We're the Only Ones Fake Enough

"By invoking a fear of violence and the authority of a badge and uniform, he manipulated these people," prosecutor Thomas Spota said. "They had no reason to doubt his ability to follow through on his threats or challenge what they logically interpreted as the legal authority of a law enforcement officer."

I'd say once he started unzipping his pants, that was a pretty strong clue he'd exceeded any legal authority...and it seems he was a natural predator, selecting only the weak, the weak-minded and the young.

But we've all been conditioned by the state since toddlerhood to accept police as special authority figures who issue commands we had better follow, a concept reinforced by experience and/or the news just about every day of our lives.

Hopefully, "The Only Ones" Files help to break through some of that conditioning, so we can apply a more critical eye to our law enforcement interactions, and be informed and on guard to deal with situations where lines of legality and propriety are crossed.

Here's another take on this story. Yeesh!

[Via Cryptic Subterranean and Declan]

This Day in History: June 6

June 6, 1755 – Nathan Hale is born

BATFU Revenging Itself on Red's

Horsley said gun sales records are filed alphabetically. And each letter is filed chronologically.

But the ATF told him he cannot order files both ways.

"Is Adams before Anderson?" Young asked Horsley, to make the point that his files were not ordered alphabetically. "I said, 'Probably not.' She said, 'That's a violation if they aren't in perfect alphabetical order.' In the four previous audits this has never been in question."

Horsley said in a 2005, Agent Caleb Rushing actually "suggested" he arrange files "with the last transaction toward the front for quick and easy access."

Young told Horsley, Rushing was wrong.

It could not be more clear. These thugs are extracting vengeance against Red's for daring to speak out about their rights.

I've worked in industries heavily regulated by government agencies--I wrote their audit compliance procedures--and have never seen anything this intentionally petty. It's evident this is not a matter of public safety: it's a matter of gang thugs burning out a business owner for protesting their shakedown racket instead of kissing their treasonous rear ends.

This is not a matter of ensuring compliance: it's a matter of intentional, in-your-face destruction of a family's business. It's naked abuse of power under color of authority. And it's time to start treating it as such.

We're the Only Ones...Well, You Know...

Hoosick Falls Police are being close mouthed about what traffic violations were allegedly being committed by a New York State corrections officer who they arrested Saturday night on drug and weapons charges.

Harold E. Gaines, 39, of Latham, is charged with having 69 bags of marijuana on the front passenger seat...

Maybe he was driving back from Fort Sumner by way of New Matamoras...

[Via Armed and Safe]

[More from "The Only Ones" files...]

Just Checking

Trial by ordeal and ritual killings persist in Liberia and are undermining efforts to improve human rights in the wake of a 1989-2003 civil war, a UN report said on Thursday.

In such trials, persons accused of crimes are subjected to ordeals, such as swallowing a poisonous brew or enduring burning or pain, to determine their innocence or guilt.

Despite a crackdown by the Liberian government and the United Nations, rights groups say the practice remains popular in Liberia, especially in rural areas where the police, army and authorities are mistrusted because of rights abuses during the civil war, which killed some 200,000 people.

I just wanted to see if yesterday's post about the UN urging Liberians to give up their guns was still valid.

We're the Only Ones Not Disciplined Enough

A New Matamoras man avoided a trial after pleading guilty Monday to being in possession of a police officer’s stolen gun.

Anthony Kennedy, 24, was set to stand trial today, accused of stealing a handgun in March from an unmarked police cruiser assigned to Sgt. Craig Brockmeier of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office...

Brockmeier was not disciplined over the incident.

No, of course not.

[More from "The Only Ones" files...]

We're the Only Ones Finding Positive Meaning Enough

He said he has tried to find positive meaning in the break-in.

“If they had to come into our police department and get marijuana that means that my officers were doing their job and keeping drugs off the street,” he said.

Always look on the bri-ight side of life...

[Via Dan Gifford]

Nothing New About Pfleger Pflouting Tax Law

My posts about Mike "Snuffy" Pfleger's abuse of his church's tax status notwithstanding, this is not the first time this issue has been brought to light. Yet curiously, not only has the IRS stood by doing nothing, but this aspect of the story has been all but ignored by "conservative" news outlets and bloggers--even though a clear double standard is evidenced in two recent news stories involving evangelical churches in Florida and Kansas.

In 2003, The Washington Post reported on Pfleger inviting then Democrat presidential candidate Al Sharpton to address the St. Sabina congregation. In their account, the Chicago Sun Times revealed:

[A]rchdiocesan officials are concerned about whether having a political candidate speak from the pulpit might violate laws regarding not-for-profit organizations, such as churches.

They shouldn't have worried. It was a good day. Catholic Citizens of Illinois reported a $36,000 collection plate haul.

Sharpton wasn't the only political candidate given a spotlight. As commentator Nicholas Stix observed about Barack Obama's relationship with Pfleger's St. Sabina in 2004:

He believes, with all his heart, in the separation of church and state – except when he campaigns in black churches, in violation of that separation, and in violation of the tax code.

Then we have some revelations from the Chicago Sun Times, April 12, 2005:

Rev. Michael Pfleger of St. Sabina says his church's outlay of $2,500 to send parishioners to a dinner and $1,500 for a golf outing, both sponsored by the 17th Ward Democratic Organization, was not illegal. "The perception was that Saint Sabina is funding candidates and taking church donations to do so," Pfleger said in a letter to the Sun-Times. "Neither is true." But as BGA director Stewart notes: "You have to ask, 'Who were these events hosted by and where did the profits go?'"

Events like these are meant to raise political cash, and a church's contribution crosses the already murky divide between state and religion. It's one thing for a church group to join a street protest to encourage social change and quite another to pay for attendance at a dinner sponsored by a political group. The rules about this are clear.

The article even says "Attorney General Lisa Madigan acted promptly by sending out information to tax-exempt groups..." so continuing to ignore the law is evidently willful, as opposed to an innocent oversight.

