What a Morning!

And I had so much I wanted to accomplish--and hoped to be finished with by now so that I could get on with my real life.

Right after I'd completed my history post, and was working on the next feature, my Internet went out. The "online" light was out on the modem. I did the standard unplugging, waiting, reconnecting--even rebooted--nothing.

Better call my ISP. Wait--the phone is dead. Oh yeah, that's right, phone is a package deal, along with cable. If the computer's out, so is the phone.

No worries. Cell phone. "Go Phone" actually--I have no need for a monthly plan, so have a pay-as-you-go phone for needed family use only--a kid goes out he can have it to reach us--not to chat or text other kids.

Fine--where's the damn phone? Who had it last? Aw come on.

Here it is--on the bookcase. I've asked to always have it returned to the desk in the kitchen. Oh, well--my government doesn't listen to me, why should my children?

And it's dead as a damned doornail. Naturally. Uh, I don't suppose the charger is anywhere around here?

Found it. That only took 20 minutes. Chargechargechargecharge...chargecharge...DONE!

"Emergency calls only."

Who ran it out of minutes...? And didn't tell me?

OK, time to go to the store, get a refill card.

Great--all they have is $50 cards. I'm not gonna use $50 before the minutes expire. If I wanted to use that much in a month, I'd have a damn cell plan. OK, where's the next store--oh, wait--here's some $20 cards by the register for impulse buyers.

Alright. Scratch off the back strip to reveal the PIN. Check.

Dial 1-800... Check.

Welcome to...blahblah...press "One" for English.

I do. I get Spanish. I press "One" again. It hangs up.

Dial it again. Repeat process. "One." Hola, amigo!

Third time. Nope, they are not gonna let me recharge. Wait, what's this? There's a punch-out card to take into the store so they can refill minutes. To the service desk goes I.

Naturally, the man behind the counter knows nothing about how to do it. Leave it to corporate to implement a marketing program and not, you know, train anybody. But he pages another woman, and she also reveals she has no clue. Still, she's smart enough to use her phone to call the number and hook me up to where I can enter MY number, and the deed is done. I got phone.

Back home we go. And of course, whatever the glitch was, the modem is sitting there innocuously, like nothing ever happened, the "online" light glowing green and steady. And here I am.

In the course of my life I have literally thought I was going to die several times, where my decisions and reactions were all that stood in the way of me getting seriously, perhaps terminally, messed up. I've been blessed with the genetic predisposition to act rather than freeze. Things go slow motion. My senses are heightened. I always seem to know what to do. I claim no credit. It's nothing I've earned. It just is.

So I can pretty much handle the big picture and not go into adrenalin seizure until after the moment has passed. But the little stuff is my Achilles Heel. See, I expect certain things--I stole the golf term and call them "gimmes." These are the nits you should never need to worry about--they ought to be automatic. You know, simple take-for-granted stuff, like "shall not be infringed..."

And when they don't happen, when for want of a nail all my plans are thwarted, well, Vol becomes very angry indeed.

I do need to work on that, because we all know life is generally a series of little things. Still, temper tantrums can be like naps--every once in a while they can be therapeutic--plus I generally get very creative in my cussing, and having the wife laugh at what I come up with usually breaks the spell and gets me laughing right back.

Now I've got some work to do. If you sent me anything to consider for posting, I might not get to it. But first I need to get something wet that I can spill all over the keyboard.

This Day in History: May 30

That they are perfectly united in opinion and determined to pursue the most effectual measures, and to use the whole force of the Kingdom, if it be found necessary, to reduce the rebellious and refractory provinces and colonies.

And we know how their inflexible arrogance worked out. Isn't it revealing how the willingness of tyrants to desist and negotiate increases based on the amount of force a rival is capable of fielding?

That's why, when the Second Amendment is working properly, the incentive for abusers to behave themselves likewise increases, with the seemingly paradoxical (but only on the surface)result of a more peaceable society. The deterrent effect reduces the likelihood of physical conflict just as surely as it gives an individual predator pause to reconsider.

Those working to weaken such protections should also give pause, and consider the results they get may not be the ones they set out to achieve.

A Hero in the People's Struggle Against Freedom

These people even sound like commies, don't they?

I'm just surprised the press release didn't use words like "proletariat" and "hegemony."

Just one question: Are you sleeping, bourgeoisie?

We're the Only Ones "Do You Deliver?" Enough

"I wanted to do the right thing and turn it in because I didn't want kids finding it and getting hurt," Gibbons said. "But the police wouldn't come get it from me. They wanted me to deliver it. I was enraged."

No concern if she knew proper handling procedures to be able to do that safely?

No concern it might have been disposed evidence and improper handling could obliterate clues like fingerprints? On that note, have their been any recent unsolved shootings with a .25? Or reports of stolen guns? Did anybody check?

No cautioning on legal requirements for transporting firearms?

The ironically-named Lt. Skip Arms (Is this a joke? Is that an invented name to go with this story?) certainly does represent the "Only Ones" attitude and excuse-making we've come to expect over the years.

Yeah, we're too busy setting revenue traps to be bothered. Hey, you hungry?

I know some might be tempted to say she should have kept the gun, but keep in mind if you were caught with it and it did turn out to be a "crime gun," you'd have some 'splainin' to do. Still, you never know when you might need a throwaway, just like the trained professionals have.

If You Can't Trust a "Tipster," Who Can You Trust?

Waterford police have arrested a Waterford High School student for allegedly falsely reporting someone was at the school with a gun.

What?

Sni...I mean, "tipsters" sometimes LIE...??

This could spoil EVERYTHING!!!

By the way--y'all have submitted a slogan, right?

Another Public/Private Partnership

While leaving my breakfast place this morning, I noticed the following sign in a window:

It offers a $125.00 dollar reward for every working firearm returned to the 14th District Police Station.

That wouldn't be my breakfast place any more, and I'd be sure to let the proprietor know why. I'd be tempted to go there with a large party of fellow gun owners, sit down, and just before ordering, conveniently "notice" the sign, take offense and leave--just so he realized how much money was walking out his door.

I not only personally let foolish business owners who post "No Guns" signs know why they're not getting my business, on substantial purchases I've actually sent them copies of receipts from their competitors--along with a note explaining how they blew the sale.

[Via Less]

The Unholy Grail

An ancient gold cup mysteriously acquired by an English scrap metal dealer is expected to fetch close to a million dollars at auction after languishing for years in a shoe box under its current owner's bed.

And it's not only got the Cult of Set two-headed snake symbol, but like Thulsa himself, it's two-faced.

I love the anecdote about the guy not knowing what he had and using the cup as a BB gun target.
[Via JD]

We're the Only Ones Approaching the Bench Enough

From a legal correspondent:

I was in court today (I'm a criminal defense attorney) and noticed two ATF agents. One was a "gun crimes task force" guy, and the other was some kind of "Project safe America" agent. Whatever that is.

Anyways, I wish I could've taken a pic, but the courtroom was off limits to cameras, and I didn't want to risk a picture with my blackberry.

Here's the problem: the ATF agent was standing in front of the Judge, with his Glock holstered on his thigh, but unstrapped, and he had his hand on the butt of his pistol the entire time he was talking to the Judge. Seriously. I didn't know whether to take that as a threat to the Judge, but I was tempted to ask him to remove his hand from his weapon and secure it.

Hope that that made sense to you. I was just dumbfounded that he had his hand on it like he was going to draw. Of course, I had to disarm to go to court, but.... oh well.

Can you imagine if that were you or me?

Yes I can. But not being an "Only One," and a BATFU "Only One" at that, I don't think it would have ended well.

