Intelligent push back in the Des Moines Register

DaleA · March 23, 2020, 04:01 PM

IMhO this is an EXCELLENT push back opinion piece to an anti-gun opinion piece published by the Des Moines Register from Iowa state senator Claire Celsi.

The author (Donald W. Bohlken of Indianola is an attorney and a retired administrative law judge) avoids hyperbole and emotional arguments and just flat out exposes the lies and misrepresentations made in the anti-gun article. The comments to the article are all supportive and calm too.

It’s kind of refreshing.

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/st...nt/2874030001/

The anti-gun article is here:
https://www.desmoinesregister.com/st...ce/5024719002/

FITASC · March 23, 2020, 05:29 PM

The DMR prevents folks like me using ad blockers from reading either. Any short summary for both you can share?

TXAZ · March 23, 2020, 10:35 PM

The retort was quite good! Thanks.

greentick · March 24, 2020, 12:07 AM

Well done.

DaleA · March 24, 2020, 12:38 AM

Here’s some points Iowa State Senator Celsi made that are refuted by Donald W. Bohlken.

1. The rate of suicides in the United States is 10 times higher than any other country on Earth. Refute: In fact, the United States annual suicide rate typically ranks in the 30s not even in the top 10.

2. She claims that the proposition that good guys with guns stop crime is a fantasy. Refute: There are half a million to three million cases of guns used defensively per year.

3. Gun deaths among 14 to 17 year olds are over 22% higher than motor vehicle deaths. Refute: if you take accidental gun deaths and accidental motor vehicle deaths then motor vehicles kill over 25X (twenty five times) more youths. Accidental firearms deaths is 0.23 per 100,000. Accidental motor vehicle deaths is 6.48.

In short, Celsi misrepresents a bunch of data, sometimes using apples-to-oranges, comparisons or just plain ignoring conflicting data to whip up an emotional anti-gun tirade. Much of her data has no source listed or comes from notoriously anti-gun sources like those sponsored by Michael Bloomberg (like Everytown).

P.S. Every time I went to the Des Moines Register site they said I had one less free article to view. I deleted my browser cookies and was able to go back and see more articles but I'm certainly not sure if this works for all browsers or even would continue to work for me.

Robert J McElwain · March 24, 2020, 06:56 AM

Excellent article.

Prof Young · March 24, 2020, 07:02 PM

Good article. Worth sharing around.

Life is good.
Prof Young

TXAZ · March 26, 2020, 08:02 PM

I sent her a nice, professional note inquiring about her article, her reply was to ask if I was willing to listen, I said yes then no reply.
Anyone want to bet I won't hear back from her?

Trevor · April 7, 2020, 07:27 PM

Thanks for sharing.

March 23, 2020, 04:01 PM	#1
DaleA Senior Member Join Date: September 12, 2002 Location: Twin Cities, MN Posts: 5,384	Intelligent push back in the Des Moines Register IMhO this is an EXCELLENT push back opinion piece to an anti-gun opinion piece published by the Des Moines Register from Iowa state senator Claire Celsi. The author (Donald W. Bohlken of Indianola is an attorney and a retired administrative law judge) avoids hyperbole and emotional arguments and just flat out exposes the lies and misrepresentations made in the anti-gun article. The comments to the article are all supportive and calm too. It’s kind of refreshing. https://www.desmoinesregister.com/st...nt/2874030001/ The anti-gun article is here: https://www.desmoinesregister.com/st...ce/5024719002/

March 23, 2020, 05:29 PM	#2
FITASC Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2014 Posts: 6,654	The DMR prevents folks like me using ad blockers from reading either. Any short summary for both you can share? __________________ "I believe that people have a right to decide their own destinies; people own themselves. I also believe that, in a democracy, government exists because (and only so long as) individual citizens give it a 'temporary license to exist'—in exchange for a promise that it will behave itself. In a democracy, you own the government—it doesn't own you."- Frank Zappa

March 23, 2020, 10:35 PM	#3
TXAZ Senior Member Join Date: September 5, 2010 Location: McMurdo Sound Texas Posts: 4,322	The retort was quite good! Thanks. __________________ Cave illos in guns et backhoes

March 24, 2020, 12:07 AM	#4
greentick Senior Member Join Date: January 15, 2011 Location: Deep South Posts: 261	Well done. __________________ nous défions

March 24, 2020, 07:02 PM	#7
Prof Young Senior Member Join Date: August 22, 2007 Location: Illinois - down state Posts: 2,514	Thanks . . . Good article. Worth sharing around. Life is good. Prof Young

March 24, 2020, 12:38 AM	#5
DaleA Senior Member Join Date: September 12, 2002 Location: Twin Cities, MN Posts: 5,384	Here’s some points Iowa State Senator Celsi made that are refuted by Donald W. Bohlken. 1. The rate of suicides in the United States is 10 times higher than any other country on Earth. Refute: In fact, the United States annual suicide rate typically ranks in the 30s not even in the top 10. 2. She claims that the proposition that good guys with guns stop crime is a fantasy. Refute: There are half a million to three million cases of guns used defensively per year. 3. Gun deaths among 14 to 17 year olds are over 22% higher than motor vehicle deaths. Refute: if you take accidental gun deaths and accidental motor vehicle deaths then motor vehicles kill over 25X (twenty five times) more youths. Accidental firearms deaths is 0.23 per 100,000. Accidental motor vehicle deaths is 6.48. In short, Celsi misrepresents a bunch of data, sometimes using apples-to-oranges, comparisons or just plain ignoring conflicting data to whip up an emotional anti-gun tirade. Much of her data has no source listed or comes from notoriously anti-gun sources like those sponsored by Michael Bloomberg (like Everytown). P.S. Every time I went to the Des Moines Register site they said I had one less free article to view. I deleted my browser cookies and was able to go back and see more articles but I'm certainly not sure if this works for all browsers or even would continue to work for me.

March 24, 2020, 06:56 AM	#6
Robert J McElwain Senior Member Join Date: July 13, 2001 Location: Kansas City area Posts: 241	Excellent article.

March 26, 2020, 08:02 PM	#8
TXAZ Senior Member Join Date: September 5, 2010 Location: McMurdo Sound Texas Posts: 4,322	I sent her a nice, professional note inquiring about her article, her reply was to ask if I was willing to listen, I said yes then no reply. Anyone want to bet I won't hear back from her? __________________ Cave illos in guns et backhoes

April 7, 2020, 07:27 PM	#9
Trevor Senior Member Join Date: February 6, 1999 Posts: 386	Thanks for sharing.