We're the Only Ones Troubled Enough

The Boston police officer accused of using his BPD-issued weapon to hold up a Roslindale gas station was drunk, off his medication and troubled by his cancer-stricken father on the day of the brazen daytime heist, his attorney said yesterday,

Yeah, there all kinds of mitigating circumstances for "what happened" as opposed to what he caused. I like the previous pass for the "domestic incident," the history of injury claims, and especially think the "chest pains" are a nice touch...as well as the thought of an armed Boston cop on meds.

See, the argument goes: If a highly trained "Only One" like this can get himself into such a jam, what chance would one of we poor mortal sovereign citizens have? After all, who knows what crises we will have to face in life?

Or as the Brady's tell us:

Law-abiding citizens with the best intentions underestimate how hard it is to use a gun for self-defense successfully. Even highly-trained police officers lose control of their handguns; according to the FBI, 5 out of 41 law enforcement officers (12%) killed by gunfire in the line of duty in 1999 were killed by an adversary with the officer's own service weapon. And police officers know that the very sight of a gun can escalate a situation, so that instead of simply losing your wallet, you can lose your life. That's why almost every major law enforcement organization - including the International Brotherhood of Police Officers and the International Association of Chiefs of Police - opposes the weakening of CCW laws. (See Law Enforcement Relations)

So best to leave it to the professionals--like Officer Jones.

Here's the address for Faulkner Hospital, in case anyone wants to send him a "Get Well" card...

[Via Brian F]

What "Slippery Slope"?

"Why does a 22-year-old in a city like Toronto need a handgun? It's just not acceptable and I think it's time the federal government passed legislation to end the ownership of handguns in this country, period," the mayor said.

See--all you paranoids warning against a slippery slope are demonstrably wrong. If the antis had their way, it would be a sheer precipice.

And David Miller will finally achieve the world he so desperately wants to mandate, with even more guaranteed outcomes like this...

And then, of course, when that doesn't work, we'll need to look at the source of supply from the south and...naw...

That's crazy talk.

A Walk in the Park

National Intelligence Director Mike McConnell is drawing up plans for cyberspace spying that would make the current debate on warrantless wiretaps look like a "walk in the park," according to an interview published in the New Yorker's print edition today.

More reasons to hate us because we're free, from the VFFP...

[Via Ron W]

The Thing That Menaced Walthamstow

The .22 calibre short round bullet was found at the entrance of the 99p Stores in Walthamstow High Street...

Good thing there was a licensed gun owner who believes in enforcing existing gun laws nearby to handle this horror!

I mean, really: "How can you feel safe..."?

I do have one thing I'd like to say to Mr. Khan, though...

[Via ChareltonHest]

The Tannerite Maneuver

[Use BugMeNot to bypass site registration]

Goodhue County Sheriff Dean Albers said Brian Childs, 30, 21000 Prairie Island Blvd., placed about 100 pounds of explosives into the rear of a truck Sunday on his property. A group of people on his property could be seen on a videotape.

The explosives were detonated when the truck was shot by a .50 caliber rifle from about 300 yards away, Albers said. It is unclear who fired the rifle.

It was a relief to learn no one was injured during the incident, he said. But since the material can be purchased over the Web — and possibly fall into the hands of those seeking to do harm — is concerning, Albers said.

Sounds to me like nobody got hurt and everybody had a good time. But the new standard, as applied by our masters, is whether someone "seeking to do harm" might get their hands on it.

You know, really dangerous stuff, like utility knives, fuel oil and fertilizer, gasoline and matches...

[Via ChareltonHest]

On Being Assured

It is important that we have strong, effective leadership at the top of the ATF. Please be assured that when making a decision, I will have your views in mind.

Kent McManigal replies to the unsurprising weasel words from Sen. Bob Casey on "Maximum Mike."

A Liberal Reading of the 2nd Amendment?

But Breyer's book, through its philosophical discussions of the meaning of liberty, does show a way to reconcile the subordinate clause of the Second Amendment (the importance of the militia to a free state) and the main clause (gun ownership as an individual right). And this reconciliation of the two clauses strongly suggests that the D.C. gun bans are unconstitutional.

Dave Kopel seems to think there's a good chance we'll find a sympathetic judicial ear with Stephen Breyer, generally acknowledged as a "liberal." Let's hope he's right.

[Via Greg L]

CeaseFire PA Director's Watch: 01/15/08

As 45Superman pointed out weeks ago, perhaps they're having second thoughts?

We're the Only Ones Reconciled Enough?

More than 10 months after being arrested and seven months after a change of venue, a Lockney justice of the peace faces trial beginning today in Randall County for attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon in the shooting of her husband...

McPherson said Michelle Araujo, 33 at the time of the shooting, and Romeo Araujo, then 39, remain married. Romeo Araujo filed for divorce but withdrew the petition, McPherson said.

If I were to do any speculating, I'd be looking into the legal and financial advantages of remaining married under these circumstances, as opposed to undying love. I can't help but wonder if "mitigating" testimony he could now volunteer would diminish the charges--and, undying love notwithstanding, what other incentives there might be for him to do so...

Or, it could just be I'm cynical, and she really is the "Only One" for him...

This Day in History: January 15

Contrarians as always, the Vermonters could not come to terms with the Continental Congress in Philadelphia and chose instead to proclaim their land an independent republic. Thus was born the Republic of Vermont on January 15, 1777, in large part the creation of younger brother Ira Allen.