We Just Don't Understand It

Mell argued that reopening gun registration wasn't just a personal favor. He insisted that there were hundreds, if not thousands, of otherwise law-abiding Chicago gun owners just like him who had inadvertently allowed their gun registration to lapse.

On Friday, Chicago Police Department spokeswoman Monique Bond was hard-pressed to explain the slow response to the city's one-time offer.

"Either the public is unaware or they just haven't had an opportunity to come in and register," she said.

Or it could just be that Mell was, you know, lying, and this was naked abuse of political office for personal advantage, and no amount of lame excuses spokesprevaricators regurgitate will cover that up.

Not that they need to.

Forget it Jake. It's Chi-Town.

Gundamentalism

Rev. Rachel Smith, whose blog "God Not Guns" is a project of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, calls it gundamentalism.

"America’s gun culture is marked by zeal closely akin to that of religious fundamentalism. The gun-rights movement is built upon a system of belief that is both absolutist and aggressive. It has its sacred text, its creed, its icon and its ideology."

Coming from someone who portrays herself as centered on "religion," it seems like we have a bit of projection going on.

Gundamentalists. I like that, Rachel. You're quite the pundamentalist!

Mind if I adopt it, even if I flaunt the term with pride rather than resent it as a pejorative?

The Government They Deserve

Chicago police received about 6,000 weapons Saturday during the city's gun turn-in program...

So many people came out that organizers ran out of the $100 prepaid debit cards for turning in guns...

"For you young people, the new word for you is: 'Start snitching,' " she said.

I won't be able to muster any sympathy should any of these ever come to regret their decision.

Playing 20 Questions

...[W]hat's to prevent those guns from being used against police officers and firefighters [?]...What does a policeman do when there's a domestic battery [call] and they're both armed? Do they enter the home or apartment or do they wait outside? ... How 'bout the neighbors? How 'bout the postman -- all the other issues that go with people coming into your home or close to your home? ... Whose responsibility is it when your son takes the gun outside and police come by?...How many guns do you have -- 50, 60? Can they have a .357 Magnum? Can they have ammunition that will go through a wall? What is the liability of the owners? ... Do you have to have insurance if you have a gun? How much ammunition can you have if there's a fire? If a fireman is going to your home and you have 40 weapons and 1,000 rounds, do we have a responsibility to notify all the neighbors?

Now your turn to answer one, Bodyguarded Boss Daley: You don't trust us with guns. Why should we trust you?

[Via Dan Gifford]

A Temporary Stopgap

Peyton said even an increase in the number of police officers would only be a temporary stopgap and residents need to band together around community programs designed to fight this culture of crime.

What, you mean like a citizen militia?

Nahh...

[Via John G]

This Day in History: July 27

July 27. 1775
- Congress establishes The Army Medical Department.
- Henry Laurens, President of the Council of Safety of South Carolina, urges Captain Clement Lempriere to purchase gunpowder, lead, and muskets for the colony, relying on force only as a last resort.