KC Mall "Gun Free"

John Lott gets the scoop.

But it's not for lack of trying here...:)

[Via Eric]

UPDATE: I've had it reported that someone who lives near the mall says it is not posted. I don't know any more than that, or even if it is accurate, but thought I'd better throw this into the mix for your consideration. As with all developing stories, the urge to get information out quickly is often tempered by the reliability of that information. Since Prof. Lott reports "Security at the mall confirms that guns are banned there," I'm going to assign more credence to that based on his professional reputation.

Shameless Plug: A New Hope?

By now, GUNS readers will have heard that Washington D.C.’s firearm ban has been overturned. The 2-1 decision in Parker v District of Columbia by a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals reversed a lower court ruling and affirmed that the Second Amendment protects an individual right. That sounds like a big deal, a huge deal some say, and they may be proven right.

"A New Hope?" is my Rights Watch column for the June issue of GUNS Magazine, on sale now at optimistic newsstands throughout the Republic. I just had time to get this one in before the issue went to press--normally there would be at least another month's turnaround, but the editor was able to bump my designated article to the following month due to the timeliness of the topic.

BONUS: See page 92 to see how you can win a "Totally Custom Gary Reeder/Ruger No. 1...chambered for the hard-hitting .50 Alaskan." Barrel length is 16" (18" with brake installed), the finish is matte stainless steel, laminated wood stock, ghost ring rear, fiber optic front sights, and a total value of $3,060. I normally don't get excited about hardware, but man, that is a nice-looking gun--one that I am ineligible to enter a card for.

The Letter The New York Times Didn't (Wouldn't) Print

E-mailed on April 22:

I must admit I am frustrated with the way "Shooting Rekindles Issues of Gun Rights and Restrictions" (April 18) omitted a key issue in the Virginia Tech debate. I consented to speak with reporter Leslie Eaton to discuss my email to The Times asking why coverage from all major newspapers and television networks ignored the school's "No Guns" policy. Additionally, past press statements by Associate VP of University Relations Larry Hincker, ridiculing reasoned pleas to allow lawful concealed carry and lauding the death of a bill that would have rectified this, need to be examined in light of the total failure of authorities to protect students and faculty forbidden from protecting themselves.

That none of this made it into your report is disappointing, but not surprising, considering this paper's historic opposition to citizens bearing arms. Still, I don't see how The Times can consider its obligation to its readers complete by suppressing this important information from public scrutiny and discussion.

David Codrea
Redondo Beach, CA

60 Minutes on Mental Health Bill

"Reporter" Steve Kroft starts out with misinformation and goes downhill from there: He tells us about the "1,000 homicides...committed by people with mental illness" each year, but fails to note how many of those involve firearms. He claims "the very first gun control law ever passed in the U.S. [was] way back in 1968..."

He then proceeds to mug for the camera with facial expressions as manipulative as his questions, only gives Larry Pratt enough exposure to make an out-of-context statement the viewers are being maneuvered into dismissing, and then gives us the "reasonable" alternative courtesy of Carolyn McCarthy and Wayne LaPierre.

I do have one question, something I haven't understood since these discussions have been resurrected: If someone is adjudicated mentally ill, why would it be necessary to make their medical records available to police, as everything I've read or seen in the media implies? Why wouldn't just a record of the judgment suffice? Court records are generally public records. I don't know enough about the system--is sealing such judgments common practice, and does it vary by state? Anybody have insight on this?

[Via 45superman]

So What Happened to the Romanian Newspaper Story?

I talked about it here.

I sent the following to reporter Cristian Lupsa:

Did the story get pulled?

Here's his reply:

It didn't. It ran Friday and it got very good play. For reasons I'm not quite sure of though, it didn't make it into our online edition. I'll send you a link if I can figure out what happened.

If it doesn't happen, I'll try to get a hard copy, plus post the actual questions-and-answers email exchange.

That's pretty typical for me: I get a chance for my 15 minutes of fame, and spend 14 of them trying to figure out what the hell happened.

A Grisly Tale

Glacier National Park, Mont. — JOHAN looked up. Jenna was running toward him. She had yelled something, he wasn't sure what. Then he saw it. The open mouth, the tongue, the teeth, the flattened ears. Jenna ran right past him, and it struck him — a flash of fur, two jumps, 400 pounds of lightning.

It was a grizzly, and it had him by his left thigh. His mind started racing — to Jenna, to the trip, to fighting, to escaping. The bear jerked him back and forth like a rag doll, but he remembered no pain, just disbelief. It bit into him again and again, its jaw like a sharp vise stopping at nothing until teeth hit bone. Then came the claws, rising like shiny knife blades, long and stark.

You have to get way deep into the story to find this:

The name badge said Katie. She wore the green and gray uniform of the park service. She had slid down the slope, balancing a medical kit and a shotgun in her hands...

Get that? The only person who had a gun was an "Only One," and she arrived way after the fact.

Why?

Why the hell do you think?

(Click on image to enlarge)

Yet they knew bears could represent a danger to humans, and still they impose and enforce this anti-human life policy.

The conclusion is inescapable: The National Parks Service--and their political masters--would rather see you and your loved ones horribly mauled--even eaten alive--than armed.

More thoughts on bears and anti-defense outrages..

We're the Only Ones World Challenging Enough

Seven weapons belonging to Wake County's Special Weapons and Tactics team were stolen from a van outside a Memphis barbecue restaurant Monday afternoon, authorities said.

Members of the Wake County Sheriff's Office Special Response Team were on their way to Little Rock, Ark., for the World SWAT Challenge and stopped at the Interstate BBQ Restaurant in Memphis, authorities said. While the deputies were inside, two men drove up in a Ford Explorer and broke into the van, authorities said.

Just think--if this can happen to world class "Only Ones," how could we possibly trust people as irresponsible as me and you with guns?

Thank goodness they had spare rifles and rods along with their spare ribs!

[Via Jeffersonian]

This Day in History: April 30

Midway through the War of Independence, on April 30, 1778, the American Revolutionaries succeeded in stringing a massive floating chain across the Hudson River at West Point, N.Y. Quickly dubbed "General Washington's Watch Chain" by the Continental soldiers, the unusual obstruction denied use of this strategic waterway to the British for the remainder of the war. The chain's 800 wrought iron links, supported by a connecting forty huge log rafts, were hastily forges at nearby Sterling Furnace in the Ramapo Mountains. Each two-foot-long link weighed about 125 pounds.

KC Shooting Info Request

A shooting at a Kansas City shopping center has left at least three dead, including the gunman, police said.

Two of the victims were shot about 3:30 p.m. in the parking lot of the Ward Parkway Center in south Kansas City. The gunman went inside the mall and is believed to have fired more shots, wounding at least two people, police spokesman Tony Sanders said.

Per NRA-ILA, in Missouri, "Concealed firearms cannot be carried in or on posted private property..."

Are there any WarOnGuns visitors from the Kansas City area? Can you let us know if this mall is so posted, and if so, either send a picture of the sign or post it on your own site and send a link?

New WarOnGuns Poll: NRA and the Mental Health Bill

Do you agree with NRA's stance on mental health background checks? See the left margin for the new poll and tell us what you think.

Here are the results of last week's poll (click on image to enlarge).


