Mikhail Kalashnikov, Regretted Inventing the AK-47 On His Deathbed

By Baldr Odinson.   Mikhail Kalashnikov was an inventor.  He started inventing things soon after he joined the Red Army tank brigade, after his family was sent to Siberia during the Soviet purges.  He invented a tank shot counter, a [...]
Why Does Iceland Have So Few Officer-Involved Shootings Compared To The U.S.?

Why Does Iceland Have So Few Officer-Involved Shootings Compared To The U.S.?

by Baldr Odinson.   It’s the scenario that all law enforcement officers train for, but hope never to use:  a seemingly routine traffic stop or investigation of a suspect suddenly turns into a life-and-death shootout.  It happens [...]
U.S. Legislators: Voting Against Commonsense Gun Regulation Will Get You Unelected

U.S. Legislators: Voting Against Commonsense Gun Regulation Will Get You Unelected

by Baldr Odinson.   Despite 90% of Americans supporting universal background checks, including 91% of gun-owning households, and even 74% of NRA members (see the data here), the U.S. Senate voted down a watered-down background check bill [...]

Gun Control is DOA in Congress

By Alan Caruba When I was a teenager I was a magician performing at birthday parties and before local clubs whose adults enjoyed legerdemain as much as the kids. The essence of magic is diversion, distracting the audience to watch the right [...]

Gun Sales Boom In The U.S., But Who’s Buying?

by Baldr Odinson   We’ve seen the headlines about booming gun sales:    “Sales of Guns Soar in U.S. as Nation Weighs Tougher Limits“ “Gun checks soar 39 percent, set new record: FBI“ “Machine [...]

Guns In School Make Our Kids Less Safe

By Baldr Odinson. A little less than a week ago, the little town of Harrisburg, Oregon, just north of where I live in Eugene, held a meeting to discuss the idea of arming some of its school staff, following the lunatic advice of the NRA.    From an [...]
What Do The Families Of The Newtown Massacre Have To Say About Gun Regulation?

What Do The Families Of The Newtown Massacre Have To Say About Gun Regulation?

By Baldr Odinson. There have been strong opinions on both sides of the gun violence issue since the horrifying massacre of school children in Newtown.    But what do the parents and families in Newtown think?   Recently, [...]
The Myth Of The Conceal Carry Hero: Coming To Your Kid's School?

The Myth Of The Conceal Carry Hero: Coming To Your Kid’s School?

  By Baldr Odinson.   It’s been more than a week, now, since the horrible mass murder of 20 young children and 7 adults in Newtown, Connecticut.  Adam Lanza, armed with a .223 Bushmaster AR-15 semi-auto assault rifle, multiple [...]

NRA: Sour Grapes for Sore Losers

by Baldr Odinson. It’s been two weeks, now, since President Barack Obama’s overwhelming defeat of Mitt Romney and launch into his second term, with an astounding 332 electoral votes to Romney’s 206, and a comfortable majority [...]
Veterans' Day, But No Armistice On Our Streets

Veterans’ Day, But No Armistice On Our Streets

by Baldr Odinson. Monday was Veterans’ Day in the United States — a day when we stop to consider the sacrifices of our military veterans, and especially those who served in war, living or dead.  I have family in the military (one [...]
Presidential Candidates Finally Debate On Gun Control

Presidential Candidates Finally Debate On Gun Control

  By Baldr Odinson. I’ve been annoyed by the fact that not one single question about gun violence came up in the first presidential debate or in the vice-presidential debate.  You would think that 100,000 shootings a year, almost [...]
Threats Against Obama? Words Matter

Threats Against Obama? Words Matter

By Baldr Odinson Yesterday afternoon someone fired a shot at the Obama campaign field office in Denver, Colorado. The shot smashed a window, but luckily none of the campaign workers inside were injured. A suspect has not yet been caught. What [...]
A Timeline of Pro-Gun Conspiracy Theories in the United States

A Timeline of Pro-Gun Conspiracy Theories in the United States

By Baldr Odinson. Hey, did you hear it? The government’s out to get your guns! The mass shooting last month was “staged” by the government! The President is intentionally trying to kill Mexicans to justify an attack on the [...]

How Many Shootings Does It Take?

By Baldr Odinson. I just read a blog post at Random Musings, where the author wonders what the “magic number” of gun deaths is to lead to real action. In his words: I don’t know if anyone from the NRA/gun lobby will read this, or [...]