See, There's You, and Then There's US...

Under the rules, any state senator or delegate could strap on a sidearm and stroll in, according to Capitol Police Maj. Mike Jones. They have the same rights as law-enforcement officers to openly carry a gun in the Capitol...

Regular citizens, though, must have a concealed-weapon permit to bring in a gun, either concealed or openly.

"Regular citizens"?

As opposed to "super citizens"?

What did Mr. Mason say?

"I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people, except for a few public officials."
— George Mason, in Debates in Virginia Convention on
Ratification of the Constitution, Elliot, Vol. 3, June 16, 1788

What does the "supreme law of the land" say?

No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States...No State shall...grant any Title of Nobility....[and] No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States...nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

Of course, if you rely on that and act accordingly, don't be surprised if Maj. Mike Jones and the Capitol Police...ummm...how do I put this delicately?...kill you...

The Gun at the Reagan Library

After posting the latest Million Moon Update, I took the family on a trip about an hour north of us to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, CA. I've always had a fondness for the man, despite some profound differences. He was, after all, a remarkable individual. He was also a master at making you like the persona he presented, and I'm not immune. Plus, I really wanted to tour the Air Force One exhibit (Wow!), and also spend a moment of reflective silence at the president's resting place. It is a facility worthy of a special trip. Sitting on a mountaintop, the view alone is worth the drive--spectacular doesn't cover it. In addition to the exhibits already mentioned, you can tour a replica of the Oval Office as it appeared during the Reagan years, see a piece of the Berlin Wall, and wander through the various halls displaying periods and achievments of the president's life. Which brings me to why I'm sharing this. I stopped at a glass case containing several historic American firearms. There was one of unique appearance that caught my eye, something I hadn't seen before, with this description on its placard:

Springfield Armory in Massachusetts produced over 4,000 M1855 pistol-carbines, a dual-purpose firearm. With the stock removed, troops could fire from horseback. When dismounted, the horse soldier could attach the stock to fight on foot with greater accuracy. Despite such versatility, the firearm was not popular.

I've done some searching around and haven't found a good photo to share, but here's why it caught my attention: Short-barreled rifles and shotguns are strictly controlled, and the rationale in the infamous Miller decision centered around the defendant not being able to demonstrate a military application for a short-barreled shotgun. My friend and colleague Brian Puckett wrote a quite authoritative analysis on this as a supplement for the Silveira case. I'm not a lawyer or a firearms expert, nor do I play one on TV. I don't know if the existence of the M1855 makes a damned bit of difference as far as legal technicalities go, and I suspect it probably doesn't. But I just thought it was interesting, and figured someone might be able to offer some further insights. If you have something to add, feel free to leave a comment.

We're the Only Ones High-Flying Enough...

Government sources tell TIME that the two Air Marshals, are allegedly involved with the possession or transportation of cocaine, and may have been paid several thousand dollars to move the drugs.

Corruption amidst the elite enforcers. I am stunned.

Spreading Like Kudzu: A Million Moon Update

The new gallery, featuring a special "Predators on Parade" section, will go up on Monday. In the mean time, here are some links from folks who have kindly helped promote the project since the last update. If I missed you, please don't get mad--there's only one of me and as I type, sons Uday and Qusay are running through the house fighting and screaming like monkeys on fire (wait a minute--they are on fire!) while Honey-Do is giving me a choice between the clipping shears or the rolling pin. So if I negligently slighted you, just leave a comment below to correct the record, OK? And if you just sent a picture file with no link, that'll be posted on Monday, too.

2 Valuable and Control Arms agree that guns might spoil Jeffrey Dahmer's appetite.

Alphecca has some kind words.

"Anonymous" and the folks at Control Arms realize people like Heinrich Himmler need special protection.

Blognomicon treats us to a happy guy with a pipe.

Captain of a Crew of One is posting his own gallery. Check out what his nephew got posted--the Control Arms idiots think it's a plea instead of a dare.

David Homoney knows that there are special people who need to be kept safe from gun violence...Isn't that right, Sr. Guevara?

End the War on Freedom tells his readers about the new tack, and also took me up on my suggestion. Surprise!

Fish or Man sees both the humor and the deadly seriousness of this project.

Free Constitution shares his gallery in today's Second Amendment Saturday post. Sorry, Stan, I haven't had the time to figure out how to do trackbacks yet (If I do this will it work? I've repeatedly told everyone how unskilled I am at this com-pyoo'-tor stuff), but happy birthday...and congratulations on keeping Hugo and Fidel a little safer!

Funbob thinks that Ado...I mean, Ricardo, might have good reason to support gun control...

GeekWithA.45 hit a grand slam with his inspired submission. Put down the baby, Vicky, and no one will get hurt!

GunShowOnTheNet shows us his own gallery that demonstrates "Just Cause...to be Armed."

Head's Bunker has a submission that shows him to be one of the last people to try and make submit.

Kristopher sent in a message that made me shoot coffee through my nose. I wonder what the physical reaction over at Control Arms was?

Oscar Poppa has an update that includes links to other sites as well (let's see if I missed any...). He's thinking of starting the Central Texas chapter of the Million Moon March, so be sure and check him regularly for updates...

Rational Review gave us a nice endorsement. Thanks, Mary Lou!

Ride Fast & Shoot Straight has three posts and a bullseye.

Say Uncle thinks we're having an effect, and he likes the Geek's entry.

South Park Pundit shows us how a convicted sex offender can bring a little Sunshine into our lives...The results? Two for two!

Tomato 7 got the gang over at Control Arms to agree to Keep Slobo Safe! He also sent them a cool poster.

Viking Ambition correctly perceives Robert Mugabe's wishes.

Void Where Prohibited has no doubt his entry wishes to be kept safe from armed violence. This is just too rich!

William Clark is on a roll. Not only does Pol need protection, but so do his friends Polson and <snort> "Adolf" from "Germany"...

Many thanks to those of you who are supporting this. Look for pictures to be posted on Monday, and please keep spreading the word.

Are we having fun yet? I know I sure am.

This USED to Be a Joan Collins Joke...

Q: What does Madonna put behind her ears to make herself attractive?

