Wednesday, September 05, 2007

An Only Ones "Three-fer"

From Stan:

We're the Only Ones...Whoa...Dude...I have HANDS!!! Enough
Oldham County police Officer Gerald W. Colston has been charged with growing marijuana, the department said today.
We're the Only Ones Punchy Enough
Johnson City police arrest an off-duty Kingsport officer this weekend after they say the man punched one of their officers in the face.
We're the Only Ones on Official Business Enough
When the officer showed up, he inspected the bag and saw nothing had been stolen. He also asked Righi for his driver's license. Since Righi was not driving his father's car, he refused to give up his driver's license, but was happy to give his name and address at the officer's request. Not amused, the officer arrested Righi and booked him for 'Obstructing Official Business.'
[More from "The Only Ones" Files]

Penn State Library to Order Hardy 2A DVD

As I mentioned in a comment on your blog, I sent a letter to my university's law librarian, and today she responded, telling me that she will order the video. It never hurts to ask, and sometimes much is gained! Thanks for suggesting this course of action.

Nathaniel (Penn State)

Great work, Nathaniel. In addition to requesting that Netflix and Blockbuster update their catalogs with "In Search of the Second Amendment," approaching public and school libraries is a great way to help educate more people on the origin and intent of the Second Amendment.

I trust the numerous scholars interviewed in the video have ensured at least one copy resides in the library of their respective institutes of higher learning?

We're the Only Ones Evasive and Fraudulent Enough

Broward County Sheriff Ken Jenne resigned Tuesday after agreeing to plead guilty to federal tax evasion and mail fraud charges after a corruption investigation uncovered crimes in his outside business dealings, federal prosecutors said.


What, the "authorized journalists" are just now figuring out this guy's a corrupt fraud?

Some of us have been telling people that for years.

Anybody see anything about his having surrendered his service weapon yet?

[More from "The Only Ones" Files]

A Question of Priorities

Mistakes by U.S. Air Force personnel left five nuclear warheads unaccounted for during a three-hour period on Aug. 30...
And the federal government is worried about Ryan Horsley?

Tom Gresham Responds...

...to this.

Hi, David:

Thanks for the head's up, and the defense.

I've been using that line for at least three months on the radio show . . . maybe longer.

I shot that YouTube video just as a lark. A listener kept bugging me, saying that I keep telling people to ask the candidates this question, so . . . "Why don't you do it yourself, Tom?" He was right, and I was on site, with a camera, and with Clint, so we just did it. It's not great, but at least it's done.

Each of us goes about this gun rights battle differently, but at least we are in the battle. I try hard to not get caught up in the turf wars of the alphabet groups or discussions of who is more pure.

We all just need to keep working on whatever it is each of thinks is important, in whatever way we think is effective.

I'm not Gottlieb, or LaPierre, or Pratt, or anyone else. I'm glad they do what they do.

I'm glad that Stephen put up that video. He put more effort into it than I did, and it looks good. What if 100 others did the same thing? That would be pretty cool, too.

Please feel free to use this on your blog. And thanks, David, for pushing the video. I have no idea what it takes to get CNN to pay attention, but if all this does is create discussion and make people recalibrate how they approach the concept of what we want, it's worthwhile.

Best,Tom


So--you've seen the video, right? And written CNN?

Open Letter to Amendment II Democrats

WarOnGuns regulars know we've been discussing the group "Amendment II Democrats." I received the following from correspondent "Peter," and received permission to share it:

Dear Sirs/Madams,

As someone who generally agrees with the Democratic side of things, at least to the point of being registered as one, I was interested in hearing about you from David Codrea.

It's lonely being a gun positive Democrat, and it gets lonelier as time goes on. I was hoping that I had been directed to a group of like-minded folks.

I was wrong. You refer glancingly to the Second Amendment, but you're really interested in electing Democrats, no matter what.

Let me explain where I'm coming from:

The American Revolution did not start on 19Apr 1775 at Concord.

Nor on 5 Dec 1773, the Boston Massacre.

Nor during the French and Indian War.

It started in January of 1629 when Charles I of England dissolved Parliament and commenced the eleven-year period of Personal Rule. At this moment in time, William Penn was an unknown landowner in the English countryside, although events would force him to emigrate and eventually found Pennsylvania, as a "for instance".

Over the next century and a half it was realized that certain things belong inalienably to the individual, no matter the government, and no matter what any government might assert.

Those items are pretty well enumerated in the Bill of Rights. A possibly heretical (to you) thought: the Bill of Rights is eternal and timeless, and would obtain even if America never existed. That means you and I have the right to worship (or not), assemble, speak our minds, and bear arms, no matter what. Period. No 'reasonable' restrictions without overarching societal need, hence the prohibition against yelling Fire In A Crowded Theatre, as one example.

You cite on your website the fact that you're not on the NRA's Blacklist. Rather than use that to establish your bona fides, I would suggest that you haven't made enough of a public splash for them to notice you. I expect that to be remedied as soon as someone over there tries to wade through the morass of nonsense you have posted.

You are partisan hacks who are trying to exploit one of the national conversations for your own benefit and the benefit of your Democratic candidates. I hold Free Speech to be sacred, so by all means continue with what you're trying to do. It won't work, and you'll be doing it without my support, and when I hear that your partisan side overrides your Constitutional side, I will work against you. Please note that I said 'when'; I have no doubt you'll toss my Second Amendment Rights over the side when it becomes convenient for you to do so.
It's not my intention to attack this group, as I've said before I believe their spokesman Daniel Barnett is sincere, but I disagree with the underlying philosophy of not supporting pro-RKBA candidates because of party loyalty. So Peter's blunt observations need to be heard and understood by them, as they reflect a sentiment we've heard before in comments on previous posts, and one they will certainly continue to hear by gun owners rightfully distrusting of the abominable record of the modern Democrat party as a whole on gun rights.

It's my hope that this is a catalyst for a more profound reexamination than the "tweaking" we got the other day. My hope is to see them come around to a more profound and vigorous defense of their namesake amendment, one that is transparent to party lines. As always, dialog is the order of the day, and Mr. Barnett is welcome to respond in "Comments," below, or by sending me a standalone post, which I will publish unedited and in full.

Related Posts:
2A Dems to Hold 8/28 Rally
Second Amendment Democrats Respond
2A Dems "Tweak" Position

This Day in History: September 5

Who is there without ambition, to share with them, the applauses of their countrymen, and of all posterity, as the defenders of Liberty, and the procurers of peace and happiness to millions in the present and future generations?

So, what do you think? Have "future generations" conducted themselves as worthy and grateful heirs of the Liberty procured by the sacrifices of these men?