Blame criminal, not guns for Oakland shootings

March 25, 10:17 AMGun Rights ExaminerDavid Codrea

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(AP Photo/Oakland Police Dept.)

We talked yesterday about the utter uselessness of "gun control" in preventing a killer's shooting rampage. We further broke down how the media presented misinformation about guns.

Here's more, presented as straight news:

Mixon, who police believe was hiding in a closet in a back bedroom, began firing through the door and wall with a military assault rifle, sources said.

Not unless it was designed to be capable of fully automatic fire he didn't.

And then we have Chip Johnson of The San Francisco Chronicle, typifying the type of blood dance that always accompanies calls to disarm you and me:

Former state Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, who wrote a state law in 1999 that banned sale of the weapons, said President Obama's case to seek a federal ban on a wide array of automatic weapons is only strengthened when they are misused in such horrific ways.

Again with the untruths. Again with the substitution of "automatic" for "semiautomatic." Whether this is intentional deception or simple incompetence is something we can only speculate on. What it's not is responsible journalism.

It also sidetracks our attention from what we should be focusing on: the criminal.

And how is he presented?

Oakland shooter unable to escape cycle of violence...

Family members, angry and upset after their loss, describe Mixon as an deeply frustrated young man who likely snapped under the weight of opportunities missed or denied.

Personal choices have nothing to do with it, you see. It's not like he had anything to do with the "cycle of violence," is it?

Mixon applied for a work furlough program through the Alameda County Sheriff's department in 2001 but was turned down. "Applicants' past case of violence could pose a threat to the program, staff and community," records documenting the denial state.

In 2002, he landed six years in state prison for assault with a firearm. Paroled in 2007, he was brought in again in February 2008 as a suspect in an Alameda County murder. He was not charged for lack of evidence, but got another nine months in state prison for parole violations involving identity theft, forgery, fraud, grand theft and other charges. He was released in November 2008, according to state records.

And then there's this further bit about that cycle of violence--only in this case, it wasn't Mixon who couldn't escape it:

Lovelle Mixon was linked by DNA to the February rape of a 12-year-old girl who was dragged off the street at gunpoint in the East Oakland neighborhood where Mixon's sister lived, police said Tuesday.

I don't read anything about her snapping under the weight, just about poor Mr. Mixon's life of unfulfilled dreams. And how that creates a new and urgent requirement for you and I to be disarmed.

I've been given permission to share with you a communication sent to me by Joe Horn, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Retired. Joe and I worked together some years back on a physician's form I'll tell you about some time, but for now, let's focus on his response to the Oakland aftermath:

Ladies and Gents, Brothers and Sisters, as usual, we can expect the antis to come after semi-autos and firearms in general again because of this tragic incident. They will not consider the murderous human garbage that perpetrated the homicides or why he was not in jail where he belonged. How many times do we have to re-live these tragedies?

The best defense is a good offense.

I believe we must, through direct contact with media and congressional and state representatives and 2nd Amendment and citizen gun rights communities, attack vigorously, demanding to know why this piece of human detritus was ever given bail in the first place in view of his prior violent convictions. Why he was released upon the community and thus empowered to kill four 1st responders who will never be replaced, not to mention the destruction and tragedy wreaked upon their families. Imagine their excruciating pain and loss.

Identify yourselves as police officers and let them know who and what's really at fault here, do not cede to them the political voodoo of blaming an inanimate object. Judges and Parole boards have to be made accountable as THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS. Please raise hell for our fallen brothers, community safety, and the rest of us still out there dealing with [this]. As cops, your voices will be heard above the others because you KNOW the truth. Most Chiefs and Sheriff's will whine the standard party political talking points nonsense about being "Outgunned" so they can get more DHS toys and federal money. The media never hears the truth from rank and file cops, state troopers and deputy sheriffs. YOU are, as citizens and peace officers, EXPERTS in the subject and entitled to your own off-duty opinion as a citizen cop and must be heard.

Remember, granting parole and bail to convicted recidivist felons with priors is no more than willingly recycling death and destruction back in to the community, endangering us all, cops and citizens. Make them focus on the REAL ISSUE, because the issue is not law abiding American gun owners and never has been, they've been scapegoated by politicians who lack the political will and moral courage to enact effective legislation keeping these killers in jail. THE ISSUE IS RECIDIVIST VIOLENT *CRIMINALS* WITH ANY WEAPON AT ALL! We are not afraid to tell it like it is and our voices must be heard loud and clear. Thanks for your work on behalf of the 2nd Amendment and the basic inalienable human right of self defense. God Bless and keep the fallen among us and their families.

This is a powerful message, amplified by the credibility of the speaker. I hope you will join me in helping it become widely heard.

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Gun Rights Examiners featured in WorldNetDaily article

Check out "Gun carry law shut down over environmental impact." Among his sources, reporter Bob Unruh interviewed and quoted both Atlanta GRE Ed Stone and yours truly.

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Another radio gig

If you missed my interview yesterday on The Andy Caldwell Show (KUHL AM 1440, Santa Maria, CA), you'll get a chance to listen in on another program, Freedom Fighter Radio, tonight at 9:00 pm EST. I notice on their site that a plug-in may be needed, so if you want to listen, I'd suggest making sure everything works in advance.

Meanwhile, I have an email in to Caldwell's producer asking if yesterday's show will be archived, and will advise. It went well. He said he'd like me back.

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GOA alert

Gun Owners of America tells us "An amendment to repeal the National Park Service (NPS) gun ban is headed to the floor of the U.S. House on Wednesday, March 25."

That's today. But there's still time to do something if you act now. Go here and contact your representative. I just did. It took literally less than one minute.

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Important reminder!

Tomorrow. "Black Man with a Gun." Be here!