A: Her ankles.

From "Immaterial Girl," my August/September 2003 HANDGUNS Magazine opinion piece (sorry, the complete article is not online):

So what’s Madonna’s response to ordinary people who don’t have bodyguards? What about those of us who will be arrested if caught carrying a firearm without a permit that we can’t obtain? And what should we who can’t summon a law enforcement retinue when traveling do?

Madonna was one of the celebrity signatories to the Handgun Control, Inc., “Open Letter to the NRA” appearing in USA Today...

So I guess she's demonstrating the position she wishes us to assume when in the presence of predatory government or free agents--just to save everybody involved a lot of unnecessary time and effort...

Feb. 1956 GUNS Now Online

A youth spent in New York City, where even admiration for a gun struck terror in the hearts of one’s elders, kept me from gun appreciation for some time. In fact, it wasn’t until I was in the service that I made close contact with firearms. And out of the welter of guns they threw at us, my fondest association was with the Colt.45 Automatic Pistol. It’s a tricky little devil, but has always paralleled, for me, the kind of punch I admire in the ring—short, well-aimed, and devastating.--Jeff Chandler

When was the last time you heard a movie star speak admiringly of his favorite gun? Yet that's the way things were when this was written.


The February, 1956 issue of GUNS Magazine is now posted for free download.

Back to Mr. Chandler's testament on page 8, for a moment: Writing half a century ago, he confirms something for us that helps to understand the present. As far back as his youth--and he was born in Brooklyn in 1918, New York City has been hostile to gun ownership (the Sullivan Laws were passed in 1911). No wonder things are the way they are there, and a disarmament attitude permeates the culture. It's their tradition.

Another Hollywood giant and avid gunman is featured, the King of the Cowboys and a personal favorite, the great Roy Rogers. Here's a picture of Roy horrifying today's enuretics by mixing kids with ...GASP...guns!!! Someone call Child Protective Services!


Round things out with a feature on the authenticity of "The Last Hunt" (one of the almost non-existent Westerns that shows people reloading), starring Robert Taylor and Stewart Granger (that's him on the cover sighting in a buffalo).

But it's not all Hollywood. There's a well-reasoned argument for hunting helping deer populations, and another advocating shotguns for the military. There's a "Workshop" article on "Fitting a New Rifle Barrel." Read why the over/under was considered "The Glamour Girl of the Shotgun World." And there's much more, including the ads, which really let you know what a different world it was back in 1956.

And, like I said, it's free. Enjoy.

Tags: gun

Weapons & Tactics Falls for Old Hoaxes

An e-friend subscribes to the Weapons & Tactics newsletter. He was very concerned about the two main features in their latest issue:



Gas pump needles and spunk ball. These stories are BS--old internet chain letter hoaxes that have been out there for years. See:

http://www.snopes.com/horrors/mayhem/gaspump.asp
and
http://www.snopes.com/horrors/mayhem/spunkbal.asp

Both stories just smelled wrong. And it literally took me less than one minute to debunk them. Yet W&T has an editor-in-chief, an assistant editor, a copy editor and contributing editors.

I did some looking around on the Internet and came up with this:

http://combatcarry.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=3439

Among the comments:

Yes I have heard of the publication and until today I was ready to share it with just about anyone that wanted the straight skinny on what ever subject the publication was discussing. Then came Volume 10 Number 2 Feb. 2006, which had a article about “Watch out for needles when pumping gas.” Well for some reason I decided to check this out for myself and found that this is apparently a hoax that has been around the internet since 2000. I found out that on June 20th, 2000 the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Department issued a press release declaring it a hoax and stating that the author, Capt. Abraham Sands was not at the Department.

I have written the publisher and directed that my name be taken off their mailing list immediately and that no further publications were desired, even if I had remaining months on my subscription.

I am both a Texas Certified CHL Instructor & NRA Instructor so I can’t afford to be relying on sharing publications that print this type of garbage with my current & former students.

In their defense, W&T probably got these stories from people they trusted. Still, that's no excuse for this. They're not only charging their readers for wrong information, they're charging them for free information. I'm sorry, but this just smacks of taking their readers for granted.

It may turn out this is a one-time goof, and that their newsletter is a valuable and authoritative publication. If you're a subscriber or a potential one, you'll need to decide for yourself whether or not this is a showstopper for you.

My friend tells me he called them and they are aware they goofed. If that was my newsletter, I'd be issuing a profound public apology, offering refunds for that issue, and telling my customers what safeguards I've established to keep such an abuse of their trust from ever happening again.

I've emailed the editor twice in the past two days before posting this and haven't received a reply. Note that what I've posted has been extensively edited from my initial reaction, which included a lot of scathing criticism. I decided that wouldn't be productive.

This is a real object lesson for those of us who have fallen for chain letter hoaxes in the past, and forwarded them to our friends. Passing on bogus material calls our credibility into question. We have a tough enough time reaching outside the choir without giving our opponents a convenient way to dismiss us outright.

Here's a good rule of thumb to apply before forwarding an incredible story: Is a link to a credible source included? If not, until you can find something that verifies authenticity, take a pass on passing it on--having enough junk mail to wade through isn't really a problem, is it?

If Weapons & Tactics wishes to respond, I'll post it.

Bloggers: Want Your Own Million Moon "Franchise"?

Nothing says WarOnGuns has to be the only site with galleries and project updates. We've already seen how one blogger took the basic idea and improved it. Who knows how much farther you or one of your blog readers could carry the ball?

The idea is to spread the word so as many gunners as we can reach participate. One blog alone won't do that. Besides which, Control Arms is going to get wise to links coming in from this site and that will help them delete entries--so diffusing the effort will mean more protest posts get through.

Contact me if you have a blog and want to host your own galleries with your readers. Maybe if enough of you are interested, we can form a ring of sorts, link to each others' updates, etc.

I envision basically no rules except to hold true to the concept of sending in protest photos. Aside from that, let innovation lead the way.

It's a bit of work, but so far, a lot of fun--and it doesn't hurt the traffic stats, either. Email me if you wanna play...

