R.I.P. Straightarrow

I am briefly checking in from my hiatus to convey some very sad news.

Straightarrow (Charles H. Sawders) passed away on July 19--I just received a message from his wife.

I wish I had the time right now to compose a proper memorial to a man who shared so much wisdom and insight with us.

This Internet is an amazing phenomenon--I have lost a friend I never met in person.

I have no profound words, and I think he deserves some. I'm just sad.

My prayers are with his family.

UPDATE: As some of you may have noticed, I temporarily reopened comments during my hiatus so some of you could also leave a tribute. I'll be closing them off again later today, as I will not have time to moderate comments over the next week.

I found this obituary notice:

Charles Sawders
65, of Doddridge, Ark., died Monday, July 19, 2010, in Vivian, La.

Mr. Sawders was born March 4, 1945, in Bakersfield, Calif. He was a pipe fitter and a Baptist.

Survivors include his wife, Cathy Williams Sawders of Doddridge; three sons, Hunter Sawders of New Jersey, Christopher Sawders of Brownswood, Texas, and Steven Turner of Doddridge; three daughters, Shelly Bowen of East Dorsett, Vt., Veronica Jenkins of Comanche, Okla., and April Doeppers of Omaha, Neb.; his mother, Fran Boon of Duncan, Okla.; one brother, Jack Boon of Florida; one sister, Cherri Quinn of Portales, N.M.; 12 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and a number of other relatives.

Services will be 10 a.m. Friday at Olive Branch Methodist Church, Doddridge, with the Rev. Walter Burnett officiating. Burial will be in Olive Branch Cemetery under the direction of Hanner Funeral Service.

Visitation will be 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Online registration is at hannerfuneralservice.com.

You may leave memories and comments that become part of the obituaries by registering and logging onto this site.

Here is the Hanner Funeral Service visitation page link. Then click here to sign the register book.

UPDATE 2: Hiatus resumed, comments now closed. Please leave additional condolences in the register book.

UPDATE 3: I've returned from my trip. Comments now reopened.

Hiatus

I mentioned this the other day: Posting is going to be problematic for me over the next week (+) due to both out-of-state family coming in later today, followed by a special project I'll be working on from Tuesday through Sunday that could preclude doing anything else.

If I do post anything in the interim, it will be at my Gun Rights Examiner page, so check there first. Also, if you want to hang around there and check out archived articles and pass the links along, I won't mind, especially since I won't be earning much else from there while I'm not posting new stuff.

Ditto for my GRE colleagues and other Liberty-oriented writers, all accessible via the "More Gun Rights" and "More Examiners" link lists in the left sidebar on this page.

Please hold off on emails and news tips until at least Aug. 2, and please understand if I don't get to anything sent during this break.

I'll turn comments back on here when I'm once more up and running.

We're the Only Ones Dazzling Enough

Unlike tasers, the Dazer Laser is not being sold to the public. [More]

Because you and I can't be trusted with light. We're not "Only Ones," so we might abuse/misuse it.

And the neat legal trick about that is, the government can then point to weapons not being "in common use," so that pesky clause about "shall not be infringed" doesn't apply!

If you don't believe me, just ask "conservative" Justice Scalia!

Shut up, Coxe--who asked you?

We're the Only Ones "That's the Ticket!" Enough

A disgraced Florida Highway Patrol trooper will spend 364 days in jail for writing hundreds of phony tickets to motorists who were never pulled over for traffic offenses. [More]

Misdemeanors, y'see. Under a year sentence, so a "prohibited person" provision don't kick in.

Now you try lying to the "Only Ones" in their official police reports and see what happens.

[Via Ernie S]

We're the Only Ones Inappropriate Enough

An East Palo Alto police detective who suggested in a Facebook post that people who openly carry unloaded firearms should be shot engaged in "inappropriate behavior," the police department announced Tuesday. [More]

Gee, ya think...?

Now what's going to be done about it?

[Via Carl S]

Nothing Succeeds Like Success

Project Exile, a program that has been successful elsewhere... [More]

I guess if the media (and the NRA) keeps repeating that, it must be true.

Just don't ask "Where?"...

[Via retrotruckman]

A Yachting We Will Go

Jeff Greene's yacht tore up coral reef, left unpaid fines up to $1.87 million [More]

and

Sen. John Kerry skips town on sails tax [More]

Oh, you right-wing extremists.

The only reason you oppose such men is because you're racist and you hate poor people.

