We used to refer to Boulder, Colorado that way.
Today, unfortunately, the water levels in the sea of reality aren’t rising. Apparently, they are dropping.
The latest example of this is a bogus “scientific” study featured by MSN, explaining how manmade global warming – the earth heating up – is to blame for increased gun-caused deaths. Thousands die, we are told, when the weather gets hotter. And we are reminded that temperatures are supposed to rise 3 to 12 degrees nationwide by the end of the century, and gun violence (not just gun deaths) will rise alarmingly as well.
Of course, even the limited data provided in the article (found online courtesy of Microsoft) doesn’t support the hysterical claims of the headline and opening sentences.
We learn the study looked at “100 major U.S. cities with the highest proportion of gun violence between 2015 and 2020.” There were 116 ,511 shootings, or so they claim, in those 100 cities over that six years. Note: not killings, not deaths. No idea if that number leaves out suicides, or self-defense, or accidents. Just a bit under 20,000 shootings per year. [Note: We have not the foggiest idea where this 116,511 number came from – more indication of significant mindlessness.]
But get this: only about 6.85% (or 7,973) of those shootings were attributable to above-average temperatures. That is less than 1200 per year if I calculate right. Wow.
Of course, for the denizens of that island of unreality (call it fantasy or myth), proclaiming this is a twofer. It offers justification not just to take away guns but to mandate measures to battle global warming. Like mandating electrical vehicles (which life cycle generates far more “greenhouse gases” than the average modern gas- or diesel-guzzler. (Their words, not mine. I once owned and drove a 1972 Dodge Monaco police interceptor – now THAT was a gas-burner indeed.)
The idea that tempers flare and people get angrier and more frustrated and ticked off at other people (and themselves) when the weather is hot has been around for a long time. People don’t protest much – or riot much – in December or January or February. Even the civil rights riots and the anti-war riots of the 1960s were all scheduled in warmer months. (And oddly, there weren’t any rights over JFK getting gunned down on 22 November 1963, 60 years ago! Maybe cool weather made cooler heads prevail?)
Readers of this commentary know that the claims of this article are bogus and twisted. Supposedly, also, the number of shootings (again, not deaths): “with more shootings recorded in 2020 than any other year. No, really? Never mind that we have a lot more people here in the States than ever before, or that people were ramped up (and committing suicide in near-record numbers) by the Pandemic and its government-led Panic that year. Even Pew admitted that the rate of deaths is down. Again. But for people who live in a fantasy world, and who can’t tolerate reality, I’m sure this is absorbed and will be spouted repeatedly.
Sadly, we can’t just ignore them lest they infect other people with their madness. Whether it is over global climate change or the evils of not wearing masks or getting vaccines, or gun violence. Because, even more sadly, we live in a democracy (not that it is supposed to be) with a virtually all-powerful government. So we must counter their stupidity, ignorance, lies and twisting reality. Daily, if possible.
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About TPOL Nathan
Follower of Christ Jesus (a christian), Pahasapan (resident of the Black Hills), Westerner, Lover of Liberty, Free-Market Anarchist, Engineer, Army Officer, Husband, Father, Historian, Writer, Evangelist. Successor to Lady Susan (Mama Liberty) at TPOL.
The Price of Liberty 
Islands in the sea of reality
We used to refer to Boulder, Colorado that way.
Today, unfortunately, the water levels in the sea of reality aren’t rising. Apparently, they are dropping.
The latest example of this is a bogus “scientific” study featured by MSN, explaining how manmade global warming – the earth heating up – is to blame for increased gun-caused deaths. Thousands die, we are told, when the weather gets hotter. And we are reminded that temperatures are supposed to rise 3 to 12 degrees nationwide by the end of the century, and gun violence (not just gun deaths) will rise alarmingly as well.
Of course, even the limited data provided in the article (found online courtesy of Microsoft) doesn’t support the hysterical claims of the headline and opening sentences.
We learn the study looked at “100 major U.S. cities with the highest proportion of gun violence between 2015 and 2020.” There were 116 ,511 shootings, or so they claim, in those 100 cities over that six years. Note: not killings, not deaths. No idea if that number leaves out suicides, or self-defense, or accidents. Just a bit under 20,000 shootings per year. [Note: We have not the foggiest idea where this 116,511 number came from – more indication of significant mindlessness.]
But get this: only about 6.85% (or 7,973) of those shootings were attributable to above-average temperatures. That is less than 1200 per year if I calculate right. Wow.
Of course, for the denizens of that island of unreality (call it fantasy or myth), proclaiming this is a twofer. It offers justification not just to take away guns but to mandate measures to battle global warming. Like mandating electrical vehicles (which life cycle generates far more “greenhouse gases” than the average modern gas- or diesel-guzzler. (Their words, not mine. I once owned and drove a 1972 Dodge Monaco police interceptor – now THAT was a gas-burner indeed.)
The idea that tempers flare and people get angrier and more frustrated and ticked off at other people (and themselves) when the weather is hot has been around for a long time. People don’t protest much – or riot much – in December or January or February. Even the civil rights riots and the anti-war riots of the 1960s were all scheduled in warmer months. (And oddly, there weren’t any rights over JFK getting gunned down on 22 November 1963, 60 years ago! Maybe cool weather made cooler heads prevail?)
Readers of this commentary know that the claims of this article are bogus and twisted. Supposedly, also, the number of shootings (again, not deaths): “with more shootings recorded in 2020 than any other year. No, really? Never mind that we have a lot more people here in the States than ever before, or that people were ramped up (and committing suicide in near-record numbers) by the Pandemic and its government-led Panic that year. Even Pew admitted that the rate of deaths is down. Again. But for people who live in a fantasy world, and who can’t tolerate reality, I’m sure this is absorbed and will be spouted repeatedly.
Sadly, we can’t just ignore them lest they infect other people with their madness. Whether it is over global climate change or the evils of not wearing masks or getting vaccines, or gun violence. Because, even more sadly, we live in a democracy (not that it is supposed to be) with a virtually all-powerful government. So we must counter their stupidity, ignorance, lies and twisting reality. Daily, if possible.
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Like this:
About TPOL Nathan
Follower of Christ Jesus (a christian), Pahasapan (resident of the Black Hills), Westerner, Lover of Liberty, Free-Market Anarchist, Engineer, Army Officer, Husband, Father, Historian, Writer, Evangelist. Successor to Lady Susan (Mama Liberty) at TPOL.