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Badger Guns: A great example of how liberals deal with problems.
Badger Guns store has been in the news for the past few days. It's claim to fame right now is that Badger has been found to be the store that sold guns to so-called "straw buyers," - that is, people who are able to buy guns legally. These "straw buyers" then turned the weapons over to felons, who are not supposed to have guns. During the past two years, Badger Guns has sold the weapons used to injure six Milwaukee police officers.
Well, looks like Milwaukee leaders are demanding something be done! No, not about the felons who use guns to commit crimes, but the gun shop that sells the guns - legally. And this is the point of my blog. This is a classic example of how liberals deal with issues. NEVER is the actual perpetrator(s) of a crime held responsible for their misdeeds. Our own Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel has written several stories on the evils of Badger Guns in the past few days, yet little mention is made of the criminals who used the guns to commit crimes. Shouldn't the criminals themselves be the focal point of why Milwaukee policemen were hurt? After all, a gun doesn't get up and go and shoot all on it's own. A person has to load the gun and pull the trigger. But in the world of liberals, no one is to blame for their own actions. There are always some extenuating circumstances to blame - a bad upbringing - drug abuse - poverty - etc. The person who commits the crime is never at fault!
Several examples easily come to mind. Remember the recent rash of babies being killed while "co-sleeping" with adults? Co-sleeping can be defined as an adult sleeping with an infant - usually on a couch or in a bed. Many, if not all, "co-sleeping" deaths occurred in Milwaukee, and most of the adults found "co-sleeping" with the infants who died were intoxicated. Hmmmm. Now, whose fault is it that these babies died? Not the adults that were drunk! No - we are told that "co-sleeping" is a cultural thing. We are informed that some people don't want to use cribs. However, it is obvious that many people don't understand the dangers of co-sleeping. So instead of prosecuting such adults for their irresponsible, drunken behavior, leaders in the Milwaukee community decided that society must be educated on the proper ways to co-sleep! This "solution" would be laughable if it wasn't true.
Another example involves drunken driving. Wisconsin allows drunk drivers many chances to get stopped by police before they face any real consequences. We've all read or heard stories about the repeat offenders - those drunk drivers on their seventh or eighth arrest before they finally see some jail or prison time. Yet, what group has been targeted for prosecution relating to drunken driving? Bartenders and establishments that serve alcohol. Yes, bartenders are supposed to judge whether or not they should serve someone a drink. They have to ask themselves, is this person drunk? are they OK? are they over the limit? will I get in trouble if they kill someone? So instead of targeting the real problem - the person who drinks and drives drunk over and over - we go after bartenders. Or others who serve the drunks the liquor. Or the establishments where they were drinking. We overlook the real person who is to blame - the person who drinks and drives. (Following this same thought process, why not go after the automobile dealers that sold the drunk drivers their cars, too?)
My last example focuses on the rash of recent deaths of children in Milwaukee. Children who died at the hands of their parent, parents, foster parents, or other caregivers. The Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare has the tough job of policing homes where children may be in danger. They are in charge of monitoring the safety and well-being of such children. It is a huge task. Many children are "in the system" and the scope of cases is huge. Obviously, the work is daunting. And in some cases, dangerous situations are not always obvious to spot when Child Welfare Workers visit a home. Yet, when a child is found dead, malnourished, unkempt, or abused - who do the city leaders, newspapers, and other politicians blame? The Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare. Did the Bureau kill or abuse these poor children? No. The parent, parents, foster parent, or care-givers did! The headline on the front page of the Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel (10/3/09) read: "DEADLY MISTAKES DOOM CHILDREN - Social service agency fails to heed warning signs as nearly 2 dozen die over 4 years in Milwaukee County." Shouldn't that headline have read: "PARENTS/CAREGIVERS KILL OR ABUSE OWN CHILDREN?" The follow-up story could state that Child Welfare Workers worried about the lack of responsible adults and the safety of children in certain homes, but they could only do so much due to government bureaucracy and inefficiency. What should be addressed - the positive aspects of a nuclear family, responsible parenting, birth control, education, and morals, are never mentioned. It wouldn't be politically correct to say such things! How dare anyone be judgmental - even though in doing so, some lives may be saved in the long run...
