Giuliani to Mull 2008 Decision Next Year

Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani said Sunday he will contemplate next year whether to run for president in 2008.

Giuliani on Gun Control:

All gun owners should pass written test.

I do not think the government should cut off the right to bear arms. My position for many years has been that just as a motorist must have a license, a gun owner should be required to have one as well. Anyone wanting to own a gun should have to pass a written exam that shows that they know how to use a gun, that they’re intelligent enough and responsible enough to handle a gun. Should both handgun and rifle owners be licensed...we’re talking about all dangerous weapons.

Mayor's Message:

To purchase a gun in the State of New York you have to give your full name, your date of birth, your residence, your occupation. You have to prove that you're a United States citizen, you have to show you are of good character, competency and integrity. And you have to demonstrate a real need for the weapon.

And thanks in part to our stricter gun control laws, crime is down dramatically in New York City. Shootings are down over 50 percent. Murder is down over 50 percent. But the fact is that 90 percent of the guns we take out of the hands of criminals in New York City come from out of the State of New York.

We need a federal law that bans all assault weapons, and if in fact you do need a handgun you should be subjected to at least the same restrictions -- and really stronger ones -- that exist for driving an automobile.

The United States Congress needs to pass uniform licensing for everyone carrying a gun.

If this guy gets the nomination, GOP betrayal of gun owners will be complete.

And yes, I anticipate no shortage of desperate cowards stammering indignant disagreement and telling us if we don't vote for Rudy we'll get Hillary and then really lose our gun rights.

Just remember this: Regardless of what edicts are passed and who is in charge, we won't lose them unless we surrender them.

We're dealing with nothing less than the enemies of human dignity and freedom. Did anyone really think it would always remain easy and civil?

Well, Lady, You DID ASK For It...

Publicola makes mincemeat out of Meghan Blalock.

Local Developer Takes Dead Aim at the NRA

Here's the inside poop on the co-founder of the American Hunters and Shooters Association, Jon Rosenthal. You will not find a more committed enemy of gun rights.

Incidentally, my GUNS article on AHSA got backed up a month--I felt it more important to bump it for one about about the happenings in New Orleans.

Ooops!

The FBI says it sometimes gets the wrong number when it intercepts conversations in terrorism investigations, an admission critics say underscores a need to revise wiretap provisions in the Patriot Act.

The FBI would not say how often these mistakes happen. And, though any incriminating evidence mistakenly collected is not legally admissible in a criminal case, there is no way of knowing whether it is used to begin an investigation [emphasis added].

Nordyke Cleared For Challenge

Gun enthusiasts were handed a legal victory last week, when a federal judge ruled they can argue that their free speech rights are violated by an Alameda County ordinance that bans guns on county property.

In a ruling issued Tuesday, U.S. District Court Judge Martin J. Jenkins cleared the way for a new First Amendment challenge to the 1999 ordinance.

What a twisted world. The courts don't recognize Second Amendment standing for individuals in California, so we need to contrive First Amendment arguments to get anywhere--the irony of this sad state of things notwithstanding, that's some pretty clever lawyering by Don Kilmer.

"Order and Authority"

New York Times columnist David Brooks on "Meet the Press," speaking about what people want in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina:

I'd say what they want is order and authority, and if I were thinking of a candidate, in a way those would be the words I'd want my candidate to project.

The scary thing is--when speaking in raw numbers--he's probably right.

T-Rex Redux

Jed at FreedomSight has resurrected the discussion.

And, yeah, I did intend it to be a one-man weapon--the scenario has to be one-on-one-- where you live or die based on your decision.

WarOnGuns Voicemail: Two Seconds

I decided to give the Audioblogger feature a test run.

Fortunately it's the weekend, when site traffic slows down--so if this is a flop, not as many people will be there to point and laugh. I can find one mistake, but hey, at least I did the thing in one take and didn't say "uh." Plus, thanks to the miracle of duct tape, you can't hear the kids fighting in the background.

This commentary originally appeared in written form on GunTruths.com, and included an "Afterword:"

"Dennis Henigan of the Center to Prevent Handgun Violence drops the ball in front of a roomful of reporters, while trying to prove the efficacy of Saf-T-Lok, a purportedly easy-to-use combination lock in the gun's grip. Henigan fumbles and fails to unlock the gun in a well-lit room with no intruder at the door... Finally disengaging the safety, he apologizes, 'Most people aren't as klutzy as I am.'"
-From "Lawyers, Guns and Money" by Matt Labash, The Weekly Standard, Feb. 1, 1999

"Again, I learned from Massad Ayoob what has become known throughout the self-defense industry as the Tueller Drill. To our amazement, everyone in our class demonstrated that any person, no matter his age or physical condition, can cover twenty-one feet from a standing start and plunge a knife into a target in an average of 1.5 seconds..."
-From "Armed & Female" by Paxton Quigley

Baxley's Latest Gun Law

In a nutshell, Baxley's bill precludes property owners, employers and businesses from enacting rules prohibiting people who lawfully carry guns -- for example, holders of concealed-weapons permits -- from keeping their gun in their car on company property, specifically the parking lot.