Million Moon Predator Postings

Check out the latest comments on the "New Tack" post.

The Million Feces...uhh...Faces campaign had added Robert Mugabe, Heinrich Himmler, Jeffrey Dahmer, and Lon Horiuchi to their growing ranks of supporters.

I'll be working on another gallery update over the weekend to have ready for Million Moon March Monday.

In the mean time, a rep from Control Arms wrote back about my refusal to authorize them substituting my submission (typos left in):

Dear David

I was happy to remove you from the Control Arms site. I don't understand exactly why you are so angry. I thin you have faied to understand what the Control Arms campaign is about.

With Best Wishes,

Ian Sullivan

I think I pretty much understand what it's about, and am putting together a reply. If any of you would like to add your regards to Ian, leave a comment below so I can include your thoughts (please self moderate, OK?)...

We're the Only...Hey--What Happened to Our Immunity...?

Ten years in prison would be excessive punishment for three state police officers accused on weapons charges, according to a letter issued Tuesday by top police officials and two state senators...The three troopers were charged last month with violating federal firearms regulations by having illegal submachine guns at their homes.

Gee, they're lucky they weren't Branch Davidians.

Y'know, I've got to stop being so judgmental about this stuff. I'm sure these LEO bosses and politicos would also put in a good word against excessive punishment if it was you or me being charged...

[Thanks to HZ]

Tags: gun, police

We're the Only Ones Immune Enough

Two police marksmen who killed a man carrying a table leg they mistook for a gun will not face disciplinary action.

No. Of course they won't.

Tags: gun, police

Million Moon March: A New Tack

This is really funny, and it illustrates how--when an idea gets set loose in the wild--others can adapt it and make it far superior to the original plan--so much so that I now recommend using this new approach as the main one.

The first evolutionary move in this direction came from Free Constitution, who submitted a photo of Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez using the selected caption "Make me safe from armed violence."

Then E. David Quammen from Gun Show on the Net came up with an inspired idea and hit the ball out of the park.

This was his submission:



The caption: Make me safe from armed violence.

And the Million Faces campaign posted it!

Why is that funny? Why is that worthy of becoming the new tactic for us to use?

Because, if you haven't recognized it already, the image is of genocidal butcher Pol Pot, the monster responsible for Cambodia's "Killing Fields." And because that's exactly what "gun control" does--it makes monsters safe from (defensive) gun violence.

David's success made me realize that--instead of sending protest photos we know Control Arms will reject and substitute--we could probably get them to post many more of our actual submissions if we just sent in portraits of predators. A Google image search on the name of a known tyrant or Nazi is one good place to start (just make sure if you pick a dictator he's not in military uniform--I found a great portrait of Idi Amin in a suit looking very respectable, ditto for Uday and Qusay Hussein...)

But why stop there?

We have the FBI's "Most Wanted List." The Postal Service also puts out posters, as do many state and municipal law enforcement websites.

And then we have the sexual predators, like on California's "Megan's Law" website (and their "illegal use" disclaimer doesn't address what I'm proposing here)...

David's success really does open up a wealth of potential for sticking it in the eye of those who are working to undermine our rights, plus it's just plain ironically funny. Let me know if Control Arms posts your predator, and keep those pictures coming in.

UPDATE: Forgot to include this--we got a nice mention over at Rational Review.

THUS FAR:

The Million Moon March

Million Moon March Update

Joining the March

Million Moon March Update (#2)

Million Moon March Gallery

Gallery Updates

We're the Only...Say, Is That a Gun in Your Pocket or Are You Just Glad to Be Here?

Sally Daly, a spokeswoman for Cook County Sheriff Michael Sheahan, said investigators still can't rule out that White and Sherman had help from guards who either aided them directly or purposefully turned a blind eye.

Some may have been complicit, Daly said, or some may have just been incompetent.

But...but...but if we can't trust the professionals...

Tags: gun, police

Gun Activist Fed Up With NY GOP

A longtime pro-gun activist said Monday he is fed up with the state Senate's Republican majority and is willing to help Democrats win the few seats needed to wrest control of the chamber from the GOP.

"You are no longer the lesser of two evils," wrote Gerald Preiser in an e-mail to state Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno and other Senate Republicans. Preiser gave a copy of the e-mail to The Associated Press.

Naturally, the Republican establishment and the NRA are doing what they can to put the guy down, but think about it: the GOP leaders in New York, Pataki, Bloomberg Giuliani, Pirro...all are "gun control" proponents.

How will that ever change if gun owners keep rewarding them?

Are we afraid the dems will pass a law taking our guns away?

They can only take them away if we let them.

Will you let them?

Maybe it will take letting them lose an election cycle or two for the Repubs to get the message gun owners are serious.

CORRECTION: Jacob takes exception to my use of the term "NRA" as attribution for quotes reported in the story that were made by the president of the NRA state affiliate (see comment thread to this post). Technically, he is correct and it was inaccurate of me to use that general term.

Tags: gun control, New York, Republican, NRA

Bidding High on Hitler's Gun

A rare German gun that may have belonged to Adolf Hitler is commanding $13,000 (€10,800) at an online auction today, but the price could at least treble before bidding closes on Thursday, experts predict.

Call me cynical, but I wonder how many of those collectors with that kind of money to spend are openhanded when it comes to supporting the right to keep and bear arms.

The owners say they will donate a portion of auction proceeds to the Anti-Defamation League, a group that combats anti-Semitism and bigotry. League officials have said they would prefer the gun to be donated to a museum where it could be safeguarded and not potentially wind up in the hands of Hitler admirers.

This is why I'm cynical. The current owners are going to make a donation to a group that hates and subverts the right of private gun ownership and promotes the genocidal doctrine of "gun control." And naturally, the ingrates at the ADL think that's not good enough.

Be nice to see the owners turn around and tell the ADL to forget it if they feel that way, and make the donation instead to JPFO, where it will do some good.

Tags: gun control, Hitler

Nicki Gets Famous

Nicki Fellenzer gets profiled by The Winchester Star (log-in required: try "Newslinks as username and password, otherwise use BugMeNot).

