Memorial Tribute to Preston Covey

By Harry Schneider, Chairman
Pennsylvania Sportsmen's Association
(Posted here with permission of author)

It is with the deepest regret that I announce the passing of a friend and patriot: Dr. Preston Covey Jr.

Pres Covey was a brilliant academic who taught applied ethics at Carnegie Mellon University. I recall one year it had fallen to Professor Covey to select the speaker for Carnegie Mellon University's Presidents Distinguished Lecture. It was customary to bring in the likes of Henry Kissinger, but Pres treated the students and faculty of CMU to Massad Ayoob. Dr. Covey told the audience that Ayoob, a practical firearms instructor, teaches the best short course in applied ethics that he had ever seen.

When the Allegheny County Sportsmen's League sued the City of Pittsburgh over their illegal assault weapons ban, Dr. Covey lent his name as plaintiff. A local hoplophobic weekly newspaper ran a cover article attacking Preston for his ethical views . The paper admitted that they really tried to get other academics at CMU to criticize him, but while most disagreed with Preston 's views on gun rights, none could fault the man, except that he swore lot. (no wonder).

Dr. Covey recently testified before the Pennsylvania Senate Judiciary Committee - and laid bare the prevarications and misstatements of Philadelphia officials who demand that the state demonize law abiding gun owners, in effect making scapegoats of them to conceal and avoid addressing the real reasons why Philadelphia has a serious crime problem.

Pres was well aware that his positions were unpopular in academic circles. A man of his extraordinary intellect could have gone much farther in academia if he acquiesced to the hoplophobic biases and prejudices that dominate most universities. Pres had struggled with numerous polio related disabilities his entire life . He understood prejudice and discrimination and would not tolerate either. He knew that accommodating discrimination is not only unethical, but that it leads to greater disability.

Dr. Preston Covey Jr. distinguished himself as a friend and warrior-academic of the finest caliber. His work survives and will give us guidance and intellectual ammunition far into the future.

Pres, rest in peace my brother.

Related:
"CMU Professor Didn't Let Polio Sideline Him"
"Preston Covey, Rest in Peace"
"Philosophy and Firearms"
"Can Gun Control Reduce Violence?"

C'mon, Drudge

No it does not either:
The operative word is "asks." Nothing is required.

I know Matt Drudge is characterized (and sometimes dismissed) by the left for being "right wing," but I've never been impressed with his practically nonexistent coverage of gun rights.

Branding Brandie

The group of less than 10 men making the trip represent two groups: Men United for a Better Philadelphia and Mantua Against Drugs. They have the common goal to replace guns and drugs with opportunity in the form of jobs...

"They say ‘Guns don’t kill people; People kill people.’ However, if people didn’t have access to the guns, it wouldn’t happen," Canada said.

"Less than 10 men" and that's news?

Congratulations, Brandie Kessler, you "authorized journalist," you. Not only did you find and give ink to a non-story that fits the leftist agenda, but you also managed neatly to avoid giving your readers any hint of opposing views.

Brandie, your worldview reflects that of a child. Grow up.

Here--read this if you want to understand the "gun" issues before the PA Senate Judiciary Committee that you so cavalierly and incompetently trivialize. Let's see if you're still capable of learning and redeeming yourself.

It All Depends on the Meaning of the Word "Compartment"

When his case went to court, a judge dismissed the charges, saying the center console fell under a provision in Kentucky law allowing guns to be carried in a glove compartment.

But the Kentucky Supreme Court reinstated both charges yesterday in a split decision issued in Frankfort, saying a center console is not a glove compartment.

"A glove compartment is a small storage cabinet in the dashboard of an automobile," Justice Donald C. Wintersheimer wrote in the opinion.

For their next trick, Judge Wintersheimer and the other three black-robed boobs in the majority will either split hairs or determine exactly how many angels can dance on the head of a pin.

If I were a Kentuckian, I'd be finding out which politicians still in office nominated and confirmed this quartet of dunces and let them know I'd be taking my revenge at the polls.

"Even if it Saves Just One Life"

The most exploitive and ridiculous question of the day was asked by Liberal Lucienne Robillard -- "Why does the minority government not recognize that this registry is valuable, even if it saves just one life?"...

No law will ever prevent the type of tragedy that occurred in Montreal last week. The harping on about the gun registry immediately upon the resumption of Parliament and in less than a week after the Dawson College shootings was nothing more than a disgusting use of the death of Anastasia DeSousa and the serious injuries of several others to score cheap political points.

Right on, Arthur Weinreb!

CMU Professor Didn't Let Polio Sideline Him

Preston K. Covey Jr., of Squirrel Hill, an associate professor of philosophy at Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, died of post-polio syndrome Monday, Sept. 18, 2006, at home. He was 64...

"Preston was concerned about the ethics and moral dilemma of using firearms," his wife said.

"He purchased a gun after his house was robbed twice. He taught that under certain circumstances, the use of firearms could be justified," she said. "But he added that they should only be used as a last resort, when you can no longer talk it out with someone aiming to harm you."

More:
"Preston Covey, Rest in Peace"
"Philosophy and Firearms"
"Can Gun Control Reduce Violence?"

We're the Only Ones Rested and Stopped Enough

For Garry F. McCarthy, the nominee for Newark police director, the trouble began last year with a parking infraction at a rest stop on the Palisades Interstate Parkway. It spiraled into a wrangle — part wrestling match and part shouting match — that led to his arrest and handcuffing.

The whole family sounds like they're suffering from an advanced case of "Only One-itis."

Now there's a man who deserves career advancement, which it sounds like he's still on track for.

[Thanks to K-Romulus]

This Day in History: September 22

In New York City on this day in 1776, Nathan Hale, a Connecticut schoolteacher and captain in the Continental Army, is executed by the British for spying.

If you can read this, thank a teacher.

Thank you, Captain Hale. Thanks to the sacrifices of courageous patriot martyrs like yourself, we are free to read dissenting sentiment without overt reprisals by government.

Not that we deserve it through our own efforts and willingness to risk all for liberty...

Preston Covey, Rest in Peace

Preston K. Covey Jr.
COVEY
PRESTON K., JR.
On Monday, September 18, 2006. Beloved husband of Denise K. Troll; father of Adam Covey; stepfather of Ryan Troll, Bronwyn Korchnak and Isaac Troll; grandfather of Alexander Troll; brother of Susan Covey, Judith Carson, Barbara Covey and David Covey; also survived by nieces and nephews. Friends will be received at JOHN A. FREYVOGEL SONS, INC., 4900 Centre Ave. at Devonshire St. Thursday, 2-4 & 6-8 P.M. A Memorial Service to be held at Carnegie Mellon University will be announced at a later date.

Farewell, Professor. Thank you for your contributions to liberty.

He let me know he was tickled that his testimony was getting covered on numerous blogs. He'd intended to set up a web page, but lamented a "perpetual bizziness problem...Maybe next summer, after the academic year's marathons."

We are richer for having had the benefit of his keen mind, and his devotion to logic and ethics. We are poorer from his passing.

My deepest sympathies and condolences go to his family.

Also see: "Philosophy and Firearms"