Clarifying the Record

[W]hen Lon Horiuchi, under the employ of the FBI, murdered Vickie Weaver at Ruby Ridge, the state of Idaho arrested him for murder. The feds removed the case to federal court and the charges went away.

That's a comment under my recent "fundamental court transformation" article on AmmoLand. The ultimate outcome is correct, but it's also incomplete, and it's important people learn of /don't forget the sordid details behind the dismissal, because I've continued to see Horiuchi defenders claim he was acquitted, like that excuses everything.

I know Horiuchi was charged. If he was actually physically arrested, that's not part of the small piece I was remotely involved in.

I’d been part of a group of activists pressing for local prosecution for years . And yes, initially the feds claimed immunity, and used the Supremacy clause as the basis for dismissal. But Boundary County finally got the go-ahead to prosecute Horiuchi from a Ninth Circuit panel.

The prosecutor had felony forgery charges hanging over him, and I speculated at the time that made him vulnerable to being compromised:

http://tinyurl.com/jd3lzyx

http://www.wnd.com/2001/06/9614/

Sure enough, the prosecutor folded on the case, citing some unbelievable crap about healing the divisiveness, at which point the Ninth Circuit granted the County's motion to dismiss.

Two other friends and I publicly called “BS” on him and his excuses:

http://tinyurl.com/jk2p5fl

I maintain to this day my speculation was right and suspect he was indeed compromised.

A Personal Perspective on H-S Precision and Horiuchi

The unfolding H-S Precision/Lon Horiuchi fiasco literally made my jaw drop, probably because I was one of the few voices many years ago covering an angle of the Horiuchi prosecution that the mainstream press couldn't be bothered to notice.

I'd been involved even earlier in writing the Boundary County prosecutor to get the killer criminally tried. When a federal court gave the green light for doing just that, I speculated on whether or not the locals would take over.

Then came news the prosecutor was being investigated on felony forgery charges. My reaction:

It shows the prosecutor definitely vulnerable to being compromised...

The story, and my assessment, were then picked up by WorldNetDaily. And then, predictably, charges were dropped.

This link goes to an archived copy (KABA, you should not have gone in and erased a lot of stuff when new management took over the site--there is an historical record that deserves to be preserved)) of the prosecutor's rationale to do so, as well as the bitter responses of myself and colleagues Angel Shamaya and Russ Howard.

My own hypothesis, and I emphasize I can't prove it, is that pressure from on high was brought to bear. If I had a drink and a cigar, and was with people I knew around a campfire, I'd be speculating on blackmail/extortion.

Justice has not been done. And I'm still extremely bitter. Which is the reason I've purposely kept my emotions in check--so far. I just don't see how the owners of H-S Precision could be so damned...I don't even have a word for it.

I feel badly for employees who have their livelihoods invested there, because I can predict the potential fury of the storm we're just getting the first gusts from. Perhaps when it's over we can discuss ways the gun industry can attune itself with the activist community. That they don't already have someone assigned to monitor sentiment and feed that to their public face people just astounds me.

[More on Horiuchi from WarOnGuns]

H-S Precision and Horiuchi?

What is being represented as the back of the H-S Precision catalog is circulating on the Internet. The reason this is controversial is because it represents notorious FBI sniper killer Lon Horiuchi endorsing the company. This is then represented by various posters as H-S "hiring" Horiuchi.

Here's the thing--I ain't sayin' it ain't, but has anyone verified this information?

It's pretty easy to PhotoShop a cover, and the thing is, I see everyone in comments on various gun boards diving into Zumbo/Cooper boycott mode, and no voices calling for fact check before action.

A company's reputation and peoples' livelihoods are at stake here, including those in the supply chain. If it can be verified the cover is legitimate, there will be a resulting and deserved grassfire. If it is determined somebody's yanking our chains for reasons unknown, I do hope everybody piling on will be as quick and enthusiastic about correcting the record.

I'm holding off on judgment until I can verify this one myself. Anyone with actual knowledge on this, please educate the rest of us.

H-S Precision and Horiuchi Confirmed

I just got off the phone with one of their employees about the report that they printed a Lon Horiuchi endorsement on the back of their catalog.

It is true.

We chatted for about 5 minutes, about the background, about the intent, about the ramifications, and about what's next. I scribbled notes as quickly as I could, but decided to hold back and await an official company statement.

I'm sending a link to this and to last night's post to my contact there, so I'm sure their management will see your comments.

Naturally, I'll follow this story as it develops.

Answers for "Blain"

Yesterday's re-visit to an old topic produced some interesting back-and-forth. But the comment that struck me as most in need of exploring is the one that isn't there. It was deleted by its author at the original post, but it still came to me via email.

Meet "Blain":

Ad hominem arguments are much easier than an intellectual debate aren't they? We all only know what we've read about the HRT. I'm willing to guess that none of you have been in the FBI nor have you had any direct relation to them. So we're forced to examine our sources and form an opinion. I for one take the word of a college educated man who chose the path of law enforcement over a white supremacist who stated "The tyrant's blood shall flow" and "Whether we live or die we will not obey you…war is upon our land."

