KilroyLebowski

From the page: "Gun control activists have long contended that more guns mean more violent crimes but recent FBI data do not support the assertions. In fact, within the past year there has been an explosion in gun ownership while data indicate a precipitous drop in violent crime. Imagine that.

After several years of crime rates holding relatively steady, the FBI is reporting that violent crimes �" including gun crimes �" dropped dramatically in the first six months of 2009, with murder down 10 percent across the US as a whole.

Concurrently, the FBI reports that gun sales �" especially of assault-style rifles and handguns, two main targets of gun-control groups �" are up at least 12 percent nationally since the election of President Obama, a dramatic run on guns prompted in part by so-far-unwarranted fears that Democrats in Congress and the White House will curtail gun rights and carve apart the Second Amendment.

Nevertheless, gun control advocates claim no correlation can be made between a surge in gun ownership and a steep decline in violent crime. Allowance is made, however, for a possible deterrent effect with criminals thinking twice before committing crimes for fear that someone may be packing heat. Think about it. News reports have been littered with stories of ammunition shortages and quotes from gun shop owners claiming the best gun sales year ever."

From the page: "Today's New York Times quotes Senator Harry Reid explaining what the health care bill is all about:

�oeThis is not about politics,” Mr. Reid said. �oeThis is not about polling. It�s about people. It�s about life and death in America. It�s about human suffering, and given the chance to relieve this suffering, we must."

So, how exactly did Senate leadership persuade the few remaining Democrats who were dragging their heels? By appealing to their principles, of course. FoxNews.com reports:

Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., won between $100 million and $300 million in additional federal aid for her state's Medicaid population. The deal, secured before she cast her critical vote in favor of bringing the health bill to the floor, was immediately dubbed the "Louisiana Purchase," though the actual Louisiana Purchase was considerably cheaper."