A. Spineless Maroon

This comment entry is too good not to highlight.

Mad Hatter Seeking Madder Mortarboarders

[A]fter reading a couple of campus Op-Ed articles relating to gun rights issues, I thought I'd take some time this weekend to hunt several of them up and tell everyone what sort of opinions are being generated in higher academia.

If anyone is interested in pointing me to some articles they've found (via email or posting replies to my blog), I'll be happy to include them in this little project.

Here's the post I have on my blog announcing the project.

If you could get word around, I'd appreciate it.

The Mad Hatter is looking for some people in need of schooling on RKBA!

Here's my contribution. If you can help him out with more articles, please do.

This Day in History: September 30

In a letter to his nephew, Lund Washington, plantation manager of Mount Vernon, General George Washington writes on this day in 1776 of his displeasure with the undisciplined conduct and poor battlefield performance of the American militia. Washington blamed the Patriot reliance on the militia as the chief root of his problems in the devastating loss of Long Island and Manhattan to the British.

He ought to see the sorry state of the militia, Long Island and Manhattan today.

REMINDER: 2A CARNIVAL TOMORROW

Just in case you didn't act on my first announcement. Go over to Free Constitution and get your submission in tonight.

Remembering the Colonel

Guns and Ammo looks back on the life of Jeff Cooper.

They also compiled a wonderful collection of memorable Cooperisms (I'm being redundant here) in "Quotations from Chariman Jeff," and present an archive for the "Gunner's Guru" series.

Good stuff. I'm saving these links because I'm sure I'll want to consult and enjoy them again and again.

Related: "Jeff Cooper, Rest in Peace"

Bradys Choose Moonbeams Over Substance

Democratic nominee Jerry Brown today received the endorsement of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, the nation's leading gun violence prevention organization.

Yeah, he'll do for the state what he's done for Oakland:

The city has now had 106 homicides in 2006 and is on pace to almost double last year's toll of 94.

"Gun violence assurance" is more like it.

This proves beyond doubt the Bradys and their supporters are irrational and primitive fanatics, focused on removing symbols and totems instead of addressing causes and effects. This type of quasi-religious superstition has no place in public policy debate, and certainly should have no bearing on the rights of free and rational sovereign individuals.

Special contempt goes to "Republican" Paul Helmke. If it notices you at all, history will record you as a base subversive, you worm.

We're the Only Ones Vandalic Enough

The Torrance City Attorney's Office on Wednesday filed one charge of misdemeanor vandalism against a Hermosa Beach police sergeant accused of defacing a car while off duty.

And they can't tell us if he's still on duty. Only "The Only Ones" have a need to know.

We're the Only Ones Who Should Get a Break Enough

Raymond Gregson Jr., a retired IRS agent who helped coordinate the highly publicized 2004 raid on the home of Jacques Morial, was indicted Thursday in federal court on four counts of carrying a concealed handgun at Louis Armstrong International Airport and trying to board a plane with it...

"If anybody should get a break, I would think it would be somebody who's had an outstanding career with the government for so many years," Ellis said. "I was just a little bit surprised to see that they wanted to throw the book at him. . . . I think it's a tragic mistake."

Give me a break!

Oh, I forgot, I don't qualify.

I'm not an "Only One."

Dear Darias

I usually ignore the vast amounts of stupid you find on the net, but occassionally something comes along that is so special, it just demands special treatment.

Gun Law News finds someone as thick-headed as Morton Marcus. The antis seem to be throwing every idiot they have at us these days.

Muscling in on the Second Amendment

Rep. Howard Coble, R-N.C., who sponsored the House bill, said it would give the ATF greater flexibility to deal appropriately with minor violations while going after gun dealers who are breaking the law. "Despite what the critics said," Coble said in a statement, "our bill puts additional muscle in the arm of the ATF."

And we would want to do that why...?

Moron Marcus

To reduce gun-related murders, get the guns out of the hands of private citizens...

Indiana economist Morton Marcus has studied and written about the Indiana economy for more than 30 years...

You'd think in that time the fool would have learned something. This is the most addlepated hit piece I've yet read, and I've been reading them for decades.

[Thanks to Jason M]

This Day in History: September 29

British spy John André is court-martialed, found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging on this day in 1780. André, an accomplice of Benedict Arnold, had been captured by Patriots John Paulding, David Williams and Isaac Van Wart six days earlier on September 23, after they found incriminating papers stashed in his boot.

Schwarzenegger Signs Another Gun Confiscation Bill

Governor Schwarzenegger yesterday signed legislation by Senator Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego) that will provide additional protection for people seeking court protective orders under the Family Code...

Specifically, Senate Bill 585:

1. Adds additional provisions to the Family Code to allow law enforcement to consider seeking the immediate surrender of a firearm from a person served with a protective order.

2. Reduces from 72 hours to 48 hours the time frame by which a person served with a protective order must show proof to a court that they either sold or surrendered their firearms.

3. Requires that application forms for protective orders ask what types of firearms are in the possession of the respondent.