And it was probably "Project Safe Neighborhoods," you know, that public/private partnership (say, isn't that the core of...fascism...?) that everybody who's anybody is on board with...

We're the Only Ones Taking Tips Enough

Police said they made the arrest after receiving an anonymous phone tip that he was selling drugs.The caller contacted police at about 10 a.m. Tuesday to report that he had purchased drugs from a teacher at the high school named Abbott who kept a gun in his car, police said.

This story just isn't adding up.

An unloaded shotgun? Was it in the trunk?

Prescription drugs? Were they his?

"Marijuana packaged for sale"? Does that mean he had some in a Baggie? How much?

Why would he consent to a car search?

Why does it sound like the "tipster" is doing dirt to this guy for personal reasons? I mean, it's not like they were holding a slogan contest or anything.

And why do I get the feeling the "Authorized Journalists" are doing a bit of sensationalizing?

The "Only One" happy about all this is probably Wayne.

I'll be surprised if there's not a lot more to this story than what we're seeing here.

A Public/Private Partnership

Representatives from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Memphis-based community groups, public officials, local law enforcement and the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) -- the non-profit trade association for the firearms industry -- today jointly announced a major campaign to reduce significantly the illegal straw purchases of firearms in Memphis.

Just one big happy alliance...

The Clown Suit Defense

“Oh! A clown suit!” all proclaim, prostrating themselves and genuflecting before the one true God. “Why, if he’s wearing a clown suit, it must be all right! We know that clowns want only the best things for our children, and of course clowns must go through rigorous training and certification in order to be granted, by the powers that be, that most sacred privilege of wearing the clown suit! Surely, if he’s wearing a clown suit, he is in the right, and they are the evil doers, they are the ones who have transgressed, and, indeed, they must be punished.”

I'll accept that metaphor...

[Via Luke O]

You Are Cordially Invited...

Or not. But it looks like BATFU's reaching out to their good friends and enablers, the watchdog "Authorized Journalists."


At least this location isn't top super secret.

I wish I'd known about this in advance. I can think of more than a few questions I'd love to put to "Maximum Mike" in a public forum.

This Day in History: May 29

We, for our parts, are determined to live free, or not at all; and are resolved, that posterity shall never reproach us with having brought slaves into the world.

Posterity will judge us, too.

A Little Attribution Here...?

"It didn't matter the rifle in question had not been intentionally modified for select fire, or that it did not have an M16 bolt carrier or sear, that it did not show any signs of machining or drilling, or that that model had even been recalled a few years back," said a commentary in Guns Magazine on the case against David R. Olofson, of Berlin, Wis.

What, telling people the author's name would kill you?

How am I supposed to manage my reputation if people don't know who I am?

Yeah, I know that seems petty, but show me a writer who's not interested in increasing "brand name" recognition.

"[T]he commentary said" indeed. Is that anything like "the gun went off"?

Raising the Barr

By the time Rep. Chenoweth introduced her bill, there were 11 original cosponsors -- a significant number indeed. Consider that the other leading bill to repeal the Lautenberg gun ban only had one original cosponsor when it was introduced earlier this year. That bill, introduced by Rep. Bob Barr (R-GA), would only repeal the retroactive part of the gun ban, leaving the ban in place for the future.[Emphasis Added-DC]

Really?

It would seem so:

Rep. Barr shows support for Lautenberg ban.

In early March, Rep. Bob Barr endorsed the concept of the Lautenberg gun ban, calling it "important and worthwhile legislation." Barr's comments appeared as an editorial in the March 6, 1997 issue of USA Today, where he called for only a limited repeal of the Lautenberg ban. While he opposed the retroactive part of the ban, Rep. Barr endorsed the underlying principle behind the Lautenberg gun ban, stating that,

This [Lautenberg gun ban] is important and worthwhile legislation, and we cannot allow its effectiveness to be reduced.

Unfortunately, this was not the first time that Rep. Barr has expressed his support for the underlying principle behind the Lautenberg gun ban. On September 28, 1996, Rep. Barr issued a memo on his Congressional letterhead stating that:

The Lautenberg amendment with the Barr language is strong protection for women and children. [Emphasis in the original.]

And then on October 12, 1996, Rep. Barr sent a letter to the editor of the Atlanta Journal Constitution, again saying that he had fought hard to "improve" the Lautenberg language. He noted that because of his amendment, the Lautenberg gun ban could now pass constitutional muster and not be struck down by the courts. Barr stated:

Under the Lautenberg language -- which was cleared up through my amendatory language that was adopted -- there was no consistent definition of "crime of domestic violence," and therefore the entire provision would have been declared unconstitutional. My language corrected this deficiency by setting forth the common elements of the crime that would apply to everyone. [Emphasis added.]

Rep. Barr was also one of the Representatives who voted last September in favor of the Lautenberg gun ban as part of the omnibus spending bill (H.R. 3610).

The above statements would seem to indicate that Rep. Barr is content with only repealing the retroactive nature of the ban, and thus, leaving the gun ban in the federal code in perpetuity.

We've seen the best the Republicans are offering us--this is all the LP can muster? We are so screwed.

I'm writing in Papoon for President.

"He's Not Insane."

The Google Star Vanishes*

Before:


After:


Ah well, it was fun while it lasted.

*With Apologies

A Nightmare Assault on Public Safety!!!

State legislators should reject the National Rifle Association’s incessant demands to water down sensible gun-control laws.

In the organization’s latest assault on common sense and public safety, the NRA is pushing for a change in state laws that would allow anyone to carry a gun in a motor vehicle as long as it is in a case and unloaded.

Yeah, really. That is just insane.

What earthly reason could a citizen have to keep a gun in the car?

Or anywhere else for that matter, since "common sense" applies everywhere?

Besides, it'll give "The Only Ones" nightmares.

I wonder if these hysterical ninnies ever actually listen to themselves? Good grief, you don't suppose a "man" wrote this, do you?

Harlem Criminals Break Law!

Six teens were struck and wounded in that Monday shooting, police said, but that told only half the story of violence in the area. An additional four people were wounded in four unrelated shootings in another part of Harlem.

See, this kind of stuff isn't allowed. I don't know how much clearer Bloomberg can make things.

Maybe he ought to send some of those undercover private dicks from the James Mintz Group over to infiltrate the gangs--and then he can sue 'em. I'm sure Judge Weinstein will give him all the support he needs. He always has...

A Gun Turn-In Program that Can't...Uh...Can be Beat

"Mayor Thomas Menino is telling these kids to pick up guns and turn them in," she said just before the arraignment. "Is this what's going to happen to them?"

..."They just kept beating him and beating him and beating him," Lewis said. "I only stepped in when he said, 'I can't breathe!' "

...Just after midnight on Sunday, they wrote, officers went to the scene following a tip that someone fitting Rivers's description had a gun.

I'm sorry--I was trying to think up a slogan and thought it might help inspire me.

Enter the Baltimore Sun's Gun Snitch Slogan Contest!

We could generate public interest in the program by holding a contest for a slogan. Here is my idea: "Report a Gun - Make a Few Bucks." What's yours?

Contests? I LOVE contests!

Here's my entry:

How about:
"Got a Gang Rival? Let Us Do Your Dirty Work For You?"

I could have thought of others, but there are so many to choose from!

Head on over and give 'em yours. It doesn't say if we win anything, but somehow I think we'll all win if we take a minute and enter.

And spread the word.

Illinois Makes it Illegal to Commit Illegal Gun Transfer Illegally to Minors Who Can't Legally Have Them Because it's Illegal

Governor Rod Blagojevich has been sent legislation that would require a stiff prison sentence for a person convicted of giving a gun to a minor who then goes out and commits a crime.

