Cool Toys From Xavier

He's featuring Cool Toys From Christmas Past. So far, he's treated us to the Daisy SoftAir Gun and the Rapid Fire Space Rifle.

I hope he doesn't forget about the Johnny Seven O.M.A.

A Sermon From the Past

GunShowOnTheNet found one from 1775. They actually led the people in the cause of Liberty back then.

Of course, no church would do that today because the IRS would shut them down.

This Just In...

...to the WarOnGuns newsroom:

Tommy Thompson doesn't want to get chipped after all.

Tommy Thompson

He just wants to make money off you getting the implant.

NY Cops Call For Hollow Point Ban

"Our mission is to stop violent felons," said Patrolmen's Benevolent Association President Patrick Lynch. "There is no reason for anyone else to have that ability."

Do you get the feeling this creature must have devoured some of his weaker litter mates while in utero?

How does a nation conceived in liberty produce such monstrous deformities?

[Via KABA Newslinks]

Judge to Thug Deputy: Keep Your Gun

A Cocke County Sheriff's deputy pleaded guilty Monday to depriving a drug suspect of his civil rights, but will still be able to carry his service weapon, a judge ruled....Smith and other officers found an additional amount of cash in the vehicle and split it among themselves.

Makes sense. How can he commit armed robbery if he's not armed?

We all know that, with a government monopoly of power, competing criminal enterprises will not be tolerated.

It's a gang thing.

Tell me one of us relieving a man of his money under force of arms would only be charged with a misdemeanor.

Newark Under Rule of Lawless

Few props carry the impact of a semiautomatic assault rifle. So on June 9, 1999, when Mayor Sharpe James announced that Newark would sue gun manufacturers to recover the costs of gun violence, the mayor picked up an AK-47 rifle.

"It's immoral and unconscionable that you can purchase a weapon of destruction over the counter like popcorn and ice cream," James said as he gripped the rifle...

In fact, Newark has provided more than 1,500 firearms to gun dealers who in turn sell the used weapons over the counter. Like most New Jersey cities, Newark trades in used police weapons to dealers who provide a large discount when the city buys new police guns. It's as legal as selling popcorn.

Lies from the mayor and lies from the paper, implying there are no more controls or restrictions in place than are required for a popcorn purchase. James' little media stunt was conducted 9 years after New Jersey's "assault weapons" ban was enacted (gee, must've worked real well), and those don't go back into the general population--at least through the official set of books (check out the entry for "Aug. 23"). But what do we expect?

Just do a Google search on "sharpe james" and "corruption".

This third world thug is why the Framers included a government correction clause in the Bill of Rights.

Marijuana User Can Keep Gun Permit

A Washington County judge ruled that a Beaverton man can hold a concealed handgun permit despite being a medical marijuana user.

This ruling can't make NRA management very happy. After all, one of their talking points attacking George Soros is that:

Soros has given many millions of dollars to finance pro-marijuana initiative campaigns. He has been called "the Daddy Warbucks of drug legalization," by former Democratic Cabinet Member Joseph Califano.

Any government strong enough to go after drug users is strong enough to go after gun owners. I've never understood the affinity of "conservatives" to support prohibition.

And Now a Word...

...from the people who insist that the US sign on to the Kyoto Protocol to control emissions of greenhouse gases.

See how well they do it?


We'll get around to importing British environmental control. Just as soon as we're done implementing British gun control.

And we know how well they do that...

[Image from The Drudge Report--posted to WarOnGuns under 'Fair Use' doctrine]

We're the Only...Uh, Hey Neighbor, Can I Use Your Phone?

A Newark police officer was in fair condition yesterday at a New Brunswick hospital, where he was taken after accidentally shooting himself in the stomach when he tried to remove his gun from its holster at his Edison apartment...Segarra ran to a neighbor's apartment and banged on the door for help, said Edison police officer Robert Dudash. The neighbor came to the door and tried to assist Segarra and called township police.

Why would he have the neighbor call? Doesn't he have a phone?

And why call for the police, not an ambulance?

Retired Cops Can't Carry Concealed Guns

Retired Chicago Police officers will be getting letters in the mail soon saying the city won't certify them to carry guns -- a move that angers the head of the local Fraternal Order of Police.

What?? Even retired CAGE goons???

This is outrageous! How DARE they treat us like common citizens?

Especially since we're the only ones professional enough...

In the words of the man who tipped me off to this article: "Waaah!"

[Thanks to HZ]

Baby Threatened on Flight

Dad With French Name Does Nothing About It

This story is unbelievable. This guy Jean-Francois knows some lunatic is stalking his infant daughter and muttering death threats yet does nothing about it--for hours.

It finally takes other men coming forward to subdue the weirdo.

The father responds with complaints. The mother responds with sarcasm.

Hey lady, whose fault is it you chose a p***y to have a child with?

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Go see this film. Magnificent effects and a magnificent adaptation of a magnificent book.

I think C.S. Lewis would have approved.

A politically incorrect scene-- Three of the children meet Father Christmas, and he gives them presents of weapons: a knife for Lucy, a bow and arrows for Susan and a sword for Peter.

"These are tools, not toys," he tells them. "Use them wisely."

Perhaps this bodes well for things to come now that anti-gun Michael Eisner is no longer at Disney's helm...

Now THAT'S What I'm Talkin' About...

I no sooner get up this post about educating Japanese people about guns when I find this post from Steaming Dragon!

This is a great story--go on over there and read it.

More and more companies are starting to use firearms outings for team building--maybe SD has started a trend where he works.

Fans of a Disarmed Peasantry

Vin Suprynowicz disarms a key argument used by the antis.

[Via End the War on Freedom]

Night of the Living Guns

Seventy-six people have been killed by violence in Cincinnati this year - most by guns.

No Sharon Coolidge, you hack propagandist. ALL were killed by people.

I once wrote another reporterette to make this distinction, and you wouldn't believe how snotty and defensive she got. She claimed everybody knew what she meant, and I was just being petty.

And look at the jury (well, there are 12) The Enquirer put together to judge the effects of guns in society. Cops, political hacks and anti-defense community activists. Nope, no bias there.

I sure am glad the government will decide who gets to be an authorized journalist. We sure wouldn't want any unauthorized views creeping into the debate.

Hurricane Katrina Lesson: Be Sure to Keep Gun Handy

Robert Doel gives some editors and assorted anti-defense types "what fer."

Great letter.

Gun Control in the World

Some Japanese students want to know your attitudes on gun ownership.

Tell 'em.

Be nice on the questions that allow you to elaborate. This could be a great opportunity to educate across a cultural divide.

Years back, a Japanese friend's brother visited the US--he was a mucky-muck with one of the car companies. I took him to a shooting range, taught him all the basics, brought a variety of handguns to give him a diverse experience--and he LOVED it. The guy was grinning like a kid in a candy store.

There's a hunger on the-part of foreign nationals to try "American" things--particularly if their own culture represses them. Travel agencies should take note of this, and put together vacation packages that incorporate shooting sports. While it probably won't be enough to turn someone around politically, it at least opens a door.

I think "Take a Foreigner Shooting" ought to be part of America's diplomacy efforts--who hasn't found it a great way to make friends?

[Thanks to Dennis Walker]

We're the Only...Uh...Scratch That Arrest Report...

