Good For Me, But Not For Thee

NBC News has sent private security personnel to the increasingly dicey Gulf Coast region to help keep its employees safe while covering the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

The private security officers, usually former soldiers or police, are licensed to carry firearms and are trained to keep the situation under control so that journalists can do their jobs safely.

Wait a minute...isn't NBC one of those "Publication and Media Outlets" listed as anti-gun on NRA's website?

And they've operated under the protection of armed guards before? And so have their competitors?

It seems when it comes to protecting their own elitist hindquarters, the Establishment media isn't really that anti-gun after all.

"Better Late Than Never," Indeed

An AP Katrina aftermath survival story, via Whose Paranoid:

"We had excellent plans. We had enough food for 10 days," said Peggy Hoffman, the home's executive director. "Now we'll have to equip our department heads with guns and teach them how to shoot."

An Open Plea to President Bush

I just received my "personal invitation" from the Second Amendment Foundation's Alan Gottlieb to attend the "20th annual Gun Rights Policy Conference (GRPC), which will be taking place September 23, 24 and 25, 2005 at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott in Los Angeles, California."

We're promised "Scheduled speakers this year include: myself, Joe Tartaro, Wayne LaPierre, Sandy Froman, John Lott, Massad Ayoob, Eugene Volokh, Larry Pratt, John Snyder, Joe Waldron, as well as staff from the Second Amendment Foundation, Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, National Rifle Association, National Shooting Sports Foundation, KeepAndBearArms.com, and Gun Owners of America. President George Bush has been invited as well. "

President Bush, I have never in my life begged anything from a public official.

Please attend this conference. PLEASE!

I'd pay good money to see all the nationally recognized "gun rights leaders" line up to get cavity searched for weapons--just so they can pay tribute to you for supporting their right to keep and bear arms.

Please?

Ann Coulter--Neocon Shill

"Conservative" columnist Ann Coulter disdains "...the (nonexistent) 'right to privacy.' "I know as much about the 'right to privacy' as I know about any other made-up, nonexistent right," she snickers to her readers. Yes, Ann, free people do indeed have a right to privacy. The lie you and other neocons perpetuate--that it is not specifically enumerated in the Bill of Rights so therefore doesn't exist--is an intentional bit of disinformation. In a real sense, this propaganda abets the state in its control over people's lives and freeedom. You know damn well the Constitution is not intended to enumerate all rights of free Americans, but to define the limits under which the national government can legitimately exercise power. You know damn well this was one of the concerns against adding a "Bill of Rights" to the Constitution--that people like you would construe it to mean only the rights mentioned must be recognized. And you know damn well that what you espouse would have been alien to the Framers, who wisely (in addition to Amendment IV) added:

Amendment IX The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. Amendment X The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.

If the federal government has no authority "to deny or disparage" other rights, Ann, what makes you think you do? The argument that privacy is nowhere mentioned in the Constitution is hollow. The rebuttal ought to be "Exactly. So it follows the government has no authority to give itself privacy-invading powers that haven't been specifically delegated to it."

That's Why They Call It Global Gun "CONTROL"

Russia wants the UN to pass rules outlawing unauthorized use of Russian weapons designs. Russia hopes to piggyback this on a UN effort to limit the illegal distribution of assault rifles. It's all about money.

It's not about eliminating small arms--it's never been about that. It's about who controls, possesses and profits off them.

The do-gooder shills who get all the PR and tug at heartstrings with tales of woe are mere pawns. Their primary function--whether they realize it or not--is to keep the sheep distracted while the wolves sneak around the flank.

Pay no attention to the men behind the Iron Curtain.

A Lesson in Democracy

Nicki and Kevin can't believe how stupid some people are.

Just remember--not only are some people stupid, but their votes cancel out ours.

You don't think all this talk about spreading "democracy" has anything to do with relying on the ease with which stupid people and their opinions can be manipulated, do you?

"Gun Act Failing Dismally"

And after we filled out that 27B/6...

From the "I'm the only One Professional Enough" Files

Good thing Andy only lets Barney keep one bullet.

Youth Funds, Not Tougher Gun Rules, Needed, Cotler Says

If I may:

Dear kindly Sergeant Krupke,
You gotta understand,
It's just our bringin' up-ke
That gets us out of hand.
Our mothers all are junkies,
Our fathers all are drunks.
Golly Moses, natcherly we're punks!

Gee, Officer Krupke, we're very upset;
We never had the love that ev'ry child oughta get.
We ain't no delinquents,
We're misunderstood.
Deep down inside us there is good!

From West Side Story
Music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.
© 1956, 1957 Amberson Holdings LLC and Stephen Sondheim. Copyright renewed.
Leonard Bernstein Music Publishing Company LLC, Publisher.

“It must be legal,” she said. “The police are here taking stuff, too.”

Things are gonna get real interesting in the next few days and weeks.

Some people are gonna be real glad they have guns.

It's Time to Renew!

Why does going through the firearm permitting process in South Africa remind me of a scene from Terry Gilliam's "Brazil"?

If Only We Got Rid of Weapons...

...people couldn't possibly kill themselves.

