Batman vs The Riddler

When the man with the bat tried to attack the driver, investigators said, the second driver pulled out a gun and shot the first driver twice...

The shooter – whose identity has also not been released – had a license to carry a concealed weapon and investigators said he acted in self-defense and will not immediately face charges.

You know, "riddled with bullets..."?

Ahh, forget it.

Still, riddle me this, Caped Anti-Gun Crusaders: Would you prefer if the man being attacked had been unarmed and bludgeoned to death?

[Via Tony G]

If I Were a Carpenter...

...I'd be hammering back at Carpentersville.

Tony G shows us there's no shortage of little wooden heads supporting the destruction of guns.

World of Paulcraft

Apparently, sometime around 8:30 PM EST on Tuesday, a throng of Alliance members took to the streets of Ironforge in a surprisingly well-orchestrated in-game demonstration designed to drum up support for (very real life) Republican dark horse presidential candidate and Internet darling Ron Paul.

Pretty cool, but he'll need to get out of the virtual world and into the real one. it is encouraging that he's doing double-digits in a state where agricultural subsidies and cheap migrant labor are factors favoring Huckabee and McCain. I don't know what to make of Rudy's poor showing, since he blew Iowa off, but Paul getting more than three times Giuliani's support at least shows us Big City Republicans and the Heartland aren't much of a match.

What's clear is, the networks keeping Ron Paul from the televised debates are abusing the public facilities they rely on for their private profits to advance their special interest political agenda. After Iowa, how do you keep Paul out and leave Giuliani in? Especially now that their own quoted "double digit" criteria has been met in the only "real" poll taken to date. These damned elitist "Authorized Journalist" gatekeepers are supposed to report stories, not engineer their outcomes.

[Via Thirdpower]

Marko...

Polo?

Fighting for Liberty identifies the "Only One" from yesterday's post.

Spiffmo

Regular WarOnGuns readers will remember Tomato 7.

Ben has pulled up stakes and reincarnated his blog as Spiffmo.

Check it out.

Granting Rights?

I just received the following email, in response to "'Privileges' Watch," my current Rights Watch column in GUNS Magazine:

David, I appreciate your time and effort in support of 2nd Amendment.

However, you make a statement in the article that I believe is incorrect and I thought I'd bring it to your attention. 4th para. into the article, "The Bill of Rights grants no rights. To believe that it does reverses the proper role...."

Please read the Sixth Amendment below:
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district where in the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense.

Also, the Ninth Amendment states:
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Anyway, my red flag goes up when I hear or read sweeping general statements like that. The Bill of Rights does include the granting of certain rights, at least one is clearly stated in the 6th Amendment.

Be well,

ER

It's an interesting perspective, and I'm not trying to be stiff-necked, but I don't believe I'm wrong in this. The Sixth Amendment is not granting a right, it is acknowledging one codified in English Common Law and predating the Constitution, as do discussions of judicial powers and jury trials in the Federalist Papers. I guess we could also bring up differences between civil/legal rights and natural ones, and the dangerous blurring of what "rights" are, particularly with politicians bandying about terms like "Patients' Bill of Rights", etc., in an attempt to pander for votes and defraud people out of real ones...

But I'm starting to digress. I will cede that a right to trial by jury is meaningless in the absence of government, and that at one point, a body of men decided that a jury trial was a right to which government would yield. But that decision was also made about everything else we consider "unalienable" as well, and we see them being alienated all the time.

As for the Ninth Amendment, I believe the fact that it states rights are "retained by the people" speaks for itself as predating the article, and goes to the core of why some warned against including a Bill of Rights in the first place--so that what was enumerated wouldn't be construed as all that there was.

It's an interesting question, and I'd be interested in hearing more thoughts on this.

CeaseFire PA Director's Watch: 01/04/08

Do I hear "38"?

Britney Spears is On the List

Police were called to Britney Spears' home Thursday night in a custodial dispute that lasted nearly three hours before an intoxicated Spears reportedly turned over her children to ex-husband Kevin Federline.

She can't or won't control herself, but wants to impose controls on us.

This Day in History: January 4

It is not in the pages of History perhaps to furnish a case like ours. To maintain a post within musket shot of the Enemy for six months together [without powder] and at the same time to disband one Army and recruit another within that distance of twenty odd British regiments, is more than probably ever was attempted: But if we succeed as well in the latter, as we have hitherto in the former, I shall think it the most fortunate event of my whole Life.

