Yesterday was day one of Johns Hopkins’ big-deal gun policy summit (and also the one-month anniversary of the Newtown shootings), and it was marked by some big-deal events: Michael Bloomberg calling for gun trafficking to be made a felony, and Governor O’Malley announcing his plan for sweeping new gun control laws for Maryland. The summit’s attendees (as well as those watching from home via the live webcast) had strong reactions to the various expert opinions about how to reduce gun violence in the United States. Some of the most intriguing reactions are below. Did you watch? What did you think?
All 50 states require cosmetologists (hairdressers) to be certified. Only 17 states require gun dealers to be certified #jhugunpolicy
— Sarah(@SarahKhasa) January 15, 2013
Effective public policy reduces gun violence. That’s why NYC remains the safest big city in America: bit.ly/ZPsSbc #JHUGunPolicy
— Mike Bloomberg (@MikeBloomberg) January 14, 2013
In 23 wealthiest nations, almost 9 out of 10 children who died from gun violence were in the U.S. #jhugunpolicy
— Julie Scharper (@Juliemore) January 14, 2013
A personalized gun is a gun that can only be fired by the authorized user or users. #JHUgunpolicy — JHU Public Health (@JohnsHopkinsSPH) January 14, 2013
“The ban did not have a discernable impact on #gunviolence during the years it was in effect.” ~ Koper #JHUgunpolicy — JHU Public Health (@JohnsHopkinsSPH) January 14, 2013
“The use of assault weapons in crime did decline after the ban went into effect.” ~ Koper of @georgemasonu #JHUgunpolicy — JHU Public Health (@JohnsHopkinsSPH) January 14, 2013
“The magazine capacity limit was the most important part of the old ban.” ~ Koper #JHUgunpolicy — JHU Public Health (@JohnsHopkinsSPH) January 14, 2013
Across town from #jhugunpolicy RT @baltimorepolice Shooting: 200 N. Fremont, two ppl reported to be shot. District Detectives investigating. — Justin Fenton (@justin_fenton) January 14, 2013
.@johnshopkins If you know how many of them there are, punish THEM. Leave me, and my firearms alone. #JHUgunpolicy
— TL671 (@TL671) January 14, 2013
RT @juliemore: Nearly 4 times more men and twice as many women commit suicide in states where more households have guns. #jhugunpolicy
— Johns Hopkins (@JohnsHopkins) January 14, 2013
“Permit-to-purchase licensing & universal background checks lead to fewer guns diverted to criminals.” ~ Webster #JHUgunpolicy
— JHU Public Health (@JohnsHopkinsSPH) January 14, 2013
“Gun bans don’t disarm criminals, gun bans attract them.” — Walter Mondale, U.S. Ambassador to Japan, 4/20/94
All of these proposals are aimed at legal gun owners in Maryland.
So, just how many legal gun owners or members of the NRA were involved in these mass shootings?