The War on Cows

"So what we have is the government, prodded by large corporations, saying it is helping small family farms by destroying one of our most successful small family farms."

We probably need a federal Department of Bovine Security or some such...

More "Black Arrow" Field Updates

From Vin Suprynowicz

June 10:
We drew about 60 people to my address before the Pike's Peak Firearms Coalition in Colorado Springs Thursday evening (there was a lovely cake with the cover of "The Black Arrow" in full color in the frosting, further inscribed "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town.") That followed the afternoon book-signing at the local Barnes & Noble; while I was in town I sold more than 60 copies of "The Black Arrrow." (There was actually demand for more copies of the leather-bound edition than I had brought.)

We got some coverage in the local press; Amy Willard there might be able to provide some more details. (Amy & Dave Willard were the very generous hosts & organizers of my appearance.)

Best Wishes,

-- Vin

June 13:
Several of you have kindly suggested "The Black Arrow" would make a good movie, and asked whether we've made any efforts to place it in the hands of folks who do that sort of thing.

There aren't many folks in movieland who identify themselves as free market types or Libertarians (capital OR small "L") -- Kurt Russell, Dennis Leary, Christina Ricci, and perhaps Clint Eastwood are about all who come immediately to mind.

So, we sent one inscribed copy of "The Black Arrow" to each, through their registered agents or publicists. (Actually, we sent several to the various addresses for Mr. Eastwood's Malpaso Productions -- all were returned.)

Otherwise, what happens to such books?

See http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/offer-listing/0976251604/ref=dp_olp_2//103-0863813-0768614?condition=all

:-)

Best Wishes,

-- Vin

The Joyce Foundation: A Hijacked Legacy

David Hardy details how the Joyce Foundation is a hidden hand behind the trend to close "the newspaper loophole."

We know the foundation is a major player in funding citizen disarmament activities--but why? Who started it, and why did they hate private ownership of guns?

Or did they?

"The Joyce Foundation was established in 1948 by Beatrice Joyce Kean of Chicago.

"The Joyce family wealth came from the lumber industry, including family-owned timberlands, plywood and saw mills, and wholesale and retail building material distribution facilities which were located in the state of Louisiana and the Midwest.

"Until the early 1970s, assets of the Foundation remained small and grants were given to the particular philanthropic interests of its founder. Upon Mrs. Kean's death in December of 1972, the Joyce Foundation was bequeathed ninety percent of her estate, an amount in excess of $100 million. A professional staff was retained and Kent F. Peterson, who had been an executive of the Tremont Lumber Company, was named president.

"At the time of Mrs. Kean's death the annual contributions of the Foundation totaled less than $100,000. By 1974, when the majority of assets was delivered to the Foundation, annual giving reached $500,000 and by 1976, $10 million. During the first twenty-five years, traditional health organizations and hospitals received the majority of the Foundation's contributions. After 1973, higher education and cultural institutions were added as major beneficiaries."

Got that? The social engineering didn't start until after the founder had died, leaving a caste of professional parasites in charge.

A well-researched overview of the Joyce Foundation can be found at DiscoverThe Networks.org—A Guide to the Political Left. A funding summary is presented at ActivistCash.com. And Don Williams gives us some interesting background and insights over at History News Network Reader Comments.

"The Black Arrow" Book Tour--Notes From the Field

By Vin Suprynowicz

Hi, David --

That's great news![*]

We just mailed you a copy of the latest issue of the glossy magazine "Liberty Watch," with my leering mug shot and the tale of Laissez Faire Books and "The Black Arrow" on the cover.

They'll ship additional single copies of the magazine to anyone who sends them $3.95.

It sounds like we may draw some crowds -- and some media attention -- to my appearances in Colorado Springs on June 9. (My column runs in the Colorado Springs Gazette -- that's always been a good market for me.) See http://www.theblackarrow.us/BookTour/.

I have no idea if my appearance in New Hampshire June 26 will be equivalent ... although I WAS officially condemned by the sitting governor the last time I visited. :-)

The challenge is figuring out how to "break out" of the primarily young male readership that will generally pick up a quasi-Libertarian action/adventure shoot-'em-up. Not that we disdain that market. But I've been very gratified by positive reviews from folks like Sunni Maravillosa and Mary Lou Seymour -- this book simply won't "break out" into the more general populace until we can convince women that it is (to a considerable extent) a character-driven romance.