Now that she's famous and better than us and all, watch her start pronouncing it rah-ther and weekending in the Hamptons, and calling herself Lady Fellenzer 'n stuff...

Seriously though, congratulations, kiddo. Nice to see someone presenting a message outside the choir about children and guns that centers on loving parental attention and education. I'm sure there will be no shortage of letters, including those from outraged bleaters--keep us posted.

Gallery Updates

Tomato 7 and Head have joined the fun. I've also had several folks send in pictures by email. And I see Bill St. Clair liked my suggestion...

I'll probably make the Gallery updates a weekly task (Million Moon March Monday?) unless volume necessitates greater frequency. Until then, I'll just post links to the sites where new pictures appear.

UPDATE: Free Constitution sent them a picture that made me laugh out loud when you factor in the caption he chose: "Make me safe from armed violence."

Million Moon March Gallery

An international citizen disarmament coalition, Control Arms, is sponsoring a "Million Faces petition" and "is collecting photos and self portraits from around the world to reach [their] goal of one million faces by June 2006. [They] will use these faces to send a powerful, global message of support to the world's governments for an International Arms Trade Treaty."

The idea of The Million Moon March (as in "mooning") is to send them photos from the side that believes in the right of the people to keep and bear arms--to let the rights grabbers know there are untold numbers of people who refuse to be disarmed, and quite candidly, to taunt and hopefully enrage them.

You are encouraged to submit your pro-gun photos to Control Arms first--yes, we realize they will fraudulently attempt to use them to pad their numbers--but that will call the credibility of their claims of support into doubt, plus it's fun to let them know we're out there defying them. Then, send a copy to WarOnGuns so I can post it here.

Like Control Arms, I will also submit our photographs in June 2006--although ours won't be a petition, but a statement of defiance.

Here are the images submitted to date:

My original submission:



My follow-up submission:


Submission from WarOnGuns commentator "1894C" (© Oleg Volk):



From Armed & Christian #1 (© Oleg Volk):



Armed & Christian submission #2 (© Oleg Volk):



The Armed Cynic offers a "Million Mutton Package Deal" (1st image © JPFO):


and


Blognomicon sent them this graphic (© Oleg Volk):



Captain of a Crew of One submitted a familiar image:



End the War on Freedom opted for a personal message (which would make a great poster if Photoshopped into the Elian photo with the caption "Surprise!", wouldn't it?):



Fish Or Man sent in this disturbing bit of history:




Gun Show on the Net also thought a reminder of the real life consequences of "gun control" would be appropriate:



Frequent correspondent HZ is a talented gun photographer who thought a picture of his lovely wife displaying her skills would send a clear message:



The Liberty Zone also made a powerful "armed and female" statement:



Jeremy H sure looks happy, doesn't he? Think Control Arms will post his friendly face?



Mark Odell found this image, which has pretty much vanished from the Internet--wonder why?



Oscar Poppa chose to make a point about about gungrabbing elites and their bodyguards (© Oleg Volk):



South Park Pundit tried a reasoned approach (© Oleg Volk):



and when that didn't work, just decided to have some fun:



That's it for the first round of gallery images. Let me know if you want to join in the fun--if you blog about it, I'll link to it, or if you just want to submit a photo, I'll post it--and yes, I'll admit up front I'm censoring out anti-gun rights images. The other side has a heavily-financed effort backed by IANSA, Amnesty International and Oxfam, and they're not accepting opposing views. Surely there's room for one totally unfunded private little blog to speak for the side of individual rights.

One last point: A lot of the participants selected images by Oleg Volk. Their inclusion does not imply any endorsement of this project by Mr. Volk. It simply means that these people think his compelling artwork represents their view of things.

Another source for images can be found from some of our old GunTruths posters, you can create your own, or find images you think are appropriate via search engines.

Tags: gun control

A Suspect Report

Intelligence officers who eavesdropped on thousands of Americans in overseas calls under authority from President Bush have dismissed nearly all of them as potential suspects after hearing nothing pertinent to a terrorist threat, according to accounts from current and former government officials and private-sector sources with knowledge of the technologies in use.

But...but...but "The Partnership" tells us suspects aren't innocent...

Michael Gawenda: LIAR

Congress has failed to renew the 1994 legislation that banned assault weapons, even though George Bush, during the 2004 presidential election campaign, said he supported the law. As a result, it's now OK to buy an AK-47 or an Uzi machine-gun, if that turns you on.--Michael Gawenda

Michael, you are a liar. Expiration of the '94 semiauto ban did nothing to change federal law regarding machine gun possession. You are parroting an intentional deception, you fraud:

"The semi-automatic weapons' menacing looks, coupled with the public's confusion over fully automatic machine guns versus semi-automatic assault weapons – anything that looks like a machine gun is assumed to be a machine gun – can only increase that chance of public support for restrictions on these weapons."—Josh Sugarmann, Violence Policy Center

More agenda-driven subversion from "The Partnership".

[Thanks to Dan Gifford]

UPDATE: Nicki tears the liar to shreds.

Tags: gun control, propaganda

Words Have Meaning...

TIME Exclusive: Attorney General will tell Senators that wiretaps target suspects, not innocents

Everybody got that, right?

What was it Inspector Clouseau said?

I suspect everyone and I suspect no one.

What else should we expect from "The Partnership"?

The Newest Deterrent to Bank Robberies

A bank in DuPage County is asking its customers to remove hats, hoods and sunglasses when entering their banks, as a deterrent for would-be robbers. Officials with West Suburban Bank, based in Lombard, say this is just one action to deter robberies, in response to last year’s record-breaking 238 bank robberies in the metropolitan area.

Hat and sunglass control.

It's so brilliantly simple, it's elegant. Why hasn't anyone thought of this before?

UPDATE: FreedomSight is making a sign.

[Thanks to HZ]

Chris Hansen: NBC's Undercover Cop

Speaking of journalism, Dateline NBC, the same folks who brought us the rigged exploding crash test, has crossed another line.

"Dateline's ongoing hidden camera investigation into computer sex predators--grown men, trolling the Web for sex with minors. This time, police are making arrests..." the MSNBC subhead for "To Catch a Predator III" announces.