For the 18 of you who said you would obey disarmament laws, you realize, had you been at Virginia Tech, many of you would now be dead or wounded, or had you been there with a loved one, you would have been powerless to protect them. It's your choice, of course, but I sure don't understand it. Maybe someone would care to enlighten me in the "Comments," below?

What's in a Logo?

An anonymous commenter to a previous post says, among other sound observations (follow the title link and read his entire statement):

I noticed the CA DOJ Firearms Division has a new logo. You can see it on their website in the top right corner. It is rather interesting in that it has an image of a firearm that we cannot even buy here in this state. Not sure what to make of this.

He's right. They've gone from this:


to this:



Why the AK, which is "illegal" in California? Remember--these are the folks who--at an NRA Grassroots-sponsored registration facilitation event--told us we have no individual right to keep and bear arms. Why shouldn't we construe this as an "in your face"?

Johnny Get Your Gun

Here's another newspaper story from the past, courtesy of Tom Mayhew:

Here's the text, as best as we can jointly make it out. Feel free to correct us or fill in any missing words, denoted by an underscore, in the "Comments", below.

Johnny Totes Gun Along to School

__ United Press (Leased?) Wire

WENATCHEE, Wash. Feb. 2--

Johnny, typical boy of the nearby mountain districts, is going to school these days with the traditional bookstrap over one shoulder.

But over the other shoulder he carries a gun.

Since Jimmy (Feilhaber?) was killed and partly devoured by a cougar ___ weeks ago it has become common for lads who can handle a gun to go to school well armed for protection against wild animals.

Animals driven in by the winter have (come down?) to (some?) of the (isolated ranches?) where they have (threatened? encountered?) human beings.

Much like the ___ of (49?) years ago in the country school house of (pioneer?) days, (in? is?) the cloak room of a school house in the mountain district. A boy hangs his gun up with his hat and his lunch box.

This was the common understanding on Feb. 2, 1925. This was the common expectation of responsibility for boys.

Look at what we've allowed to be taken from us as a people. Look at what we've surrendered.

And You Will Feel No More

U.S. Attorney Brett Tolman and officials with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) said at a Friday news conference they are continuing to crack down on illegal gun sales and will have undercover agents at the Crossroads Gun Show at the South Towne Exposition Center.

This link was sent to me by correspondent ChareltonHest, who adds:

"Rise to your knees, kiss the royal emblem on my cloak, and you will feel no more." (Executioner from the movie "Braveheart")

Wroth doesn't begin to describe how I feel at the moment. Read this article. This is outrageous.

They targeted older Americans. Old independent-minded rams for refusing to adapt with the times and subject their fellow citizens to the Almighty State's discretion before transferring a firearm. Imagine that: thinking for yourself and using your own judgment to decide if the person you want to sell to is alright.

For the love of all that is good. Not only was targeting these particular people an insult to injury, they went further: "Three of those charged with federal gun law violations spoke repentantly about their actions on Friday as part of a deal."

They got these people to get up in front of the cameras and confess their "sins" against the state. "I don't think anyone wants to be responsible for [something similar to] what happened in Virginia,". Unbelievable. Forced at gun-point to kiss the boot and spout anti-heretic one-liners.

These damned laws do not prevent those with a dedicated mission(such as murder/suicide) from accessing weapons. They take the independent thought out of your head by not being able to sell a firearm at YOUR discretion, they assume guilt before innocents, they combine toward registration of firearms, and they undermine the entire purpose of the Second Amendment: Government not being able to decide who can and cannot have a gun.

If only we patriots were as dedicated to our mission as the murderous "Chos" out there. As Mike Vanderboegh would say... "We have been TOO law-abiding....the Nazis passed laws justifying every horrible act they later committed. In such a country, law-breaking is not a crime but a virtue." These laws may not prevent the psychos from getting guns, but they will prevent those of us that are "Too law-abiding" from getting them, especially when the term "terror suspect" is added to these unconstitutional background checks.

The system of rights-deprivation is cunning and sinister: As they pass more laws, those of us wanting to appear "good" obey them, leaving those with true ill-intent to disobey them. The more the true criminals disobey these laws, the less the good people want to be associated with such a characteristic. Even when breaking said law could be a noble and patriotic thing, and aid in your survival(As those of us who know our history know where gun-control leads...)

And remember this picture:

Allen's Problem

High school senior Allen Lee sat down with his creative writing class on Monday and penned an essay that so disturbed his teacher, school administrators and police that he was charged with disorderly conduct.

See, Alan, your mistake was that you're not a "liberal" African American feminist poet and Virginia Tech professor.

Then you would have been given "awards and honors". People would have made excuses for you, like "The implied lesson here is that an honored poet can also produce very angry text at a young age."

But hey, in a "democracy" that no longer respects any of the other amendments unless you have the right connections, why should we be surprised that the First is reserved for the favored?

UPDATE: Here are excerpts from young Allen's masterpiece, courtesy of commentator TJH, below. No chance with that Bush crack he might identify himself with the democrats, is there? If so, his youthful rage may qualify him for some of those "honors and awards" later in life, and as Nikki Giovanni has demonstrated, it never hurts if you're a crappy, tedious writer.

[Via JT]

Mixed Feelings

Brent Tenney says he feels pretty safe when he goes to class at the University of Utah, but he takes no chances. He brings a loaded 9 mm semiautomatic with him every day.

I'm undecided on this. On the one hand, introducing and reinforcing the concept of armed citizens into the public consciousness is something we need to do. On the other, holding a (GASP) semiautomatic pistol with the campus as a background won't exactly give the fence-sitters among us the warm and fuzzies, particularly so soon after Virginia Tech. Besides, the whole point of carrying concealed is that no one knows.

I'm glad Brent has the courage to take an individual stand--we do need more like that. I hope he hasn't made himself a target for the campus antis, who could make his academic life difficult.

Thoughts, anyone?

[Via HZ]

NRA Statement on Mental Health Bill

The National Rifle Association has always supported including the records of individuals adjudicated mentally defective into the National Instant Background Check System. We believe that the NICS should serve the intent of Congress, which is to prohibit the legal sale of firearms to criminals and other prohibited persons...

I don't suppose it's occurred to anyone that there is no Constitutional provision for the government to involve itself in this, and I suppose the political will is such that being involved to steer the direction this takes can be defended by some as "pragmatic."

And, seeing as how these folks believe there's nothing we can politically do (for now) regarding background checks, God forbid we should even discuss alternatives that would identify "prohibited persons" that would not create any record of the purchase or purchaser.

Some have made arguments that this really creates no new powers. Perhaps. But it does "legitimize" (and fund) ones that have been usurped, and gives our enemies firmer ground on which to stand to pursue their next assault.

Can any of the defenders of this bill and NICS in general look us in the eye and assure us that such records will never be used to create a permanent gun registration database? Even if Hillary (or Obama, or...) wins and the democrats have control of both houses? Or that, once included on the "prohibited" list from purchasing a gun--demands won't be made for "common sense" legislation to remove any existing guns from the homes of such persons, or the gun owners who live with them?

And I'll repeat myself: Anyone who can't be trusted with a gun can't be trusted without a custodian. But I will add a caution as to just who it is that gets to do the trusting.

Sign of the Times

John Hardin has one. Think many antis who agree with the concept of "gun free zones" will post it on their premises?

