A Question of Priorities

"You see people come here from all walks of life," said booth owner, Gene Branson. "Some people even come a hundred miles to this show." [More]

If gun owners devoted a tenth of that effort and expense to actively championing the right to keep and bear arms, we would be an invincible political force. That most prefer to squabble like learning disabled children over such trivialities as being asked to send an email exemplifies why things are the way they are.

Years ago, before the Great Western Gun Show was forced out of California, I recall being especially bitter over how it could attract tens of thousands of gun owners--yet a counter-protest against the Million Moms preceded by announcements and appeals throughout the "activist" network, only drew a few hundred. And out of all Los Angeles, we'd be lucky to get 50 to show up at an NRA Members' Council meeting, and of those, maybe half a dozen-- of the same people all the time-- actually did any work.

I repeat: If gun owners would get off their lazy, apathetic butts and consistently and proactively devote time, effort and treasure to the cause, we would be invincible. It's easy to point the finger at politicians for attacking us, or NRA management for compromising, and I'm not saying that should stop, but put in perspective, politicians wouldn't betray us if they didn't dare--and compromises wouldn't be made if they weren't perceived as advantageous or necessary.

British Traditions Upheld

Police will be armed with powerful machine guns to guard cash deliveries against armed robbers in the run up to Christmas.

It's nice to know money is still valued more than the lives of mere subjects, who are forbidden to guard themselves.

Naivete

"Parents are so naive," Jiggetts said. "They have to understand that it's not OK to have guns in their houses unless they are locked."

Yeah, right.

I've managed to raise two children just fine, and so have millions of others. Point being, by the time a boy is 14, a household that practiced true "gun safety" would have produced a marksman capable of giving the old man a run for his money.

And by the way--who did the shotgun belong to? How the hell do you investigate the death of a child without determining that?

This may seem harsh--I can't imagine this woman's agony. But my natural sympathy is tempered by seeing her point her finger outward, and that does nothing but help empower those intent on placing mandates over the rest of us who had nothing to do with this.

It also provides fodder for "Authorized Journalists" like Luz Lazo and Julian Walker to appeal to the weak-minded among their readers with another agenda-driven sob story, so that even more reason-free, feelings-based edicts can be demanded.

We're the Only Ones Teaching Our Children Well Enough

A 5-year-old boy who was accidentally shot by his stepfather, a Venice police officer, was released from the hospital and was recovering at home on Friday.

Interesting past Masters has there, what with that prior "gun related incident" and all. I wonder what would have happened had you or I pointed at weapon at his "fellow officer"? I also wonder what child protective services would do if this involved a non-"Only One" family...?

Results are Results

"...I am not sure what to make of the senator’s comments, except to say results are results,” Katie Levinson said.

Uh, yes, Katie, that's the point exactly.

We're the Only Ones Having One for the Road Enough

A police officer charged with drunken driving in a car wreck that killed two men and injured a third was assigned to desk duty pending an internal investigation, a police spokesman said Friday.

I'm wondering if that misdemeanor charge isn't a little harsh--after all, he is an "Only One." But I do appreciate that the original police report was changed.

[Via SameNoKami]

Red's Report: 11/24/07

From Ryan Horsley:

I received an e-mail from Rick Celata the other day, explaining how the ATF refuses to return his property and how his legal bills are substantial:
http://redstradingpost.blogspot.com/2007/11/this-could-happen-to-you.html

...By the way our petition has broken 5,000 signatures:
http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?redstrad&1

I am sending off a link to all of our Senators, so they can see the need for change.

This Day in History: November 24

Information having been given that divers of the late sutlers, and some of the inhabitants have opened tippling houses within and adjacent to the encampment of the army, by which the design of banishing the Sutlers from the army is in a great measure frustrated. The Deputy Quarter Master General is required forthwith, to make diligent inquiry, and examination, for discovering such houses, and suppressing them, and to assure all who are driving this pernicious trade, that if continued any longer, their liquors shall be seized, and they expelled from the neighbourhood of the army, on pain of the severest punishment if they return.