Illinois still not acquitting gun carry defendants months after ban overturned

"People are still being charged with felonies for simple possession of a weapon -- not using the weapon to commit a crime, but just possessing it outside of their home," Lasker quotes Chicago-based defense attorney Robert Pervan.  [More]

This evening's Gun Rights Examiner report notes unconstitutional laws are still being enforced.  Forget it Jake, it's Chi-Town.

Mr. Paul Goes to Washington

If he can speak, we can listen. [Watch]

"Turning His Life Around"

That and being an aspiring rapper must be the two most deadly choices out there... [Read]

If We Had an Anger Management Problem

...do you really think we'd put up with continued moronic insults from "progressive" luminaries like this...? [Read]


I look at her academic and professional credentials and "achievements" and see nothing she's qualified to do except be a meddling parasite.
 
[Via Roger J]

I Want to Show You Something

It's my shocked face. [Read]

Doubling Down

With all the anti gun bills introduced, it appears the ‘left’ is amassing their own version of ‘Cluster Munitions’ in the form of large numbers of bills in the hope they may actually get something passed. [More]

Throw it against the wall and see what sticks...

Another Outrage in New Jersey

Jersey City Man Released, After 30 Days in Jail for Mere Possession of Firearms in His Home Bail Originally Set at Unattainable $75,000. [More] 

I was actually approached on this in late January by a friend of the defendant who'd read some of my postings on Brian Aitken.  Here is what I replied back:

Step One: Get immediately in touch with Evan Nappen, copied on this email. He is an authority on NJ gun laws and the best person to advise on how to proceed and steer Keith to the right atty. Whether on not any gun rights groups may decide to get involved to help with defense is something I can't say at this time. 

Step Two: Say nothing to anyone on this without advice of counsel.

Yes, stuff goes on behind the scenes that never makes it to the front until such time as competent counsel deems it appropriate. I'm delighted to see this development. Mr. Pantaleon could not be in better hands.


Help is needed -- in spreading the word and with the defense. That's where you come in.

‘Fresh Prince’ lockdown further highlights school hysteria on guns

“The worker said she called police when she misheard the lyrics -- which she claimed said ‘shooting people outside of school,’" the report related. “The actual lyrics to the song say ‘shooting some b-ball outside of school.’" [More]

Today's Gun Rights Examiner commentary notes chilling out, maxing, relaxing all cool is a lot more difficult when a bunch of paranoid "adults" sic the cops on you.

Dear Abby, Dear Abby, My Fountain Pen Leaks*

Assuming the story is as related: Earl sounds like a real douche who deserves to be knocked on his ass and have his damn gun fed to him. [Read]

The husband sounds like a real puss too.  Strap 'em on lady, and refuse to enter that house or have anything to do with the alcoholic unless he is sober and repentant. And teach your kids gun safety and what to do when someone is being stupid dangerous.

As for the unsecured loaded weapons, I'm no fan of the one-size-fits-all lock 'em up unloaded mantra, or, as some call it, pitchfork murderer-enablement. There are ways to maintain control, but they sure don't involve getting drunk and leaving things lying around for anybody to find.

[Via Michael G]

*

By the Numbers

The Annotated Homicide Rate VS Gun Control, 1885 To 2011 [More]

They're not supposed to be declining!  Something must be done!

[Via bondmen]

High Stick Horror

Passengers also will be allowed to bring onboard as part of their carry-on luggage novelty-sized baseball bats less than 24 inches long, toy plastic bats, billiard cues, ski poles, hockey sticks, lacrosse sticks and two golf clubs, the agency said. The policy goes into effect on April 25. [More]

Oh no! Not hockey sticks!!!!

[Via Jon B]

Rearranging Titanic Deck Chairs

Just what Detroit needs! [Read]

It's like these people try to out-stupid each other.

Drone Wars

Matt Bracken, via WRSA [Read]

Thing is, drones are just the tools.  The principle, that Americans can be assassinated on U.S. soil without due process if the administration wants to means they could use any tool that would do the job.

Hell, even walked guns if it suited their purpose...

Vanderboegh asks for whom the bell tolls.

UPDATE From Andrea Shea King:

Tonight on my radio show, our Capitol Hill insider Elizabeth B. Letchworth will talk about the Kentucky Republican's intentions to hold up the nomination of the Islamist John Brennan to head the CIA until he gets more information about the U.S. drone execution program, which has become a major sore point for many lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

That's at 9 p.m. Eastern, here.

REESE CASE: Prosecution Appeals Judge Brack’s Decision

Tea Party Patriots of Luna County gives a comprehensive read on the latest developments. If you share only one thing today, make it this. [Read]

Damage Control

You open the morning paper to find the name of your gun store splashed around as the source of a firearm used in a horrific, high-profile crime. News trucks are already in your parking lot, and telephone calls begin to pour in from various media outlets looking to dissect the sale of the firearm in question. Media assaults immediately begin... your reputation and years of hard work are immediately subject to character assassination. 

FFL Guard is offering a new service.  

I can't help but wonder what difference an immediate professional media response would make in cases where the government otherwise feels free to prosecute the hell out of you just to get something to stick. Would seeing that you're prepared to fight back hard, smart and with your own amplifiers and spotlights, make a headline-conscious prosecutor wonder if he's doing his own career ambitions any favors?

