Gun Ban Rebuttal

I think my colleague has taken one instance in which a gun was used in a harmful way to support their position on the Gun Ban without looking at more statistics other than what certain news agencies report.

The process of finding raw data without interpretation is a little difficult but I was able to find some.  For example in countries with the highest gun ownership per 100 people, here in lays this ranking: 
1. United States
2. Yemen
3. Switzerland
4. Cyprus
5. Saudi Arabia
6. Iraq
7. Finland
8. Uruguay
9. Sweden 
10. Norway

Of these countries, the only one which was on the top 20list for murder rate with firearms was the United States.

On another statistic taken, we see data which shows a declining crime rate as gun ownership increases, with a handful of outliers such as Maine, and Vermont which can be due to other factors, but the raw data follows a linear trend none-the-less. 

Another advantage in gun ownership is the ability to give an elderly woman a fighting chance against a doped-up young man who is either trying to assault her or play, “knock-out-Jew.”

If we did not have guns available for use, man would invent another tool to neutralize his fellow man.  For example, the 3D printable gun, which requires only a 3D printer, can be used lethally. 

I am a current CHL holder who owns several guns and always has my concealed weapon equipped.  I have been in various altercations with the public, and never once used it in a threatening purpose, or to end an argument.

I am on board for measures in which we can restrict guns to a certain few.  I believe a system in which people, who wish to be gun owners, should become licensed to carry; proving themselves in weapon handling and sanity tests which should be performed at fixed intervals -- just like owning a vehicle license more or less.  This system would be more thoughtful than reaching as far as to ban firearms.

Oh Frack Eathquakes!

Earthquakes in Texas?! I for one have never heard of such things in the 26 years I have lived in various parts of Texas from places like Andrews, to Victoria, Lubbock, Fort Hood and so forth.  So hearing about the slew of earthquakes that have struck in the northern Texas area in cities such as Azle, Reno, Mineral Wells, and Jacksboro etc., is perplexing.

From the 6^th to the 28^th of November, this north Texas area has experienced 16 earthquakes, six during the last four days.  From 1970 to 2008 there have only been 2 reported earthquakes in the region.  From 2008 to November 28 there have been 74 reported earthquakes.

What is the source of this tectonic terror? Residents will blame fracking. An increasing number of citizens and scientist are now pointing to the idea the waste water wells of fracking is responsible for the tremors. 

Residents are terrified by the unrelenting earthquakes, with the fear the next earthquake will bring their homes down on them.

"My wife, she's having panic attacks because of it," says local Keith Krayer from Briar, Texas.

In studies performed by the USGS where storage wells are used to dispose of the waste water produced by fracking, the number of magnitude 3 earthquakes swelled from 29 in 2008 to 134 in the past year.

In light of recent earthquakes in Texas, Ohio has recently passed moratorium legislature on fracking as well as Massachusetts setting their hold for 10 years, until evidence is found these earthquakes are not man-made related.

There comes a time when we Texans need our state government to put their foot down and have these companies stop damaging our homestead; however we need to do our part in the process in stalling these companies.  The dollar is very powerful in this matter.  By using products and services which do not use petroleum products, and minimizing our consumption of fossil fuels we can tell these companies we will have no part in the destruction of our state!