New study on Concealed Carry

I hope that people will consider downloading a copy of our new study on concealed handguns available here.  The paper shows the huge changes that have been occurring in the number of concealed handgun permits and who have been getting those permits.  It also shows how changes in the crime rate have been related to changes in crime rates across states, and I think that the paper will serve as an important resource.  Finally, if we can get another thousand downloads on the paper, I think that it will force the academics who pay attention to the rankings on the Social Science Research Network to have to deal with the points that we have raised in the paper.

Hillary Clinton's nonexistent accomplishments in the US Senate

It has been hard for Hillary Clinton's supporters to identify anything that she accomplished while Secretary of State.  Well, it should be just as hard for people to identify any real mark she made while in the US Senate.   Fifteen of the twenty bills or resolutions she passed involved designating names for government buildings, honoring events, or congratulating people on their accomplishments (show in red).  The five bills of more substance are marked in blue.  Two of those five designated land in Puerto Rico as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System.  A third bill renewed a grant program "to develop coordinated respite care programs" -- a center to study elderly care.  A fourth "authorize assistance for individuals with disabilities in foreign countries, includeng victims of landmines and other victims of civil strife and warfare, and for other purposes."  A fifth was to extend unemployment insurance in 2001, but there was nothing unique about that bill and it appears as if it was a gift to her so that she could claim that she had something passed.

So after eight years in the Senate, Clinton's legislative accomplishments boil down to two relatively small grant programs.

Hillary Clinton's 20 resolutions and bills that were passed while she was in the US Senate.

S. 3625 (110th): A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 245 North Main Street in New City, New York, as the “Kenneth Peter Zebrowski Post Office Building”.

Sponsor: Sen. Hillary Clinton [D-NY, 2001-2009]

Introduced: Sep 26, 2008

Passed Senate: Oct 2, 2008

S.Con.Res. 63 (110th): A concurrent resolution expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the need for additional research into the chronic neurological condition hydrocephalus, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen. Hillary Clinton [D-NY, 2001-2009]

Introduced: Dec 19, 2007

Passed Senate: Jan 22, 2008

S.Con.Res. 26 (110th): A concurrent resolution recognizing the 75th anniversary of the Military Order of the Purple Heart and commending recipients of the Purple Heart for their courageous demonstrations of gallantry and heroism on behalf of the United St

Sponsor: Sen. Hillary Clinton [D-NY, 2001-2009]

Introduced: Apr 12, 2007

Passed Senate: Jul 31, 2007

S.Con.Res. 113 (109th): A concurrent resolution congratulating the Magen David Adom Society in Israel for achieving full membership in the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen. Hillary Clinton [D-NY, 2001-2009]

Introduced: Jul 21, 2006

Passed Senate: Aug 1, 2006

S.Con.Res. 39 (109th): A concurrent resolution to express the sense of Congress on the Purple Heart.

Sponsor: Sen. Hillary Clinton [D-NY, 2001-2009]

Introduced: May 26, 2005

Passed Senate: Jul 28, 2005

S. 272 (109th): Caribbean National Forest Act of 2005

Sponsor: Sen. Hillary Clinton [D-NY, 2001-2009]

Introduced: Feb 3, 2005

Passed Senate: Jul 26, 2005

S. 2839 (108th): A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 555 West 180th Street in New York, New York, as the “Sergeant Riayan A. Tejeda Post Office”.

Sponsor: Sen. Hillary Clinton [D-NY, 2001-2009]

Introduced: Sep 23, 2004

Passed Senate: Oct 10, 2004

S.Con.Res. 123 (108th): A concurrent resolution recognizing and honoring the life and legacy of Alexander Hamilton on the bicentennial of his death because of his standing as one of the most influential Founding Fathers of the United States.

Sponsor: Sen. Hillary Clinton [D-NY, 2001-2009]

Introduced: Jul 12, 2004

Passed Senate: Nov 18, 2004

S.Con.Res. 112 (108th): A concurrent resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Purple Heart Recognition Day.