And here's a little apparent quid pro quo as reported by The Chicago Tribune early last month:

One of those long-time supporters was Rev. Michael Pfleger, the politically active leader of St. Sabina Church. He gave Obama's campaign $1,500 between 1995 and 2001, including $200 in April 2001, about three months after Obama announced $225,000 in grants to St. Sabina programs.

Pfleger said he made those donations personally, not on behalf of the church or to win grants.

"At a time when less people vote than ever, I don't think pastors should be silent on politics," Pfleger said.

No, apparently not, and 150 times your personal contributions are not a bad return on investment, either. Somehow, that pesky "wall of separation" liberals are alway harping about when the church/state issue involves conservative values (like pro-life Catholicism?) has become as porous and unguarded as our border. And with a nod and a wink, the St. Sabina congregation is in Obama's and the Chicago Democrat Machine's pockets, Pfleger has plausible deniability, and life on the South Side goes on.

The Power of One

Jury Nullification may be the final peaceful barrier between law-abiding gun owners and a tyrannical government dependent upon disarming honorable citizens.

For jury nullification to protect gun ownership rights, and all constitutional rights of gun owners, it is necessary for jurors to learn about their authority to judge the law and its application.

The Fully Informed Jury Association (FIJA) has prepared a brochure helping us to defend our right to keep and bear arms in the courtroom. If you're not familiar with this group and the historical basis for their arguments, or even if you are, go to their website for in depth information, updates on current efforts, and more.

Per Iloilo Marguerite Jones, Executive Director:

Larry Pratt distributed these brochures to his membership when they first came out, and Liberty Belles, many other gun groups and a few Constitutional groups have distributed them as well. We are happy to send this brochure, which is included in our information packet, to anyone who requests information. Call to our 1-800-TEL-JURY information line to request an information packet, which will be mailed to anyone who calls.

Go here to download the brochure (Adobe Reader required). Or, you can go to their website and order various quantities, as well as other informative FIJA materials.

I just realized I hadn't added them to my blogroll, so that oversight has been corrected. I invite fellow gunbloggers to add them to their links as well.

And I'm sure any and all support will be welcomed.

Freezing Mr. Freeze

A federal grand jury on Monday indicted Louisiana Democratic Rep. William Jefferson on 16 charges relating to a long-running investigation into bribery, racketeering, obstruction of justice and money laundering...

Court records indicate that Jefferson was videotaped taking a $100,000 cash bribe from an FBI informant. Most of that money later turned up in a freezer in Jefferson's home.

Is it any wonder that someone who would abuse the privilege of being entrusted with government power would also subvert the ultimate check and balance against tyranny?

From Gun Owners of America:


From "On the Issues":

Gonzales Expands BATFU

Seems like exactly the opposite of what we ought to be doing...

[Via Ryan Horsley]

This Day in History: June 5

George Cottingen and Daniel Dunevil, both of Captain Van Wyck's Company, of Col. McDougall's Regiment, tried at the above Court Martial, for "Desertion" -- are severally found guilty of the same, and sentenced to be whipped Thirty-nine Lashes each, on their bare backs.

Speaking for Amerika

"People tend to try to make this sort of a big-city issue," said John Feinblatt, the criminal justice coordinator for New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. "But there's nobody more articulate than Chief Knight, who really speaks for small town America. Most members of law enforcement are in small towns. So he sort of speaks for America."

Bloomberg's flack said it. I believe it. That settles it.

An Idiot's Interpretation of "Common Sense"

Once more, 45superman saves me the trouble of wading into the muck.

Everybody has his site bookmarked and blogrolled for daily visits, right?

Help the UN Make Liberia Gun-Free!

In an effort to help make Liberia a gun-free nation after 14 years of civil war, the Liberia Action Network on Small Arms (LANSA), is calling on Liberians to join ongoing campaign by the UNDP Small Arms Control Programme to make Liberia a gun-free society.

Per the US Department of State:

[C]rime rates are still high, and resources for responding to emergencies of any kind are minimal. Liberia's local and national police forces are in the process of being reconstituted and still lack adequate capacity to prevent or to investigate criminal activity.

Sounds like the perfect set of conditions for heeding the UN's advice and giving up the means of defending yourself and your family, doesn't it?

Shouldn't Prescriptions be Tested for Efficacy?

DuRant encourages all pediatricians to talk with parents about safe gun storage practices. The safest practice would be to remove guns from the house, but if parents are unwilling to do that, they should lock them and store the ammunition separately, he said.

And your qualifications to make these claims, Robert? And if a physician passes your advice on to a patient and someone gets hurt because of it, will their malpractice insurance cover them?

I can think of a couple different scenarios to test out your prescription. Maybe we could start with the Tueller Drill.

We're the Only Ones Jilted Enough

Memphis Police Officer Jeremy Kyle kicked in the door of his ex-girlfriend's house...

Officer Teresita Watson told detectives that Kyle walked into her bedroom and pointed a gun at her and another man who was with her.

The other man shot Kyle in the chest, detectives said. Kyle died at the scene.

I don't get the headline, which says the jilted boyfriend shot her, but the story says the new boyfriend's gun is the only one that was fired...even though earlier it implies Kyle's gun was fired in a struggle for it.

But I also don't get sleeping around with serial lovers while the kids are upstairs...

[Via Andre Campos]

[More from "The Only Ones" files...]

We're the Only Ones Virtual Enough

In making snap decisions about whether to shoot a potentially armed suspect, police officers are far less influenced by racial bias than students or community members forced to make the same decision, a large study has found...

In one experiment, participants watched a video screen as a series of 50 threatening images flashed by...

They shot at about 13 percent of the unarmed black men and roughly the same number of the unarmed white men. By contrast, the civilians shot at about 35 percent of the unarmed black men and 29 percent of unarmed white men.

I'd be interested in seeing how they came up with their test populations--and if comparable levels of experience and training were factored in. I'd also be interested in seeing how this is working out in real life.

[Via Dennis Walker]

[More from "The Only Ones" files...]

