Friday, May 16, 2008

Always Think Oversight

A federal agency has halted a controversial program giving agents engraved Leatherman tool kits reminding them to focus on the seizure of private property, after Congressman Bill Sali, (R-Idaho), raised objections.

Sali said he will pursue legislation to prevent the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) from restarting the marketing program.
I always preferred monkeywrenches to pliers anyway. A symbolic victory in light of the "long train of abuses," but a significant one nonetheless if for no other reason than to jerk the leash and remind them one exists.

Good job, Congressman. Well done.

Any chance we could collect the undistributed tools and melt them into a pro-gun sculpture?

Why Do We Buy Annette John-Hall's Line?

Vernick's opinion is shared by the 25,000 members of the American Hunters and Shooters Association, a new organization created to bring reason back to the gun issue.

Oh, look. Another ignorant fanatic more interested in ginning hysteria than the truth.

The way she interchanges semiautomatic handguns with AK-47's, it's evident Annette doesn't even know what an "assault weapon" is--and that's just the way Josh likes it. The more she places blind faith in Philadelphia " Only Ones" having these weapons and denying them to We the People, the more she shows her statist bent. Tell it to the guy gang-stomped on the ground the other day, Annette. The way she gets her knickers in a knot over a "body-armor-penetrating weapon" shows she has no clue that virtually any hunting rifle and round will do the same--the semiauto function has nothing to do with that.

And of course, her total ignorance on the inconvenient"roots" issue demonstrates yet another [yawn] in a line of oportunists who, "rather than being a leader in liberty...opted to become just another one of the plantation's overseers."

But that's not what I'd like to focus on. I don't even care about the Idiot Quisling Fudd* who appears noodleheaded enough to believe he'll be eaten last.

Naw, what I homed in on was "25,000 members" for AHSA.

Oh, really. And how do we know?

Apparently because Judas Bob said so? He's the only quoted rep. And we all know his track record means we can believe Judas Bob!

[Via DJK]

* I think I'm going to start using "IQF" as my preferred term for these mudheads.

McCain Reaches Out to Lefties

You know, because he's the gun owners' pal.

There's room in the Big Tent for everyone! Except maybe we deluded few who believe in archaic and unpopular notions like core principles mattering.

Did Ignorance or Flawed Ethics Kill Jill Porter's Credibility?

Did guns or a flawed justice system kill Sgt. Liczbinski?

Actually, Jill, a depraved animal did. But what did Mr. Pynchon say about asking the wrong questions?

Here's the part I'd really like to address, though:
Some of the folks who think that the Second Amendment is sacrosanct have little regard for other provisions of the Bill of Rights.
I've seen this baseless insinuation creep up in other places, on forums, in comments, in anti-defense editorials, which leads to the conclusion it is an intentionally planted diversionary tactic, and the bottom line, Jill, is you have no truthful basis to make such a claim. So are you doing it out of ignorance, or are you intentionally lying?

If you're going to go there, Jill, square it with the FACT that the NRA joined forces with the ACLU, the AFL-CIO and others in leading the fight for free political speech and equal protection.

Square it with JPFO being a national gun rights organization that has proposed and continues to promote efforts to "reestablish a Bill of Rights culture."

Square it with GOA denouncing edicts that have the effect that "legal aliens somehow enjoy fewer Fourth Amendment protections against search and seizure than other residents in this country".

Square it with established positions of the Libertarian and Constitution parties.

None of this is new, Jill, and it took me literally under three minutes to find all of it. If I really rolled my sleeves up, I could bury you with references, but the point is made.

I do wonder if there's a bit of projection going on. Because the ones who routinely allow for the erosion and subversion of our rights and freedoms are proponents of the Leviathan state. Like you, Jill.

Anyone who spreads the outrageous falsehood that RKBA-supporting Americans disparage the whole Bill of Rights, or indeed, the entire Constitution, is quite simply and demonstrably a liar.

Like you, Jill?

All the Facts that are Fit to Withhold and Distort

A Berlin man who loaned a machine gun to a man at a conservation club in July 2006 will spend time in a federal prison.
This has gotta be the most blatant example of "Authorized Journalism" I've ever seen, and I've seen a lot.

Why, you'd never even know there was any controversy, would you?

As far as The Oshkosh Northwestern's readership is concerned, a dangerous criminal has been convicted. They can all go back to sleep now. This doesn't affect them.

Shameful. Just shameful.

Then when birdcage liners like this start to lose circulation, their apologists complain about unreliable blogs.