One Way to Find Out

“That’s more the NRA’s issue,” Steve Sanetti, president of the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), said in an interview. “From the commercial side, we’re already there, and we’ve been there, and we were the ones that have been the strongest proponents of an effective, complete background check.” [More]

Except NSSF is saying no rift exists:

An article is today’s Washington Post incorrectly implies that this position puts NSSF at odds with the National Rifle Association. There is no conflict.

This is real easy to resolve. Did you say what they quote you as saying or didn't you?

If you didn't, publicly demand a retraction.

White Heat

Because Bill Hammond and the New York Daily News are the voices of reason when it comes to guns. [Read]

Let's see, "blind fury" here, "white hot rage" there-- developing media talking point memes, anyone?

The Anti-Colin

Some are capable of learning from experience, and of teaching others. [Read]

"For the Children"

Kurt looks at who the first shots in the culture war are aimed at. [Read]

Day 23

One week left to go in this excellent series. [Read]

How You Can Help the Reese Family

"My husband is an FFL," a Facebook friend messaged me concerning the latest developments in the Reese case. "That could be me and my family. I am completely horrified by this case and the ease in which the prosecutor has kept it hidden.

"I've sent this out to every FFL I know, none of them had heard about it either," she continued. "What do we do to help? Write our Congressman? Where is the NRA?"

The reasons other FFLs haven't heard of it are basically twofold -- there has been some limited local "legitimate media" coverage, but not in the detail provided at Gun Rights Examiner, where I on occasion link to actual legal documents from the case that I obtain and post on my Scribd account, and importantly, at Tea Party Patriots of Luna County, where they post  first-hand accounts written by a trial attendee who also has plenty of insider information. And, of course, Jeff Knox has been a leader in providing coverage at WND.com and at The Firearms Coalition, where he's set up online donations to help the family defend themselves.

I said twofold and we covered the extremely limited outlets for documenting developments.  The second part of the equation is the biggest problem, the old "Profiles in Apathy," where readers are asked to share links -- and they don't.  That means the word doesn't get out.  Face it -- the family is being prosecuted in New Mexico.  I'm just some guy operating out of his house in Ohio.  What chance does it have to gain wider attention if even regular returning readers won't help?

If you think my just putting stuff out on the internet is all it takes, think again. Stupid celebrity crap and sexual innuendo is what occupies top positioning at Examiner.  If I want readers, I have to drag them in myself, which is why I spend time every day on the aforementioned Facebook, and on Twitter. I'm not there because I'm looking for online social experiences, I'm there because it's marginally more effective, if not more dignified, than screaming at passing cars.

I had this conversation just this morning with Mike Vanderboegh.  Our consensus -- if any of us -- meaning you, too, ever gets in trouble, too fricking bad.  If the media notices at all, it will be to smear you as a threat that needed putting down. On the off-chance someone like me notices and tries to tell others, good fricking luck getting it to spread beyond an extremely limited niche audience.

So, with full awareness that I probably just spent 10 minutes talking to maybe a half-dozen people max who will turn around and lift a finger: How can you help?

Share links and urge your friends to do the same.

Donate to the Reese family defense fund. They're broke. They've been broke.  They'll continue to be broke.  And the government just guaranteed their bills will do nothing but grow with its latest appeal. Share the donation link or mailing address (Reese Defense Fund, Attention Patricia Arias, First Savings Bank, 520 South Gold, Deming, NM 88030) and urge your friends to do the same.

Write to the Senate Judiciary Committee and demand they do not confirm Kenneth Gonzales as a District Court Judge.  I suggest approaching Grassley as the key guy, since Democrats won't be sympathetic and since he's the Ranking member for the Republicans. Share his comm link and urge your friends to do the same.

And where's NRA?  Beats the hell out of me.  Why not take it upon yourself to ask them.  And urge your friends to do the same.

Or do nothing. If I knew how to motivate anyone besides myself, I'd be running an organization.  And if I wanted my work to be popular and widely read, I'd put in to be the Celebrity STDs Examiner.

Just remember that everything I cite above is an attempt to pit ourselves against an ambitious federal prosecutor desperate to salvage and advance his career and who has virtually unlimited government resources at his disposal. 

Why is Their First Impulse Always to Compel?

It requires gun ownership, but allows several outs, like if you're not physically or mentally able to handle a gun, or if you're a felon or have religious objections. [More]

What if someone who is not religious just has objections?

I know these things are symbolic and intended to send a message, but I just don't like the heavy-handed presumptuousness of supposed servants mandating gun ownership for the same reason I object to supposed servants mandating health insurance. 

A useful approach could be a resolution encouraging gun ownership combined with an invitation to attend periodic safety, marksmanship and tactical training sessions, along with maintenance and reloading workshops, all designed to advance skill levels and conducted in partnership between LE and local gun clubs, with the attendant resources both groups can offer.

It's easy to see how such events could attract peripheral vendor goods and services to become a major community event and money-maker, attracting people from miles around.

This Day in History: March 6

On March 6, 1781, three months before the French army departed from Newport, General Washington visited Count de Rochambeau to consult with him concerning the operation of the troops under his command and to hasten the sailing of the expedition under M. Destouches who had resumed direction of the fleet after the death of Admiral de Ternay whose untimely death had occurred in Newport several months before. [More]