Sponsor: Sen. Hillary Clinton [D-NY, 2001-2009]

Introduced: May 21, 2004

Passed Senate: Jul 22, 2004

S. 2334 (108th): Caribbean National Forest Act of 2004

Sponsor: Sen. Hillary Clinton [D-NY, 2001-2009]

Introduced: Apr 22, 2004

Passed Senate: Oct 10, 2004

S. 1108 (108th): 225th Anniversary of the American Revolution Commemoration Act

Sponsor: Sen. Hillary Clinton [D-NY, 2001-2009]

Introduced: May 22, 2003

Passed Senate: Apr 7, 2004

S.Con.Res. 40 (108th): A concurrent resolution designating August 7, 2003, as “National Purple Heart Recognition Day”.

Sponsor: Sen. Hillary Clinton [D-NY, 2001-2009]

Introduced: Apr 30, 2003

Passed Senate: Jul 25, 2003

S. 538 (108th): Lifespan Respite Care Act of 2003

Sponsor: Sen. Hillary Clinton [D-NY, 2001-2009]

Introduced: Mar 5, 2003

Passed Senate: Apr 10, 2003

S.Con.Res. 103 (107th): A concurrent resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Better Hearing and Speech Month, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen. Hillary Clinton [D-NY, 2001-2009]

Introduced: Apr 30, 2002

Passed Senate: May 1, 2002

S. 1983 (107th): A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 201 Main Street, Lake Placid, New York, as the “John A. “Jack” Shea Post Office Building”.

Sponsor: Sen. Hillary Clinton [D-NY, 2001-2009]

Introduced: Mar 4, 2002

Passed Senate: Jun 3, 2002

S. 1777 (107th): International Disability and Victims of Landmines, Civil Strife and Warfare Assistance Act of 2002

Sponsor: Sen. Hillary Clinton [D-NY, 2001-2009]

Introduced: Dec 5, 2001

Passed Senate: Sep 13, 2002

S. 1721 (107th): A bill to designate the building located at 1 Federal Plaza in New York, New York, as the “James L. Watson United States Courthouse”.

Sponsor: Sen. Hillary Clinton [D-NY, 2001-2009]

Introduced: Nov 16, 2001

Passed Senate: Apr 30, 2002

S. 1637 (107th): A bill to waive certain limitations in the case of use of the emergency fund authorized by section 125 of title 23, United States Code, to pay the costs of projects in response to the attack on the World Trade Center in New York City that

Sponsor: Sen. Hillary Clinton [D-NY, 2001-2009]

Introduced: Nov 6, 2001

Passed Senate: Dec 20, 2001

S. 1622 (107th): Extended Unemployment Compensation bill

Sponsor: Sen. Hillary Clinton [D-NY, 2001-2009]

Introduced: Nov 1, 2001

Passed Senate: Dec 20, 2001

S. 584 (107th): A bill to designate the United States courthouse located at 40 Centre Street in New York, New York, as the “Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse”.

Sponsor: Sen. Hillary Clinton [D-NY, 2001-2009]

Introduced: Mar 21, 2001

Passed Senate: Aug 3, 2001

Panama moves to let citizens have guns: Public Safety Minister notes more guns "have allowed the US to reduce homicide"

The Panama Post:

As Panama deals with increases in crime rates, forged gun permits, and rising gang activity, the government is set to lift the ban on firearm imports, in an effort to promote personal safety.

Public Safety Minister Rodolfo Aguilera said the country will follow in the footsteps of the United States and Switzerland, where the right to bear arms is believed to lead to fewer homicides.+

“Everything seems to indicate that there is no direct correlation in the aphorism that says more guns mean more crime,” said Aguilera, who explained that relaxed gun laws have allowed the United States to reduce the homicide rate over the last 20 years. . . .

Under the current law, in effect since 2012, only state security forces can import firearms. Meanwhile, the Central American Integration System (SICA) has called for a comprehensive review of Panama’s firearm-import ban before any action is taken by the National Assembly. . . .

Further information on Panama's gun laws are available here and here.