Anti-gun group embarrasses itself, again
Patriot Games
Anti-gun group tallies killings by permit holders
Monday, July 20, 2009
NASHVILLE -- Handgun-carry permit holders nationally killed at least
seven police officers and 44 private citizens in 31 different
incidents in a 24-month period ending in April, according to a report
issued Monday by the anti-gun Violence Policy Center.
The organization based its study on media reports across the U.S.
because, it said, most states compile and release little data about
crimes committed by permit holders.
The report found that during a two-year period ending in April:
Handgun permit holders have killed seven law enforcement officers,
resulting in criminal charges or the suicide of the shooter. An
additional three law enforcement officers were injured in these
incidents.
Handgun permit holders have killed at least 44 private citizens,
resulting in criminal charges or the suicide of the shooter. All but
one of the slayings were committed with guns. An additional six
private citizens were injured in these incidents.
The 50 shooting deaths by permit holders is a tiny fraction of the
estimated 30,000 people killed in firearm homicides, accidents and
suicides annually in the U.S.
The Violence Policy Center is a national non-profit educational
foundation that examines the role of firearms in America, conducts
research on firearms violence and explores new ways to decrease
firearm-related death and injury, according to its Web site.
In response to the report, NRA spokeswoman Rachel Parsons said permit
holders are among the most "lawful" in the U.S. and disputed aspects
of the report.
"I think it's safe to say the Violence Policy Center had a political
agenda when they released their study. If you take a look at homicides
by permit holders in the period they cited and compare that with the
rest of the homicides in the U.S., a permit holder is 15 times less
likely to commit murder or non-negligent manslaughter than a
non-permit holder."
The report details 31 incidents that occurred in 15 states, including
one in Tennessee: the shooting death of Robert 'Dutch' Schwerin Jr.
outside a Cordova restaurant in February. Harry Ray Coleman has
pleaded innocent of second-degree murder in that case.
However, the center's researchers failed to turn up three other
shooting deaths in Shelby County through April that police said were
committed by men with Tennessee handgun-carry permits: the Feb. 23
slaying of Terrelle Beasley after a minor traffic wreck in Memphis,
the March 8 shooting death of part-time model Lisa Davis, and the
April 30 shooting death of Micah Pate.
Monday's report, available online at vpc.org, was released as Congress
considers a bill to override many state laws by mandating that those
states allow the carrying of firearms by anyone permitted to carry
weapons in another state.
Cordova gun case: Harry Ray Coleman's next court date is Aug. 14
Businessman Harry Ray Coleman, who is charged with killing another
motorist in a parking dispute in February, could get a trial date when
he reports next month to Criminal Court.
Details
Coleman, 59, was indicted last month on second-degree murder and other
charges stemming from an altercation in which Robert 'Dutch' Schwerin
Jr. was shot to death Feb. 6 in the Trinity Commons parking lot on
North Germantown Parkway.
Coleman, who was arraigned earlier this month, has pleaded not guilty
and has said through his attorney he was acting in self defense.
A civil suit filed by Schwerin's family said Coleman's wife provoked
the incident and that Coleman stuck a .45-caliber pistol in Schwerin's
mouth before stepping back and shooting him in the chest in front of
the victim's three children.
Coleman, who remains free on a $500,000 bond, also is charged with two
counts of aggravated assault, employing a firearm in the commission of
a felony and assault.