Anybody who violates that faces a third-degree felony.

We've had this discussion before here at WarOnGuns.

Citizen Disarmament Dominican Republic-Style

"Here you need to have your gun out so the criminals see it and retreat," said Jose Dia, a 33-year-old businessman who recently bought a 9 mm pistol in the capital of Santo Domingo.

So naturally, the government's answer to criminal abuse and violence is to disallow the law-abiding from carrying guns without "special authorization."

And surprise, surprise:

Earlier this year, a team of 300 police officers and soldiers began searching vehicles at checkpoints and stopping people carrying guns on the streets to ask for permits.

The team confiscates about 1,000 illegally possessed guns a month, Almeyda said. But efforts are hindered by rampant police corruption, he conceded.

"When a police officer tells me his gun has been stolen, I order an immediate investigation because he probably sold it," Almeyda told The Associated Press.

Goodness. You'd think you were living in a Third World hellhole like New Orleans.

A Pig For Mahbubur

NOVELTY pig calendars and toys have been banned from a council office — in case they offend Muslim staff...Councillor Mahbubur Rahman, a practising Muslim, backed the ban. He said: “It’s a tolerance of people’s beliefs.”

Yeah, you're real tolerant, Mahbubur. I'm about this close to posting your address and starting a Toy Pig Drive.

If the UK continues to "tolerate" this subversive nonsense, there'll be only one thing left to say about their culture:

D-d-dA-d-d-dA-d-d-Dat's all, folks!

[Thanks to Jim Peel]

Fake Gun Registry Ran With Ottawa's Knowledge, Eh?

Here's the latest in the Canadian gun registration fiasco. Seems the government got its knickers in a wad over this:

A website that generated fake Canadian gun registrations continued to operate for more than a year after federal officials tried to shut it down.

A file from the website, registered in the United States, allowed visitors to fill in and print reproductions of Canadian firearms registration certificates.
[snip]
Under gun type, the drop-down menu included “nail gun,” “hair dryer,” and “pointy stick.”

The hosers got upset over that? Sure hope I don't get in trouble with this, eh?

Compass Changes Direction

I'm glad I'm not the only one who comes up with crappy headlines.

How Very...Uhh... Orwellian

George Orwell, author and lifelong socialist, entered into a tax avoidance scheme on his deathbed as money began to flood in from the success of his final two books, Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four.

Aspiring New Orleans Cop Supports RKBA!

I have just finished reading the article entitled "What's Wrong With Gun Laws'' in the August issue of GUNS. Congratulations to Policeman "X" for one of the finest articles I have ever read. I am a member of National Rifle Association and seriously considering becoming a police officer of this city and this subject concerns me closely. I have and always will be a firm adversary of any legislation that takes any right from the average and honest citizen to keep and bear arms. I have always believed that if many of the restrictions on the purchase of handguns were lifted, there would be far less crime in this city than there is today.
Henry McKinell
New Orleans, Louisiana

Just one thing--this letter appeared in the Oct. 1955 issue of GUNS Magazine.

Download an issue for yourself. It's fun, it's informative and it's free.

About Those Bush Judicial Appointments

A federal District Court Judge has ruled that the privacy rights of illegal aliens convicted of heinous crimes in this country are more important than the public’s right to know if the government is properly enforcing a key immigration law.

Amazing as the ruling itself may be, what is even more stunning is the fact that U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Judge Richard J. Leon was affirming the Bush administration’s position in the case. President Bush nominated Leon in 2001 and the Senate confirmed him in February 2002.

It's not stunning to me at all. It's part of a pattern I have come to expect. Just like with another one of Bush's nominees, Reggie Walton, who ruled the Second Amendment a collective, rather than an individual right.

Which brings to mind a favorite quote by a pal of mine:

We've been conned. Bare-ass naked in the town square conned.--Steiger

Pergunta Stupid*

"The [drug] dealers watch out for everyone in the neighborhood 24 hours a day, doing what the police don't," said do Espirito Santo, 43. "People here fear the police and their guns more than they do the dealers."

The inverted realities of Brazil's poorest neighborhoods have added complexity to the debate about gun control, but later this month every citizen from 18 to 70 will confront a clear, yes-no question: Should the sale of all types of guns and ammunition be banned nationwide for everyone except the police and military?

* "Stupid Question" in Portugese

Man Bites Hurricane

The failure in New Orleans was a failure of character.

[Thanks to Lee McGee]

On the Schumer/Feinstein CCWs

Jim Kouri of the National Association of Chiefs of Police writes:

At the same time, there are outspoken opponents of gun ownership, such as Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Diane Feinstein (D-CA), who are carrying concealed weapons, according to WABC Radio's Mark Levin.

Naturally, I'm trying to track down as much information as I can about these claims, including who the permit-issuing authorities are.

