An Encounter at Wal-Mart

It seemed an eternity looking into the menacing, sneering face of the hoodlum who had began his approach from my rear. He sized up the man with the gun, a little girl behind him.

Wait a minute--I thought Norm Dicks said “Everyone knows when you have guns, bad things happen.”

I've had this encounter. In my case, the significant differences were:

It was dark and no other customers were around in the lot (it was an unplanned emergency stop).

Wife and infant child were both present.

There were more like eight hoodlums. At the time, it seemed like more.

I couldn't stick around and call it in to the police afterward. Guess why.

Which raises the question: Will you allow yourself or your family to be caught defenseless in a "gun free zone," which may include entire states that do not "permit" concealed carry?

Here's the most compelling and powerful part of this narrative, at least for me, and it comes not from the main post, but from an afterthought comment:

Funny it wasn't, I said, I was scared. She said, "I wasn't, I was with you."

As a father, I can tell you that is the kind of trust I will not betray.

Regardless of who thinks otherwise.

[Via 1894C]

Since When Are Our Rights Trumped By Dicks?

With a showdown looming, U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks says he’s prepared to block any effort by the administration to lift the current ban on carrying loaded weapons in national parks.

Cocky representative of his namesake, isn't he?

Funny how none of the opponents of the reform can point to their dire predictions coming true in National Forests, which already operate under essentially the same rules being proposed for National Parks.

“Everyone knows when you have guns, bad things happens,” Dicks said in an interview.

Yeah, Norm, tell that to these people, you lying...

Honor Among Thieves

Edgar A. Domenech says he thought Justice Department officials would welcome information about mismanagement at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Instead, the 23-year ATF veteran says, Justice officials ignored his complaints and later retaliated against him by demoting him, denying him a bonus and attempting to give him a poor job review.

What, you thought Maximum Mike was interested in anything besides consolidating power?

I'm real curious as to what the "Vote Freedom First President" quote that they were going to put on an engraving outside BATFU's lair said.

Maybe "Mission Accomplished"?

Perhaps they wanted to wait until after the Democrats take office for that.

Ryan has more.

The Law Has to Be Obeyed

Sam Paredes, executive director of Gun Owners of California, said he hopes the technology puts an end to a nettlesome problem. Too often, he said, people unaware that past convictions barred them from owning guns would buy one and not be stopped, then face state enforcement. Paredes said the group has "no real objection" to the system.

"The law has to be obeyed," he said. "If you don't like the law, you work to change it."

Right, Sam.

Aren't we all glad the men of Lexington and Concord obeyed the law? Have you people never read Thoreau?

So when they ban guns and order them surrendered, you'll obey and turn 'em in, right?

I'm trying to figure out just what the hell good the Second Amendment is if we're going to surrender it before testing it. And what the hell good a "gun rights group" that counsels preemptive surrender is--besides making sure its lobbyists get paid.

UPDATE: 45superman has more.

Ruled by Fear

Gun Fears Lock Down 2 Southeast Colleges

"Gun Fears."

In other words, hoplophobia.

Campus policy is dictated by mental illness. The inmates really are running the asylum.

I don't suppose it will occur to anyone that if more people were armed, bad guys wouldn't know that they can rule the campus with impunity--at least for long enough to accomplish what they've set out to do.

Living in fear is a hell of a pathetic state for supposedly free people. No one should have to.

But if forced to make a choice, what would you rather fear: Being caught with a gun or being caught without one?

It's past time we mastered our fears and lived like men.

Hillary's "Meeting of the Minds"

Hillary Rodham Clinton, locked in a fierce battle for Texas, said Monday that as president, she would not try to impose New York-like gun restrictions at the national level.

Mrs. Clinton said in an interview with The Dallas Morning News that she would like to see bans on assault weapons and the end of loopholes that allow weapons to be sold at gun shows without required background checks.

"There can be a meeting of the minds between lawful gun owners and those who believe we can protect Second Amendment rights without giving in to the bad guys," she said.

Why does this remind me of the opening to "The War of the Worlds"?

Yet across the gulf of space, minds that are to our minds as ours are to those of the beasts that perish, intellects vast and cool and unsympathetic, regarded this earth with envious eyes, and slowly and surely drew their plans against us.

She's as creepy as any Martian. And she sure must think she's a lot smarter than us to presume to tell us what we can and cannot be trusted to own.

