More Walthamstow Bullet Points

I received the following email in response to "The Thing That Menaced Walthamstow":

I did enjoy reading your blog, and can see how the bullet story must have been amusing. I'm afraid you are seeing the issue entirely through the eyes of a gun control debate, which has little relevance here: I hope this series of sources/articles will be of interest to you, and provide you with the all important context you didn't have about Walthamstow and what it might mean that bullets are turning up in the street. (There is little gun crime to speak of here, but some very dangerous people have been living among us, and still may be).

Best regards,

Julian

Here are the links he included with his email:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6670903.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4784919.stm

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article2630899.ece

http://www.salaam.co.uk/themeofthemonth/january03_index.php?l=52%82%22=0

http://moonbatmedia.com/mosqueofterror/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/08/13/nplot113.xml

http://prisonplanet.com/articles/August2006/110806_b_suspects.htm

http://infowars.net/articles/August2006/110806plots.htm

I get that the UK now has a culture within a culture, and there is a clash, if I may understate, between the two. I assume Julian's concern is that a loose round could be indicative of potential armed terrorist activity, and thus the reaction of the shopkeeper who found it is more prudent than hysterical.

With no other considerations, I could concede that point. But here's the thing: When you have two disparate peoples with competing and often antagonistic ideologies occupying the same territory, the historical probability is that hostilities will erupt--especially when some newcomers, through their vocal proponents, have advocated taking over their host land.

The appeasers running the UK appear to have no threshold, no line from which they will not back down. From official proclamations that jihad-inspired acts of terrorism be renamed "anti-Islamic activities," to that basest of Quislings the Archbishop of Canterbury advocating establishment of Sharia courts (where's the infamous Tower of London chopping block when you really need it?), it's clear that denizens of the "green and pleasant land" will be the ones to suffer if worst fears come to pass.

And their government's reaction? Mandate their helplessness. Then punish those who won't go gently into that good night. The gun control debate indeed has relevance.

With all due respect, Julian, I would prefer the reaction of a peaceable citizen of the UK, from whatever background or religion, upon finding an unspent cartridge on the ground, to be the same as mine would be: "Hmmm--it's not like me to be so careless as to drop these things and leave them lying around...I'd better make sure everything I own is secure and under control, right now."

With all the implications such a reaction would suggest...

The Art of the Possible

"Politics is the art of the possible," I've been told, generally by those critical of my "absolutist" orneriness as they justify yet another compromise.

"The perfect is the enemy of the good," they are quick to point out.

What I've never been clear on is how people who refuse to push the envelope, and choose the path of appeasement and flexible principles, can consider themselves authorities on what's possible. That's determined by those willing to go to the wall, sometimes climbing over, sometimes breaking through, and sometimes ending up dashed and broken in front of it.

But they went to the wall.

And I don't know any mortal claiming perfection. But I also don't see where someone aiding and abetting evil can claim goodness. The axiom is misleading, and at the very least should be rephrased "The perfect is the enemy of the expedient," just so we're all clear on what we're really buying into.

Winning Without Winning

Restoring Constitutional order to America will not take one day, not even one decade. We have decades of long, hard work ahead of us. Ron Paul has said it again and again, and I am just repeating what he said.

If we want to make sure Ron Paul wins this – if we want to ensure liberty wins – then, no matter how disappointed we feel right now, we must not quit.

Israeli Libertarian makes some points I don't disagree with--I never thought Paul would be a magic pill and always understood that tremendous effort, risk and sacrifice would be required from each of us if we expected to actually change anything.

So I'll be receptive to anyone who comes up with a plan to help guide us out of the swamp. But what I have to question is, why should anyone, right now and from this day forward, think that such an effort will be best served by continuing in a direction the candidate himself has ceded will lead us to a dead end?

I'm just not ready right now to hear about how we're winning on some greater principle. I'd like to believe it, but it's just not what I'm seeing, especially and particularly from people who are ostensibly "liberty activists."

Napolitano at Reason

Click on the title link to access a video of Judge Andrew Napolitano's speech.

What are the chances this guy would ever be nominated for SCOTUS, or make it through the advise and consent gauntlet if he did...?

[Via HZ]

We're the Only Ones Exploring Enough

During the same investigation, the Turlock Police Department is saddened to say that the same 17-year-old victim was sexually assaulted by one of their officers, Officer Jorge Cruz, while participating in the "Turlock Police Department Explorer Program."

Cruz was then arrested on counts of rape, sodomy, and kidnapping charges and has also been placed on administrative leave.

Do they give badges for that?

[Via Plug Nickel Times]

This Day in History: February 10

"That an Exchange of all Prisoners now in our possession, Officer for Officer, Soldier for Soldier and Citizen for Citizen, so far as number and rank will apply," be carried into execution, as expeditiously as the nature of the case will admit, and without regard to any controverted point, which might prove an impediment to so desireable an End. And here, as I may not clearly understand your meaning when you say "In the mean time I shall wait the arrival of the British Officers whom you have released upon their paroles, and shall without delay send an equal number to you in return"; I take occasion to request, that you will be pleased to favor me with an explanation; Whether you intend to consider such Officers on both sides, as still continuing under the Obligation of a parole, or as absolutely exchanged in pursuance of the General Cartel. I see no reason why an effectual exchange should not, at once, operate with respect to them.

Looks Like It's a Moot Point

"With Romney gone, the chances of a brokered convention are nearly zero."

Which means Ron Paul publicly admits he cannot win the GOP nomination, which is no surprise. Some of us were holding out another hope.

"Of course, I am committed to fighting for our ideas within the Republican party, so there will be no third party run."

That's a significant departure from "I have no plans to run," which he's said before and which would have given him an out should he have been drafted. If I am to take him at his word, and I've backed him so far because I have, this is unequivocal, and dashes all hopes.

So he's trimming staff and focusing on his congressional seat. Fine, but where does that leave the national movement?

I guess, according to his Rah Rah team, the plan is to go to the convention and keep getting out the message . We've seen how the mainstream media has managed to stymie that tactic.

If it's a matter of getting out the message of liberty, why not do that directly instead of diluting it with the distraction of running what he admits is a losing campaign? If he focus on the one, he detracts from the other--if he wants to run a liberty message campaign, as opposed to a presidential one, what's the plan? He says he has one, but he said he had a plan to win the presidency, too.

Come back to me when you have a plan you can share, Doc, but don't expect me to stay revved up by this.

I see no reason to put any more energy or reputation into stumping for this guy if that's his final answer. Does the campaign think this will do anything but immediately discourage future contributions?

