Ghetto Uprising

The Boston Globe writes:

Harold M. Clemens of Roxbury writes on his Ghetto Uprising that, as well-intentioned as the state's tough gun-ownership laws are, it might be time to relax them so residents of violence-prone neighborhoods can protect themselves.

Relax 'em? Hell, it's past time to repeal 'em. But this is, as our opponents are wont to say, "a good first step."

Go on over to Mr. Clemens' blog and offer some encouragement.

[Via Alphecca]

Tags: gun control

Police Told Gun Was Toy

The family of a 13-year-old Florida boy shot by police say officers were told the gun he held was not real.

Ralph Penley said when he arrived at the Millwee Middle School in suburban Orlando on Friday morning, he told Seminole County Sheriff`s deputies his son Christopher only had a replica pistol, CNN said. The boy`s younger brother says he told school officials the same thing.

Why should authorities have taken their word for it? They're only "civilians." And you know how they lie.

Tags: gun, police

SCOTUS Will Hear THIS...

...but they wouldn't hear this.

Prediction: A Second Amendment case will be heard by the Supreme Court in the next few years, and it will confirm an individual right. However, the ruling will be so narrow that it will not override state interest claims. It will not require a strict scrutiny standard, but rather an intermediate one. And it will certainly not overturn "assault weapon" bans, open the door for viable challenges to permitting schemes, or declare registration mandates, background checks, and similar prior restraints unconstitutional infringements.

In short, we will achieve a "status quo," where the vast majority of "existing gun laws" are deemed enforceable and prosecutable, rather than repealable.

By dancing in the middle, the court will scuff over and camouflage the Constitutional bright line of "shall not be infringed." If you think about it, it's what anyone who wishes to maintain their position of advantage would do: If they say it's not an individual right, they'll have a rebellion on their hands. If they say it's unalienable, well, there goes the government's monopoly of power.

The brutal lesson of history: power is never ceded unless there is a fear of an "or else." Without that fear, we can play around with incrementalism on both sides, and congratulate each other on the fabulous progress we've made. We can maintain the illusion that the system can work, and there are those who won't mind that one bit.

Until "the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed" is demanded, with real and unpleasant consequences for anyone using coercion to impose otherwise, it's all posturing and bluff. Until then, no real victory for freedom can occur.

Tags: Second Amendment, Supreme Court

We're the Only Ones Secure Enough...

Greenwood police are investigating the disappearance of several firearms from the department's inventory...The guns were stored in a vault or locker in the department's main headquarters building and were discovered missing Jan. 6, Harris said...He said the weapons were securely stored and access was controlled.

Right. That's why they're MISSING!

You know, we need laws to keep you and me from endangering the public this way...

Tags: gun, police

We're the Only Ones...Oh, So THAT'S What That Lever Does...

The Remington 12-gauge shotgun had been issued to Lemay by the Sheriff's Office, Buchanan said. It's Lemay's responsibility to keep the gun locked up, and Buchanan said he considered it to be secure because it was inside the trunk.

But all the thief needed to do to get the shotgun was to slip his hand inside the car and lift a lever to pop open the trunk.

At least his "710" cap isn't missing...

Tags: gun, police

We're the Only Ones In Control of Our Emotions Enough...

A township police officer is facing more than 11 years in prison...a Morris County Grand Jury handed up the indictment against Kevin J. Lassiter, 43. He was indicted for possessing a weapon for an unlawful purpose on Sept. 5 and aggravated assault for allegedly holding a gun to the head of his wife'’s cousin when she tried to intervene in the dispute between Lassiter and his wife at Lassiter'’s home.

Lassiter was charged with assaulting his wife by pushing, punching and grabbing her by the throat...

See, you and I can't be trusted with guns because we might go off the deep end...

Tags: gun, police