Tick...Tick...Tick...

Neat clock. Except instead of an alarm, if you don't wake up first, it smashes your skull in. [View]

Perfectly Clear

I wanted to make sure everyone heard from me about this law enforcement initiative so there isn’t any confusion. [More]

No confusion here, Ken. I know exactly what this is about.

Some People Have No Shame

BRADY CAMPAIGN TO PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE
For Immediate Release
December 21, 2010
Contact: Caroline Brewer, 202-289-5769 or cbrew@bradymail.org

BRADY CAMPAIGN ANNOUNCES ‘GODDARDS ON GUNS’ BLOG
“Father and Son take on gun lobby after VA Tech Tragedy”

Washington, D.C. – A father who nearly lost his only son to gun violence, and that son, who survived being shot four times in the worst school shooting in U.S. history, are adding their voices to the blogosphere, the Brady Campaign today announced.

Virginia Tech survivor Colin Goddard and his father, Andrew, who are both active in the gun violence prevention movement, are teaming up to write a blog about gun issues.

“Since being shot at Virginia Tech, a number of people have told me that crazy people are going to do crazy things and there’s nothing we can do about it,” said Colin Goddard, 25. “I reject that premise. There are things we can and must do. One of them is to speak out against America’s epidemic of gun violence and talk about the solutions. My voice is my greatest weapon, and blogging with my father is one of the ways I intend to use it.”

The Goddards didn’t know it then, but the April 16, 2007 Virginia Tech Massacre, in which 32 students and teachers were killed, would be the event that would help them find their voices on gun violence and spur them to pursue meaningful social and public policy changes to prevent similar tragedies.

The Virginia Tech killer, who carried out the massacre with two semi-automatic assault pistols, should not have been legally allowed to purchase those guns because of his history of mental illness. When the Goddards discovered how easy it is for dangerous people to get guns in America, they vowed to fight for change.

Colin Goddard, who now works at the Brady Campaign as Assistant Director for Federal Legislation, went to gun shows with a hidden camera in 2009 as an intern for Brady to expose the loophole that allows private sellers to sell guns without criminal background checks.
That experience, and Colin’s work at Brady, inspired filmmakers to make the young man’s story the subject of a new documentary, Living for 32, which has been accepted for competition in the Short Films category at the Sundance Film Festival (see http.www.livingfor32.com) and is being screened at select venues around the country. The producer is Maria Cuomo Cole, who blogged about Colin and guns on campus on the Huffington Post recently. The post is available here.

Andrew Goddard, a retired engineer who resides in Richmond, Va., became president of the Richmond Chapter of the Million Mom March shortly after the Virginia Tech shootings. 

As Andrew sat near his recuperating son’s bedside that snowy April day and noticed that “sandbags are piled against the wounds to stem the bleeding, but the sheets and pillow slowly turn from starched white to dull red,” questions nagged and tugged at him. “What circumstances caused this terrible event?  Where did (the shooter) get his guns and what made him want to shoot all those people?  What could have been done to prevent this?” Andrew recalled with Colin in their introductory blog posted at bradycampaign.org and www.hufffingpost.com
           
The Goddards will blog about “the flow of guns between the legal and illegal markets, state and federal gun legislation and policies, mental health, school and university policies, and America’s culture of gun violence in general.”

Colin Goddard can also be followed on Twitter and Facebook.

###

As the nation's largest, non-partisan, grassroots organization leading the fight to prevent gun violence, the Brady Campaign, with its dedicated network of Million Mom March Chapters, works to enact and enforce sensible gun laws, regulations and public policies.  The Brady Campaign is devoted to creating an America free from gun violence, where all Americans are safe at home, at school, at work, and in our communities.

Any bets on whether or not these professional victims will allow "reasoned discourse"?

I don't see a url and haven't been able to locate the actual blog site--yet.

I just don't think "Goddards on Guns" is as catchy as "The Human Target"...

UPDATE: Here it is. Nope--no comments allowed.  This is my shocked face. [Thanks, Sean D Sorrentino]

Examiner Strikes Again

Yes, I know the individual article links aren't working. And that instead they go to my main page. And that it doesn't show any updates past October. 

Believe me, after having painstakingly coded individual column links into articles, blogs, social media and had others kindly link to them as well, I know.

I've filled out a ticket and have been told it's a "hiccup" that's been "escalated to our engineers."

I've suggested the corporate slogan "Just slightly ahead of our ability."

The Deadly Assault Candy Cane Menace

Skylar Torbett, also a junior, said administrators told him, "The candy canes could be used as weapons by sucking on them and making them have sharp points." He said neither he nor any of their friend did that. [More]

Perhaps the school administrators should be invited to suck on something else.

Mother Kathleen Flannery said a administrator called her and explained that, "not everyone wants Christmas cheer. That suicide rates are up over Christmas, and that they should keep their cheer to themselves, perhaps." 

Perhaps school administrators should be invited to help push those rates up a tad more--that would probably cheer everyone else up considerably.

Do it for the children.

Or at least change the name from "Battlefield High School." That's gotta be bad for young psyches.

