Somewhere in Maslow's Hierarchy* Between Boils and Chlamydia

"And we need, and I need, Michael Moore in my life." [More]

Madonna. Is there anything she can't advise us on?

Why not put a little Michael Moore in your life?

*

Collateral Damage from the Olofson Case

While common sense, history, and principle are firmly on Savage’s side, a technicality and guile might lean toward the proven manipulative, vindictive, and duplicitous ATF.

This is the best summary I've seen. Do yourself a favor--go read it and then share it.

We're the Only Ones Not in the Habit Enough

"We're not in the habit of going to homes and shooting peoples' dogs," Ellis said. "If we were, there would be a lot more dead dogs around the county."

That's gotta be one of the more chilling "Only Ones" statements I've ever seen in print.

There's a video here.

I guess it never occurs to these flash-bang types that if you calmly and quietly go about your business, you can get results minus panic. It's like TASING somebody and then doing it again because they went into seizures instead of stayed still.

Most family dogs are approachable if you display the right attitude of confidence and calmness. One big thing I've always found helps is to not be a chickenshit on steroids. And even for those animals that stay aggressive, there are plenty of capture/restraining devices that make a lethal response one of last resort--just ask the town dogcatcher--they do it every day. A little training in animal control techniques is too much to expect from those empowered to employ lethal force?

I don't know what part the "persons of interest" played in all this, and the irony of a person who makes laws that others must obey--or else--being caught up in the system isn't lost on me. But anybody could have sent that package--a rival, an enemy--and for the cops to be right on top of it raises the question of "how?"

And do we really want dynamic entry teams with guns a-blazin' over a box of pot?

[Via John G]

We're the Only Ones "South of the Border Down Mexico Way" Enough

A Soledad police officer and a Monterey police officer were arrested Friday while trying to smuggle firearms into Mexico, police said.

Watch the accompanying video to hear an "Authorized Journalist" intone "5,000 rounds" with shock and awe. I guess that and a couple of pistols is an "arsenal."

Still, it's interesting how it took the one cop "losing" three guns to get him canned while on probation.

I wouldn't put too much stock in this story being anything but an aberration--after all, the "Only Ones" have assured us that Mexican criminals get the lion's share of their firepower from American gun shows, and if we were to question that, we might as well just suspect them outright of having an agenda.

That's just crazy talk, isn't it?

[Via Dave Licht]

No Thanks to Bob Barr

When Lou Matteo got his handgun collection back, town police averted a legal battle based on a new U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding an individual's right to own a gun.

Matteo, 75, turned over his firearms in March after a verbal spat with his wife led to an order of protection against him. Guilderland police refused to give the guns back, citing a federal law barring anyone under an order of protection from possessing firearms.

"Gee," mused Bob Barr bewilderedly, "why is everybody mad at me...?"

[Via Jeffersonian]

Burma Rave

Rangoon is seething with frustration after last year's failed protests, which were led by monks. The government's callous handling of the cyclone in May which killed at least 140,000 people has increased popular anger.

Some now talk about taking up arms against the government after the failure of last year's non-violent protests.

A group of young men in a Rangoon bar spoke openly about wanting to attack the army. "If we could find guns, we would do it," said one English-speaking teenager. "I marched last year, we were shot at and we had nothing to shoot back with."

They ought to knock that kind of talk off. It's not pragmatic and they're going to scare yellow people.

[Via Tom H]

This Day in History: August 3

I Inclose Agreable to your Excellencys desire a List of Such Officers in the army as have received Commissions from the Congress of this Colony: and Also the Resolves of the Congress: which though Inaccurate may serve to Shew in what manner the Congress Intended to Rank the several Regiments raised in this Colony.