We all know that society has it's issues. Many serious problems exist - poverty, teen pregnancy, drugs, crime, lack of education, etc. And it is my belief that none of these problems will ever stand a chance of being solved until we put the blame where it is deserved - with the people who actually commit the crimes or cannot behave in an appropriate, respectable, or responsible manner. The fuzzy world of liberalism refuses to accept the fact that some people are just plain evil and/or are not willing to follow the rules of society. Just look at how liberals address terrorists and terrorism. Liberals continue to bend over backwards to make every concession to the enemy. Liberals demand trials for terrorists, our soldiers have to read them their Miranda rights on the battlefield, they allow for all the comforts of home for terrorists in Club Gitmo, and we have liberal outrage over "waterboarding." And these are the same people who are currently going after our own CIA - the people who have put their lives on the line to keep us safe from those who want to kill us - to punish them for doing their jobs. Liberals will make every excuse in the book for terrorists - (who can forget Micheal Moore and Rev. Jeremiah Wright, among others, stating that the United States deserved to be attacked on 9/11!), and they will turn around and trash the very people who are defending our freedoms (like President Bush.) Using liberal logic, if such a thing exists, we'd have to conclude that terrorists are really not bad people, they just need understanding!
Until we can all unite and agree that yes, there are bad and evil people - and society must defend itself from such - we will get no further in fighting crime and making our world a better,safer place.
In conclusion, Badger Guns is a perfect example of misdirected contempt and blame. Badger Guns did not shoot any policemen. Badger Guns sells guns legally. It is a business. It is difficult to know if a person is "straw buying" for a felon. (Just as it appears to be difficult to know whether or not a hundred-plus felons are voting illegally in a presidential election....) Sure, steps can be taken in the future to make such purchases more difficult - and Badger has indicated they will be doing so. But, shouldn't the real focus and blame be on the felons who are using the guns to commit the crimes?
Like a talk radio host said the other day - "everyone knows the name of the gun store where felons are getting their guns - but no one can name any one of the felons who used the guns to commit crimes." Excellent point.
You can name liberals as culprits of trying to solve the problem......but no one can name any one of the idiots who are quick to judge a process in solving problem. Can ensuring that Badger is collaborating to be ONE of the steps in correcting the problem? Does it always have to be about liberals/conservatives? This is the same thinking that has politics stagnated on the most simplest decisions that would make the world a better place.
Badger Guns is Complying with the law and doing everything it is supposed to do, otherwise they would have shut them down. The argument from liberals in general (no not all of them) is that we then need to change the law. How about convicting the people that use the guns in crime, not making it harder for law abiding citizens to get them and use them for sport and fun.
If you closed badger guns do you think the problem would go away and the criminals would just give up "Well no badger guns I guess we can't have any more guns I guess we better go get a pipe until the close home depot down." No of course not they will just go to the next closest shop and buy it there illegally.
Look at the idiot Plaxico Burress in New York (not that I want to be like new york) but he shot him self in a night club while carrying a concealed weapon and got 2 years in jail just because it was a gun crime (simply carrying a concealed firearm). In New York there is a minimum sentence for any crime involving a gun. What is the average sentence in Wisconsin for someone involved any kind of gun crime 6 months maybe while likely being released early for good behavior? There is the problem, it is the touchy feely lets feel bad for the criminal BS that makes the problems worse. It's not the gun and not one particular gun shop.
What would change if there is a law that would prohibit the resell of guns?
Answer: There would be less guns on the street owned by felons who shouldnt have them in the first place.
Take a deep breath.
