Crosstalk: June 8, 2016

Jim began this Crosstalk broadcast with news concerning the Marius and Ruth Bodnariu family from Norway. Their 4 children were abducted by officials because of their faith.

The children are now returning home. The input of listeners was critical because within 15 minutes after the end of the May 19th Crosstalk that dealt with this issue, VCY America had received communication by e-mail from the Norwegian embassy asking what was said on the air.

Larry Pratt is the executive director emeritus of Gun Owners of America, a national grassroots organization representing more than 1.5 million Americans dedicated to promoting their Second Amendment freedom to keep and bear arms. Larry published a book, 'Armed People Victorious', was editor of 'Safeguarding Liberty: The Constitution & Militias', and his latest book,'On the Firing Line: Essays in the Defense of Liberty'.

How does Larry account for the drop in the national homicide rate while gun sales have skyrocketed? He noted that year after year in state after state, the data indicates that the more citizens who are armed, the more violent crime decreases. That includes the murder rate where jurisdictions make it easier for people to get a concealed carry permit.

Larry estimated that in its current form, the concealed carry permit movement probably started almost 30 years ago. Since that time, mostly through legislative action and some by court action, all 50 states has some kind of concealed carry law. 12 states have concealed carry that's permitted as a matter of right, with no permits required. It's called 'constitutional carry'. Alaska is one example in this category. Predictions suggested that there would be blood flowing in the streets. The opposite has occurred as violent crime is down in the state. Unfortunately, the problem is that the media doesn't want to talk about some of the great stories where average citizens with guns are stopping crime.

Larry also noted how women are purchasing guns. To highlight how important that decision can be, he recalled the story of a woman who had been in an abusive relationship. After breaking off the relationship, she obtained a restraining order. She applied to the chief of police in her town to get a gun. The permission never came and she was murdered in her driveway by her ex-boyfriend who used a knife.

Concerning the shooting at UCLA, Larry said Gun Owners of America looked back at the initial news accounts and he believes it clearly gave the impression that a man had been killed but the body count was unknown. The murderer killed himself almost immediately so it wasn't what one typically associates with a mass murder but instead was a grudge murder. Larry noted that the media immediately assumed that since UCLA was a gun-free zone, how many others are going to be killed? He sees that as a good assumption, yet they remain wedded to the idea of having these kind of zones.

Larry commented that confiscation of firearms is something that the President has indicated both from his voting as an Illinois senator and from statements he's made during his presidency. Gun Owners of America has publicly challenged the President and others who have the same opinion indicating that if that's the way you believe, then why not lead by example and tell the Secret Service to leave their guns at home because all those guns will lead to an escalation of violence.

There's much more from Larry, audio from presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, as well as listener opinions on this important Crosstalk broadcast.