I called Landmark Legal Foundation, which Mr. Levin heads, and spoke with Eric Christensen. Mr. Christensen called Mr. Levin and then called me back, telling me the information for Sen. Feinstein came from Wikipedia/Answers.com, and the Schumer information "was from a cop from New Jersey who called in to Mark's show."

I let Mr. Christensen know that any further information that becomes known on this will be appreciated, and will keep my eyes and ears open. I'll try to track down that Wikipedia link later today. If somebody gets to it sooner, please let me know.

UPDATE:

The Feinstein Wikipedia link, which doesn't appear to address this, is here, and the Answers.com link, which does, is here. The Feinstein information has been around for some time--I don't know if it is still current--I've also read claims that she now has a US Marshal's badge allowing her to carry anywhere, but only bring it up because it's on topic, not because I can prove it.

Bottom line--if these claims are true, there's not much specificity to them, and the tracks have been covered well, at least beyond my limited ability to investigate.

Well THIS Would Explain Quite a Bit

The NOPD may have padded the payroll.

[via SayUncle]

What the Hell is Wrong With People?

Some northwest Louisiana gun shops saw an increase in sales in the weeks following Hurricane Katrina and owners attribute it to New Orleans area residents planning to return home.

I just don't get it. Talk about making a bad situation worse! Don't they know that guns cause violence? Only the police are professional enough to carry guns, and they will give you all the protection you need.

No?

"We Want Your Visit to be Safe and Positive"

The propaganda the Bradys are disseminating at Florida airports to scare off tourists really does show how sick these people are.

Here's their main handout, urging visitors to "take sensible precautions" while promulgating their deranged fantasy that life's setbacks prompt normal people to respond with lethal force.

Another handout, "The Brady Backgrounder," says Florida is "LICENSING AND IMMUNIZING PARANOID VIOLENCE."

To prove their point, the following scenario is posited:

Imagine, if you will, the times in your life when you’ve been afraid of another human being: A motorist who threatened you on the highway, a group of teenagers who threatened you on a street corner, a homeless man who harassed you and called you names for refusing to give him spare change, a drunk in a bar who tries to pick a fight.

Now imagine that you killed all those people. Imagine that everyone killed all the people that ever gave them a nervous adrenalin rush.

Good Lord. That has to be one of the sicker fantasies I've seen. Whoever came up with it could use a mental health professional to get to the root of their neurotic distrust. And they call us paranoid?

Perhaps it would be helpful to remind visitors that being armed really does deter crime--as evidenced by all those tourists targeted a few years back because Florida citizens were--which influenced the predators to seek out easier prey.

Debatable -- Should You Have the Right to Carry a Gun?

It's not debatable at all. I have that right. No one else has any legitimate say in the matter.

But this is the kind of nonsense we've come to expect from Racine's Green Party Alderman Pete Karas, who is organizing a demonstration demanding his constituents be disarmed under force of arms--and he no doubt will have a gaggle of ninnies with him bleating in agreement.

Karas is the same anti-defense fanatic who doesn't want the cops handing out Eddie Eagle coloring books to kids because "by making kids aware of guns ... they may, in essence, be harming children, especially those who are contemplating juvenile suicide or juvenile homicide."

Rational guy, eh? What must that say of his constituents? Maybe anyone who voted for him is too dumb to be trusted with weapons.

Inmate Found Carrying Gun in Courthouse

[T]he county jail inmate and convicted felon hid a .38-caliber snub-nosed revolver with hollow-point bullets, the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office said...

"We're still investigating how he got the gun," Sheriff's Office spokesman Lt. Chuck Lesaltato said. "We're looking at the whole thing from the time he was arrested to the time he was arrested at the courthouse."

Government "authorities" are at it again, with the same non-proprietary competence we've all come to expect.

How does the cliché go? When guns are outlawed...

And it's not like finding someone in custody with a firearm hasn't happened before [warning--graphic video].

And before.

And before...

Desperate Bradys Resort to Insults

The Brady Center will be protesting Florida's new self defense law.

In a flier the group plans to pass out at Miami International Airport and possibly Orlando International Airport, tourists will be admonished to take precautions that include: "Do not argue unnecessarily with local people."

Can you believe the nerve? Trying to make people think Floridians are violent hotheads who will shoot people over disagreements?

These liars have been waving red flags at gun owners for years. Yet the instances of violence and criminality we see all seem to come from the anti-defense zealots--not from armed Bill of Rights advocates.

I can think of a few creative and funny ways to (peaceably) monkeywrench these dolts--but I have a feeling they're going to make fools of themselves just fine without any outside help at all.

Miers to Replace O'Connor?

Will Harriet Miers be Bush's pick for the Supreme Court?

God, I hope not.

She's a big proponent of "Project Safe Neighborhoods", so we know where she stands on "shall not be infringed."

Shoulder-to-shoulder with other supporters of the federal gun control program.

A Temporary Delay

House Majority Leader Tom Delay has temporarily stepped down from the leadership position following his indictment by a Texas grand jury on campaign finance conspiracy charges.

