Friday, March 02, 2007

Rights Watch: In Search of the Second Amendment

The historical evidence is conclusive. The Second Amendment was intended to express an individual right, and any alternate “collective rights” theories are modern fictions developed by those with an agenda to control guns. In the words of Sanford Levinson from the University of Texas, this “view was virtually unknown before the 1960s.”

"In Search of the Second Amendment," my Rights Watch column for the March 2007 issue of GUNS Magazine, is now online.

Also see: "In Search of the Second Amendment"--An Interview With David T. Hardy

and then make sure you buy a copy to share with others.

GUNS Magazine, March 1957

FOR EIGHT YEARS, California hunters have been unnerved by the sudden appearance of George Sullivan in the field. There is nothing peculiar about Sullivan himself when he's out hunting. It is just his weapons that prompt a fast double-take. Most guns just don't have light, silvery barrels, bright red breech actions, and Kelly-green stocks. But Sullivan's guns are a little unusual in more ways than color. They are the advance guard of a major airplane company's entry into the gun-making field.
Hmm...seems I read something somewhere about hunters 50 years later still being unnerved by these types of rifles...

The March 1957 issue of GUNS Magazine is now online. Enjoy.

Where Quawlity is Job One

I just received the following two replies from the Thames Valley Police in response to their 24-hour delay in responding to an emergency call:
Thank you for your email. It has been passed to our Quality of Sewrvice Unit who will contact you in due course.

So what kind of "sewrvice" could I expect? "In due course," of course?
Dear Mr Codrea

Your email has been forwarded to the Quality of Service Unit.

Unfortunately we are unable to give you any specifics of the incident as you were not directly involved. Your request for the Thames Valley Police response policy has been forwarded to our Freedom of Information who should respond to you in due course.

Yours sincerely

Quality of Service Unit

At least their "service" has improved, but there's that "due course" again. Oh well, at least nobody's trying to smash into my place with a hammer.

Not that I'd dial 911 anyway--at least until after the smoke cleared.

They shined Cryptic Subterranean on, too.

How would you like to have your life depending on these boobs?

We're the Only Ones Available Enough

A relaxing night out for SWAT team members last Wednesday ended with a vehicle break-in, and the disappearance of an HK MP5.

The thief or thieves also got away with ammunition, bulletproof vests and other tactical gear used by the SWAT team...

The MP5 hasn't been sold in gun stores since the late 1980s, and is now only available to law enforcement. [Emphasis added]

The SWAT team member who had his car broken into is a 14-year veteran of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department and a four-and-a-half year veteran of the Special Weapons and Tactics squad.

He is not on leave and is using a replacement weapon.

Only available for "The Only Ones." That's to ensure they don't end up in the wrong hands, you know.

I just sent the following off to the "authorized journalist" who wrote this story:
Why is it in stories like these, the name of the officer is always protected? You can bet if it were a citizen involved, we’d know his name and the town he lives in.

I thought one of the main purposes of a free press was to be a watchdog over government.

What gives?

Stay tuned. We'll see if he responds...

[Via 45superman]

We're the Only Ones All Fired Up Enough

A police officer in Sullivan County faces felony arson and insurance fraud charges.

Edward Kowalik, 32, a New York City Department of Environmental Protection officer stationed in the Town of Neversink, is accused of paying someone to destroy his truck, then attempting to collect on the insurance money...

Kowalik's 2005 Dodge Ram was burned Oct. 14 on Lt. Brender Highway in Ferndale. He then filed a claim with State Farm Insurance.

Well, well, well, lookee here. He wasn't the "Only One":
Sullivan County sheriff's Cpl. Amanda Cox, 25, was charged with felony insurance fraud. She is accused of paying a friend to wreck her Jeep Grand Cherokee so she could collect on the insurance.

Former Fallsburg police Officer Mike Foster is under investigation for alleged involvement in a similar scam, sources say. He resigned from the force this week.

Probably just a coincidence. Probably.

[Both stories via Declan]

Girl Power

Georgia cops are searching for a pair of young female robbers who yesterday stuck up a Bank of America branch wearing only fashionable bug-eyed sunglasses to disguise themselves...According to police, the smiling women--who are estimated to be between 16 and 24--handed a teller a note demanding money and walked off with an undisclosed amount of cash. It does not appear that they were armed.
So what kind of total wimp would hand over money under those circumstances? What kind of craven corporate policy would require that?

UPDATE: Got 'em. Sure enough, no gun.

I'd be interested in seeing the "demand note"--I wonder if there would be legal defense implications if it didn't demand--only requested, with no stated threat, and began with the word "please."

This Day in History: March 2

In advance of the Continental Army’s occupation of Dorchester Heights, Massachusetts, General George Washington orders American artillery forces to begin bombarding Boston from their positions at Lechmere Point, northwest of the city center, on this day in 1776.
And since I missed posting yesterday, here's a link for March 1.