Good. Damned perverts deserve to be crucified. If it was my kids, I'd gut 'em like a trout.

Which is hardly the point. By partnering with law enforcement to engineer arrests, "correspondent" (why not "undercover deputy"?) Chris Hansen has shed the role of journalist and taken on that of police investigator. A key function of a free press--although you wouldn't know it from the preponderance of "gun control" and other state-worshipping editorials--is to act as a watchdog against abuse of power, not as a guard dog alerting civil authority to misdeeds.

And it's not like NBC affiliates haven't partnered with such authority before.

If the ratings are good--and the "cause" is certainly one that elicits public interest and sympathy--why not expand the concept to other crimes?

How about if they have the cops waiting while they host a gambling sting, or entrap Johns with prostitutes, or--I know--set up a drug bust. I mean, nobody likes those crackheads, right?

No? Still too many in the "conservative gun owner" camp who think these wretches get what they deserve?

Good, because if ratings reward the concept, advertising revenues will grow. Once the networks--and why not newspapers, too?--see how profitable it is to partner with police, there's no limit to how far this can be exploited.

What does it take to elevate the threat level so it even appears on our radar as a concern? Do we need to have our ox gored by the police/reporter alliance?

What if the promo read:

"Dateline's ongoing hidden camera investigation into Second Amendment fanatics who purchase firearms in defiance of sensible gun laws. This time, police are making arrests...."

It's not the same thing? It doesn't need to be. Once we establish that the proper role of journalists is to facilitate arrests for lawbreaking, we will have lost a key independent check and balance over authority. A partnership of private journalists with the state is a hybrid that needs to be exposed for what it is: fascist propaganda.

No matter how "good" the cause.

Or we can not care, watch the shows with voyeuristic fascination, tell ourselves that the end justifies the means...

Maybe in a few years, we'll get to see Geraldo or some clone actually slap the cuffs on the perp, hand him over to a cop, look into the camera and end the show with an authoritative "Book him!"

Tags: NBC, police

No Pulitzer for Nicki

Nicki is all over the latest pack of lies masked as science being promulgated by the rights grabbers.

She's bringing us the story we'll never see in the establishment press. Remember that the next time they sneer at bloggers and treat themselves to an awards dinner.

Goose, Meet Gander

Mayor Daley on Monday embraced a radical plan to require every licensed Chicago business open more than 12 hours a day to install indoor and outdoor cameras...

-------------------------------------------------------------------

In an unusual case, an Evanston woman has been charged with felony eavesdropping charges after she secretly tape recorded a police stop.

[Thanks to HZ]

Blogger Was Down...

...a good part of the day. I did manage to get the gallery I talked about compiled, but will probably save it for Monday, seeing as how traffic on weekends is always much slower.

I put the time to good use--in addition to the tedium of posting pictures into the draft, I wrote an article about home defense for the next issue of Preparedness Now, researched my next GUNS Magazine submission about gun control in Brazil, took the kids down to the beach and walked 2 miles while they skated the Strand, and coached eldest son Uday while he made his first ever dinner: Italian sausages with red and green sliced peppers in a Portobello mushroom and tomato sauce over vegetable trio rotini.

The kid done good.

Million Moon March Update

That gallery post I talked about will follow shortly. Also, I don't think this project warrants a separate blog--at least I don't have time to maintain one. So the plan for now will be to just post updates here at WarOnGuns.

A couple people have raised concerns about Control Arms rejecting their photos and substituting ones of their own--to make opponents appear to be supporters. By choosing this fraudulent tack, they have outsmarted themselves and tainted their results. By claiming protest submissions as additions to their ranks, they can no longer present "honest" numbers.

Additionally, their reason for rejection doesn't even adhere to their own posted rejection criteria:

* Incompatible file type (we can only accept jpeg images at this time)
* Poor image composition-- the image quality is too poor for us to display the image online
* Easily identifiable third party advertising or slogans
* Inappropriate or potentially offensive content or information that might give your exact location details to those browsing the galleries (eg; house no. and street name).

The images I've seen have been excellent, there has been no advertising spam, and their criteria for being "inappropriate or potentially offensive" is qualified by the concern that it might give away "location details." Nothing I've seen does that.

So they took my original submission:



and replaced it with this:



I resubmitted this image, and sent it back to them (you now have an email address if you wish to bypass their site form) with the following reply:

You are absolutely NOT authorized to substitute the picture I submitted with one of your choosing.

I am getting reports from others who have joined me in submitting protest photos to your site, only to have you turn around and--after having your "administrators" review them--add them to your rank of supporters.

The numbers you will be presenting at the conclusion of your project are tainted by your choosing this dishonest tactic. This is the kind of fraud I expect from police state worshippers/genocide enablers who want a world where global government has a monopoly of force. You rely on lies to advance your agenda. How pathetic.

The hell with you subversive frauds. Free Americans will never disarm. There will never be enough of you to force us.

Molon Labe!

David Codrea

I Forgot to Mention You Could WIN Something Cool...

...when I posted my latest "Shameless Plug."

If you turn to pg. 108 of the March 2006 issue of GUNS Magazine, you can find out how to win a Kimber 8400 Classic in .300 WSM caliber, a Leupold 3.5-10X VXIII scope, 5 boxes of Winchester .300 WSM 180-grain AccuBond ammunition, and from Butler Creek, Flip-Open Scope Covers, and a Camo Comfort Stretch Sling with Uncle Mike's QD Sling Swivels.

Tags: gun, rifle

We're the Only Ones Clueless Enough...

The probe continued into how a handgun apparently smuggled into the Cook County Jail ended up being used in a shooting this week that left three inmates slightly wounded...

The good news is, they traced the gun back to its 1972 owner (take that, registry naysayers!). And I don't know why the reactionary press had to mention the inmate's mother who works for the sheriff's office. After all, she hadn't been to see him for weeks...

Tags: gun, police

It's Second Amendment Saturday...

...over at Free Constitution...

Stand Your Ground

There’s no way such paranoia can be dealt with. The best response when confronted with such pathology is avoidance. But when neurotic distrust is codified into disarmament laws, we aren’t given that option. We aren’t allowed to just back away.