[Via Ed M]

Helen Mirren illustrates Hollywood hypocrisy on guns

Do a Google search on terms "Helen Mirren" gun and see for yourself. She's "bad@$$"! She's "awesome"!

Now do a search for "Helen Mirren" Oxfam. [More]

Today's Gun Rights Examiner column looks at yet another "movie star" enjoying benefits guns provide to them. Just so we understand it's all make-believe...

This Day in History: July 23

[More]

GRE Round Up for July 22

Here's the latest from my Gun Rights Examiner colleagues:

Anthony Bouchard/Cheyenne:

Ron Micheli attacked by D.C. based union SEIU

Chicago style union thuggery makes an entrance into Wyoming. You say - "Not here, it can't happen in Wyoming"...Think again. SEIU, the...Keep Reading »

Sean McClanahan/Des Moines:

The Second Amendment Foundation reports live from the UN Arms Trade Treaty Prep Committee

At first glance, the following report from the Second Amendment Foundation might not seem to be pertinent to Iowa residents. Think again. First, the... Keep Reading »

John Longenecker/Los Angeles:

Safer Streets 2010: Editors DO get the Second Amendment.

Yes, editors are getting it. Even the Los Angeles Times seems to understand the purpose of the second amendment when it writes that its health is the...Keep Reading »

Dave Workman/Seattle:

Next big 'gun rights' battle may be over knives

The next major battle in the right to keep and bear arms may have nothing at all to do with firearms, but with... Keep Reading »

I do hope you realize the importance of sharing these links and show these guys your support by doing so...?

While you're at it, be sure and check out these other Liberty-oriented Examiners:

• Jesse Matthewson/Cochise County Libertarian
  
• Kent McManigal/Albuquerque Libertarian
• Kevin Wilmeth/Anchorage Libertarian
• Anthony Martin/Conservative

Wrapped Around the Axle

Just now getting to posting for today. Sorry, time's up. You folks sending me emails/tips, please understand, I do the best I can but sometimes life just gets in the way.

Speaking of which, I'm not planning on posting over the weekend--my sister is coming in from out of state and visiting with her will be my priority. Then, next week, I will be very busy with a new project, so I may not post at all--or may find I can check in occasionally--I just don't know yet.

Best bet--please hold off on all emails until Aug. 2. And please have mercy after that, because I'm sure there will be a thousand new ones in my inbox by then.

Oh, and that includes comments left here--they require moderation, so I'm probably just going to turn them off in the interim.

For now, I plan on a new GRE post tomorrow and then will be playing things by ear.

Non-Sporting Use

The Case for the Guerrilla Sniper Rifle [Read]

Western Rifle Shooters Association looks at the right tool for a job.

Professor thanks 'four black men and a gun'

As the saying goes, slaves don't own guns. The Second Amendment is the ultimate right of all free men. [More]

Today's Gun Rights Examiner looks at a counterweight to what we typically expect from both the black and the academic communities when it comes to respecting a right to armed defense.

Also count the years with me on yesterday's Trigger Sports LIVE!

Can I count on my friends to help me share this link?

This Day in History: July 22

I am in a great measure a stranger to the expedition against Detroit, and intirely so, to that against the Senecas. Agreeable to the Direction of Congress, I sent General McIntosh and two Regiments to Fort Pitt, but whether an expedition is immediately intended against Detroit, or whether those Troops are to remain as a defence for the Western frontier, I do not know. The parties of Indians and others, under Butler and Brandt, have already done considerable mischief on the North East corner of Pennsylvania; having cut off the inhabitants, and destroyed the Settlement of Wyoming. [More]

GRE Round Up for July 21

Here's the latest from my Gun Rights Examiner colleagues:

Sean McClanahan/Des Moines:

Iowa Public Radio talks about the new gun laws and gets it almost right

Iowa Public Radio released a story today about the upcoming changes in the Iowa gun laws. Highlighted in the story... Keep Reading »

Steve D. Jones/Fort Smith:

Arkansas Senators vote for perjurious Supreme Court justice

Related article: Open letter to Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor During the past several years, I have become acquainted with the military academies... Keep Reading »

Dave Workman/Seattle:

America continues to ‘Fight Back’ and one editor really ‘gets it’

(Shameless plug acknowledgement.) A couple of years ago, this writer teamed up with Alan Gottlieb, founder and... Keep Reading »

I do hope you realize the importance of sharing these links and show these guys your support by doing so...?