Yeah--make it even more illegal--that'll fix things. Good job, Kwame Raoul. No wonder you're a great man and we're not.

Hey, I wonder if there should be a provision to make an exception for Rod's father-in-law--or will they just pass a special workaround for him if and when he needs it?

"Martin Belam Replied"

He started out trying to be conciliatory, but then he went and accused us of "trolling." And brought up somebody in an unrelated thread telling him he should be shot, as if that has any relevance here.

I also never knew I had an "Internet reputation managing system in place," let alone a "highly efficient" one. There are careers in that?

[Via Anonymous]

Grading a Term Paper

Clearly, firearms should not be made available freely and openly, no questions asked, to anyone wishing to purchase one.

Why not?

And "reasonable measures"? Who gets to decide that?

Perhaps the author could include an end note to show where authority for such infringements is delegated? What in his own research makes him think such edicts slow the monsters among us down one bit, and why did he not see fit to recognize government usurping such undelegated powers as a primary reason for needing an armed citizenry?

I'm not trying to pick a fight here. What I'm trying to do is stimulate a discussion. How do you protect "shall not be infringed" for the rational, mature and whole among us?

I've said before that anyone who can't be trusted with a gun can't be trusted without a custodian. That's true, but the freedoms in our society--or perhaps the misapplication of them?--guarantee there are some among us who can't be trusted with matches and butter knives.

So what do we do? Cede that permissions and prior restraints are reasonable? Or cede that one of the costs of freedom is that some will abuse it at times, and at times with terrible results?

My own thought is that the more free society is, the better protected it will be, and the more incentives will be in place to address problem individuals. But I admit my hypothetical ideal is not the society we are currently living in.

What are your thoughts?

[Via Mindful Musings]

This Day in History: May 28

Fresh ADVICES from the AMERICAN ARMY.

Camp at Cambridge, May 28, 1775.

YESTERDAY a Party from the United American Army was ordered to take the Cattle, Hay, &c. from Noddle's and Hog Islands. While executing their Orders, they were attacked by a Number of the King's Troops from Boston, in an armed Schooner, a Sloop, and 8 or 10 Boats belonging to the Men of War: A brisk Fire began about Four o'Clock, P. M. and continued most of the Night, then ceased a little, and at Dawn of Day was renewed, by which Time Capt. Foster, with two Field Pieces from this Camp, joined our Troops, when a heavy Fire from the Shore on the armed Vessels put them into great Distress. The Schooner's Decks were cleared, and she drifted on the Ferry-Way at Winesimet, where our People sat Fire to her, and she was soon blown up, and destroyed. Sixteen Four-Pounders, and six Swivels, were taken out of her by our People. The Sloop was disabled, and obliged to be towed off by the Men of War's Boats; the Remains of them are returned to their Den. Our People had none killed, three wounded, but none of them dangerously. The Number of killed and wounded of the Enemy not known.

Printed by J. Carter.

Helping Tammerlin

And for all of you Second Amendment watchdogs, I'm not talking about guns like my late grandmother's .38 special, which she kept loaded in a nightstand by the side of her bed, despite the crippling arthritis in her "trigger finger."

I'm talking about tens of thousands of illegal semiautomatic handguns and assault weapons in the hands of young men who'll start blasting just because they think someone looked at them funny.

I'm trying to help you here, Tammerlin.

Maybe California ought to ban "assault weapons."

Oh, wait...

Jeeze, the Roberti-Roos and Perata bans. Tough break.

I know, maybe California could make it illegal to carry a concealed handgun unless you have permission from the police.

Ahh...scratch that.

How about waiting periods? Handgun registration? A ban on .50s? Penalties for allowing access to minors? No, no, no and no...

I know I'm starting to run out of ideas here, but maybe, I don't know, laws against shooting people?

I'm sorry, Tammerlin. I'm afraid I've let you down.

Our Obvious Answer

Our obvious answer: Seal all gun show sales loopholes, requiring checks on every purchaser. And reinstate the U.S. ban on assault-gun purchases that Congress, under gun-lobby pressure, let expire in 2004.

It's their not-so-obvious answer I'm worried about. You don't think they'll stop there.

Truth or Dare

A British student has been arrested in the US for attempting to buy a gun for a dare using fake ID, US police said...

That sounds like as good a reason as any to call in the bomb squad and evacuate two blocks of apartments on the other side of the Atlantic for five hours, doesn't it?

A Sensible Package

Mindful of the 2007 Virginia Tech University massacre and gun violence in general, Gov. David Paterson has proposed a sensible package of legislation to limit access to firearms.

Apparently it involves an anti-defense zealot and a victim who proved utterly incapable of defending herself or others cutting memorial ribbons, which at least should make memorializing future sets of victims inexpensive.

Ol' Abby Spangler's looking a little anore...uh...thin there. She reminds me of a line from Tom Robbins' "Another Roadside Attraction"--she could use a pound of steak and some fries.

And Paterson--talk about your double-dealer! Cheating on his...I mean, snorting co...I mean, stumping for gun control with one hand, pardoning "gun criminals" with the other...

You'll pardon me if I find nothing sensible about any of these misfits, and especially about giving them power over the choices of non-defective men and women who have no self control or trust issues.

Duck Hook Horror Terrifies Fair-Goers!

Parents were left horrified when a hook-the-duck stall at a fair gave ball-bearing guns as prizes to children.

Good grief.

A Tricky Proposition

Musician Tricky has blamed hip hop for the rise in knife and gun crime across Britain.

Funny--I have the same access to it as everybody else, and I haven't stabbed or shot anybody.

Effects aren't the same as causes, Trickman. You might instead want to look at the type of culture that produces a demand for what you got, and then look at what produces that type of culture.

As for your Bronx/UK comparison, interesting, but I wouldn't know. I expect to keep my distance from both.

"The King" Goes Berserk

I mean really. Tell me you don't see it.

We're the Only Ones Loopholing Enough

A Dallas County sheriff's deputy had his gun, uniform and handcuffs stolen Sunday morning at his home in Rochester Park.

Here's an idea: Why not require "Only Ones" to turn in their weapons at the end of the shift? If we can keep one gun off the street, it's worth it!

The War on Sporting Purposes

"Do we as a society value safety or do we value a hobby that creates danger?" Mr. Miller said, endorsing the recommended crackdown. "That hobby directly results in people being shot and killed on the streets of our city."

Take note, "sportsmen"--see what happens when you trivialize a right?

All you IQFs who think Polyphemus will eat you last and are willing to toss non-Fuddites under the bus, think again. Like other predators, government finds the weak are the easiest pickings.

But you all go right ahead and listen to editorial make-up artists like "'pro gun' Kentuckian" Tom Eblen, trying to put lipstick on the AHSA pig.

Don't ask me whether its ignorance or intent that makes him willingly and enthusiastically lead you to the slaughter. Ask him.

History

We tend to think today, those of us who reflect back on it at all, that the War Between the States was simply a war of big battlefields and stirring changes, banners held on high, et cetera, ad nauseum. This reading of the war tends to convince us that it could never come again. But a closer reading of history reveals that this was not simply a war between the states but a war within the states, a true civil war of former friends and neighbors, made all the more ghastly by the nature of the personal associations of the combatants. Understand that, and then the spectre of its recurrence seems much more possible. Read, and learn.

Yes, do so.

Mike Vanderboegh gives us a history lesson over at Mindful Musings.