Rep. Roy Blunt of Missouri, the current Republican whip, will temporarily fill the leadership position.

This should not change much for gun owners. Delay has an A rating and Blunt has an A- rating from GOA.

Government Gun Control

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is joining the investigation of a state-run gun museum in Claremore... three cannons and about six-thousand guns are missing from the museum. Officials have said one gun from the museum was found at a crime scene in New York and another was found in Maine.

Sometimes I think if we just let the incompetent boobs run everything without opposition, we might actually end up with more freedom.

Homeowner Buys Gun After His Home Was Robbed In Montgomery

I guess it's better late than never.

Can you imagine watching intruders break into your home--and being helpless to protect your family?

I wonder if he's been sufficiently awakened to start helping in the fight to preserve rkba that's been going on while he slumbered?

The Braindead Tree

To some, who played cops and robbers and cowboys and Indians by the hour in their youth, this zero tolerance could seem like overreacting, but times are different now. An aggressive approach against weapons in school, real or toy, is a necessity in this age of violence.

More manipulated nonsense from those in charge. What are the chances inmates raised under this level of hysteria will grow into free citizens--jealous of their heritage of liberty and prepared to defend it?

What, the IRA HASN'T Disarmed?

"The more spotlight is put on this, the more we discover there is a cover-up.

"Part of the weapons that should have been decommissioned have disappeared and security forces admit they are probably in the hands of dissidents."

What a surprise.

Who could have imagined this might happen?

New Direction for Faulty Compass

P. Edwin Compass III has resigned.

Wonder if he'll be allowed to keep his guns?

Hessian Continues War on Guns/Reuters Continues War on Truth

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said on Friday that citizen patrols of his state's border with Mexico must be unarmed to avoid violence... Schwarzenegger had expressed support in April for the vigilantes, who began patrolling the U.S.-Mexican border in Arizona to draw attention to illegal immigration...

Arnhole's move doesn't surprise me--I would expect no less from a foreign national (he never gave up his Austrian citizenship--even though he swore an oath to renounce it when he "became" an American) who was the first governor to ban, among other things, politically incorrect caliber bolt action and semiauto rifles. I also expect California gun owners will roll over in fear and vote for him again because of the Democrats--again giving the Republicans carte blanche to continue their betrayals under the can't-prove it-by-me "lesser of two evils" doctrine. And I expect the major gun groups to continue giving the Hessian a pass--just like they did last time--and to withhold the truth from their members about their involvement with Arnold, as evidenced by this deleted page.

Also deleted for some (CYA) reason is Reuters' explanation for why they no longer use the word "terrorist" when describing head-sawing, civilian-bombing savages. I bring this up because "reporter" Jim Christie isn't shy about branding peaceable Americans who simply observe and report crimes to the authorities as "vigilantes." So much for Reuters' vaunted editorial pledge:

We do not take sides and attempt to reflect in our stories, pictures and video the views of all sides. We are not in the business of glorifying one side or another or of disseminating propaganda. Reuters journalists do not offer their own opinions or views.

Right.

[Liberty Belles]

Who Could Be Kookier Than Wendy?

Wendy Cukier, that is.

Cukier, president of the Toronto-based Coalition for Gun Control, says the long hours she's put in lobbying the government to bring in tougher gun laws have been therapeutic.

The Ryerson University professor says the 1989 Montreal massacre, in which 14 young female students were gunned down, prompted her to take up the cause.

Therapeutic for whom?

Seems to me if people are helpless and being slaughtered, the answer is to make them not helpless. And how will forcing those who don't engage in massacres into telling you what guns they own gonna help?

The Canadian government has spent [visualize Dr. Evil here] $2 BILLION Dollars on a gun registration boondoggle that most Canadians just ignore.

But apparently it's "therapeutic" for Wendy to know she's an apologist for coercing, criminalizing and destroying her countrymen if they don't bend to her sick will.

I guess the question is, how long are Canadians going to allow kooky broads like this any say at all when it comes to their rights?

Disasters, Unease Draw New Customers to Firearms

I suppose it's better late than never. And such trends--especially in "liberal" places like Oahu--gotta show the Bradys how irrelvant they are when TSHTF, which is a good thing.

But sometimes I feel like an alien in my own culture:

What is this permit you speak of?

Irish Republican Army Officially Disarms

I didn't believe it when the media first started making noises about it and I don't believe it now.

Bill St. Clair on Handgun Club of America

I wrote a letter last Thursday to HCA about their membership requirement that you promise to "observe all firearm laws." Josh Manheimer wrote back to me the same day saying that his editor agreed with me and that they would remove it from the pledge. They removed it. I joined.

Video: Only Following Orders

That excuse didn't work at Nuremberg.

It shouldn't work in America.

So much for taking an oath to defend the Constitution.

I love the way the "watchdog press" covers up for these stormtroopers--saying they're not using force when they clearly show them using force. And I love the way New Orleans officials are now saying they never issued any orders to confiscate firearms. If that's the case, this news clip is evidence of crimes being committed under color of authority.