You blame liberals who are soft on gun dangers for the problems with shootings. However, Badger accounts for all guns associated with shooting Police in the past couple years. Their sales also account for 30% of the traceable gun crimes and 21 of 27 straw sales. A similar shop 3 miles away did not have a similar record of violations.
The Milwaukee Police Department, which works for Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, who I'm sure you would label as a liberal, staked out Badger and were vilified for their actions despite the fact they arrested several people for illegally buying guns.
Plaxico Burress, was not only carrying a gun, but discharged it in public when he shot himself. While it's unfortunate that he shot himself, it could have been worse had he shot someone else.
Doesn't it seem logical to go after both the perpetrators and the enablers?
FezzyCat: The Shooter Shop is 3 miles away in West Allis. Badger Guns is closer to Milwaukee, hence more traffic from that area.
And yes, I do blame liberals who are soft on crime and instead target and blame honest, hard-working businesses like Badger, or in the case of drunk drivers - bars and/or bartenders that serve drunks. Liberals fail to target the real culprits - it seems to be a trait. Blame everything BUT the real cause. Just as poverty is blamed on those who are rich - you know, the Obama line on class warfare. Poverty in liberal land is never blamed on bad choices that many people who find themselves poor make themselves. Such as - getting pregnant at a young age, not being married, not finishing high school, doing drugs, drinking, committing crimes, etc. Many of the root causes of poverty lie in the fact that many people make bad choices in their lives. Anyone can better their own situation if they are willing to work hard. After all, isn't this the land of opportunity - of "hope" and "change?" Poverty is NOT caused by people who have more than others, like Barry & Co. would like Americans to believe.
Yeah, this is the same classy Badger Guns that put up a sign in front of their store stating:
"Racist Milwaukee Police Department is Pulling Over African Americans Leaving This Store, Sorry For The Inconvenience."
Officials said the operation seized 12 guns from felons and others leaving the store and 11 people were referred for charges.
http://www.wisn.com/news/21154647/detail.html - LEAVING THE STORE! Badger Guns is not innocent here. They are complicit in the actions of those they sell to.
And Amy, can you please provide a source for this statement: "This is a classic example of how liberals deal with issues. NEVER is the actual perpetrator(s) of a crime held responsible for their misdeeds". Please show how you came to this conclusion and where Chief Flynn or Mayor Barrett stated that none of the felons would be held accountable.
AMY: "honest, hard-working businesses like Badger"
Come on. Really? Do you honestly believe the owner had no idea who he was selling guns to? All 1,880 times?! Did you even do any research on this "honest" business before you jumped on their bandwagon and blamed everything on liberals again? This business is among the TOP SELLER OF ILLEGAL GUNS in the NATION. The owners should be held accountable for breaking the law - just as the felons who used the guns should be. And the buyers right along with them...
http://thecrimereport.org/2009/09/27/milwaukee-police-investigate-seller-of-crime-guns/
And I just don't get the whole liberal/conservative reference here....it is not always about politics. Sometimes it is just plain ole common sense.
Hmmm, not being married is a bad choice?? And a reason for being poor?
So everything that is wrong with the world is a liberals fault.
It is just amazing how you so easily classify everything.
Onlyoneme: Not being married and having child after child is a bad choice. And yes, it can contribute to being poor - a single mom all on her own with a child or children to raise is not the ideal situation for most women. Throw in a lack of education or work skills and you have a recipe for poverty.
Finally you are starting to see the light!: "Everything that is wrong with the world is a liberals fault." Well, maybe not everything, but the majority of our current social ills can be directly attributed to liberalism and liberal attitudes of the past few decades.
You really do have a very distorted view of the world.
Amy, your narrow-mindedness and arrogance is astounding. I am a single mother that has never been married. And never once did I consider that a "bad choice". You sure do like to sit on top of that soapbox and look down on everyone, don't you?