C'mon, Everybody, Do the BATFU Shake

Word is circulating that a number of ATF supervisors, from field up to high HQ levels, Assistant Directors and such, are being effectively suspended (effectively, but without using that term) while higher powers look into their competence and allegations of abuse and/or fraud. The Inspector General is said to be taking a role, and some of those involved in matters like Red's Trading Post are under the microscope.

Good. Somebody's figuring out that over-the-top arrogance results in a spotlight, and as we've noted before on occasion, the floorboard dwellers hate that. Let's keep it shining and focused, at each and every opportunity. To paraphrase Rhett Butler, they need to be illuminated, and often, and by someone who knows how.

There's a lot of good agents out there, who're perfectly reasonable toward firearm owners and honest in their work.

Sorry, Mr. Hardy. I've always held you in high regard, and still do, but that's a point I will not cede. The very existence of the agency is an affront to the Bill of Rights. One can not be part of the institution and claim fidelity to the vision of the Founders. It just can't be done.

This Day in History: May 27

I am of the opinion that when once these rebels have felt a smart blow, they will submit...

No doubt there are some who still feel that way.

Do you think they're right?

Speaking of Pirates...

I wonder if Bloomberg is going to sue the sword manufacturers.

When Monkey Puzzle Trees are Outlawed...

Good grief.

In Grateful Memory...

...to my grandfather and three uncles who served and are no longer with us, and to all their now-resting brothers in arms who loved the idea that is America.

Better men than me left us a great treasure. I pledge to do what I can to honor their memory and their sacrifice, and to keep it from being compromised, squandered or stolen.

SOP 9

...interesting statistics and information relating to police shootouts.

Indeed.

[Via Carl S]

We...are About to Have Our Fuse Lit

Mike Vanderboegh has a "Premonition."

A Pirate's Life For Me Redux

Mariners are being warned of a growing threat from pirates around the world after attacks on shipping rose by 20 per cent over the last year.

And unsurprisingly:

Four of the six Somali pirates arrested for kidnapping a French luxury yacht are related to Somali President Abdullah Yusuf Ahmed, the French weekly Le Point reported Monday on its website.

We're dealing with Barbary pirates--aided, abetted, harbored, and in many cases directed by corrupt thugocracies. Commodore Decatur showed us how to deal with that, but I guess the lesson has been forgotten.

Somalia is particularly interesting because of the pervasive and longstanding UN effort there. So what do the globalists at the International Maritime Organization suggest doing about piracy in international waters?

The following is from "A Pirate's Life for Me!," one of my GUNS & AMMO columns from 2002:

Hoses against weapons. Trembling behind hatches. Everything but standing up on your sea-legs and fighting. How about just opening fire on them?

The IMO's Captain Hartmut Hesse says armed guards on ships "will only increase violence, it will not deter the pirates."

The IMO guide Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships, cautions "The carrying and use of firearms ... is strongly discouraged. [It] may encourage attackers to carry firearms thereby escalating an already dangerous situation, and any firearms on board may themselves become an attractive target for an attacker. The use of firearms requires special training and aptitudes and the risk of accidents... is great."

...Agreeing with Captain Hesse, and chastising Lloyd's List for editorially suggesting otherwise, is Captain John Dalby of Marine Risk Management, a "maritime asset recovery and protection" company. While admitting "It is the sailors... who are being kidnaped, beached, set adrift ... or summarily killed," he warns that "only tragedy will result from inexperienced people trying to fight fire with fire. Leave intervention and reaction to those who are best equipped and trained for it."

It seems to me we're missing a lemons-out-of-lemonade opportunity here, to not only take care of the problem, but to turn it into a profitable bounty-hunting/ship capturing venture. Perhaps if privateers operated under Letters of Marque and Reprisal when American interests are involved...

This Day in History: May 26

A British Navel surgeon visits an American encampment and notes that the Americans are "a drunken, canting, lying, praying, hypocritical rabble without order."

Which really ought to give us hope, if you think about it.

Anticipation

I touched on something here that I believe deserves much wider consideration:

[T]he scenario he teaches does not include what a cop should do when encountering an armed citizen defending himself and others around him. The short-sighted chief I addressed earlier had the primary worry that seeing an armed citizen might prompt his men to shoot the wrong person. Now that we have 48 states with some form of "legal" carry provisions, to not be anticipating this, and preparing and training for it, amounts to nothing less than criminal negligence.

With concealed and in some cases open carry becoming more widespread, what are police departments doing to provide for the eventual scenario where officers arrive at a shooting scene involving an armed citizen defending himself?

Right now, the prevailing noises coming from "The Only Ones" brass is they'll have no way of knowing, and somebody's going to get killed.

That's not good enough. It's their job to figure out the dynamics of the society they're paid and expected to operate in, and to just throw out predictions so they can come back with an "I told you so" when they self-fulfill is unacceptable.

What training are police and sheriffs' departments doing to prepare officers for such an encounter? How many simulator programs anticipate an armed citizen with a shoot/don't shoot decision point in their scenarios? What instructions are officers given, and what opportunities do they have to practice for such eventualities?

And importantly, if there is anything out there along these lines, how effective has it proven to be? Who's got the best developed methodology and what mechanism exists to impart lessons learned across the policing community?

That's why this really ought to be a top-down effort. National police groups and major departments ought to be developing such training in coordination with national groups representing armed citizens. Are they? Who? And what?

If there is such a national effort already in existence, and I don't know about it, I submit many others probably don't either--and some public education is in order.

If there isn't, why not? What are we waiting for--a prophecy to come true?

Confronting Reality With Mr. X

Our policy is that employees are never to do anything to endanger themselves, co-workers or customers in the event of a robbery. In fact, the first principle in the policy is, “Cooperate! Don’t argue, resist or attack the robber.” Law enforcement officials support our position to avoid any confrontation during a robbery.--Anthony Kenney, President, Speedway SuperAmerica

Dear Mr. Kenney,

Let me see if I've got this straight. That's a universal "zero tolerance" policy, right? Your position is that only law enforcement is trained and equipped enough to confront an assailant on your premises? And any employee resisting an assailant will be terminated because they have endangered themselves and others?

And yeah, I know you qualified your position to state "robbery," but really--how do you know what an attacker truly wants? And what if he wants no surviving witnesses?

So, hypothetically now, if an assailant, for convenience let's call him "Mr. X," enters Speedway SuperAmerica corporate headquarters and ignores the receptionist's request to sign in at the front desk, s/he and any on-site employed security should cooperate? Even if that includes Mr. X ordering them to accompany him to your office suite?

And if Mr. X decides he wants to tie you all up, you'll let him? You really won't fight back? Under any circumstances? What was the word you used? "Never"?

Really?

Would you act the same way if Mr. X forced his way into your home? Assuming no fundamental principles have changed and that "law enforcement officials" are still "the Only Ones" who know what's best, would you cooperate and not resist with your family in immediate danger?

Really?

A Single Entry

Based on his on-going research of active-shooter realities, he’s convinced that single-officer entries can potentially lessen the toll of casualties while exposing the responders involved to little additional risk.

This is a refreshing change in attitude , and he backs it up by making sense and assuming the attitude of what a man should be.

Still, here's the most telling part for me:

"They choose unarmed, defenseless innocents for a reason: They have no wish to encounter someone who can hurt them. They are personally risk- and pain-avoidant. The tracking history of these murderers has proved them to be unlikely to be aggressive with police. If pressed, they are more likely to kill themselves."

Exactly. Which is why, even though this article is geared toward police training and responses, it is incomplete without acknowledgment of an armed citizen effect.

First I don't need a hero. I don't expect another man to assume such risks on my behalf. That's my job. And while I may someday be grateful to another for saving me, that's not what I plan and prepare for. What I want from the cops is to leave me the hell alone and to not treat me like the criminal.