But it is a new twist: I was only following orders that were never given.

The Eye of Sauron

Internet users hoping to protect their privacy by using anti-virus software, Web anonymizers, false identities and disabled cookies on their computer's Web browser have something new to worry about – a patent filed by the National Security Agency (NSA) for technology that will identify the physical location of any Web surfer.

But, hey, if you aren't doing anything wrong...

HCA Update Request

One of the frequent commenters to my original Handgun Club of America post recommends calling attention to the 35 comments it has generated to date. Because it is now buried by newer posts, he doesn't want to see the debate end because visitors don't know it's there.

I've done a few updates to this, including reporting that HCA has now added Second Amendment-related information to their site, but then regretfully relaying that in order to join, you must pledge to "observe all firearm laws."

Anyway, the comments range from spirited defenses of HCA by its officers and supporters, to spirited negative comments. Check them out and decide for yourself, and feel free to leave your own comments, criticisms and testimonials.

"Compliance With Gun Registry 'Virtually Nil'"

Canadian patriots are ingoring the edict to register their firearms.

The government is demonstrably unable to enforce a law defied by so many. It comes out looking like a bunch of impotent fools.

American gun owners could learn a lesson from our northern brothers.

American "gun rights leaders" could learn a lesson from "Jim Turnbull, president of the 5,000 member Canadian Unregistered Firearms Owners Association."

Lead us. Demand repeal of existing gun laws, not enforcement. Encourage defiance, not obedience.

GUNS EFAD Thread at THR

Author Matthew Bracken has started a thread over at The High Road about my review of "Enemies Foreign and Domestic" in the November issue of GUNS Magazine (on sale now, hint, hint).

One comment from "Sharps Shooter" made my day:

Quite the coincidence - I just read the review, not 5 minutes ago. I picked up the November issue of "GUNS" while in town earlier today. After reading the review, I decided "ENEMIES, FOREIGN and DOMESTIC" is going to be my next book purchase. I think the review is very positive and I'm looking forward to reading the book.

That kind of feedback really makes a difference, because the odds are, it's not a random isolated sentiment.

I remember after my GUNS review of "The Black Arrow" came out, Vin Suprynowicz wrote this to me:

I'm not sure how to deal with one $24 check that arrived here in the handwriting of an apparently very old fellow from Tennessee, made payable to "David Codrea" and itemized "for the Black Book."

Like "The Black Arrow," I can't recommend "Enemies Foreign and Domestic" highly enough. And while I'm not at liberty to post the entire review here due to copyright ownership, I can give an excerpt that I think summarizes the book's central thesis:

But back a man into a corner with other men—all proficient in modern weaponry, and all unbending believers in liberty—make it clear that you mean to destroy them, and a most dangerous type of resistance is born: a competent one.

Buy this book.

Check Out "The Gun Guy"

Ooops--wrong one!

This is the sheet-soaker who honored GunTruths.com with a "despicable five bullet rating" (5 out of 5 rounds!) a few years back. He accused us of "trivializing the holocaust, and equating gun control to the Nazi's extermination of the Jews, gypsies, gays, and political dissidents."

Don't tell him about JPFO or "Innocents Betrayed" or "'Gun Control': Gateway to Tyranny.". Don't tell him about "Registration: The Nazi Paradigm," or "The Darker Side of Gun Control." We mustn't upset his genocide-enabling ignorance.

Besides--who are you really inclined to believe--the leader of a Jewish civil rights group and an attorney/scholar who has argued cases before the Supreme Court, or some smarmy punk who anonymously belittles your right, and the right of those you love, to the means of self defense?

Another Question About the NOLA Restraining Order

Anybody seen the text of the complaint or the ruling?

I keep seeing it billed as a "Second Amendment victory."

Anybody know if the Second Amendment is even mentioned?

Be nice to get another individual rights ruling. Did we?

Turns Out What Yale Women Want...

...is a man.

Sorry, Jeff Mankoff.

Although editorialist Karen Stabiner might make a good match for you--that is, if she can ever stop seething with resentment against women who choose to be nurturing wives and mothers instead of indignant leftist harridans.

Whatever happened to a woman's right to choose? Or tolerance? Or diversity?

The truth is, and Stabiner's bitter words prove it, any deviation from the radical feminist agenda is viewed as a personal affront. Women are to be celebrated for their minds--paradoxically unless and until they disagree with the zealot orthodoxy, at which point they become deluded victims of patriarchal exploitation.

It's the same reason the left hates gun ownership: We've worked so hard to create a nanny state. How dare you ingrates reject it and pursue selfish individualism?

It's heartening to see this--perhaps the movement to suppress individuality will prove as effective as other efforts of the collective. Perhaps a critical mass of free-thinking individuals will always slip through the cracks--just enough to keep the embers of freedom glowing. That means there's still a chance for a genuine blaze to break out, maybe some day a genuine bonfire.

