Workplace Shootings and Victims Virtually Doubled in 2003

[MrBenchley]

"Workplace shootings in America virtually doubled in 2003 from 2002 as did the number of workplace shooting victims according to a new report, "Terror Nine to Five: Guns in the American Workplace, 1994- 2003" released by Handgun-Free America (see www.workplaceshootings.org).
In 2002, there were 25 workplace shooting incidents and 33 victims killed. But in 2003, American workplace shootings rose dramatically to 45 incidents, with 69 victims killed and another 46 wounded. The report highlighted a dangerous five-year trend showing consistent increases in the number of American workplace shootings since 1998 when there were only 9 workplace shootings compared to 45 incidents in 2003. The study documented that over 10 years, from 1994 to 2003, there have been at least 164 workplace shootings in America, that killed a total of 290 people and wounded 161. "

http://www.jointogether.org/gv/news/alerts/reader/0%2C2061%2C570918%2C00.html

[slackmaster]

1. Yeah, the Brady Law and the Assault Weapons Ban are sure working

:eyes:

BTW - Looks like the cheerful http://www.workplaceshootings.org/ site uses the same Web designer as the VPC. What a coincidence!

Oh, and look at http://www.handgunfree.org/HFAMain/newsletter/newsdetail.asp?ref=276 brought to you by the same folks. It says an SKS rifle isn't an assault weapon but it is an assault weapon.

“The SKS, a military-bred assault weapon, was used to kill eight law-enforcement officers between 1998 and 2001 alone,” notes McGrath, citing a study by the Violence Policy Center. “While the SKS is not banned by name under the current assault weapons law, depending upon how the weapon was configured it may be covered under Section (B) of the law, which defines an assault weapon based on whether it has two or more specific design features. Under legislation to improve the assault weapons ban currently pending in Congress, the SKS would be explicitly banned by name.” The bill, the “Assault Weapons Ban and Law Enforcement Protection Act of 2003” is sponsored by Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Representative Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY).

:crazy:

[OpSomBlood]

2. "That's why they must be strengthened."

n/t

[beevul]

3. Thats right...

"We don't need these machineguns flooding our streets again"


"Thats right, we know all we need to know about guns"

[slackmaster]

4. Nobody needs a Barrett M82 for duck hunting

Or a 105 mm howitzer for target shooting.

[OpSomBlood]

5. The bayonet lug makes it lethaler.

It might be the lethalest weapon known to man.

[FeebMaster]

6. Everyone knows that weapons chambered in .223 are the

deadliest weapons of all. Those things go forever.

[JayS]

7. It was a .233 that darn near...

...sunk the Cole.

[OpSomBlood]

8. They are dangerous because when you pull the trigger, they fire.

The Founders had no idea that rifles would one day be able to fire up to 1000 yards.

[slackmaster]

9. No, no, no

With automatic weapons you don't even need to touch the trigger. Semiautos fire a continuous stream of bullets when you pull their triggers.

[OpSomBlood]

10. It's as if they are a hose for bullets.

A "bullet hose," if you will.

[CO Liberal]

11. Sure - Lots of "Law-Abiding Gun Owners" In The Workplace

Right???

[slackmaster]

12. Apparently it's not much of a problem, CO

You're more likely to be killed by lightning than injured or killed in a workplace shooting.

http://www.sma.org/smj2002/novsmj02/pdf/smj_1331.pdf

BTW - The probability of ME getting shot at work is ZERO since I'm working for the government under the Jobless Recovery Program a.k.a. unemployment insurance. Thunderstorms in San Diego are mercifully rare, too. Life is good.

:toast:

[MrBenchley]

13. And lots of states

saddled with laws from the gun lobby letting loonies carry guns in their pockets in public...

[FeebMaster]

14. If you really want to do something about guns

I explained how in this thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=118x57048

[MrBenchley]

16. The second your opinion seems worth paying attention to

I'll tell jackney sneeb, and he can tell you.

[FeebMaster]

17. Hahah. I'll be waiting for an email from Jackney. (nt)

[slackmaster]

15. Non-sequitur

But we already knew that no shall-issue law for concealed weapons permits has ever resulted in an increase in unjustified shootings.

[MrSandman]

18. Not yet, anyway...n/t

[Lamorat]

hmm

The numbers aren't good, but really. 25 incidents in a country of 275 million isn't very high. In fact, that's not even statistical noise.

[Lamorat]

19. hmm

The numbers aren't good, but really. 25 incidents in a country of 275 million isn't very high. In fact, that's not even statistical noise.

[MrBenchley]

20. Utterly gratuitous kick...

Wonder how someone comes up with a handle like lam-o-rat?

Wonder how anybody can casually dismiss workplace shootings on the grounds that there aren't enough of them...

After all, there have been more than 83,000 days in American history...September 11, 2001 and December 7, 1941 aren't even statistical noise.

[natasha1]

21. Easily...

Wonder how anybody can casually dismiss workplace shootings on the grounds that there aren't enough of them...

Any sensless death is a tragedy.

The question continues to be are these few deaths, caused by a few people, cause for infringement of the liberties of the majority of firearms owners?

My opinion continues to be, "no".

Nat

[MrBenchley]

23. Gee, most people don't think

having the office screwloose tote a pistol in his pocket or her purseis much of a "liberty".

"My opinion continues to be, "no"."
Yeah, but you also were of the opinion that someday you hoped to be as effective as the Beltway snipers.

[OpSomBlood]

22. 200 million guns...50 workplace shootings. Not statistically significant.

n/t