Gun Control
There is no doubt that David Davis has scored a significant goal against Home Secretary Jacqui Smith with this open letter [extract below]:
We are all concerned at the rising tide of violent crime that has manifested itself this week in a spate of shocking killings, including the tragic death of young Rhys Jones. You told GMTV this morning that “statistics aren’t a help but gun crime is down”. That is an extraordinary claim.
According to Home Office figures, gun crime (excluding air weapons) has almost doubled since Labour took office. The annual crime figures, released by the Home Office in July, suggest a 13% decrease on the previous year, which neglects the 18% increase in firearm homicides.
However, perhaps most telling is the massive increase in gun violence, disclosed on 25 January of this year (Homicides, Firearm Offences and Intimate Violence 2005-06, Home Office). Buried at page 36 . . . we find [that] . . . gun-related killings and injuries (excluding airguns) have increased by over fourfold since 1998.
In light of this information, your claim that gun crime is down is both inaccurate and misleading. One clear fact on gun-related violence is that if you don’t count it, you won’t be able to tackle it. Your predecessors opted for spin over substance. I hope that is a path you will avoid and would be grateful for an explanation of what action you plan.
Yours sincerely,
David Davis
There is just nothing I can add except to say go and read Dizzy’s post on the issue and watch this amusing video: Labour: Tough on crime, tough on manipulating the statistics of crime.
Video hat-tip: Daily Referendum
Source: The Times
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Posted for James Higham [for whom comments won't seem to work]:
Did I not tell you, Chris, that DD is the Tory’s greatest strength so whyever is he not the leader over that other empty shell? The leadership is really on its head. I’m not alone in thinking this.
During the leadership election, I voted for Davis, but since two thirds of the members disagreed and preferred Cameron he is, and should be, leader.
I think Cameron’s not doing a bad job overall. He’s done good things and bad things, but he is currently still in the positive by my point scoring. No matter what, he is the leader, and deserves the support of all Conservatives. We could in-fight and end up with another four years of Labour (mis)government, or we can pull together properly and have a Conservative one. No matter what anyone can claim about “Cameron not being much better than Blair” or any other such crap, he is and will be a better PM than Brown.