 2009.
29. See, e.g., “Officer Was on His Back When Shot.”
30. See B. Gil Horman, “Kel-Tec PLR-16 5.56/.223 Semi-Automatic Pistol,” American Rifleman, Mar. 1, 2012, www.americanrifleman.org/articles/kel-tec-plr-16-review.
31. “Family Describes Delgado’s Delusions.”
32. “Accused Cop Killer’s Life Revealed.”
33. “Fear Gripped Murder Suspect.”
34. “Trial Begun in Officer’s Killing,” St. Petersburg Times, Nov. 5, 2011; “Dead Officer, Ranting Suspect,” St. Petersburg Times, Dec. 9, 2009.
35. “Dead Officer, Ranting Suspect”; “Records Detail Slaying of Tampa Officer.”
36. “Records Detail Slaying of Tampa Officer.”
37. “Trial Begun in Officer’s Killing”; “Records Detail Slaying of Tampa Officer”; “Officer Was on His Back When Shot.”
38. “Records Detail Slaying of Tampa Officer.”
39. “Officer Was on His Back When Shot.”
40. “Prosecutor, Defender Lay Out Cases in Delgado Murder Trial,” Tampa Bay Times, Nov. 5, 2011.
41. “Doctor: Fears Drove Delgado.”
42. For a more detailed discussion, see Violence Policy Center, Concealed Carry: The Criminal’s Companion (Washington, DC: Violence Policy Center, 1995).
43. “Outgunned.”
44. Ibid.
45. Ibid.
46. Ibid.
47. Ibid.
48. “Counties, Cities Remove Their Gun Laws: Change in State Law,” South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Aug. 7, 2011; “Update: Three Gun Bills Pass Senate,” Tallahassee Democrat, Apr. 28, 2011.
49. “Counties, Cities Remove Their Gun Laws.”
50. The new law decreed in relevant part, “Except as expressly provided by the State Constitution or general law, the Legislature hereby declares that it is occupying the whole field of regulation of firearms and ammunition, including the purchase, sale, transfer, taxation, manufacture, ownership, possession, storage, and transportation thereof, to the exclusion of all existing and future county, city, town, or municipal ordinances or any administrative regulations or rules adopted by local or state government relating thereto. Any such existing ordinances, rules, or regulations are hereby declared null and void.” 2011 Florida Statutes, sec. 790.33, “Field of regulation of firearms and ammunition preempted.”
51. “Counties, Cities Remove Their Gun Laws.”
52. “Update: Three Gun Bills Pass Senate.”
53. 2011 Florida Statutes, sec. 790.06, “License to carry concealed weapon or firearm.”
54. “Pistol-Packin’ Populace.”
55. Ibid.
56. See “Executive Summary,” in Violence Policy Center, Concealed Carry.
57. Violence Policy Center, “Concealed Carry Killers,” Mar. 22, 2012, www.vpc.org/ccwkillers.htm.
58. These figures are regularly updated by the Violence Policy Center’s Concealed Carry Killers project. The latest totals can be found at www.vpc.org/ccwkillers.htm.
59. See, e.g., “A Night Inside South Florida’s Gang Wars,” CBS Miami, May 7, 2012, http://miami.cbslocal.com/2012/05/07/a-night-inside-south-floridas-gang-wars.
60. “Pistol-Packin’ Populace.”
61. “Tinier, Deadlier Pocket Pistols Are in Vogue,” Wall Street Journal, Sept. 12, 1996. For a recent assessment of this market, see Violence Policy Center, “Never Walk Alone”—How Concealed Carry Laws Boost Gun Industry Sales (Washington, DC: Violence Policy Center, 2012), www.vpc.org/studies/ccwnra.pdf.
62. “Industry Suffers Sales Slump, Manufacturer Sued, Hearings Support Gun Rights,” Shooting Industry, May 1, 1995.
63. “The Defensive Handguns Your Customers Will Be Looking for in 1996,” Shooting Industry, Mar. 1, 1996.
64. “Hot-Selling Handguns: Customers Are Still Buying! From Palm-Size Self-Defense Pistols, to Massive Hunting Revolvers, Dealers Are Making Sales!” Shooting Industry, Sept. 1, 2002.
65. “Self-Defense Profits! Increase Your Sales with a Product Checklist and a Solid Game Plan!” Shooting Industry, May 1, 2004.
66. “The Defensive Handguns Your Customers Will Be Looking for in 1996.”
67. “Where’s the Money? Handgun Accessories: Accessories Are Important to a Gun Dealer’s Overall Profit!” Shooting Industry, Feb. 1, 2003.