I have to admit I am tremendously disappointed by this. I don't take back anything I've said, because my support for his candidacy has always been based on the information at hand. And I certainly don't take back anything I've said about the other GOP frauds we're expected to roll over for.

So no, don't expect any "lesser of two evils" backtracking here--I'll continue to speak out on that train of abuses as I think circumstances merit--as well as doing what I can to decry Hillary and Obama outrages.

I would like to see someone from the Paul campaign give me some credible reasons why we should spend one more minute talking about his apparent non-campaign, though. And yeah, I'll still vote for him in the primary out of protest. But with this latest development, you're going to have to come up with your own reasons for doing the same.

I'm going to end this for now and put it aside before I say something based on emotion. I don't think this is an indictment on Paul's character, message or principles-- I've just never seen admitting you can't win as a particularly effective strategy for effecting change before, and unless someone can give me some compelling arguments to change my mind, I've got my own agenda to focus on.

I'm open to hearing why I shouldn't do just that.

WND Makes Straightarrow a Star

"Using the agency's own standards, this agent should be headed to the slam," wrote straightarrow on the blog managed by Ryan Horsley at Red's Trading Post in Idaho.

"Because it was left in a TSA secured area for anyone to pick up, anyone who found it was a prohibited person due to location," he said...

Continued straightarrow, "No matter whether the firearm gets sent to the FTB, this officer made a 'willful' illegal transfer of a firearm to a prohibited person or persons. … She willfully went to the restroom, she willfully removed her firearm from her person and she willfully departed sans firearm. When should we expect the indictment and the expert government witnesses to tell a judge to trust them, she is guilty and he doesn't need to know anymore?"

I guess now that he's hit the big time, he won't have time for us, the little people, any more...

Are there like, famous blog commentator groupies or anything...?

[Via Ryan Horsley]

And Now from the Candidate the VC* Love to Hate

Congressman Ron Paul has signed on to a letter to the President asking that an amicus curiae brief filed by U.S Solicitor General Paul D. Clement on DC v. Heller, otherwise known as the DC Gun Ban Case, be withdrawn...

Congressman Paul, as a strict constitutionalist and in keeping with his strong record on gun rights, has signed on to another brief submitted by several members of Congress which asks the Supreme Court to uphold the lower courts decision and allow the precedent of applying a stricter standard of review for gun control cases to stand.

Funny. I wonder why no headlines or announcements from Fairfax...?

The Paul campaign apparently has to pay for a press release on this, even though Paul is a presidential candidate and Cheney is not, and even though Paul signed onto two Heller-related documents and Cheney only signed one--and not the one directly challenging the "Vote Freedom First" President. Now that would be news.

It's a good thing I'm not suspicious or cynical, or I'd start to wonder if maybe the information I was getting had some sort of agenda behind it. I hate it when that happens, because then I just can't devote full attention to enjoying my Kool-Aid.

* Vichy "Conservatives"

They're Ba..ack...

Regular visitors know this has been going on for some time, both here and at Red's Blog. I literally had a dozen visits yesterday from various federal agencies, so I decided to see what would happen when I pinged back--this goes to BATFU's Freedom of Information Act edress:




And I wrote the following to Ryan:

I wonder, Ryan--should we be saving these and giving them to your attorney--having him ask BATFU about what they're doing, under oath and in front of the judge...? Because really, this is irrelevant to any alleged infractions they find in your shop--totally outside the scope of what they have even the pretence of a rationale to be investigating. This definitely shows a motive to go after you by investigating your First Amendment activities...and the fact that they don't mask it, while they will say shows they're not hiding anything--has the second edge of being chilling, with citizens knowing people who bust down doors and haul people off (the ones they don't shoot) are scrutinizing them.

A lesser man would have clammed up the first time this happened.

I mean seriously--what does this have to do with any "violation" they could possibly find at Red's Trading Post, with either your paperwork or your inventory? If there is no direct correlation, why the hell are they expending government time and resources looking at websites? Who authorized what is now demonstrably an ongoing investigation, and why? If it's not a form of harassment, what is it?

I'd like to see those *s have to answer those questions in front of a judge.

*-Sanitized for your protection

Huge Dick News!

Cheney Joins Congress In Opposing D.C. Gun Ban
Vice President Breaks With Administration

I mean, it must be huge. It's front page stuff with all the right "Authorized Journalists"--you know, like the ones we've learned to trust over at We Black Out--You Swallow:

Even Wayne 'n Chris have jumped on the bandwagon, so it's gotta be something big! I mean, Lord knows they don't select what they want to emphasize (or ignore) for just anything...

What?
Oldest trick in the book...?
Haven't I ever heard of "Good Cop/Bad Cop"?

What do you mean the administration is hedging its bets, playing both sides against the middle? You say if they were really serious, the "Vote Freedom First" President would have ordered his Solicitor General to take it back...? That we're being played like a cheap violin, and we're so desperate to deny it we'll actually fall for this being significant? That it's design, not accident that so much emphasis is being placed on this story?

See, that kind of tinfoil hat conspiracy kook cycnicism just divides us, which is what our enemies want. Plus it makes us dribble Kool-Aid all over our nice new McCain for President T-shirts.

Now if only we could figure out who are enemies are, we'd know in which direction we should unite...

Little Lies

McCain Signs Heller Brief!!!

Wonderful! Now we can convince ourselves he's our pal!

I mean, it's not like he's already broken any oaths or anything...

Ms. McVie, you're up...

Tell me lies
Tell me sweet little lies
(tell me lies, tell me, tell me lies)
Oh, no, no you cant disguise
(you cant disguise, no you cant disguise)
Tell me lies
Tell me sweet little lies

There. Don't we all feel better now?

The Jackboot on the Other Foot

A handgun found unattended inside a TSA Secure Zone at an International Airport one might even consider that a crime. If it were a crime, then according to the "ATF Evidence Collection Handbook", the firearm should be sent to ATF Firearms Technology Branch [FTB] for proper classification.

Why is this relevant? There are only (2) female special agents at the Milwaukee ATF Field Office, [according to my sources, not yet confirmed]. I am told both female agents were involved in US v. Olofson. So that amounts to a 100% chance of this agent being involved in Olofson's prosecution, and a 50% chance of being the same agent from ATF who prosecuted Mr. Olofson, [as the lead agent in Olofson's case was Jody Keeku].

Len Savage weighs in on the great BATFU Bathroom Brouhaha.

The institutionalized hypocrisy and elitist arrogance shouldn't surprise us at all any more.

We're the Only Ones Friendly Enough

As Boston police prepare to go into some of the city's most dangerous neighborhoods, knock on doors of private houses, and ask if they can search for illegal guns without a warrant, officials are trying to pitch the idea of the plan as friendly cooperation to residents who still see it as a threatening intrusion.