Second, the scenario he teaches does not include what a cop should do when encountering an armed citizen defending himself and others around him. The short-sighted chief I addressed earlier had the primary worry that seeing an armed citizen might prompt his men to shoot the wrong person. Now that we have 48 states with some form of "legal" carry provisions, to not be anticipating this, and preparing and training for it, amounts to nothing less than criminal negligence.

Comments are mixed, with one I read even calling for arming teachers, but I find the naysaying from the hide-behind-trees-and-cars-crowd to be the most enlightening. Some are so slick at it, you almost don't realize what they're doing is excusing themselves for not upholding principles.

[Via Carl S]

Calling it Quits

And so, in the interest of Party unity, and his own health, I am calling on Senator Obama to gracefully accept defeat.

Pretty darn funny.

[Via Michael G]

This Day in History: May 25

The 1st New York Regiment in the Revolutionary War...

Authorized on May 25, 1775 in the Continental Army as the 2nd New York Regiment. They were assigned to the New York (subsequently the Northern) Department.

Thank Set Thulsa* is Safe!

Authorities seized 104 potential weapons from people who came to the rally Wednesday for presidential candidate Barack Obama at the St. Pete Times Forum, police spokeswoman Laura McElroy said.

And let's all thank the fine men and women of the Secret Service and TSA for showing stupid democrat supporters what they really think of them.

Or as Nelson Muntz would say:

[Via Brian F]

UPDATE: Oh, now I see. You can't be too careful when there's a credible threat.

*-Thulsa

Olofson Parts EMails

From David R. Olofson:

While I’m waiting on the last few affidavits to get done I thought I would work on that infamous Email the government keeps referring to. After a whole lot of fighting (feds don’t want it publicly disclosed, go figure(just like the video)) I finally got my hands on that email the government keeps claiming proves I bought a set of M16 FCG parts. Here it is, all four emails over a few week period wrapped up in one. See if you can find the deal for that M16 FCG parts set they claim I bought from him.

While some, generally anonymous chatroom warriors, would rather attack Mr. Olofson, some viciously, those of us with our eye on the ball know we need to focus on supporting this case and bringing information to light the government would rather you not see. You know, stuff the watchdog press "Authorized Journalists" are either oblivious, apathetic or hostile to sharing.

Let's see if this dang new-fangled widget thingy works...

Olofson EMails.pdf

Hosted by eSnips

Maybe We Could Draw One

OL: The Assault Weapons Ban-- you voted against it. But you also said you might be open to voting for an assault weapons ban, depending on the details. Do you know any details that would support that argument?

McCain: No, because a lot of these are weapons that people use for sport, for practice and for enjoyment- outdoor enjoyment. So no, I don't see a scenario where that would be the case. I'm sure maybe we could draw one. But the danger of an assault weapons ban spilling into weapons that people would use for everyday hunting is, I think, the challenge.

"Maybe we could draw one"? And you're "sure"?

Go ahead, Senator, flesh this out for us, including why your fallback is it might present "sporting purposes" complications.

And while you're at it, maybe you could draw a scenario and give us details that would support the argument for "outlawing cheaply made handguns called Saturday night specials."

"Customer Service"

Here's my exchange with Marathon/SuperAmerica/Speedway over their firing an employee who dared to fight back against a robber:

From: David Codrea
Sent: Wed 5/21/08 5:03 PM
To: custrelations@marathonpetroleum.com

I can't in good conscience do business with a company that would rather see its employees dead than defending themselves. Whose the genius in risk management who figured out you should just give a monster what he wants? What if what he wants isn't money?

Corporate bureaucrats--is there anything they don't know?

http://waronguns.blogspot.com/2008/05/marathon-man.html

David Codrea

Here is their unedited and complete reply:

Dear David,

Thank you for contacting us regarding your concerns about actions we have taken in response to the robbery that occurred at our SuperAmerica store located in Roseville, Minnesota.

The primary concern of Speedway SuperAmerica is the safety of our more than 19,000 employees, and the millions of customers who frequent our stores each day.

Unfortunately recent news reports did not accurately reflect the full facts surrounding this robbery and our decision to terminate an employee who violated company policy by intervening during the robbery.

Our policy is that employees are never to do anything to endanger themselves, co-workers or customers in the event of a robbery. In fact, the first principle in the policy is, “Cooperate! Don’t argue, resist or attack the robber.” Law enforcement officials support our position to avoid any confrontation during a robbery. According to our surveillance video, our female employee present during the robbery was not assaulted.

The employee who was dismissed signed documents acknowledging he had read and understood the policy. He was given a copy of procedures to use if involved in a robbery. In addition, he also completed a computer-based training program, followed by a test that indicated he understood the policy. In written statements to local police, neither employee present during the robbery indicated any physical attack.

While it is regrettable this situation occurred, it is important that we have and enforce policies to ensure the safety of all our employees and customers during a potentially dangerous situation. There is nothing in the store that is as valuable as our employees and our customers.

We appreciate your concern and the opportunity to share these important facts with you.

Sincerely,

Anthony Kenney

President, Speedway SuperAmerica

Well, if "The Only Ones" support their position, who am I to argue?

Shocking Memories

He doesn’t remember the epileptic seizure he suffered July 18, 2007, when he was 16...

His brother, Travis Baker, 17, remembers all of it. He recalls screaming at Corinth police to stop shocking Blake with a Taser. His mother, Deana, remembers hearing Travis crying on the telephone.

He'll remember this. He'll never forget it.

[Via Andre]

An Unusual Day...Or a New Trend?

I received the following observations and inquiry from Phillip C:

I took some guns in to get a verbal appraisal done, just an idea of what they were worth, for a friend whose husband died and left behind a few.

I've been going into the gunshops around here off and on for a few years, but a little more regularly lately. I fell off a 40 foot cliff last July, breaking my hip and fracturing my skull, and during my recovery realized how much like an easy target I looked, and decided to renew my expired CCW license and purchase a newer handgun than the old one I had in my twenties. Naturally, going to gun shops is kind of addictive, and I've been to several in the area.

Anyway... the point is: I was in two different gun shops today, and noticed a larger than average number of people browsing, and some buying. I watched as one old fella had a pistol that he had in a closet appraised, and then ended up going to look at shotguns for home defense. I don't know if it's the current political situation or some other cause, but it seems more and more people are getting into guns than the past few years.

Just something I noted during my trips to the shops today. Might be interesting to find out if other people are noticing the same thing, or if I just happened to land on an unusual day.

"One way to find out," I wrote him back, "at least anecdotally--let me post your email and ask the readers."

He said "yes" and I'm asking. Are you noticing an increase in activity, and if so, why do you think that might be?

Pardon Me?

Gov. David Paterson just announced his first gubernatorial pardon for Ricky "Slick Rick" Walters, a hip-hop artist convicted in 1991 on attempted murder and weapons charges who now faces deportation to the United Kingdom.

Yeah, why would you fight violent crime by holding thugs accountable for their actions when you can do photo ops with "Only Ones" and other anti-defense loons and call for even more citizen disarmament?


Let's see--Slick Rick shoots two people and serves six years. What did Wayne Fincher do again...?

[Via Declan]

Another Unexpected Resource

We talked yesterday about how GunPolicy.org was a surprising resource for gun-related articles we could use to our benefit. Here's another.

I'd say The New York Times has put together just about the most comprehensive one-stop page out there--it certainly merits regular consulting for people who want to keep up on current "gun control" events.