This Day in History: April 29

Dear Sir, — The ’immedicabile vulnus’ is at length struck. The rescript to our petition is written in blood. The impious war of tyranny against innocence, has commenced in the neighbourhood of Boston...

What human policy can divine the prudence of precipatating us into these shocking scenes? Why have we rashly been declared rebels? Why have directions been sent to disarm us?

--John Dickenson, Letter to Arthur Lee

Guest Editorial: "Kill All They Send..."

[Foreword: This may make some uncomfortable, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. And after all, it's just a hypothetical "ping," but one I believe should be transmitted far and wide.]

"Kill All They Send..."
The Modest Proposal of "Homer Simpson's Dumber Brother" for Gun Confiscation & A Modest Counter-Proposal

By Mike Vanderboegh
Pinson, AL

"Violence, naked force, has settled more issues in history than has any other factor, and the contrary opinion is wishful thinking at its worst. Nations and peoples who forget this basic truth have always paid for it with their lives and freedoms." — Robert Heinlein

"Hell, let's just start shooting the bastards. Let's get this crap over with while I'm still young enough to march in the victory parade down Pennsylvania Avenue." -- An American gun owner, overheard in a Birmingham, Alabama, gun store, 27 April 2007.

Career Foreign Service Officer and former Ambassador Daniel H. Simpson, now slumming in retirement as a member of the Toledo Blade & Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's editorial board, has a modest proposal entitled "The Disarming of America." Unlike Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal" for the Irish poor to alleviate their hunger by eating their children, I think Ambassador Dan is really serious about his. A snippet:

"The disarmament process would begin after the initial three-month amnesty. Special squads of police would be formed and trained to carry out the work. Then, on a random basis to permit no advance warning, city blocks and stretches of suburban and rural areas would be cordoned off and searches carried out in every business, dwelling, and empty building. All firearms would be seized. The owners of weapons found in the searches would be prosecuted: $1,000 and one year in prison for each firearm.

Clearly, since such sweeps could not take place all across the country at the same time. But fairly quickly there would begin to be gun-swept, gun-free areas where there should be no firearms. If there were, those carrying them would be subject to quick confiscation and prosecution. On the streets it would be a question of stop-and-search of anyone, even grandma with her walker, with the same penalties for 'carrying.'" -- The Toledo Blade, Wednesday, April 25, 2007

"In Timor Veritas"?

Not surprisingly the gun rights community has evinced more than a little anger at this brazen proposal for their disarmament and enslavement. David Codrea, whose War On Guns blogspot I greatly admire, has referred to Ambassador Dan as "Homer Simpson's Dumber Brother." Certainly Dan Simpson, if he is serious, has got to be one stupid human being not to anticipate the unintended consequences of his declaration, which plays into the worst fears and direst predictions of American gun rights advocates since the 1968 Gun Control Act. Yet, since the DC gun law was struck down by the Federal Appeals Court, the hoplophobes have become more open in their demands: we hear less about "reasonable restrictions" and much more about repealing the Second Amendment. Heck, even here in Alabama we've had a proposal (House Bill 600) to register every semi-automatic rifle, pistol and shotgun in private hands in the state. Of course it doesn't have a snowball's chance of being passed, but. . . then why introduce it?

The Romans used to say "In vino veritas", or, "In wine there is truth." But these folks are not, as near as we can tell, drunk. Perhaps what we are dealing with is "In timor veritas"-- In fear there is truth. Cops have been known to inadvertently scare suspects so much that they blurted out their own unintended confessions and perhaps that is what is going on here. The gun grabbers are nervous. The Virginia Tech massacre was supposed to strengthen their legislative hand, yet it is the gunnies who seem the stronger for it now. We didn't react the old timorous NRA way as they expected us to. Those of us who share the traditional American values of the Founder's republic-- faith, responsibility, opportunity and armed defense of liberty-- have finally been pushed to the point that they've made us fighting mad. We've been pushed to the point where it is WE who are beginning to push back. And with their calls for the repeal of the 2nd Amendment, the gun control crowd is risking not just a push but a punch in the nose.

They look at the massacre and see the need for more regulation, registration and confiscation. We look at the dead innocents, deliberately disarmed and made easy targets in a carefully crafted, firearm-free environment, and blame their big liberal lies and unintended idiocies for the body count. "Gun Free School Zone" is a lie every bit as much as "Arbeit Macht Frei" and every bit as deadly. We see these bright young kids and talented professors who were killed without a hope of self defense, who were killed, indeed, by liberalism itself, and we blame the butchers with immaculate hands who cleared the way for the killer and made it all possible. Yet it is WE, the law-abiding and self-reliant, who are blamed by THEM, the servile toadies of collectivism. Our rising anger is in fact a measure of how close we are coming to a final break in this country between our two competing visions of America. Indeed, if Homer Simpson's dumber brother is serious, the opening shots of this impending civil war cannot be that far away.

One Ping Only (Please Deposit 50 Cents)

Captain Ramius: "Re-verify our range to target... one ping only."
Capt. Vasili Borodin: "Captain, I - I - I just..."
Captain Ramius: "Give me a ping, Vasili. One ping only, please."
Capt. Vasili Borodin: "Aye, Captain."
"The Hunt for Red October," 1990

But let us assume that, for the sake of argument and illustration, Ambassador Dan's proposal is serious. Let us assume that he is presenting us with a fictional fascist future backdrop that we may play like a video game. Let us believe for the moment in the literal word of former Foreign Service Officer Daniel H. Simpson's proposal yet conjure up our own modest fictional counter-proposal. Like Captain Ramius in "The Hunt for Red October," Ambassador Dan has given us a ping. Let us then give him one ping back. These pings (his and ours) may be warnings, threats of imminent attack, pleas for understanding, or attempts at communication across the gulf of a vast, dense ocean which prevents any other way of determining real meaning. But in any case let us play a game, starting with the scenario he has given us:

"The disarmament process would begin after the initial three-month amnesty. Special squads of police would be formed and trained to carry out the work. Then, on a random basis to permit no advance warning, city blocks and stretches of suburban and rural areas would be cordoned off and searches carried out in every business, dwelling, and empty building."

Our modest counter-proposal posits the following:

1. Like the American Revolution, one third of populace will side with the King, one third with the opposition and one third will blow with the wind and take what comes. Of the resistant third, less than a third of those will risk anything to give form to their beliefs, thus only about ten or so percent of the population, roughly 30 million citizens, will actively support the folks who will engage Dan's "special squads". (You know the Nazis called their special squads "Einsatzgruppen.") In the Revolution, the active combatants, Continentals and militia, only amounted to 3% of the population. That would be about 10 million anti-confiscation guerrillas. Alternatively, we could use 10% of American gun owners as a good rule of thumb, and that would be just 8.5 million. But let's make it even tougher on ourselves. Let us say for the sake of argument that as a result of liberal media propaganda and the cumulative deleterious effect of liberal government schools, just one percent of American gun owners would fall into the "cold dead hands" category: that's a mere 850 thousand. These would be the hard core-- the men and women who know how to kill at range, and who, with their scoped .30-06 deer rifles can out-range and out-shoot the M16 rifles and 9mm submachine guns of Dan's American Einsatzgruppen.