Just ask this poor wretch who submitted to the bend-'n-spread-'em at the Superdome.

There are more than 10,000 people in the arena.

Officials had earlier reported two deaths at the Superdome, and now, they report that someone died Tuesday after plunging from an upper level of the stadium. They say the person probably jumped.

That's a rate of 30 deaths per 100,000--every 3 days--in a disarmed, guarded 24/7 populace where the State provides for all?

If those are the odds for being a protected refugee, how bad can taking care of yourself be?

The Louisiana Superdome of Shame

I posted about National Guardsmen disarming Superdome refugees on Sunday, relying on hastily transcribed notes. Here's confirmation and commentary from, of all places, Pravda:

Watching news coverage of the refugees trying to enter the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans for safety from the approaching force-five Hurricane Katrina, I was incredulous how the people attempting to enter the stadium were being treated by the national guard troops and local police. The people were made to stand for hours outside in the awful Louisiana climate while they were admitted one or two adults at a time so they could be searched "for firearms and alcohol."

... The lamp of freedom has been blown out by force-five bureaucrats, their sycophants and their head-embedded media enablers who will insure that it will never get re-ignited. For our own good, of course.

Shameless Plug: The Bear Necessities

“I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you.”—Timothy Treadwell, setting up his video camera inches from a grizzly bear

“Grunt. Snort. Crunch. Snap. Munch. Gulp.”—Grizzly, loosely translated as “I love you, too.”

"The Bear Necessities" is my October Rights Watch column for GUNS Magazine, on sale now at indispensable newsstands throughout the Republic.

A Gathering Storm?

I just received the following response to my "Trouble in Paradise" concerns:

"All of the current rules for guns at the ranch are not inforceable due to the fact that they are all just word of mouth. Nothing has ever been written down and passed by the board. We are not trying to take away your gun rights. Our primary concern is the safety of all of the owners. I intend to get a concessus of all the owners present at the meeting to see what the majority considers fair. Since you have such a strong interest I hope that you will be present for the meeting 12 noon on 24 Sept. 05 at the Dance hall."

My reply:

I don’t know if I can make the meeting or not due to other obligations that weekend, but don’t think that should be the only forum for evaluating the proposed criteria. If we’re talking about at the Range, there are many professional references to consult for establishing protocols. If we’re talking about on Ranch property in general, things get problematic.

I’d like to see what it is you will be proposing, and also would appreciate a summary of your credentials for establishing “gun safety rules.” I’d also like to know what the incident was that makes people feel a need to address this, and what evidence you have that a set of rules you propose will eliminate the risk of a recurrence.

Will you send these to me?

We shall see...

The Answer to "Gun Crime" in the US...

...is a candlelight vigil.

Quick--somebody tell the Canadians they've got it wrong...

The Answer to "Gun Crime" in Canada...

...is apparently "a single, loud voice."

Why didn't we think of that here?

Oh, and closed-door meetings away from the prying disarmed victim pool...I mean, public.

"It's about time somebody put the feds on the spot. Where have they been? Who are they, even?"

My God, does this fool realize what some of us would give to be able to say that in the US (at least those of us not calling on them to "enforce existing gun laws")?

"Thus, the progressive dream team shapes up, a made-in-Toronto crime-busting squad that combines tough enforcement with all the increased social spending that senior governments and the private sector can afford."

Surely they have some money left over after that $2 Billion gun registry "boondoggle"?

Kaine Caught Stealing NRA's Thunder

"'It's no surprise that Tim Kaine is attempting to hide his anti-gun past from gun owners,' said Chris W. Cox, the NRA's chief lobbyist, in an interview. He challenged Kaine's assertion that he was a leader in bringing Project Exile to Richmond."

Translation: "How dare you claim credit for our gun control legislation."

O Canada

The Canadian national gun registry doesn't stop "gun violence."

It is a "$2-billion boondoggle."

They should "shut down their useless registry and put the money into actual police officers fighting crime."

But they won't.

Don't believe me, believe The Edmonton Sun.

This is a good real-world lesson to throw back at domestic antis who claim registries here will prevent violent crime.

If somebody wants to know which Americans own guns, the answer ought to be: assume all of us--and conduct yourself accordingly.

"Everyone Certainly is Appreciative"

That's a quote from the Fox News reporter on scene at the Superdome in New Orleans, thanking two National Guard privates for confiscating, among other things, a fork, plastic disposable razors, allen and ratchet wrenches, pocket knives, scissors, combs, and nail clippers, from refugees seeking shelter from Hurricane Katrina.

People must undergo bag and body checks for "contraband." If you have prescriptions, you must have ID to match. And of course, no weapons are allowed.

When asked why a fingernail file was confiscated, one of the privates replied "Fingernail files have a point on them. We just think it will be safer."

Ah yes. The militia is now the National Guard, right?

Back to Geraldo Rivera, who is relieved.

"I'm glad for all the people seeking shelter, that's all they've got."

Geraldo, of course, insisted on carrying a gun to protect his own precious hide when on assignment in Afghanistan.

Make no mistake--this is the way things will go down in every future major emergency. And no doubt everyone will certainly be appreciative.