One is either for NRA/LaPierre/Guns, or for Mike Bloomberg/anti-gun side. NO middle ground.

[spin]

120. FBI statistics state that gun violence in our nation has dropped to levels last seen ...

40 years ago.

Gun violence: Surprise, it's not rising
January 19, 2013

***snip***

According to FBI data, the number of murders committed by firearms in this country is falling, not rising.

In 2011, the latest year for which full data are available, 8,583 people were killed by firearms. That is down from 10,225 in 2006. Murders committed with rifles, which includes "assault rifles" such as the Bushmaster AR-15, fell from 453 in 2007 to 323 in 2011.

***snip***

Overall, the murder and violent crime rates in the United States have been declining for decades. Citing FBI data, New York University professor Patrick Egan wrote last July, "we are a less violent nation now than we've been in over forty years. In 2010, violent crime rates hit a low not seen since 1972; murder rates sunk to levels last experienced during the Kennedy Administration."

***snip***

The idea that the United States is experiencing a rising tide of gun violence is simply false. That does not mean that we should pursue no legislative actions to curb mass killings. But those actions should be guided by facts, not emotional impulses.
http://www.unionleader.com/article/20130119/OPINION01/130129954/1007/news02

In Florida gun violence is at an all time low.

Florida firearm violence hits record low; concealed gun permits up
Posted: 01/07/2013

In the so-called Gunshine State, home to the most gun permits in the country, firearm violence has fallen to the lowest point on record.

As state and national legislators consider gun control laws in the wake of last month's Connecticut school shooting, Florida finds itself in a gun violence depression. The Firearm-involved violent crime rate has dropped 33 percent between 2007 and 2011, while the number of issued concealed weapons permits rose nearly 90 percent during that time, state records show.
http://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/state/florida-firearm-violence-hits-record-low-concealed-gun-permits-up

Much of the gun violence in our nation is the result of turf warfare between competing drug gangs. It's hard to blame honest and responsible gun owners for the failure of our War on Drugs. Most of the shooters in recent massacres had waved red flags that a more responsive mental health care system could have addressed.

Gun owners would like to see gun violence decrease even further but few gun control advocates or those in the media have any interest in our ideas. It obvious to us that our current laws should be better enforced and can be improved. We also support passing new laws if they will actually accomplish something beside banning certain firearms because of their appearance.

Gun owners are often insulted and if we are ever to make headway in reducing gun violence, both sides of the issue need to show a little more respect for those who disagree with them.

I will point out to you that it isn't so much that our plan hasn't worked but that it hasn't been tried. A new assault weapons ban is not the only solution to gun violence in our nation and its a poorly conceived idea that would accomplish little.

If there was a movement to reduce traffic deaths caused by speeding motorists, would it make sense to demand that Corvettes and Mustangs be banned?