South Park Pundit finds a candidate for the Officer Barbrady Award.

Police Find Assault Weapon Near High Court

Officials at the Supreme Court and Metropolitan Police Department would not identify the kind of gun found, but a senior federal law enforcement official said it was a loaded MAC-10 assault weapon. It is capable of firing many bullets over a wide area in a few seconds. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing.

So is it semiauto or select fire?

Something about this isn't right. I've got nothing to go on here but instinct, so there's an excellent chance I'm all wet, but wouldn't it be interesting if the MAC-10 traces back to a department or agency, and it being left in a parking lot turns out to be another example of professionalism?

CITGO Follow-Up

Aside from a corporate-speak form letter, CITGO hasn't committed to actually doing anything about its Gary, Indiana station that refused to call 911 after a woman customer was robbed at knifepoint. I think they're hoping people will forget about it and the controversy will just quietly go away.

Not if I can help it. But I'm just one guy. If you agree that this should not die a quiet death from apathy, please send an email demanding to know why customers should put themselves at risk due to CITGO's refusal to take meaningful action--especially since we have so many other choices when it comes to where we can buy our gas. Please encourage pro-gun blogs to push this, and if you have a blog, please take up the cause and rally your readers.

Here's my follow-up email to "Customer Service Representative" Bruce McCall:

Dear Mr. McCall,

I see that Keith Olbermann gave your Gary, IN station manager an award of sorts on a recent MSNBC program, although I doubt being a candidate for "worst person" is the sort of press you folks covet:

Third on the list was the manager of a Citgo station in Gary, Ind., where a woman was robbed at knifepoint while filling a church van with gas. When she ran inside and asked the clerk to call the police, he advised her to use her cell phone because of a store policy that instructs clerks not to place such calls because they could anger the criminals.

You made noises about "de-branding the station" in the form letter you sent out to those of us contacting CITGO with our outrage, but you never really committed to doing anything about this. I replied to you 12 DAYS AGO asking when you would let the public know how this has been resolved. So I will again ask you, publicly this time:

When can we expect an announcement from CITGO on how this has been resolved?

David Codrea

When Pens Go Wrong

A 17-year-old student accused of rigging pens to explode as revenge for being expelled was charged with nine felonies Friday for blasts that injured three people, authorities said.

What is it with evil killer pens lately?

My Kid Sister notes we need to outlaw pens and sue Bic.

And just because I'm on the general subject, check out the url for Pen Island...

Finger Pointing

Vinzant persuasively suggests that, when one looks at gun manufacturers as a business rather than through a gauze of romanticism or a shroud of demonization, it becomes difficult to refute the proposition that the gun industry, like any other, should be held accountable for the foreseeable damage that it causes.

Like any other industry, it is, you dolt. If we buy a gun and it fails to perform or injures us due to defects, we have--and have always had legal recourse.

What you want is for the gun industry to be treated unlike any other industry, and subject to punishment when its products are intentionally or negligently misused.

What you want is to disarm your countrymen, and that makes you contemptible.

Oh, So THAT'S the Reason...

Criminals may be reluctant to turn in their newly banned handguns after police said tabs would be kept on owners.

Yeah. Otherwise, those gangbangers, robbers, drug dealers, rapists and murderers would be falling all over themselves to comply with another gun control law.

Why, Yes, That IS a Gun in My Pocket

And no, I'm not happy to see you.

It's Called "Projection"

Though a pacifist at heart, Dick is captivated by the pretty silver handgun. He names it Wendy and starts carrying with him [sic] wherever he goes. Ultimately, the gun becomes a part of his identity.

"Once he finds Wendy, he feels more powerful, more confident within his community...She's the one thing he needs and he clings onto her...

"He spends a night with Wendy, and the day after, he's glowing," the 36-year-old Vinterberg says, laughing. "It's about a Freudian, sexual attraction toward firearms that men have."

Good Lord.

But what a revealing insight into the minds of catty "men" who oppose gun ownership.

Activist Defies Proposed Canada Gun Ban

"I'm not obeying the Firearms Act, and I'm certainly not going to follow this ban.

"I certainly support that everyone should live in a safe environment, but the firearms registry and this additional ban does not do anything to make people safer," he said.

Brave man.

When he's persecuted, will his countrymen leave him twisting in the wind?

China Imports Kelo

Paramilitary police and anti-riot units here have opened fire with pistols and automatic rifles for the past two nights on rioting farmers and fishermen who have attacked them with gasoline bombs and explosive charges, according to residents of this small coastal village...

The long-simmering conflict in Dongzhou arose over disputed confiscations and what farmers here said were inadequate compensation payments. Authorities exercising the equivalent of eminent domain seized farmers' fields to build a wind-driven electric generating plant on a hillside overlooking the village...

"It is illegal to impede the progress of a key infrastructure project," a Shanwei spokesman, Li Min, told Radio Free Asia then. "As for whether the compensation is reasonable, it was in line with the usual standards."

Remember this the next time some asshat national socialist tells you the commies are all about peasant/worker rights.

Too bad the farmers are reduced to gasoline bombs. Maybe some of them will manage to get their hands on some guns and start conducting selective reprisals.

Welcome, Friend

Check out the comment in this post by Gregorscoff.

People can change. When they do, it's incumbent on us to welcome them into the fold, and not hold past differences against them.

WestConn Student Upset By Arrest on Gun Charge

Cruz was arrested and charged with breach of peace, a misdemeanor, for bringing a BB/pellet gun to his acting class. It was to be used as a prop in for his acting class.

We don't care why you did it. We don't care that no harm was done. We don't care that you're a productive member of society. We don't care if your record is clean.

You have displeased the Overlords. You must be punished.

Getting Your Gun Back Will Cost You

To the dismay of gun owners, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is now charging $54 to return firearms seized during arrests or searches - even if the gun was legally owned and not used in a crime...

In addition to the storage fee, the gun's owner must pay the U.S. Department of Justice another $20 for a background check, according to the text of AB 2431. Each gun after the first one is $3...

"I would say it's communism," said Gene Fister, 70. "But taking something that belongs to someone else and charging them to get it back -- it's worse. It's stealing."

Agreed, Mr. Fister.

We are ruled by criminals.

Dec. 7, 1941: A Day to Remember

It was my father's 21st birthday.

Quite a present the young man received, eh?

He joined the Marines and slogged it out on Guam. His older brother did the same at Guadalcanal.

Happy birthday, Dad. Thank you for your love and your wisdom, and for the example you always set of what it means to be a man. You never once failed to meet your own standards.

I've never needed any hero except one, and you've always been it.

New York Post's All-Out Assault on the Second Amendment

I've been asked by a WarOnGuns regular to call attention to the continued attacks on RKBA from The New York Post. Here are some examples of the vicious propaganda that has appeared in this despicable rag over just the last week (you'll need to use BugMeNot to bypass site registration--but first check if userid: bodge@dodgeit.com and password: password still work):

BLOODY LEGACY
KILLED BY OUR MANIA OVER GUNS
NO HELP FROM ALBANY
LET'S GET RID OF GUNS THAT STOLE MY SON AWAY
COP-SLAY GUN'S TRAGIC HISTORY STARTS IN FLA.
GET THESE GUNS OFF THE STREET, SLAIN KID'S MA WEEPS
'I WISH EVERY MEMBER OF CONGRESS HAD LOOKED INTO OFFICER STEWART'S WIFE'S EYES IN HOSPITAL'
GUN THAT SILENCED A GENIUS
HOW MANY MORE MUST DIE?

