Joyce Foundation

2 posts

How the Other Side Lives

Dave Workman found a policy document outlying strategies for gun-control advocates [pdf file]. It’s very much worth taking the time to read.

Back in 1993, I sat on the panel of a gun-control debate for a local TV station. The guy on the other side of the table actually said, “you can try to trip me up with the facts, but the only real fact is that we need these weapons off the streets.” The crowd loved it.

They’re still using the same tactics.

Always focus on emotional and value-driven arguments about gun violence, not the political food fight in Washington or wonky statistics. (…) We should rely on emotionally powerful language, feelings and images to bring home the terrible impact of gun violence. Compelling facts should be used to back up that emotional narrative, not as a substitute for it.

The paper advises advocates to refer to the issue as “gun violence” rather than “gun control,” and to advocate for “stronger” gun laws rather than “stricter” ones.

When All Else Fails, Lie

CSGV Alarmism

H.R. 822 now has 245 cosponsors.  I have my reasons for thinking it’s the wrong approach, and even if it does get through the Senate, it won’t be signed.  That’s alright.  I like this one for one very salient reason: it’s got folks in certain corners going all kinds of asplodey.

Today’s exhibit is from the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence (CSGV).  They were originally formed in 1975 as the National Coalition to Ban Handguns.  One of the founders was Edward Welles, who also started the Violence Policy Center.  At some point, they decided that the phrase “ban handguns” might be a little extreme, and they changed it.  If that story sounds familiar, the Violence Policy Center used to be Handgun Control International.  Evidently, “control” is also a scary word to the moderates these guys hope to attract.

Under the even less threatening name of the Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence, the CSGV collects $125,000 from the Joyce Foundation every year, which is about $120,000 more than the Brady Campaign makes.

Continued...