2. Unlike the American Revolution, the civil war will reflect the coarsening of the rules of war and will look more like Iraq or Bosnia. The war would certainly extend to those whose direct and support it-- civilian or not-- as they are primary targets, far more so than the foot soldiers of Ambassador Dan's Einsatzgruppen. Bill Clinton extended our own rules of war in the Kosovo intervention to include the news media and other propagandists as legitimate targets. Under these rules, Ambassador Dan and his anti-gun ilk would all be dead men. But, this is just a hypothetical word representation of a video game of Simpson's fictional fascist future, so they need not be afraid just yet.

3. The war would not end until one vision of America or the other won. It would be war to the knife and knife to the hilt. The 850,000 traditional Americans would be determined to take as many of the Einsatzgruppen, their commanders and controllers with them as possible. And it would be far greater than a one-to-one ratio. The fanaticism that the liberals have always imputed to us, would in the event, become real and deadly. If Ambassador Dan's future fascists do win, it will be a Pyrrhic victory that would, for destruction and casualties, dwarf all of America's wars put together. Which, if you think of it, is a funny way to have a "safe" society.


"Kill all they send..."

Viet Minh Sergeant: "Do we take prisoners?"
Lt. Col. Nguyen Huu An: "No. Kill all they send... and they will stop coming." -- The Opening Scene of "We Were Soldiers"

What would be the casualties? God alone knows, but they would be horrific. How would the government prosecute such a policy with their own police and military honeycombed with potential "traitors"? Poorly, I suspect. How many of those soldiers and policemen that Ambassador Dan is counting on to disarm us would, in the event, turn their weapons on the "National Command Authority"? More than enough to make success for his future fascists problematic. And not even during the previous civil war of 1861-1865 did an American army attempt operations with armed opponents astride and within its own logistical tail. And it would be a WAR, make no mistake, not the sanitary "police action" of the scenario of Homer's dumber brother. And how would the big bad boys of the ATF and FBI fare against committed freedom fighters? Even well-paid federal police bureaucrats just want to live until retirement. How long do you think they would last when team after team of them are shot down like dogs in the street, garroted in their sleep, poisoned in their mess halls, or found with their throats slit in guardposts, restrooms and bordellos? We will kill all you send, Ambassador Dan, until they stop coming.

"Bzzzzt. Boink. Beep. Game over. Please deposit 50 cents."

So, thus ends the intellectual, hypothetical exercise posed by this mandarin class former Foreign Service professional turned newspaper expositor of tyrannical schemes. Let us disclaim that no treasonous, gun-grabbing editorialists were harmed in the crafting of this fictional counter-proposal. But of course, if he's SERIOUS. . . . ;-)

Gun Shop Attitudes

"Couldn't I pay one of you guys to be my second?" I asked, sounding like a character out of a Russian novel.

"We're busy," he snapped, flipping through a catalog.

We've already had one post discussing this today. This suggests it's not localized to California.

Our personal contact with a public that may not know much about us is where many people will form perceptions of what "the gun culture" is like. Me, I don't put up with rude clerks.

[Via HZ]

An Only Ones Conundrum

"Now what?" asks correspondent Declan:

Death Penalty Bill Urged

Citing the shootings of three state troopers within 24 hours in Delaware County, Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno urged Gov. Eliot Spitzer on Wednesday to focus on a new state death penalty law...

"What is more important than protecting the lives of law enforcement officers?" Bruno said.

Well, that depends, Senator. I've always thought citizens should have equal protection, but perhaps that's just me.

And how will your proposed law deal with this?

N.Y. Trooper Killed by Friendly Fire, Officials Believe

[More from "The Only Ones" files...]

We're the Only Ones Strip-Searching Enough

A Houston police officer faces up to a year in jail if convicted on charges of official oppression in an illegal strip-search of a woman...

"He didn't give her any reason other than his supposed authority as a police officer"...

I guess you can force women to strip if you're "The Only One" strapped...

[Via JR]

Mad Hatter 's Campus Round-Up Returns

Jeremy has been on hiatus. Now that he's back, he's returned to one of the more valuable pursuits an RKBA blog can follow: monitoring attitudes at our nation's institutes of higher learning. He's providing a unique information gathering service for us, and I hope everyone appreciates that.

Everybody's got him bookmarked, right? Share these links far and wide:

RKBA Round-Up #7

RKBA Round-Up 7.5

Campus RKBA Round-Up #8

A 2 Valuable "Only Ones" 3-fer

Jay from 2Valuable sends us the following links:

We're the Only Ones Protecting Residents Enough:

Federal officials say MacKinnon, along with former Chief Assistant Prosecutor Gary Theunick and ex-Rose City Police Chief Maxwell Garnett obtained the weapons illegally and failed to pay taxes on them. The men say they bought the equipment to protect residents.

Jay thinks these are OK guys getting a bad rap, and tells me:

I’ve been to Rose City and surrounding areas several times. The “gun culture” there is very comforting. It isn’t like the Detroit area. Everyone has guns and no one thinks twice about it being “bad.” Most of the LEO’s I’ve met up in northern Michigan are very supportive of the 2A and expect citizens to exercise their rights. I don’t know the chief or the prosecutors personally. I do know the chief was very helpful in making sure his citizens could get CPLs without hassle.

I respect his opinion and don't dismiss it. However, and there always seems to be a "however," my litmus test is what these men would have done in their official capacities had one of us been found in possession of "illegal" guns, and our stated motive was "to protect residents." If they would have left us unmolested, then I would view this differently.

We're the Only Ones Embarrassing Enough

Four metro Detroit police officers face an array of felony charges ranging from attempted murder and assault to sexual perversion in separate criminal cases making today an embarassment for law enforcement, Wayne County prosecutors said.

What's so embarrassing? I mean, it's not like Detroit hasn't been aware of their out-of-control "Only Ones" problem--for years.

We're the Only Ones "Sexy Time" Enough

Suspended Detroit police Sgt. Roosevelt Tidwell is charged with more than a dozen felonies related to allegations that he forced several couples to perform sex acts to avoid tickets and other punishments.

More details on "Randy Rosy," who also has a starring role in the "Embarrassing" link.

[More from "The Only Ones" files...]

Not Quite There--But Closer Than Most Democrats

Richard Stallings realizes guns weren't to blame for Virginia Tech, pledges support of the Second Amendment, and then calls for implementing...uh...the NRA position.

[Via Ryan Horsley]

New Rules

Dave Licht sent me an email and agreed I could share it.

Hi David -

I hope you are well.

Are you aware of a new rule that requires ALL guns being shipped into california to be individually pre authorized by the state? Apparently dealers (starting May?) have to call the doj and get a number before each gun is shipped into the state.

Can you say "no more gunbroker.com transactions in california"? Can you say "no more buying guns out of state and avoiding the california sales taxes"? Can you see the end of private transactions in california?

I just sold a pistol (via private party transfer) in kalifornia and dealing with the ffl / gun store was a complete insult. The dealer (that was required to officiate the sale) took an hour to complete the transaction (despite my arriving with the completed paperwork) and the idiot told me if I did not like it not to come back! (Buy my stuff but don't bother me to make just $25 doing your transaction)

When I go to gun stores I see mostly (seemingly unemployed) lookers taking up the counter space and bar stools for hours at a time and buying nothing. I find it hard to believe gun stores can afford to insult anybody let alone people that may buy something......anything.