I have no actions to recommend. Just be aware of the level of fanatical commitment the anti-freedom blood dancers are willing to bring to bear to totally gut the Second Amendment--not content to disarm their own pathetic constituents, their goal is to spread their evil influence to disarm us all.

Ultimately, I suspect it will boil down to some of us saying "no" and meaning it. Because they just won't let us live in peace.

If you buy this birdcage liner, you're giving aid and comfort to your enemy-- people who would literally rather see you and your family dead than armed.

We're the Only Shooters...I Mean Shoppers Professional Enough...

A retired Kansas City area police officer shot himself in the knee Tuesday morning at Oak Park Mall in Overland Park when his .38 caliber handgun accidentally discharged, police said today...

“This is a very unusual,” said Weaver, who said he has not seen an accidental shooting like this in his 37 years with the Overland Park Police Department.

He's evidently not a WarOnGuns regular.

We're the Only ...Holy Krishna!

Major Randeep Singh Nakai (35) was critically injured when his private revolver went off "accidentally" at his residence in Sector 12 late last night...The doctors at the PGI said the bullet went through his temple...It, however, remains a mystery as to how the gun went off. While Major Nakai’s family is tightlipped on the issue, one of his friend’s said he was cleaning the revolver at that time.

Hey, maybe we're finally ready to start outsourcing our police work to India...?

We're the Only...Umm...Move Along, People, Nothing to See Here...

Cop’s gun goes off at Manila airport; 4 injured

FOUR women were injured after a policeman’s service firearm accidentally went off in the busy departure area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 on Wednesday morning.

More Proof That Total Gun Bans Work

Four inmates at Glades Correctional Institution on Tuesday were charged with smuggling a loaded pistol and other contraband into a state prison.

Uh...never mind.

That's Why They 're Called "The Po-Lease"

Handguns stolen from a police armoury in Kuala Terengganu was [sic] to have been leased to underworld elements, and returned to the facility before the monthly inventory check.

Yeah, making sure only the police have guns will sure stop crime alright...

You can't make this stuff up.

Darwin Award Nominee Sparks Call for More Gun Control

Steven Zorn had put the pen gun to his head and clicked before, thinking it was jammed and would not work.

But on the third try, the tiny, silver pistol went off as the 22-year-old budding rap artist was drinking to celebrate an impending record deal. He died later at the hospital.

Three tries? Tough to feel sorry for him. Actually, the fact that he was a "budding rap artist" was almost enough to clinch it for me.

Stupid way to live, stupid way to die.

And of course, his mother has now become a leading voice for "common sense gun control":

McCoy-Horn wants to see pen guns outlawed. She said several schools have expressed interest in having her come to speak out against the weapons. And she would also like to take her message to the Legislature.

"I've cried and cried so much, but I'm mad now," McCoy-Horn said. "Something's got to be done."

I suppose if the moron had taken three tries to kill himself with a rectal thermometer, she'd want those banned, too.

Sorry, but her reaction of blaming the object and seeking out new ways to attack my rights makes it tough to feel sorry for her, too. It's not my fault she raised a son who was too stupid to live. I refuse to be punished for it.

UPDATE: Since creating this post, much of the original story, including the part about his mother calling for more gun control, has been removed. They also, for some reason, changed "budding rap singer" to "budding rap artist." As of this writing, you can still find an unchopped version here. You can learn more of the young Mr. Zorn, aka "Mr. Pit", as in exploiting the stereotype of pit bulls, here.

D.C. Killings Spoil Police Holiday Plans

Union officials reacted angrily to Ramsey's announcement, which they learned about from a reporter. They said that officers already are exhausted from working 12-hour days and mandatory overtime shifts, and that the initiative could spoil their holiday plans.

"It's just ridiculous," said Sgt. Gregory I. Greene, chairman of the D.C. police labor committee for the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 1. "The only ones suffering from this are the officers. It's Christmas. It seems like Ramsey is out of answers about how to address the crime problems."

Yeah, no kidding, Sarge. Not that you and your union buddies could do much better.

District murders are out of control and the only thing any of you public servants can think about is your Christmas vacation. That sends a great message to those relying on you for protection--even though you know full well you have no legally enforceable obligation to provide it, and couldn't anyway.

But God forbid you find a resident with the means to protect himself. That's when you get to execute "Home Rule" and spoil some other poor slob's holiday plans.

Activate the Citizen Militia

The Liberty Belles' Jennifer Freeman has a suggestion for the Miami PD.

Of Stupid Trees and Messengers of Peace

For some reason, this post has disappeared from WarOnGuns. I am reposting it at the original date and time from the Internet Archive, complete with comments so they will not be lost.

Douglas Pushes for Tighter Gun Control

FATAL ATTRACTION star MICHAEL DOUGLAS is planning to lobby the US government for tighter gun control, because he's still haunted by rocker JOHN LENNON's 1980 shooting death.

I guess when you've demonstrated you have no control over yourself, you must not believe others are capable of self-control, either. Which means they can't be trusted with guns.

Since Douglas feels compelled to continue his unprovoked attack on my rights, I feel compelled to dust off the following open letter from some years back. As it's no longer posted anywhere else on the net, I thought I'd resurrect it here on WarOnGuns.

---

September 8, 1999
Mr. Michael Douglas
C/O Creative Artists Agency
9830 Wilshire Blvd
Beverly Hills, CA 90212

"PRESS RELEASE: NEW YORK - Renowned film and television actor Michael Douglas challenged the international community to do more to control the spread of small arms worldwide. Before a unique gathering of foreign ministers, UN officials, arms experts, and arms lobbyists, Douglas, a newly appointed UN Messenger of Peace, relayed movingly the facts that 'speak for themselves which underlie the need for responsible control of small weapons.'"

Dear Mr. Douglas,

"Sex is a wave that just sweeps over me. When the urge comes, I am helpless."

These are your pathetic words. I cannot believe that a grown man would utter them, let alone share them with the world. But somehow, for someone self-inflated enough to allow himself to be labeled a "United Nations Messenger of Peace," hearing that you have spouted such inanities does not surprise me.

"When the urge comes, I am helpless."

They sound like the words of a psychopath awakening from a blackout to find his clothes splattered and several hours missing from memory. Ultimately, they are your admission that you have abdicated responsibility for your actions, that you cannot control yourself. It sounds like you need to be locked up.

"When the urge comes, I am helpless."

So how predictable that you have instead become a spokesman for global "gun control." Obviously, since you can't trust yourself, the thought of others not sharing your moral defects must be too much to handle; after all, if others are capable of self control, then the problem must be yours. Better to blame them, and better yet--blame their guns! If they didn't have them, they couldn't use them! And if those damn whore-their-way-to-the-top women would just stop letting you get into their...

Still, have you informed your current sex partner(s?) that you would rather see her (them?) assaulted, raped or murdered than armed? But I forget--you rich and famous folks employ bodyguards (armed ones, right?), and there's never a shortage of police and private security around whenever you make a public appearance. Never mind.