"Stand Your Ground" is my Rights Watch column for the February issue of GUNS Magazine.

Tags: gun control

Congressional Report Card: Down a Grade

If your kid's grade slipped by a full point, you'd be a little concerned, right? Especially if he was a straight "A" student?

Yeah, an occasional "B" isn't something to get overly concerned about, but you'd want to make sure it was an anomaly, and that the downward slip wouldn't become a trend...

Well, that's the position gun owners are in. GOA A-rated Tom Delay has been replaced as House Majority Leader by B-rated John Boehner.

Nothing to get hysterical about--at this time--but it's worth noting and keeping an eye on...

On the plus side, I've learned his name is pronounced Bay'-nor, which should save everyone a lot of embarrassment...

"Road Rage"

Nicki reports that John Lott is going after the Harvard "study" claiming gun owners are more likely to suffer from "road rage."

Actually, since owning property is a legal concept, it's a far cry between being a gun owner vs. simply having a gun in the car...

Case in point...

I Trust Everyone is OK?

The Kama Sutra worm strikes today.

I'm sure WarOnGuns visitors are astute enough to maintain up-to-date anti-virus software, and to not open emails promising you naughty thrills...

I guess I shouldn't be judgmental. We're each of us different, and by golly, that's what our leaders say makes us strong.

So if you want to look at a really dirty picture, certified "safe" by WarOnGuns, well, I guess a little peek won't hurt...

The Union is Sick

I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it--Voltaire

You'll not find a more committed advocate for the Second Amendment than attorney Peter Mancus. Peter has some plain speaking for those who arrested Cindy Sheehan at the State of the Union address for wearing a t-shirt with an anti-war message.

I know there are many who think she's a lunatic and a traitor. That's not the point, as Voltaire reminds us. There are others who say she offended decorum by making a statement where it was inappropriate to do so.

Consider: Would you want someone ejected for wearing an American flag pin on their lapel? A visible cross or Star of David? An NRA tie tack? A red AIDS ribbon? An AFL-CIO button?

Who is the arbiter of acceptable expressions of affiliation, and where do they derive Constitutional authority? Even the Capitol police now admit they had no lawful power to act as they did. Remember--she was not holding a banner, being disruptive or otherwise infringing on the rights of anyone else.

Arguing that the floor of the Capitol is no place for political expression reminds me of that great comedic line from Dr. Strangelove:

Gentlemen! You can't fight in here. It's the War Room.

Shameless Plug: Thunderbawl

Here’s a gun control trivia challenge. Name the person who said:

"I hate handguns. Handguns are used to shoot people and as long as they are around, people will shoot each other.

A. Sarah Brady
B. Dianne Feinstein
C. Bond. James Bond.

"Thunderbawl" is my Rights Watch column for the March issue of GUNS Magazine, on sale now at dashing, daring and dangerous newsstands throughout Her Majesty's realm...I mean, the Republic.

Speaking of Bond girls...

We're the Only...Oh, Now, That's Just Plain Disgusting...

Move over, Bond girls.

A Ross County jail inmate hid a gun so well that not even the guards who did an extensive pat-down found it.

The Cleveland woman hid a loaded handgun inside her body and smuggled it all the way to her jail cell, where it accidentally fired when she was trying to hide it.

"Move over Bond girls"?

Reporter Aaron Marshall has a pretty twisted sense of the provocative and tempting, don't you think?

And what are the odds of two gun-in-jail stories in one day? I mean, hearing about them?

Tags: gun control, police

We're the Only Ones Custodial Enough...

Three Cook County Jail inmates were treated for non-life-threatening injuries after being shot during a quarrel in a maximum-security cell the men shared, a Sheriff's Police spokesman said.

Jail guards recovered a .38 caliber revolver from the cell but officers don't know how the gun got into the jail...

SEE? Total gun control works!

Especially when administered by professionals!

[Thanks to HZ]

Tags: gun control, police

"Preparedness Now!" Feb. Newsletter

Pam Stegner of Preparedness Now! has just published the February newsletter. The theme of this month's issue is "personal security."

Check it out!

Joining the March

Bill St. Clair at End the War on Freedom has joined the Million Moon March.

If I find more sites signing on today, this post will be updated.

Since the globalist wretches at Control Arms don't seem inclined to post our submissions, I'm thinking of adding an image gallery here. If you have your picture on your blog, I'll go fetch it. If you don't blog but send them a picture, forward it to me at codrea4 at adelphia dot net and I'll make creating a gallery with attributions a weekend project.

As far as the censorship goes, that is completely unsurprising. The type that most shrilly demands "tolerance" is the most rigid and intolerant of creatures. That's why it's so much fun to poke 'em in the eye. So send them your entry today, and be sure and let me know about it.

UPDATE: Civis Proeliator at Oscar Poppa has found a great illustration of elitist hypocrisy.

Curtis Stone at Captain of a Crew of One has "jumped on the bandwagon" with a familiar image...

THURSDAY NIGHT UPDATE: Chaos at Whiskey Tango Foxtrot advises his readers to "Stop the Gungrabbers."

Million Moon March Update

Maybe this thing will spread (horrible pun intended)...

So far, three gun blogs have picked up on it:

Blognomicon calls it Global Gun-Grabbers Operation Feelgood.

South Park Pundit says Control This.

And The Armed Cynic terms the project The Million Mutton Package Deal.

As South Park Pundit says about pictures we send in:

They won't display them. I don't doubt that for a minute. But disrupting their little cocoon of utopian rhetoric is worth it.

If you have a gun blog and want to join the Million Moon March, send me a link to your post: codrea4 at adelphia dot net and I'll post about it here on WoG.

UPDATE: Fish Or Man sent them a killer picture. Literally.

And Say Uncle links to it, albeit the discussion is focused on the Pinky and the Brain angle...

Jay from Armed & Christian submitted a great Oleg Volk poster .

ONE MORE:David from Gun Show on the Net just weighed in...

The Million Moon March

Our Million Faces petition is collecting photos and self portraits from around the world to reach our goal of one million faces by June 2006. We will use these faces to send a powerful, global message of support to the world's governments for an International Arms Trade Treaty.