We're the Only Ones Planting Enough

Relatives, witnesses and friends of a 19-year-old man shot and wounded by police on Mother's Day allege that a gun was planted on him after he was shot, according to a Channel 5 news report.
Nah, I don't believe it.

Not Chicago "Only Ones."

Why Would Anyone Want To?

State law prohibits a town or city from banning guns in most public buildings, including a town hall, so residents do have a right to carry legal firearms into a public meeting.

The common sense question here is, "Why would anyone want to do so?"
Oh, I don't know, genius. Suppose you tell me.
Council member Peggy Steele probably spoke for most residents when she said, "That (carrying a gun at the meeting) worries me, especially if it is someone who has a temper."

And tempers did flare, especially about the residency issue, which is being looked into by the Franklin County Commonwealth's Attorney.
Gee, that's funny. All those flaring tempers and all those VCDL members--you'd think an explosive mixture like that would have produced more than peaceable citizens firmly reminding their employees of their rights.

And say a temper did truly flare. Just what would you and Peggy be able to do about it?

UPDATE: AvgJoe sent me this story link, that includes a poll I urge you to take and help spread the word on.

We're the Only Ones On Course Enough

The longtime martial arts instructor for former Orange County Sheriff Michael S. Carona was convicted Thursday of criminally threatening a golfer during a dispute that began with a wayward fairway shot.

Raymond Yi was acquitted of all other charges, including three felony counts of assault with a firearm, by a San Bernardino County jury that deliberated less than a day in a case that drew attention to Carona's troubled reserve deputy program...

The case drew headlines because Yi, sworn in as an Orange County sheriff's reserve deputy in 2002, was among friends and allies of Carona who allegedly misused their badges.

Well first of all, and unless all those movies I've watched are wrong, I'd like to know what a karate expert needs a gun for. And then I'd like to know why the "Only One" who felt compelled to use one was a pseudo-"Only One."

Is Lee Amos Truly That Clueless?

Tyrone Gilbert was shot on 27 July 2007 at the wake of his friend Ucal Chin, who was shot in Longsight on 15 June.

Lee Amos, 32, of no fixed address, has been charged with the murder of and conspiracy to murder Mr Gilbert and conspiracy to murder Mr Chin.
Lee?

What the hell's with you, man?

Is everybody in the UK clued into the fact that handguns are illegal except you?

Where the hell have you been? We even know about it over here in America.

Pay attention! Wake the hell up!

The Usage Creeps

"I know that my son would not have died if he had not been Tasered and I know that he did not deserve the treatment he encountered at the Vancouver airport," Zophia Cisowski told a public inquiry into the use of the weapon.
Sorry, lady.

Judge Ted Schneiderman, aka "CSI Akron," says you're wrong.

I do like the term "usage creep," but I mean it as a personal description.

I Took the Road Less Traveled By...

If C-plus rated Sen. McCain hasn't changed, why is the NRA highlighting him in Louisville?

Does the NRA still believe McCain is a "premier flag carrier for the enemies of the Second Amendment"?
Imagine that.

Me being at the same place on the same road at the same time as Paul Helmke.

Of course, we're traveling in different directions...

We...Respectfully Disagree

The Georgia Attorney General’s office has responded to GCO’s letter requesting a repeal of the ban on possession of firearms in Stone Mountain Park. In its letter, the Attorney General succinctly informs GCO that it “respectfully disagree[s]” with GCO’s position. The letters may be viewed here.

The GCO attorney painstakingly crafts a four-page explanation of why the Stone Mountain Memorial Association is violating state law, and Assistant Attorney General Teri D. Fields squeezes her eyes shut, puts her hands over her ears and screams "LALALALA..." to keep any heretical information from getting in.

I don't know what the hell is so respectful about presuming the authority to disarm your fellow citizens and employers, Teri, or of ignoring unassailable logic and law with such a flippant and disrespectful response. In fact, Teri, you are acting in a criminal manner, willfully violating laws you are charged to uphold.

Imagine: a lawless assistant attorney general. Plus it makes you look ignorant, and incompetent as a lawyer.

Tell me something, lady--when you were a little girl, did you dream of one day growing up and becoming a corrupt mandarin and police state apologist?

Correct me if I'm wrong: Won't Sonny's signature make this a moot point?

[Via KABA Newslinks]

Olofson Transcripts

Dave Kopel has them.

Click on title link for url's.

[Via Stephen]

This Day in History: May 16

Hannastown, Pennsylvania, Resolutions declare that it is the duty of Americans to resist British oppression and form a defense association.