You'll also note some familiar gun blogs listed. Lest anyone dismiss this as just a robot key word match up, note "The publications tracked by Blogrunner are chosen by New York Times editors."

So congratulations to those of you who were selected. We are making inroads, and my belief is--at least from the Internet side--NYT is starting to realize that presenting our side is good for business, and probably, based on my interactions with them, may even be starting to resonate with some insiders. Anyway, it's progress.

I'm going to put a link to this page in my blogroll sidebar so we can access it whenever we want.

My prediction: As our recent adventures with the Brady/Huffpo folks demonstrated, I think they're going to see a respectable number of hits coming from the "pro-gun" side, and only a trickle out of the antis, whose sites evidently are mostly visited by us anyway.

We're the Only Ones "Bratz" Enough

A Starr County grand jury has indicted the police chief of the small South Texas town of La Grulla on a charge of soliciting sex from a minor.

And again with the age-old question: On the date, would you buy her a Big Kids Meal or a Happy Meal?

If you were an "Only One," which would you choose?

No Good News

When I was compiling the "Academic" post, below, I also happened across an excellent analysis of our choices in the presidential race.

Go and take in the whole thing. I'll still be here when you're done.

Hey...nice button!

Oregon Citizen Disarmament: It's Academic

The Oregon School Boards Association has filed an amicus brief in an effort to prevent trained, licensed, school employees from having self defense firearms on school property.

This is no surprise as the OSBA has a long history of opposing self defense in schools. But now the Oregon Department of Justice has joined the battle against self defense with their own amicus brief.

So what's the problem? Pragmatic gun lobby organizations agree:

[W]e believe in absolutely gun-free, zero-tolerance, totally safe schools. That means no guns in America's schools, period ... with the rare exception of law enforcement officers or trained security personnel.

So the Oregon Firearms Federation is just being divisive. Besides, it's a political non-winner. If you talk about guns in school, it will just scare the general public into thinking all gun owners are extremist maniacs, and it will make us all look bad.

No?

If you disagree with that, you could argue your case in "Comments," below. But I would suggest if you really disagree, it wouldn't hurt to show how much, by sending a contribution to help fight this battle in court.

[Via Jeffersonian]

This Day in History: May 24

May 24, 1775 - United Committees meeting of Palatine, Conajohary (sic- hereafter spelled Canajoharie) King'sland and Germanflatts districts at the house of William Seeber in Canajoharie District

This probably looks like one of the more dull entries for the "History" feature, something I usually post without much comment. If you just read the above date selection, you'd never know what an interesting page this is. It shows us the structure of local self-government, and how, when an active citizenry is involved in charting its own political destiny, things like a wayward sheriff or delegate representing the best interests of the community are kept under control.

We could do worse than to emulate such a system--and we have.

But hey, who has time? Besides, tonight is "Dancing With the Stars."

Cav Arms Indictment Still Sealed?

Three posts up from the bottom of the page, from "Cabby":

Ok...News from the Eastern front.

I got a call from Sen. Chambilss' Chief of staff this morning. With Sen. Kyle in the lead they have made inquiry into this matter with the ATF. The ATF has responded that they can not comment, as the INDICTMENT IS STILL SEALED!!! WTF!!!

Has anyone else heard this?

Ok enough bad news. From my conversation with Chambliss' office:

The good news is that a number of Senators are really pissed at the ATF. The directors confirmation has been shelved. On Jan. 21, 2009 he will be out on his ass. Red's Trading Post was brought into the conversation, and not by me!!!

I think we may actually have friendly troops in Washington who are actually willing to stand and fight on this one.

I need to include my standard caveat when dealing with raw and unconfirmed data. I post this because cases like this really do affect us all, even if only tangentially, and we're sure not getting this news about how "our" government operates from the "watchdog media."

But again--I have not confirmed this and view it as interesting, plausible and even likely, but just not validated by me. The info is out there--so I'd just as soon people getting it know to keep that in mind before drawing other speculative conclusions.

Assuming it's reliable, such behavior is intolerable. Let's hope some of those "friendly troops in Washington" are in a stomping mood.

[Via Jed]

Bloomberg Gets a Pass

“I’m not going to permit the case to turn into a media show on either side,” Judge Weinstein said in court to a city lawyer, Kenneth Taber. “I see no reason to have the mayor here. From the city’s point of view, he doesn’t add anything to your case.”

What about from Jay Wallace's point of view? Might it add anything to his case? Or are we being told there'd be no benefit to a cross examination?

Is there really nothing to learn about...oh, I don't know...conspiracy and lawbreaking...by having Bloomberg under oath? I mean, it's not like some states and even the feds haven't warned him about running afoul of their laws and screwing up current investigations.

And it's not like Weinstein hasn't been a silent partner throughout all this.

I do note the article says Wallace's attorney could not be reached, so I don't know if he would consider this a favorable development or not. I'm just commenting as an outsider looking in. From over here this looks staged, and my first reaction is to wonder if the city attorney is shedding crocodile tears.

Whatever you do, PLEASE don't throw me in that briar patch!

I'm Stephen Aboot...uh...Patrick Lynch of the WG...uh...PBA!

Patrolmen's Benevolent Association President Pat Lynch promised his members the sun, the moon and the stars - huge raises, no givebacks - and wound up winning them a pinch more than bupkis. [More]

So what they're saying is, Liberty Lynchin' Patrick of "lift a finger and die" fame is essentially incompetent?

That Patrick Lynch of the PBA is about as effective a negotiator as "Stephen Abootman of the WGA"?

Frustrated ineptitude combined with authority would explain the affinity for citizen disarmament and the proclivity for threatening violent retribution.

Thing is, Abootman was funny.

We're the Only Ones Flatfoot Enough

With gasoline climbing toward $4 a gallon, police officers around the country are losing the right to take their patrol cars home and are being forced to double up in cruisers and walk the beat more.

Walk...the..beat...?

You've got to be kidding.

In some neighborhoods, they're the "Only Ones" not on the street, and they aim to keep it that way. Go out there? What are you, nuts?

They ought to make them turn off the air conditioning and roll their windows down, too--besides, if they notice what's going on around them, they'd actually be safer.

Shhh...It's a Secret

Is the next president willing to continue this degree and extent of kingly secrecy, in which the Justice Department will be deeply complicit?

And they say there are no stupid questions.

Besides, Hentoff's a lefty--figures he wouldn't like the "Vote Freedom First President." If you're not doing anything wrong, what have you got to worry about?

And remember: They hate us because we're free.

[Via ryanmguard]

An Unlikely Source

From WarOnGuns Correspondent 1894C:

This rabid [edited] anti-gun site:
http://www.gunpolicy.org/
is a surprisingly good source of articles that I found interesting.

From Japan a story of a pathologist for the state being tried for casting bullets.
http://mdn.mainichi.jp/national/news/20080522p2a00m0na011000c.html

From England a story about the continued failure of GBs war on guns, knives, pointy sticks...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/may/22/ukcrime.jacquismith

From Washington a story on how the Dem controlled Gov may not mean a free pass to the gun grabbers.
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/gun-control-backers-not-bold-on-2009-2008-05-20.html

So help me out here--are you saying they know the truth but they're lying anyway?

One point of clarification--this originally said the site was tied in with the Joyce Foundation. I looked at the principles involved and did not see them listed, and the site doesn't appear to be one of the beneficiaries from this list.

Setting a "LEO" Straight

I'm sure you meant that what I said is too extreme, a word that depends on context: extreme compared to what? In this case it seems that it's extreme compared, not to what the Second Amendment actually provides, but what you'd rather believe it does. A firm believer in the strict interpretation of the Second Amendment would not go on to say the other things you do about the rights it was written to preserve. But perhaps I can help.