A friendly looking logo - a drawing of a house surrounded by the sun - adorns the brochure police have drafted to explain and promote the initiative, "Safe Homes." Photos of officers playing baseball with children and chatting with teenagers dot the pamphlet.

Well there's a rose in the fisted glove...

Oh, but it's "voluntary"...

The very concept ought to be offensive to a free people. As it is, the offensive concept for most is freedom.

Massachusetts again, I see...where "The Only Ones" intend to make sure they are the only ones.
What did Mr. Franklin say about exchanging Liberty for Safety...?

These people are starting to sound like Vichy "conservatives", or as I'm going to start to call them, The VC...

This Day in History: February 9

On February 9, 1775, Parliament declared Massachusetts to be "in a state of rebellion," and events began to move ever quicker. The colonists' local Committee of Public Safety, which included a number of prominent Dorchester men, responded with a vote to procure arms and supplies for an army of up to 15,000 and to organize local contingents of Minutemen into companies of 50 volunteers each.

And now these heirs of Liberty give us Teddy Kennedy.

John Kerry's Favorite Republican

McCain, Kerry United by Ideology, Divided by Party

It's not hard to deduce John Kerry's favorite Republican. The same person is also one of the Bush administration's least favorite Republicans - John McCain.

McCain: I'd 'entertain' Democratic VP slot

"John Kerry is a close friend of mine. We have been friends for years," McCain said Wednesday when pressed to squelch speculation about a Kerry-McCain ticket. "Obviously I would entertain it."

John Kerry: McCain Approached Me About Joining Dem Ticket in 2004

According to Sen. Kerry, it was John McCain's staff who approached his campaign about potentially filling the Vice President slot on the Democratic ticket in 2004.

Kerry Aides See McCain As Perfect Running Mate

"If there is a consensus among Kerry aides about who would be the boldest and most potent pick, it is Senator John S. McCain of Arizona -- a Republican."

McCain a liberal demagogue

In 2004, one of John McCain's closest associates, John Weaver, spoke to John Kerry about the possibility of McCain running as Kerry's vice presidential running mate. In "No Excuses," Bob Shrum's memoir of his role in numerous presidential campaigns, including Kerry's, Shrum writes that Weaver assured Kerry that "McCain was serious about the possibility of teaming up with him," and Kerry approached McCain.

Need I go on? Are our memories really that short? Are gun owners truly that oblivious?

God damn you idiot Vichy "conservatives" who are pushing this fraud on those who don't know any better.

What the hell is wrong with you?

Yes, I Know...

The blog is loading maddeningly slow. It's been doing this for the past few days, and is particuarly irritating when you click on an embedded link and then try to return to the post you were reading.

I suspect it's Blogrolling--the links to other sites in the left sidebar. The way it works is, it loads first and delays everything else until it times out. Or something--I've said it before, the tech side ain't my strong suit.

I'm hoping this is just a glitch they'll get resolved, and soon, because I put too damn much work into this to have it rendered inacessible by what is supposed to be an enhancement tool. I have neither the knowledge nor the time to do anything other than just delete the blogroll. Of course, it could also be these stupid Google ads--they take up a lot of space and the return for ceding that is pretty much pathetic. But I'm almost up to the first hundred bucks and they don't pay off until you reach that threshhold, so I'm not going to throw in the towel this close to the goal (only $9.74 to go after what, a month-and-a-half?).

If anybody else is experiencing similar technical difficulties on your blog, please advise.

"We Want Change!"

Yes We Can!

Sí Se Puede! With a clenched fist for emphasis! (I wish Barack Obama would stop encroaching on John McCain's and Mike Huckabee's turf.)

Yes you can...what?

For most, it's all about slogans and feeling good, and the vacuous celebrities lending their dubious talents to this video prove the point. Between the production itself and most of the comments, this is like concentrated stupid.

If you want to prove it to yourself, ask a random Obama supporter to name one concrete accomplishment of his that falls within the legitimate Consitutionally-enumerated powers of a senator. You'll probably get something back like "He cares..."

And "We want change!"

We're the Only Ones Pooped After a Long Flight Enough

The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said a special agent returning to Mitchell International Airport at Milwaukee left her firearm in a bathroom there Tuesday night.

And naturally we don't know her name and nothing has happened to her. But she gets to take her gun along when she travels because she's obviously so much more responsible with it than you and I would be.

Oh, and "she's embarrassed." Well la-de-frickin'-dah. I guess we should just be grateful she made it to the bathroom on time, though, because we all know how unsightly stained man slacks can be.

Just what would BATFU do if a dealer could't account for a gun? Hell, they want to close family businesses down for accepting "Y" or "N" on a few forms.

We'll keep an eye on this one--there may be more of interest to come...

[Via Len Savage]

We're the Only Ones Not Threatened Enough

"I specifically asked the officer, 'did he threaten you?' She said no. I said, 'did he threaten any other child?' And she said no.

So what better reason to slap the cuffs on a child?

I wonder what this brave "Only One" would be prepared to do against someone who was threatening her, along with the children she is paid to protect?

[Via DONE! SEO]

Money, Money, Who's Got the Money?

In the latest example that the U.S. dollar just ain't what it used to be, some shops in New York City have begun accepting euros and other foreign currency as payment for merchandise.

So if it's OK to use alternative foreign currency as legal tender, can someone please explain to me why the feds raided Liberty Dollar?

And yeah, that's a rhetorical question. As is the title of this post.

UPDATE: I guess some people read into things what they want. For the record, in case it wasn't clear, what I'm pointing out is the unfairness of unequal treatment. If a business owner wants to accept obsolete Deuchmarks or even informed consent forms in exchange for goods and services, that's between him and his customer.

What's in a Name?

CeaseFire Maryland...failed to file the corporate personal property returns as required by state law.

So by law, they forfeited the state charters of both that name and also Marylanders Against Handgun Abuse, which were promptly picked up and registered by pro-RKBA activists. It also upsets a gubernatorial appointment to the Maryland Handgun Roster Board.

Read the whole thing. What a hoot.

Excellent heads-up action from the Associated Gun Clubs of Baltimore!

[Via Stephen Stamboulieh]

"Everyone Should Have a Plan"

A Public Service Photo Essay from Your Department of Homeland Security

DHS has a plan. Do you?

[Thanks to SameNoKami for the Real ID article link]

"A Good Listen"

That's how WarOnGuns correspondent HZ describes this interview featuring IllinoisCarry.com spokeswoman Valinda Rowe.

