Restraining Order Stops NO Gun Confiscations

The United States District Court for the Eastern District in Louisiana today sided with the National Rifle Association (NRA) and issued a restraining order to bar further gun confiscations from peaceable and law-abiding victims of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.

I do my share of letting people know when I disagree with NRA management. It wouldn't be fair to ignore when they do something good that deserves our support.

At the risk of appearing an ungrateful snot, I do have one question: How come the ILA press release doesn't mention SAF, which is claiming joint credit?

Yeah, Roberts Will Be a Strict Constructionist...

...maybe for the UN Charter.

For anyone who thinks this global government enthusiast will rule "the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed," well, I've got a broken levee in New Orleans I'd like to sell you.

Shameless Plug: Are You Connected?

The fact is, if you're a gun owner and you're not on the Internet, you are not informed, no matter how strong your opinions. You simply can't be.

I don't need to tell you that, because obviously you're reading this on your monitor. But not all subscribers to gun magazines have made the transition.

"Are You Connected" is my Rights Watch column for the November issue of GUNS Magazine, on sale now at well-connected newsstands throughout the Republic.

Also in this issue: My review of Matthew Bracken's thrilling liberty page-turner, "Enemies Foreign and Domestic." It's a good one and you should order your own copy.

BONUS: See page 68 of this issue to find out how you can win the ADCO Diamond Double 12-Gauge, 2 3/4" Side-by-Side, exposed hammer coach gun.

Sentry Gun

Texican Tattler links us to a Sentry Gun project.

The video had me laughing.

Another Editorial Sheet-Soaker

If concealed gun permit holders can't deal with this scrutiny, they should turn in their weapons

The way the Ohio law is written, Al-Jazeera reporters qualify as people who can demand CHL lists.

Oh well--submit for public licensure, expect public records. That collar isn't starting to chafe, is it?

As for the rhetorical question: Why should concealed gun permit holders fear the bad guys at all?

That assumes we're in agreement as to just who "the bad guys" are. The ones I fear are those who presume authority to issue licenses for sovereign individuals to exercise unalienable rights.

Pontificating Intellectual Moron Alert

Meet Jeff Mankoff, "a sixth-year Ph.D. student in the [Yale]History Department."

Jeff uses hyperbole to disinform and subvert.

Yes, Jefferson was against "sanctimonious" expressions of reverence for the Constitution. Who isn't against hypocrisy and false piety, at least among people who should be taken seriously?

But the prescription Mankoff implies is nothing short of unchecked legislative tyranny.

I guess he doesn't realize that when that happens, academics who aren't among the power-seizing revolutionaries are often among the first groups rounded up.

You'd think a history major would know that.

[KABA]

Liar, Liar

BRAIN-SCANNING techniques that test whether people are telling the truth could soon be sufficiently reliable to be used to interrogate criminals...The technique works by monitoring activity in the frontal lobes of the brain, which have to work harder than normal when giving answers that are not truthful. Rugen Gur, a colleague of Dr Langleben, said: “A lie is always more complicated than the truth. You think a bit more and fMRI picks that up.”

Well, I certainly see no potential for abuse here.

Wonder what would happen to the results if on every answer--even those you were telling the truth on--you'd do a math problem in your head before speaking?

Just When They Were Doing So Well...

Bill St. Clair tells us a condition of joining Handgun Club of America is pledging that you will "observe all firearm laws."

Heaven Forbid! More Trouble in Paradise

In "Trouble in Paradise," I wrote about how R-Ranch in the Sequoias is developing a set of "gun safety" rules. I posted an update in "A Gathering Storm."

Because I had not heard back, I wrote the entire Board. Responses from two (and unverified information I have says three are for a total ban) confirm my worst fears:

From one director:

This year (as part of the contention on the Ranch) one of the members had a 'concealed' automatic weapon (which he did not have a permit to carry). This disturbed some of our employees and they reported it to Management. This member was very vocal and noted that he has always carried a gun on the trail rides. Furthermore, it was his right and privilege to carry his weapon(s) at all times, anywhere on the Ranch and his interpretation of the law is that anyone over 18 has that right as well. You can imagine the can of worms that this opened. We've had people suggest that anyone over 18 should be able to wear holstered guns around the ranch. Heaven forbid!

[I've learned he was wearing a semiauto tucked into his belt because he didn't have his holster with him--the sheriff's deputy told him that was considered legally concealed but declined to make an arrest.]

From the president:

The mission as it started out was to prevent the open and unrestrained carrying of weapons on the ranch especially where children or others are frequently present. I do not believe it will benefit any of us at this point, to jump to any premature conclusions. The main point is everyone that comes to the ranch needs to be secure that they are safe and that no set of people can either intentionally or by accident compromise the safety of others.

Well, it's not my mission. And talk about intentionally compromising the safety of others...

Here's the ownership setup at R-Ranch. It's similar to joint ownership of common areas in a condominium:

This is not a time share. At R-Ranch no one person or family owns an individual lot. By subdividing ownership rather than land, owners enjoy the entire ranch whenever they wish and as often as they wish, without the constraints of timesharing. There are 2,500 shares, with undivided interest, buyers receive a grant deed at close of escrow.

The Ranch is surrounded by millions of acres of Sequoia National Forest, where open carry is legal--basically, the restrictions are you can't discharge a firearm "within 150 yards of a campground, trail, road, recreation area or across a body of water.}

Exempt from CA edicts against carrying loaded weapons in a public place are persons "carrying a firearm while at home or at his place of business, including temporary residences and campsites."