This is the gun business in kalifornia - take it or leave it, pay more for it, grovel to do it and be thankful for getting it. The state may be F**K'D up and need changing but when the gun dealers become willing, obedient unapologetic stooges for the state they don't deserve the business. This state lap dog mentality may be acceptable to people who buy one gun every 5 years or so but not to people buying 6 a month. The gun business should leave california and private gun buyers and sellers should say enough is way to much and defy the laws en mass.

I am just ranting but a gun collector can not compete living in kalifornia with collectors living in other states and gun dealers are becoming unworthy of the business.

Thanks

Dave Licht

We're the Only Ones Politically Connected Enough

Imagine that you accidentally carried a bag containing firearms in the Senate building. You just forgot they were there. What do you suppose would happen? I'll bet good money that you- just a plain old citizen- won't get treatment like this.

What's the cricket equivalent of a home run? Because Cryptic Subterranean just hit another one.

[More from "The Only Ones" files...]

And WE Are the Suspects

"The Justice Department and a Northeastern Democrat have formed a rare alliance intended to restrict gun sales to terror suspects."

The key word here is not terrorist but suspect. Bear that in mind.

Cryptic Subterranean illustrates how the slippery slope always leads downward.

This Day in History: April 28

The address now reported from the committee of the whole house appears to me unfounded, rash and sanguinary, and most unjust to draw the sword against America; but before administration are suffered to plunge this nation in the horrors of a civil war, before they are permitted to force Englishmen to sheath their swords in the bowels of their fellow subjects, I hope this house will seriously weigh the original ground and cause of this unhappy dispute, and, in time, reflect whether justice is on our side.

From “[T]he speech of John Wilkes, esquire, lord mayor of London, in the House of Commons…”

Check Out the Western Rifle Shooters Association

Another gun group?

Why?

Because the competent American shooter is an endangered species, headed on a fast track to extinction.

Practical rifle and pistol shooting, free from geegaws and the “equipment race”, is a dying art.

There are tens of millions of centerfire rifles in the United States. How many of their owners know how to use those tools to a fraction of their potential?

Answer – not many.

The Western Rifle Shooters Association is dedicated to fixing those problems, one shooter at a time.

I don't know much more about these folks than what you'll find on their site, but the premise looks interesting.

I've asked their reps to check in from time to time today to answer any questions, so if you have one, leave it in the "Comments" section below.

Homer Simpson's Dumber Brother

The disarmament process would begin after the initial three-month amnesty. Special squads of police would be formed and trained to carry out the work. Then, on a random basis to permit no advance warning, city blocks and stretches of suburban and rural areas would be cordoned off and searches carried out in every business, dwelling, and empty building. All firearms would be seized. The owners of weapons found in the searches would be prosecuted: $1,000 and one year in prison for each firearm.

Clearly, since such sweeps could not take place all across the country at the same time. But fairly quickly there would begin to be gun-swept, gun-free areas where there should be no firearms. If there were, those carrying them would be subject to quick confiscation and prosecution. On the streets it would be a question of stop-and-search of anyone, even grandma with her walker, with the same penalties for "carrying." [More]

Oh, but he's not "a crazed liberal zealot"-- he carried a .357 Magnum to protect his own precious hide when he worked at the embassy in Beirut. Leave it to a career government diplomat and editorial board member to propose something so monumentally incompetent as starting a civil war in America.

Dan Simpson, as is typical of your kind, you don't have the guts to do your own dirty work--you want someone else to put their ass on the line, someone else to die carrying out your traitorous wishes.

How many men like me, who will defy your insane and treasonous fantasies, are you willing to have killed, Dan? How much blood will be enough to satiate such evil and foolish desires?

You, Dan, disgust me, as a man and as an American. But thanks for showing everyone the unmasked Police State Amerika intent that you and those like you have in mind for the Republic. Your words do far more to demonstrate your genocidal totalitarian bent than anything I could ever write.

[Via Mike Battaglia]

UPDATE: dsimpson@post-gazette.com

The Case of Martin Baschab

Who is Martin Baschab? In his own words:

I've known Hollis Wayne Fincher since the early 90's. I first spoke with Wayne when he appeared as a guest on the Tim Brooker talk radio program. Wayne and I became close friends over the years as I would attend Militia Musters, picnics, etc.

I arrived at my apartment on Kantz Street in Fayetteville Arkansas November 8th 2006 there were already agents inside my apartment. An agent immediately ran up stuck a machine gun in my face, I was cuffed hands behind back and put in the back of a Fayetteville police car as they continued searching my apt. After 30 minutes they opened the door took the cuffs off and stated I was not being arrested . Took me to the bedroom sat me on the bed as ask why I did not like Washington DC. I said "corruption". Asked me if I had a stamp for the four Sten submachineguns I replied "no". Took my picture walked out carrying my Stens, The Silver Bullet and The Militia of Wahington County Handbook. Since that day Agent Wade Vittow has wanted me to plead guilty to a felony with no jail time. I Martin Baschab do not make deals with cheats, murderers, robbers, manstealers , rapists, all the things the BATFE was and is to this day. I do not want the federal government reformed, I want it abolished because government cheats. Obey God , serve man, oppose Tyranny, yours in Freedom.

Here's the text from a certified letter with an "offer of voluntary surrender" Mr. Baschab sent the US Attorney in February:

Without acknowledging the jurisdiction of any court at this time, I am aware of certain policing tactics that place people in harm’s way. Rather than risk a fatal “accident”, I wish to make it a part of the record that I would prefer to do a voluntary surrender and if provided the date and time, I will be there to take care of whatever matters are necessary.

Bashing down doors, cruelty to animals, and any other form of excessive force is simply not required, nor necessary. It is my contention that I can prove that I am innocent, wherefore I look forward to doing so.

He also sent the following via certified mail to the Grand Jury Foreman in February:

Re: USDC Case # FA-06-44...

Please be informed that exculpatory evidence has been withheld from the Grand Jury in the above referenced case. I now have the exculpatory evidence in support of my offer of proof that I am innocent in the above referenced case. Absent the exculpatory evidence, the record in this matter is falsified by omission.

The Grand Jury has a duty to properly investigate and bring the real criminals to justice regardless of the type of clothing they wear or the titles they bear, since no one is above the law in this country, not former President Richard Nixon, nor former Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards, nor former Texas Attorney General Dan Morales.

To be fair to all concerned it may be appropriate to have the U.S. Attorney testify before the Grand Jury under penalty of perjury as to certain facts and their relationship to the exculpatory evidence which has been withheld from the Grand Jury so that the U.S. Attorney would be properly prosecuted for perjury if he / she makes false statements or fails to provide the Grand Jury with all of the evidence including the exculpatory evidence.

I have witnesses, evidence, and testimony in an offer of proof that those parties responsible for withholding exculpatory evidence or acting as Grand Jury embracery agents are in violation of the law and must be indicted and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Federal Grand Juries across the country have been lied to by U.S. Attorneys and their assistants in order to harass certain innocent people. The members of this Grand Jury may find it appropriate to balance their investigations by also investigating the corruption of the American system of justice by U.S. Attorneys, said corruption having been reported upon by Bill Moushey in his Pittsburgh Post-Gazette report “Win at all costs”, available at: www.post-gazette.com/win/ and made a part hereof by reference.

