Canadian Gun Rights Up in Smoke?

Jack Layton was accused of softening his support for the decriminalization of marijuana after two well-known pot activists resigned from running for his party in British Columbia...

Before Layton began speaking a handful of protesters showed up at the rally carrying signs protesting his proposed ban on handguns.

The security detail asked them to leave the room and then asked a reporter who wanted to speak to them to take them outside for an interview.

The officers allowed the protesters to stay when many more reporters came over to speak with them.

David Hamel, a member of the National Firearms Association who said he was there to represent only himself, said he feared that a ban on handguns would only be the start of an all-out ban on firearms.

While I discourage getting stupid, I never thought pot should be illegal.

That said, I can see where a politician who wants to trick people into giving up their best means of defense (along with, what, another $175 million for [ahem] smoke and mirrors?) would want them to get as stupid as possible.

Kudos to Mr. Hamel for being a voice of unaltered consciousness. If only more Canadians would follow his lead...

We're the Only Ones Reasonably Explained Enough

“There is no reasonable justification for the failure of the Lorain Police Department to conduct an appropriate investigation in 1993,” Zaleski ruled. [More]

Of course there is, judge.

Of course there is.

[Via David Hamel]

We're the Only Ones Who Can Do Whatever We Want Enough

OUTRAGE: NJ Cop Puts CBS 2 Cameraman In Chokehold

Jim Quodomine Arrested, Handcuffed, Put In Squad Car For An Hour After Filming Peaceful Protest Outside Church

Officer To Protesting Reporter: 'I Can Do Whatever I Want'

Gotta love it. When "Only Ones" and "Authorized Journalists" collide.

What a great idea, deeming thugs like this worthy of being armed, but you and I unworthy.

And what's with "the officer"? Does Bluto have a name?

[Via David Hamel]

We're the Only Ones In Check Enough

And not only was the defendant in Wednesday's bench trial a former Chicago police officer, but prosecutors say she attempted to deposit the bad check in her account at the Chicago Patrolmen's Federal Credit Union. [More]

Every version of this AP release I've found says she's "been on the force since 199."

I guess that's back when she'd have been one of the "Only Ones" trustworthy enough to carry a sword...?

Forget it Jake, it's Chi-Town.

[Via FFFW and David Hamel]

Homemade Guns

So, where do you start? Well, you need plans, of course. You could copy an existing firearm, like those Pakistani craftsmen do, or like the World War II-era Polish resistance and pre-independence Israelis did when they churned out vast quantities of Sten guns. Or you could acquire plans purposely created for home manufacturing. Yes, they exist. And one of the better known sources for such plans is Philip A. Luty. [More]

If I wasn't on an abbreviated schedule, I wouldn't have missed this one two days ago from J.D. Tuccille.

Good stuff.

[Via David Hamel]

True North

I received the following email from a northern ally that he hopes could have implications for the Olofson case.

"I sincerely regret being too late to help with the Olofson decision," he wrote me. "Here's a related case precedent from Canada."

I leave it to the principals involved to determine if there is something here they can use.

Mr. Codrea:

My heart goes out to Mr. Olofson. There but for the grace of G_d go many. Mens Rea anyone?

http://nfa.ca/files/RvMacDonaldFullTranscript.pdf (5.6MB) http://nfa.ca/files/RvMacDonaldDecision.pdf (600KB)

"The Crown's theory was that the AR-10 is 'capable of firing projectiles in rapid succession during one pressure of the trigger.' The Crown attempted to show that by playing a video of an officer removing the safety lever from the gun, loading two cartridges into the magazine, and then firing a burst of two shots. The video went on to show the officer loading three cartridges into the magazine, and firing a burst of three shots. Conclusive proof, right?"

"WRONG. The firearm was merely malfunctioning. Removing the safety lever allowed the trigger mechanism parts to move into a WRONG position, and prevented the sear from holding the hammer back -- as it is designed to do. So: Fire, extract, eject, feed --and, as the bolt reaches the forward-and-locked position, the hammer -- which has been FOLLOWING the bolt instead of staying cocked as it is designed to do -- gives a slight blow to the firing pin. It is a VERY weak blow -- NOT enough to fire most cartridges."

"When the AR-10 -- or any other semi-auto rifle -- is demonstrating 'hammerfollow' --it is NEVER cocked. Proper hammer impact is IMPOSSIBLE."

For what it's worth, I don't know if American courts allow Canadian court decisions to be used. We can use decisions from the U.S., U.K. and Australia and possibly other Commonwealth countries. I've just started going through our files, digitizing hard copy decisions we've had on file and I had a specific request for this one. Afterward I popped onto your waronguns blog, I remembered Mr. Olofson and my heart sank.

Let me know if there is some way of making an advanced purchase of "Absolved" by Mr. Vanderboegh. It would find a nice home right beside my copy of "Unintended Consequences."

--

David Hamel
National Firearms Association
Tel. 780-439-1394
Fax. 780-439-4091
Email: info@nfa.ca

The Pragmatic Approach

I'm looking forward to finding the time to watch this.

[Via David Hamel]

"Killer App"

A new application has been launched for the iPod touch to help gun users line up a clean shot at their target. [More]

I can't believe this is legal!

Can children buy it?

What about criminals or [Gasp!] terrorists...?

Does that about cover it?

