Month: December 2010

Of course there is no cause and effect

Amendment 2

We have more guns, more concealed carry folks, and we are almost six years past the expiration of the stupid Clinton “assault weapon” ban.

The last two years have seen record increases in gun sales. So, with all these guns, how bad has crime gotten?

It will come as no surprise to those with more than a room-temperature IQ that crime continues to go down. According to the FBI, violent crime is down 6.2 percent over the same period in 2009, and homicide is down 7.1 percent. Further, robberies are down 10.7 percent, rapes down 6.2 percent, aggravated assaults down 3.9 percent, and burglaries dropped 1.4 percent.

More here. This is a well known “fact” among people who have been paying attention to these things but it may be a little shocking to those who don’t.

I am shocked. Shocked I tell you!

Legislation

River Country Journal has an news article titled, “Michigan House fails to end lifetime health care benefits for state lawmakers.”

While not surprised (really) by the outcome I do hope the idea gains momentum when it is reintroduced in 2011.

“The people of Michigan will not take our calls for reform seriously if we’re not willing to look in the mirror,” Jones said. “One of my first acts as a state senator next session will be to re-introduce this important legislation and help begin the process of reinventing Lansing.”

It’s a great point. Go Rick Jones!

The Case for a ‘Repeal Amendment’

Legislation

In its next session beginning in January, the legislature of Virginia will consider proposing a constitutional "Repeal Amendment." The Repeal Amendment would give two-thirds of the states the power to repeal any federal law or regulation. Its text is simple:

"Any provision of law or regulation of the United States may be repealed by the several states, and such repeal shall be effective when the legislatures of two-thirds of the several states approve resolutions for this purpose that particularly describe the same provision or provisions of law or regulation to be repealed."

The Cato Institute makes the case for a "Repeal Amendment", which I find intriguing because I support putting the cause and effect of governance as close to the People as possible and I think this would, if nothing else, accomplish that.