I haven't had a chance to hear it yet, but I have a lot of confidence in HZ's opinion and will get to it as soon as I can pay proper attention.

Paul Names Foreign Policy Advisor

Regarding the campaign, Professor Pape said, “Ron Paul's campaign is making a lasting contribution to the security of the United States and its allies. Indeed, I often tell audiences ‘Ron Paul has the right foreign policy to safeguard America.'"

Here's more on Pape, as well as bio sumaries for foreign policy team members Ivan Eland and Leon Hadar.

This has been the subject of much discussion here at WarOnGuns, where foreign policy in general, and the Iraq war in particular, have been raised as sticking points. I found this analysis from another post's comments thoughtful and compelling, and agree with most of what the writer had to say.

We're the Only Ones Impounded Enough

A New York City tow truck driver claims that police are harassing him for enforcing the law against them on private property...

"He was handcuffed behind his back in his wheelchair," Povman said. "While under arrest, he was denied medication and there was no handicap accessible bathroom."

"Enforcing the law." Against them?

Who does he think he is: an "Only One"?

[Via Mad Rocket Scientist]

This Day in History: February 8

I observe by a Return of Military Stores made the 12th. January, that there were 5000 Muskets unfit for service in the Magazine at Albany. I most earnestly desire that you will use your utmost endeavours to have them put into repair by the opening of the next Campaign. I also observe, by the same Return, that there is a considerable deficiency of Bayonets, which you will endeavour to make up if you have Armourers skilled in that branch of business. The loss and abuse of Arms in the course of a Campaign, in which We are obliged to call in large Bodies of Militia, is so great, that unless the utmost attention is paid to the repair of the Old, our Stock must soon be exhausted, for, of all the new imported last year, it is amazing how few remain in the different Magazines.

NRA's Heller Brief

In arguing that strict scrutiny should not be applied to laws infringing rights guaranteed by the Second Amendment, Petitioners assert that Second Amendment rights are not fundamental” ... In this, Petitioners could not be more mistaken.

As the Framers made clear in the very text of the Second Amendment, they considered the right to keep and bear arms “necessary to the security of a free State.”

Go.

Read.

Whither Now, Mitt Heads...?

We're still waiting for confirmation, but let's assume for the sake of argument it's a done deal.

How about a nice tall ice cold glass of "Straight Talk Express" Kool-Aid?

All the fashionable Vichy "conservatives" are doing it...

UPDATE: It's official.

"Well, Let's Go Ahead and Be Honest Now"

He danced the complete Kabuki, right down to the mandatory move about considering John McCain for his VP slot. But at the end of the day, Mike Huckabee has admitted the obvious: he'll take the Veep nomination if John McCain offers it.

And there will be no shortage of self-deluded gun owners telling themselves that's good enough for them, putting a "conservative" (!!!) a heartbeat from the presidency.

Besides, McCain has promised to appoint "strict constructionist judges"--as long as we forget that such a judge would overturn his signature legislation, and as long as we disregard his enabling democrat and rino obstructionists as a Gang of 14 leader. But that isn't stopping those desperate in their denial from offering that up as a reason for hope, and joining forces with The New York Times and The Los Angles Times, not to forget Arnhole and Sly.

So by all means, let's go ahead and be honest now. Team McCain/Huckabee is transparently predictable, and would be an undisguised con job. Some no-line-in-the-sand gun owners may be able to lie to themselves about it. Don't let them lie to you.

"Patriots" for Maximum Mike

Craig and Crapo say they are concerned that the ATF is already too aggressive in enforcing gun laws. Are we missing something here or isn’t that what the ATF is supposed to do?

It's a real victory for Newspeak when the subversives at The Ledger get away with representing themselves as "Patriots." And while it wouldn't be prudent to take the opposite side of the "shooting down" metaphor they bring up for Maximum Mike, one might still safely speculate on negligent wiener mishap, nothing too serious, just something that can be safely extracted with forceps...

We're the Only Ones Hit and Run Enough

White rear-ended a car in the 7400 block of University Avenue around 6 p.m. on Nov. 29, causing a chain-reaction accident with four cars, Esparza said. Instead of checking on the people or helping, he just backed up and left.

Gee, I wonder why. It couldn't have anything to do with this, could it?

Esparza said it is unknown if drugs or alcohol played a role in the accident.

He wouldn't be "The Only One" who's reacted that way...

Meanwhile, Back at Red's Trading Post

Ryan Gets a Visit:

The ATF and has since used this as an opportunity to build their case against us. Scrutinizing everything and continuing to make remarks like, "I am going to have to put this in my report".

There intentions were not to bring us into compliance as they have claimed in the past but it was to specifically try and drum up violations in an attempt to paint us in a bad light before the Judge.

Vendetta? What vendetta? Certainly not from die Helden der BATFU ...

Ryan Goes to the SHOT Show

I got to see Acting ATF Director “Maximum Mike” Sullivan, I happened to be speaking with a reporter when I looked up Sullivan and about 8 or 9 other guys in suits came walking by…all with hot dogs (I am not kidding).

Wieners. Why am I not surprised?

$5 Million

Ron Paul style:



Hillary Clinton style:


Aren't we glad that Hillary joined her "very close" pal John McCain and voted for "campaign finance reform"? And aren't we glad the democrat party represents average people from across the land, as opposed to moneyed special interests?

Oh, and My Man Mitthead doesn't get a free pass on this either. Not by a long shot.

You have to wonder about people who so desperately want power they'll invest millions of their own dollars to get it. What do we really think they expect to get back?

Oh, yeah, the satisfaction of knowing they served their country.

We're the Only Ones Trying to Ensure Your Right to Remain Silent Enough

I know this video has been around for some time, but it illustrates the "Only Ones" concept so well it's worth replaying here--especially for those of you who haven't seen it. At first, I thought it might be a clip from Reno 911.

I wonder if she's married? If not, have I got a guy for her...

[Via HZ]

CeaseFire PA Director's Watch Weekly Update

I forgot to put this up yesterday--guess I'll need to get used to a weekly, rather than daily schedule.

Looks like ATR is still persona non grata...but the good thing is, he's sure been quiet lately...

I wonder if the university told him to put a lid on it...?

Shannon Takes the Cake

Shannon: “You can buy these, body armor piercing bullets, at a gun show locally?”

Sheriff Bradshaw: “Oh absolutely.”

Shannon: “I can buy this at our local gun show?”

Sheriff Bradshaw: “You can buy any of those--a bullet is a bullet.”

This means anyone, even a team of Contact Five Investigators, with no training, and no license to carry a gun can buy bullets—lots of them.

