We start this week’s news of course with the terrorist attacks in Paris. A total of 6 locations were targeted by what many are calling extremists. 8 extremists are dead, 7 of whom were killed in suicide bombings. We still don’t have a body count, but tens and hundreds have been killed. There has been a global rallying of support around France, and our hearts and prayers go out to the families of those fallen.
Maryland tried to hide one of its failures this week, ending the requirement that firearms manufacturers fire their handguns before being sold. This would in theory provide a “ballistic fingerprint,” or a unique ballistic identification for law enforcement. Well, due to underfunding and the fact that it’s a terrible idea, the state has ended the program after 15 years of failing to provide unique data. The failure of the program should be a signal to gun control advocates that their ideas should just stay ideas, and not become law.
Governor Scott Walker signed some common sense bills from his state legislature this week, perhaps reading the leaves from Maryland that some common sense laws were due. Military personnel stationed in Wisconsin for more than a year can apply for a CHL. Before this change, the permits were only available to residents. The other bill is for former police officers who worked in other states, who can now apply for a permit through the Wisconsin Department of Justice, rather than going back to the state they used to work in.
Reports out of Atlanta from a CBS affiliate is claiming that city officials, including the police chief, are refusing to comply with a 2012 law that requires public agencies in possession of firearms to dispose of those that are no longer necessary for official use through public auctions. Instead, the city is hording them. City officials have denied the claim. These firearms can be designated unsafe due to wear and tear or defects. The department in possession can also destroy the guns, which has also not happened.
Finally, we thought we’d return, as we periodically do to fact checking some Democrats. This time it’s one of our favorites: Hillary Clinton. IN the most recent debate, when asked about guns, Clinton suggested that nearly 3000 people have been killed by guns, and 200 children. In the same time period she claimed that there were 21 mass shootings, including one in Des Moines where 3 were murdered. This, as the AP reports, is unsupported on all counts. Clinton lied a few more times last night, but this was the most significant lie from any candidate during the debate. At some point we have to ask: how much does she just not like gun owners?