"When the urge comes, I am helpless."

"This is not the world I want to leave to my son," you bemoan, decrying that the world contains all ideas and things, that these can be used for good or ill, and ultimately, that free will produces choices and consequences.

"When the urge comes, I am helpless."

What your son has really needed is for you to be a man of honor, one who understands and lives by principles of decency and restraint--instead of an out-of-control adolescent rabbit. You have betrayed and defrauded him as you have betrayed and defrauded your wife, and the obligations of the marriage covenant that you entered freely into.

"When the urge comes, I am helpless."

Really. Did anyone ever tell you "no" when you were growing up? Your old man couldn't keep his pants zipped either--maybe it's his fault? Were there no restraints on whatever self-gratifying indulgence you wanted to wallow in? Was learning to sneak and cheat and blame "a wave" rather than yourself for your abject moral failure the tradeoff for having everything material in life handed to you?

"When the urge comes, I am helpless."

My young sons understand "no," Mr. Douglas, at least better than you appear to. The savage instincts of little boys notwithstanding, there are limits on what they can have, and expected standards for their behavior and integrity. And they receive these lessons not just through admonishments, but, more importantly, through the conduct and example of a loving mother and father who understand their obligations, cherish honoring them, and control themselves accordingly.

But our kids are still working on things and we understand that. For instance, the other day, one of the boys skinned his hand on a branch he was climbing from.

"Stupid tree!" he shouted, angrily kicking the "offending" limb.

Oh well, he'll learn. We have plenty of time, love and patience to give him and his brother before they'll need to claim their rights and responsibilities as men. But you gotta admit, the way he blamed a thing rather than himself reflects that he is still very much a child, and such transference seems pretty silly and immature to adults. Trust me--it's a grownup thing.

"Wherever arms flow, the violence follows," you childishly declare.

Oh come on, Mr. Douglas, "Stupid guns?"

"When the urge comes, I am helpless."

"Stupid urge," Mr. Douglas?

Do you also blame your "stupid penis" for your contemptible lack of sexual fidelity?

That society compensates your corrupted ethics and reasoning with celebrity, when by all objective standards you should be regarded as a weakling and a reprobate, speaks not of your achievements but of the misplaced cultural values you exemplify and feed off of. That amoral privileged dilettantes like you, who conduct their lives with arrogance, deception, deviancy and gall are honored and rewarded should be but an ironic joke.

Are you truly deluded enough to think that your ridiculous worldview merits anything but loathing and resistance? After all, you're relying on socialist world government functionaries to implement and administer your criminally ignorant, genocide-enabling manifesto. Under force of arms, I might add.

"When the urge comes, I am helpless."

What bullshit excuse-making. How weak of you. How puerile and despicable.

"When the urge comes, I am helpless."

Based on your own words, you cannot (or, more likely, will not) control yourself. What makes you think that Americans who unyieldingly believe in their Constitution will let you control them?

"When the urge comes, I am helpless."

You go ahead and continue being helpless, Mr. Douglas. But you would also do well to realize that your liberty-minded countrymen are not. Unlike you, we are responsible, self-controlling adults, and we will not allow ourselves to be disarmed, nor our freedoms compromised; not by your calculating UN handlers, and certainly not by the infantile, stupid, weak and morally defective useful idiots they so effectively manipulate.

"When the urge comes, I am helpless."

I know a vet who can fix that for you. Until then, and especially if he invites you up in front of the General Assembly, you might want to keep away from Kofi Annan's leg.

With utmost sincerity,

David Codrea

posted by David Codrea | 6:22 AM  

A Word About Prior Restraints

The Founders intended for prior restraints to apply to government powers, not to individual rights.

[Inspired by the last paragraph in this commentary by Jed]

Smile, You're on Canine Camera

Pictures are seen on a receiver unit carried by the dog handler who can watch the progress of the four-legged recruits searching for armed suspects.

Sounds like a great way to get an expensive, highly-trained asset killed.

You Say It's Your Birthday...

Has the South African government got a present for you!

Indicting the Gun Merchants

Judge Jack Weinstein spelled out how firearms makers flood New York with illegal weapons when he upheld the city's right to sue last week. Here's how he summed up the charges...

Am I reading this right? "[H]e summed up the charges"? It's the "Be Our Guest" column--did Weinstein write it?

If he did, this is straight out of the Brady playbook. He should have recused himself.

In a rational world, naked, one-sided advocacy for a plaintiff by a presiding judge would be grounds for dismissal, impeachment, and criminal charges to boot.

How about indicting the judge?

Feelin' Lucky, Punk?

A Pasco detention deputy stood over a jail inmate strapped hand and foot to a hospital bed. He drew his gun and pointed it at the man's head.

"We're not gonna have any trouble out of you today, are we?" he said, according to Sheriff's Office spokesman Kevin Doll.

Let's hope the deputy who turned him in isn't "ostracized" or worse. Anyone brazen enough to act so brutally in front of another officer is probably not exhibiting new behavior.

Deaths Mount in Rio's War on Crime

More Than 4,000 Have Died At Hands of Police in Violent Cycle

In Rio, many of the victims of police violence have been hapless bystanders. Others have undoubtedly been dope dealers who, human rights group say, never saw the inside of a jail cell because of rogue cops who sometimes act as judge, jury and firing squad.

"A lot of these killings are quasi-executions, with shots to the head and the heart," said Sandra Carvalho of Global Justice, a Brazilian human rights group that monitors the police...

Rio drew worldwide attention to the violence on its police force a dozen years ago when a group of hooded officers killed seven street children sleeping outside a downtown church. A month later, a police-run death squad massacred 21 civilians in a Rio slum. Only a few of the numerous officers charged in the two cases were convicted.

Yet Brazil's ruling elite, backed by a gaggle of "Nobel Peace Laureates", supported the recent gun ban referendum.

There Are None So Blind...

...as those who will not see.

[E]verybody and their brother-in-law can just pretty much show up and don’t know anything about firearms, but feeling macho that day, they just show their driver’s license, and there they are.

I guess Carey McWilliams can't find a copy of the Constitution in Braille.

If a Black Man is Armed, is He a Criminal?

From Vin Suprynowicz:

This is an armed nation. Twenty-five percent of your fellow 'civilians' own firearms, and have a God-given right to carry them around. Except for writing traffic tickets for revenue, they have just as much right to chase and apprehend a fleeing felon -- or to present a weapon in defense of themselves or others -- as you do. This includes black folks. Get used to it.

[Via End the War on Freedom]

Gun Totin' Grans Keep Illegals At Bay

The Mexican President, Vicente Fox, calls them ruthless and dangerous migrant hunters, and Mr Bush has called them vigilantes, but Ms Foust and Ms Mercer look more like the grandmothers they actually are.

Man Takes Law Into His Own Hands

One of the three robbers who burst into Kent Jewelry & Loan ordered Buell to his knees and then jammed a handgun against the back of Buell's head, hard enough to leave a knot.

But the single gunshot that startled Frank Buell was from a pistol fired by his father, Nick Buell, who was taking aim at another robber.

Only an "authorized journalist" would equate defending your life and the lives of those you love with taking the law into your own hands.