Oddly enough, I believe this discussion about whether there's "too much sex" probably helps. Anyone who's read any of the Laurell Hamilton "Meredith Gentry" books is going to have a tough time believing there can be "too much sex." The real question is whether the love/sex/whatever scenes are differentiated in ways that contribute to character development. And I think that's a much more productive discussion than things like "weapons choice."

The Deanna Forbush analysis piece due to run pretty soon on LewRockwell.com should help.

I'll keep you posted as things develop.

Thanks Again,

-- Vin
-----------------------------
[*]-Reaction to hearing that my review of "The Black Arrow" will be published in GUNS Magazine--DC]

Gonzales vs. Raich—Why Should You Care?

“[T]he Supreme Court accepted the government's argument that Congress could prohibit this wholly intrastate non-economic activity under its interstate commerce power because the ban on these purely local activities was an ‘essential part of a broader regulatory scheme.’ By this rationale, Congress can regulate pretty much anything it wants, and the list of limited powers provided by the Founders is once again in limbo.”

So why should gun owners care?

Oh, I dunno.

Naturally, nothing can be found about the Raich decision and its implications for reloading over at NRA-ILA.

Why do you think that is?

When Leftist Bedwetters Collide

Two teenagers set out to prove the lethality of BB guns for their science project. They "wanted to see if kids should not use BB guns because they're deadly."

Science fair administrators were appropriately horrified, and banned any type of experiment using such evil instruments.

I do love it so when there are competing subversions and these people turn on each other.

Someone ought to explain to Nancy G. Degon that an air rifle is not a "firearm." Then again, I doubt if she'd be interested.

From the Department of Pre-Crime

"The leaked report said that infants not 'under control' by the age of three were four times more likely to be convicted of a criminal offence once they reached maturity, according to an account of the study."

Well, hell--I'm sure we could produce similar results for children of criminals, or those of welfare parents, or even of single mothers. We could probably even come to some conclusions based on [GASP] race!

Maybe we should cut to the chase and just get on with the mandatory sterilizations and forced abortions.

And as for the ones we deem fit to live, I say iris scan 'em!

Sunday Sermon

This is a better quality graphic of the one featured in my profile. It originally appeared as a GunTruths poster.

Expedition Forming: Sign-Ups Wanted

For some reason, I think this gets funnier every time I look at it.

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

Update from the "Stranger than Fiction" department:
This is a very strange coincidence, as this link goes to an ad about time travel. The coincidence will only be evident today, or until I add another article to the blog pushing everything down one place, and kicking the last article into the archives.

Scroll down to the very last line of text at the bottom of the page:

"Take a trip back through time. And best of all, it's free."

How weird is that?

Make Your Own Assault Weapon!

Steve Silver and Dan Schultz put this together years ago for The Lawyer's Second Amendment Society, now defunct, and it was later posted on GunTruths.com, also now defunct.

I thought I'd resurrect and post it here before I become defunct.

Gun Lobby Darling Arlen Specter Has Nerve Holding Philly Hearing Monday on Youth Violence While Gun Trafficking Rages On; Gun Violence

Prevention Groups Call Specter's Committee Hearing 'Bogus'

Those commies sure know how to write catchy headlines, don't they?

Response to California Attorney General Letter

I wanted to send a brief note of thanks to all that have sent email to me, or the Folsom Shooting Club, Inc. (FSC), about the letter to the Attorney General (AG) of California. Your kind words are encouraging.

I also want to acknowledge our member, Steve Helsley for writing a draft of the AG letter. Steve's letter was adopted by the Board with very little editing.

Many of you have asked about donations to our club, and about some sort of limited membership. I have asked the Board to consider creating a limited membership at the next meeting. A copy of this email is also being sent to the FSC Board and to Steve Helsley who proposed that the letter be sent.

Thanks again,
Tom Hause
--------------------------

Also see: "Gun Club to Lockyer's DoJ: You're Not Welcome Here"

Another Motown Anomaly

"One is accused of pointing a gun at a man who had poured pop on his car. Another was allegedly smoking crack cocaine. A third tested positive for marijuana use -- for the third time, police said.