Please set a hearing for me to present the exculpatory evidence to the Grand Jury and send me notice within ten (10) days as to the date, time, and place, whereby my exculpatory evidence will be made a permanent part of the record and the parties responsible for withholding the exculpatory evidence from the Grand Jury may be properly indicted.

If I do not hear from you within ten (10) days, I will be forced to assume that an embracery agent has impaired this mail, wherefore additional investigations will be required.

Below is the letter from US Attorney Robert C. Balfe:

April 23, 2007...

RE: United States v. Martin Baschab...

This office has received an investigative report from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms which indicates that you have been involved in violation of Possession of Machine Guns, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. § 922(o). We have reviewed this report and have determined that there is sufficient evidence to warrant the initiation of criminal charges against you.

Ordinarily, this office would proceed by presenting the evidence to a Federal Grand Jury, and would ask that body to return an Indictment against you. If an Indictment were returned, you would then be required to appear in court pursuant to an arrest warrant or summons.

In an attempt to expedite proceedings, we are writing to advise you as to the status of this mailer and to suggest that you retain an attorney to represent you. If you are unable to afford an attorney, you may contact Debbie Maddox, Courtroom Deputy for U.S. Magistrate Judge James R. Marschewski, (479) 709-5445, and ask for the appointment of an attorney. After you have obtained an attorney, we request that your attorney contact the undersigned to discuss disposition of this case.

We will forego proceeding with this matter until the close of business May 4, 2007. If we have not been contacted by your attorney before that date, we will proceed to present this matter to a Grand Jury as soon as possible thereafter.

WarOnGuns will continue to watch this case for developments. I know some of you will question these legal tactics, including why he admitted anything to the agents. I still don't understand why he was not arrested and jailed on the spot following the raid. But one thing is clear: there are some folks in Arkansas who are defying Second Amendment infringements, and they will not bend. At the same time, the federal government is proceeding to prosecute them. As we've seen from the Fincher case, the courts refuse to allow a defense that challenges the law or invokes the Constitution, so any prosecutions will be based on a "yes" or "no" case of possession, which means redress from the judicial system simply will not be allowed to happen. I can't help but wonder when something's going to snap.

You can learn more about this case by contacting Mr. Baschab directly at:
carl_1martinATsbcglobal.net

I'm sending him a link to this post, so perhaps he'll be able to address any questions in the "Comments" section, below.

We're the Only Ones Rubbed the Wrong Way Enough

San Mateo County Sheriff Greg Munks and his undersheriff were swept up in Las Vegas prostitution sting over the weekend while at a massage parlor suspected of being a brothel, authorities said Tuesday...

He denied any wrongdoing, however, as did Undersheriff Carlos Bolanos...

"I believed I was going to a legitimate business," the sheriff said...

We thought the red lights were for decoration.

Let's see if this passes a simple smell test:

Honey? Would you mind if I went to a Nevada massage parlor run out of a private home with no signage?

[Via M. Terry]

[More from "The Only Ones" files...]

The Blame Game

Last week after tragedy struck Virginia Tech and a gunman took 32 innocent lives, the media portrayed legal businesses as complicit in the murders.

Julia A. Seymour of the Business & Media Institute shows us how our old friends the "authorized journalists" abuse their privileges as supposed reporters of fact to promote an agenda. That's no surprise to those of us who follow such things, but nonetheless, this is an important report, and deserves widespread attention.

[Via Scot Christenson, Director of Communications--Sign up for The Balance Sheet, the free weekly newsletter of the Business & Media Institute http://www.businessandmedia.org/email/email.asp]

A Tale Told by an Idiot

A bill removing words such as idiot, lunatic and insane from the pages of the Ohio Revised Code got final approval from the Senate today...

The section includes this sentence: "No idiot, or insane person, shall be entitled to the privileges of an elector."

But that's OK, Ohioans. You can still vote for them.

[Via jastpeel]

The Bill Brown Runaround

From Larry Rankin via email to NRAHQ:

Just so you know Ed Worley has been contacted about this issue many times, by many people in and out of Santa Barbara. Ed has not responded to one person! Many have called his office three times. Also your Fairfax office has been contacted by many of the same people, because Ed has not returned their calls. NRA's response...call Ed. I have a friend who called Ed at least three time and ended up calling Fairfax--he would not take "call Sacramento" as an answer. After going through four or five people, he found someone that listened and even said they will contact me. He gave them all of my information. I was wise enough not to hold my breath! That was well over three weeks ago.

Sounds like the same thing that happened to me when I first began writing about this. I called NRA HQ, was referred to Sacramento and they referred me to NRA's "Media Office." They're counting on not enough members giving a damn about giving undeserved "A" ratings and endorsements, and I suspect they're probably right--which essentially gives them a green light to continue the practice.

[More on Sheriff Bill Brown]

Spitting on the Memory

[Foreword: Mike Vanderboegh has written an open letter.]

To: Rep. John Rogers
re: HB600 & spitting on the memory of the Deacons for Defense & Justice

Dear Rep. Rogers,

I note with interest that you are a co-sponsor of Patricia Todd's HB 600, requiring, among other things, the registration of all semi-automatic firearms in the state of Alabama. Now I know that this bill has about as much chance of passage as the Devil handing out Perrier-filled side-by-side refrigerators with ice makers to the denizens of Hell.

Still, for the purpose of satisfying my curiosity if nothing else, can you possibly explain to me why YOU have signed onto this unconstitutional folly? I mean, Todd, I understand. She's a white liberal and therefore, as a typical representative of her species, quite clueless. But you're African American. Are you so unfamiliar with your own history? Have you never heard of the Deacons for Defense and Justice? What do you suppose they would say about registering the firearms they used to defend MLK, James Farmer and others against the Klan with the Klan-dominated government at the time?

Do you suppose that what you now understand as "benign government" will always remain on your side? To think so would be in spite of all logic and human experience.

The Founders understood that you should never pass a law that you weren't willing to see enforced by your own worst enemy. And private firearms registration is ALWAYS the precursor to confiscation, which is, in turn, the predicate for oppression and genocide.

So tell me, why on earth did you sign onto this bill? I'd like to know. And I'll bet there is another bunch of brave Americans who would like to know too. Somewhere, those Deacons for Defense and Justice who have crossed over to their reward are frowning at the spittle with which you have encrusted their sacrifice and struggle. What a great way to treat a precious inheritance. Shame on you.

Mike Vanderboegh
PO Box 926
Pinson, AL 35126

A Beautiful Thing

"Well, I would love it if they could take all the guns away. Unfortunately, you can't do that so you hope that good people in the world have them to protect the people who can't protect themselves," he says.

"Certainly, I haven't used a gun anywhere other than on a movie set and I'd like to see if we could take them all away. It would be a beautiful thing."

Of course it would be, Pokey Poke. Then apes with sticks could rule the planet.

Correspondent Red Dot brought up the Pokester's troubled past with an instructor at Front Sight, and was told "all the troubles Pokey Poke had experienced were while a juvenile and thus sealed and inapplicable. And the 'internet rumors' were wrong."

Not according to the Suffolk County Clerk's Office for Criminal Business:

Has Mr. Wahlberg's record been expunged?

The answer was "No, it is public record."