I'm surprised the senior Buell wasn't described as a "vigilante."

Of course, had he been defenseless and killed with his son, there'd be no shortage of "news" stories claiming they were killed by a gun, and no shortage of opportunists screaming for more citizen disarmament edicts.

Just Curious...

...as to why Mike Farrell, Jesse Jackson, Bianca Jagger , Jamie Foxx and Sniff...I mean, Snoop Dogg haven't yet taken a moment from their rabid defense of gun control advocate Tookie Williams to say a word of condemnation for the threatened Thursday execution of the four tragically naive "peace activists" in Iraq...

Cindy Sheehan has been curiously silent about the "freedom fighters" as well, and Chris Matthews has yet to weigh in on "the different perspective" of the captors, who he assures us are "not evil."

The fact is, the "insurgents" (Reuters, brands the Minutemen "vigilantes" but won't allow it's reporters to use the word "terrorists") would cheerfully saw the heads off every one of these useful celebrity idiots, which would probably make for lucrative pay-per-view. If it's any consolation, the unfortunate peaceniks were well aware of this proclivity of their captors before enlisting.

I would not put myself in harm's way to rescue people from their own choices, so couldn't ask, nor expect it from the soldiers. I hope they get released, but also hope no one gets hurt or killed trying to save them.

Torture Found Rife in China

In other news, the Pope is Catholic.

Nicki had a similar reaction to an inane headline last month.

Me and My Weapon

South Park Pundit kicks a hippy in the n...

An Early Milestone

THIS ISSUE of GUNS Magazine marks the completion of our first year and we should like to take the occasion to report to our readers on our progress.

Started to fill a void in the gun publication field, GUNS has devoted its first 12 issues to a popular, highly-readable, attractive presentation of all phases of gun sport. Recognizing that the field of firearms is more than just a highly technical specialty but rather a popular passtime for millions of Americans, GUNS has endeavored to dramatize and popularize all phases from collecting to Western interest, from pistol target shooting to trap and skeet.

The editors of GUNS see in the growth of the sport a healthy trend back towards the day when the USA was truly a nation of marksmen. We have attempted to counter the do-gooder, namby-pamby crowd who views every target shooter as a potential criminal. To us the freedom to indulge in gun sport is a basic concept of the founding fathers written into the Constitution and GUNS intends to do its utmost to defend that principle not only in these pages but in every other way possible.

Certainly the 25 million Americans who own firearms are also anxious to defend their rights. To them guns are an exciting, intriguing sport. The interest in gun sport is reflected in the remarkable growth of GUNS Magazine in a single year. Our circulation has doubled since our first issue. Thousands of gun enthusiasts have indicated their faith in our future by subscribing for periods anywhere from one to three years. Our subscribers are found all over the earth, from Sweden to Indo-China, from Argentina to Egypt.

Most heartening has been the response not only of advertisers but of readers to ads. Many gun dealers have reported that they have had a phenomenal number of inquiries and sales as a result of their advertisements in GUNS Magazine.

On the occasion of the completion of our first year in business, GUNS wishes to thank every one of its readers and advertisers for their wonderful support and express the hope that we can continue to merit that loyalty in future years to come.

This is the last historic issue of GUNS being offered online to commemorate the magazine's inception 50 years ago. The entire series, which I have linked to on a monthly basis, offers fascinating insights into the attitudes and culture of half a century ago.

The completion of this series also marks an anniversary for me--it is now one complete year since I began writing the magazine's Rights Watch column. I'm grateful for the opportunity to play a small part in the history of an industry icon.

I don't know if future issues from the past will continue being offered on the GUNS website--this series was initially intended just to celebrate 50 years of publication. I suppose if they hear from enough people...but that also depends on the success of their current efforts.

I hope I've been able to provoke your curiosity enough to at least buy a copy off the local newsrack. I hope if you do, you become a subscriber. And for purely selfish reasons, for good or ill, I hope you let the magazine know what you think of my columns.

Guns for Christmas

Santa baby, slip a shotgun under the tree, for me
I've been an awful good girl
Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight

Jennifer Freeman shows us how to increase our Christmas cheer.

Advent Calendar

Countertop is posting a daily Advent Calendar on his blog. Click on a graphic every day to reveal a Holiday treat!

What a cool idea, and he executes it very nicely.

We're the Only Ones Pr...Oh, Forget It...

An Oakland police officer was hospitalized Wednesday night with a self-inflicted gunshot wound after an accident that occurred at the Police Department's administration building, according to a police spokesman.

Beautiful Rebuttal...

to this, resulting in this tepid correction.

The media is bound and determined to demonize the .50 BMG until it's banned, and there's no shortage of opportunistic, evil, gutless, stupid, or all-of-the-above politicians willing to sell out our birthrights for their gain.

Aren't you glad there are authorized watchdogs like Rose French out there, to give us lowly bloggers something to aspire to?

UPDATE: SayUncle documents how Rose French lied. Great stuff. He's not an "authorized journalist," either...

Suggestion to the pro-gun blogging community: keep an eye peeled for other works by the prevaricating French Rose. Maybe if enough noise is made, AP can be embarrassed into giving her the boot. I'm sending them a link to this post under the subject: "Do You Let All Your Reporters Get Away With Lying?"

Liberty Book Shop Holidays Special

From Vin Suprynowicz:

Only 400 review copies of "The Black Arrow" -- complete books, but in a white "pre-release" cover -- were ever printed.

Most of those copies were mailed out last winter, to reviewers at national newspapers and magazines. One of these "rarest editions of all" occasionally shows up on e-Bay, at prices ranging from $12.50 to more than $39.

Now, Mountain Media is offering Vin's fans a chance to acquire one of these rare review copies ... FREE.

Place any order of $48 or more at LibertyBookShop.us between now and Christmas, and we'll include with your order, FREE, one of the few remaining, mint condition, review copies of "The Black Arrow."

This is a complete, bound copy of Vin's exciting first novel, but in a
white cover, instead of Scott Bieser's full-color rendition of "Madison Meeting The Man."

Buy one leatherbound "Black Arrow" at $48.95, shelve it for your grandkids to keep it in pristeen condition, and get a review copy that you can carry around and read without worrying about spilling the cranberry sauce. Buy two paperback "Black Arrows" as Christmas gifts and get a third, review copy for your own reading pleasure, FREE. Or order any other combination of books now available at the LibertyBookShop.us Web site ("Timesong" and "Unintended Consequences" are now back in stock!) and we'll add a free review copy of "The Black Arrow" to your package, at no additional charge. (You don't even pay extra shipping for the review copy -- that's on us.)

This special offer runs only till Christmas. Place your order of $48 or more, today. (Yes, we'll enclose TWO free review copies with any order of $96 or more. Who loves ya, baby?)

Can Anybody Help Explain This?

Or confirm that the problem is widespread?

I just got the following email:

Since you apparently just added or modified some gun blog web ring thing... you may want to look at your web page in FireFox, because it does NOT load right anymore. Just letting you know.

Is this happening to anyone else?

Any feedback/advice will be appreciated. As I've disclaimed on numerous occasions, tech detail is not my strong suit.

Gary, Indiana, Gary, Indiana, Gary, In...

