The Microstamping Loophole?

There's a discussion going on over at CalGuns about a possible wrinkle in California's new microstamping edict that may make implementation problematic:

Now what is really interesting is the line "provided that the Department of Justice certifies that the technology used to create the imprint is available to more than one manufacturer unencumbered by any patent restrictions." Right now one company (ID Dynamics) claims the patents (7111423 and 6886284 amongst others) to microstamping spent shells in firearms and subsequently reading them. Those patents are valid until about 2023 and I'm quite sure that Mr. Lizotte and Mr. Ohar claim that they are patent that occupy the entire field of firearm microstamping - kind of how NTP claims all of the space of push email against RIM/Blackberry and others. Since the legislature required that the technology be avialable from more than one provider and not encumbered by patent I'm quite confident that DOJ can not complete an OAL rulemaking that conforms with the legislation and Patent Law before the expiration of ID Dynamic's patents in 2023.

I'm not sure what bearing that really has, because the patent owner has "promised that the Microstamping technology would be provided royalty-free to firearms manufacturers with gunmaking facilities in the United States."

That said, I just don't seen an "out." Anybody with a different read on this?

[CalGuns link via Paul Nelson]

Joaquin Jackson Recall Underway

I was approached with a link to a Joaquin Jackson recall effort being discussed at GunThing forums. They asked my opinion and if I was interested in joining them.

As you see from my reply, I did have some reservations--I still do, but not enough to let these guys muster without me.

The same day, I found out there was an identical effort being promoted at Western Rifle Shooters Association. This one was more developed, and an actual petition has already been crafted.

I introduced the principals to each other and they are proceeding with the existing petition. I completed mine and mailed it in yesterday.

To sum things up, you must be an NRA Life Member or higher, OR an annual member of five years' standing. If you're not, you can still help by spreading the word.

A blog is being developed to be a central information repository and to provide updates. I'll post the url when it's ready to be released into the wild.

UPDATE: Sebastian thinks this isn't worth the effort. I left a comment wondering if his objections may provide the key to resolving this.

Take the Red's Trading Post Challenge!

Send this message to all 100 Senators (it took me a little over an hour) and then contact me and I will send you a Red's Trading Post Translucent tumbler (Fancy word for Traveling Mug). Good Luck and encourage others to do so as well.

I wrote Ryan back when he notified me of this post and urged him:

1. To require verification
2. To add the caveat "While supplies last."

I also wrote:

It seems one hour could be spent composing a list of every email address--if such doesn't already exist--that people could paste in their email "BCC" address bar--then--with a pre-prepared email, it could literally take supporters seconds to do this instead of an hour. I'll look into this and advise--if there is not any online list, and if people literally need to visit every senate website to fill out a form, we should compile a list of actual email addresses--you might want to save any email replies you get from them to compile such a list--I'm surprised the gun groups haven't done this already.

I spent some time blundering around Google and didn't find a consolidated list anywhere. What say we compile one, starting with the Senate.

If you help Ryan out in this and fill out the forms for the Senators, you should get some sort of confirmation email reply with an address--assuming it's not just an autoresponder that no one checks...Damn politicians making us jump through hoops to send 'em our wishes really grinds my gears (and yeah, I know about spam.)

Feel free to leave as many senate edresses as you can find in comments, below.

If a gunblogger who has the time and is looking to generate some traffic wants to take this on, I sure wouldn't mind...

Genocide Resistance

Whatever may be said about the U.S. House of Representatives committee vote concerning the use of the term “genocide” in reference to Turkey’s atrocities against the Armenians during World War I, two facts are indisputable: It was gun confiscation that made the atrocities possible. And it was the possession of firearms that saved many Armenians.

Read the latest from Dave Kopel & Paul Gallant, & Joanne D. Eisen.

We're the Only Ones Videophobic Enough

Officers wrote in their reports that Waterhouse ran off, they chased and then bean-bagged and Tasered him. One officer wrote, "He had refused to drop the camera which could be used as a weapon."

How's that for the new justification to keep citizen oversight at bay?

"The camera...could be used as a weapon" ?

Especially if he was deploying one of those assault cameras.

How can you tell? Easy--was he a mere citizen, or an "authorized journalist"?

Good Lord.

[Via Jeffrey H]

[More from "The Only Ones" Files]

Antis to Lie at Gun Show

The Million Mom March/Brady Campaign is planning a protest this Saturday at the C & E Gun Show at the Showplace in Richmond. They are planning a "lie-in" (boy, isn't THAT the truth!) at noon near the building. They plan on having women dressed in black to lie down for two-minutes to represent how long it took Cho to get his guns.

Why can't I get the image of Cartman doing skateboard jumps out of my mind?

[Via Clint K]

A 12th Century Mentality

A 12th-century common-law right becomes a cudgel to prevent common-sense regulations that could constrict the easy availability of weapons.

In a nutshell:

If we disarmed you, criminals who are forbidden by law to have weapons would become harmless. We should be more like England. I come out at the end and admit this wouldn't have had an effect on the latest shooting I'm prattling on about, but I'm smart and sophisticated and obviously not primitive like you, and this is how I define "common sense."

Fanatical certitude based on ignorance--talk about your 12th Century mentality. It's hard to recall the last time I read so much concentrated stupid in one place--at least by a grownup.

Oldsmoblogger has a more detailed take on this.

This Day in History: October 17

Finally on October 17, 1777, Burgoyne formally surrendered. Under the generous terms of the Convention of Saratoga, Burgoyne was allowed to march out of camp "with the Honors of War", which included retaining his colors and the return of his men to England. His 6,000 men marched out of their camp, surrendered their weapons and began their march west. However, when they reached New England, Gates' terms were not honored and the British soldiers spent months in sparse guarded camps.

Oh, and something else happened in 1781...