The Injured Party

We don't have to wait until after the election for a race war. We're in one now.

See, I start the fight and then blame you for hitting back.

What is it with these hostile people of privilege?

A Federal Snipe Hunt

Showing a keen interest in marksmanship, obtaining sniper-related books and other training materials, spending time at shooting ranges, modifying vehicles in a nontraditional manner, and purchasing rifles and associated optics may be indicators of potential terrorist planning efforts; however, most of these indicators can be associated with legitimate purposes.

Well, thanks for that last bit.

Thing is, as I read through this report, it is just so...basic, I can't believe anyone in law enforcement doesn't already know this stuff. I guess that's why it's unclassified. If anything, the people who would be most helped by this would be the ones who want tips on what patterns and behaviors the authorities are looking for.

I do wonder about the classified stuff, though--what it talks about that they'd rather we didn't hear...

[Via Peter G]

The Scope of Our Rights

If you want a device that allows you to locate, target and kill a subject, you need look no further than DARPA's Super-Resolution Vision System (SRVS), which I looked at recently in the New Scientist technology blog.

What I'm wondering is if it will bear the warning:

"RESTRICTED FOR GOVERNMENT OR LAW ENFORCEMENT USE ONLY"

[Via Carl S]

We're the Only Ones Paternal Enough

An off-duty Chicago police officer shot his nine-year-old daughter and 12-year-old son in the head before shooting himself to death in their home on Monday. The girl also died while the boy was critically wounded.

Yeah, he was the "Only One"...

Forget it, Jake, it's Chi-Town.

Conditioned to Surrender

A man robbed a Walgreens store early Monday by passing the cashier a note and implying he had a weapon, police said.

I guess I need to avoid being judgmental on this one. After all, I don't know the sex, age or physical condition of the clerk, and it's not exactly like a crappy chain drugstore job is worth taking any risks over. Still, I can't for the life of me (!) imagine rolling over for the guy under those conditions.

After all, it's not the job he's threatening.

You see this in banks all the time, too--just a note is all it takes for tellers to cave--which they're told to do by management. I guess they figure it's not worth the risk, give him what he wants and they'll catch the guy later.

Thing is, what he wants is to threaten your life, meaning as far as you know, he will take it if you don't immediately become his slave. And, as far as you know, he'll take it anyway.

I'm not suggesting anyone take a risk they don't believe themselves capable of handling. What I am suggesting is that we train and mentally prepare ourselves to improve those capabilities so that our decisions are based on our best judgment, as opposed to a one-size-fits-all corporate policy.

We're the Only Ones Exposed Enough

For some reason, I can't get Mr. Rogers singing "Won't you be my neighbor?" out of my head, but I'll let Jed tell this one.

What an Appropriate Name

"Harmer."

You Haven't Broken Any Laws--But We'll Just Keep Those Guns

Prosecutors said Monday they won't bring criminal charges against a man who carried guns in a case into a Denver hotel during the Democratic National Convention last month.

What was he thinking, scaring Master like that?

He says he's relieved the case is closed but hasn't gotten back his guns or other personal items seized from his truck.

Why the hell not?

I think Hyatt Hotels has some 'splainin' to do. Can all Americans traveling with cased firearms expect to be snitched on if we patronize their chain instead of a competitor's?

UK Courting Disaster

Five sharia courts have been set up in London, Birmingham, Bradford and Manchester and Nuneaton, Warwickshire. The government has quietly sanctioned that their rulings are enforceable with the full power of the judicial system, through the county courts or High Court. Previously, the rulings were not binding and depended on voluntary compliance among Muslims.

Which means if you resist and defy, their trump card, if all else fails, is killing you. In the name of Allah, of course.

We're the Only Ones Choking Under Pressure Enough

A Mt. Juliet police officer has been arrested by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation in connection to an April 6 choking incident during a traffic stop along Adams Lane in Wilson County.

So if his victim wasn't resisting arrest, why the attack, unless he thought there was "Only One" way to stifle dissent...?

This Day in History: September 16

In South Carolina, William Drayton and loyalist leader Colonel Thomas Fletchall sign a treaty of neutrality in the interior community of Ninety-Six.