We're the Only Ones Armed and Confused Enough

Authorities admitted today that they arrested the wrong man in a police shooting at an East Germantown rowhouse early New Year's Day that left three bystanders - one of them a 9-year-old boy - as well as the gunman wounded...

The 9-year-old was grazed by an officer's bullet, police said.

What's especially rich is the real perp seems to be an employee of the anti-gun "Authorized Journalists" at the Inquirer. And naturally, we know everybody's names except for the "Only One" who shot the kid.

[Via Tony G]

The Eve of Destruction

The board voted to save the gun, donated from an estate, until the village attorney determines what the parameters are for giving the gun to the VFW.

The thought of the used guns, mostly pistols, getting in the wrong hands generated weeks of debate among village trustees. Originally, the board voted to sell the guns to a federally licensed dealer for $3,000; but after Otto Engineering President Tom Roeser offered to donate $3,000 in exchange for the destruction of the guns, the board obliged.

I can't help but wonder why anyone would donate anything to this pack of ingrates. And I understand this Tom Roeser character is a real piece of work.

What Councillor Ian Macdonald Believes

"I don’t believe that a gun should be necessary for anyone, never mind someone under 18."

I know there can be a sense of frustration that anti-defense bigots like this will probably never face the consequences for the evil they do.

Let's focus instead on making ourselves invulnerable.

That's the goal.

Dodge City, Indiana

A customer at a grocery store stopped an armed robbery by pulling his own gun and holding the suspect at gunpoint until police arrived, authorities said.

Now see, if he'd been unarmed, we wouldn't have to tolerate this cowboy mentality recklessness. After all, we have a right to feel safe, don't we?

We're the Only Ones Screening Enough

Police in Ottawa say all bars and nightclubs should be screening patrons for weapons...

Police say it's not uncommon for people to bring guns into bars...

Let's see, we're talking Canada, so how many laws are already being broken?

Yep, sounds like what they need is another law, forcing bars to install costly equipment and pay screeners. I know they say "all," but after the lobbying is done, I wonder if there will be size threshold, to provide relief to smaller corner bars, and if any consideration will be given to the clientele a bar attracts, or if, in the name of equality, Mom and Pop's neighborhood pub on the corner will be forced to install the same controls as Club Gangsta. Then, of course, we know bars pay their personnel so well and only employ those of highest ethical standards, so there's no way any would be corrupt or disgruntled enough to let patrons bribe them. And, of course, we can't forget the bathroom window loophole...

Great idea, there, Canadian "Only Ones"! Let us know when you've made things safe enough at known drug dealer/gangster hangouts to go club hopping again.

Painted in a Corner in SA

[A] number of security companies are contracting with clients to provide an armed reaction service although the company does not legally own firearms.

"It would appear that their reaction officers are being issued with paintball guns in order to defend themselves and their clients."

With the sorry history of South Africa and gun control, color me unsurprised it's devolved to this.

When Pork Chop Bones are Outlawed...

...only outlaws will have pork chop bones.

I wonder if it was one of those assault pork chop bones?

Helping the District

"I wanted to argue the case and thought I could help the District."

I can't think of a better way than by having you clear out your desk.

Here's hoping Peter Nickles' move is one of ego, as opposed to a sound legal decision.

[Via Peter G, and also Jeff S, who sent a link to the WaPo take on this and advises to check out the reader comments.]

CeaseFire PA Director's Watch: 01/03/08

I don't get it. I'm sure they know about this.

Why won't they update their page...?

This Day in History: January 3

Washington and his officers rally them, and more troops arrive and Washington himself leads them towards the British. Washington is only 30 yards from the British lines when he orders his men to fire. Both sides do fire, and Washington disappears in the smoke. When the smoke clears Washington is unharmed but Mawhood's regulars have broken. Washington orders a charge. The British troops retreat, some scattering into the woods, others turning for Cornwallis or New Brunswick. Washington also leads the pursuit, calling "Its a fine fox hunt, boys!"

A Small "L" Libertarian...

...urges us to consider the "pragmatically libertarian" reasons for putting aside our no compromise RKBA ideology and supporting Bloomberg for President.

Well...start considering.