I don’t know what this man is talking about.
Dr. Michael Siegel, professor of Community Health Sciences at Boston University’s School of Public Health, told public radio, “When you ask gun owners privately, they support gun control laws, but they never speak publicly.”
“What’s causing the problem is that you’ve got a population of people that don’t feel respected, don’t feel their culture is being respected, feel like everyone else is out to get them and thinks they are the problem. Gun owners are not able to engage in gun violence prevention because they feel alienated,” he continued.
Huh? You and I (dear reader) secretly support gun control? WTF!
We don’t engage in talks of gun control, publicly or privately, because it simply doesn’t work. It’s not an effective solution to violence. Fundamentally, disarming good people does not make bad people harmless.
Siegel, who recently co-authored, “Marketing Public Health: Strategies to Promote Social Change,” made his name taking on Big Tobacco. He believes there is a parallel between the NRA and cigarette companies.
“The NRA has framed the issue at the individual level, as gun owner vs. non-gun owners. They paint it as a highly controversial issue that is basically a question of the Second Amendment versus the desire to reduce gun violence.”
Siegel said it was the same strategy Big Tobacco employed, pitting smokers against non-smokers. The solution was to unite everyone under the common goal of public health. The same can be done for gun control by framing the conversation as a pursuit to maximize public safety, he believes.
“My approach,” he explained, “is to respect gun owners and gun culture, bring them in, and figure out ways to make them feel comfortable and help solve the problem. Three things come of that. One, we get the knowledge we need, because they understand guns and can help us figure out what to do about them. Two, we dispel the idea that this is gun owners against non-gun owners. Three, we reframe the issue so that it is the public working together to protect our safety.”
Again, the professor doesn’t get it. We’ve tried gun control, over and over and over again. It does not work. Period. The Clinton-Era ban on modern sporting rifles had no discernible impact on crime rates, for example. In fact, crime — including gun crime — declined after the ban expired in 2004.
SEE ALSO: Detroit Justifiable Homicides 25 times the National Average, Murders lowest in 50 years
What’s more, is that widespread gun ownership actually improves public safety! When law-abiding citizens are free to exercise their right to keep and bear arms, it puts criminals on notice. Detroit is a great example of this phenomenon. The murder rate there is the lowest in 50 years, in part, because the chief of police has encouraged citizens to carry concealed firearms for self-defense.
Meanwhile, there is no debate about smoking. News flash: It’s bad for you! And, there is no upside for society or for the individual. A cigarette has never been used to save a life, protect property, or defend against tyranny.
Siegel concludes his interview with WBUR on a sanguine note, suggesting that we can all come to the table on disarming domestic abusers.
“In most cases of shootings, including mass shootings, there is usually a history of violence or violent threats, usually in the setting of domestic violence,” he said, “If we passed laws — and rigorously enforced them — that anyone who commits domestic violence can’t have a gun, there would be a great reduction.”
Current federal law already prohibits convicted domestic abusers, even those with misdemeanor violations, from shipping, transporting or possessing firearms and ammunition. Additionally, those subject to certain restraining orders are also banned from keeping and bearing arms.
Point is, the laws are already on the books. As for the rigorous enforcement — on that we can agree. Maybe that’s a point we can all rally behind… Well, that, and ensuring that one has the means to defend oneself when the laws don’t work and the police aren’t there to stop the attacker.
The only gun control most of us are in favor of is hitting our intended target.
Folks, this clown just put all of us in the same category as your wannbe street gansta’ little hoodie.
That of course, is where the VAST majority of ‘gun violence’ occurs.
This would be laughable if it weren’t such a pathetic example of a near total lack of logic and critical thinking.
CRIME CONTROL…NOT GUN CONTROL
Common sense gun laws worked for Stalin, Castro and Hitler. Look at the reduction in violence in their countries for proof that it works… 😉
this shows that just because you put professor in front of a name, that doesn’t prove that someone peeled back his brain pan and filled the empty cavity with a wealth of knowledge. Like a lot of professors i had, this guy is an idiot. And he’s even wrong about cigarettes, that was pushed mostly by insurance companies trying to lessen their claims for lung cancer. Nope, what he says about gun control proves that whenever he opens his mouth, polished gems of wisdom don’t flow out—-it’s more like stuff from a much lower orifice.
“…. this guy is an idiot…”
Ooooooh no he’s not Will. I wish it was that easy. These guys are VERY smart. So are the guys who HIRED them to pull the wool over the eyes of average Americans.
I’m not a conspiracy guy nor am I sending this to Big Foot for editing. I just recognize a skilled opponent when he’s trying to stick me.