But for the short terms, it's nice to see a good portion of Yale women deciding that what they want is a man. I hope they also realize that real men don't need nannies.

The Responsibilities of Gun Ownership

Sailor Curt thinks one of them is activism. He just added a detailed comment to my original Handgun Club of America article that I think bears special consideration.

Incidentally, he has his own blog, Captain of a Crew of One (I'm the Captain of my ship, but I'm the only crew. All hands on deck!), recently added to the WoG blogroll.

Help Cure Hoplophobia

Another ally of those who fear armed citizens:

Stephen M. Ressa, 27, also told police he saw people with their hands in their pockets and thought they might be armed with guns...

So he plowed his car into them.

Thank goodness he was licensed and his deadly assault weapon was registered.

Wonder if the Million Moms will give him an Apple Pie Award?

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.

To Build a Fire

Apparently, you can start a fire with a soda can and a chocolate bar. I couldn't find anything debunking this on urban legends sites, and Tracker Trail seems pretty authoritative and credible.

Maybe I'll have a race with the boys this afternoon--although more than an hour polishing some damn can seems a bit of an investment--especially with the undone chores around this joint.

I'm not sure how useful this info will turn out to be. I can't recall ever being in a situation where I had a Coke and a candy bar (why does that remind me of a priest joke?) but not the means to make a fire--at least not in the wilderness.

[Thanks to Jim Peel.]

The Counter is Closed

Pity. Good site.

Perhaps Countertop will return some day. He offers us some hope:

"I expect that after a break I will return, refreshed and re-energized. When that time will be, I do not know."

It's not exactly like gun blogging is a profitable venture. The only reason I do it is to force myself to keep on top of issues and to write a little every day. I don't know if that will ever pay off enough to allow me to do it full time--I did get two checks in today's mail for articles sold, along with an impersonal form rejection letter that couldn't even say why my submission wasn't wanted. That's better than most days--two steps forward and only one step back.

We Don't Need No Stinkin' Posse Comitatus Act

"President Bush's push to give the military a bigger role in responding to major disasters like Hurricane Katrina could lead to a loosening of legal limits on the use of federal troops on U.S. soil."

Repeat after me: "Vote Freedom First"!

Now If I Could Just Find a Good Recipe For a Fetus Smoothie...

"A British newspaper said that a Chinese cosmetics company was using skin harvested from the corpses of executed convicts to develop beauty products for sale in Europe."

And remember, if you commit a felony in China--say, bringing in an unauthorized shipment of Bibles or the like, "conservative" justices Scalia and Thomas think your Second Amendment-recognized right should be terminated in the US.

[Story found via Hellblazer.]

Catching the Idiots

A reader writes to GUNS Magazine to take me to task over my May Rights Watch column.

Kevin Makes a Difference

Good job!

It's OK, He's a Cop

"Haymarket's acting police chief, Sgt. Gregory Breeden, got his gun back yesterday.

"Breeden had lost his right to carry a weapon two weeks ago after his wife accused him of breaking down their kitchen door with an ax and was granted a temporary restraining order. "

Who among us hasn't taken an ax (Stipulation, Your Honor--it was a sledgehammer) to a door from time to time?

The point here isn't to judge the guy's actions, though. We all know how restraining orders can be used as tools of vengeance, and how our rkba can be denied without any finding of guilt.

The point here is, if the guy wasn't a cop with connections, what do you think the chances for this outcome would have been?

GUNS Magazine: "The Black Arrow" Review

We hear the Second Amendment is the ultimate guarantor of liberty, but how many of us take those abstract words and comprehend their ultimate consequences? If the time comes when Americans must again take up arms against tyranny, how many will be able to set aside a lifetime of conditioning and initiate force against those in power?

This is the world of The Black Arrow, the first novel by syndicated columnist Vin Suprynowicz.

My review from the Sept. 2005 issue of GUNS is now online. Click here to read it.

It's For the Children

"The Dutch government plans to open an electronic file on every child at birth as a tool to spot and protect the troubled kids of the future.

"Beginning Jan. 1, 2007, all citizens will be tracked from cradle to grave in a single database — including health, education, family and police records — the health ministry said Tuesday."

Yeah, it's being done to everyone now so they can "protect the troubled kids of the future."

Right.

[Thanks to John Schaefer]

Cross-Dressing Robbers Killed During Shootout

Tell me this isn't a movie script waiting to happen.

LA Gun Sales Surge

Maybe some of these buyers will be curious enough to learn about the threat to their being able to own guns--and motivated enough to join with those trying to do something about that.

Nope, I Won't Be Seeing "The Lord of War"

"But nine out of 10 war victims are killed by guns. It's the AK-47 that's a weapon of mass destruction."

Yeah, this moron will be getting my money real quick.

High Praise for "The Black Arrow"...

...and a not-so-gentle verdict on Laissez Faire Books and their decision not to stock it.

"Don't Blame US"

"Canadians shouldn't blame their southern neighbour for the spike in gun-related violence in Toronto, says the U.S. ambassador in Ottawa."

