Juan Williams - Race and the Gun Debate

B

BarryLee

New member
Political Commentator Juan Williams has written an opinion piece for the WSJ titled – Race and the Gun Debate. Mr. Williams believes that the issue of race has been missing from the current debate. He points out some important statistics including the fact that murders with guns is the number one cause of death for African American men between the ages of 15 and 34. He also notes that the CDC reports that although black people only make up 13% of the population they account for 54% of murder victims. Finally he notes that these sobering statistics are one of the reasons that over 70% of black and Hispanics support gun control compared to only about 50% overall.

While Mr. Williams admits to supporting gun control he readily admits that guns are not the cause of violence in so many minority communities. He places much of the blame on the social breakdown in minority communities as it relates to Fatherless homes, out of wedlock births and the glorification of the gangster rap culture. He notes that when Mr. Obama attempted to address some of these issues in 2008 he was told to “shut up” by civil rights leaders and accused of talking down to black people.

While race remains one of the most difficult and an emotional issue to discuss Mr. Williams is correct that it should be part of the discussion. As he stated in the article, “But speaking honestly about the combustible mix of race and guns may be more important to stopping the slaughter in minority communities than any new gun-control laws”. I found the article interesting, open and honest many of the very things that are missing from the current debate. I fear many of the current proposals will do nothing to address the overall problems throughout all demographic groups and only serve to make us feel like – we did something.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323869604578366882484600710.html

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/2013/03/26/race_and_the_gun_debate_304638.html
 
While I personally disagree with much of what Juan Williams says, I respect the man and I agree with him on this subject. The social breakdown in minority communities is a problem, no doubt, but the social breakdown of America as a whole can’t be overlooked.
 
It's an interesting article from a socio-political standpoint.

What he omits is the bitter history of gun control as a tool of maintaining a monopoly of force with which to oppress blacks. The Reconstruction period was rife with violence against freedmen, which was made easier through laws meant to disarm them.

Let's not forget that Dred Scott v. Sandford singled out the right to bear arms as one that was to be deprived from blacks.

One of the pressing concerns mentioned in the drafting of the 14th Amendment was such disarmament, something Akhil Amar commented on. He claimed he wasn't convinced the Founders meant for the 2A to protect an individual right, but the drafters of the 14A most certainly did.

Adam Winkler has a compelling article about the importance of 1960's civil rights leaders being armed as well.
 
I think it should also be noted that there is a reason that CA does not have a Right to Bear Arms in its Constitution. That and the many gun laws... Not Blacks, this time, but Mexicans that inhabited the State from the beginning.

Race, has always been an issue with gun control.
 
In Chicago police estimate that roughly 80 percent of homicides are gang-related.

There are approximately 100,000 gang members. They outnumber police officers 10 to 1.

The FBI estimated in 2011 that there are roughly 1.4 million active gang members in the U.S., a 40 percent increase from 2009.

They are responsible for “an average of 48 percent of violent crime in most jurisdictions, and much higher in others.”

Only 13 percent of the U.S. population is black, but this group accounts for half all homicide victims. The homicide victimization rate for black males ages 18-24 is 19 times the national average.
 
Of the 1.4 million active gang members, how many are black or doing illicit activity with blacks?

I know that many of the deaths are "collateral damage" and many are the victims of crime but I see it as mainly animal like predatory behavior for what ever reason...

Brent
 
This has been known for quite a bit. Somewhere I have a scholarly article that found that middle and upper class shooting rates have been fairly constant over the years and comparable to those in Canada.

However, a massive increase in lower SES shooting rates came with the drug and crack wars in the 70's.

Economic success and how it correlated with a definable group is probably causal. Change SES and you lower crime.
 
He's not wrong on this topic.
He's just called out the elephant in the room.
Anyone who looks over the already existing CDC data has to come to the same conclusions.
 
Barrylee, I like the links for urbancure.org you posted about blacks and the 2nd amendment. As an black American gun owner myself , I find that my people are totally being mislead by certain liberal puppet black leaders, who are helping to take guns away from many minority who live in dangerous areas, where they need guns for protection.
 
I find that my people are totally being mislead by certain liberal puppet black leaders, who are helping to take guns away from many minority who live in dangerous areas, where they need guns for protection.
Click to expand...

Attached is a link to a document titled, “Disarm the Negro: The Racist Roots of Georgia’s Gun Laws”. While the document deals primarily with Georgia I suspect many of the tactics have been used other places. Anyway, thought it might be of interest.

http://www.georgiacarry.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/racist-roots-of-ga-gun-laws.pdf
 
of course certain segments of the population are going to have higher crime statistics then others. when you combine 'street cred' and the instant revenge on someone for "slights" to a persons "street image and credibility" its going to leave a body count.

its hard to say that its the guns fault, or the white persons fault, or the person with more money, or an actual family.

youll find lots of gangbangers of all races and economic levels committing the same crimes for the same reason. not having a barbie doll or tickle me elmo doesnt make you steal a gun and go kill the gas station attendent for fun. your just lacking a few genes/mental connections that "normal" people have.

if you believe in a 'culture" that condones killing someone because they didnt give me a ride to work, or half their lunch, or simply wore the wrong pair of shoes,, then you dont believe in a culture.
 
As an aside, its note worthy how anti-gun organizations include 16-20 year old gang members, in their children killed by guns statistics. Poverty, joblessness, lack of education, etc are huge contributing factors, to be sure. Regardless of the reasons though, there is no denying the gang problem and their gross misuse of firearms. There is also no denying, at least in my view, that placing restrictions on the law-abiding will have no affect on these all ready lawless gangs.

If anything they help make the case for more firearms in the hands of the law abiding. More large capacity semi-auto firearms.

Michael Moore on guns: ‘What are these white people so afraid of?’

Well Mikey, when one looks at the crime statistics and the who the perpetrators are, their fears have a strong foundation. Perhaps Mr. Moore's ideas of job creation and spending more money on education will bear fruit one day. In the mean time however, I'm keeping my AR.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top