A Mugged Liberal

Randi Rhodes was mugged on Sunday night on 39th Street and Park Ave, nearby her Manhattan apartment, while she was walking her dog Simon.

According to Air America Radio late night host Jon Elliott, Rhodes was beaten up pretty badly, losing several teeth and will probably be off the air for at least the rest of the week.

Some are already floating the proposition--without any evidence--that "this an attempt by the right wing hate machine to silence one of our own..."

Speaking as a self-appointed minor functionary within that hate machine, let me just say how I wish Ms. Rhodes had possessed the means and the will to defend herself and either stop her attacker in his tracks or send him off howling in the darkness.

I wish she did not consider advocating gun rights to be "pimping,"and that she did not disparage those who advocate an armed citizenry as "nuts."

And I certainly don't mean to diminish the pain and horror she experienced. But I will note that the policies she advocates will enable future attacks on new victims, who will be compelled to either obey the law and suffer, or defy it and assume the legal risks of state retribution.

Why would anyone want to force another human being to make that choice?

I know the term has been bastardized over the years, but how is that even remotely considered "liberal"?

UPDATE: IT TURNS OUT SHE WASN'T MUGGED AFTER ALL. THIS WHOLE STORY IS APPARENTLY NOTHING MORE THAN LYING HYSTERIA FROM THE POLITICAL LEFT--AS IF THAT SHOULD SURPRISE ANYONE.

UPDATE 2: It's telling how the Democrat Underground is ready to form a lynch mob and "round up the ususal suspects" with absolutely no evidence other than their own paranoia and bigotry.

Oxnard Criminalizing Theft Victims

Oxnard will become the fourth city in Ventura County to approve a new gun control law that allows police to better track the sale of illegally purchased weapons.

...The ordinance requires gun owners to report stolen or lost firearms within three days of their disappearance or face misdemeanor charges. Owners who had guns go missing in the past five years will be required to report them within 90 days of the law’s adoption.

Criminals, of course, will be exempt. Fifth Amendment-articulated right against self-incrimination and all that.

Attempts to contact the National Rifle Association for further comment were unsuccessful.

Why am I suddenly thinking of a motivational poster titled "Leadership"?

Sure glad California has preemption. Or isn't registering stolen guns considered "registration"?

We're the Only Ones Hushing You Enough

The state's top law enforcement official is drawing criticism for encouraging the public not to answer reporters' questions about a north woods shooting by an off-duty sheriff's deputy that left seven dead, including the gunman.

Let's see...cop goes on murderous rampage...911 went continuously unresponded to...

Yeah, I can see where the "Only Ones" wouldn't want the people affected participating in any independent investigations.

Thing is, it's a small town. If someone does decide to talk freely and openly, will there be repercussions?

That chilling sensation must just be a blast of air coming down from the north across the lake...

[Via KABA Newslinks]

Can We Talk About Resuming the Conversation Yet?

The six-month anniversary of the shootings at Virginia Tech is Tuesday, and dozens of family members of the victims will be on Capitol Hill tomorrow urging Congress to strengthen gun legislation regarding background checks.

I don't suppose any families will be urging an end to mandated Cho Empowerment Zones?

I can understand. In the wake of Virginia Tech, the best Wayne & Co. could do was treat with the antis on HR 2640. To actually move forward on legislation that would give future victims a fighting chance would be exploiting the situation--or at least that's the line we were sold.

"What does it hurt to pause for a few days in the midst of a tragedy...?" we were asked. That presupposes a moratorium by maniacs, too, doesn't it? Do we need to wait until it does hurt, and if we do, what does experience with these matters show us the likely manufactured public sentiment will be?

"There is a time and a place for the discussion, the debate, and even the argument over gun control. I believe there is a time to resume this conversation," we were told.

Is it time yet?

We're the Only Ones Incompetent Enough

The rookie Houston Police Department officer who shot and killed a 14-year-old special education student in one of the decade's most controversial shootings earned his badge and gun despite flunking a crucial test of firearms handling as well as initial police field training, according to documents recently made public as part of a civil rights lawsuit.

The child was not guilty.
The child was not armed.
The child was crying for his "Mama."
And this...this creature gets 60 days.

At some point, I'd like to see the name Arthur J. Carbonneau remembered--perhaps as a special "Only One" award for exceptional incompetence and brutality. But not right now. I have boys near the victim's age, and the overwhelming love I have for them never fails to humble and awe me when I reflect on it. I can't even begin to think what my reaction would be if this were my son.

[Via LibertyPlease]

This Day in History: October 16

The enemy last night made a sortie for the first time. They entered one of the French and one of the American Batteries on the second parallel which were unfinished. They had only time to thrust the points of their Bayonets into four pieces of the French and two of the American Artillery and break them off, but the spikes were easily extracted. They were repulsed the moment the supporting Troops came up, leaving behind them seven or eight dead and six prisoners. The French had four officers and twelve privates killed and wounded, and we had one serjeant mortally wounded.