"If I can keep a gun out of someone's hands by not keeping one in my house, that's what I'll do. I figure if I'm in a situation I can either talk my way out of it or it's my time, then it's my time. I was brought up in church. It's not that I'm tough, it's just those things don't scare me."

You'd better hope to God you never have to put that inane theory to the test, pal.

All the bad choices documented in this article--but it's the gun's fault...

And Gary, Indiana used to be such a nice place...

[Thanks to HZ]

Physician, Heal Thyself

The UW family practice residents conducting the gun safety study made the following recommendations:

All gun purchases should have background checks and waiting periods.
All gun owners, not just hunters, should have safety training.
All guns should be stored in a safe, locked place where children and people other than the owner can't reach them.
Gun manufacturers should be required to put safety devices, such as trigger locks, on all guns they sell.
All physicians should be trained to ask their patients if they own guns and to counsel patients on gun safety in a non-judgmental fashion.

I wonder how the doctors conducting this "study" would answer these survey questions.

I wonder how many would be willing to accept personal liability should their advice result in tragedy.

UPDATE: I just noticed that the date on this linked piece is "May 10, 2000," but Google News search says: "uwnews.org, WA - 15 hours ago." Beats me why they're recycling old stuff--maybe they figure if they repeat themselves enough times they might get some attention?

Gun Ownership Not at Heart of Being American

Mike Felker would evidently prefer women like Tammy Bruce be disarmed and vulnerable.

Boss, Our Chains Are Too Loose...

It is too easy to buy a gun in Maine. And in New Hampshire. And in Vermont.

Just ask the people in Massachusetts, where it is much tougher to get a firearm -- at least legally.

And while you're at it, ask the people in Massachusetts why their violent crime rate is higher than these "easy" states.

Does anybody actually buy this rag and support these enuretic bleaters?

Gun Blogs Webring

WarOnGuns is now part of the Gun Blogs Webring--scroll to bottom of the page for links.

If you have a gun blog, why not sign up too?

The Naked Gun

A man wearing only socks was arrested along a busy street after witnesses said he fired a gun at afternoon traffic.

That would certainly make concealed carry problematic...

The Elephant in the Room We Dare Not Speak Of

Blognomicon links us to a Sheboygan Press opinion piece by Gun Week senior editor Dave Workman, who writes:

Aside from the vast disparity in the number of homicides in Milwaukee and Seattle, there is one more big difference. Washington residents can carry concealed handguns, and a lot of them do, more than 230,000 at last count.

It's an attractive thesis for gun owners. It would be easy to jump on the bandwagon and cry "See?"

The problem is, there are problems with it.

If you're going to claim concealed carry impacts the murder rate in Seattle (and I would argue it does, albeit to a much lesser degree than Workman attributes it), you need to factor the number of concealed handgun carriers in the specific population you're studying--in other words, don't use a statewide number. The 230,000 figure sounds impressive, but the state has a population of over 6 million, vs. Seattle's 571,500. If you're going to crunch numbers, you need to factor your carriers from that pool.

There's something else at work--another "big difference"--a HUGE "big difference"-- that impacts the raw murder number disparities between Milwaukee and Seattle, but there's a problem with even hinting at it--lest we be charged with the modern equivalent of being denounced a witch. We can find this "big difference" in every major urban area in the country--the places where guns are invariably controlled and the murder rate cannot be.

At the risk of being branded classist, ageist, sexist, and the dreaded "r" word... uhh, s'cuse me... could someone please look at the demographic differences between Seattle and Milwaukee?

Sorry, Mr. Workman, but the cities do not share "roughly the same...social makeup." Just look at the comparison between "female householders, no husband present" (8.09% vs. 21.07%). And we also can't forget to look at race--not as a cause of violent crime, but as an indicator of populations most directly affected by and responsive to a continuing history of destructive government policies.

If we're afraid to even address this, we're never going to be able to make things right. And those hurt the most by this self-imposed blindness will continue to be the least prosperous and protected among us.

CITGO Replies

I got a form reply to my open letter about CITGO, where the station attendant did not allow a woman customer to call 911 after she had been robbed at knifepoint.

Mr Codrea,

Thank you for your e-mail.

We are currently investigating this incident. Please understand that CITGO does not own or operate any retail outlets. However, we can (and will) take appropriate measures -- up to and including de-branding the station -- if such action is warranted.

CITGO is committed to operating as a good neighbor where we do business. Please be assured that we do not ignore nor take matters like this lightly.

Thank you for your interest in CITGO Petroleum Corp.

Sincerely,

Bruce McCall
Customer Service Representative
Midwest and Northeast Regions
x4886 or 1-800-423-8434, dial tone x6514
918-524-2114 - Fax
bmccall@citgo.com

We can't just let this go away from lack of scrutiny. I wrote him back:

Mr. McCall.

Thank you for your reply.

Will CITGO inform the public of how this has been resolved? It would seem we have a right to know if patronizing your franchises will result in similar treatment. Without evidence that the problem will not recur--including what you have done to assure that, and the outcome with the clerk and manager from the news account--I'm afraid I could not put myself, my family, or anyone I care about at risk.

Do you have an estimate for when we can expect such information?

Sincerely,

David Codrea

I'll report on his response--or the lack of one. If anyone else thinks adding their voice to this will help elicit a satisfactory outcome, feel free to do so.

But It STILL Wasn't Enough

Micayla Ellis' mother took the suggested precautions with a gun in her home - she locked it up, hid the key and put the ammunition in different locations - but it still wasn't enough to stave off her children's curiosity.

Something about this account isn't adding up. If all the "precautions" were taken, how did this happen?

And what would "be enough"?

The American Academy of Pediatrics has determined that the most effective way to prevent gun-related deaths and injuries to children and adolescents is to remove guns from their homes and communities.

Naturally.

But they don't want to ban guns. They just want to enact "common sense" laws where no one but the authorities have them.

Car-Jackers Target Luxury Vehicle Owners at Gun-Point

A GANG of armed "car-jackers" has been targeting the drivers of luxury vehicles in Glasgow it emerged yesterday, after Strathclyde Police confirmed they are investigating two separate car thefts at gun-point in an upmarket area of the city.

Uh, yeah, right...that's what violent criminals do. That's not a surprise to anyone, is it?

And why wouldn't they? Easy pickings, high rewards, no risk of being resisted by their victims...

The UK's well-heeled are getting a taste of what the average subject has to live with--not that we should expect any changes, but who knows? Maybe someone with more clout than the average serf will get mugged and wake up.

Shameless Plug: Beware of Moles

When it comes to picking a gun group to support, it clearly pays to do a little checking first. If you’re going to join AHSA, you might as well just cut to the chase and join the Million Mom March.

"Beware of Moles," my Rights Watch column for the Jan. 2006 issue of GUNS Magazine is now available with minimal digging at newstands throughout the Republic.

WarOnGuns regulars will recall I deferred comment when the American Hunters and Shooters Association story broke because I'd sent this article in to the magazine. It got bumped another month at my request, because I thought the commentary on Hurricane Katrina was more time-sensitive.

BONUS: See pg. 84 of this issue to find out how you can win a free .44 Magnum Henry Big Boy.

Last Stop on the 2005 "Black Arrow" Book Tour!