"All three are Detroit cops...

"’We set our goals and principles very high in this department,’ said police spokesman James Tate. ‘If someone within our personnel violates the policies of the Detroit Police Department or commits behavior that could be interpreted as illegal, then appropriate action must be taken.

"’We have hundreds of dedicated men and women who go out every day and provide first-rate service. These are definitely anomalies.’"

Really?

Then I guess “appropriate action” has been taken on those 500 backlogged disciplinary cases? You know, the ones that were anomalies?

Maybe the cops should hold another gun “buyback,” if for no other reason than to get the media fawning all over them.

Plus it might help them raise funds to help stave off the effects of "a $300 million budget deficit, and the threat of laying off 612 police officers." It would also get people's minds off Detroit's leader in gun control, Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who responded to Motor City's fiscal woes by charging "more than $210,000 on the city's MasterCard in his first 33 months in office. Some of the charges include an $850 steakhouse dinner; $3,837 on chauffeured sedans; and $11,644 on Super Bowl hotel rooms."

At least we can take comfort that "Kilpatrick again disputes persistent rumors of a party with strippers at the mayoral residence."

I bring this up because I don't want anybody thinking official criminality is endemic, or that the 3 cops were simply emulating their masters. As should be evident to all who can see, corruption in Detroit is an anomaly, and on those rare occasions when it surfaces, appropriate action is taken.

Say Uncle is Having a Contest

He needs a logo for an AR15 lower receiver he's working on.

I don't enter contests, but if I did, I'd submit this:

Innocence Betrayed: Excellence Confirmed

"The JPFO production 'Innocents Betrayed' has just won a Certificate for Creative Excellence (third place) in the Documentary category of the U.S. International Film and Video Festival ."

Did you get your copy yet?

The End is Near!

And Bill St. Clair got the scoop before all of us.

Gun Club to Lockyer's DoJ: You're Not Welcome Here

Kudos to Tom Hause and the Board of Directors of the Folsom Shooting Club for their bold and appropriate letter to California Attorney General Bill Lockyer, that states in part:

"The Board of Directors of the Folsom Shooting Club (FSC) has directed me to advise you, in writing, that Department of Justice staff, while acting in their official capacity, are suspended from using the Sacramento Valley Shooting Center (SVSC). The FSC is concerned that your staff will further your efforts regarding AB 352 and SB 357 while using our facility."

It's nice to see others joining in the Barrett response.

Thank you, Mr. Hause. You and your fellow directors deserve our commendation and support on this. Good job.

I hope many fellow Second Amendment supporters join in sending you a note of encouragement and thanks.
----------------------------
[I learned about this ketter from KABA Newslinks, which featured the hysterical misrepresentations of the "Million" Moms.]

Senate Gives FBI More Patriot Act Power

Great--just what we need.

"Ranking Democrat Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., supported the bill overall but said he would push for limits that would allow such administrative subpoenas 'only if immediacy dictates.'"

I wonder how large of an armored vehicle the feds could drive through that hole he just made?

"Rockefeller and other committee members, such as Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., also are concerned that the bill would grant powers to federal law enforcement agencies that could be used in criminal inquiries rather than intelligence-gathering ones."

Hey, they're not investigating gun owners for edict infractions, they're investigating "militia extremist domestic terrorists".

See? Fix a few words and we don't have a problem here...

Fish Or Man: "I am Finished"

"I was sentenced June 2nd. It amounts to $500 fine, $250 deferred. 90 days in jail, 90 days suspended. Deferred jail time and money is on condition that for 12 months I have no future criminal offense. This entire sentence will not take effect unless I lose my appeal, (sentence stayed upon appeal)...I did have a letter from the SAF when I got home last night, of course, it was only for another fund raiser. Meanwhile, somewhere in America another unconstitutional 'gun law' was applied to an otherwise law abiding gun owner. A gun owner who will bow his head, cry for America, and then take the plea deal. I am finished."

You Don't Need a Gun Because the Police Will Protect You

Ri-ight.

And why can't I get this song out of my head?