And not just "Contact Five Investigators," but undercover "Contact Five Investigators." I wonder if they ran into this guy? He's generally disguised as a potted plant, but sometimes hides in the covered trash containers à la Agent 13 from Get Smart.

Shannon Cake, you silly, incompetent little slice of "Authorized Journalism." You actually don't know how ridiculously ignorant you sound, do you?

Which makes your pretending to speak with professional authority nothing less than malpractice.

The Florida Non-Psychic Gun Dealer Punishment Act

As if it's not foolish enough to make violent crime more illegal if the weapon used is a so-called "assault weapon," Florida lawmakers want to punish gun dealers for failing to read minds.

Armed and Safe explores the primitive juju that is "gun control," and discovers another spate along the way.

This Day in History: February 7

The Continental Congress having been pleased to order, and direct, that there shall be one Chaplain to two Regiments, and that the pay of each Chaplain shall be Thirty-three dollars and one third, pr Kalendar Month -- The Revd. Abiel Leonard is appointed Chaplain to the Regiment of Artillery, under the command of Col Knox, and to the 20th. Regiment, at present commanded by Lt. Col Durkee.

What Have YOU Done for Heller?

I've made a few appeals now about supporting Academics for the Second Amendment in their work to draft an amicus brief on behalf of the Heller case.

These good people have devoted much labor that will benefit us all, yet their costs are far from being covered. Who thinks it's fair that, in addition to doing all the research, writing, and production work, costs such as additional attorney fees, printing expenses, filing fees, travel and lodging expenses, etc., ought to come out of their pockets as well?

The brief will be online soon--they file it on Monday. While I have not seen an advance copy, I have been in correspondence with one of the attorneys working on it--David Hardy. I do know they will be raising some things that are vital, and that were not covered in the Respondent's brief. I also know and have faith in not only the reputations of the principals involved, but also the peerless quality of their scholarship and work to date.

If every WarOnGuns visitor today sent them the cost of a box of ammo, they'd be well on their way to recovering most of their costs. If you then took it one step further and sent a link to this plea to your gun owning friends, we'd be able to make them completely whole.

Gratitude is important. Don't you think we owe these men at least this much?

You can either donate via PayPal on the A2A site, or send a check to:
Academics for the Second Amendment
Post Office Box 131254
St. Paul, Minn. 55113

RELATED READING:
Academics for the Second Amendment Need Your Support NOW
How YOU Can Be a Part of History
Academics for the Second Amendment Want YOU

Just stop what you're doing right now and take care of this. I mean, really...

It's Not "The Right of the Standing Army to Keep and Bear Arms..."

The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms today announced its support for legislation introduced by State Sen. Mark Christensen that would amend the state’s concealed carry law to provide a residency exception to non-resident military personnel stationed in the state.

I thought I'd posted on this a couple weeks back, but I guess I didn't.

In short, no.

I just don't get giving special "Only One" exemptions to the standing army while denying it to "We the People." It's not like they have any incentive to invite the rest of us in from the cold once they have their place at the table.

That's not to say I think the state has legitimate power to prevent a service member--or anyone else who's not in due process adjudicated custodial care--from carrying. I just can't get behind unequal protection under ther law.

Maybe if more, not fewer, people felt my pain, there'd be more pressure to get something done about that.

UPDATE: Laughingdog tells me I'm all wet. It ain't the first time, and certainly won't be the last.

UPDATE 2: Bob R tells me not to get the towel out just yet.

The Unforgiven

Johnson was arrested and jailed over the weekend on a marijuana charge while awaiting sentencing on a federal weapons conviction.

On Tuesday, police added a theft charge stemming from reported use of a debit card that was left at a convenience store where he had worked. Johnson had a court appearance scheduled Tuesday.

Y'all know what went down at Jonesboro, right?

I don't care if he was a minor when he made the evil decision to sever himself from humanity. Some things are so broken they can't be fixed, and this defect is one of them. Whether or not God will forgive him is outside the scope of our control. But it could not be more evident that his actions were so deviant, there's no way to reestablish trust meriting his reacceptance into society.

I just read where a couple other young worthies are suing a newspaper for printing their names. I don't get where the age of an offender should outweigh my right to know there's a rabid animal loose in the neighborhood, so that I can take appropriate precautions to secure me and mine from predation. If the maladjusted neighbor kid is skinning puppies in satanic rituals, I want to know about it, especially if I have small children.

The Washington State House Judiciary Committee cast its votes today to strip Washington gun owners of the right to a trial by jury. Since at least 1959, Washington citizens have had the right to a jury trial with a standard of “clear, cogent, and convincing evidence” before losing their right to bear arms due to being involuntarily committed for an alleged mental health illness.

House Bill 3095, sponsored by Committee Chairwoman Rep. Pat Lantz (D-26), effectively removes these protections by stripping citizens of their right to bear arms, perhaps permanently, after being involuntarily committed for a mere 14 days. In these “probable cause” hearings there is no jury, no elected judge, and the standard of guilt is a mere preponderance of the evidence.

And yet again, there's nothing from our leaders.

I guess after selling us on what a great deal we're getting by enabling more mental health records to be entered into NICS they're...sorry, I just can't come up with a convincing defensive cover for them. Perhaps one of you can? Besides accusing also-ran CCRKBA of jumping to unfounded conclusions like GOA as a way to divert money from the only really effective gun lobby group...? [/sarcasm]

Houses of the Holy

Forcing churches to allow guns in their parking lots and use state-mandated language for signs forbidding firearms is an unconstitutional infringement on religious freedom, the state Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday.

I guess my puzzlement is why any gun owner would want to go to a church like these. And why any predator would not--particularly at collection plate time.

For Shame!

"I am totally ashamed of what I did and I am sorry that I did it. I have already paid a heavy price, having been in three prisons, suffered public humiliation, lost my job and my livelihood."

I fear the UK may be lost.

Logic from Nutters

"I think reasonable gun laws are really what we need," Ramsey said. "Nothing's going to be absolute. The only people that obey laws are law-abiding citizens."

You don't see the contradiction in that, Chief?

And this is the guy the head Nutter says will cut Philly homicide in half?

How Others See Us

Guns kill. In the countryside hunter kill their prey. In the city and suburbs guns are for killing people.

Guns create hate. If you own a handgun you have to constantly be thinking about who it is OK to shoot and kill. You have to turn people into an "other". Somebody less than you who you now feel you have the right to kill. This is sick. This works against any decent society...

Hate groups love guns. Go to a gun show and you will see Neo-Nazi groups recruiting under the banner of gun owner rights. Timothy McVeigh stole and sold guns at gun shows. Most white male gun owners I have spoken to have fantasies of shooting and killing brown skinned people. They will demur "in self defense", but our national gun fetish and increasing racism go hand in hand.

