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Table of Contents

Table of Contents..................................................................................................... i

Introduction..............................................................................................................v

Acknowledgements................................................................................................. vi

Microstamping .........................................................................................................1

Myth: Independent testing by forensic technologists shows the technology is reliable............1Myth: Filing the firing pin will make the gun inoperable...........................................................1Myth: The cost per firearm will be cheap...................................................................................1Myth: The numbers will let police find the gun’s owner...........................................................1

Ballistic “fingerprinting”.........................................................................................2

Myth: Every firearm leaves a unique "fingerprint" that can pinpoint the firearm used.............2Myth: A database of ballistic profiles will allow police to trace gun crimes.............................3Myth: Ballistic imaging is used in Maryland and New York and solves many crimes..............3Myth: A ballistic database is inexpensive to create/maintain.....................................................4Myth: Police want a ballistic database........................................................................................4

Assault Weapons......................................................................................................5

Myth: Assault weapons are a serious problem in the U.S..........................................................5Myth: Every 48 Hours, An Analysis Of Assault Rifles Traced To Crime In Maryland............6Myth: One out of five police officers killed are killed with assault weapons............................6Myth: Assault weapons are favored by criminals.......................................................................7Myth: Assault weapons can be easily converted to machine guns.............................................7Myth: Assault weapons are used in 16% of homicides..............................................................7Myth: The 1994 (former) Federal Assault Weapons Ban was effective....................................8Myth: Nobody needs an assault weapon.....................................................................................8

Crime and guns ......................................................................................................10

Myth: Guns are not a good deterrent to crime..........................................................................10Myth: Guns are often used to commit violent crimes...............................................................11Myth: High capacity, semi-automatics are preferred by criminals...........................................12Myth: Banning “Saturday Night Specials” reduces crime........................................................12Myth: Criminals prefer "Saturday Night Specials"..................................................................12Myth: Gun shows are supermarkets for criminals....................................................................12Myth: 25-50% of the vendors at most gun shows are “unlicensed dealers”.............................13Myth: Regulation of gun shows would reduce “straw sales”...................................................14Myth: Prison isn't the answer to crime control.........................................................................14Myth: Waiting periods prevent rash crimes and reduce violent crime rates............................15Myth: Gun makers are selling plastic guns that slip through metal detectors..........................15Myth: Machine guns are favored by criminals.........................................................................15

Guns and crime prevention...................................................................................16

Myth: Private ownership of guns is not effective in preventing crime.....................................16Myth: Only police should have guns........................................................................................16Myth: You are more likely to be injured or killed using a gun for self-defense......................17Myth: Guns are not effective in preventing crime against women...........................................17

Licensing and registration.....................................................................................19

Myth: Other countries register guns to fight crime...................................................................19

Myth: Gun registration works...................................................................................................19Myth: Gun registration will help police find suspects..............................................................20Myth: Registration does not lead to confiscation.....................................................................20Myth: Licensing will keep bad people from obtaining or using guns......................................21Myth: Guns from the U.S. create crime in other countries.......................................................22

Concealed carry laws and weapons......................................................................23

Myth: Concealed carry laws increase crime.............................................................................23Myth: People with concealed weapons permits will commit crimes........................................25Myth: Texas CCW holders are arrested 66% more often.........................................................26Myth: CCWs will lead to mass public shootings......................................................................27Myth: People do not need concealable weapons......................................................................27Myth: Police are against concealed carrying by citizens..........................................................27

The availability of guns .........................................................................................29

Myth: The availability of guns causes crime............................................................................29Myth: Gun availability is what is causing school shootings.....................................................31Myth: Gun ownership is linked to higher homicide rates.........................................................31Myth: Handguns are 43 times more likely to kill a family member than a criminal................31

Accidental deaths...................................................................................................33

Myth: Accidental gun fatalities are a serious problem.............................................................33Myth: Handguns are unsafe and cause accidents......................................................................34Myth: Innocent bystanders are often killed by guns.................................................................34Myth: Citizens are too incompetent to use guns for protection................................................34Myth: Gun accidents are flooding emergency rooms...............................................................35Myth: "Junk" guns are dangerous and should be banned.........................................................35Myth: Guns should be made to conform to product liability laws...........................................35

