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John Lott on mass shootings
A short piece here.
"For years I would tell news people about the fact that every single multiple victim public shooting in the US involving more than three people killed took place in one of these gun-free zones. The response was they might include this information as part of the story if I could get it to them fast enough so that it could be included as part of the news story. But when I started to do that I was told that it would be editorializing to include that information. My response has been that if news stories can contain long (often inaccurate) discussions of the type of gun used in the crime, why isn’t it also newsworthy to note one common characteristic that occurs in attack after attack?"
Haven't been able to confirm that the Binghamton site was in a gun free zone. If anyone has info, it would be appreciated.
Ht to reader David McCleary...
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Believe it or not, upstate NY is actually a lot more pro-gun than most people expect. They do indeed have CCW permits, on the "may issue" side of things, similar to CA & others, which is more pro-gun than WI (I think) and IL, which have zero CCW.
It was in a federal facility ... gun free by definition.
The perp was there in retaliation for having his H1b visa canceled after he was fired.
It is a may issue state, but the may is generally interpreted as may not. Very tough to get a permit to carry, even in the rather pro-gun southern tier.
Did Lott post that as himself or Mary Rosch?
I'd rather hear what John Ross has to say about it. But that's just me....
I moved to in Madison County, had to have 1 year occupancy and $10 just to get the application form to move my handguns into state from Penna. The total cost would have been about $250 and at least 6 months.
A cop would have visited my house to interview my wife and me, and 3 references in the county whom I had known for 5 years. I didn't know anyone in Madison County for 5 years; the Judge who would handle the permit app would allow references from neighboring Onondaga County. Nowhere else.
I was laid off about a week later and abandoned the process. About the same time Charles Schumer moved from the House to the Senate.
This permit would be limited to moving my handguns into my home with me, not for concealed carry of any kind. And they would still be passed from an FFL in Penna through the Madison County Sheriff's Office before coming into my lawful possession in NY.
The permit system in NY is built to discourage all but the most dedicated applicants. In some counties, perhaps it is more enlightened, but they are the exception.
Is it possible that the NY permit system would be challenged with respect to Heller after incorporation on the basis of "capricious and arbitrary" application? Any idea on the chances of success?
Every single shooting has occurred in a gun-free zone? While I agree there is a STRONG pattern, I am not so sure Lott is factually correct.
Off the top of my head, that mid-march shooting in rural Alabama ... by that 28-year-old ... did those shootings happen in "gun free zones?"
LeftCoast: "Any idea on the chances of success?"
I'd wager the New Yorkers who already had their permits would work against such challenges because it would diminish their privileges.
With the exception of a few downstate counties, NY permits are "lifetime" and don't need to be renewed.
"Off the top of my head, that mid-march shooting in rural Alabama ... by that 28-year-old ... did those shootings happen in "gun free zones?""
Technically he was responsible for a shooting spree not a mass shooting... his victims stretched across multiple cities as he moved from location to location... a mass shooting would typically reference an incident where the victims were all in the same geographic location...
additionally, as far as i know, this is the first incident of its kind save for gang violence... the DC "sniper" shootings were similar but would be more of a serial killing because of their repeating pattern over a lengthy time frame.
Isn't New York, as a whole, a gun free zone. Can you even obtain a CPL there??