Just thought I'd give you a glimpse into how you're viewed by the other side. Yes, there actually are people this loopy.

This site is a few years old, so I don't know if John Ricker's still active or not. I do note there's no trace of Guns Into Art as a registered 501c(3), and his Peaceful Streets effort doesn't file a form 990, probably meaning it takes in less than $25,000/year. Too bad. It would be in our interests to have the antis divert as many resources as possible into lunatic dead ends like this.

But there I go being hateful, racist and sick again.

[Via HZ]

We're the Only Ones Gun Running Enough

A Chicago police officer has been indicted on gun charges.

Sean P. Ryan is accused of selling a semi-automatic assault rifle to a gang member who is a convicted drug dealer.

So how come Snuffy Pfleger and Jesse aren't leading a protest mob down to the police department and threatening to "Snuff out the O-N-L-Y-O-N-E-S?"

And where's Maximum Mike on this? Or isn't this as "willful" a "violation" as entering "Y" or "N" on a Form 4473?

I'll tell ya, if this doesn't illustrate the need to get guns out of the hands of people like you and me, nothing does.

[Via Jeff, via Second City Cop]

This Day in History: February 6

Neither of the two Parties shall conclude either Truce or Peace with Great Britain, without the formal consent of the other first obtain'd; and they mutually engage not to lay down their arms, until the Independence of the united states shall have been formally or tacitly assured by the Treaty or Treaties that shall terminate the War.

Meanwhile, Over at Faux News

See, if you continually make someone an "unperson", the public that relies on TV for their news will never know about him, and you can self-fulfill the "he'll never win" prophecy. At the party level, I'll not be surprised.

I wonder how they'll ignore him when he's drafted to run as an independent?

I'm also amused by all the "pro-gun" sites making excuses for drinking the GOP Kool-Aid. Guess what, guys--they'll never win with all the pissed off activists out there. The numbers will pan out and you'll see.

Then you can either rail against naive traitors like me who are "throwing away our vote," or you can come to the realization thast the only way to keep a dem out is to abandon the criminal rino gang that long ago abandoned us, and truly "Vote Freedom First." Otherwise, it'll be you throwing away your vote.

I hope my hijacking scenario comes true. Meet our demands or feel our pain.

Oh--but then we'll lose our Second Amendment rights.

Any coward who says that has already surrendered them.

The Human Right of Self-Defense

Is there a human right to defend oneself against a violent attacker? Is there an individual right to arms under international law? Conversely, are governments guilty of human rights violations if they do not enact strict gun control laws?

David B. Kopel, Paul Gallant, and Joanne D. Eisen have a new article published in the Brigham Young University Journal of Public Law. Access it by clicking on the title link to the BYU current journal page, and then clicking on the 3rd item down.

[Via Paul Gallant]

We're the Only Ones Freshly Laundered Enough

The sheriff of a southern Tennessee county was arrested Saturday in an FBI sting and charged with extorting money from video gambling operators.

Between April and mid-December, Hamilton County Sheriff Billy Long accepted $17,400, which he was told were payments from store owners "to protect their video poker business and other illegal activity," according to a federal affidavit.

Long, 55, promised to inform them when he became aware of any investigation focused on their involvement in illegal activities, including selling ingredients used to make methamphetamine, the court record said.

Nice place ya got here.

Shame if somethin'...happened to it...

[Via Jeffersonian]

[More from "The Only Ones" Files]

Washington State Campus Carry Alert

From Washington Colleges and Concealed Carry:

As of right now, schools can prohibit students via the WACs from carrying firearms. Each bill seeks to change this, but in drastically different ways.

SB 6841 would
1.elevate carrying a firearm on campus to law
2.institute a gross misdemeanor charge for violation of this new law
subject the violator to the loss of their concealed pistol license, if any, for three years
3.require violators to undergo a mental health examination while incarcerated
SB 6860 goes the opposite way by:
1.bringing public, higher education institutions into alignment with firearm regulations that govern cities, counties, and other municipalities by
2.prohibiting them from making rules regarding the possession or carry of firearms

In other words, committed activism is needed now. Don't wait to get direction from our highly paid leaders, who can't find space for it on their Washington state alert page because of all that sport shooting and hunting legislation that comes first...

Hell, I was hoping I'd be able to give you a link here. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to repro the email I received in its entirety. It'll be rough, I don't have time this morning to format it and make it all purdy:

FRP ALERT: Campus Carry Showdown, 2-7-08 at 10:00am in Olympia!In case you haven't seen the GOAL Alert below already, pass it on toevery list or website you know of that college students read. CampusProtection has been introduced in the Senate, to counter the campusgun ban bill, and it's officially on! The hearing for both billswill be in the J.A. Cherberg Building, Senate Hearing Room 3, at10:00am.Now is not the time for students to be intimidated away by threatsof "repercussions". Intimidation is how bullies operate, so don'tlet it work. The people in authority at colleges are only concernedabout their monopoly on power, and will resort to anything to stopcampus protection from happening. They will let Rebecca Griego andVirginia Tech happen a hundred times over to stop you from exercisingauthority and power to protect your lives, because when that happens,it means the job got done without them, and their power over you isdiminished. They don't care about your safety, so you have no reasonto care what they think. Administrator types will be the primaryopposition we'll be facing in the room. There's also a possibilityof a police chief or two showing up to voice their "concerns" aboutnon-uniformed students possessing guns during a violent episode.It's the same thing with them, they also consider the exercise offorce to be their sole domain, and are only concerned about being theonly ones who are armed when they show up.The thing about bullies is that they are all paper tigers when youmake it clear that not only will their intimidation tactics not betolerated, they will be used to bite them with, and publicly exposethe bullies for what they are.The Higher Education Committee has given us what we've wanted, an allor nothing showdown between the two sides. It's an opportunity wewill likely not see again. If gas is a problem, borrow money. I'lldrive some people there myself from the Seattle area, and I'll donatesome money to carpools if you get in touch. If you have stagefright, get over it, because this will be decided by the number ofpeople present who are willing to stand up, speak and be counted.(Written testimony is an acceptable alternative though.) Thecommittee would not have arranged for this showdown unless they werewilling to actually pass Campus Protection out of committee, if theyare sufficiently impressed, so it's a certainty that one of these twobills WILL be passed out of committee.As you all know, this is about far more than just a gun issue, it'sabout people's lives. The lives of your fellow students, yourteachers and staff, and you. If we miss this opportunity, and liveson campus are lost again in this state, we will have to live with thefact that we failed them ourselves. So let's pull the stops out andwin this one.These are the emails for the Senate Higher Education Committee.Whether you can make it to the hearing or not, contact them rightaway to urge support for HB 6860, and thank them for this generousopportunity."Senate Higher Education":shin.paull@leg.wa.gov,kilmer.derek@leg.wa.gov, delvin.jerome@leg.wa.gov,berkey.jean@leg.wa.gov, schoesler.mark@leg.wa.gov,sheldon.timothy@leg.wa.gov;The sponsors of HB 6860 are Pam Roach (prime sponsor), Val Stevens,and Jerome Delvin. Also write to them and thank them profusely fortackling this issue for us.roach.pam@leg.wa.govstevens.val@leg.wa.govdelvin.jerome@leg.wa.govAlso, a website devoted to Washington State campus carry relatedlegislation is under construction by a campus leader for Students forConcealed Carry on Campus. The site will be at:http://www.campuscarr... . It should be up in a day ortwo, so check back, developments and alerts will be posted there, andthere will probably be an alert list to sign up for as well.Sincerely,Kevin SchmadekaFreedom Restoration Project of Washingtonfrp-wa@mindspring.com360 757-7122