The bottom line: If the Board can enact a ban against carrying on Ranch property--complete with legal penalties, i.e., calling in the law to arrest violaters and/or via legally enforceable fines/property use restrictions, they are in effect implementing gun control backed by the force of law.

If they get away with it, every homeowner's association in the state of California will have a blueprint for enacting Wilmette-style gun bans and ignoring California's state preemption of firearms laws.

HCA Update

I caused a bit of discussion when I urged people to check out the Handgun Club of America.

Their website now addresses some of the concerns raised in that thread. They have added a page addressing their stand on the Second Amendment, a page of related quotes, and a thoughtful analysis on why rights aren't subject to licensing.

It appears these folks get it.

"The Only Reason You Have a Handgun is to Shoot Someone"

More anti-defense lunacy from north of the border.

No, it's not the only reason. But it certainly is one of them.

Toronto Mayor David Miller's solution?

"We know what works but we need the money to support it. We need the federal government to commit much more strongly to job training and funding actual employment for young people. That will require significant resources."

Spend money on government programs! What else would you expect from a bureaucrat and tyrant who wants to rule people and ensure that they're disarmed?

Is this where I launch into "Gee, Officer Krupke"?

I also like how the vacuous reporterette helps perpetuate hysteria using "straight news" catchphrases like "killings caused by firearms..."

And here I thought killings were caused by killers.

Excuse Me While I Whip This Out

I want my Twinkie.

What Would YOU Use on a T-Rex?

Comment poster Sean reminded me of something when, in response to The 2005 Hardyville Freedom Festival, he nominated "Jurassic Park 2 as the most asinine, corrupt, and contradictory movie [he's] ever seen."

In his musings about how totally ineffectual armed men were portrayed as being, he reminded me of a discussion that took place over a couple issues of my favorite gun magazine.

Andy Breglia shared his thoughts on which ammunition would be most effective against a T-Rex.

His conclusion: "[T]he .30-06 is a true do-all cartridge and, when loaded with the appropriate bullets, will take anything that walks on, or used to walk on, this planet."

The editor was skeptical, and countered "I believe the minimum T-Rex blaster would be an M2 .50 Browning Machine Gun mounted on something faster than a rex. Something with so little brain would take a lot of bleeding out or would need to have its pelvis shot to doll rags and fall before sinking his teeth or weight on you."

Breglia came back with "More Rex Whacks" in a later issue, leading the editor to speculate that "[a] brain shot would have that thing doin' the dead chicken dance all over you."

In fact, as evidenced by Mike the Headless Chicken, it might not even kill the thing.

I think it's an interesting discussion and would like to hear more opinions on this.

Which gun/ammo would be the best to use to effect a quick T-Rex kill, and why?

And we should probably eliminate long-range sniping, as that assumes the thing doesn't know you're there and is stationary. For the purposes of this exercise, let's assume it's a dynamic situation where you and the Rex are both aware of each other and facing off to kill or be killed.

They Never EVER Stop

Kevin gives a gungrabbing bedwetter electroshock therapy.

It won't cure the guy, but it sure is fun to watch it being administered.

Denver Argues to Become Constitution-Free Zone

[T]he Colorado Supreme Court...[will]hear arguments on the city of Denver's right to adopt stricter gun laws than the rest of the state. Assistant City Attorney David Broadwell will base his argument on the city's home-rule authority.

So Broadwell's arguing they can overturn the entire Bill of Rights if they want to?

Lord of War: "Anti-Gun Diatribe"

"War" is a film in which the story takes a backseat to the subject, the characters on-screen serving primarily as agents by which to deliver an anti-gun diatribe.

And of course the solution is to sign the UN small arms treaty.

Guns in the Workplace: An Enuretic's View

Someone who didn't know the basics of gun safety accidentally kills himself.

The conclusion? Obviously, guns don't belong in the workplace, and are more of a danger than a defense.

So why not ban guns in police stations?

Oh, because it's been well established that LEOs are better trained than us mere mortals.

So it's not like the answer just might be providing workplace defense training, is it?

Isn't Running From Predators What PREY Does?

"The scariest part is that you're removing the duty to retreat. That's really there to preserve life."

Unless by retreating instead of acting, you give the advantage to your attacker.

That's the problem with these dolts--they think one size fits all. They don't want people to consider that, just perhaps, the person on scene has a better grasp of what they neeed to do to preserve their safety than the MMM herd of inane cud-chewers. Not a one is qualified to offer tactical defense instruction, but the media presents them as authorities.

Freedom Films

Go vote in The 2005 Hardyville Freedom Film Festival.

I do have one beef--"The Iron Giant" is blatantly anti-hunting. Oh, shoot, I have other beefs--I don't see "The Scarlet Pimpernel." I don't see "Brazil."

I know what I don't see: I don't see the ability to cast write-in votes.

I also respectfully suggest one more category: Made for TV films. We shouldn't overlook this all-pervasive and important medium. After all, it probably has more daily influence on most Americans' lives than any other.

With that in mind, I nominate "Vanishing Point."

Oh, and I don't see a category for documentaries...Oh well, if it gets people thinking about liberty and maybe going out and renting something they haven't seen before...

I'll shut up now. This is still worthwhile and fun, despite my grousing.

[Via End the War on Freedom]

OK, You Can Stay

Just days since they were being urged, sometimes at gunpoint, to leave their homes, the hardy band of residents who sat tight in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina are now being encouraged to stay put and help to restart the city.

In a remarkable U-turn, the authorities - who had previously reviled, goaded and even threatened force against the few hundred remaining "holdouts" - are hailing them as examples of the indomitable spirit needed to rebuild the "Big Easy".

What the "authorities" won't tell us is what part citizens being armed played in this decision.