68. “A Handful of Extras to Boost Your Handgun Sales,” Shooting Industry, Feb. 1, 1994.
69. “Tactical Gear and Gun Clothing,” Shooting Industry, Aug. 1, 2003.
70. “Preparing for Your Winter Gun Sales,” Shooting Industry, July 1, 2006.
71. “Spring Handgun Marketing,” Shooting Industry, June 1, 1996.
72. “Self-Defense Is Big Business,” Shooting Industry, May 1, 2000.
73. “Pistol-Packin’ Populace.”
74. Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Licensing, “Number of Licensees by Type as of: 08/31/2012,” Statistical Reports, Total Active Licensees Reports, available from http://licgweb.doacs.state.fl.us/news/reports.html.
75. “Taurus Today: The Bull Is Loose!: With a Whole New Center of Semiautomatics, the ‘Revolver Company’ from Brazil Has Quietly Reinvented Itself with a New Focus on Self-Defense Pistols Loaded with Features and Quality,” American Handgunner, May 1, 2002.
76. Ibid.
77. “Taurus Edges Smith & Wesson for Manufacturer of the Year Award,” PR Newswire, May 25, 2000.
78. “Taurus Today: The Bull Is Loose!”
79. “At Every Traffic Stop, Police Face the Prospect of Death,” Washington Post, Nov. 22, 2010.
80. Steven Jansen and M. Elaine Nugent-Borakove, Expansions to the Castle Doctrine: Implications for Policy and Practice, National District Attorneys Association, undated report of a March 2007 symposium convened by the American Prosecutors Research Institute, 3.
81. Ibid., 5.
82. “Benjamin N. Cardozo,” Historical Society of the Courts of the State of New York, www.courts.state.ny.us/history/cardozo.htm.
83. People v. Tornimi, 213 N.Y. 240 (1914), 243.
84. “Whaddayaknow,” Chicago Tribune, Sept. 14, 1997.
85. People v. Tomlins, 213 N.Y. 240 (1914), 245.
86. “What Are My Legal Rights to Use Force If Attacked?” Miami Herald, Sept. 20, 2004.
87. “A Note from the Commissioner,” Florida Department of Agricu
lture and Consumer Services, Division of Licensing, http://licgweb.doacs.state.fl.us/weapons/about.html.
88. “Gun Bill Could Mean: Shoot First, Ask Later,” Palm Beach Post, Mar. 23, 2005.
89. See, e.g., “Deadly Force Bill Passes House: Next Stop for Measure Is Governor’s Office,” Tallahassee Democrat, Apr. 1, 2005 (“Rep. Dennis Baxley, the Ocala Republican sponsoring the bill. . . could not point to a case where a lawful gun owner shot someone in self-defense and was incarcerated”).
90. Jansen and Nugent-Borakove, Expansions to the Castle Doctrine, 5–6.
91. “Gun Bill Could Mean: Shoot First, Ask Later.”
92. “Self-Defense Bill Gets Early Senate OK; Legislative Session 2005,” Lakeland Ledger, Mar. 23, 2005.
93. “Gun Bill Could Mean: Shoot First, Ask Later.”
94. “15 States Expand Right to Shoot in Self-Defense,” New York Times, Aug. 7, 2006.
95. “Gun Bill Could Mean: Shoot First, Ask Later.”
96. “Florida Democrats Support Pro-Gun Law,” Cox News Service, Apr. 5, 2005.
97. “Deadly Force Bill Moving on a Fast Track,” Palm Beach Post, Mar. 24, 2005.
98. “Wild West Redux: ‘Castle Doctrine’ Law Opens Way to Shootouts,” Bradenton Herald, Apr. 21, 2005.
99. “GOP State Representatives Stand Firm on Deadly-Force Bill,” Palm Beach Post, Apr. 1, 2005.
100. “Self Defense Sells! Outfit Your Customers for Personal Protection!” Shooting Industry, June 1, 2005.
101. “Fla. Gun Law to Expand Leeway for Self-Defense; NRA to Promote Idea in Other States,” Washington Post, Apr. 26, 2005.
102. “Florida Expands Right to Use Deadly Force in Self-Defense,” New York Times, Apr. 27, 2005.
103. “Group: Think Tank Holds Legislative Sway,” Daily Press (Newport News, VA) Daily Press, Mar. 18, 2012.
104. “Justifiable Killings Up as Self-Defense Is Redefined,” Washington Post, Apr. 8, 2012; Center for Media and Democracy and Common Cause, “Connecting the Dots Between ALEC, Wal-Mart, the NRA, and the Florida Law Cited by Some to Immunize Trayvon Martin’s Killer,” Mar. 23, 2012.
