David Olofson: The Fix is In

A Wisconsin man whose federal conviction for illegally transferring a machine gun drew national attention on CNN and the Internet was sentenced Tuesday to 30 months in prison...

Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Haanstad noted that Olofson had two previous gun-related convictions, including carrying a concealed weapon with his children trick-or-treating. He also noted that Olofson was reprimanded for corrupting Army computers and perhaps providing militia groups access to sensitive information.

He protects his children. And since when is an unproven "perhaps" on a totally different subject even relevant?

I guess they need to put as much spin on this as they can, in the hopes that enough will be fooled.

Olofson Convicted, Sentenced

Kevin Baker reports that according to the thread at arfcom, Olofson was sentenced to 30 Months incarceration, 2 Years probation.

I have not confirmed this, but Kevin is a reliable man. I have a call in to Len Savage. He and I were discussing this by phone this morning, and this is not the indication he had of how things would turn out.

Right now, prayers for Mr. Olofson and his family are in order.

Prayers for the rest of us should probably follow.

More as it develops.

UPDATE-8:53 PM: The original comment was entered by "FMD" who may be a friend of Olofson. Right now principles/lawyers in the case aren't answering their cell phones.

UPDATE-9:12 PM: The conviction and sentence are confirmed. Per Len, the reason no one was answering their cell phones is because the judge had them confiscated until afterward. His position was the statute makes no distinction or exemption for a malfunction. He denied a motion to suspend sentence pending appeal and is considering extending bond. I have been told Mr. Olofson is going home tonight. The courtroom was packed. Estimates are most of those in attendance were ATF personnel. Bill Tucker from CNN was in attendance, so this will be followed on Lou Dobbs.

NOTE-9:20 PM: I just want to caution everyone that by going live like this, I do not have the luxury of confirming information from multiple sources--so take everything you see here as raw information only. It's either this or I keep quiet until everything can be pegged down.

"Comment on this Article"

Please do. I could think of worse things than these folks noticing.

BATFU Can't Be Burdened

In evaluating the burden to ATF, the Court should consider the “cumulative” impact on ATF, i.e., the likelihood that ATF would be burdened with request for deposition testimony in other cases.

Slightly further down that same page, you find this:

ATF properly determined that the burdens to ATF from having the ATF employees respond to written questions outweighs any benefit to Adventure Outdoors.

Ahab shows us how BATFU is throwing Adventure Outdoors under the bus by reneging on agent depositions.

I guess they only have resources to support legal proceedings for shutting down gun dealers. Funny how that works, isn't it, almost as if they have an agenda...?

Who's the Real Criminal ?

Jennifer Freeman asks a rhetorical question.

We're the Only Ones Recording Enough

In a flash, a police officer draws a handgun from its holster. Less than two seconds later, a red laser and bright light shine at whatever is in the gun barrel's path while a mini-camera records it all.

Two seconds?

Sorry--I'm all for holding "Only Ones" accountable, but this is just foolish, and at $700 per unit, forgive me if I wonder just who the supplier knows. It's also not lost on me that "smart guns" were initially developed as a "solution" to police takeaway incidents, and now all proposals to mandate their use exempt them and impose on us.

Add to this a seeming preponderance of guns "going off" (although if the camera activates when removed from the holster, the next officer leaving their piece on a toilet ought to make for a "funniest video" moment), and I just don't see where making a system more complex and relying on technology--instead of focusing on improving the human operator--will create anything but unintended consequences.

[Via Dave Licht]

"Come Attend Dickson City Council Meeting Tuesday, 13 May, 7PM!"

And now its time for gun owners to act and attend the Dickson City Council meeting and support those speaking to the Council on this matter.

Here's an update to this and all the details.

That's tonight. If you live in the area you should go.

[Via ChareltonHest and Skullz]

What Cleveland Needs

Even by tough, urban-crime standards it was a grisly attack: Up to 15 people chased a man, then kicked and beat him to death on the street. Before police arrived, one attacker urinated on the victim's head.

Y'know what Cleveland needs to stop the madness?

Another toy gun buyback!

We're the Only Ones Going Swimmingly Enough

A Florida man is suing after he was ticketed on a beach for wearing a Speedo bathing suit...

"I'm a civilian out here who’s been picked on by a little bully deputy and that’s wrong. It’s just wrong."

While they admittedly creep me out, and always seem to evoke the punchline from the potato joke, one has to wonder if there's no real crime for the "Only Ones" of the Lee County Sheriff's Department to pursue.

Oh, look, there is! Maybe the "little bully deputy" is worried that if he approaches one of these fugitives, they'll stuff a potato down his pants.

Indementia Jones and the Kingdom in His Crusty Skull

Although on screen Ford has starred in many action-packed, gun-toting thrillers...Ford abhors liberal US gun laws.

"I'm very troubled by the proliferation of arms, at the fact so many people in the United States carry guns. It obviously contributes greatly to the crime problems we have. I'm sure gun laws should be strengthened in the United States. I just don't know the correct mechanism."

It figures. These people we attribute fictional character virtues to so often prove to be little more than stage props. This gun business isn't news, by the way--the article is from 2003. I just thought it fitting, with his new movie coming out, to revisit the fact that in real life, he'd limit Indy's defensive options to a whip.

I've got "the correct mechanism" for ya, Dr. Jones. Why not wax your chest? It worked to save the "rainforest" (has "jungle" become politically incorrect somewhere along the way and I just missed it?).

Good grief.

I mean, it's not like three homes in LA, a ranch in Wyoming and a property in New York leave much of a carbon footprint, not to mention flying private helicopters and jet planes.

None of which I begrudge anyone, by the way. I just don't particularly appreciate the in-your-face-I've-got-mine hypocrisy that seems to be the rule in Hollywood.

Aging anti-gun "action heroes." Is there anything they don't know?

Let Me Be Frank

An alleged witness to the 1995 slaying of Jackson police officer Robert Washington has accused Mayor Frank Melton of being the guiding hand of the city's neighborhood drug lords.

In a rambling and, at times, confusing sworn statement to police and prosecutors, career criminal Stephan Hickman accused Melton of using his money and community influence in the 1990s to control the actions of the leaders of Jackson's drug-peddling gangs.

"Frank Melton had his hand - got his hand in everything," Hickman said in the statement taken March 27. "Now, everybody that didn't (comply with) Frank's rules was getting pushed out of the picture. Not just, you know, well, you need to go sit down. They were getting killed."

We've met "Mayor Against Guns" Frank before.

If any of these allegations prove true, they will help explain why he's so against me and you having guns.

WarOnGuns has obtained Hickman's deposition a 1+ mb pdf file. I'm trying out a new free online file sharing service, so let me know if you have problems downloading the file or if it works OK for you:
http://www.orbitfiles.com/download/id2802752945.html

This Day in History: May 13

I enjoy too much pleasure in softening the Hardships of Captivity, to with -- hold any comfort from Prisoners; and beg you to do me the Justice to conclude, that no Requisition of this Nature, that should be made, will ever be denied.