So--have you made up your mind on what you're going to do when she or Thulsa wins?

Hiding Our Shame in Utah

Lawmakers in the Utah House of Representatives decided to keep guns hidden on college campuses, although concealed weapons permit holders may open carry firearms throughout the state.

Because, you know, not only might it cause a bovine stampede, but Heaven forbid we should normalize the practice of seeing anyone besides an "Only One" armed, making it unremarkable if not outright acceptable...

And I say this as no proponent of "open carry," at least for everyday tactical reasons, because I have no right to impose my preference on you.

Cultist Tribe Sacrifices 2A

Under any plausible standard of review, a legislature's choice to limit the citizenry to rifles, shotguns and other weapons less likely to augment urban violence need not, and should not, be viewed as an unconstitutional abridgment of the right of the people to keep or bear arms.

OK, Larry--using your standard, let's see you walk down the streets of DC bearing a rifle or shotgun.

Oh, that's not allowed either? And that's OK--a "plausible standard" for your "scholarly interpretation" of what the Framers intended, too?

I find it more than creepy that a Cult of Set devotee of Thulsa Doom presumes to lecture anyone on "sanity."

What is the riddle of steel?

Apparently why you can't have it and they can.

Akins Sues BATFU

The inventor of the Akins Accelerator, the replacement stock for a Ruger 10/22 that allows controlled bump firing, is suing the United States over the BATFE's ruling that the Accelerator wasn't a machine gun, but now is. Here's the complaint.

And here's the "Cliffs Notes" version:

Dear BATFU,

I just invented a gizmo, put a lot of work into it, even got a patent, and before I commit myself and invest massive amounts of time, effort and money beyond what I've already put into it, I'd like a ruling from you on whether or not it will run afoul of any regulations. Once I get your OK, I'm going to manufacture and sell it.

Awaiting your green light,
William Akins

---------

Dear Mr. Akins,

We've checked it out and understand the concept and function, and can tell you with certainty that your design is compliant with all laws and runs afoul of none. If you were wating for a clean bill of health from us before investing your life into this, you now have our unqualified approval.

Yer pals,
BATFU

---------

Achtung,

Guess what? Now that it's over three years later and you've put everything you've got into manufacturing your device, I've decided our previous approval was "wrong" (HA! PSYCH!), even though I can't tell the difference between a trigger function and a trigger pull. Anyway, you're now making machineguns, which means we're going to destroy you even further than we have already if you don't stop it immediately, plus render what you've made to date functionally useless, that is, valueless.

Basically, I'm telling you I won't allow you to own a spring.

Hey, what's a little expost facto screw-over between master and...what's that you people call yourselves again...? Oh, yeah, "citizens" [SNORT]--Good one!

Say, you don't have any kittens we could stomp if we decide to do a raid, do you?

Ha ha,
Maximum Mike

[Via Matt Knighten]

Ga'ry Indiana, Gary In'diana, Gary Indian'a, My Home Sweet Home

With 71 homicides -- almost a 40 percent increase over 2006 -- Gary was once again in the running to lead the nation in per capita homicides in cities with a population of 100,000 or more.

I know--let's sue the gun manufacturers!

[Via HZ]

More Than a Flashlight

Tony G says "I want one."

Me too.

I sent the link to a friend who sniffed "Nice, but.... why not just stick a gun in your belt and go for a walk?"

Uh...because it wouldn't be as cool?

[More]

This Day in History: March 4

On the night of March 4, 1776, the Patriot officers gave the order to 2,000 or so men -- no one was to speak above a whisper. As American batteries opened up on British positions in and around Boston to cloak the long file of Continental troops in "blue and buff" greatcoats or other hues, who lugged timber and cannons as silently as possible through the darkened streets of Roxbury and into Dorchester. Wincing from the blustery blasts off the Atlantic and from the heft of their ordnance, they pushed ever closer to their objective -- Dorchester Heights.

Of course, the Heights are now part of the National Park Service, so better not bring your guns. I found the following tidbit on the Boston National Historical Park website beyond obnoxious:

Did You Know?

The Internal Revenue Service used to conduct ceremonies rewarding its best collectors and other employees at Faneuil Hall? Considering that Faneuil Hall was the site of some notable tax resistance meetings before The Revolution, we must conclude that the IRS does have a sense of humor after all.

Haw-haw!