Daily Archives: June 10, 2007

Open thread 6/10

June 10, 20071:04 a.m.

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Open thread | Comments (68)

Do not know squat about biology

June 10, 20071:03 a.m.

Sen. Sam Brownback is still getting ripped by scientists for his recent anti-evolution commentary in the New York Times. Here’s a point-by-point refutation by Jerry Coyne, a professor in the department of ecology and evolution at the University of Chicago. Coyne writes: "Brownback’s misunderstanding of science is more dangerous than his ignorance of evolution."
Posted by Phillip Brownlee

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Kansas delegation | Comments (162)

Illegal immigrants less likely to be in prison than citizens

June 10, 20071:02 a.m.

CNN host Lou Dobbs and other immigration critics complain about the high number of illegal immigrants in U.S. prisons. But according to U.S. Department of Justice statistics, 6.4 percent of the inmates in federal and state prisons were noncitizens in 2005, the New York Times reported. Many of the crimes were immigration violations, not violant crimes, and not all of the noncitizens in prison were in the country illegally. Given that noncitizens made up 6.9 percent of the total United States population in 2003, according to the Census Bureau, noncitizens actually have a slightly lower crime rate than the native-born population.
Posted by Andie Clum

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Immigration | Comments (25)

Micro-stamping bullet casings may be coming

June 10, 20071:01 a.m.

A bill before California lawmakers would require all new semiautomatic pistols sold after 2010 to have a microscopic laser that would etch a tiny stamp into bullet casings every time the gun is fired. The stamp would have the gun’s make, model and serial number in two places, which would help to track violent criminals.
Supporters of the bill say it is not likely to cause a stir among guns-rights groups, as they wouldn’t be required to turn in their weapons to be updated. Rep. Xavier Becerra, D-Calif., and Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., have announced plans to introduce their own micro-stamping bills in Congress.
Posted by Andie Clum

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Crime | Comments (47)