Kent McManigal vs. France

This provides an instructive insight into the government-dependent mindset. Unless we can reverse course and culturally embrace principles of individual freedom and responsibility, these attitudes will be as pervasive here as they are there. Our urban areas have probably already arrived.

This Day in History: June 4

The first motion in the Continental Congress for independence was made on June 4, 1776.

Thanks for Doing the Heavy Lifting

45superman just saved me from having to spend time commenting on a Milwaukee enuretic.

Good job.

New WarOnGuns Poll: Snuffing Snuffy

I'd hoped to do a follow-up this week to the previous poll that asked how much money WarOnGuns visitors donated to pro-gun groups. This time, I was going to focus on how much time you give toward protecting the right to keep and bear arms.

We'll need to save that one for another day. Events pertaining to rogue priest Father Michael "Snuffy" Pfleger justify a more timely use of that space.

Go on over to the left margin and weigh in on what you think the most effective way to deal with him should be.

Now Why Would They Want to Do That?

Even more?

It All Depends on the Meaning of the Word "Snuff"

Piss Off the Left may have found an innocent explanation for all this.

50% Want Stronger Gun Laws

Many adults in the United States believe their country requires tougher firearm legislation, according to a poll by Opinion Research Corporation released by CNN.

CNN? Well then, it must be true.

And I'm sure the respondents are all well versed in the state of existing gun laws.

By definition, 50% of a given population will always be in the bottom half...

"Think of it as Anti-Michael Moore Movie Premiere"

No, think of it as a pro-freedom movie premiere. The antis are the ones who are against things.

Still, it's nice to see a press report on the premiere of JPFO's "The Gang" at Red's Trading Post. If you missed Ryan Horsley's comment on the WarOnGuns post, it was indeed chilling and infuriating:

Following the JPFO Alert of my interview with "Talkin to America" we were greeted by 3 ATF Agents, one of which was the Area Supervisor who traveled from Spokane, Washington to inspect us.

It appears those who erroneously believe themselves to be our masters will brook no insolence.

We're the Only Ones Illegally "Legal" Enough

A 5-year veteran of the Milwaukee police force is on suspension and accused of living under a false identity since taking the name of a dead cousin eight years ago...

Ayala-Cornejo was charged with falsely representing himself as U.S. citizen, carrying up to three years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

So if you had resisted arrest, could you claim he had no authority to detain you in the first place? Would you have been "legally" justified to counter his potentially lethal force with equivalent force of your own?

I see plenty of challenges to previous convictions in the making...

But not to worry-- a "solution" to this dilemma is being worked on as we speak.

[Mas de "Los Uniquos" archivos...]

This Day in History: June 3

As in the detached state of the Artillery, the men often suffer for want of Surgeons, it being impossible for their own regimental Surgeons to take due care of them, dispersed as they are, over the whole line -- Each Brigadier is to see that the regimental Surgeons of his brigade pay every necessary attention to the detachment of artillery annexed thereto.

IRS Warns Church Against "Political Activity"

No, not Snuffy Pfleger's. The government likes his kind of "activism"...

A New Hope?

By now, GUNS readers will have heard Washington DC’s firearm ban has been overturned. The 2-1 decision in Parker v District of Columbia by a three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals reversed a lower court ruling and affirmed the Second Amendment protects an individual right. That sounds like a big deal, a huge deal some say, and they may be proven right.

"A New Hope?," my Rights Watch column for the June 2007 issue of GUNS Magazine is now on line.

GUNS Magazine, June 1957

And Mr. Juan Q. Citizen is likewise loco if he doesn't take similar precautions when he sticks his neck into potentially dangerous situations. Changing a tire on a deserted stretch of road, or tooling the old bus into the family driveway at night, or getting out of bed to see whether it's a man or a mouse, can all qualify as potentially dangerous situations. In all such cases, the gun should be in hand or handy-not in the rear trunk of the car along with the jack, nor yet in the glove compartment, not in the bureau drawer, but where you can reach it.

Time was, if you didn't have a gun for emergencies, it was considered "loco."

The June 1957 issue of GUNS Magazine is now on line.

Also in this issue:

• Alaska--Where Guns Go to College
• Which Bullet--And Why
• Shotgun Myths Make Misses
• Sammy Davis, Jr.--"My Favorite Gun"
  
• And much more, including the classic period ads.

Armorbearers

The Armorbearers share an individual and collective desire to lay down their lives for the life of another, namely Pastor Pfleger.

Christ came to lay down His life for us, not the other way around. So is this arrangement Christ-like or antichrist-like?

This sounds more and more like a Jim Jones-style cult.

I wonder if any of them are armed...?

Here's another thing that's bugging me about Snuffy: He wants to go after John Riggio. You'll note he's not assembling his mob around the houses of known gangbangers and threatening to snuff them out. Surely with all his contacts at the CPD, not to mention his parishioners who live in the neighborhood, he knows who they are and where they live...

Pop Goes "Big Weasel"

The founder of an anti-gun group will be arraigned June 21 on weapons charges, following his arrest Thursday for allegedly selling firearms to federal undercover officers, a spokesperson for the District Attorney's Office said today.

Hector "Big Weasel" Marroquin, 51 -- who founded the one-time city-funded group "No Guns" in 1996, purportedly to work against gang and gun violence in the inner city -- is charged with the sale of an assault rifle, a machine gun, two pistols and two silencers...It is his second weapons-related arrest in as many years. [More]

All this and apparent gang affiliations, too. Wonderful people, these anti-gun "activists".

At least he didn't threaten to snuff anybody out.

Levy on C-SPAN

For those persons interested in the Second Amendment, gun control, and the DC gun ban, I'll be discussing those subjects this Saturday morning, June 2, on C-SPAN's Washington Journal from 8:45-9:15 a.m.

Bob Levy
Senior Fellow in Constitutional Studies
Cato Institute

[Via Dan Gifford]

Ontario Suggests Banning Handguns May Cause Decline in Gun Crime

Personally, I think wishing real hard or maybe some magic incantations would be a lot more effective.