This is a complex issue for the “average” person. Most haven’t the time or inclination to amass the knowledge you & I have. Not to say we’re smarter; just more in tuned to this particular debate.
The professor here, and those like him, are recruited to give credence to the Info-Bytes spoon fed to the masses. Now you’re a smart guy Will. So are most of the folks who bothered to read this. I’m not gonna preach to any of you or tell you who / what you should believe. All of you are smart & resourceful enough to divine the truth on your own. Problem is most folks, even many who’d be inclined to take our side, are too tired, busy, (lazy?), otherwise involved to conduct the research. Much easier to let Profesor Cool do they’re thinking for them. Can’t blame them for being human!
That’s how we’ll lose if we’re not at least as smart and motivated as they are !!!
We ALL have to make a point of counteracting the propaganda! We do this by calmly, rationaly, impartially if possible, debunking these profesional frauds wherever / whenever possible. Be prepared to provide empirical evidence so as to PROVE fraud! Most Americans really dislike being bullshitted, don’t you? Enough to do something about it? Even if all they’ll do is retaliate in the voting booth, we can still win that way.
The mission is clear: carry the message to all who will listen. Friends, family, coworkers, strangers, etc…
Here we’re just preaching to the choir. We need to reach the fence sitters before the professor does. Pulling factoids out of an orifice don’t cut it Jack!
We all have our favorite sources of accurate, empirical data. Just DOUBLE CHECK it!!! Make sure it’s simple, brief and provably true before presenting it to counter Uncle ‘Fessor.
The opposition has doubled down on this “Professor Approach” because it’s proven they’re most effective. Further, it’s SINISTER! They definitely aren’t stupid. We’ve allowed ourselves to be lulled into a self inflicted state of false security over the last few years. The time is ripe for a full frontal attack on The 2nd Amendment. We can’t win alone. Neither can we win by coming off as a bunch of militant, angry gun nuts. If we put forth an intelligent, factual, level headed portrait of { *GASP*} the TRUTH that’s brief and simple, Americans will do what’s right.
Quote: “The NRA has framed the issue at the individual level, as gun owner vs. non-gun owners. They paint it as a highly controversial issue that is basically a question of the Second Amendment versus the desire to reduce gun violence. There is no such thing as ‘gun violence’. There is violence where the perpetrator uses a gun but the gun in no way is guilty because the gun is an inanimate object. The gun is just one tool out of a universe of tools than can be used in the commission of violence.
Quote: “One, we get the knowledge we need, because they understand guns and can help us figure out what to do about them. Two, we dispel the idea that this is gun owners against non-gun owners. Three, we reframe the issue so that it is the public working together to protect our safety.” There is nothing to be done about guns because they are not the problem. We already know it is not gun owners against non-gun owners. It is gun owners against those who would shred the constitution and impose tyranny. The NRA and other 2nd amendment groups support training programs on gun safety.
The lying teacher is doing exactly what every other “gun control” fanatic is doing. LYING OUT THAT BUTT ON THEIR SHOULDERS!!! Why is this THING allowed to teach young people??? I ran across a THING like this when I went to collage. I recorded IT’S lectures and played them to the president of the private university. That THING was fired on the spot and banned from teaching in the state where this occurred. You WILL find COMMUNIST THINGS like this one LYING to our young adults in every college in this nation. It’s time we did some gardening and weeded these sub-human THINGS out of this nation!!!
I’d welcome gun being treated like cigarettes. Then you could buy guns from a vending machine or in a 7-11!
What a simpleton.
“One, we get the knowledge we need, because they understand guns and can help us figure out what to do about them. ”
I have already figured out “what to do about them” and I wont help the gun grabbers by sharing my knowledge with them so they can take away my 2nd amendment.
Notice he didnt suggest that they might gain the knowledge to understand OUR side. They are not interested in understanding US.
The fact that he believes that we agree with him shows what a simpleton he is. Many studies prove him totally wrong.
“Many studies prove him totally wrong.”
What studies are those Jim? It’s not that I disagree with you, it’s just that we have to be more concise than that. One could just as easily say, “Many studies prove purple pandas prefer pink panties printed partly panoramically by prairie pussies…”
I hope you’ll please peruse my previous post on this point. (**whilst I take a sedative) 😉
Last I checked, you could purchase and carry cigarettes whenever and wherever you wanted. If you wanted to carry a full carton you could, and there was no limit to how many in a pack. WTF is this guy comparing? It isn’t even an apples to oranges comparison, it’s more like apples to a Prius. The right to bear arms is about protecting the citizens from an over-controlling government. Plain and simple. The more the government tries to take the guns away, the more the reason for the 2A becomes apparent.
