Another "Gun-Free School Zone" Report Card

Three friends were forced to kneel against a wall behind an elementary school and were shot to death at close range, and a fourth was found about 30 feet away with gunshot and knife wounds to her head, police said.

Perhaps their assailants failed to notice page 46 from the Newark Public School's Discipline Policy? Or perhaps, if they were not students, they failed to heed the Brady Campaign's assurances that "it is illegal for CCW permit holders to carry guns into schools"?

Just asking. It seems "A-" rated New Jersey could use some more laws, or signs, or something to pull that grade up to a 4.0.

Starting with a Lie

Sacramento police want to take guns out of the hands of criminals and keep them with law abiding citizens.

That must be why they want to pass laws that will exempt criminals and burden law abiding citizens.

Why read any further when it's obvious we're being lied to from the outset?

Why the Delay?

The case of a licensed gun dealer busted 14 months ago as part of Mayor Bloomberg's anti-gun initiative has been stalled repeatedly to give prosecutors time to discuss strategy with City Hall, a lawyer for the defendant claims.

I mean, it's not like Bloomberg's tactics haven't been rebuked--by both the feds and other states.

I wonder what happened to Jack Togati's "right to a speedy...trial"? I guess when someone like Bloomberg gets away with trampling the Second Amendment, there's not much reason for him to fear crossing the line on the Sixth.

The other thing I wonder is why a blog search shows practically nothing about this, and nothing at all presenting Mr. Togati's side of things. I'd think there would be some gun rights advocates in New York who would see the benefit of keeping a light shined on these types of stories.

When Logic Fails...

...just rely on wishful thinking.

Hey, you can't prove gun "buybacks" don't work, and if it save just one child it's worth it.

Besides, if you had a gun in the home, this might happen.

Oh, wait, it might not. Never mind.

"It's Really a Values Issue"

The decision of administrators at the University of Toronto to shut down the venerable Hart House Rifle and Revolver Clubs next month speaks to more than political correctness run amok...

There's never been a deliberate or accidental shooting at the range in the 88-year history of the gun clubs...

An assistant VP called it "really a values issue. This is not a safety issue as strictly defined."

Sounds more like a lack of values to me.

We're the Only Ones Serpentine Enough

City Manager Bob Wade said rumors of overeager Noble officers are inaccurate. "I was told that they tried several ways to get the snake down, but it was still hissing at them and firmly lodged,” Wade said. "What I was told is that the owner of the home either suggested or agreed that they should go ahead and shoot the snake, and then everything happened from there.”

Wade refused to identify the officer suspected of firing the shots but said the officer has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation agents were told that officers decided to shoot the animal after being told there was a field behind them, said Jessica Brown, bureau spokeswoman. [More]

Excuse-making mouthpiece Wade would have done better saying nothing than trying to blame the homeowner for his officer's appalling lack of judgment--as if anyone but the operator is responsible for firing a gun. Ditto for Brown, who indicates telling a cop there's "a field behind them" somehow excuses firing a gun when what's behind the target and in the bullet's path hasn't been determined.

This story is just so appalling on so many levels.

First of all, assuming the Noble "Only Ones" couldn't use a rake handle or a shotgun or snake shot in their handguns, it doesn't seem unreasonable to ask why this wasn't a job for animal control--particularly since they're in the same building as the Noble PD.



And then we have the matter of refusing to release the name--that seems to be a recurring theme--unless "authorized journalists" covering the story are getting their ox gored.

Ironic thing about Noble. They appear to be murder-free.


Until now. And you can bet this will be added to Oklahoma's "child gun deaths" statistics and used as further "justification" against private gun ownership.

One other thing stands out in light of a post from yesterday:

The first shot was so loud it made the hair stand straight up on Jack Tracy's arm.

That's understandable. Now compare that to what "stands the hair up" on an "Only One."

[Via HZ. Additional link provided by Mike S]

Guest Editorial: The Downsides of Liberty

By Charles H. Sawders

Everybody understands the multitudinous blessings of liberty. We all know that living to one's own lights is the ultimate human condition so cherished and desired by most of the world's population.

However, let's talk about the downsides of liberty. Oh, yes! Liberty has some downsides, especially when we talk about every common ordinary man being armed and walking among other men with weapons of deadly capability.

Should this be allowed? Should we honor the claim to the right to be able to protect one's self and other innocents? Should we countenance a society in which anybody and everybody might be armed with implements of fatal potential?

Those are the questions we need to answer. So here goes.

Liberty's downsides are mainly two. Only two, but they are big ones.

The first is that liberty is by definition risky. That's right, risky. For every freedom of choice, habit, or intention that one has, so have others. Others who may not be as moral or principled have as much liberty to do what they will, as do you. As most people are good and decent, the risk is not great, but it is real.

The second downside to liberty is responsibility. Uh huh! The big R. Scares the Hell out of a lot of people. There are a great many that believe they can have liberty without the responsibility to maintain it. I know that sounds unrealistic, but it is true. There are many people in our nation who would abrogate their responsibility to maintain their liberty and their security to hirelings who may or may not have their employers' best interests at heart. To the extent that they surrender their responsibility to protect themselves and their liberty, they surrender their liberty. This trade of freedom for security is a straight one for one trade until the point of "inability of the society to envision themselves as free and deserving to be so". When that point is reached the hirelings take control and liberty is outlawed. Period.

So, I have a proposal for all that would disarm the people. It is simple. Come to me. I will protect you so long as you do what I tell you to do. I will protect you at least as well as the police do (which they are not obligated to do, by the way)and I will consider it an obligation. I will treat you with more gentleness than you will find among the operatives that want you helpless. This I promise.

Anyone who does not find my proposal acceptable, yet favors citizen helplessness and disarmament, by definition are mentally defective. For what difference who be the master if one is willing to be a slave?

If one see a problem with my proposal, I submit that they should be just as wary of all others who have offered the very same thing.

If you would be free, you must accept the risks and responsibilities of liberty.

Think about it.

This Day in History: August 6

Donald McDonald, leading a combined force of 60 Indians and Loyalists, surprises the Patriots as they work in the fields. Most run to Fort Clayton about five miles away but a German, John Christian Shell (Schell?), and his family make a stand in their blockhouse. McDonald is wounded, captured, and dies the next day, after his leg is amputated. Additionally, Shell and 11 attackers are also killed while another six of their number are wounded in the failed raid.