Illinois Makes Progress in War on Freedom

Stiffer gun and drug laws are among hundreds of new Illinois laws that take effect today.

One law requires trigger-lock mechanisms to be included with the sale of any gun. Another bars people from buying stun guns or tasers unless they have a Firearm Owners I-D card...

Another new law says cold medicines that can be used to make methamphetamine must be kept behind the counter and sold only to people with a valid I-D.

Look for a rise in "gun deaths" and meth use.

News like this always makes me think of a passage from "One of the People," Philadelphia Federal Gazette, July 2, 1789:

"What should we think of a gentleman, who, upon hiring a waiting-man, should say to him—'my friend, please to take notice, before we come together, that I shall always claim the liberty of eating when and what I please, of fishing and hunting upon my own ground, of keeping as many horses and hounds as I can maintain, and of speaking and writing my sentiments upon all subjects.' A servant must be a fool, who would not suppose such a master to be a madman... Let these truths sink deep into our hearts: that the people are the masters of their rulers and that rulers are the servants of the people..."

We're the Only Ones Celebratory Enough...

The suspect, identified as PO2 Orlando Antonio, was collared by fellow policemen after he was caught firing his gun in Tondo, Manila.

Orlando, Orlando.

Didn't anyone tell you about masking tape?

Cancerous Bloomberg Pledges to Metastasize

"We will take our message to Albany, to Washington and to every capital of every state that permits guns to flow freely across its borders," said Bloomberg.

"And to those who distort our laws to aid and abet hardened criminals, know this," he said, punching the air for emphasis. "We will not rest until we secure all of the tools we need to protect New Yorkers from the scourge of illegal guns."

I wonder how that sounds being screamed in its original German?

My "favorite" point from this story--and one that we ignore at our peril:

Gun control advocates said that as the Republican mayor of the country's largest city - and one of the GOP's most generous donors - Bloomberg could be uniquely positioned to influence the national gun control debate.

Presumptions About "First Gun Death of 2006"

Reading the lead paragraphs, my immediate thought was "I'll bet he was involved with gangs."

Not more than five hours after ringing in the new year, a 21-year-old man was gunned down in the driver's seat of his Cadillac DeVille yesterday.

Dillan Yhanike Anderson of North York was pronounced dead at Sunnybrook hospital after he was found slumped over in the driver's seat of his car in an alley...

"What's a 21-year-old from New York doing in a Cadillac in a Toronto alley late at night?" I asked myself.

"Here we are just into 2006 and already there is another mother planning to bury her son," said homicide Det. Steve Ryan.

Now I started to feel bad for being presumptuous. Det. Ryan's spin evokes visions of June Cleaver grieving over a slaughtered Wally. Still:

Mayor David Miller said he was disappointed to learn of yesterday's murder.

"Every shooting fills me with sadness and this one again appears to be connected to the gang and the gun trade. It tells me that the things we're doing are the right things -- we just have to get them moving."

So my instincts were right? Anderson probably was up to something? And does anybody else find it creepy the way the mayor took the opportunity to publicly dance in fresh blood to hawk his citizen disarmament agenda?

"I think someone approached the vehicle and shots were fired from outside the car," Ryan said.

Yep, gangland hit, alright.

And there's one more "surprise" twist in this case:

Anderson was known to police. In 2003 Anderson and a 17-year-old were arrested in connection with the robbery and shooting of a man near Jane Street and Wilson Avenue. The victim in that case survived.

Dillan, my man: say it ain't so!

Would it be presumptuous and wrong of me to speculate about that victim?

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Should auld acquaintance be forqot,
Tho' they return with scars?
These are a noble hero's lot,
Obtain'd in glorious wars;
Welcome, my Varo, to my breast,
Thy arms about me twine,
And make me once again as blest,
As I was lang syne.

[Auld Lang Syne (Original)]

FAA to Disarm Universe

More than 120 pages of proposed rules, released Thursday, governing the future of space tourism touch on medical standards for passengers, preflight training and other topics.

What kind of "other topics" are addressed in Human Space Flight Requirements for Crew and Space Flight Participants?

For one thing, Section II.A.9, "Human Factors" (p.29) states:

The FAA proposes to require an operator to make provisions for restraint or stowage of all individuals and objects in the cabin, so moving objects do not interfere with the flight crew's operation of the vehicle during flight.

II.B.5., "Security Requirements" (p.38) is where things really start to get interesting:

The FAA proposes to require an operator to implement security requirements to prevent any space flight participant from jeopardizing the safety of the flight crew or the public. Security restrictions currently apply to passengers for airlines. Some of the restrictions prohibit a person carrying explosives, firearms, knives, or other weapons from boarding an airplane. Similar types of security restrictions for launch or reentry vehicles would contribute to the safety of the public by preventing a space flight participant from potentially interfering with the flight crew's operation of the vehicle. Any such interference might jeopardize the flight crew's ability to protect the public. The FAA notes that one means of satisfying part of this requirement would be for an operator to consult the "no-fly" list of the Transportation Security Administration.

So just to get things straight: Seeing as how government does everything so well, including the astounding competence demonstrated by the TSA, the feds (naturally, and unsurprisingly) intend to extend their clutches into private space travel. The pioneer developers clearly aren't competent to decide for themselves who and what they wish to let aboard their craft, and under what mutually acceptable contractual terms and conditions.

The bureaucrats aren't very imaginative, are they? You don't need to be a speculative/science fiction enthusiast to imagine the opportunities for an "outlaw" existence once colonization of the Moon and Mars begins in earnest, or asteroid mining, or beyond...

The desire for freedom will not be lessened, nor will the righteous defiance of tyrannical restraints. What kind of people do these form-stamping parasites think the new pioneers will be?

UPDATE: I posted this article to their Public Comment form. Please consider sending them comments of your own.

[Jed has more.]

Rapper Pimp C Released From Prison

He was charged after brandishing a gun during an argument with a woman at a mall.

I thought I'd end 2005 with some happy news.

An Imbecile of One

A U.S. soldier on leave from the Army was arrested on Thursday for firing into the air and subsequently killing a young mother as she looked out her window.

If he had just had a roll of masking tape...

Gun 'Sealing' to Mark New Year

Lomibao and Tolentino said the firearms of all soldiers and policemen nationwide will be sealed with masking tapes and duly-signed by their unit commanders to deter them from firing their guns during the frenetic New Year revelries.

The guns, they said, will be duly inspected and unsealed after the holidays to ferret out violators on whom appropriately severe penalties will be imposed.

Lomibao said the police will carry out similar close monitoring of all duly licensed firearms issued to civilians in accordance with Arroyo's directive.

And all those with unlicensed firearms will no doubt put their own tape on and comply out of the goodness of their hearts...

Right, THAT'LL Work...

Calls for an end to gun violence were heard at a candlelight vigil in downtown Toronto...Among those who attended was Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty...

who thinks the best way to end gun violence besides singing Kumbaya is to lock people up for four years for possessing a handgun--at gunpoint, and killing them if they don't comply.

So "gun control" is not about "getting rid of the guns," is it?

Send in the Army?

Perhaps the most ridiculous suggestion, however, was the one made by Pastor Allan Bowen of the Abundant Life Assembly in Etobicoke. "(City leaders) have to call in the army," he said. "The army should be left in the communities for two years. They will be able to conduct random checks until the guns disappear." What is this? Iraq?

It's nice to see a common sense editorial appear in The Edmonton Sun. Pastor Bowen's sentiments are worth noting, though. Those who want a total ban on private gun ownership would indeed prefer martial law to an armed citizenry. This is but one more proof of the inevitable relationship of gun control with absolute, unchecked tyranny.

Good News From Wyoming

Representative Becket Hinckley of Cheyenne is planning to sponsor a bill that would allow people to carry a concealed weapon without going through the application process.

Two other legislators are sponsoring a measure that would make Wyoming a "no retreat" state.

No Taping of Gun Nozzles

NO GUN nozzle will be taped this time as preventive measure against discriminate firing by police and military personnel during the coming New Year celebration.

Davao City Police Office chief Catalino Cuy said he does not find it necessary to tape the nozzles of policemen's guns just to ensure that they would not fire their guns during the revelry.

Nice to know Chief Cuy has such faith in the caliber of his men

Unlike some people we could mention.

When I first saw "nozzles," I was wondering if they were issued squirt guns. But then I realized they must have some of those "bullet hoses" I've been hearing about...

We're the Only Ones Exceptional Enough...

A Palm Beach County school police officer was arrested in Pompano Beach on Monday and accused of using a firearm while intoxicated, among other charges, according to Broward County sheriff's officials...Broward sheriff's officials said witnesses heard shots fired from the 1998 Red Mercury Marquis driven by Nicholas Sarnicola, 48, of Boca Raton, who works as a school officer at Boca Raton Middle School.

What did Wayne say to thunderous applause?

Oh, yeah:

[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.

Makes sense, doesn't it?

Guard Faces Gun Charges

The District Attorney's Office charged a local probation officer arrested for smuggling drugs into Juvenile Hall with two felony gun offenses...both felonies that can result in Gonzales being locked-up for a maximum of five years, according to Sarsfield. However, Gonzales was released from custody Friday on his own recognizance.

I'm sure you and I, who aren't in "law enforcement," would be released on our own recognizance under similar circumstances.

Wouldn't we?

We're the Only Ones Phat Enough...

An off-duty New York police officer who claimed he was friends with 50 Cent and Ja Rule was recently arraigned on gun possession and is suspected to have planned robberies against drug dealers. He also boasted about being on the verge of a $1 million recording contract.

Nice to see standards on the force are rising, yo.

[Follow-up to this story]

Shameless Plug: Stand Your Ground

It’s not our fault that anti-defense misfits don’t trust themselves and transfer their self-loathing to the rest of us. Their hysterics don’t entitle them to impose their will on the rest of us under force of law. Just as we must sometimes turn and repel someone attacking our person, so must we defend against any who would attack our rights.

"Stand Your Ground" is my February Rights Watch column for GUNS Magazine, available now at steadfast newsstands throughout the Republic.

BONUS: See pg. 84 to find out how you can win an FM 9mm Hi-Power M95 Detective Model and Mitch Rosen Premier holster.

Buck-Buck-Buck-AWWW

A PFA order is not a quick fix for everyone. It is a tool and just like a hammer or wrench...

So is a gun, Beata. Try using your tool to repel an attack.

Why does "Peck Little" evoke images of a witless clucking hen?

N.C. Man Arrested for Stun Gun in Baggage

A North Carolina man is charged with unauthorized use of a weapon and attempting to board an aircraft with a weapon.

Chicago Police say a screener at O'Hare International Airport found the stun gun in baggage belonging to 35-year-old John Adegbenjo of Winston-Salem last night. He was going through a security checkpoint at the time.

Oopsie!

Who does that guy think he is?

Juan Hinojosa?

We're the Only Ones Lawful Enough

A police officer arrested Tuesday along with three other men who were allegedly carrying illegally defaced handguns is suspected of robbing drug dealers in Manhattan.

But lift a finger against these guys and you'll have Patrick Lynch to contend with.

Besides, who's gonna have more credibility in the courtroom: some lowlife street scum, or a sworn officer of the law?