Open letter to Darrell Issa and Chuck Grassley on anticipated gunwalking report

We believe the OIG will be hard-pressed to refuse to release interviews it conducted, particularly because the interviews would form at least part of the basis for whatever the OIG determines. The limitations--who was not interviewed--will also be evident. As our adviser notes, “The work papers will be hot stuff, that's for sure.” [More]
Today's joint Gun Rights Examiner/Sipsey Street Irregulars effort offers some helpful suggestions we hope will be considered.  The chances of that happening will only increase if you help spread the word on this. We hope you see the value in taking a moment to do just that.

Passing the Torch

Oath Keepers stand in some tall shadows. [Read]

How the Gun Control Grinch Stole Christmas

Jeff Knox was good all year and still didn't get what he wanted. [Read]

Forget It, Jake

It's Chi-Town. [Read]

If only we could impose more edicts on you and me...

Dammit, Jim, I'm a Witch Doctor, Not a Logician!

If we have to have a television approach to the use of guns, let's move from the "Gunsmoke" approach to a "Star Trek" one.
DR. DENNIS COGSWELL
RADFORD [More]
An Ed.D., naturally. They're generally kind of prickly on insisting being called "Doctor." What, after reading his cowardly nonsense, you didn't think this charlatan understood anything useful besides showing up at chow time, did you?

Why do I picture the dean yelling "COGSWELLLL!!! GET IN HERE!" and him running in ready to nervously toady and wheedle?

Still, he can help you find your soul (do regressives even believe in those?)

I'm not lookin' for my soul, Doc, but maybe you can help me find some sense in your Star Trek vs. Gunsmoke philosophy?  And you do recall what General Trelane said when he first beheld a phaser?
"Oh how marvelous! Devastating! Why this could kill millions!" 
What's your argument? Cops are the "Only Ones"  professional enough to carry guns? The trained professional who was killed was a cop? Cops shouldn't carry guns? Or just the rest of us?

Most illogical.

Beam this hostile alien life form out of here, Scotty. And launch a quarantine beacon to warn passing vessels.

[Via Mack H]

Excellent Observations

Yet these three are "moved to non-operational positions" which allow them to continue feeding at the public trough. This also allows them an income to help cover costs when they "lawyer up". When the ATF/FBI arrests someone, one of the first things they do is to try and separate the individual from earning an income while awaiting trial. [More]
Sipsey Street Irregulars comment poster Swift notes a disparity. I believe someone should remind Issa of it. I think I will.

We're the Only Ones Taking Back Enough

A former Wolfeboro Police Officer said a drug addiction resulting from treatment for a back and shoulder injury led him to steal drugs from the police department evidence room. [More]
Yeah. No full acceptance of responsibility with a sincere apology, just excuses to try and mitigate the consequences of his corruption and whining about his self-created lot in life after a legal wrist-slap. Can you imagine what they'd do to one of us caught stealing drugs from a police evidence room?

"The Drug Take Back Program." The irony just drips...

[Via Carl Bussjaeger]

Are YOU Meredith Graves?

I suppose any one of us could run afoul of the patchwork quilt of arcane disarmament laws, all of which violate the clear "shall not be infringed" proscription. [Read]

That said, and at the risk of stirring up unforgiving ire, I'm not Meredith Graves.  That's because there's a part of me that has trouble working up sympathy for any gun owner who has been so detached they don't know you will get arrested for having a gun in Bloomberg Paradise.  I guess it's because I see how hard some work at preserving, protecting and restoring, and those who can't even take the time to be aware of the basics enjoy the benefits of their labors, not only "for free," but obliviously. 

Seems I read this story once...

The other thing--being aware and observant of our environment is a cardinal rule of personal safety, which applies to physical safety if you're in the WalMart parking lot at night, or legal safety, if you're in Chicago or New York.  It doesn't give a predator the right to attack you just because you have your cell phone to your ear and your eyes on the ground, but it sure does make his job a lot easier, and you should know that and take personal responsibility for self-awareness and self defense. That's so basic it's redundant.

That said, I absolutely support her right to be armed any damn place she pleases without anybody's damn permission.  As far as I'm concerned, she shouldn't have felt the need to check it in. And I think prosecuting her--or anyone for peaceable gun possession--is an act of obscene and intolerable tyranny.

But it's just that I'm sensitive to those like the non-engaged Fudds, and this seems to have similarities...

[Via Michael G]

Electile Dysfunction

Vanderboegh administers some turgid prose about the political shortcomings of the gun prohibitionists.  Turnabout seems fair play to me, since the other side is the one always making penis compensation slurs.  [Read]

And also note how the anti's game plan centers around a preference "that the government enforce existing laws more strictly and not pass new laws.”   Hmmm. Where have we heard that flaccid strategy before?
And on a wildly divergent tangent, since we're on the general subject...

We're the Only Ones on Track Enough

A suburban Chicago police officer used a $132 speeding ticket he issued to track down a woman and ask her for a date... [More]
Creepy. And scary.

Good for her on the civil suit. But why do we see no unequivocal and harsh disciplinary action from his department? Or more? I thought personal access to record systems like that for non-official use was a crime...?

I don't have time to research this, but if anyone else does, am I on the right track suspecting this may be a reportable federal crime?

[Via William T]