Happy Father's Day, 2005

I'm the most fortunate of men--I have a father I love and respect, and two fine sons I have (so far) allowed to live.

Happy Father's Day to those of you who know the joy. Go be with your children.

That's what I'm doing today.

N'yuk, N'yuk, N'yuk...

Why I oughtta...

BLAM!

Woob...woob...woob..woob...

Film a Cop, Get Prosecuted

"During the summer, Patrick Thompson and Martel Miller filmed traffic stops around this college town in the hope that showing the resulting documentary would prompt discussion of how police officers interact with blacks.

"They succeeded, but not in the way they planned. Police seized their film and Champaign County prosecutors charged them with violating Illinois' eavesdropping law."

But no problem when it's the other way around, right, citizens?

[Thanks to Rick Stanley for passing this one along.]

Freedom Allies?

Dennis Walker of the Ohio Constitution Defense Council referred me to a website featuring absolute hysteria from an outfit calling itself "50 Caliber Terror". I did a WhoIs lookup and came up with a false front--Domain By Proxy out of Scottsdale, AZ.

They call themselves "A Project of the Freedom States Alliance--'Changing the Way America Thinks About Guns'." Look at who the other members of the Axis are and you'll appreciate the irony of that name.

Funny thing--the FSA site is also masked by the same proxy service. As are all its member sites.

So let's see--the 50 caliber terror people want donations, yet they also wish to remain anonymous.

That sounds pretty good to me. I've thought before about the potential for someone to start an "anti" website and funnel off donations that would otherwise be used by more effective organizations--I even wrote about a guy whose actions could make him appear to be "our man in the gun ban camp."

50 Caliber Terror? Freedom States Alliance?

I wonder...

Shoot the Crazy Frog

The most fun I've had with a game of this type since Smack the Bloody Penguin.

'Explorer' Produces Contender in Quest to Find 'World's Stupidest Gun Commentary'

Congratulations to Renee Horton for cramming the most "Minion Mom" talking points into one editorial.

Do You Think Firework Sales to the Public Should Be Banned?

It's not enough that the liberty-haters in the nation's capitol believe the intent of the Founders was to rule over disarmed subjects--they hate our traditions so much they even want to eradicate our celebrating the Fourth of July.

What did John Adams have to say about the matter?

"The 4th of July, 1776, will be a memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to Almighty God. It ought to be solemnized with pomp, shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of the continent to the other, from this time forward, forever."

NBC4 (District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia) is conducting a poll to see who's game for banning fireworks sales to the public. Scroll down about halfway on the page--it appears on the right. So far, the antis are getting their priggish butts kicked 86% to 14%.

How Come?

From CALPEEK
California Political Week
June 13, 2005
Vol.XXVII, No.23

“Guns – Question: how come the NRA has not filed a lawsuit to remove the so-called San Francisco gun ban initiative from the November 2005 ballot? Doesn’t the State have preemption rights???”

Well, it thinks it does. I’ve always found the preemption doctrine hugely troubling when presumed to apply to unalienable rights. Still, the first question is legitimate, if for no other reason than consistency.

More Gun Owner Harrassment From CA DoJ

Your barrel is threaded.

Surrender or die.

More "in your face" from the Tyrant Lockyer. He knows exactly what he's doing--rubbing the noses of those he hates in excrement. And getting off on it.

This reminds me of a quote by my friend Brian Puckett:

"I sometimes wonder whether the socialists will issue an edict requiring all firearms to have a pink ribbon tied to the barrel, just to get a belly laugh as the panicked descendants of once-proud American patriots scurry to comply."

Thank God, when they retire, Lockyer's enforcement goons will be able to carry concealed in Maryland (see below)!

CCRKBA CHALLENGES MARYLAND ANTI-GUNNER TO APOLOGIZE TO POLICE FOR INSULT

"By insisting that a new federal law that allows retired police officers to carry concealed handguns is 'essentially dangerous,' a Maryland anti-gun crusader has insulted men and women in law enforcement and should immediately apologize, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA) said today."