I'm just interested in why you believe your own government would pay for an organization just to kill it's own citizens. What would be the purpose?

As for the last question, oh, I don't know...it's not like governments have ever committed genocide on unfavored segments of their populations before...but in fairness, our current government will generally settle for obedience. The killing only happens if people resist and defy.

And we all know "college educated men" have never committed acts of violence, right Professor Kaczynski? Why I'd bet every one of the feds at Waco had a college degree...

As for that comment about the "tyrants blood," wow, what kind of sicko would utter such a thought? Ditto that part about resisting to the death...

Weaver was a "separatist," Blain, not a "supremacist." There is a difference, and whether one finds it distasteful or not, it's not supposed to mean a death sentence for his wife and son. And we don't have to "take [his] word" for anything--there's that little documented matter of the $3.1 M settlement...

But it sure says a lot about you, that you prefer to believe someone who "chose the path of law enforcement," Blain. As we've seen time and again here at WarOnGuns, they are "the only ones" professional, responsible, believable...enough...

Here are a few of my sources for my opinions on the Weaver incident, Blain. When the prosecutor in the Horiuchi case rolls over after the feds put the squeeze on him with a felony rap, I start to get a tad uneasy with who I can believe...

Horiuchi Prosecutor Forges Ahead

Idaho Prosecutor Under Investigation

Confessions from Ruby Ridge

I love what this state-worshiping creature passes for "intellectual debate". If I'd posted comments this stupid, I'd delete them too.

Oops. That wasn't an "ad hominem" attack, was it?

I believe Mr. Adams would like to have a word with you, Blain. He's much more level-headed about these things than I am.

Lon Horiuchi and the JB...Uh..HRT Heroes

I don't want to debate Ruby Ridge or Waco because you seem to know less than I do. But thanks for assuming I know nothing. I actually know a lot about Lon Horiuchi. I do know he helped rescue hostages that were being held in a hotel and was deployed to several missions in Mexico to stop the drug trade.

Judging from the comments, it would seem an old post has touched a nerve...

NRA Leader Advocates Guns for Teachers

"All options should be considered to prevent rampages like the Minnesota school shooting that took 10 lives -- including making guns available to teachers, a top National Rifle Association leader said Friday.

"'I'm not saying that that means every teacher should have a gun or not, but what I am saying is we need to look at all the options at what will truly protect the students,' the NRA's first vice president, Sandra S. Froman, told The Associated Press.'"

Why not every teacher? And why limit keeping and bearing arms based on profession? Why not acknowledge Patrick Henry's "great object"?

But there's one obstacle Sandra faces, even with her modest goal: Wayne LaPierre.

"First, we believe in absolutely gun-free, zero-tolerance, totally safe schools. That means no guns in America's schools, period," he told NRA Annual Meeting attendees in 1999, "with the rare exception of law enforcement officers or trained security personnel.

"We believe America's schools should be as safe as America's airports. You can't talk about, much less take, bombs and guns onto airplanes.Such behavior in our schools should be prosecuted just as certainly as such behavior in our airports is prosecuted."

Right, Wayne, make 'em as safe as pre-911 airports.

I've heard some laud Ms. Froman's selection as NRA's president-elect because she likes to shoot machineguns. If being a good shooter was the sole criterion, I'd be hard pressed not to vote for Lon Horiuchi.

Call me irresponsible, but I prefer to look at things like past support for gun control.

"To curb gun violence, Froman says that it is important to enforce old laws instead of passing new ones. 'If the Brady law stopped 600,000 illegal gun purchases, where were the 600,000 prosecutions?'

"One measure she [supports] is Project Exile. 'It works...it doesn’t victimize peaceable gun owners.'"

How about REPEALING instead of ENFORCING "old laws," Sandra? Not only are most a violation of the 2nd Amendment, but the recent exhaustive National Academy of Sciences report couldn't find a single instance of these laws reducing violent crime--even the ones suppported by NRA. Besides, wasn't "enforcing existing gun laws" the reason Mr. Horiuchi was deployed in the first place?

As for Exile, no, it does not "work." Look at the results in Richmond and Philadelphia. Besides which, maybe someone from NRA leadership would be kind enought to point us to the clause in the Constitution where We the People delegated gun law prosecutions to the feds.

What, there isn't one?

We're the Only Ones Making Federal Case Out of it Enough

FBI agent suspected of murdering couple

COLD-CASE INVESTIGATION | Husband, wife were shot execution-style in their SUV in West Rogers Park in 2002 -- while baby sat in back seat [More]

Maybe now that he's no longer a federal "Only One," he can join his colleague Lon Horiuchi over at HS Precision...?

[Via Avg Joe]

Statement from Remington on HS-Precision

From AR15.com:

To get this thread back on topic - update from Tommy Millner at Remington:

Because its thanksgiving and everyone is off, we have not made contact with HS. We have taken any reference to HS from our web site..

When you first emailed me I honestly did not recall horiuchi's name so you caught me unawares. I also do not read the blogs so the fact there was an issue came as a surpise.