Yeah--David Wilkins says we're doing everything we can.

First off, the bad guys are buying their guns illegally, he says, in violation of Canadian and US gun laws.

And because we've established that these laws are useless at stopping evil people from getting guns, but plenty good at harassing citizens, we've imported a BATFU field office. Plus we're going to bring in technology that costs a lot of money--but doesn't really tell us anything except who the last person in the chain of custody who obeyed the law was.

Good grief.

Bradys Celebrate Treason...

...at the French Embassy, naturally.

I remember posting on this earlier, and being surprised that humor columist Dave Barry was on the attendance list. I don't have time to look that up right now 'cause I'm on the road and doing a quick post...

Will get this blog back to normal day after tomorrow...

HCA Replies

Josh Manheimer of Handgun Club of America has commented on the concerns I posted. Others who vouch for the effort and Mr. Manheimer as being solidly pro-2A have also chimed in.

See their comments at the end of the linked piece.

I Can Post From the Hotel...

...so I'll be doing so as I can.

Wal-Mart Halts LA Gun Sales...

...and some folks feeling vulnerable right now aren't very happy about it.

"A Wal-Mart spokeswoman, Karen Burk, attributed the company's decision to pull guns from the shelves to 'some very fluid circumstances and changing situations...'"

What, fluid as in there's water all over the place and looters and rapists are running around victimizing people?

"Wal-Mart's decision to stop gun sales also earned it praise from several customers, who said police would protect them from any trouble.

"'Why can't we get along? This is a time of crisis,' said Mike White of Kenner, La. He said people who need guns for legitimate reasons, such as hunting, would not be buying now."

Mike White, I can't believe someone as idiotic as you're coming off even exists. I suspect you know better, and you're quoting from the playbook to advance your wretched, liberty-hating agenda.

Here's why we can't all get along, Rodney, I mean, Mike. Because you won't let us.

We're perfectly willing to leave you alone to live out your beliefs. Gungrabbers, on the other hand, rely on JBTs with "obey or die" edicts to force their will on those who believe and live differently.

So we'll get along, Mike, when you and your kind stop making war on us.

Claire Has a New Book Out

I haven't read it yet. Before visiting her site tonight, I hadn't even heard of it.

But some folks have established a track record that deserves our faith.

I'll bet it's excellent, as usual. I'll have to get a copy just so I can confirm my bias...:-)

Nice to See the NSSF...

...doing the Brady Center's work for them.

Pitchfork murder, anyone?

Outta Here...

...until Friday.

I may or may not be able to check in between now and then.

"One September Day..."

The Blognomicon has a picture series appropriate for today's date that you really ought to see.

Fathers Demanding Defenseless Families

Look, I'm a father myself.

I can't imagine what I'd do if something happened to one of my boys, I love them so damn much.

But when people manifest their grief destructively, they lose their claim to sympathy. These guys mean to leave people unable to protect their families. They mean for the state to have the monopoly of power.

Anybody who would embrace that solution was probably a fool before tragedy struck.

Citizen Militia Defends NO Neighborhood

"She said she still has 42 bullets to expend before she'll be forcibly evacuated."

Looks like that idiot P. Edwin Compass III has a math problem to solve.

Three cheers for the Algiers Point Militia!

[Thanks to Cornet Joyce II]

Check Out The Handgun Club of America!

Some of the gun blogs are mentioning a new group, Handgun Club of America, and encouraging us to check it out.

I just took a cursory glance at their site, and will need to learn more before I can recommend joining.

They say they’re not a “politically-charged grou[p] like the NRA and other firearm organizations.” Instead, they say they “are, if you will, a calm, rational alternative for the 60 million households who lawfully choose to own a handgun.”

Fine. Not everyone can be an activist. There is room for recreational/educational clubs, and they can do much good in promoting an interest in shooting handguns, which can result in an interest in defending the right to own one. But claiming to be a “calm, rational alternative” implies those fighting for the right to keep and bear arms are agitated (fair enough) and irrational (hey, wait a minute...).

This raises a flag for me. An unequivocal statement of support for the Second Amendment--along with some examples to demonstrate their understanding of "shall not be infringed"--would help alleviate concerns.

Just who is behind HCA? Who are the people who want us to send them money? A register.com WHOIS lookup identifies one Josh Manheimer of J.C. Manheimer & Company as the registrant—although it’s not clear if he’s the principal behind the effort or an agent of those who are. I’ve never heard of him—either in the gun rights community or as someone of note in the field of handgun expertise. A Google search on his name turns up nothing in terms of any kind of "street cred" in the firearms community—although I do note he raised $100 for Howard Dean in 2004.

Yeah, Dean used to have an NRA "A" rating (for what that's worth), but he's on record supporting the "assault weapon" ban, the Brady Bill, and ending the "gun show loophole." He also has no problem with states ignoring the Bill of Rights--at least as far as the Second Amendment goes. Manheimer's support--if he is a principal behind HCA as opposed to a paid pr guy-- raises another flag for me.

