Reply-to: m.mcconnell@computer.org
Subject: Re: workplace violence letter
To: DHendrickson@masshightech.com
Larry J. Chavez' common sense advice is certainly applicable as far as it
goes. It is entertaining, however, to see how human resource professionals dance
around the simple fact that all of their precautions can never fully predict
when the next Wakefield tragedy will occur.
John Lott, a researcher and economist at the University of Chicago, has
studied mass shootings of the Wakefield variety, such as those which have been
taken place in schools, post offices and other public places. These incidents
have been found to occur far more commonly in places where there are strong gun
control laws. No other factors, whether poverty, race, population density, etc.,
affect the results, Places with many armed citizens have fewer mass shootings.
If companies wish to avoid such massacres, they should start lobbying state
legislatures for more "shall issue" right to carry concealed weapons
(CCW) laws. They should then modify their own policies and encourage their
law-abiding CCW permit holders to carry to work.
For more information on John Lott's research, see the article at http://www.theamericanenterprise.org/taeja98c.htm
Sincerely, Mitchell J. McConnell
P.O. Box 609
Brookline, NH 03033
Work: 978-691-6488
Home: 603-672-7608