While you're at it, be sure and check out these other Liberty-oriented Examiners:

• Jesse Matthewson/Cochise County Libertarian
  
• Kent McManigal/Albuquerque Libertarian
• Kevin Wilmeth/Anchorage Libertarian
• Anthony Martin/Conservative

We're the Only Ones "Murphy's Law" Enough

He did far more than that. Murphy and other deputies made an unwarranted entry into a home, and then into a locked gun safe. Murphy's uncensored, darkly disturbing observations and behavior following his Code-3 arrival at the rural home of longtime SLO County resident Matt Hart were picked up by Murphy's and other deputies’ own recorders. Those recordings provide a rare, frighteningly revealing, behind-the-scenes perspective of how one local law enforcement agency views the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and other laws its personnel are sworn to uphold. [More]

What oath?

[Via photogeek]

We're the Only Ones Dwarfed Enough

A Massachusetts police officer resigned after leaving his beat to see a dwarf porn star called "Bridget the Midget" and lied about the visit during an investigation into the incident, local media reported Tuesday. [More]

Funny--I don't remember one named "Horny"...

A promising career tossed and cut short...

[Via William T]

A Matter of Propriety

"We don't think it is appropriate to have guns in churches," Danny Loar, executive director of the Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops — the church's public policy arm in Louisiana said Monday. [More]

You might want to ban crosses while you're at it, Danny...

[Via retrotruckman]

The Eyes Have It

Ald. Stephen Hipskind said Darlene Heslop rolled her eyes and sighed while attending a June 14 committee meeting. [More]

I see interested citizens can contact the good alderman and ask him a question.

The only one that comes immediately to mind is "What the hell is wrong with you?" followed by an eye roll...

[Via HZ]

Snouts in the Trough

It was the first council meeting since the Los Angeles Times reported July 15 that Chief Administrative Officer Robert Rizzo earns $787,637 -- with annual 12 percent raises -- and that Bell pays its police chief $457,000, more than Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck makes in a city of 3.8 million people. Bell council members earn almost $100,000 for part-time work. [More]

And naturally, Mayor Hernandez knew nothing about that meth lab on his property.

Nice work if you can get it. But then, you can't.

I don't suppose it would do any good to call the Bell tip line and report criminal activity? Other than to give them a good laugh?

[Via Plug Nickel Times]

We're the Only Ones Sorry for Your Loss Enough

A man says he called Loganville police to his home for help and ended up being beaten by officers. Kenny Dixon said Friday that he arrived home Wednesday to find that his son had committed suicide. [More]

In lieu of flowers, the family requests not to be worked over...

We're the Only Ones Blowing You (Away) Enough

Essex County authorities said Gaymon was apparently unarmed when he was shot once in the chest by the undercover detective, who has not been named...Gaymon’s sister, Kelly Gaymon Armstrong, today said of her brother, “all you have to do is blow and he’ll fall to the ground. [More]

Looks like it.

'Bouquet Bandit' demonstrates conditioned sheeplike compliance of victims

So much for deterrence. So much for "the security of a free State." [More]

Today's Gun Rights Examiner column looks at the squandering heirs of Liberty.

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This Day in History: July 21

I am much obliged to you for the last Papers & the agreeable News they contain. American Prospects brighten every Day; nothing, I think, but the speedy Arrival of a strong British Squadron can save the Enemie's Fleet & Army at N. York; indeed as to their Fleet, I trust the Blow is already struck. [More]

GRE Round Up for July 20

Here's the latest from my Gun Rights Examiner colleagues:

Anthony Bouchard/Cheyenne:

Matt Mead for governor, plagued by anti-gun past

What does a politician like Matt Mead do when they want to cover-up their “anti-gun” past? Simple, just use the media. But let us shine...Keep Reading »

Sean McClanahan/Des Moines:

A discussion of firearms in private businesses

In the July 17 edition of The Hawkeye, Sheriff Mike Johnstone of Des Moines County was interviewed by Steve Delaney... Keep Reading »

Steve D. Jones/Fort Smith:

The infringement of gun rights in Arkansas

Related article: McDonald ruling makes Arkansas's carry ban unconstitutional On June 28th, the Supreme Court of the United States determined the...Keep Reading »

McDonald ruling makes Arkansas's carry ban unconstitutional

Since the last column, the Supreme Court has passed down its judgment on the McDonald v. Chicago case. Even though this historic event has created the...