So the global gungrabbers want us to send them a picture? Are you pondering what I'm pondering, Pinky?



Tags: gun control

And a Child Shall Lead Them...

Allowing people to carry guns wherever they go is like allowing children to run with scissors. They might not ever get hurt, but no one in their right mind would actually allow their child to do it...And let's not forget guns sometimes have the unfortunate luck of going off on their own...Certainly having a ban on concealed weapons deters would-be offenders from even carrying a gun.

Translation: Governments are instituted among men to treat them like preschoolers. Inanimate objects spring to life and act of their own volition. Violent criminal predators obey the law.

Words of knowledge, wisdom, experience and judgment from a college kid.

What a laughable, ignorant, impotent child you are, Chris Walker.

You should stop what you're doing--right now--and go read Julia Gorin.

Then hang your pathetic head in deserved shame.

Tags: gun control

Daley: Cameras Will Make Us Safer

Mayor Daley on Monday embraced a radical plan to require every licensed Chicago business open more than 12 hours a day to install indoor and outdoor cameras...If the mayor's endorsement translates into City Council approval of the ordinance championed by Ald. Ray Suarez (31st), business leaders will demand tax breaks and a phase-in similar to the sprinkler ordinance that gives older high-rises 12 years to comply, Roper said.

And he predicted the requirement would ultimately translate into fewer hours and lower wages.

Once the cud-chewers have been conditioned to comply, I wonder if private residences will be far behind. After all, it would make us safer.

And that's what the Framers wanted, isn't it?

Tags: Chicago

We're the Only Ones Up and Down Enough...

Carrion is heard telling the officer he is unarmed and is in the military.

At one point, a voice is heard saying several times: "Get up."

Carrion says: "I'm gonna get up." As he rises, at least four shots are fired and Carrion collapses, crying out in pain.

"Shots fired! Shots fired!" someone shouts.

In a telephone interview conducted in Spanish, Valdez said after the shooting, Carrion asks the deputy, "Why did you shoot me if you told me to stand up?" That alleged exchange cannot be heard on the video.

The deputy, whose name was not released, was placed on paid administrative leave, a routine procedure in officer-involved shootings.

Naturally, his name was not released. Naturally, he's being placed on paid leave.

Tags: gun, police

WI Concealed Carry: Another Perspective

The status quo gun lobby - yes, the status quo - are ultimately responsible for killing this concealed carry legislation because they allowed the bill to become an anti-gun nightmare.

That doesn't surprise anyone, does it?

[Thanks to HG]

Tags: gun control, NRA

Worker Goes Postal Despite Signs

A female ex-postal worker opened fire at a mail processing plant, killing six people and critically wounding another before committing suicide, authorities said early Tuesday.

What the hell's the matter with some people? Can't they read?



[Thanks to HZ]

We're the Only Ones Registered Enough

The handgun used in a double-homicide and suicide was once owned by the police, but how it wound up in the hands of the man blamed for the shooting cannot be conclusively established, investigators say.

Yeah, a national gun registry--that'll solve everything...

Y'know, contrary to appearances, I never set out looking for "We're the only ones..." stories to post, and don't even use the word "police" as a news search term when seeking material to post and comment on.

Tags: gun, police

How Do You Say "We're the Only Ones" in Portuguese?

Within minutes five residents – among them three boys under the age of 15 – lay dead. The weathered cement walls outside the bar were pockmarked with gunshots and the pavement covered in a thick coat of blood.

"It was an execution," one man who was in the bar at the time but was too scared to be identified told Toward Freedom.

And the executioners?

Why, the only ones, of course.

Tags: gun, police

We're the Only Ones Sporting Enough...

Fairfax County's police chief said yesterday that one of his officers accidentally shot and killed an optometrist outside the unarmed man's townhouse Tuesday night as an undercover detective was about to arrest him on suspicion of gambling on sports...

"As they approached him . . . one officer's weapon, a handgun, was unintentionally discharged," said Fairfax Police Chief David M. Rohrer.

Well, it's not like he was a productive citizen or anything, and he was breaking the law...that gambling between consenting adults--now that's something I want government resources used to crush.

Here's something else I always look for in stories like this, and WaPo is true to form:

The officer, a 17-year veteran assigned to the police tactical unit, was not identified.

Why the hell not? If you or I killed an unarmed man, do you think our names would be shielded by the police and by the press? Do you think we'd be place on leave with pay, and described as "valued"?

Lt. Richard Perez, a police spokesman, said he could not say how or why the gun discharged.

Gee, Dick, let me take a wild guess. It couldn't have anything to do with Officer Secret Identity having his finger on the trigger, could it?

If he really is the trained veteran being described, the only doubt this casts is on the accidental nature of this obscenity.

[Thanks to straightarrow]

Tags: gun, police

We're the On...Yes, Again...

A case of theft hit close to home for Bloomington police after guns and other gear were stolen from a police officer's car.

Bloomington police are passing around copies of a photograph showing the kinds of equipment someone grabbed from an officer's car.

"Really, I think it should bother everybody. It gives someone a definite advantage with a gun, radio, handcuffs and a badge," said Gene Perkins, Bloomington resident...

"I think it's just dangerous for people to have guns like that in the possession of police on the street to start with," said Staci Leavitt, university student.

The funny thing is, Staci, I agree with that statement.

Tags: gun, police

We're the Only...Not AGAIN...

A Tampa police officer lost his 9 mm handgun, Taser, laptop computer and gun belt when someone stole his patrol car from his Manatee County house this weekend, officials said.

The Manatee County Sheriff's Office speculated Monday that whoever stole Tampa police Officer Roderick Glyder's car and gear also swiped a patrol car belonging to a Sarasota police officer, who lost an AR-15 rifle that was in the car. Manatee deputies recovered both cars, although not the equipment, within a few blocks of each other, Manatee sheriff's spokesman Dave Bristow said.

So it's happened TWICE now. Yeah, that's been a constant problem for me and every gun owner I know, too--always leaving our guns in our cars, because, face it, we're just not professional enough.