Unfortunately, many gun control advocates really dont understand or choose to ignore the real problem. The problem is with those that commit these crimes and why they feel inclined to do so. Taking away law abiding citizens rights will not fix anything. Focusing on the object of harm and demonizing it is real popular especially for those who fear or dont understand those objects. The real problem is with our society and how many children today are raised without instilling RESPECT for themselves and others.
Lets see now, where in the bill of rights is the one that says the right to keep and smoke tobacco shall not be infringed. Oh right it does not. However, there is one that says “the right to keep and bear arms “SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED”.
Apparently Dr. Siegel was never a smoker. A great number of smokers did not want to smoke, and many more wished they didn’t. Finally quitting was the hardest thing I have ever done. Gun owners abhor the violence that is being perpetrated in their name, not the fact that they like guns. And some of us don’t care much for guns, but we recognize the difference between armed and safe, and armed and dangerous. We are as against gun violence as you are, and and truly advocate SELF control. Guns, clubs, wetting the bed, using your bully pulpit. Most gun owners DO enjoy their guns, the practice, training, or just shooting them safely. Personally, I would just as soon there were no such thing. But don’t start with the low hanging fruit. We already have laws about bad guys with guns. We already have laws about irresponsibility with guns. You can’t get rid of guns for the same reason you can’t get rid of drugs.You just can’t differentiate between ‘use’ and ‘abuse’.
People who follow this website and want to ensure that their right to own weapons is protected need to pay attention to articles such as this and apply our efforts to figuring out how to rationally deal with the points that anti-gun ownership people are making.
“Long guns” and/or semi automatic rifles are rarely used in crimes. Family members don’t shoot each other very often with rifles. Rarely does anyone go into a quickie mart with a rifle intending to rob it. This is true. This can be statistically proven.
But it is irrelevant in the gun-control debate; because semi automatic rifles and pistols have been used more often than not in the sort of mass shootings that terrify people who are afraid of guns to start with and are repulsive to conscientious Gun owners.
If we really want to protect our right to own this sort of weapon we must begin to present sensible ways to prevent the sort of mass shootings that are mobilizing the anti-gun movement.
Educated beyond his capacity.
This gun owners public vs private opinion is a meme started by Beta O’Rourke. Let’s try some spin to see how it holds up…:
“When you ask Jews if they support the Holocaust, privately, they agree..”oy, we’re nothing but trouble..” Publicly, is a different story.”
I have been fighting COMMUNISM my entire adult life and I’m 70 now and still fighting. These COMMUNIST have infiltrated the education system and have brainwashed our children against the ONLY system of government that has free CITIZENS in this world! I know what these sub-human communist are trying to do and it makes me sick that they have been getting away with these crimes against humanity. The 2020 election will be the deciding factor as to which way this nation will go. I seriously doubt that this election will be an honest election. What I see happening is the COMMUNIST DEMOCRATS will rig this election to defeat President Trump. This WILL bring about another civil war which WILL lead into WWIII and possibly Armageddon. Get your butts out of city’s, buy land deep in the countryside. I wouldn’t be within 10 miles of the nearest small town. If you are in Communist California or any of the other communist states plan to make the “GREAT ESCAPE” rapidly!!!
Tobacco vs. Firearms: people have no explicitly defined constitutional right to use tobacco, but we do have a God given, constitutionally recognized, non-negotiable right to keep and bear arms.
You are 100% right. They haven’t outlawed the use of tobacco and they never will. The same goes for outlawing guns. There WILL be war in the streets when they try!!! However, they cannot win that war. The police and our nations military will NOT enforce such “laws?”. I believe the exact opposite will happen and the “law makers?” will be arrested, prosecuted for treason and executed if we have to do it ourselves!
This is the way Charlie “Lucky” Luciano killed his enemies: by making them believe he was reasonable, and their friend.
This assclown is just another liberal Stalking Horse. The fact that he’s an “academic” (and from Boston U., no less) should tell you everything you need to know.
Apparently this fool never leaves his echo chamber if the people he speaks to in private are anti-gun. This is the type of person tasked with educating our children. That simply turns my stomach.
The position described in this article is very cunning and needs to be watched closely. The protection of the 2nd amendment is of prime importance and should be secured above all else. Gun violence of all kinds is of secondary importance to protecting the 2nd amendment. Protecting the 2nd amendment ranks up there with fighting to protect our democracy and freedoms. Seigel is very cunningly trying to change the core of the issue from protecting our rights to an issue that is based on making fear sound sensible. We must protect ourselves from him.
Don’t give this intellectual egghead credit for being cunning. He’s not fooling anyone other than his own ilk.
