ABCNews.com  01/23/2004

Click on image above to see Myth 3 - Guns are bad  http://abcnews.go.com/sections/2020/2020/myths_john_stossel_040123-7.html Lies, Myths and Downright Stupidity Stossel's List of Popularly Reported Misconceptions

Some select items from the ABCNews.com Message Board discussing John Stossel's "Lies, myths and downright stupidity" on 20/20 on Friday, January 23, 2004:  Not worth the bandwidth to include anything from those who are "downright stupid."

R4fan: Gun Control I have to applaud John Stossel for showing the true facts regarding gun control. I am a police officer in the State of New Jersey, and I see firsthand that gun control laws only restrict the freedoms of LAW ABIDING citizens. Criminals don't care what laws are on the books, and are not afraid of going to jail or prison. Criminals do not obey the law, and the laws only punish them AFTER (and if) they get caught. No criminal (that I personally know of) that was found in possession of a firearm obtained it legally. Even if you banned guns altogether and there were none anywhere, criminals would use something else like knives, hammers, baseball bats, etc (which I have seen personally). Violent offenders do not need a gun, but will use it if they are able to obtain one. In numerous other states (not NJ) law abiding citizens are allowed to carry a concealed firearm. In all of these states the crime rate has lowered dramatically. Criminals are cowards, and look for victims. They aren't going to rob/assault/rape anyone who might possibly be armed. In Washington D.C. handguns are banned and they have a high murder rate. England and Australia banned guns and the crime rate is soaring. Criminals don't obey the laws, and won't turn in their guns. If honest, law abiding citizens were able to carry a concealed firearm, it would make my job easier and I wouldn't see some of the tragedies that occur on a daily basis. Also, most police are AGAINST gun control no matter what the media says!

otherbearb:  gun control myths Stunned, I'm truly stunned that ABC allowed Mr. Stossel to finally bust the gun control myth. Thank you Mr. Stossel for the breakthrough.

MajorReed:  1st ABC news show I've watched in years Nicely done, Sir. It brought out some uncommon sense that was welcomed. Please replace Peter Jennings ASAP and ABC might actually be a news program worth watching.

sigp22940: gun control I'd like to thank John Stossel for having the courage to tell the TRUTH about gun control. His report on this controversial subject was excellent. It was great that he had factual research sutdies conducted by the CDC to support the claim that gun control does not lower the violent crime rate, and that accidental deaths by guns is very rare.

gselliot: Gun Control I am glad that someone had the guts to say on television what some of us have known for years that if the government did gun control their way the only people that had guns would be criminals. Wake up people. As the one man in prison said they don't care how many gun control laws the government passes they will find a way to get a gun if they want one. They do not go to their local sporting goods store to buy them.

NRA4LIFE96: Gun Control Lies--Great Job!   Mr. Stossel, Thank you for telling the truth about gun control on national television. Knowing Bernard Goldberg was right about liberal bias in the media, I had all but given up hope of ever seeing the truth of this issue shown on any of the national networks. Please, keep broadcasting the message that gun control does not work! The country very much needs to hear it and we've got a long way to go to counteract the liberal lies of the last three decades. Thanks again!

jmaaaquality: Re: Gun Control Myths My hat is off to you!! Thank you for bringing forth the exact truth about Gun control that I and many Millions of honest American Gun owners have been trying to talk to the Antis about, they just don't want to understand that its the criminals NOT the guns, Guns don't kill people...people kill people, and no matter how many gun laws are put into place, the black market will always prevail! When the guns are taken away from honest Americans, that is when everyone will understand what real fear is, that is the day all criminals pray for!! The other sad thing is that the U.S Olympians win MANY Gold medals every year in shooting sports and NONE of them are even acknowledged...what does that teach our children about striving for your goals???