Vin will be signing books Saturday afternoon, Dec. 3 in the Shotgun News booth, at the Small Arms Review Gun Show
Arizona State Fairgrounds
9th Ave. and McDowell Road
December 3, 2005
Phoenix, Arizona

This will be your last chance to get a personalized,autographed copy of 'The Black Arrow'!

For further details about the show, see:
Small Arms Review

Have you bought your copy yet?

How Could THIS Happen?

The man displayed a handgun and at first robbed the woman. He then assaulted her.

Outrageous. Didn't he know that Wisconsin doesn't yet allow people to carry handguns? Just ask the Green Party.

Thank goodness the victim wasn't armed. She might have offended someone.

Like Alderman Pete Karas.

Woman Charged With Handgun "Offense"

“She always has a gun ... in her purse at all times,” Thompson said. “She was going to the tax office to discuss a tax bill.”

What kind of thugs would be "offended" by a 63-year-old woman possessing the means to defend herself?

Defense is offense, right, Mr. Orwell?

Felons With Firearms

Compelling commentary and news link from Fish Or Man . Go read.

So What's the Problem Here?

A GOVERNMENT agency is launching an inquiry into doctors’ reports that up to 50 babies a year are born alive after botched National Health Service abortions...

“They can be born breathing and crying at 19 weeks’ gestation,” he said. “I am not anti-abortion, but as far as I am concerned this is sub-standard medicine.”

Just get one of them Whack-A-Mole mallets and bash 'em.

It's not like they're human or anything, is it?

I Believe in the Second Amendment, BUT...

Congratulations, Charles Laramie! You've just won the WarOnGuns' coveted Judas Goat Award!

Schumer and Feinstein both say they believe in the Second Amendment, too--and we know what big "buts" they have.

We're the Only Ones Dru--I Mean, Professional Enough...

A police officer who was fired after showing up for work under the influence of alcohol shot a gun at police during a five-hour standoff...Greaves suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the knee...

Yeah, if I wanted to kill myself, the knees are what I'd go for.

Greaves...faces two counts of felony reckless endangerment.

That's it?

Columbus Murder Rate Near 100

[BugmeNot log-ons: wally@trashmail.net, wally]

But just wait--the impact of that "assault weapon" ban is going to kick in any day now and drive those numbers into the cellar...

Bill of Rights Day Celebration

Tina Terry invites folks who can make it to celebrate Bill of Rights Day in Payson/Diamond Star/Rim Country, AZ...

People for the American Way

When the parents of 14 year-old Alycia Brown of La Crosse Wisconsin found out their daughter was sexually active, ; they put her on birth control, choosing the popular hormonal patch instead of the Pill. When on May 7, 2004, Alycia died suddenly of blood clots in her lower pelvis Michael and Lorie Brown decided to sue the deadly drug's manufacturer in the hopes of having it taken off the market.

14, and they let their minor child daughter screw around?

I guess blaming and suing someone else beats exerting parental authority, and it's certainly a lot easier than admitting they failed their daughter. "[T]hey did what the modern culture told them was the right thing to do" is about the lamest excuse for being weaklings and cowards I've ever heard.

I cannot imagine a greater pain than losing a child. By the same token, my sympathy for the Brown's is overshadowed by my disrespect for their past and continued abdication of responsibility.

That's the same mentality that blames guns and gun owners for criminal abuses, and quite candidly, I'm sick of it.

Why "Gun Control" Works So Well in Baltimore

Thieves are sawing down aluminum light poles. Some 130 have vanished from Baltimore's streets in the last several weeks, authorities say, presumably sold for scrap metal. But so far the case of the pilfered poles has stumped the police and left many local residents wondering just how someone manages to make off with what would seem to be a conspicuous street fixture...The police have no suspects...

But you don't need a gun in Baltimore. The police will protect you.

Nailing It

What is it with nail guns lately?

In Florida, it seems they are just as possessed, evil and capable of independent acts of malice as the "official journalists" claim firearms to be:

A construction worker is recovering in stable condition after a nail gun fired a shot to his temple.

In New Jersey, one was used in a police standoff:

A 33-year-old Falls Township man, who barricaded himself in his apartment and held off authorities for seven hours after allegedly shooting an officer with a nail gun was arraigned yesterday, police said.

He even had an "arsenal":

Authorities uncovered over a 100 nails inside the door frame...

Meanwhile, in California:

A man accused of killing his estranged wife with a nail gun last month was arrested after spending five weeks in a hospital for nail gun wounds to his own chest and abdomen.

Society's course of action is clear. Nail guns are not defined as "qualified products" in the recently passed gun manufacturer/ distributor immunity bill.

How much longer will we tolerate these weapons of murder and mayhem?

We must sue the nail gun industry.

What? It's already happening?

When Guns Are Outlawed...

A gun battle between rival prison gangs in an overcrowded western Mexico penitentiary injured eight inmates, authorities said Saturday.

Dang, that total gun control sure does work, doesn't it?

We ought to try it here.

If it saves just one prisoner...

SF Struggles to Keep Up With Gang Gun Returns

After San Francisco voters banned guns in the most recent election, city officials say they are struggling to keep up with the massive amount of guns being voluntarily turned over by gang members and other criminals.

More fine satire from Jeremy Robb.

[Thanks, HZ]

A Man for All Seasonings

WARNING: Site has "adult" content advertising.

Interesting video. So much for relying on pepper spray to disable an attacker, no matter what the "guns aren't necessary" crowd would have you believe.

[Thanks to Dennis Walker]

Current Gunshot Residue Forensics are Rubbish

Interesting.

Words Have Meaning

Although Congress had prohibited both the possession and transfer of automatic firearms, as Judge Alito noted in his opinion, only the provision that banned possession, not transfer, was before his court in Rybar.

You'd think the professional wordsmiths at The Washington Post would know that, wouldn't you?

Oh...they do?

.50 Caliber Frauds

That kind of power has drawn a customer base of gun enthusiasts, Hollywood actors..."It's like, what does a 55-year-old man do with a Corvette? You drive it around and enjoy it," said Barrett, 51, whose customers include doctors, lawyers, movie makers and actors. "I know all the current actors who are Barrett rifle shooters, some Academy Award-winning people. But they don't publicize it. They love to play with them and have fun. Shooting is very fun."

So aside from having "fun," what are these privileged dilettantes doing to help shoulder the load of protecting the right to keep and bear arms? Hollywood's public statements overwhelmingly disparage guns in a very high-profile manner.

It's pretty much the same with pampered, overpaid sports "heroes," who own guns at a higher rate than the general populace while their leagues and teams, and the networks and advertisers that bring them into American homes, help fuel the anti-defense propaganda machine.

Where are the rich and notable individuals willing to step to the forefront on the Second Amendment--to use their talents and positions to proclaim the truth, and to pledge their lives, fortunes and sacred honor to the cause of liberty?

Ain't gonna happen. They're too focused on the universe revolving around their navels. If things are going to change, those of us without famous names or fabulous wealth are going to be the ones to make it happen.

"Reform" BATFU?

Finally---I've said this before, and will say it again---the ATF is not immune to Congressional pressures and concerns, and at the end of the day the Congress can go a long way towards reforming ATF if it wants to. The "if it wants to" requires people who are willing to be part of the solution and not part of the problem. Be part of the solution by continuing to express your concerns to your Congressinal representatives.