FW:Joe WaldronGOAL Alert 1-2008ATTENDANCE NEEDED AT SENATE HIGHER ED HEARINGAt 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, 7 February, the Senate Higher EducationCommittee will hold a public hearing on two gun-related bills inspiredby the mass murder at Virginia Tech last April. SB 6841 (Murray, D-43)would ban firearms and other weapons on all college campuses. SB 6860(Roach, R-31) would clarify the fact that state preemption of firearmregulation extended to institutions of higher learning, thuspreventingthem from imposing bans on firearms.The two approaches are directly opposite, and offer a greatopportunityto stand up for our rights as gun owners and as citizens of a freecountry. Do we want more "victim disarmament zones" where murdererscancommit their crimes without fear of immediate response, or do we wanttoallow responsible, licensed ADULTS to exercise their right of selfdefense as affirmed by both the federal and state constitutions and bynatural law?The only incidents where spree shooters have been stopped in theirtracks is when armed citizens were in a position to stop the shooter.Pearl, MS, High School. Appalachia Law School. Trolley Square Mall inSalt Lake City. And most recently at the New Life Church in ColoradoSprings.We encourage any who can to ATTEND THE 10 a.m. HEARING. Sign in onBOTHbills' sign-in sheets: AGAINST SB 6841, FOR SB 6860. If you would liketo testify, write "yes" in the appropriate block. Remember: identifyyourself and where you are from, limit your testimony to three minutesmaximum, do not attack the motives of our opponents, do not repeatpoints already made by others. It's a good idea to have a written copyof your testimony to drop off with Senate staff. Additional guidanceon testimony is available athttp://www.leg.wa.gov... Without doubt, the "other side" will attempt to cram the hearing roomwith gun prohibitionists. Are you willing to sit by and allow that?Parking at the Capitol Campus is limited. Car pooling is encouraged.Metered parking is available a few blocks north and a few blocks westof the Campus. For additional parking information, visit:http://www.leg.wa.gov... If you can't make it to Olympia next Thursday, please call, e-mail orwrite your Senator and ask him or her to oppose SB 6841 and support SB6860. To find your legislator(s):http://apps.leg.wa.go...

[Via Zachary H]

Heller Respondent's Brief

Today, attorneys challenging Washington, D.C’s 31-year-old gun prohibition laws filed their written arguments in the U.S. Supreme Court. Washington, D.C. bans the possession of handguns outright, and further forbids rifles and shotguns from ever being operable in private homes for use in self-defense.

They include a link to the .pdf file of the brief.

I do wish they'd mentioned William Rawle, as well as the Preamble to the Bill of Rights, especially with all the focus they put on the Second Amendment's and statutory preambles.

[Via TomZ]

Compare and Contrast

The "Vote Freedom First President's" Heller brief:

Given the unquestionable threat to public safety that unrestricted private firearm possession would entail, various categories of firearm-related regulation are permitted by the Second Amendment.

The Second Amendment:

A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

The Most Busted Name in News

Surveillance video showed him grabbing her service weapon, a .40-caliber Glock, and shooting her 15 times in the head and body.

Hmmm... What happened to the revolver...?


Time was, "Authorized Journalists" would have the decency to issue a correction statement. And for some reason, there's no WarOnGuns link in their "From the Blogs" section...

This Day in History: February 5

On February 5, 1778, South Carolina became the first state to ratify the first constitution of the U.S., the Articles of Confederation.

Ironically, or perhaps indicatively, they were also the first state to secede from the Union.

"Abusive Bullies"

When supporters of the event attempted to "lie down" for three minutes, the time it takes to undergo a background check in Virginia, armed members of the NRA, the Virginia Citizens Defense League (VCDL) and Students for Concealed Carry on Campus descended on the vigil, heckled the speakers, including those who had been shot at Virginia Tech, and tried to block participants. These armed bullies conducted a shameful display of insensitivity and intimidation.

Actually, if you want to see "abusive bullies," just look at the tactics employed by state agents carrying out the will of the "peaceful protestors," that is, cowards and anti-gun males who rely on rougher men to do their dirty work for them.

Here's an account of events that includes a little something the hysterical Ben Fordney leaves out: documentation. Of course, he also left out that he's a board member for Virginians Against Handgun Violence, yet presumes to speak for "Most gun owners in Virginia, including strong supporters of the Second Amendment"...

In the Newspeak of those who respect neither the Second nor the First, vocal dissent is "bullying." Tough for you, Ben. With all the police and media at the event, I'm sure if anything untoward happened, there'd be more than your whining thought-up-after-the-fact tactic to go after these horrible, icky people with.

Here's maybe something you could try, Ben: If you don't want people to laugh at you, stop being laughable.

We're the Only Ones Working Well Enough

But spokesmen for Badlands National Park and Wind Cave National Park do say that current restrictions on guns seem to be working well in those parks.

"It's something I wouldn't advocate," Badlands Superintendent Paige Baker said about the senators' proposal loosen those restrictions. "The system is working as it is. When people come out here, it's to look at the wildlife and the natural beauty, not to shoot."

Yeah, right, Paige. Just like these guys. But I guess you professional government workers are "The Only Ones" with lives worth using guns to defend.

A Real Stunner

His comments were branded "ludicrous" by school teacher Eileen Harrild, who was shot by Thomas Hamilton while trying to shield her pupils from his bullets during his rampage which claimed 17 lives at Dunblane in 1996.

She said: "I can't imagine how guns could be encouraged in any way, let alone as a form of fun. I really am stunned."