Perhaps.

Assuming a degree of open-mindedness and a recognition that help is needed...both tall orders from what I've experienced.

[Via Ron W]

What DC Means by "Home Rule"

City police in DC are about to get a lot more firepower. Thanks to military surplus, the Metropolitan Police Department is converting hundreds of military automatic weapons into semi-automatic rifles and hopes to have many of them deployed on city streets within the next month.

So how much time until the conversions are complete and we reverse DC government's stated goal of getting more guns off the street? And these are the same people who won't let you keep a handgun in your home?

My first thought was that doesn't leave much time for training--particularly in urban warfare tactics, which is essentially what they'll be used for. Y'know, just because you give some yutz a rifle doesn't mean he'll know how to deploy in the variety of scenarios he'll encounter--and just as importantly, when not to.

Figures the FOP, who froth at the mouth about how home-as-refuge protections will endanger their precious hindquarters, would be on board with this for all the "more equal" animals.

And here's a speculation worth peeling back and looking under, from Len Savage:

M-16 minus auto sears are semi auto? I thought that they are machine guns? [as in frame or receiver of MG]

Without a proper ATF form 5 [tax free transfer to law enforcement], these are contraband according to ATF.

One could only know if one looked at the "converted" firearm....

Red's to Stay in Business

Mark Geston, an attorney representing Terry and Ryan Horsley of Red's Trading Post, said he could not yet release details, but said the proposal would allow the Twin Falls gun shop to continue operating.

We'll post them as we receive them.

This Day in History: May 23

The Committee of One Hundred was officially replaced by the New York Provincial Congress which first convened on May 23, 1775, but the committee continued to meet for a while.

Red's "Close to Settlement"

An Idaho gun shop that went to federal court to keep the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives from stripping it of its gun license has
reached a tentative settlement agreement.

Keep your fingers crossed and say a prayer for Ryan and his family that this means they'll be able to stay open.

UPDATE: Here's another account. It doesn't really say a lot more, but there is a video (that suddenly cuts off near the end).

Olofson Responds...

...to Sebastian's post and to comments that we discussed yesterday.

Go and read.

UPDATE: Sebastian properly deemed it deserving of its own post.

Let Me See If I've Got This Straight

But I applaud the mayor and Council for the audacious act of civic disobedience.

So the answer to making Philadelphia "thug-free" is to let the top thugs disregard the law and do what they want?

Hey, can I do that too, or does it only apply to...uh..."Only Ones"?

I know it's considered bad form to point and stare at the mentally defective, but Jill Porter's publicly-documented serial descent into barking-at-the-moon lunacy is such a fascinating curiosity to observe first-hand.

I also like the comment by "Barbara Moss":

I wish Jack-Ryan-Would-Please-Die...

Oh now Barbara--sometimes people don't realize they have posted and they resubmit comments. I know multiple posts can be irritating, but really--I wonder if there might be something we could... extrapolate from this...?

My Kind of Promo

Buy a Car, Get a Gun or Free Gas! Your Choice America!

Your choice. Exactly.

Guess what they're choosing?

Take the survey and show your support. And let Max Motors know you appreciate it. And if you live in the area and need a car, why not give them first crack at your business?

[Via SameNoKami]

What's to Lose?

Kent McManigal just shared a thought with me:

If "they" can now punish us for owning a machine gun that isn't a machine gun until they tamper with it, why would "theoretical gun owner" worry about getting caught with a real machine gun? Is there a worse penalty? There seems to be an unintended consequence lurking there somewhere.

We're the Only Ones Critical Enough

A push by the National Rifle Association to loosen a number of state gun laws is drawing heavy criticism from prosecutors and a variety of law-enforcement groups who argue it will make them and the public less safe.

Oh, these were the geniuses...

Figures they'd be "Only Ones." Hey, they've got theirs...

Here's the NRA-ILA contact list.

[Via Jeffersonian]

Dial 911 and Have an Extended Conversation

The way I see, it, you can either do this...

...or you can end things sooner.

Simply put, you can rely on others to be responsible for protecting you and yours, or you can rely on yourself.

What gets me is the idea that the choice isn't mine. What genius thought that one up?

[Via Jeffersonian]

Calling All California Gun Owners

From Tom McClintock:

[M]y opponent has unleashed the ugliest smear campaign I have seen in over 30 years in politics attacking both my integrity and my patriotism. He has backed it with over $2.5 million of his personal fortune and actually bragged that he planned to “bury McClintock in money.”

...[W]e’re stretched to the breaking point to keep our ads on the air. In fact, I’ve had to ask my campaign staff to hold off paying some of our bills for the primary election in order to keep at least a minimal presence on the air.

Are you going to help out? Or do you like it when "moderate" Oseholes betray you and support gun and ammo bans?

Something Wicked This Way Comes...

...and even Republicans are afraid!

Boogedy-Boogedy!

[Via ChareltonHest]

We're the Only Ones Legally Entitled Enough

Peterson claimed he legally owned the rifle as an officer, and the law only pertains to civilians.

Drew, Drew, Drew...

Just when I was starting to feel the love, you turn around and pull "Only Ones" rank on us.

[Via Michael Dukes]

A Tribute to Our Troops

Somewhere, there is a line between reasonably prudent and cautious, and stark nutjob paranoid. The Secret Service doesn't even trust the soldiers, sworn to support and defend the Constitution of the United States, and obey the orders of the President.

Maybe they're worried about some of the new recruits...

[Via Stephen S]

OMB Issues Rulemaking Restrictions

From Len Savage:

OMB just issued M07-13
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/memoranda/fy2007/m07-13.pdf
Which follows on M07-07
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/memoranda/fy2007/m07-07.pdf
and EO13422
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/inforeg/eo12866/fr_notice_eo12866_012307.pdf

All of this is intended to curtail agencies regulating through opinion letters rather than notice-and-comment rulemaking.This is germane in that: ATF opinion letters have been contradicting themselves frequently.

Len adds:

I love this part:

"Experience has shown, however, that guidance documents [ATF determinations] also may be poorly designed or improperly implemented. At the same time, guidance documents may not receive the benefit of careful consideration accorded under the procedures for regulatory development and review.4 These procedures include: (1) internal agency review by a senior agency official; (2) public participation, [Akins Ruling...not] including notice and comment under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA)"

Gee, do think a written set of testing procedures qualifies as a "guidance document"?

This is the Executive Branch documenting the fact there are problems, and stipulating policy that is not being upheld by ATF. This could do some serious damage both in Federal Court and Court of public opinion.

"The phenomenon we see in this case is familiar. Congress passes a broadly worded statute. The agency follows with regulations containing broad language, open-ended phrases, ambiguous standards and the like. Then as years pass, the agency issues circulars or guidance or memoranda, explaining, interpreting, defining and often expanding the commands in regulations. One guidance document may yield another and then another and so on. Several words in a regulation may spawn hundreds of pages of text as the agency offers more and more detail regarding what its regulations demand of regulated entities. Law is made, without notice and comment, without public participation, and without publication in the Federal Register or the Code of Federal Regulations."

Yupp, they know it is happening....

David Hardy has more.

Whose Side Are You On?

"You have to decide whether you're on their side – the men and women who wear blue – or whether you're on the side of the gun lobby."

Gee, gRendell, that's a tough one.

But fortunately, I've addressed it before.

[Via AvgJoe]

My Kind of Town

A great example of Chicago Gun Control

It's also my new desktop wallpaper. If it's some kind of hoax, it's a funny one.

