last night NPR hosted a debate on Gun Control at Rockefeller University as part of their “Intelligence Squared†series.
One of the panel was Seattle Chief of Police, Gil Kerlikowske
Joining Kerlikowske are five others, including Paul Helmke, the director of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, as well as Stephen Halbrook, the National Rifle Association attorney who has filed lawsuits challenging bans on handguns in Chicago and Washington, D.C.”It’s a little different forum for police chief to be in — at Rockefeller University in New York City in an ‘Oxford style’ debate,” Kerlikowske said from his hotel room.
“I think they just wanted a practitioner. I think they wanted a little more color added to it, a little more practical viewpoint.”
Under Oxford-style rules, two teams will be asked to argue for and against a motion, which in this case is the statement “Guns reduce crime.” The debate is expected to center on what effect personal gun ownership has on deterring or increasing crime rates.
Kerlikowske said research is “clear” that the more guns in the community, the more that are in circulation for criminals to get their hands on.
“When there are more guns, there are more guns used in suicides, and more guns used in domestic violence. And where there are more guns in more homes, there are more accidental shootings, including shootings by children,” he said.
And when he says “Children†he means 19 year old gang members, because those are the statistics he gets handed to him by the anti-civilian ownership of firearms groups he cavorts with.
But you’ll hear no mention that Kerlikowske has done more to put guns in the hands of criminals that 99% of the firearms owning persons residing within his jurisdiction.
The reason I’m going to try and tune in when this gets broadcast is that Kerlikowske has a bit of a short fuse and can run on at the mouth without prepared remarks. When his “talking points†get taken to the cleaners by Halbrook and Crew, he might say something entirely and completely insane.
So keep your ears open, and if you get the chance to listen to the program do so. You may just get to hear the Forrest Gump of Seattle Law Enforcement Community recall what his “Mama Always Said†(his “Mama†being Ceasefire Washington).