How do you "reform" an agency that's built on an unconstitutional premise?

Isn't this another way of saying if they turn the heat down a notch, it might keep the frog from jumping?

[Via Triggerfinger]

The Left Lane is for Pacing

It is bad enough that said bastard is camping in the left hand lane, but to add insult to injury the Metro is overtaking the other two cars in the right hand lane at the stately pace of just over a foot per minute.

I have a feeling Kirk at Fun Turns to Tragedy speaks for a lot of us on this.

Shock and Awe

My senses were assaulted the other day while in the supermarket checkout line by the usual smut passing for celebrity tabloids and "women's" magazines.

One that stood out--even over speculation about Britney and K-Fed, Brangelina and Jen, Mary-Kate's bony back, Nick and Jessica's impending split, Lindsay's engagement ring, and Cosmo's latest technique for busting his balls while employing tricks that'll drive him wild in bed while still being a feminist while increasing your bust size(I wish they'd make up their minds)--was the December issue of Glamour, featuring Catherine Zeta-Jones as cover girl.

"I am in awe of women who stand up for their rights," the Welsh actress gushed.

Really, Ms. Jones? Does that include the right of women to keep and bear arms that your punk husband and his UN handlers keep trying to eliminate?

Canadians to Galaxy: Disarm, Eh?

Seeing how well this policy has worked locally, the Canadians, the UN, Alfred E. Neuman understudy Dennis Kucinich , and even a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, have all agreed that ray guns are bad, mmm-kayyy...?

"We're Your Neighbor"

Blognomicon tells us of a Gary, IN woman robbed at knifepoint at a CITGO station--and the clerk refused to dial 911! If you have a blog, please consider telling your visitors about this, along with CITGO's contact information.

My email:

An Open Letter: Is This CITGO Corporate Policy?

Your website claims “We’re Your Neighbor.”

Your “Community Involvement” page tells us “At CITGO, we take ‘community’ seriously. Lending a hand to those in need is important to us.”

Yet, according to the Associated Press, when a paying customer asked a Gary, IN, station counter clerk to dial “911” after getting robbed at knifepoint, he refused. And your manager confirmed this is standard practice.

Is it?

What is CITGO going to do about this?

And why, with all the competition out there, should the public do business with a company that shows such callous and cowardly disregard for the welfare of its customers?

Your reply, or lack of one, will be publicized. How much depends on the swiftness and acceptability of your reaction.

Doing the Math in Gun-Free Schools

A high school math teacher was arrested after she brought an unloaded revolver onto school grounds in her vehicle...Barbara A. Rhoads, a math teacher at Pender High School, was charged Tuesday with felony possession of a weapon on educational property...A telephone tipster told Principal Robbie Cauley about the gun in Rhoads' vehicle...She acknowledged she had a handgun in her locked vehicle and gave consent for a search...

Let's see, she's a math teacher, so do the math. There are 10 Amendments in the Bill of Rights. Take away the Second, and you have...

We need to keep an eye on this as it unfolds--perhaps she was unsound, and a caring family member stopped a tragedy. Or, perhaps this is simply a case of a snitch getting revenge, in which case, such bravery and loyalty to the state deserves public recognition.

Too many people are unaware of their rights and the repercussions of ceding them. She should have refused the search and demanded to consult her lawyer. The cops would have gotten a warrant anyway, but it could have thrown a probable cause roadblock in the way of the prosecutor--who doesn't seem inclined to give her any consideration for her cooperation, what with the felony charge.

If convicted of keeping and bearing arms in a verboten zone, maybe she'll get put in with the general violent prison population where she can get stomped to death for taking cuts in the chow line. I know one person her going to the slammer will suit just fine--won't it, Wayne?

We're the Only Ones Pro...Oh, Hell, Not AGAIN...

Easton police have launched an internal investigation after a sergeant left his loaded department-issued handgun in a bathroom at the Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon in Palmer Township.

That's not the Easton PD's only problem:

The missing gun is the latest in a string of incidents that have plagued the department this year. City officials are looking for a new police chief, and a state grand jury is investigating the fatal shooting of officer Jesse Sollman at police headquarters in March.

Nor is this the first incident for the hapless officer Smith:

A source said Thomas Smith and another officer were disciplined last year when a shotgun Smith was handed went off during a domestic disturbance call. No one was hurt.

This account says Clouseau was "promoted to inspector."

And this version suggests the public servant got a bit surly with the private ones. Hey, not everyone can provide the same level of excellence he does.

Because, as we've seen time and again, folks like him are the only ones professional enough.

Nothing Like a False Sense of Security

Some gun locks handed out for free by the San Mateo Police Department as part of a gun safety program may be defective...According to the lock supplier, malfunctioning locks are missing a ball bearing needed to secure the device's cable in the padlock.

Now here's a case where I could support suing the manufacturer and distributors...

Brazil's Police 'Execute Thousands' For Peace

Hundreds, possibly thousands of people are shot by police every year in Brazil, a BBC investigation has found.

Yet ten Nobel Peace Laureates supported the Brazilian gun ban referendum. And here's another Nobel Prize for Peace and Literature nominee who thinks people should disarm.

Night of the Evil Butterball

Attacks by roving flocks of wild turkeys are on the increase around suburban Boston--AP

Time was, the turkey was considered a game bird. The Pilgrims at Plymouth feasted on them. Generations later, Ben Franklin considered it such a useful fowl that he nominated it for the national bird.

Of course, this was in the days when the right to bear arms was taken for granted, when free people hunted turkeys for sustenance, all the while honing marksmanship that would serve them well in time of need.

Flash forward to present-day Boston, a place of sacred tradition, the literal forge for our heritage of individual liberty. Except Boston is now a place where traditions have been betrayed. Its current overlords have succeeded in disarming the whole people in a way that General Gage could never have conceived possible.

So successful have these rulers been that the city that gave us Sam Adams and Paul Revere is now a city under siege, and this is fittingly ironic if you think about it, by wild turkeys. So helpless and hapless are Boston's modern-day patriots, they can do little except retreat from the aggressive gobblers, escape, hole up and plead for rescue from the very authorities that enforce public impotence.

This is what the heirs of The Sons of Liberty have been reduced to. This is what they have allowed, and in many cases, demanded. Human beings, with dominion over the earth, scurrying from turkeys. The tolerated degradation of the masses is damned near complete.

This does not escape the notice of those who impose their tyranny upon us. What new outrage are they now free to impose? What can't they do? After all, we're talking about subjects who would cede their birthright to birds.

The greasy-lipped masters have to be laughing like hell as they reach across their table of plunder and rip off another drumstick...

-----

AFTERWORD: This little essay and the news account it references are both several years old. I never found a home for it before, and decided it would commemorate WarOnGuns' first Thanksgiving.

I know we find much each day that frustrates and enrages, but I also know there is so much to be thankful for, and I am--profoundly, and with deep humility. I realize I am the most fortunate of men, because I have people I love and who love me in return. I can state with all sincerity, there's not a man on the planet I'd want to trade places with. I freely admit this is not because I'm particularly deserving, but rather due to the grace and mercy of a loving and forgiving God.

Thank you for spending time in my little corner of the internet. May you have as much to be thankful for as I do.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving.