NRA Lauds Bush Increase in Gun Prosecutions

NRA has long maintained that federal gun laws aimed at the criminal misuse of firearms are effective in reducing crime--if they are enforced. President Bush's administration has clearly heard that message and implemented it.

Never mind that patriotic Americans will become felons if caught defying clearly unconstitutional gun prohibitions--the LaPierre Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence (formerly National Rifle Control, Inc.) wants them punished, and George Bush is just the man to do it.

They still haven't answered a question I've been asking for years--just where in this document are the feds delegated authority to be involved in these matters at all?

Don't hold your breath.

Oh, and as for those federal gun laws that "are effective in reducing crime"? Why not ask the residents of Richmond and Philadelphia?

More Kool-Aid, anyone?

CCRKBA: "Urge Congress to Adopt Senate Version of Patriot Act Reauthorization"?

How can I? I haven't read the whole thing, and I'm not sure I'm qualified to know what all the implications are anyway.

Yes, quite possibly there are some rollbacks on presumed authorities. But when you talk about putting "checks on the government’s ability to comb through an individual’s financial, medical, business, library, gun purchases or other sales records," or "sneak and peak searches," I gotta first wonder how closely the Constitution is being adhered to.

If CCRKBA is going to urge us to call our senators to pass something, I think it's incumbent on them to give us a comnprehensive pro/con implications analysis of each section of the bill.

People need to be educated about this before they can be expected to blindly support it.

The Bear Necessities

“I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you.” — Timothy Treadwell, setting up his video camera inches from a grizzly bear.

“Grunt. Snort. Crunch. Snap. Munch. Gulp.” — Grizzly, loosely translated as, “I love you, too.”

"The Bear Necessities," my October Rights Watch column for GUNS Magazine, is now online.

"I'm the Better Hunter/Sportsman!"

"No, I'M the better hunter/sportsman!"

Sounds like neither one of these boys realize it ain't about hunting and sporting.

"The real difference is I know a shotgun is used for something besides starting a golf tournament."

Is this guy serious?

Let's cut to the chase:

Allen, Eric:

Do you believe your constituents have an unalienable right to carry whatever firearm they please wherever they please, including select fire, openly or concealed as they see fit, without anybody's damn permission?

Yes or no?

Because some of us don't give a damn about you shooting pigs and whitetail deer.

Jim Brady Calls For End Of Gun Violence

What is this guy, Miss America calling for "world peace"?

If wishes were fishes...

These people are like children. They have no business imposing themselves on adults.

"The Officer's Gun Went Off"

All by its own self?

Honor Among Thieves

Thieves have stolen a handgun on display at an international conference on warfare in the 21st century.

The Heckler and Koch .40 calibre USP semi-automatic pistol went missing from a locked display cabinet at the Gold Coast conference.

Ironically, the conference was not open to the public for security reasons.

Miers Carries?

From Dan Gifford via email:

MORE ON MIERS JUST IN FROM A GOOD DC SOURCE: "FYI the White House folks told me she owns a gun and has a concealed carry permit."

UPDATE: From Dan Gifford--

Just understand that I cannot personally verify that statement. Gene Volokh has checked with Texas and found she does not have one from that state. There are other state possibilities like Maryland and Virginia or she may have a Special US Marshal designation like some other DC VIPs. On the other hand, she may not have a gun or a CCW. All I can say for certain is that the statement came from a reliable DC source and that another DC lawyer on Volokh's blog described Miers as a gun toting evangelical.

This Was the "Major Announcement"?

Looks like Sailorcurt gets crowing rights.

Mean Girls

This isn't 2A-related or anything, but this story does raise a question about the people our society exalts.

What kind of person would get in a serious car crash and their first instinct is to run and hide instead of checking to see if the person she hit was hurt and needed help?

"Good Job"

Alphecca tells us "Philip Van Cleave and Mike Stollenwerk of the VCDL did a good job forcing the town [Culpeper, VA--DC] to remove the signs prohibiting law-abiding citizens from bearing arms in the town's parks."

But wait a minute...I thought Jerry Kilgore's spokeshole said "...Van Cleave unfortunately has no credibility on Second Amendment issues..."

I'll go with the first assessment. I'm tired of seeing gun groups marginalized by the political establishment because they show some steel in their spines.

UPDATE: Countertop (of "How Can I Miss You If You Won't Go Away?" fame) has more details on the Kilgore fiasco.

UPDATE 2: Sailorcurt has more.

Reuters Editorial Backs Brazil Gun Ban

What?

It's supposed to be a straight news story?

Aw, go on!

Olson Reverses Polarity--For the Time Being...

The US Supreme Court, with the enigmatic John Roberts at the helm, has ducked again, refusing "to block a lawsuit against gun manufacturers accused of negligence for firearms violence in the nation's capital."

I've often wondered--if Sarah Brady's son went on a rampage with that rifle she bought him--would she publicly demand a lawsuit against the store and manufacturer?

Anyway, the thing that particularly caught my eye in this story--aside from the unbelievable judicial arrogance of Michael Farrell-- is who "the lawyer for the gun companies" is--our old pal Ted Olson.

That's the same Ted Olson who argued for the government (after John Ashcroft's lip service declaring the Second Amendment an individual right--except for all those "compelling state interests" that negate the "shall not be infringed" part) and against the right to keep and bear arms in the Emerson, Haney and Bean cases.

Gee, who would have ever thought the gun industry would retain someone who isn't squarely in their camp? I mean, it's not like they should have learned better from Robert Ricker or anything...

Disarmed Rescuers in LA

-Notes From the Front Lines-

FEMA's suspension of the Phoenix Fire Department's Urban Search and Rescue team because they deployed to New Orleans with armed police guards is rightly causing outrage. The following was sent to me by a member of a similar team deployed to LA, a man I have been corresponding with for some months.

He has allowed me to post his account here on the condition that he must remain anonymous--if his identity became known, his career would be destroyed.

I was in the New Orleans area as a member of a Fire Department contingent that responded to Louisiana last month. A member of our fire department who responded a few days prior to the main contingent being deployed told us over the phone, "If you can find a way to bring a handgun, do so."

Everyone who knows me at work knows that I am staunchly and unabashedly pro-rights. I am what they would proverbially call a "gun-nut." Throughout the ride to LA, my co-workers would occasionally ask me if I had packed any "heat." It was always in jest. My answer was always a consistent, "No, it would be illegal for me to transport a loaded firearm throughout the states we will be traveling through (even though I have a CCW from my state of residence)." Regardless, my employer forbids the possession of any weapon, at any time, while on duty and we were considered to be on duty throughout the entire deployment.

When we arrived in LA and the devastation (along with the accompanying uncertainty and lawlessness) became apparent, the inquiries into my armed status were now serious inquiries. The most popular guys in our convoy were now the Public Safety guys. In case you didn't know, some municipalities go with the public safety concept where trained personnel fulfill all the duties of police, firefighting and EMS. These public safety guys were with us as firefighters but did not disarm prior to departing. It was nice to see my anti-rights friends (who constantly mock me while in the relative safety of our station) all of a sudden warm up to the idea of a gun in their midst.

Our deployment took us near the New Orleans area but not in the actual city, where the problems being experienced in New Orleans were almost non-existent. It became apparent pretty quickly why the problems were non-existent. Almost everyone we met owned AND carried a firearm. I could bore you with endless stories about the different ways we saw firearms in their "natural setting" ... the way they were meant to be used ... especially in a disaster zone. It was a thing of beauty. Free men and women, armed and openly carrying those arms while going about the business of putting their lives back together.

I will share these two stories:

--A lady approached us in a parking lot of a fire station and asked us for some help. We said, "Sure, how can we help you?" She proceeded to tell us that she had just returned after evacuating to Mississippi and that her husband could not return with her because of work. She said she was alone and had just discovered her house was devastated with no utilities except for phone. She told us that she was concerned about looters and being alone. She said her husband had bought a shotgun years ago but that she had never learned how to use it. Her question was, "If I dial 911, will you come?" The Lieutenant I was with answered without hesitation, "Yes ma'am, just dial 911 and someone will be right there." We started to walk away and I watched her start to amble away with her shoulders down. I could not in good conscience keep walking so I called out after her and told her to hold up. I told her the truth. I said, "Ma'am, if you dial 911 the police might or might not come." I then told her how 911 was still unreliable. I told her how in the previous week, two homes burned to the ground in affected areas because no one could get through on the phone to report the fires. I know this would be the last thing that "Officials" would want to be known. However, I felt the truth might serve her better than a half-baked lie and misplaced trust in 911. I then told her to try and get as much stuff taken care of at her property and to return to her husband until things were better resolved. I told her if she had to stay, to seek out some of her armed neighbors and establish some sort of system to call for help or even to stay with them. Finally, I told her that as soon as she could, she should learn to operate that firearm her husband left for her or find one more suited to her needs. The last thing I said to her was, "Do what I told you, prepare to handle everything yourself. Call 911 but don't plan on help coming. I know it's not what you want to hear but it's reality." Her shoulders were still down but now she seemed to have purpose in her step. It's amazing what the truth can do.