Amy: Back many years ago in my younger days, the state of WI had an 18 year old drinking age for beer. In every county there was at least one or two bars that had the reputation of not checking for IDs all the time. So that is where all the underage drinkers went to get a beer. It appears the same thought process holds true if you are illegally looking for a firearm. You go to where they don't do a great deal of checking. I counted over thirty gun shops advertising in the Yellow pages, but the problems all seem to be occurring at just one shop. It's location may have a part to play, but I think it has more to do with their lack of acceptance of responsibility for following the rules.
You place great emphasis on the failure of people to accept personal responsibility as a root cause of the problems in society today. Whatever happened to the philosophy of "am I my brothers keeper"? Yes, it is important that individuals accept responsibility, but we also have a responsibility as a society to step in when they fail to do so.
Wow! Let's hope nothing unfortunate happens to you or your family. You are one uncaring professed Christian.
Oh, "and getting pregnant at a young age & not married" isn't this what happened in the Palin family!
@CD: In Amy's world you don't stand a chance. A single mom, choosing to raise the precious gift from God of a child, you obviously made a bad choice. Getting pregnant without the benefit of having a husband is just not right. Never mind that the sperm donor may have been an abusive, female denigrating male, that probably would have ended up physically hurting both you and the child, women are supposed to be subservient to men. That's the way conservatives view the world. However, if you had chosen to have an abortion, which is your right, you would have been branded a baby killer. You can't win. The conservatives will vilify you no matter what you do. They don't offer solutions. They don't provide ideas. They just criticize. They just say no, actually they just say hell no!
First let me ask this...If guns people do pencils mispell words?...BUT going by the evidence here...."everyone knows the name of the gun store where felons are getting their guns -....Officials said the operation seized 12 guns from felons and others leaving the store ... the gun shop that sells the guns legally?.... This business hardly seems innocent to me and deserves investigation.
If a gun law is needed here it should be that "straw buyers" and shops that sell to them face stiffer penalties. And of course stricter enforcement of laws dealing with felons who posses guns goes without saying.
This is the most narrow minded approach to the overall objective of the justice system that I have ever heard. Why go after the source of the problem when you can waste time and money going after the little fish. Sorry, your argument just pisses me off.
referee33: Yes, getting pregnant and not being married does indeed set the stage for a hard life later on - especially if person who is pregnant is very young. And your example screams of "bad choices." You state: "Never mind that the sperm donor may have been an abusive, female denigrating male, that probably would have ended up physically hurting both you and the child" - bad choice? Duh. I rest my case.
And I am not saying that in all cases having a baby and being single ensures that one will be impoverished. I am stating that the chances increase greatly when such a situation exists.
Lakeside libertarian: I agree with your belief that "straw buyers" should face stiffer penalties for purchasing guns for felons.
flanker06: I have no clue what you are trying to say.
Amy, could you please address the questions I posted. I realize you are ignoring me, but I do think I asked valid questions regarding your topic.
Amy, please provide a source for this statement: "This is a classic example of how liberals deal with issues. NEVER is the actual perpetrator(s) of a crime held responsible for their misdeeds". Please show how you came to this conclusion and where Chief Flynn or Mayor Barrett stated that none of the felons would be held accountable.
Also : How do you defend Badger Guns with all the statistics showing that they consistently sell guns to straw buyers, which in turn are used to commit crimes? ( I provided a link above with these stats)
So you defend the shop owners "right" to sell guns to felons?
Seems to me this how conservatives face a problem ..find a scapegoat and place all blame there and not make everyone involved face up to their responsibilities. So are the "good" capitolists at Badger guns victims in your mind?
ahemmer: Sorry. What I'm trying to get across is that Amy wants more of the focus to go after individuals who commit the crimes as opposed to going after the individuals (Badger Guns) who enable the crimes. You take out Badger Guns and you might have several cops who may have never been shot.
flanker06: Oh, but I completely disagree. Criminals will always find a way to get guns. Yet, many in our society try time and time again to prevent honest, law-abiding citizens the right to bear arms. Look at our own state. Wisconsin is one of only two states that doens't allow for concealed carry. And just how does that help law-abiding citizens? It doens't. Yet, concealed carry laws sure don't affect the criminals who sure seem to get weapons with ease.