Survival Enterprises Interview

From ChareltonHest:

I just spoke Mr. Kurt Wilson of Survival Enterprises. He has alerted me that he will be interviewed by Don Harkins & Ingri Cassel of the Idaho Observer through the Republic Broadcasting Network(RBN). He will discuss the ATF and his case, and their will be call-in time.

Info:

1.) The program time:
http://libertypost.org/cgi-bin/readart.cgi?ArtNum=189660&Disp=1#C1
2.) Kurt's case:
http://www.survival-enterprises.com/summary.html

Please spread the word.

We're the Only Ones Dredging Up the Past Enough

Niagara regional police dive members searched the Grand River in Kitchener yesterday for signs of an officer's missing handgun and equipment...

Police have been looking for the semi-automatic handgun since it went missing Thursday across the street from Kitchener-Waterloo Collegiate.

"Went missing."

All by its own self, no doubt. At least they didn't say it ran away.

[More from "The Only Ones" files...]

This Day in History: June 2

For a long time past, this colony has, by a corrupt administration in Great Britain and here, been deprived of the exercise of those powers of Government, without which a people can be neither rich, happy or secure. The whole continent saw the blow pending, which if not warded oh, must inevitably have subverted the freedom and happiness of each colony; the principles of self defence, roused in the breasts of freemen by the dread of impending slavery, caused to be collected the wisdom of America, in a Congress composed of men, who through time must in every land of freedom be revered among the most faithful assertors of the essential rights of human nature.

Open Letter to Americans United for Separation of Church and State

To: americansunited@au.org I see you're trying to get the IRS to revoke an evangelist's 501(c)(3) status for his statement that a vote for Mitt Romney is a vote for Satan. One comment is all it takes for you guys to go ballistic? Have I got a case for you. Can we rely on your consistency to do something about Snuffy Pfleger? See:

• Snuff Out Mike Pfleger
• "Snuffed Out"
• Hey, Look Who Showed Up
• "Thousands Of Guns Taken Off The Streets" (which has the added bonus of public funds and manpower being expended on church projects)
• or simply use the search term "pfleger" at The War on Guns.

I'd say these links provide way more evidence of tax exemption abuse than a fundamentalist preacher decrying Mormonism to his congregation, wouldn't you? Can I count on your prompt investigation and follow-through with the IRS on this? Awaiting your response, David Codrea [WoG visitors--if you agree, feel free to send an email of your own.]

"The Gang" at Reds

From Ryan Horsley:

Red's Trading Post is pleased to announce the JPFO's decision to premiere their latest documentary The Gang in Twin Falls Idaho. The Gang exposes the abuses of the BATFE, this truly is a movie they do not want you to see.

This will be shown FREE OF CHARGE and Red's Trading Post will also be raffling off a Ruger 10/22 Rifle and other prizes to those who attend.

Where:
Lamphouse Theater
223 5th Ave South

When:
June 13th and 14th at 7pm

For more information on The Gang visit the website at:
http://www.thegangmovie.com/
For more information on the JPFO: Jews for Preservation of Firearm Ownership visit their website at:
http://www.jpfo.org

Related to this, I completely missed Ryan's May 22 JPFO interview. Go give it a listen--good stuff I wasn't aware of, and I've been following this pretty closely.

We're the Only Ones Extraordinarily Blundering Enough

A police marksman is under investigation after accidentally shooting a colleague in an extraordinary blunder.

The victim, a civilian employee, was seriously injured in the accident at a lecture room at the HQ of Thames Valley Police near Oxford.

He was apparently being shown the workings of a police Glock pistol when it went off, blasting him in the torso.

The victim, aged in his 50s, was left writhing in agony with blood pouring from the wound.

Cryptic Subterranean brings us more outstanding professionalism from our old mates, the Thames Valley Only Ones.

"Snuffed Out"

Hannity and Colmes cover the Mike "Snuffy" Pfleger brouhaha. By the way, the above is just a graphic--you need to click on the title link to get to the actual video player.

As expected, Alan dives right in to misdirection and apologia. The difference between this and an Ann Coulter column, Alan, aside from her well-known employment of satire as a literary tool, is she's not hysterically egging on a frenzied mob with street language right in front of anyone's doorstep. And as for your cynically referencing "the great Christian tradition of forgiveness," that sure doesn't sound like what the commie priest is doing.

The double standard is palpable. If I used the same terminology and applied it to our elected Chief Executive or one of the campaigning hopefuls for that job, I'd fully expect a visit from the Secret Service. If I said it in relation to the director of an abortion clinic, or, Allah forbid, a leader in our Guest Mufti Program, I'd expect the "terrorist threat" card to be played. Still, we can expect the wayward Snuffy will get away with this, and to tell you the truth, I'd rather we played more loosely with the First Amendment than tighter.

I believe everybody is missing the point. I believe all this noise will result in nothing. Is that what we want the outcome to be?

We've already seen a jury of his peers nullify charges where his committing the deed was never in question. And we've seen the Church hierarchy abdicating any authority to rein in their maverick.

I believe the key to shutting him down, the way to truly hurt his subversive operations, is through the tax issue I raised a few days ago (and incidentally, over a year before that). And that's why, it's with no small amount of frustration that I see this issue totally ignored not only by all "authorized" media, and not only by any "pro gun" organizations, but also by any other gun blogs save a few allies.

I just got the following from an EA ("Enrolled Agent"--a tax specialist) that convinces me I'm on the right track with this:

Mike Pfleger's 990 or 990EZ would have been due May 15 if The Beloved Community, Inc. is a calendar year filer and if it received total revenues in excess of $25,000 in 2006. (I suspect you will never see the 2006 returns if the organization has gone mostly inactive, there would not be enough revenue to force filing)

I would suggest that our friends in Chicagoland pay a visit to the location where the books are kept (per the 990 you have) and demand to see the organization's public records and be furnished with photocopies of same. See IRS instructions for form 990, page 11, for details: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i990-ez.pdf

I wouldn't mind seeing that, but as I indicated previously, it looks like everything is being done under the auspices of St. Sabina, which files no return because it's a church. I think it would need to be their books examined for donations and expenditures related to affecting legislative outcomes--including use of their assets for same, such as work product and correspondence stored on computers, telephone bills, vehicle use, etc.