Keep Reading »

Liston Matthews/Knoxville:

Tennessee gun rights quiz, revised

This list was originally published March 1, 2010, with periodic updates. In this revised edition, candidates who... Keep Reading »

TN candidates respond to gun rights quiz - TN State 7th Senatorial District: Walker

In an effort to learn candidates' views, I am providing a gun rights questionnaire to Tennessee political candidates. Here are candidate Randy... Keep Reading »

Tennessee Firearms Association Endorses Ramsey for Governor

HERE is the PDF file of the TFA endorsement. The text is reproduced here: July 16, 2010 I write to... Keep Reading »

Tennessee Gubernatorial Race

For gun owners, Ron Ramsey is the clear choice! Today is the first day of early voting in Knoxville, and the State... Keep Reading »

Dave Workman/Seattle:

NRA members at fault for L. Sammamish double-homicide? Say what?

Finger-pointing follows national trend As the investigation continues into Saturday’s double homicide at... Keep Reading »

L. Sammamish incident will bring calls for park gun bans

The weekend’s gun battle at Lake Sammamish State Park between what appear to be two rival groups –... Keep Reading »

Bellevue’s SAF sues in New York over ‘good cause’ requirement

At what point does a civil right become a highly-regulated privilege? That question may be answered by a... Keep Reading »

I do hope you realize the importance of sharing these links and show these guys your support by doing so...?

While you're at it, be sure and check out these other Liberty-oriented Examiners:

• Jesse Matthewson/Cochise County Libertarian
  
• Kent McManigal/Albuquerque Libertarian
• Kevin Wilmeth/Anchorage Libertarian
• Anthony Martin/Conservative

Unopened Mail

Actually, there is none, but there is plenty of stuff sent over the last several days I will just not have time to respond to nor to post about.

If you sent me something, sorry.

The III Percent Solution

Kerodin.com has some observations.

I've been looking around the site a bit--seems like an interesting place.

I did find a point I'd argue from the "Freedom of Association" post:

He simply seems to have taken the position that she may not do so while working in his office.

It ain't "his" office.

Ah well. If I ever meet anyone I agree with completely I'll probably find some other reason to complain. Go on over and give the site a look-see.

Hillary for President?

Considering how badly things are going in America just now, that could turn out to be a slam dunk for her and the disgruntled Democratic Party. [More]

Pete du Pont thinks he has it all figured out.

I'm not so certain cities wouldn't burn.

The Proper Reaction

But what was harder to talk about was the moment he shares with Bailey's son, who ran from his home early Sunday, armed with one of his father's guns, to try to stop the people who had attacked his father. [More]

I'd have done exactly the same thing. And we'd have both been in violation of Daley's edicts.

We're the Only Ones Economical Enough

With the truth, naturally...[Read]

Most Compelling Testimony Ever

I took out my phone and, as I later found out, placed the only call to the police by someone in the building. [More]

Wait--you had time to make a phone call?

And your solution is to compel everyone else to be as helpless as you?

We'll Always Have Paris

According to Corse-Matin newspaper, Hilton was travelling on the private jet with "people close to power in Malaysia"...[More]

Guess what happens to people not close to power in Malaysia when they get caught with drugs?

And guns.

Wonder how we're doing on that cultural degeneracy ratio...?

More Tea Party Racism

Ten wounded in shootings during Black Expo [More]

Damn guns.

Will disarming elderly be next 'gun control' push?

We have an aging population. Many of us still have parents, others of us are starting to realize we ourselves aren't getting any younger. The decisions we are or will be faced with aren't easy ones. That means there is no one-size-fits all solution where we can just pass another "gun control" law and consider the problem solved. [More]

Today's Gun Rights Examiner column looks at a group of citizens the antis are looking at as well.

Also watch a firefight on Trigger Sports LIVE! and take JPFO's new survey.

I trust I can rely on my friends to share this link?

This Day in History: July 20

July 20, 1778 at Vincennes, Indiana...On the 20th of July the French at Vincennes also swore allegiance to the Americans. Because of his small force, Clark could only leave three men to man the fort. Clark then dispatched Captain Joseph Brown with 30 mounted men to the French settlements of Prairie du Roche and Cahokia, accompanied by some Frenchmen, to spread the word about the Alliance. [More]

Back Soon

Should have some limited posting by tomorrow.