I sincerely doubt that if some of the felons who shot policemen weren't able to get their guns from straw buyers at Badger, they would have found other venues to get them. It's a given.
Badger Guns "enables" the the criminals to get a gun about as much as a bartender "enables" a drunk to drink more and drive. I fail to see what is wrong with focusing on the person or people who actually commit the crimes? Isn't that just plain common sense?
flanker06:
My earlier comment has a sentence that should have read:
"I sincerely doubt that if some of the felons who shot policemen weren't able to get their guns from straw buyers at Bader, that they wouldn't have found other venues to get them."
Christian Democrat: You comment: "Amy, please provide a source for this statement: "This is a classic example of how liberals deal with issues. NEVER is the actual perpetrator(s) of a crime held responsible for their misdeeds". "
I am the source for that statement. Does that clear things up?
And of course Flynn and Tom Barrett didn't say that the felons wouldn't be held accountable. In the long run, if they are caught and sentenced to jail/prison, great. But that wasn't the point. Both Flynn AND Barrett, as well as the good ole Milwaukee Journal/Sentinal, are shifting the focus away from the criminals who commit the crimes to a gun store that happens to be located close to the city of Milwaukee, and sells guns legally, but has a problem with "straw buyers."
Too bad we don't have as much outrage at the criminals who commit crimes than a gun store that sells guns - legally.
Our hearts goes out to those families of the murdered Policemen. I believe a big part of the problem is the "acceptance" of crime. The promotion of violence and crime in our society in movies, TV and video games certainly don't help matters. We need to demand change to the "culture" of our society to help reduce the crime before we let these criminals destroy what's left of this country.
The United States has less than 5% of the world's population. But it has almost 25% of the world's prisoners. We have 751 people incarcerated for every 100,000 people in this country (1% of American adults).
Badger Guns "enables" the the criminals to get a gun about as much as a bartender "enables" a drunk to drink more and drive. (I do love what ifs) What if the bartender knows the drunk has several OWIs and no license and has his car parked out front? To me this scenario compares better to what Badger guns is doing.
Or to a conservative is making the sale all that matters?
Amy, do you think that if perhaps Badger Guns would be cooperating with the Police in trying to stop these straw sales, that Flynn and Barrett would not be shedding light on their actions, as well as the felons that shot the Officers? Maybe if they would stop with the disgusting signs and trying to hide their mistakes, and do something to stop this from happening again, no one would be pointing the finger at them.
They have a responsibility that comes along with having a business. As soon as they acknowledge they have a problem at that store, the better off everyone in the city will be.
Of course they would find another source for guns...so your philosophy must be why make it tough for them to find them.
"Badger Guns "enables" the the criminals to get a gun about as much as a bartender "enables" a drunk to drink more and drive."
Unfortunately, the legal comparison between these two examples don't compare. Felons aren't able to legally buy firearms. If being a felon also meant you were no longer able to drink or purchase alcohol I'm sure bartenders and liquor store owners would crackdown on who they serve just as hard as reputable gun store owners. However this is a very unlikely scenario.
"I sincerely doubt that if some of the felons who shot policemen weren't able to get their guns from straw buyers at Badger, they would have found other venues to get them."
This may be, but the statistics don't show that. Straw buyers go to Badger Guns instead of other stores such as near by Shooters Shop because they know they won't get away with buying a gun at Shooters Shop. Lakeside Liberterian summed it up perfectly, "why not make it tough for them to find"
Amy...just in from Gallup:
Gallup finds 44% of Americans in favor of stricter laws on the sale of firearms, the lowest percentage measured since the question was first asked in 1990. At the same time, 28% favor a ban on the possession of handguns, also a new low for a question dating back to 1959.
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