[Via info4all]

UPDATE: David Hamel, one of my favorite Canadians, sent me a link that provides a lot more details.

We're the Only Ones Familial Enough

"Do it. My family are cops," Cujdik said, according to Westberry. [More]

The "Only Ones" arrogance appears to run deep.

Which means it's come to be taken as the natural order of things.

I wonder why that is. I wonder how widespread it is. I wonder what it will take to get it to change.

[Via David Hamel]

YouTube Bans "Assault Videos"

YouTube is to ban footage showing weapons being used to intimidate people on its website in the UK.

I'll bet that's not true.

I'll bet you'll still see footage of state enforcers using weapons to keep civilians in line with their rulers' wishes. See, it's the difference between "assault videos" and "patrol videos."

YouTube said it was necessary to reflect "local laws and sensitivities"...

Ahh...kind of like The Lightworker's one Second Amendment for urban areas, another for rural...? That is, of course, until "local laws and sensitivities" can be preempted with centralized rule...

They said Bill Clinton was the first black president. Perhaps Barack Obama will be our first British one.

[Via David Hamel]

When Seconds Count

Every minute the officer waits for back-up, another three or more people could die.

In other words, while it was once considered suicide for a lone officer to take on an active killer, it is now considered statistical homicide for him not to do so...

Many malls and workplaces also place signs at their entrances prohibiting firearms on the premises.

Now tacticians believe the signs themselves may be an invitation to the active killers.

It's nothing short of amazing to see this coming from ABC/Scripps, of all places. On the one hand, it's about damn time, but I don't want to take anything away from reporter Brendan Keefe for getting this information into the mainstream. I also appreciate the comparison between precautions taken for fires vs for active defense--that's a point that could be explored a lot further.

This is what we need to hammer home:

As soon as they're confronted by any armed resistance, the shooters typically turn the gun on themselves.

Any armed resistance.

[Via Fat White Man and David Hamel]

Standing Up for Canadian Gun Rights

Here's an eyewitness account from David Hamel of that Canadian smoke and mirrors show we talked about the other day.

FYI, some background and details about our "protest." Trevor Laitila, the adult son of the NFA Office Manager, Diane Laitila, told me he heard Jack Layton on the radio talking about banning handguns, and he wanted to go to Layton's rally the next day and protest. I told him I would like to join him, and would give him a ride if he needed one. Trevor, an avid firearms collector blinded by diabetes, Elza Dontcheva, who is the NFA Bookkeeper, and I drove to the Layton rally.

For "protest" materials, we had "Remember C-68 Next Time You Vote" signs that the NFA had printed on green plastic bags designed to fit over election lawn signs. C-68 was the start of the long gun registry nearly 10 years ago. We also had "The Lioness Method of Rape Prevention" brochures, and copies of the CFJ featuring Megan Tandy on the cover, along with some NFA membership forms.

One thing we did NOT have, was any kind of NFA sanction for our activities. We did not ask permission or inform NFA National Exec of our plans. Elza and I have NO authority to speak to the media on behalf of the NFA.

During our stand off with security, one man came forward and told security to leave us alone, because we had a right to be there too, and hadn't done anything wrong. After the security incident and the subsequent media circus, we quietly and politely held up our signs and passed out materials to anyone who was interested, under the watchful eye of security, who were never more than seven yards away.

A number of people politely took materials, a few expressed support for our views, and only a couple of people made impolite or disrespectful comments. Perhaps not surprising, the latter group, exclusively chose to address their remarks to Trevor!

As we left, security followed us out and there was a tense moment for them as Elza approached Raj Pannu, who was outside talking with people. Elza knows Mr. Pannu from the university and respects him, so she shook his hand, spoke to him for a few moments, before giving him a copy of our magazine and the Lioness brochure, and we left.

No Limit

Nonetheless, Alabama officials say the number is actually zero since the state does not define an acceptable dosing level. “No such thing as an overdose,” said James L. McNees, director of the Alabama Office of Radiation Control. [More]

So that explains how Joe Reiss can sound so confident...?

[Via David Hamel]

We're the Only Ones Surprising Enough

So the Calgary Crown prosecutors office decided to stay the prosecution of Cst. Aubrey Zalaski for Tasering a jaywalker.

What a surprise.

One of the biggest obstacles in the mission to ensure that police are held accountable when they commit criminal assaults on citizens is often the Crown Prosecutors Office. [More]

Unaccountable "Only Ones."

"What a surprise," indeed.

David Hamel tells me the letter writer is the attorney:

whose intervention resulted in the Prosecution mysteriously and without explanation, dropping ALL the charges against me, after Tom began asking hard questions and seeking disclosure relating to my surveillance by the police.

We're the Only Ones Missing Enough

Police in Russia say they are searching for more than 215,000 guns that have gone missing from arsenals around the country.

Damn terrorist bazaar American gun shows.

See, this is why we need "Only Ones"--to make sure stuff like this doesn't happen.

Right, comrades?

[Via David Hamel]

We're the Only Ones Who Can't Take Criticism Enough

RCMP have laid five charges against a Calgary man related to the operation of a website highly critical of Calgary police officers. [More]

That would be this one.

Let the Streisand Effect begin...

[Via David Hamel]

We're the Only Ones Unlawful Enough

Conviction for battery of police officer stands even if officer acted unlawfully [More]

What did you think "Only Ones" meant...?

[Via David Hamel]