If you're interested in kicking Snuffy in the nuts, this is the tack to use. Focusing on his hate speech, while useful for gaining some temporary attention, does little more than visibly divide people into their respective camps.

[Video link via 45superman]

Restoring the Norm

"It really is a matter of defining things very carefully and balancing maintaining one's rights and what has become the norm of society. It's something we're really going to have to examine."

There's an easy solution for that, Post Falls City Administrator, that is, public servant Eric Keck. More people need to start exercising their right to keep and bear arms so that fewer people are "alarmed". It's not like they freak when they see an armed "Only One."

[Via ChareltonHest]

[More on Zach Doty from WarOnGuns]

"That's the Kind of Lowlife that They Are"

[Scroll down the "News" video selection panel to "Pastor accused of making threats towards gun shop"]

Mikey is the victim. Poor Mikey.

And you people are just a bunch of lowlifes.

[Via Paul Grant]

A Panel of Experts

One might think that the only thing people would be interested in hearing from "Father" Michael Pfleger is a retraction of, and an apology and explanation for, his call to "snuff out" gun shop owner John Riggio, along with unnamed pro-rights legislators. One would, apparently, be wrong. Next Wednesday, he'll be on TV, as part of a panel, in a bit of irony too bizarre for decent fiction, on reducing youth violence in Chicago.

I suspect this panel--government coercion proponents all-- couldn't find a solution with both hands and a mirror, but that won't stop ABC7 from passing them off as the best and brightest in the field.

I contacted the station via their online form:



Here's the complete text of my message:

How can you people even feign objectivity with the panel of citizen disarmament zealots you have assembled? How do you have the absolute gall to present this under auspices of "news," as opposed to agenda-driven statist propaganda? And who will violence-stopping Mike Pfleger recommend snuffing out this time? You want real news, try asking him how he operates a tax-deductible 501 (c)(3) while engaging in legislative advocacy. But that would require two things you obviously don't possess based on the insultingly biased composition of your panel of "experts": objectivity and an interest in the truth.

If you agree that ABC7 is engaging in propaganda vs news, please go to their comments page and protest their selection of panelists. Why is it they can't seem to find even one participant who can demonstrate the only solution to preventing violence is if potential victims have the means to discourage it?

Please do this, spread the word, and encourage others to follow suit. It would be nice if fellow gun bloggers and pro-2A forums joined in too.

Fair is Fair

A leading pro-abortion group, Catholics for Free Choice, is attacking Priests for Life, a top pro-life organization, and claiming that it is violating its status as a nonprofit entity by posting videos of pro-life Sen. Sam Brownback on its web site.

So posting a video on a website is all it takes for the left to demand repeal of tax emempt status?

So why can Mike Pfleger run an anti-gun legislation campaign on his?

We're the Only Ones Savage Enough

[Use BugMeNot to bypass site registration.]

The DirecTV installers were struggling.

They'd been fiddling with the satellite TV system for two hours at Julie and Steven Pyle's home in Savage. The installers called DirecTV at one point, saying they were being "held hostage" on the job.

Then things really went haywire.

A DirecTV dispatcher called the police, who showed up at the Pyle house with guns drawn. Savage police forced Julie Pyle to the ground in her driveway and handcuffed her, even after the DirecTV installers told officers there'd been a mistake, the Pyles say.

"But they were all pumped up..."

Well, DirecTV says it beats cable. I didn't realize they could also arrange to have the same thing done to their customers.

[More from "The Only Ones" files...]

[Via geedub17]

We're the Only Ones Kinderphotoing Enough

Who doesn't think it's strange that an adult male with a badge and a gun would take pictures – would stalk for hours – (my) 5-year-old daughter?"

Good thing the cops kept his camera (but gave him back his gun...)!

And it's better thing this didn't happen in New York, where "lifting a finger" can be lethal.

[More from "The Only Ones" files...]

[Via Jeff]

This Day in History: June 1

That all men are born equally free and independent, and have certain inherent and natural rights, of which they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their posterity; among which are, the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.

Look Who Else Showed Up

So--is the Cardinal gonna strap 'em on and finally do something about this rebellious embarrassment to the Church (and to humanity) or not?

Hey, Look Who Showed Up

I wonder if the IRS looked at this particular computer, how much political activism-related work product and correspondence they'd find?

Shameless Plug: Grabbers All

So we need to vote Republican, right?

Yeah, if you agree with Rudy Giuliani that we need federal licensing and testing to own a gun, and that semiautos should be banned...

Or take John McCain—please!

...The third “big” name among GOP contenders is former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney...

"Grabbers All" is my Rights Watch column for the July 2007 issue of GUNS Magazine, on sale now at gripping newsstands throughout the Republic. (I actually liked my working title, "Heil to the Chief!" but then again, no one ever accused me of being tactful and delicate.)

Also, a psychologist wrote a nice letter about my Frank Melton article in the Crossfire section (pg 6).

BONUS: See pg 92 to find out how you can win a Vega Diamond Double Elite over & under 20-gauge shotgun, imported from Turkey by ADCO Sales.

The Pfleger Cover-Up Begins

Vince Clark, a spokesman for Pfleger, told Cybercast News Service Wednesday that the pastor wasn't aware of the violent connotation of "snuff" and didn't mean to threaten bodily harm. (Listen to Pfleger's comments)

"I've never heard that compared before with the word murder," Clark said. "He [Pfleger] was never aware of that. If that was the case he would never have used that language."

Right, Vince. The guy lives in da hood, throws out street slang like "the Benjamins," and no one has any idea what snuffing someone out means. And for gun owners to protest this lunatic's rantings "is uncalled for."