Really. Everybody knows it's better to be a helpless target. Just ask the Bishops.

And why does "The League Against Cruel Sports" sound like something to build a Monty Python skit around?

Because Forced Disarmament Worked Out So Well for Them

Bishop and others at the solemn ceremony directed their opposition to two pieces of legislation, House Bill 915 and HB 89. The first would allow gun owners to carry their weapons into more places in the state. The other would let employees carry guns in their cars to work.

Anyone who would put me or my loved ones in the same jeopardy that theirs were killed in has lost all claim to sympathy. By demanding our forced disarmament by the state, they have made themselves nothing less than our enemies. It doesn't matter if they're grieving, it doesn't matter if they're misguided. They advocate state coercion to deny basic human rights. They have stepped over to the "obey us or be destroyed" side of the line.

Nice work there, "Authorized Journalist" David Markiewicz! One would never know alternate viewpoints might exist from this "straight news" story. Nice to see the Atlanta Journal Constitution continues to maintain the tradition of ethical reporting standards we've come to expect.

Hedging Bets at Castle Schwarzenegger

Maria Shriver -- wife of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and a member of the powerful Kennedy political clan -- on Sunday endorsed Barack Obama for US president, just days after her former-actor husband backed Republican John McCain.

It's called playing both ends against the middle, but more than that, it's a continuation of the deception that there are two ends:

"The argument that the two parties should represent opposed ideals and policies, one, perhaps, of the Right and the other of the Left, is a foolish idea acceptable only to doctrinaire and academic thinkers. Instead, the two parties should be almost identical, so that the American people can 'throw the rascals out' at any election without leading to any profound or extensive shifts in policy."

The utter inability of some to admit the con job spelled out by Carrol Quigley in "Tragedy and Hope" speaks more to abdication of any line in the sand than anything else. We have a chance at peaceful revolution, a true easy way out, and it is, for the most part, disparaged and scorned.

We're the Only Ones Targeting Enough

Per Breda:

I found this cartoon while poking around on the internet and thought that perhaps you might like it - it fits in well with your "Only Ones" series...

Indeed it does.

We're the Only Ones Dogged Enough

"There couldn't have been a better case," she said. "You have an admission from Minton, a videotape of the shootings, as well as statements from eyewitnesses. It's just amazing that this is not being pursued."

It's only amazing to those who don't know about "The Only Ones"...

Got 'em in "a calm, submissive state" now, eh, dog whisperers?

[Via M. Terry, who notes: "If they didn't shoot the dogs, they should be fired for not noticing all the gunfire that accompanied their vehicle, and which injured and killed dogs." ]

This Day in History: February 4

February 4, 1789 was set as the day for the first presidential election. Electors met in each state, cast their votes, and sent the sealed ballots to the newly-formed United States Congress. Although the votes would not be opened and counted for several months, it was widely believed that George Washington would receive the most votes for president.

GUNS Magazine: February 1958

Because it is only a blank weapon, it should not come under the National Firearms Act of 1934 (as amended 1954). Even though it fires blanks as fast as if it were a bullet-shooting machine gun, it does not "fire a shot" nor "expel a projectile by the force of an explosive," as the definitions are in the machine gun act. Currently, because it goes "bang" and shucks out shells, the Treasury word-manglers are holding that this modified Kpist does in fact and in law "fire a shot," even though the word "shot" (as opposed to "shell") has long meant a solid missile propelled from-a gun. Apparently the Treasury noisemakers hold that in this case a "shot" must be accompanied by noise, and that the noise alone constitutes a "shot" within the meaning of the Act.

Looks like there's a long and honorable tradition that's still being followed today. Can't have citizens training themselves in a safe and fun manner, as opposed to having "those 'training accidents' that are so carefully hushed out of the papers" when it's an exclusive privilege of professionals.

I also got a kick reading that:

SOUND GUNS, RAY GUNS, AND BABY MISSILE LAUNCHERS MAY BE THE SHAPE OF SMALL ARMS FOR U.S. TROOPS WITHIN 15 YEARS

I've always loved speculations on the future, and wrote "Things to Come" back when I was writing for GUNS AND AMMO. They own the rights and it's not online, so I can't steer you to it here. Hopefully, some day my sons will be able to see how what I wrote pans out 50 years later.

The February 1958 issue of GUNS Magazine is now online, featuring these articles and plenty more, including the classic period ads. It's an 11 MB file, so those of you still on dial up may want to find something to do while it loads.

The Paw Patrol

Boston police officer George Boggs and K-9 Peggy, a Labrador retriever trained by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, hunted the area, honing in on the parking lot. Peggy, trained to sniff out explosives, hit on the left front wheel of a Chevrolet Tahoe parked next to the suspects’ Lexus. Inside the truck’s wheel well, cops spotted the grip of the .380 pistol.

"The Paw Patrol." Awwww. And she's so cute!

That's much more appealing to the public than that dry, old, boring, irrelevant Fourth Amendment, don't you think? Part of BATFU's kinder, gentler community outreach image, and fuzzy paws are so much easier to sell than slimy tentacles.

How'd you like to be walking past Officer Boggs and Peggy after a day at the range? Bet that would lead to some interesting results if you didn't comply with an immediate cavity search.

BFF

I trust John McCain to reinvigorate our economy, cut taxes, eliminate wasteful spending and to make Washington work to produce results for the people of this country. He has spent the last two decades standing up for American taxpayers. He understands the best way to move our economy forward is to allow families to keep more of what they earn, not the government.

And he's a crusader, has a great vision, in protecting the environment and also simultaneously protecting the economy. He has incredible credentials in national security, and he is an outstanding public servant who values real action over rhetoric. He is a leader in the mold of Ronald Reagan and proven time and again that in every decision he makes, he puts America first.

OH, YEAAHH!

And as predicted, there's no shortage of no-line-in-the-sand fainthearts lining up for a drink.

UPDATE: Not to be left out, My Man Mitthead is offering up his own ice-cold pitcher full of the sweet nectar. And again, the bold majority in the online citizen militia are developing a powerful thirst.

A State of War With the People

Chris Horton reminds us of a quote from John Locke we would do well to commit to heart.

A Little Weekend Work at the Office

Now what would the DoJ and/or BATFU be doing Google searching "Len Savage" on a Saturday evening...?

Something to help secure the blessings of liberty, I'll bet. You know, legitimate government functions...

"I Want POWER!!!"

Tony Blair has been holding discussions with some of his oldest allies on how he could mount a campaign later this year to become full-time president of the EU council, the prestigious new job characterised as "president of Europe".

Coming soon to a continent near you...