GRE Round Up for July 15

Here's the latest from my Gun Rights Examiner colleagues:

Dan Bidstrup/Denver:

Wheat Ridge man faces attempted murder charges for using his gun

What are we to think? Last February, a Wheat Ridge, Colorado man named Robert Wallace, saw two men hooking his...Keep Reading »

Sean McClanahan/Des Moines:

West Burlington Mayor Trousil responds to NRA and IFC members

In the face of growing criticism over West Burlington's “Chapter 30” ordinance that bans the carry of...Keep Reading »

Dave Workman/Seattle:

New Orleans indictments further vindicate Bellevue group’s post-Katrina lawsuit

Five years ago, in the post-apocalyptic environment that was New Orleans following its devastation by Hurricane...Keep Reading »

I do hope you realize the importance of sharing these links and show these guys your support by doing so...?

While you're at it, be sure and check out these other Liberty-oriented Examiners:

• Jesse Matthewson/Cochise County Libertarian
  
• Kent McManigal/Albuquerque Libertarian
• Kevin Wilmeth/Anchorage Libertarian
• Anthony Martin/Conservative

We're the Only Ones Unrequited Enough

A Lake County sheriff's deputy has been suspended after being charged with attempting to assault a woman whom he reportedly had been stalking for months. [More]

Note this is Wisconsin:

It is now 2010, and Wisconsin is one of only two states that completely prohibits anyone but police officers and sheriffs' deputies from carrying concealed weapons for self defense.

Assuming that's why they carry...

[Via Savaship]

We're the Fauxnly Ones...

...the father grabbed his gun. [More]

Seems like the appropriate thing to do. Those of us who know we're not engaged in predatory criminal activities would have no reason to suspect anyone trying to forcefully get into our homes would be real law enforcers, or if they were that they would be acting lawfully, so the default would most probably be to repel them.

I'm not sure I'd be inclined to fire a warning shot, though...

[Via Ed M]

The BATFU Billions

Americans armed themselves to the teeth and paid through the nose to have a smoke, according to a U.S. government report released on Wednesday. [More]

Yeah, people were buying more guns plus the per-stick cigar tax went through the damn roof.

It still won't be enough. It never is.

And then they'll threaten to cut "essentials" to spook the herd into giving up more.

[Via Len Savage]

We're the Only Ones Pitted Enough

An ATF agent is being tried for murder in the U.S. Virgin Islands in a case that has pitted local cops against federal agents, and caused furious U.S. law enforcement authorities to withhold help from local police while crime and gun violence in the popular tourist destination continue to climb. [More]

A lot of DoJ guys are going to bat for the guy, but I keep coming back to you or I would have been mandated disarmed...and they only seem to care when it's one of their own.

I've actually had some emails and docs on this case for a few weeks, including a court transcript, and was thinking of doing a Gun Rights Examiner column on it with a Scribd embed.

Just gotta find the time...

[Via ebd10]

We're the Only Ones Facing Death Enough

Four police officers are accused of gunning down two unarmed people in the chaotic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in the latest twist for a corruption-plagued police department that already faces several federal investigations.

The four officers could face the death penalty. [More]

So if they're found guilty, does that mean the victims would have been justified in defending themselves by firing back, and killing their attackers if necessary?

In spite of anything Bill O'Reilly might have to say about it?

[Via several of you]

The Top Ten

Pretty funny. [Read]

[Via Mama Liberty]

Sheets Removed from UT Dorm

University of Texas regents have stripped the name of a former law school professor and early organizer of the Ku Klux Klan from a campus dormitory. [More]

So when can we expect the Southern Poverty Law center to demand the same thing happen to all those monuments to "Sheets" Byrd out in W VA?

Probably just as soon as "hatriot" accuser Bill Clinton stops making excuses for him...

And "fleeting association" my @$$:

West Virginia's Democratic United States Senator Robert C. Byrd was a recruiter for the Klan while in his 20s and 30s, rising to the title of Kleagle and Exalted Cyclops of his local chapter. After leaving the group, Byrd spoke in favor of the Klan during his early political career. Though he claimed to have left the organization in 1943, Byrd wrote a letter in 1946 to the group's Imperial Wizard stating "The Klan is needed today as never before, and I am anxious to see its rebirth here in West Virginia." Byrd defended the Klan in his 1958 U.S. Senate campaign when he was 41 years old.

Decades, Clinton, you damned liar. Decades.

And speaking of the wretched SPLC, Vanderboegh has two posts about their latest disconnects from anything honorable and truthful. See here and here.

[Via Ed M]

Why would Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore 'serve' a man who wants to ban their guns?

"I pledge...to be a servant to our president..."

Gag me. And talk about having it exactly backwards. [More]

Today's Gun Rights Examiner column looks at a couple of "pro-gun" celebrities.

It doesn't look like they'll be much help.

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