As for that Church hierarchy we're hoping will do something about this:

James Accurso, a spokesman for the Chicago Archdiocese...told Cybercast News Service that the church had no plans to take disciplinary action against Pfleger.

No, of course not. They're afraid of him, afraid he'll make a big stink, leave the priesthood and take his congregation with him. They have abdicated all authority for St. Sabina. It's no longer God's house, it's Mike Pfleger's. The rogue is calling the shots.

OK, what about the "authorized journalists," like our pals at The Trib? Nope, nothing there about this controversy, and that's no surprise to those of us who have been paying attention. Yuri Orlov gave us the reporter's reaction yesterday in a comment to a related post:

"Thank you for writing. If you read my story, you saw that I included very little of what was said at this rally. I was assigned to cover this story and assigned a certain amount of space for it. I did not include Father Pfleger's comments because I did not find them germane to the subject. I also will say it did not strike me as a threat of imminent violence. It sounded like a typical rally speech."

Well, we can see how much help we can count on there.

And what about the tax exempt issue reported by WarOnGuns? Forget coverage by any major media. And if you look at the links to that post, not many gun bloggers consider it meriting a mention, either, although I am grateful to KABA for posting it, as well as you few others.

Ah well. We do what we can.

MORE:
Armed and Safe (45superman has done a great job spreading the word and posting to forums. Many thanks, Kurt.)

We're the Only Ones Knee-Capping Daddy's Little Girl Enough

An off-duty New Haven police officer shot and wounded his 18-year-old daughter, apparently mistaking her for an intruder after she sneaked out of their Stratford home and re-entered through the basement.

Cryptic Subterranean has some threat assessment advice for us non-"Only Ones."

We need it, because unlike Cappy Pappy, (or would that be Coppy Poppy?) we would probably be charged.

Idaho Rifle Clinic

Western Rifle Shooters Association is having an intermediate rifle clinic on July 7/8 in Kooskia, ID.

Follow the title link to learn more, including what you'll need, what you'll learn, where you'll stay, how much it will cost, etc., and please pass the info on to your gun owner friends.

Nebraska Gun Owner Action Alert

From JoeMerchant24:

We need help here in Nebraska.

LB97 passed this morning, expanding the number of gun-free zones.

We need to get all of you to call Governor Dave Heineman at 402-471-2244 and politely ask him NOT TO SIGN LB97!!!!

There are so few days left in the session, we can pocket veto this.

There are talking points to be made to the guv at joemerchant24.blogspot.com

Thanks;
JM24

He has several posts explaining more. Please pass this info on to your friends in Nebraska and ask them to make the calls and spread the word.

MORE:

John Lott
The War on Guns

I couldn't readily find if NRA or GOA have action alerts out to their members to ask the governor to veto this bill, but due to time constraints only gave their respective sites a cursory once-over. If anyone can shed some light on this, please enter a "Comment," below.

This Day in History: May 31

Whereas by an Address presented to his Majesty by both Houses of Parliament in February last, the American Colonies are declared to be in a State of actual Rebelion, we conceive that all Laws and Commissions confirmed by, or derived from the Authority of the King or Parliament, are annulled and vacated, and the former civil Constitution of these Colinies for the present wholly suspended...

That the several Militia Companies in this county do provide themselves with proper Arms and Accoutrements, and hold themselves in Readiness to execute the commands and Directions of the Provincial Congress, and of this committee.

Snuff Poster

Sorry, couldn't resist.

And yeah, I know turning someone in to the feds is not conducive to "freedom." I'd have titled this "Heh," to indicate it's a joke, but I never was very trendy.

Still, if you don't want to get hit in the teeth with a stool, it's a pretty good idea not to start bar fights.

Welcome, Chicago Tribune

There will always be a place here at The War on Guns for "authorized journalists."

So-- are you going to report on this Mike Pfleger business, or what?

(My money's on "or what.")

Snuff Out Mike Pfleger

By now, you've probably heard of the recording of "moral authority" "Father" Michael Pfleger calling for John "R-i-g-g-i-o", the owner of a Chuck's Gun Shop (along with "legislators" who don't support citizen disarmament) to be "snuffed out."

Well like the good father says, "it's all about the Benjamins," which I guess is proof he understands street slang, and he understands what "snuff out" means among his (can you call a gaggle or a pack a "flock"?)

So what about the Benjamins, Mike? And why shouldn't your ability to apparently exploit tax laws the rest of us are forced to obey be snuffed out?

What am I talking about? Well, Mike's "church," St. Sabina, is a 501(c)(3) corporation.


That means, as a church, it's exempt from filing taxes, and contributions are tax deductible. But that also means, in order to qualify for this exemption, certain conditions must be adhered to. Per IRS Publication 557, Tax-Exempt Status for Your Organization, Chapter 3. Section 501(c)(3), "Application for Recognition of Exemption":

The organization will not, as a substantial part of its activities, attempt to influence legislation (unless it elects to come under the provisions allowing certain lobbying expenditures)...

When we look at the section on "Lobbying Expenditures," it says:

In general, if a substantial part of the activities of your organization consists of carrying on propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, your organization’s exemption from federal income tax will be denied.

Father Mike's monomaniacal "crusade" against people being able to protect themselves was evidenced not only by his appearance at the rally, not only in his pledge to continue harassing lawful businesses and the citizens who operate and patronize them, and not only by a history of disarmament advocacy (Google search terms "Michael Pfleger" gun).

All one really needs to do is look at the St. Sabina webpage:


He certainly doesn't make much effort to separate "Gun Legislation to Support in Illinois" from the rest of the church's mission, does he?

And what legislation would that be? Why don't we take a look:


What are those 501(c)(3) restrictions again?

But wait--there's more. We also see a link for "The Beloved Community, Inc." which a little searching also reveals to be a 501 (c)(3) for which contributions are tax deductible:


It might not be out of line to ask why they're listed as the "bullet" (hah!) for:

Save Our Children - STOP Gangs - Killing - Guns - Drugs - What Can I Do? Download the flier and Stop sign

especially since they answered "NO" on their 2005 Form 990, Part III, "Statement About Activities," question 1:

During the year, has the organization attempted to influence national, state or local legislation, including any attempt to influence public opinion on a legislative matter or referendum?