Maybe the Tampa and Sarasota PD's should hold a "buyback to get dangerous guns off the street."

Tags: gun, police

Safety First

Police said Shamia Johnson is facing several charges after she shot her grandfather, pointed a gun at a driver, and caused two hit-and-run accidents.

Despite the laws Johnson was breaking, at no time did police engage her in a chase...Deputy Chief Dave Stephens said the department's policy didn't allow for a chase in this case.

"Our policy regarding pursuits allows the pursuit only in a situation of a felony dangerous to life," he said...

"That policy has been enacted for the protection of public safety because the risk of pursuit far outweighs the benefit from arresting the person," said Stephens.

Yeah, that's why they waited around at Columbine, too. For our safety.

"Public safety" is the stated reason for every "gun control" edict on the books. Somehow, I don't feel safer.

Tags: gun control, police

Is "The Time" Approaching?

Good opinion piece from Kathryn A. Graham.

With all due respect, I strongly disagree with this assertion:

The defender always has the tactical advantage.

Not always, Ms. Graham. Only when moves are telegraphed.

[Via Rational Review]

Police Chiefs Still Support Gun Registry

Of course they do.

And have no doubts they'll also support confiscating those registered guns when the orders come down.

Because they're the only ones professional enough...

Tags: gun control, police

We're the Only...Hey, What the Hell You Lookin' At?

St. Paul police are rethinking their policies allowing undercover officers to drink on the job after a decorated officer was shot to death outside of a bar...When he was killed, Vick's blood-alcohol level was 0.20 percent -- twice the legal limit for driving at that time. Since the defense raised questions about Vick's partner carrying a firearm while consuming alcohol, Harrington said the department is examining that policy...Vick and his partner, Sgt. Joe Strong, were investigating prostitution when they confronted two men outside a bar on St. Paul's East Side. The argument escalated to a shooting in a nearby alley that killed Vick.

On Friday, Harry Evans was convicted of first-degree murder in Vick's death and sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole.

Another drunken cop shooting story? Any bets on the outcome if Vick had shot first and Evans was the one killed?

Tags: gun, police

Happy Birthday to Me...

...or more accurately to The War on Guns: Notes from the Resistance, which made its debut one year ago today.

Talk About Picking and Choosing...

Google, the giant internet search company, is to lead industry opposition to new proposals from the European Commission to regulate online content.

The company, which last week said it would self-censor its Chinese search engine to appease the country's government, objects to the commission's proposals to extend regulations in the Television Without Frontiers directive (TWFD) to cover video content shown on the internet.

I guess if everyone sees you back down from a tough bully, picking a fight with the pudgy kid is one way of trying to regain some playground status...

Tags: China, Google

And Now for Something Completely Different

What with all this talk about rainbow posters and all, it's time for a little healthy, politically incorrect irreverance, courtesy of one of the funniest damn sites I've found, Superdickery.

Natural Assumptions

Security camera footage that detectives later studied...would show Hernandez being assaulted by at least five men and a woman. He had no teammates to back him, and his opponents hit him without the remotest sense of fair play. He ended up drawing his gun.

Michael Daly, who never saw a gun ban he didn't endorse, has nothing but wonderful things to say about the off-duty officer mistakenly shot by NY cops. And naturally, being a police worshipper, he has nothing but excuses for the cop doing the shooting:

Whatever happened next, nobody faults the responding officer who felt compelled to fire. Only when a paramedic discovered a shield in Hernandez's pocket did anyone realize he was an off-duty cop.

But while Mayor Mike Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly were staying mysteriously silent about how officers would be safe if we could just disarm those pesky citizens, another angle to this story has surfaced:

[S]ources said [he] was highly intoxicated and holding his gun on a young man...

Naturally, the establishment media was all over this when they had a chance to question Mike and Ray. I mean, you and I would be if we had a chance, right?

Bloomberg and Kelly were not asked about Hernandez's sobriety at the news conference.

Maybe it made the reporters uncomfortable. Besides, how drunk could Hernandez have been?

[A]source familiar with the investigation said the officer, who had worked the 4 p.m. to midnight shift Friday at the 52nd Precinct, had been drinking at one or two bars before arriving at the restaurant and that his blood-alcohol level was twice the legal limit of .08.

Well, still, even a drunk cop has a right to defend himself against a mob. I'll bet the "opponents" he held at gunpoint are all in jail now, right? I mean, how could people confronting a drunken armed New York cop (who even other cops didn't realize was one) be giving him "the remotest sense of fair play"?

A man, who would give only his first name, Brian, said he was the one being held at gunpoint and left the 46th Precinct at about 5 p.m. after hours of questioning. "I was a little twisted," he said, referring to his own condition at the time. "Some dude came up and pointed a gun at me and said he was going to shoot and pushed me onto the floor. He looked drunk." He quoted the man as saying, "I know you did it. Get on the floor."

Brian was one of eight people taken to the precinct for questioning, police said.

Brian and a friend, who gave only his first name, Miguel, said Brian had tried to help Hernandez off the floor after the officer was attacked.

All the assumptions!

Why was Hernandez attacked? Are we to assume having twice the "legal" blood alcohol level had nothing to do with his level of aggression?

Why the assumption that--because a badge was discovered in his pocket--Hernandez was in the right? Had a badge not been discovered, how do you think the media would be presenting this story?

Why is it when cops mistakenly shoot one of their own, we get excuses, but when citizens shoot home invaders they don't even know are cops, they get the death penalty?

Here's the main assumption on the part of New York cops:

We need to make it clear that if someone lifts even a finger against a police officer, their life could be on the line.

This is what traitors like Mike Bloomberg wish to impose on the rest of the Republic. This is what fawning media lickspittles like Mike Daly wish to help them accomplish.

We are ordered to disarm. We are ordered to obey "authoritah". Even if the cop is drunk. If we lift a finger to defend ourselves, we risk forfeiting our lives.

Because as we have proven time and again here at WarOnGuns, they're the only ones [insert appropriate adjective] enough...

How could anyone assume otherwise?

Tags: gun control, Bloomberg, New York, police,