Sorry, CCRKBA, she’s right—but for the wrong reasons.

It is dangerous to extend rights to one class of citizen—particularly “law enforcement” types—to the exclusion of others.

It is dangerous to presume that rights can be dispensed by government. That reduces them to privileges.

It is dangerous to have the servants tell the master they are in charge of dispensing those privileges—and they reserve them for their own kind.

How many of these cops are out there issuing press releases calling for recognition of our rights, and complaining that having them infringed is an insult to the whole people?

How many would do their utmost to destroy our lives if they found out we were exercising our right to keep and bear arms without “permission”?

Forget Leah Barrett. I’m saying that a new federal law that allows retired police officers to carry concealed handguns is essentially dangerous.

It’s not an insult, it’s a fact.

Don't hold you breath waiting for an apology.

The War on Cows

"So what we have is the government, prodded by large corporations, saying it is helping small family farms by destroying one of our most successful small family farms."

We probably need a federal Department of Bovine Security or some such...

More "Black Arrow" Field Updates

From Vin Suprynowicz

June 10:
We drew about 60 people to my address before the Pike's Peak Firearms Coalition in Colorado Springs Thursday evening (there was a lovely cake with the cover of "The Black Arrow" in full color in the frosting, further inscribed "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town.") That followed the afternoon book-signing at the local Barnes & Noble; while I was in town I sold more than 60 copies of "The Black Arrrow." (There was actually demand for more copies of the leather-bound edition than I had brought.)

We got some coverage in the local press; Amy Willard there might be able to provide some more details. (Amy & Dave Willard were the very generous hosts & organizers of my appearance.)

Best Wishes,

-- Vin

June 13:
Several of you have kindly suggested "The Black Arrow" would make a good movie, and asked whether we've made any efforts to place it in the hands of folks who do that sort of thing.

There aren't many folks in movieland who identify themselves as free market types or Libertarians (capital OR small "L") -- Kurt Russell, Dennis Leary, Christina Ricci, and perhaps Clint Eastwood are about all who come immediately to mind.

So, we sent one inscribed copy of "The Black Arrow" to each, through their registered agents or publicists. (Actually, we sent several to the various addresses for Mr. Eastwood's Malpaso Productions -- all were returned.)

Otherwise, what happens to such books?

See http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/offer-listing/0976251604/ref=dp_olp_2//103-0863813-0768614?condition=all

:-)

Best Wishes,

-- Vin

The Joyce Foundation: A Hijacked Legacy

David Hardy details how the Joyce Foundation is a hidden hand behind the trend to close "the newspaper loophole."

We know the foundation is a major player in funding citizen disarmament activities--but why? Who started it, and why did they hate private ownership of guns?

Or did they?

"The Joyce Foundation was established in 1948 by Beatrice Joyce Kean of Chicago.

"The Joyce family wealth came from the lumber industry, including family-owned timberlands, plywood and saw mills, and wholesale and retail building material distribution facilities which were located in the state of Louisiana and the Midwest.

"Until the early 1970s, assets of the Foundation remained small and grants were given to the particular philanthropic interests of its founder. Upon Mrs. Kean's death in December of 1972, the Joyce Foundation was bequeathed ninety percent of her estate, an amount in excess of $100 million. A professional staff was retained and Kent F. Peterson, who had been an executive of the Tremont Lumber Company, was named president.

"At the time of Mrs. Kean's death the annual contributions of the Foundation totaled less than $100,000. By 1974, when the majority of assets was delivered to the Foundation, annual giving reached $500,000 and by 1976, $10 million. During the first twenty-five years, traditional health organizations and hospitals received the majority of the Foundation's contributions. After 1973, higher education and cultural institutions were added as major beneficiaries."

Got that? The social engineering didn't start until after the founder had died, leaving a caste of professional parasites in charge.

A well-researched overview of the Joyce Foundation can be found at DiscoverThe Networks.org—A Guide to the Political Left. A funding summary is presented at ActivistCash.com. And Don Williams gives us some interesting background and insights over at History News Network Reader Comments.