[Via Less and SayUncle]

The Big One

"We're going to have to think about out-of-the-box solutions," he said.

Indeed you will.

Any bets we'll hear stories about neighbors wanting to know if they can borrow a gun?

Fool Me Once...

"She left the door open; when she turned around there was a white male standing there."

This Day in History: May 22

On May 22, 1775, the New Hampshire Provincial Congress voted to raise a volunteer force of 2,000 men to join the patriot army at Boston. These “provincials” were organized into three regiments, each regiment having an official establishment of 648 officers and men in ten companies. The troops were enlisted to serve until December 31, 1775.

The Flood That Never Happened

Sen. John McCain spoke to the National Rifle Association in Louisville last Friday, and the reaction seemed mixed.

If you click on the word "reaction," you'll see Paul Helmke is linking to The War on Guns.

"Neat," I thought. I'd wondered why "Handgun Control" was lurking here yesterday morning. But having this appear on both the Brady Blog and especially The Huffington Post ought to really drive some traffic my way, and that never hurts.

And then a funny thing happened. Nothing.

I noticed the link under the word "mixed" went to Snowflakes in Hell, so I emailed Sebastian:

I'm sure you've noticed by now we've both been linked to by Helmke's Brady blog/HuffPo.

Thing is, I'm getting zero hits from them in the past few hours, a couple max all day, and it's been up for a while.

Conversely, the few times I've gotten links from InstaPundit, it was like someone put a solid rocket booster on my site meter, generating 3 to 4 times normal visitors.

If the same thing is happening with you, I think we can legitimately extrapolate that they may not be as influential as they make themselves appear to be--from their comments, pro-gunners are their biggest audience. I'm not surprised by that conclusion, but I am a bit surprised at how little of an impact this has had on traffic--I would have thought it would at least result in several dozen if not hundreds of extra visits. I got nothin'.

Just thinking out loud. I'll probably say something about it tomorrow.

He indicated he had noticed the same thing and was collecting metrics.

To China and Back

David Codrea’s post attacking the NRA and individual staffers is one of the most over the top pieces of defamtory bullshit I’ve ever seen on the internet and if I was the NRA or said staffer (who really is good guy), I’d sue his ass to china and back.

The long knives are out for David Olofson, and people who generally dismiss guys like me as "divisive" are using words like "moron" and "idiot" and other "reasoned discourse" techniques to throw him under the bus.

I stand by what I've written to date, and I'll let David and Len Savage deal with correcting misconceptions if they feel it necessary. What I'd like to do here is give Countertop a chance to make his case. If a self-described "fairly well-connected lobbyist [and] former trial attorney" weighs in not only on the merits of Olofson's case, but also on my committing apparent libel, I owe it to myself--and to anyone my opinions may have influenced--to see how credible his opinions are.

This is evidently the post he was referring to. It was an email exchange I'd received from Len Savage, copied to a distribution list that included two national gun rights organizations, a major cable network reporter, a magazine publisher, an author, some others I don't recognize....

As WoG regulars know, and as the Olofson link above demonstrates, I've been one of the few following this case with any regularity, because I believe the matters at hand can profoundly affect all gun owners. As Len Savage is not only a nationally-recognized firearms designer but also the expert witness in this case, what he says is of interest to my readers and I'm going to give his opinions an airing--especially since none of the other "gun bloggers" do.

So let's look at my "attack on NRA and individual staffers" or at least my part in this.

I posted a title quoting said staffer, followed with a question mark. That means I'm asking. And I then posted the following inflammatory words:

Here's an exchange you may find interesting. Let's hope it's discussed in detail at the Annual Meeting.

That's it. In short:
There's an important case.
There's a controversy involving NRA.
Here's what I have from both sides.
Let's hope people talk about it.

And that's what Sebastian has done by the way. I don't agree with some of his conclusions or interpretations, but he brought back info from the meeting that we didn't have before. I'll not fault him for the post--we need to know everything, even stuff we might prefer not to hear. Nobody ever gained an advantage by covering their ears.

But if this is Countertop's professional opinion of actionable defamation, I must say I'm not convinced. Make of it what you will, but I think my "ass" is safe and I won't be going to China any time soon.

He's free, of course, to weigh in here if he likes, and speak for himself. I'll listen. Or, he could just continue doing what he's doing, enjoying all the benefits anonymity gives him. For what it's worth, I'm sure more people on the sites he frequents agree with him and probably always will.

We're the Only Ones "Bottoms Up!" Enough

The police then strip-searched Clement, and made him squat in front of them. The claimed to have seen white powder on his anus So they took him to a hospital. Without his consent, they then administered drugs to sedate him, induced him to vomit, put a camera up his rectum, and took x-rays of him.

I guess it's understandable why these particular "Only Ones" were preoccupied with that part of the anatomy--there had to be a strong sense of affinity bordering on kinship.

As Agitator comment poster JJH2 noted, this is rape. It should be treated that way.

[Via Dan K]

Olofson on Live Fire with Larry Pratt

From David R. Olofson:

Did the recording for the show at 9AM CT this morning. Seemed to go well. Mr. Pratt did most of the talking so I didn’t have to chew on my foot at all...It should be there no later than Monday of next week.

And, of course, I'll pass along a podcast link when it's up.

Lessons Learned the Hard Way

Because some times, as much as we'd prefer otherwise, there is no choice but to fight or die. How prepared are you?

[Via Plug Nickel Times]

We're the Only Ones Instructive Enough

A firearms instructor in southern Massachusetts has been assigned to other duties after his gun accidentally went off while he was teaching a class on weapons safety.

Officials say the Glock handgun discharged while Maj. Donald Lamar was demonstrating to Bristol County deputy sheriffs how to safely holster the weapon.

Evidently he was "The Only One" professional enough in this room...

Like the story said, it was the gun's doing.

[Via Jeffersonian]

Another Law Abiding Gun Owner Goes to Jail

Family Crest Catering, owned by David Crest of Hanover, Massachusetts had been robbed four times. Approximately $3,000 worth of goods and equipment had been stolen and an additional $4,000 had been embezzled.

After the fourth robbery, it became apparent to Mr. Crest that the police could not prevent future robberies and future robberies seemed imminent. Since Mr. Crest could not reasonably continue to support his family while being robbed all the time, he decided to guard his store with his Mossberg 500 shotgun by his side. Sure enough, the robber came back.

I confess I am new to this story and "know" nothing more about it than the link tells us, so I'm not going to second-guess this man's immediate actions.

I will say with the state of edict overflow we all live under, I prefer the term "peaceable" or some such over "law-abiding."

I'll also say that at this point, none of us should know that shots fired were intended as warnings. At most, I'd have said "I was in fear for my life. I want to talk to a lawyer."

Do not talk to the nice officer who only wants to find out what happened. He is not interested in clearing your good name. And while you're dragged through a system draining your life savings, and facing total ruin, the loss of your freedom, and everything your family will suffer, the only time you'll be on his mind is when he's preparing to testify and answering questions under oath. All the while waiting for the shift to end so he can go back to his home and his family and not give you and yours another thought...

Bring a Gun to School Day

Bring a Gun to School Day tells the story of an individual finding strength and defeating his oppressors. The day after a major school shooting fills the news, seventeen-year-old Erik Shylding is harassed by people who claim he is just like the shooter. To express himself and mess with the system, he puts up posters in school that declare April 19 "Bring a Gun to School Day." Erik has a feeling that he won't get away with it.

Author Darian Worden sent me an advance copy some time ago and I've been holding off on telling you about it until the official release, which just happened yesterday. It's a unique story with an interesting premise, and it's an easy, often entertaining read.