"Not Obliged"

John McClelland, a fiction writer who blogs about liberty issues from Northern Ireland as “Cryptic Subterranean,” also tried to get this information. Being a British citizen (and one who understands principles of American Constitutionalism better than the vast majority of US citizens), he is in a better position to approach his public servants than some foreign interloper from “across the pond.”

“Your request for information has now been considered,” the Orwellian-titled “Freedom of Information Officer” informed him, “and I am not obliged to supply the information you have requested.”

"Not Obliged," my Rights Watch column for the December 2007 issue of GUNS Magazine, is now online.

It All Depends on the Meaning of the Word "Strict"

In yet another example of a politician advocating one position while running for state or local office and a completely different one upon running for president, Rudy Giuliani has decided that he now supports a very strict interpretation of the Second Amendment.

Strictly speaking, the pompous little fascist is a shameless liar. What I said about Jeannemarie goes double for Rudy.

Gewehre = Gefängnis

As we've already established, you don't actually need to be doing anything evil to qualify for being hauled off--keeping and bearing arms has been deemed a sufficient offense against das Vaterland. Hey, what's a Konzentrationslager without barbed wire? They have towers with machine guns and scary guys in uniforms, too.

Do you believe this scheiße, issued by the state as a warning to citizens against exercising what is supposed to be an unalienable right? Are we now the Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika?

Anybody think the Oberherren who proclaim and enforce these edicts are moved by entreaties for reasonableness and incrementalism, or do you think maybe the only thing that might give them pause would be the likelihood of being brought to justice--where, as in the past, "only following orders" is not deemed a valid defense?

They're actually threatening us with barbed wire if we don't obey them and disarm. They couldn't state it any clearer: They want us to fear them.

We're the Only Ones "In the Navy" Enough

A senior Navy officer has been charged with conspiring to sell two military style semi-automatic rifles to undercover police...

Two Glock handguns, four Ruger rifles and a Smith & Wesson revolver belonging to the navy were among the items confiscated.

Well blow me down. And here I've been believing the military and police were "The Only Ones" who could be trusted with firearms.

We're the Only Ones Linked Enough

A Wisconsin mayor has ordered a businesswoman who helped lead an unsuccessful recall against him last year to remove a link to the local police department from her business website.

I've seen "Only Ones" claim all kinds of special privileges for themselves over the years, but this one reaches new depths in terms of arrogance and sheer ridiculousness.

I'd like to see some sourpuss mouthpiece for a bobble-head statist try ordering me to take his stupid city police link down. That sounds like a job for a WarOnGuns Bitemegram.

What the hell is wrong with creatures who attain positions of "authority"?

A "Gun Crime" in Albany

“Yet again, another young man is going to jail for the next five years for carrying a gun on the streets of Albany County. I hope every young man realizes that you don’t have to use, or even show off the gun, just having that weapon can land you in prison for a long time,” said Soares.

"Shall not be infringed..."

"Enforce existing gun laws..."

"Shall not be infringed..."

"Enforce existing gun laws..."

Gee, I don't know what to make of this, especially with all the respect the Albany PD showed for the Fourth Amendment, too...

I don't know the character of the "young man" in question. He could have been a very bad hombre indeed. On the other hand, the presumption during a traffic stop is supposed to be that he is one of us--a gun owner keeping and bearing arms for defense of self or community, or for whatever damn reason he pleases--as is his unalienable right.

NOTE: As of post time, the Empire State News site where this story is posted will not open from the title link.

This Day in History: November 5

November 5, General Orders, Washington reprimands the troops in Cambridge for celebrating the anti-Catholic holiday, Guy Fawkes Day, while Congress and the army are attempting to win the friendship of French Canadian Catholics. He also writes commander of the northern army, Philip Schuyler, on the importance of the acquisition of Canada to the American cause. George Washington, General Orders, November 5, 1775 George Washington to Philip Schuyler, November 5, 1775