Was defendant Wahlberg sentenced as a juvenile or as an adult?

"He was tried as an adult."

I guess I'm going to need to start digging around again, and see if anything has changed since I spoke with them six years ago.

[Via 45superman]

This Day in History: April 27

The Riotous Behaviour of some Soldiers of the Continental Army, Yesterday, and the Evening before, has filled the General, with much Regret, and concern; and lays him under the disagreeable necessity of declaring, that if the like behaviour should be practiced again, the Authors will be brought to the severest punishment if taken, or treated as a common Enemy, if they dare to resist -- Men are not to carve out Remedies for themselves -- If they are injured in any respect, there are legal Modes to obtain relief; and just Complaints will always be attended to, and redressed. It should be the pride of a Soldier, to conduct himself in such a manner, as to obtain the Applause, and not the reproach of a people, he is sent to defend; and it should be the business, as it is the duty of an Officer to inculcate and enforce this doctrine.

Guest Editorial: Diligence Awards

[Foreword: Andy Barniskis' emails are invariably well-reasoned, instructive , challenging and engaging. He has given me permission to post the following.]

Diligence Awards
Andy Barniskis

House Bill 1029: This legislation would allow individuals with a valid Pennsylvania license to carry a firearm to purchase additional guns without the cumbersome, expensive and redundant requirements of subsequent background checks through the Pennsylvania Instant Check System (PICS).

Correspondent writes:

What can you really have against this? Opposing it sure makes you sound pretty anti-gun, yourself.

Andy responds:

I'll start with the practical and then move up to the philosophical.

Carry permits are fundamentally a means of establishing a gun OWNER registration system, which in my opinion is more dangerous than the firearms registration systems everyone [rightly] gets so hot and bothered about. Why worry if some percentage of your GUNS are registered, if YOU are registered as the type who owns guns? Do you suspect being a "registered owner" might supply "reasonable cause" for an otherwise random search, someday in the future?

Thanks to some of our Real Gunnie, reciprocity-maven compatriots here in Pennsylvania, we are already on the way to having a centralized, computerized, 24/7, JBT-accessible registration of CCW holders (which will record your name FOREVER, even if you give up your CCW tomorrow) instead of the decentralized, 67- county system of the past. As bad as the county-level system may have been, it at least provided some hope that 67 bureaucracies, most of them rural, would lose or confuse some records, and possibly destroy outdated records. We could hope that if freedom ever broke out and we got Vermont/Alaska Carry, at least some of those counties would destroy all of their past records. Wishful thinking, maybe, but not impossible. The centralized system is going to be hardwired to the FBI, BATF, and possibly even accessible by (e.g.) the Southern Poverty Law Center, if they can dream up a use for it. (And don't tell me "Oh, but that will be ILLEGAL. . .") Tell me ANYONE's record is EVER going to cease to exist!

But hang on, I'm still not addressing the specific issue.

This legislation will create an implied (initially) and required (later) legal linkage between the CCW system and the IBC systems. As I'm writing this, the NRA and Rep. McCarthy are conspiring to make YOUR medical and mental health records -- and how will those be defined in the future? -- readily accessible to NICS/PICS. Meaning they will logically become linked to the PA CCW granting system. So, when Sister Mary Katherine tells someone in her eighth grade class that a trip to the principal's office for acting out in class will go on their "permanent record," she may be telling more truth than she'll ever know.

Maybe I'm sensitive to it, because the last big lawsuit I filed against a public official, was against my county sheriff for trying to make a "doctors note," attesting to mental health, a part of the application requirements for a CCW. It was illegal under PA law, and I don't think I have to itemize all the ways it could have been (and probably was) abused before my suit put a stop to it. Now, I'm supposed to cheer because the same thing that I fought and won against at the county level, is going to be imposed on us via a 24/7 electronic system at the state/national level that WILL eventually be linked to NICS/PICS?

And by "pro-gun" people?

Moving on to the tactical/political level: I have never made a secret that for me the gold standard of individual gun rights is that we should not have to seek permission from The State to acquire, own, or carry a gun. Unfortunately, I'd say the majority of firearms hobbyists I encounter seem to regard holding a CCW as imbuing them with some special status as a "Real Gunnie," and (referring to outside Pennsylvania) the harder it is to get a CCW, the more CCW holders seem to hold themselves in high regard. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I recently listened to a national radio talk show, and the STRONGEST advocates for restricted access to carrying firearms were self- identified "certified firearms instructors!" These people, sad to say, are one of the strongest constituencies IN OPPOSITION to fundamental rights, and yet to a man they regard themselves as "pro-gun" -- they want you to have a gun, as long as you satisfy THEIR criteria for it.

Now, add to the mix that this legislation grants additional benefits for those holding a CCW; they can walk into a gun shop, flash their CCW, and wave off the background check, to the admiration of the kids and counter-loungers; "Gosh Elmer, that feller must have a LICENSE to do that! He must be a real Gun Guy, you betcha!"

Think that feller is going to be much of a constituent for losing his self esteem, via the abolition of CCWs, should the day come when the rest of us make that possible? It's hard to call legislation that serves hobbyists' convenience "anti-gun," but I'd suggest it is appropriate to call it "anti-rights" in its practical effects on the masses and their attitudes.

And last, I must wax poetic, with a true story that is nonetheless also allegorical:

My uncle was captured at Corregidor in 1942. Eventually he was taken to Japan, where he spent almost the entire war as a slave laborer in the Mitsubishi Shipyards, building ships (well, A ship) for the Japs.

The Japs would give "diligence awards" of extra food, cigarettes, and privileges to prisoners who did good work. According to my uncle, many was the time they beat the hell out of fellow prisoners who earned or accepted diligence awards. I once asked "How badly?" and he just grimaced and shook his head.

For most of the time they had no idea how the war was going. According to the Japs, Japan was winning. They never heard of the Battle of Midway or any of the island landings. The first positive hint they had was, the first time they saw a B-29 fly overhead at high altitude, probably in late 1943.

But they resisted. When the one ship they completed was launched, it rested in the harbor for a few minutes, then promptly sank. Welders like my uncle had laid cold welding rods and other debris in joints and welded over them. Under the first stresses the welds snapped, and the ship sank. They EXPECTED to be executed, en masse, but they weren't. The Japs had used Jap civilian labor on the ship, too, and with their bizarre sense of "honor," they could not punish the prisoners without punishing their countrymen the same way.

Nevertheless by war's end only eight of the 350+ men he had been captured with were left alive. Standing 6 feet tall, my uncle weighed less than 100 pounds when liberated. I've never asked him this -- I've never had to -- but with hindsight, wouldn't it have been better to accept "diligence awards," so that maybe a handful more would have survived? In the big picture, what difference would it have made if they had helped the Japs launch another cargo ship or two?

The idea of course was unthinkable, even during those long months when it appeared possible that the Japs WERE winning -- just as it appears now the anti-freedom forces in our own country have won, hands down, on some issues.

You of course see the analogy I'm making: I WILL not believe the war for true gun RIGHTS -- not privileges -- is lost. While the fight goes on, I WILL not countenance the acceptance -- much less the SEEKING -- of "diligence awards" from our enemies, in the form of special privileges granted in return for willing acceptance of our present state of subjugation.