In any event, HS makes a great product and we are a large customer of theirs. Why they would pick a super controversial spokesperson is beyond me. Doing this violates pure business common sense. Early next week we will use whatever persuasive powers at our disposal to get HS to do the right thing..

Do me a favor and tell those on the bolgs that Remington and I are now fully aware of the issue, in full agreement with the outrage, and will do what we can t exert pressure on HS to reverse course.

Thanks

Tommy

[Via Rick R]

Comparative Analysis

Comparing the relative value of lives makes for grisly calculus, but one is forced to ask: are we missing the forest for the trees? If the measures we undertake to protect a vulnerable few end up exposing them, along with the rest of society, to even more damaging risks—was it worth the cost? [More]

While not directly related, I remember some Horiuchi defender(s) getting really mad at me for asking a cost/benefit question about the FBI Hostage Rescue Team.

[Via Mack H]

Giffords Flack Accusing 2A Defenders of Lying Shows Much about His Own Truthfulness

By revealing he was “a member of the ATF SWAT team,” Chipman reveals he had more in common with Lon Horiuchi than those “responsible gun owners” he has no problem enforcing against. With his disdain for those who stand down on unlawful orders, it's reasonable to surmise he would have obediently and unquestioningly followed those rules of engagement. [More]

If I'm reading him right, and I am, if you believe the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed, you're an unpatriotic liar. And he's a "responsible gun owner." Who wants enforcers to arrest you if you don't obey disarmament edicts.

The Mother and Child Reunion

Welcome to The Lon Horiuchi Fine Art Gallery. [More] 

Seems like there's a business opportunity in here somewhere for some enterprising supplier...

[Via TXMarko]

Defense against animals more of a crime than murdering a mother?

Which brings to mind another case that took place in Boundary County a decade back—or more correctly, one that did not take place. I’m talking about the dismissal of charges against FBI sniper Lon Horiuchi for the murder of Vicki Weaver. [More]

Today's Gun Rights Examiner column looks at the government's assessment of relative worth.

Just Like One of Us

What a pal:

There's even a word for it.

I sure wish celebrity-impressed gun owners would stop equating proficiency with principle.  If that was all it took, they'd have no better friend than Lon Horiuchi.

Guns. Lots of Guns.

OK, so the guy can shoot. [Watch]

So can Lon Horiuchi.

I get why gun owners have given this over 5M views. It would be nice to see something making the case for freedom get as many or more.

I can't help but think of this:

I’m reminded of a rally I participated in many years ago, when I lived in Southern California—the Million Moms had a rally in front of the federal building in LA’s Westwood neighborhood (interestingly, we were in front of a veteran’s cemetery), with moneyed special interests busing numbers in, naturally, and our folks set up a line across the street. Out of the entire Los Angeles area, we only got about 250 supporters to join us throughout the day, never all there at the same time. It was especially appalling, because a week or so earlier, 40,000 managed to drag themselves to the Pomona Fairgrounds for the largest gun show in the west.

Why Would a Rich Scion of the Establishment with Bodyguards Need One?

Jeb Bush is one of the only Republican candidates who does not own a gun [More]

Maybe big brother can loan him the photo op costume.

I resist the dim-witted notion that alone would make him "one of us." If it did, I'm sure there'd be no shortage of Gun Owners for Horiuchi.

The important thing is, Jeb has that "A+" rating from Fairfax.

"Single issue," you see, regardless of what that will do to the electability of future pro-gun candidates and the confirmation of "progressive" federal judges...

[Via Florida Guy]   

The Gun Guy

"I am a Jewish, liberal Democrat and a gun guy," he says, "which in the US is a very weird hybrid." [More]

Armed American Radio's Mark Walters rejects the notion that anyone who could politically support gungrabbers is a "gun guy" and so do I.   If liking guns is the only criteria, then Lon Horiuchi ought to be a fricking folk hero.

[Via Lou S]

Skill with Handling Guns Has Nothing to Do with Defense of the Right to Own Them

If knowing your way around a weapon is what we’re asked to go by, Lon Horiuchi used to be considered a pretty good shot – at least until that one time he missed. [More]

Putting guns together while blindfolded is not the issue –dismantling freedom with eyes wide open is.

We're the Only Ones Recognized Enough

Federal Agency Promoted Ranger Five Months After His Gun Was Stolen and Used in Steinle Killing [More]

Me, I'm waiting for Lon Horiuchi to get a Lifetime Achievement Award.

[Via Rough and Ready]

Remington CEO Issues Statement on HS-Precision

I just got off the phone with Tommy Millner, President and CEO of Remington Arms Company.

First, he assures me the email reproduced on AR15.com is authentic.

He has been in contact with HS-Precision management after getting blindsided by the Lon Horiuchi development, and has also personally read and responded to every email sent to him by concerned customers.

He assures me Remington takes this situation, and lack of response by HS-Precision, very seriously, and completely disapproves of what they have done. He tells me Remington is committed to doing the right thing by their thousands of customers, up to and including changing suppliers if there is no other way to go forward.

As a personal note, I was impressed by his accessibility and candor. We've got a guy caught up in a situation not of his making trying to do the right thing, and my recommendation is to trust that he will.

At this point, we need to see what HS-Precision does next.