--Immunizations were being given out at a local hospital for tetanus, diphtheria, Hepatitis A, etc. The lines were long and residents were standing in the heat to get in. The sign at the entrance caught my eye and surprised me (being in the South), it said "No Firearms" with the typical black firearm silhouette and red, slashed circle. The lettering underneath said, "Weapons free zone." It was quite amusing to see the sign there with the unarmed private security guard sitting at his desk as numerous National Guardsmen whisked back and forth with their M-16s and M9 pistols. A private citizen who had been standing in line was about to enter when he saw the sign, he let out a slight groan and with a roll of his head started to step out of the line. He looked at me and asked if he could have his place in line when he returned. That’s when I noticed he was carrying a sidearm. I asked him if that's why he was leaving the line. He said yes, he was going to walk back to his car and put it in the trunk. I told him to wait right there. I went inside and retrieved some paperwork and the shots. I came back out and had him complete the shot record while I administered the shots (I'm a paramedic btw) on the spot. The rest of the people in line seemed slightly indignant. I was only assisting there briefly so I went ahead and told them, "Armed citizens get priority." No one said anything and I did my good deed.

Even though, I repeated the party line when asked, I was adequately prepared to protect myself if the need had presented itself. My fire chief, personnel director, fire & police commissioners and city council members who made the rule about no weapons were residing comfortably back home, not in the immediate area of a disaster zone. My officer who was present with us, had his suspicions but never asked and at times made insinuations that seemed favorable. When it comes to firearms though, I trust no one who does not openly support an unfettered right to possess and carry.

NRA "To Make a Major Announcement"

They're doing "a series of press conferences."

Speculation?

Jerry Kilgore's involved--we already know they're backing him.

Do they have something to say about Harriet Miers?

Is it something else?

Guess we'll just have to wait and see...

Yeah, THIS'LL Work

I no sooner get done posting about cops getting their guns taken away and the foolishness of relying on gadgets as a substitute for trained human operators, and this foolishness resurrects itself.

Sure, Joseph Petrella--that's just what I'd want to have hampering my dexterity and getting snagged on things in a tactical situation--your stupid glove. And maybe you should install a smart lock on the glove so the perps can't remove it from the downed officer and use it to activate the gun...

Doesn't your garage need cleaning or something?

More From the "We’re the Only Ones Professional Enough" Files

Two breaking stories:

A Philadelphia police officer is recovering from bite wounds during a struggle with a suspect who took his gun.

The officer's partner shot the suspect, avoiding a repeat of a shooting at a hospital in Langhorne, Bucks County, last week during which a policeman was killed with his own gun.

and:

An officer's gun was fired inside a Smyrna hospital, but no one was hurt…authorities say an agitated jail inmate…became irritated and began to scuffle with the Smyrna police officer guarding him. The two wrestled on the floor, with the inmate firing the officer's gun once while it was still in its holster

Years ago I wrote an article about "smart guns," which were originally developed to address cops being killed with their own service weapons. Of course, just as I predicted, police are exepmpted from pending personalized weapons mandates for a simple fact: they realize how foolish it would be to trust their lives to gadgets and have the political clout to reject them.

What was the solution for takeaway incidents identified then by weapons and tactics expert Ken Good, that still holds true today?

"If a weapon is taken from an officer, I personally believe it is primarily a training issue. Most folks seem to try and solve most tactical problems through some sort of hardware improvement without looking at the core system. The human operator should be the primary system to be improved upon. Many departments are dangerously low in their delivery of ongoing advanced officer training. If an officer cannot be trusted to deploy and keep his or her weapon, please don't give them one in the first place!"

Speaking of someone who shouldn't have been trusted with a gun in the first place, here's another takeaway incident involving someone--what would you call her--"semiprofessional enough?"...

Guns Magazine Review: Enemies Foreign and Domestic

Author Matthew Bracken has written a thrilling first novel (did I mention this is also a passionate love story), one that engages, grips and doesn't let up. He avoids the proselytizing that can plague the liberty genre, and delivers a solid, exciting tale with deep and believable characters.

Read complete review here.

Then go here and buy this book.

If you already have and agree with me that this is an important (and fun) book for gun owners to read, send this link to your friends:
http://waronguns.blogspot.com/2005/10/guns-magazine-review-enemies-foreign.html

Ivey Stiffens Penalty Sought in Gun Cases

Meet Prince George's County State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey, who will make an example of anyone caught keeping and bearing arms. Anyone except his henchmen and cronies, that is.

Hey, he's just following the lead of his counterparts over at the US Attorney's office in DC. You know--the ones who work for our "pro-gun" administration.

It's Miers

What's the recurring line from Star Wars?

I don't have a good feeling about this.

It's not exactly like previous judicial nominees have filled me with confidence.

What do you think the odds are she recognizes military firearms as vital tools of liberty that belong in the hands of the people?

UPDATE: She's been "pre-approved by Senate Democratic leadership"?

We're screwed.

UPDATE: Via Drudge (no story link yet, just a headline under a flashing alarm): "BUSH COURT PICK GAVE MONEY TO CLINTON, GORE"

NRA-now is NOT the time to be silent on this.