--Andy

Freedom: It's for the Dogs

Claire Wolfe shows us how a humble doggie knows what many of us have seemingly forgotten.

What does that have to do with eliminating BATFU?

Follow the link and find out.

Magic Marker Challenge Prof Speaks

Speaking of college professors, M. Terry points me to some video clips related to a story we posted on the other day.

Sure is great the way diversity and tolerance are encouraged in our institutions of higher learning, ain't it? I mean, our kids are free to be Leninists or Trotskyites, or even jihadists.

America--that's why I love her!

Second Amendment Obsolete? Abolish it and Watch What Happens

Mike Vanderboegh has written an open letter in reply to a sheltered professor's ill-reasoned rant.

My Dear Jeffery,

You really ought not extrapolate from your own cowardice and impute your own weeniehood to the self-reliant citizens you seek to disarm. If you truly believe the 2nd Amendment is obsolete, then I suggest you and your friends abolish it and watch what happens. And do it quickly please, while I'm still young enough to fight in the civil war you start.

Just because you would cave to any government diktat does not mean we would. Indeed, I can just about guarantee that at least 10% of us gunowners are "cold dead hands" types, which means you'll have to kill upwards of 8.5 million of us to accomplish your goal. Remember, we're the ones with the guns, and we will not go gently into that good collectivist night.

Aren't you the least bit concerned that folks who are willing to die for their country might be willing to kill for it too? Certainly we would intend to sell ourselves as dearly as possible. And do you think that we would fail to include the people who urged the policy upon such an oppressive government? There are no free lunches, Jeffery. So please, be careful what you wish for, you may get it. But hey, if you feel lucky, go ahead and abolish the 2nd Amendment. You'll find out just how "obsolete" the Founders' concept of the citizen militia really is.

Mike Vanderboegh
PO Box 926
Pinson, AL 35126

Disclaimer: No weenie college professors were actually harmed in the creation of this email.

Gun Bans Don't Work

School massacres occur regardless of the law.

And sometimes they occur because of it.

Jennifer Freeman gives us another Liberty Belles exclusive.

Gun-Free Talk

[H]as the NRA changed it's position on "gun-free" schools? It seem incongruous to call for their end and, in the same breath, to urge support of an organization that has stood beside the antis in supporting legislation to create victim disarmament zones.

Good question, Alan! Great one, actually.

And the reply?

I don't agree with the NRA on everything, but I do know they are vital to our gun rights. I don't know what their policy is on gun free school zones.

Well, you do now, Mr. Gresham. Alan even gave you source references.

So can we count on your voice joining with those of us calling on NRA to end their inexplicably anti-human position?

Jerry Adler Wets Pants for Newsweek

Many ordinary citizens now have 9-millimeters for protection as well, which means, inevitably, that they get used to settle arguments between spouses or friends.

Right, and we know they're never used to save lives, right, Jerry? They're just too dangerous for "ordinary citizens," and we're so stupid and out of control, why, we'd just use them to "settle arguments." It's not like we possess anywhere near the awesome intellect, judgment and morality of, say, "The Only Ones" who do.

Being an "authorized journalist" and all, you'd tell us if there was another side to the story--wouldn't you? Because otherwise, that would make you just another lying shill for Brady Campaign propaganda who has cast all journalistic ethics to the side in favor of cushy writing gigs for a national magazine. I want to believe better of you, Jer.

Regardless, it's nice to see the 9mm has regained the crown for "weapon of choice." A while back, I was getting worried...

Anybody else notice--while the title is "Story of a Gun," the window tab says "The Weapon: A Day in the Life of a 9mm"?

"The Life"? I guess these must be those self-activating guns we're always hearing about on the news that just go off and kill and kill and kill again?

[Via HZ]

Johnston Home Invasion Officers Indicted

A grand jury has indicted three current and former police officers in the November shooting death of an elderly Atlanta woman during a police raid.

We've talked about the Kathryn Johnston outrage before here on WarOnGuns. It would be nice to think that justice will be done, but I'm suspending judgment. Besides, nothing will bring that poor soul back to life.

If I were optimistic, I'd hope this would be a catalyst for the American people to rethink when no-knock dynamic entries are truly justified--like, say, at Virginia Tech. You'll notice when it's just a little old lady, no one in body armor is hiding behind trees.

This Day in History: April 26

"Sybil Ludington rode horseback over this road the night of April 26, 1777 to call out Col. Ludington's regiment to repel the British at Danbury, Connecticut."

"Run Rights Rally"?

Black lawmakers are demanding a police investigation of a banner held at Tuesday's run rights rally in the state Capitol.

Zoinks! Did they pass out Scooby Snacks?

Notes to our side:

• It's "hanged."
• The Tree of Liberty has nothing to do with lynching, and it's certainly not "just a figure of speech."

Notes to Rep. Cruz:

• You truly are dangerously incompetent.
  
• I can't really disagree with Mr. Jefferson's "manure" analogy.

It May Not Be Enough?

Damon Wells and his home appear no longer safe.

The .40-caliber handgun that Wells carries legally for defense may not be enough to protect the 25-year-old man and his home in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood.

I should say, not, "reporter" Gabriel Baird. Don't you read your own newspaper?

Police took a .40-caliber Smith and Wesson firearm from Wells as evidence, the police report shows.

So now the poor guy's got a vengeful mob of thug apologists terrorizing him, and no way to protect himself.

It sounds like we as a society ought to miss young "Ace Boogie" as much as we will "Boonie."

A Chicago Story

Tom Mayhew sent me this picture of a different time altogether. This was Chicago! There were cops in the picture encouraging this--it was their idea!! And it was given favorable press in a California newspaper!!!

Today, tellers give up the cash just based on a note, without ever seeing a weapon. That's because so many banks are "No Gun Zones," and because so many among us have forgotten--or never knew--the responsibilities of free men and the way things are supposed to be.

"Good Citizens"

Holmgren said, "We're not saying that we want citizens to go out there and arm themselves and take the law into their own hands. We want citizens to be good witnesses, to be good report-takers and to identify suspects."

Defending yourself and your property is "taking the law into your own hands"?

We want citizens to be good Eloi.

Congratulations, Holmgren, you've left me with nothing to add.

[Via Cryptic Subterranean]

Department of Destroying History

Go over to Armed and Safe and read about the latest bit of BATFU stupidity and arrogance.

You just gotta shake your head and work for the day when these parasites will starve.

Good catch, Kurt. Good comments.

We're the Only Ones With the Right Hands Enough

Thieves broke into a Utah County Sheriff's vehicle early Tuesday morning in Lehi and stole two very dangerous assault weapons that authorities fear could be used in other crimes.

"We're very worried because we don't want any weapon getting into the hands of anybody in the public because, you are looking at a sawed off shotgun and an assault rifle," said Utah County Public Information Officer Dennis Harris as he looked at the damaged vehicle.

Left unsaid is why "peace officers" need what the antis continually describe as "weapons of war" and "killing machines." I woupldn't be surprised to find a "bullet hose" or two in there somewhere. But did you catch what Harris said? That's "anybody in the public," not just the thieves they provided this grand no-mental-health-or-criminal-background-check-required opportunity to.

Why?

In the right hands police said these weapons protect the public, but in the wrong hands they present a major threat.

And we all know "the right hands" are "Only Ones" hands.

[Via 45superman]