Well, THAT Was Painful

The hearing is over. No idea what the majority thought it was doing.

Just got off the phone with Mike Vanderboegh, on the ground in DC. Among other observations:

It was an absolute display of impotence by the GOP leadership.

A Sweet Deal

Calif. Researchers Now Want Sugar Controlled Like Alcohol and Tobacco [More]

Because government just can't have enough authority...  And not just deadly "assault sugar," that has no legitimate sweetening purpose.  Although I', sure "patrol sugar" will be exempt.

Then we can have tax stamps, and criminal penalties for selling to minors, and a new bla...uh...white market, with more lucrative criminal/law enforcement opportunities, and prosecutions and incarcerations, and..

Meanwhile:

California to run out of money by March without further action

S'OK...You and I can bail them out--after all, they're too big to fail.

One lump or two?

The Mask of Fu Manchu

Vanderboegh peels it back. [Read]

I've been watching live all morning, and I'm still waiting to hear some questions like I would ask.

We're the Only Ones Revising Enough

He admitted under a plea agreement to lying in the police report. His revised account says his partner, officer Mersed Dautovic, struck Bonds on the back of the head with a baton while Bonds was facing away from Dautovic — not, as he had originally claimed, by accident, in a scenario painting Bonds as resisting arrest.

Mailander also admitted that his report of the incident omitted the part about Bonds being struck with a baton — court papers say at least 14 times — while lying on the ground in the fetal position. [More]

How to win friends and influence people: "Only Ones"-style. While we shouldn't need to make it personal to insist on proper police conduct for all, can you imagine how you'd feel if these lying beasts did that to someone you loved?

[Via Michael G]

Fuddettes for Ammo Bans

Some common sense reasons for Iowa to ban lead shot [More]

Shhhhh...Be vewy, vewy quiet. Liz Garst is hunting.

Amazing, how every time they want to do something stupid, unnecessary and ineffectual they present it as "common sense."  Telling, how they always try to present it as somehow the view and will of "reasonable" gun owners.

Iowa Firearms Coalition sent out an email alert warning:

Be sure to use our Action Center to contact your Representative about this important bill to defend traditional ammunition.

House Joint Resolution 2001 is expected to be voted on today in the Iowa House of Representatives.

The include some talking points:

[Via Michael G and Iowa Firearms Coalition]

Taking Stock

[Read]

Schadenfreude

I don't think it's such a bad thing if merited. [Read]

[Via Rich S]

We're the Only Ones Law-Abiding Enough

According to Stinson, the research is important because “there are no comprehensive statistics available on problems with police integrity, and no government entity collects data on criminal arrests of police officers in the U.S.” [More]

Cool. Then we'll have hard data to supplement "The Only Ones Files" to compare with VPC's absurd attack on concealed carriers.

Alvie's take.

[Via Craig S]

We're the Only Ones Humane Enough

“We are law enforcement; and we’d like to be under the state police, because it’s a much clearer chain of authority, and it’s where our law enforcement officers belong,” said Sharon Harmon, executive director of the Oregon Humane Society. [More]

With "patrol rifles" 'n SWAT teams 'n everything? 

"Chain of authority"--interesting choice of words...

[Via Plug Nickel Times]

Dial "M" for Murder

The company utilizes Smartphone technology to put crime reporting, literally, in the hands of users. After downloading the free iPhone or Android application, users can report an ongoing crime with the push of a button. [More]

That is, assuming it's not just taken from them at the press of a trigger.

This Day in History: February 2

But the invasion was scrubbed.

In its place, Louis XVI approved plans February 2, 1780, for an expedition particulare, the ferrying of ground forces to America. [More]

'Gunwalking' documents shared by Issa prior to Holder hearing cite DOJ failures

Left unsaid is whether Issa believes the role of Justice was criminally reckless and flawed, although the decision by Patrick Cunningham, Chief of the Criminal Division in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona, to plead the Fifth Amendment shows involved officials at Justice fear their roles will be scrutinized in that light. [More]

This morning's Gun Rights Examiner report gives a blueprint of what we can expect today's questioning to center on. Also includes link to live feed for the session scheduled to start at 9:00 am Eastern.