(I could present a picture of the form in question here, but that would violate the terms of use for the information source--but the IRS will know where to find it.)

But it probably doesn't matter anyway--because the links to the information and fliers are dead (but curiously, went to St. Sabina webpages anyway, not to the "Beloved Community" site.)

Fortunately, we have one of my favorite resources, The Wayback Machine, that archived the page in question. From it, you can download their flier:



You can print out their sign:


You can "Call legislators and tell them to pass common sense gun laws..." (How very compliant with 501(c)(3) restrictions!)

You can call the anonymous hotline (paid for with tax deductible contributions?)!

And you can even get "REWARDS!"

We will offer rewards to people who call in to our anonymous hotline 773-483-HELP (4357) and give us information that leads to finding and getting guns out of our community.

Hmm. I wonder if the funds for those were taken from tax deductible donations to the church, and how much was paid out?

These are just rhetorical questions I'm asking, mind you. I personally could never sic the IRS on anyone, as I view the entire agency to be a usurpation and a betrayal of the intent of the Founders. My purpose in posting this was merely to point out some questions that deserve to be answered.

Of course, were someone from the government to use this information and "snuff out" Mike Pfleger's ability to apparently circumvent rules the rest of us must follow, well...

This Day in History: May 30

Mr [Thomas] Willing, one of the delegates for Pensylvania, informed the Congress, that a gentleman was just arrived from London, who had brought with him a paper, which he says he recd from Lord North, and which was written, at the desire of his Lordship, by Mr. Gray Cooper, Under-Secy of the Treasury; and he understood it to be his Lordship's desire that it shod be communicated to the Congress.

Jesse's Law

"Futures not funerals!" Jackson exhorted the crowd. "Sons not guns!"

...Jackson and Revs. James Meeks and Michael Pfleger encouraged the crowd to push for stricter gun laws. They vowed that the rally was just the beginning and that civil disobedience was possible.

So Jesse is now the final arbiter of which laws should be enforced and which should be ignored?

Who does he think he is--Gavin Newsom?

[Via HZ]

How Total Gun Control Works

A PRISON employee smuggled a loaded gun into a jail...

See that? When the government controls everything, we can have all cash transactions, no background or mental health checks, no paper trail...

Maybe we've been going about this the wrong way...

Dances With Jackals

Kevin Costner is urging U.S. lawmakers to come up with a series of strict new gun legislation - even if it limits his own shooting time...Costner feels that legislators should get tough with firearms owners, who refuse to accept their practices could harm others.

Another big "but" gun owner. Come and get 'em, Kevin. Oh, that's right--you're only a hero when the cameras are rolling. You want others to take all the risks and do your dirty work for you.

Punk.

WarOnGuns Poll: Financial Support

Here are the results of last week's poll (click on image to enlarge):



Because I got a late start this week due to the long Memorial Day weekend, I'm going to postpone introducing a new poll until next Sunday.

Catch-22

Advocates for the mentally ill are questioning Houston police officers' use of stun guns on suspects with mental problems, many of whom were unarmed and then never charged with a crime.

So that's why we need to create a registry that identifies who the nutjobs are so we can keep them from buying guns--because otherwise, they might not want to be shocked, and might take steps to prevent it.

But wait a minute--that would be a rational response. And to try and prevent rational responses would be irrational...

My head hurts. Who exactly are the crazy people here again?

A So-Called Gun Nut

A legislator who has been pushing to legalize the carrying of guns in state parks says he now wants to block the mentally ill from buying weapons.

"Right now, you can get out of a mental institution in the morning and buy a gun that afternoon," said Rep. Frank Niceley, R-Strawberry Plains. "I'm a so-called gun nut, and I think that's just wrong."

But you want 'em out buying gasoline, fertilizer and box cutters, Frank? Nicely done, Frank. You appear to be another gun rights supporter with a big "but."

Either a person is a danger to himself and others--in which case, he needs to be in custodial care--or he isn't--in which case, he poses no danger.

Gun Detectors?

Mr Obara said the crackdown on illegal firearms would be spread to other parts of Garissa and Tana River districts especially now that the officers were equipped with gun detecting gadgets with a range of one kilometre.

The United States-made equipment resembles a police walkie talkie is barely a week old in the country.

A metal detector scanning wand that works when swept inches away I could believe. But "a range of one kilometre" and through cars? I'm not sure if this is ignorant reporting or intentional misinformation to throw some uncertainty into the opposing factions. Of course, I wouldn't be surprised to see something like this developed and in use some day.

We're the Only Ones Losing It Enough

Somewhere, somebody is illegally holding a loaded, semi-automatic handgun and 45 bullets that are the rightful property of the Waterloo regional police. Somewhere, and it might be on the streets of Toronto, Hamilton, Montreal or here in Waterloo Region, ordinary people face a greater threat of being shot or traumatized by violence because this stolen weapon is in the wrong hands.

This has been the situation since last Thursday when somebody took the gun and ammunition of a plainclothes officer after the officer left them unattended on a Kitchener sidewalk.

I don't understand it. Every time I leave my guns on the sidewalk, this never happens.

Thank goodness the "authorized journalists" saw fit not to name the unfortunate "Only One." I imagine the poor guy must have gone through enough already!

Good Grief!

Good grief! Is Ackermann suggesting that we should be armed all of the time in order to be prepared to deal with a person who has gone berserk?

Not at all. We should also be prepared for a host of other, more common threats. And yeah, pretty much "all the time," unless you have some magic way of determining when and where everything is safe.

You need that pointed out?

Good grief.

When You're in Wisconsin...

...be sure and avoid Badger Ammo like the plague.

Owner Mick Beatovic evidently favors throwing private sellers under the bus. How very humanitarian. I mean, there's no financial incentive to do that, is there Mick?