"The Black Arrow" Book Tour--Notes From the Field

By Vin Suprynowicz

Hi, David --

That's great news![*]

We just mailed you a copy of the latest issue of the glossy magazine "Liberty Watch," with my leering mug shot and the tale of Laissez Faire Books and "The Black Arrow" on the cover.

They'll ship additional single copies of the magazine to anyone who sends them $3.95.

It sounds like we may draw some crowds -- and some media attention -- to my appearances in Colorado Springs on June 9. (My column runs in the Colorado Springs Gazette -- that's always been a good market for me.) See http://www.theblackarrow.us/BookTour/.

I have no idea if my appearance in New Hampshire June 26 will be equivalent ... although I WAS officially condemned by the sitting governor the last time I visited. :-)

The challenge is figuring out how to "break out" of the primarily young male readership that will generally pick up a quasi-Libertarian action/adventure shoot-'em-up. Not that we disdain that market. But I've been very gratified by positive reviews from folks like Sunni Maravillosa and Mary Lou Seymour -- this book simply won't "break out" into the more general populace until we can convince women that it is (to a considerable extent) a character-driven romance.

Oddly enough, I believe this discussion about whether there's "too much sex" probably helps. Anyone who's read any of the Laurell Hamilton "Meredith Gentry" books is going to have a tough time believing there can be "too much sex." The real question is whether the love/sex/whatever scenes are differentiated in ways that contribute to character development. And I think that's a much more productive discussion than things like "weapons choice."

The Deanna Forbush analysis piece due to run pretty soon on LewRockwell.com should help.

I'll keep you posted as things develop.

Thanks Again,

-- Vin
-----------------------------
[*]-Reaction to hearing that my review of "The Black Arrow" will be published in GUNS Magazine--DC]

Gonzales vs. Raich—Why Should You Care?

“[T]he Supreme Court accepted the government's argument that Congress could prohibit this wholly intrastate non-economic activity under its interstate commerce power because the ban on these purely local activities was an ‘essential part of a broader regulatory scheme.’ By this rationale, Congress can regulate pretty much anything it wants, and the list of limited powers provided by the Founders is once again in limbo.”

So why should gun owners care?

Oh, I dunno.

Naturally, nothing can be found about the Raich decision and its implications for reloading over at NRA-ILA.

Why do you think that is?

When Leftist Bedwetters Collide

Two teenagers set out to prove the lethality of BB guns for their science project. They "wanted to see if kids should not use BB guns because they're deadly."

Science fair administrators were appropriately horrified, and banned any type of experiment using such evil instruments.

I do love it so when there are competing subversions and these people turn on each other.

Someone ought to explain to Nancy G. Degon that an air rifle is not a "firearm." Then again, I doubt if she'd be interested.

From the Department of Pre-Crime

"The leaked report said that infants not 'under control' by the age of three were four times more likely to be convicted of a criminal offence once they reached maturity, according to an account of the study."

Well, hell--I'm sure we could produce similar results for children of criminals, or those of welfare parents, or even of single mothers. We could probably even come to some conclusions based on [GASP] race!

Maybe we should cut to the chase and just get on with the mandatory sterilizations and forced abortions.

And as for the ones we deem fit to live, I say iris scan 'em!

Sunday Sermon

This is a better quality graphic of the one featured in my profile. It originally appeared as a GunTruths poster.

Expedition Forming: Sign-Ups Wanted

For some reason, I think this gets funnier every time I look at it.

----------------------------------------

Update from the "Stranger than Fiction" department:
This is a very strange coincidence, as this link goes to an ad about time travel. The coincidence will only be evident today, or until I add another article to the blog pushing everything down one place, and kicking the last article into the archives.

Scroll down to the very last line of text at the bottom of the page:

"Take a trip back through time. And best of all, it's free."

How weird is that?

Make Your Own Assault Weapon!

Steve Silver and Dan Schultz put this together years ago for The Lawyer's Second Amendment Society, now defunct, and it was later posted on GunTruths.com, also now defunct.

I thought I'd resurrect and post it here before I become defunct.