What Manheimer is is a direct mail copywriter, a pro at crafting words so that people in his target market will want to buy the product or service he has contracted to promote.

That's great. If you want to attract people, you have to know how to do it. His advertising expertise is impressive and the HCA site reflects this.

But that's all style--I have another concern--another flag--about substance: On their “Gun Safety Rules” page, HCA tells us to:

"Store firearms and ammunition separately. When cleaning a firearm, put ammunition in a separate room or locked up out of reach.

"Stored firearms should be unloaded to prevent accidents when removing from their storage location. Ammunition, especially while cleaning a firearm, should be stored separately."

Well, sorry, but if I do that, it becomes useless for emergency defense. This seems to be the same advice we get from Andrew McKelvey’s Americans for Gun Safety, which tells us to: “Keep your ammunition as safe and inaccessible as your firearms.”

And it's the same position adopted by the Brady Center, which has initiated a Legal Action Project because they say “a majority of gun owners living with children do not store their guns locked, unloaded, and separate from ammunition.”

We see that when applied uniformly in the real world, such one-size-fits-all policies can result in nasty, brutal things--like pitchfork murders--where minors couldn’t reach a gun to save their lives.

I think HCA needs to address this.

Bottom line: HCA may turn out to be a fine organization. Mr. Manheimer may turn out to be a handgun enthusiast who has created something that will benefit gun owners. He may turn out to be a hired marketing consultant for someone else.

But until we find out who is behind HCA and whether or not they really support the Second Amendment--and how they do so--I can’t recommend giving them any money. Some sport shooters almost got burned by the American Hunting and Shooting Association until some curious folks started checking up on them.

I'll go this far in joining the other gun bloggers who recommend checking out HCA:

Yes, by all means, do so.

The Lord of War

You've probably seen the commercials for the upcoming Nicholas Cage movie about an international arms dealer.

I'll probably see it--on the one hand, Cage is cool and the guns are cool, on the other, it will probably have no shortage of "evils that guns do" messages and may come up short on otherwise helpless people defending themselves from genocidal regimes.

Lion's Gate Films has set up a forum on their website. I literally don't have time to participate in forums, particularly one where much debate will be likely--but call it to the attention of the pro-2A community in case anyone has the time and inclination to make sure the truth doesn't get buried in the hype--for instance, one thread links to The Federation of American Scientists Arms Sales Monitoring Project, which is big on international agreements for global gun control. It might not hurt to have people on "our side" pointing out that tyanny can't be resisted if the people have nothing to resist with, that 100 million victims were murdered by their own governments in the last century, and stuff like that...plus a forum on a popular movie site ought to give some great exposure to activists who like to write.

I'd do it, but honest to God, my plate is beyond full.

Still MORE Proof...

...that only sworn officers of the law can be trusted with guns.

Heaven Forbid!

"Journalists in Michigan are reportedly being told by state legislators that bills introduced this week only relate to the use of deadly force in one's home, and don't create new legal justifications for expanded use of deadly force in public. That is not accurate," whines the Brady Center's Peter Hamm.

Heaven forbid you have the means and will to protect yourself or your loved ones if attacked in public! What kind of vigilante miscreant could even think of such a thing?

"Mothers Protest Against Gun Crimes"

I don't get it.

How can there be any "gun crimes" when guns have been effectively banned?

What, you mean gun control laws don't work?

Coming Soon to a Range Near You

"The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Friday an agreement with an upstate New York gun club to keep its members from firing lead shot into nearby wetlands and water... the consent order...is part of a larger effort to educate owners and operators of outdoor shooting ranges on how to safely manage lead shot and bullets...The agency said it plans similar agreements with other shooting ranges to help keep lead from accumulating in soil and groundwater, where it poses a threat of lead poisoning to people."

Oh, boy--a new way to close down ranges! Well, is it an "order" or an "agreement"? Or is it kind of like those folks in New Orleans who "volunteered" to leave their homes and supplies, and surrender their guns after the SWAT teams showed up with M-16s and plastic cuffs?

It's nice to see the "pro-gun" Bush administration is on the same page about this as the Leonardo DiCaprio/Robert Redford-backed Natural Resources Defense Council.

Aren't you glad gun owners were seduced to "Vote Freedom First"? Because Lord knows what creative ways a Kerry administration would have used to harass gun owners.

"Treat Me With Benign Neglect" (Video)

The CNN busybody just doesn't get it. He thinks the police are "trying to talk sense" into folks when they order them to leave their property and surrender their means of self defense.

These residents show more liberty leadership than NRA management. And they don't even charge dues.

Michigan bills would allow residents to fatally shoot intruders

And your point is...?

"Rest Assured...

...NRA is monitoring this situation very closely and will address any activity by the government that unduly infringes upon the rights of lawful gun owners at the appropriate time."

Somehow I don't feel very assured.

And now is not the time to rest.

What more needs to be monitored? Confiscations are happening. They don't think that "unduly infringes"?

How could there be a more appropriate time than now?