I'm Sorry if I Gave This Impression

(and I know that writing this here does meet with David Codrea’s contempt, as I blog here anonymously)

Not at all, and I apologize if anything I said led you to believe that. I actually wanted to leave a comment, but they're closed on the linked post--and now's probably a good time to clear this up, what with the doings of recent days.

Like anything else, it's a choice. Those of us who have made it know full well that it carries a cost in terms of reputation, career options, etc. But I honor the spirit of Publius, and believe that anonymity can be a key guarantor of freedom.

What I have contempt for is not anonymous blogging, but those who abuse that anonymity to troll and insult without any personal accountability. I believe in their right to do so, understand, but I think it's unethical and cowardly, and have no respect for them as individuals. I have a pretty simple rule--I never expect anything out of another that I'm not willing to do myself. As such, I have never said anything to anyone on the Internet that I would not have said to their face, with their full knowledge of who I am. Which means I will accept real and personal consequences for my words and actions.

Kwame, How I Love Ya Redux

Michigan State Police troopers are investigating a possible assault by Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick on a deputy accompanying an investigator for the Wayne County prosecutor Thursday at the home of the mayor's sister, Sheriff Warren Evans said.

Evans said the 6-foot-4 mayor, a former star football player at Florida A&M University, allegedly pushed a sheriff's deputy and knocked him into the female investigator, who was working for Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy. The officers were attempting to serve a subpoena on Bobby Ferguson, a city contractor and close friend of Kilpatrick.

"Investigating"?

What's there to investigate? Did it happen or not?

And the deputy retreated from the property instead of taking his assailant down?

Why? What was "the mayor's executive protection unit" prepared to do if the deputy had?

What does Sheriff Evans mean by "escalate further"? Would Kwame's detail have resisted with force? If it had escalated, would the force level they were prepared to use have as well?

Do you think the deputy would have retreated if one of us had shoved him? Do you think he'd let us go and the police would "investigate" later?

Then again, you and I don't rule a thugocracy. We don't have armed taxcow-funded bodyguard details 24/7. We're not Mayors Against [Your] Guns.

It's good to be the king.

UPDATE: Oh, look. He's been ordered to undergo random drug testing.

What a community leader.

A Mechanism for Restoring Gun Rights

U.S. Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Menominee) has introduced legislation to restore the gun rights of individuals convicted of minor, non-violent crimes.

H.R. 6622, the Second Amendment Restoration Act, ensures states have the discretion to restore individuals’ gun rights after conviction of minor crimes.

The National Rifle Association (NRA) endorsed the legislation this week.

This is absolutely a step in the right direction.

We're the Only Ones in the Nick of Time Enough

COPS may get three hours to respond to 999s...

And 24 if you're an old lady under hammer attack...

[Via Jeffersonian]

How to Get a Gun in DC

This would be funny if it wasn't so outrageous.

[Via John G]

And That's Why I Support Barack Obama

A Blaine County judge has ruled he has no authority to stop guards employed by actor Tom Hanks from carrying guns while accompanying inspectors at the star's sprawling compound north of the central Idaho resort town of Ketchum...

"We are happy the court rejected Storey's request to impose control over how we manage our own property," the couple said...

Los Angeles attorney John Hanover, who represents Hanks and Wilson, said the couple has the "right to protect their property."

"The guards always have guns," he said. "It's a private home."

I'm sure Tom's bosom buddy, Barack Obama, will be happy to make exceptions for bodyguards of the elites.

We're the Only Ones in Hot Water Enough

A Florida prison guard has been charged with violating the civil rights of an inmate by pouring hot water on him, the U.S. Justice Department said Thursday.

Things are heating up for a bad egg "Only One." I'd heard prisons turned out hard boiled criminals, but never understood the complete process.

[Via John G]

I'm Sorry, So Sorry...

“I think the bond is way too high,” Smith said. “I didn't mean for any innocent people to get hurt.”

That's quite some apology for shooting three people there, genius. What did you think would happen to them?

The college website's search feature isn't working right now, so I can't tell if they have any policies guaranteed to stop such incidents before they happen...

[Via Joe Bethancourt]

Judge "Whips Out" Knife

Connor got out the folding black-handled knife at Oxford Crown Court to show how it worked.

Excuse me while I whip this out.

[Via Brian F]

This Day in History: July 26

Notwithstanding the strict and repeated Orders, that have been given against firing small arms, it is hourly practised, All Officers commanding Guards, posts and detachments, to be alert in apprehending all future Trangressors.