U.S.A. –-(Ammoland.com)- David Chipman is a former ATF agent. He found a new gig as a spokesman for those who want the population disarmed. David Chipman’s latest attempt at scaring Americans away from exercising their Second Amendment rights seems rather ham-handed. From cheddar.com:
David Chipman, Senior Policy Advisor at the Giffords organization said hopelessness, anxiety and fear might cause people to try to use firearms to control some aspect of their lives as they are inundated with concerning news about COVID-19, “but there are risks to that choice.”
“They might think that they’re die-hard, ready to go, but unfortunately they’re more like Tiger King and they’re putting themselves and their family in danger,” he said, referencing the popular new Netflix series and its central figure’s love of guns. Particularly without proper gun training, Chipman worries new gun owners are putting people at risk. Unintentional shootings makeup 1.3 percent of gun deaths and 18 percent of gun injuries.
He suggested first-time gun owners secure unloaded firearms. “Hide it behind the cans of tuna and beef jerky that you’ve stored in the cabinet,” he said.
(snip)
Chipman said he’s concerned about an increase in domestic violence cases and the possibility of a gun becoming part of that equation. Experts have warned quarantine may lead to more domestic violence incidents sprung from anxiety, loss of jobs and more time at home.
Fortunately, there is no evidence of a national spike in domestic violence. The Hill.com has some numbers from some cities.
Dallas showed an increase of 21% of calls from February to March; Los Angeles reported a 12.4% decrease, then a 7.6% increase of calls; and New York showed a 15% decline in calls from last year. There is no good evidence the lockdown is increasing or decreasing domestic violence. Those who make an industry of domestic abuse find a way to conflate any reporting with an increase. For example, a sociology professor speculated that lower reporting might be because of higher abuse rates.
Domestic violence may increase; it may not. It is difficult to know. It is difficult to know if an increase in reporting means an increase in violence or not. It is hard to believe having more gun owners means having more domestic violence.
Comparing the new gun owners to convicted criminals and bizarre adrenaline and meth addicts in the Netflicks docudrama “true crime” series, Tiger King, won’t win points with the new gun owners. Very few new gun owners will be polyandrous gay men who obsess with and own tigers and lions.
Missing from the Cheddar article is a call for the new gun owners to get trained up. Instead, Chipman advises them to store guns in such a way as to render them unusable for immediate defense of self and family.
People seldom purchase firearms as an impulse buy. They are not offered next to the checkout at your local convenience store, along with the candy.
What seems like an impulse buy is usually a long-simmering and considered desire, set off by events which crystallize the decision to be prepared.
Trying to shame these new gun owners into giving up the guns they just paid top dollar for, is not a way to endear yourself to them.
Those who are attempting to push the national population into disarmament, have convinced themselves they are smarter than the people they are attempting to disarm. They have had success, because they have had the Media on their side for 50 years.
Expert is a label that no longer carries much weight. The public has come to know experts can be found for any side of an argument.
To evaluate an expert, people have to consider their arguments and data. When you find an “expert” who resorts to emotional arguments, or who refuses to show you their data, you know to discard that person’s advice.
Nicolo Machiavelli was a political expert on the use of power, who the left has idealized for 500 years. He wrote that armed people see the world differently than unarmed people.
The famed political philosopher states it well in The Prince:
Because there is nothing proportionate between the armed and the unarmed; and it is not reasonable that he who is armed should yield obedience willingly to him who is unarmed, or that the unarmed man should be secure among armed servants. Because, there being in the one disdain and in the other suspicion, it is not possible for them to work well together.
David Chipman is attempting to convince recently armed people to place themselves back into the category of unarmed people. It is rather like convincing someone to forget what they have seen.
It has not been working. America is better armed today, in spite of the scaremongering and propaganda than it has ever been.
People in the gun culture need to welcome these new members. They need training and support. Put aside past judgments. Many were only believing what “experts” told them. They have much to learn when they are seeing the world through the eyes of an armed citizen.
About Dean Weingarten:
Dean Weingarten has been a peace officer, a military officer, was on the University of Wisconsin Pistol Team for four years, and was first certified to teach firearms safety in 1973. He taught the Arizona concealed carry course for fifteen years until the goal of Constitutional Carry was attained. He has degrees in meteorology and mining engineering, and retired from the Department of Defense after a 30 year career in Army Research, Development, Testing, and Evaluation.
Wasn’t it the ATF and Obama that allowed guns to be sold to Mexican drug cartels even though the dealers initially denied them. Then one of those guns was used to kill a federal agent. I wonder what role Chipman played in that.
Chipman is simply one in a long line of talking head hacks who has betrayed the oath he took to defend the Constitution (that oath never expires by the way) and disgraced the badge he formerly wore all for a few bucks and a lingering spotlight. He should be shunned and ridiculed by all at every available opportunity.
“Senior Policy Advisor at the Giffords organization”
Translation, democratic-socialist.
Good to know that a bureaucrat from the ATF thinks we normal citizens shouldn’t own weapons. Gives an insight as to the rules are written.
His experience as a former ATF agent gives him as much clout as my military service gives me the capability to dictate current national security protocol. This dude is a pawn.
Former ATF – that should tell you everything you need to know. This SOB thinks it’s 1984, and he wants to be important.
Rights Vs Saving Lives By TheRevelator It’s amazing, to think we almost had a time when the ATF would be disbanded only a few short years ago which would have prevented the training and creation of idiots who would later be able to parlay said creation as a “Credible” background for experience on things which they know nothing about. Typically, the stupidity which afflicts base born human nincompoops shows up when they have lost an argument of facts and instead try to justify their moronic beliefs with an emotional sentiment. I’m sure you have heard it before. “If it saves… Read more »
legend in his own mind.
BATFE has a history of corruption, overreach, and tyranny from scams to steal and sell guns on the black-market back in the Nixon years to behavior so blatant that liberals were ready to break up the Bureau back in the early Eighties, through Operation Fast and Furious. Somehow the opinions of one of their agents against private gun ownership does not impress me.
He is right that many new gun-owners are deficient in safety training and gun handling skills. We gun owners need to offer our help in acquiring these skills.
These elitists make me want to regurgitate. Even IF someone is a brand new irresponsible gun owner, it’s still NOT HIS CALL TO MAKE. This is America, if only for a little longer. If you’re old enough to buy a gun and WANT to buy a gun, then by all means, buy a gun. If you can’t get adequate training right now, then ask around. Everybody knows someone who would be more than happy to share their knowledge with someone trying to learn. This is like Comey and his ilk knowing better than the American people what’s right and who’s… Read more »