The problem with this theory is, and I use you term here: making fear sound sensible.
I am armed therefore I am unafraid. I am unafraid because I am exercising my right of protection of my life and my rights.
He leaves the right of protection up to the government because he possesses neither the understanding, ability or the desire to. He’s an intellectual. Protection is someone else’s job. Like the government. We will all be safer if we leave it up to the PROFESSIONALS or the EXPERTS. Woodrow Wilson and Teddy Roosevelt believed this was the better way to legislate than by the Constitution. It was called PROGRESSIVISM. Let’s create Administrative Agencies made up of experts to control certain aspects of government and only they can police themselves because they are the EXPERTS in their field and we don’t know how to do what they do as well as they do.
Academics espousing socialist thinking inorder to convince the voters to buy into their illogical theories. His proposal does not address the issue of keeping weapons out of the hands of those who should not have them – criminals, those with mental issues, penalties for not securing a weapon and ammunition away from children under 21, etc.
The point is that they have a one track mind stuck in the gun control rut as opposed to restricting people who shouldn’t have weapons from getting them.
Just what I said, but much more tidy. Thank you.
Let’s ban academics by treating them like communism, which many are apparently followers of!,
My eyes are not perfect……I thought you said condoms…….LOL
First you have to be sold the lie there IS A PROBLEM.
8-10000 murders per year with a gun
In a country with a population of 330 million people is pretty minimal. Chances of getting struck by lightning are About the same.
2.5-5 million times a year a citizen stops a crime with their gun.
Crimes of all sorts are lowest in decades. INCLUDING “mass shootings” and school shootings.
If we’re going to have a “discussion” with these fanatics we better keep focus on the fact there isn’t a gun problem or an epidemic of ANY KIND.
Fact fact and more fact against their emotionally charged nonsense.
I’m saddened there isn’t a complete fact sheet to arm ourselves with. It should be posted everywhere.
They win the narrative with the “say the lie often enough” rule. And it’s working.
This may sound tongue-in-cheek, but the .45 Long Colt was nicknamed, “The Equalizer” for a very good reason – it equalized good guys and bad guys; allowing good guys to protect themselves, their families, and others who were being threatened by more powerful bad guys.
Even liberals understand this concept … that a young mom with an infant getting molested in a parking lot by a stronger or armed perp doesn’t stand a physical chance. She and/or the gun-carrying citizenry can equalize and (hopefully) neutralize the situation.
Great post and I totally agree. The only thing in your post I would correct is “.45 Long Colt”….ain’t no such animal. The round is a “.45 Colt”…..period. I’ve never seen “.45 Long Colt” roll stamped on the barrel of any gun that I’ve handled over the years. Even all the loading manuals never mention the .45 Long Colt….it’s always .45 Colt. Thanks for letting me vent, keep your powder dry and remember that the Liberals, like this moron in Boston are nothing more than sheep……following the herd and not thinking for themselves. Death to tyrants!!!!!
” God created man , Sam Colt made them equal .”
With the assistance of John Browning , some became superior .
The leftists are not trying to make gun owners feel comfortable so they will join in on some grand plan. The left is doing what they typically do, make villains out of people that dare disagree with them. Scorn them and make them look like outcasts. Make it look like the leftists proclaim what is correct and anything else that deviates from their degrees is criminal.
And Adolf Hitler was against smoking too.
This is much more communism than fascism. AH returned the guns, too.
Dr. Siegel is a typical academic who presuppose that people will believe the malarkey that they contrive.
Commonly known as plane old bull manure, simple as that’.
“Siegel said it was the same strategy Big Tobacco employed, pitting smokers against non-smokers. The solution was to unite everyone under the common goal of public health. The same can be done for gun control by framing the conversation as a pursuit to maximize public safety, he believes.”
Siegel may be onto something here. If we all unite under the premise of public safety, we may come away with the government buying everyone a new gun!! The public would be most safe if EVERYONE had a new gun! It would be in the “pursuit to maximize public safety”.
He’s a liar. I know many firearm owners and I have never heard them utter in favor of gun control. He’s advocating compromise. Compromise is where one side gives up everything and the other gives nothing. What liberals call “common sense” bi-partisan solutions to a public health and safety crisis. What they fail to recognize is that gun control has zero effect on criminals and substantial affect on law-abiding citizens. In the liberal dystopia there are no criminals, only crime. They despise the Constitution, loathe liberty and freedom, and hell-bent on disarming Americans and implementing a socialist state. Don’t fall for it. Liberals could care less who gets killed from violent crimes committed with a firearm. Facts are not on their side, but experts they are at appealing to emotions of the incapable and unproductive.