The Gang

A former minor tax collection department is now a billion-dollar agency.

This groundbreaking documentary exposes how this agency harasses, oppresses, intimidates, and terrifies small businesses and decent citizens.

STAND UP TO THE BATFE -- SIT DOWN AND ORDER THE GANG TODAY!

JPFO's new documentary is now available. Click on the title link to find out more and to order your own copy.

This Day in History: May 29

We most sincerely condole with you on the arrival of that day, in the course of which, the sun could not shine on a single freeman in all your extensive dominion. Be assured, that your unmerited degradation has engaged the most unfeigned pity of your sister colonies; and we flatter ourselves you will not, by tamely bearing the yoke, suffer that pity to be supplanted by contempt.

Oh, I Don't Know, Let's See...

Sen. Russ Karpisek says he’s a gun-loving redneck.

And he gets a lot of business at his meat market from hunters.

“I’m not intending to anger the NRA,” the Wilber senator said, “but why on earth would you need a concealed weapon in a hospital?”

Yeah--it's not like the friends of shot up gang members ever drop by for a visit.

Meathead. Why don't you take your "Wilber Wiener" and...

[Via JoeMerchant24]

Kaine Shows True Colors

In a move to capitalize on the VT shooting Gov. Tim Kaine of VA is looking for restrictions on how much ammo a citizen my have. He is “troubled” that a citizen could “stockpile” ammo without the police knowing about it.

Surprise, surprise.

Time to Disarm Authorized Journalists?

The editor of The Baltimore Examiner was arrested and charged with threatening his next-door neighbors with a shotgun, police said Thursday.

No! Not The Baltimore Examiner that editorialized:

Now, there’s a generation of young people who simply reach for the gun when they feel they’ve been slighted.

Not The Baltimore Examiner that admitted:

In 2002 the entire Dawson family — Carnell and Angela and their five children — were murdered in their city home for standing up to drug dealers in their neighborhood. And the state’s highest court ruled earlier this month that relatives could not sue the city for failing to protect the family, who placed 109 calls to 911 or 311 between Jan. 1, 2000, and Oct. 16, 2002, about illegal activity in their neighborhood.

While the crime was horrible, police must not be held criminally liable for failing to prevent murders.

"Authorized journalists" certainly have no problem advocating you and I can't be trusted with a gun. I wonder how much of that is projection--because they know they can't trust themselves?

The Numbers Racket

In San Francisco, there are 41,614 registered semiautomatic pistols and 14,886 revolvers, Lenore Anderson, director of the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, told The Examiner on Thursday.

And how many are there that aren't registered, Lenore?

You have no idea, do you, you fraud.

We're the Only Ones Hambriento Enough

A 4-year-old child found a gun while out to dinner with his family at Azteca Mexican Restaurant last Saturday night...The restaurant manager confirms a police officer called and said he had left his bag at the restaurant...

I guess there will be no charges because the "authorized journalists" whose primary function is to act as a watchdog over government don't have the resources to find out who he is.

Besides:

A representative from the Tacoma Police Department says it is not a violation of policy to forget a weapon...

Not if you're an "Only One" it isn't.

[Via Paul Grant]

Thompson and Paul Leading GOP Straw Poll

It wasn't that way yesterday. No doubt the yellow stripers in the middle will dismiss this as "spamming," instead of showing how motivated gun owners are against the Big Tent Sale charlatans.

I'm a Paul man myself, but Thompson is looking pretty good on the gun issue. Those two as a team could reignite the fire in activist bellies that establishment darlings Romney, Giuliani and McCain are doing their best to douse.

[Via Joe McCutcheon]

Expert Opinions

Samaha is turning into an advocate for gun safety, though. He did not know much about the subject before his 18-year-old daughter, Reema, became a victim, but now, he said he’s becoming somewhat of an expert.

"Expert." In a month-and-a-half. How the ignorant can cheapen a word...

If Virginia Tech students had legal permits to carry firearms on campus, the panel agreed it probably wouldn’t have mattered. If anything, they said, it would have made things worse.

And you can believe it because they said so. No doubt they're experts.

"If you open fire in a school, you will be eliminated," said Frederick Rappina, a Fairfax County police officer with the youth services division, and a Robinson Secondary school resource officer.

Frederick must be an expert if he can do this while hiding behind a tree.

Lauren Glendenning has proven herself to be an expert "authorized journalist." Why, if one didn't know better, and most don't, they'd perceive this hit job to be a straight news story.

Extra Special Bonus Expert: Read the story through and you'll find a guest appearance by expert turncoat "Judas" Bob Ricker.

[Via 45superman]

SF Stormtroopers

"Just because you legally possess a gun in the sanctity of your locked home doesn't mean that we're not going to walk into that home and check to see if you're being responsible and safe in the way that you conduct your affairs," Harris said.

Cryptic Subterranean has further commentary on the communist parasite dictatorship of San Francisco.

Sad thing is, most of their slaves would ridicule this post.

We're the Only Ones Not Clicking it Enough

I know--you're not required to wear a seat belt on private property. The reason I included this post is, the other day I drove by one of those "Click it or Ticket" billboards warning us if we did not employ state-approved personal safety devices, enforcers would take us hostage and kill us if we resisted. Simultaneously, a radio spot was playing with the same message, and at the end of it, an announcer said something to the effect of "Brought to you by the US Department of Transportation."

And that got me to thinkin': Where the hell is the Constitutional authority for fedgov to be spending money on this? And why is it me and everyone I personally know will labor for the rest of our lives and not be able to sustain the cost of this boondoggle via the extorted fruits of our labors, and this is but one obscure little tentacle...

Republicans have been traditionally supported by the conservative-minded under certain assumptions: smaller government, less taxes, protective of sovereignty, supportive of gun ownership, those kinds of things...

I look at the current crop of traitors leading the pack and I look at "The Only One" currently behind the wheel and fear the sell-out is damn near complete.

[Via WmH]

This Day in History: May 25

Follow title link to learn more.