Government, gun laws, and social costs...............................................................36

Myth: Gun control reduces crime.............................................................................................36Myth: Guns should be registered and licensed like cars...........................................................37Myth: The Brady Bill caused a decrease in gun homicides......................................................38Myth: Gun laws are being enforced..........................................................................................38Myth: Federal gun crime prosecutions increased 25%.............................................................39Myth: The social cost of gun violence is enormous.................................................................39Myth: The social cost of gun violence is $20-100 billion........................................................40Myth: Gun “buy back” programs get guns off the streets........................................................40Myth: Closing down “kitchen table” gun dealers will reduce guns on the street.....................41Myth: Only the government should have guns.........................................................................41Myth: “Safe storage” laws protect people................................................................................41

Police and guns.......................................................................................................43

Myth: Police favor gun control.................................................................................................43Myth: Police are our protection - people don't need guns........................................................43Myth: The supply of guns is a danger to law enforcement.......................................................44Myth: “Cop Killer” bullets need to be banned.........................................................................44Myth: Teflon bullets are designed to penetrate police bullet-proof vests.................................44

Children and guns..................................................................................................45

Myth: 13 children are killed each day by guns.........................................................................45

Myth: School yard shootings are an epidemic..........................................................................46Myth: Trigger locks will keep children from accidentally shooting themselves......................46Myth: More than 1,300 children commit suicide with guns.....................................................47Myth: Guns in America spark youth violence..........................................................................47Myth: Stricter gun control laws could have prevented the Columbine massacre.....................49Myth: Children should be kept away from guns for their own safety......................................49Myth: More children are hurt with guns than by any other means...........................................50Myth: If it saves the life of one child, it is worth it..................................................................51

.50-Caliber rifles.....................................................................................................52

Myth: .50-calibers are the favorite weapon of terrorists...........................................................52Myth: American gun makers sold .50-calibers to terrorists......................................................52Myth: .50-caliber shooters are terrorists in training.................................................................52Myth: The Founding Fathers would have had no use for a .50-caliber rifle............................52Myth: .50-calibers are capable of piercing airline fuel tanks from a mile away......................53Myth: .50-caliber bullets can penetrate concrete bunkers........................................................53Myth: .50-caliber Bullets can pierce light armor at 4 miles.....................................................53Myth: .50-caliber rifles can knock a helicopter from the sky...................................................53Myth: .50-caliber guns are for snipers......................................................................................53

Guns in other countries.........................................................................................55

Myth: Countries with strict gun control have less crime..........................................................55Myth: Britain has strict gun control and a low crime rate........................................................57Myth: Gun control in Australia is curbing crime......................................................................59Myth: Japan has strict gun control and a less violent society...................................................60Myth: Gun bans elsewhere work..............................................................................................60Myth: The United States has the highest violence rate because of lax gun control.................61

Assorted myths.......................................................................................................62

Myth: 30,000 people are killed with guns every year...............................................................62Myth: The Brady Campaign has a good ranking system of state gun control laws.................62Myth: 1,000 people die each day from guns.............................................................................62Myth: High capacity guns lead to more deadly shootings........................................................63Myth: The “powerful gun industry” stops all gun control legislation......................................63Myth: Access to guns increases the risk of suicide..................................................................64

Gun owners and public opinion............................................................................65

Myth: Gun owners are a tiny minority......................................................................................65Myth: People do not believe that the 2

Amendment is an individual right............................65Myth: Most Americans favor gun control................................................................................65Myth: More and more Americans support stricter gun control................................................66MYTH: Most people think guns in the home are dangerous....................................................68

The Second Amendment........................................................................................69

Myth: The Second Amendment is a collective right, not an individual right..........................69Myth: The "militia" clause is to arm the National Guard........................................................70Myth: The Supreme Court ruled the Second Amendment is not an individual right..............71Myth: U.S. v. Cruikshank denied an individual right to bear arms..........................................72Myth: U.S. v. Miller said that the Second Amendment is not an individual right...................72Summary of various court decisions concerning gun rights.....................................................73