Manassas. Unbelievable.


[Via Smiley Starfish]

All Aboard the Freedom Train!

Metro randomly inspects bags [More]

So does that mean the left's foremost legal authority was wrong to tell us we could board with our guns to go shoot in Maryland...?

Anyone Who Can't Be Trusted with a Gun...

...can't be trusted with any tool. [Read]

And thus, can't be trusted without a custodian.

[Via Smiley Starfish]

"Federal Guns"

If you have a "remote" affiliation with a gang or you have a "federal gun" law enforcement is "coming for you." [More]

Oregon Firearms Federation brings us a cadre of masters first inventing--and then dictating the terms of our surrender.

I would also remind everyone that  the ability to continue their fine work does not happen on its own.

The overlords can rely on the oppressed to provide them with a virtually unlimited war chest.

The defenders must rely on...us.

Gun Bashing

Personally, I consider this child abuse, and think the twisted bluenoses behind it deserve to have their asses kicked. [Read]

Ah, here we go:

The 26-year-old mother of six...

Yeah, the problem is obviously toy guns. 

Prosecutor Jim Baum and  professor of education at Wheelock College Diane Levin said it, I believe it, that settles it.

[Via Steve T]

Playing Out the Brady Strategy

Unarmed victims, draconian "gun laws"...all the elements were there. [Read]

[Via William T]

We're the Only Ones Two Out of Three Enough

A felony theft charge against Foucault was dismissed as part of a plea agreement reached with the St. Louis County Attorney’s Office.  [More]

Still, I wonder how many people he put away in his career on gun and drug charges...?

And how many of them got probation with the promise of clean records?

[Via Russ S]

Vested Interests Leave Gaping Holes

Livery Cab Drivers To Receive Bulletproof Vests [More]

And then they'll turn their backs on their fares leaving the back of their heads the most opportune close-range target.

Fernando Mateo appears bipolar on the self-defense issue.

On the one hand, he is trying to arm bodega owners.  On the other, he promotes inane "buy backs."

And naturally, he's taken care of.

Let's just hope none of his union members have problematic pasts, because:

As of February 2010, it is against federal law for a convicted felon to possess, purchase or wear any type of body armor.

[Via David R]

Welcome to Malpractice Disguised as Qualified Advice, with Dr. Helen Minciotti

Pediatric safety advocates point out that while safe firearm storage practices and educational efforts are important, they are still second best to the most effective gun strategy out there: keeping guns entirely out of homes with children. [More]

Dr. Helen Minciotti said it, I believe it, that settles it.

You hear that, kid? 

 

Hey, I wonder what the expert Dr. Helen would have done had those guys broken into her home...? No, I didn't mean to invite scatological comments, but you're probably right.

And of course this means the same rules must apply to the "Only Ones"?

Yo, Helen: Fill this out?

We're the Only Ones Estranged Enough

The man accused of shooting and killing his estranged wife and her boyfriend is a federal law enforcement officer. [More]

And he worked the Hartsfield-Jackson beat?

Bet nobody ever questioned his RKBA...

[Via Harvey]

We're the Only Ones Bordering on Suspicious Enough

Woman arrested at port, accused of having Border Patrol gun [More]

And she may have other items she got from them...?  How?

And she's 25...?

I suppose it would be out of line, sexist, evil-minded and unnecessarily suspicious to wonder if maybe a little quim pro quo action was going on here...?

Nahh...I'm sure BATFU just wants to be helpful because that's what they're here for.

[Via Harvey]

A Beacon of Hope

"The National Rifle Association in America is the standard by which all gun owners judge themselves," said Rahoul Rai, NAGRI's semi-official spokesman. "Here is an organization that has protected the fundamental democratic right [to bear arms] which has withstood the test of time. Which has brought gun ownership not just to the United States but to the whole world. For us in India, this is the beacon of hope." [More]

Considering the political climate, it is a good first step, and gives them a model for organizing and lobbying.  As for the hyperbole and evangelical fervor for all things Fairfax, they're new at this.  Give them time and some will get to here:

हम हर जगह हैं

[Via cycjec]

Superpowers and the Second Amendment

First, all possessors of potentially harmful powers could be subject to a background check if they did not have the powers from birth. If they failed the background check, they could be forbidden to use the power (although use in self-defense might still be allowed by the Constitution). A registration scheme would be likely (Note, this likely would not run afoul of the Constitution because it does not apply to all mutants or superpowered individuals, just those with potentially harmful powers).

Second, exceptional powers could be subject to a permitting system including more thorough background checks and training requirements. Some powers could be expressly prohibited outside police or military use. [More]

How do you say "ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ!" in Kryptonian?

Attorney says Aitken to appeal for vindication on gun charges

"Our next step is to win the appeal to vindicate Brian. I am confident of our success." [More]

Today's Gun Rights Examiner column presents an appealing and vindicating story.

Also make an appeal to your friends about something I hope appeals to you.

And once more I'm appealing that you share the link and vindicate these efforts.

This Day in History: December 21

He escaped again, but was retaken on December 21, 1778, having to spend Christmas in prison. [More]