All without being convicted of a thing. And we all know vengeful "partners" would never make anything up. Besides, "presumption of innocence" is a quaint concept, but, like the Second Amendment, was obviously written for a different time.

Thanks, Arnold!

First the .50's and now this. I knew we could count on you!

And thanks again, major gun groups! How big were those "good size chunks" of money again?

The Silver Lining

The state House, dominated by members from rural areas where hunting is a way of life and the Second Amendment is sacrosanct, resoundingly rejected a series of gun-control measures yesterday, including one that would have allowed Philadelphia to enact its own firearms laws...

Rep. Dwight Evans (D., Phila.) said that despite the defeats of several controversial proposals - and the expected failure of one-handgun-a-month - he was pleased that so many anticrime measures were at long last debated on the House floor.

Yeah, it was kinda like holding a "gun buyback"--it didn't really do anything, but it made you feel good and got you some ink in the local press. And, of course, helped solidify your hold over sheep ignorant enough to give an opportunistic thug like you political power over them.

"It's Time for a Revolution"

The Constitution of the United States and the State of Illinois both guarantees our citizens the right to keep and BEAR arms. The ability to “bear” arms has nothing to do with hunting, but has everything to do with the protection of our freedoms “also” guaranteed in the Bill of Rights.

Randy Stufflebeam appears to get it. I don't know what his plans are "for making sure the criminal element does not have easy access to arms," short of incarceration, though...

[Thanks to HZ]

A Green Supports the Right to Bear Arms...?

"I don't think the government should have a monopoly on weapons," Whitney said. "And if you meet certain objective criteria--completing a gun-training safety class, if you're a law-abiding citizen, if you haven't committed a felony--you should have the right to carry a firearm.

"Of course, we'll have to carefully draw the law so that no one can carry a gun to church or to school or to a bar.

Not really. But he had us going there for a second.

[Thanks to HZ]

Y'See, There's US and Then There's YOU...

Ordinary citizens will have to check their guns at the Statehouse's entrances when metal detectors are installed in the building next year.

Lawmakers, however, will be allowed to take their guns with them inside.

Yeah, Sen. Tom Wyss, R-Fort Wayne, I really believe you wanted to do it to everybody but settled for "half a loaf."

Otherwise, I might come to an unkind judgment about you.


[Thanks to Eric]

This Day in History: September 28

On this day in 1781, General George Washington, commanding a force of 17,000 French and Continental troops, begins the siege known as the Battle of Yorktown against British General Lord Charles Cornwallis and a contingent of 9,000 British troops at Yorktown, Virginia, in the most important battle of the Revolutionary War.

Shameless Plug: Guns in Schools

Ultimately, “a school is no place for a gun,” he concluded.

The author was Columbine killer Eric Harris, who chose “Guns in Schools” for his report topic. It’s not hard to see why he would favor “gun free school zones.”

"Guns in Schools" is my Rights Watch column for the November 2006 issue of GUNS Magazine, available now at scholarly newsstands throughout the Republic.

BONUS: See page 98 to find out how you can win a Custom North American Arms Mini Revolver, Katz Bowie and "Riverboat Gambler Snake Eyes" poker set.

Are You With Us? An Open Letter to Chuck Poochigian

Dear Mr. Poochigian,

As a candidate for California Attorney General, I note you have received fairly good grades from both Gun Owners of California and the National Rifle Association over the course of your political career.

You are no doubt aware that the current AG, Bill Lockyer's official position on the Second Amendment is that:

"[It] limits only the powers of the federal government, not those of the states; and the 'right to keep and bear arms' under the Second Amendment is not an individual right to possess firearms, but a collective right of the States to keep and maintain a 'well-regulated militia.'"

You also no doubt are aware that this is in direct contradiction to the position taken by former US Attorney General John Ashcroft, who wrote:

"The text and the original intent of the Second Amendment clearly protect the right of individuals to keep and bear firearms."

Following Mr. Ashcroft's pronouncement, then Alabama AG Bill Pryor wrote a letter agreeing with the individual rights position, and received signatures of support from 18 other state attorneys general. Furthermore, Dick Ackerman, the candidate for California AG at the time, agreed to also sign the Pryor letter if elected.

If you are elected, per the CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION ARTICLE 20, you will take the following oath (or affirmation) of office, which says in part:

I, ______, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties upon which I am about to enter.

You are also aware that the Constitution of the United States, Article VI, states:

This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.

So my questions for you, Mr. Poochigian:

If gun owners support your candidacy and you are elected California Attorney General, will you issue an official declaration of position that the Second Amendment recognizes an individual right to keep and bear arms?

And if so, what will you do as the chief law officer in the state to ensure that "the supreme Law of the Land," which you will have taken an oath to support and defend, is enforced, and that the rights of California gun owners are legally protected from infringement?

Mr. Poochigian, California gun owners are having essential freedoms abridged and live in danger of having their lives destroyed by edicts that we believe violate the clear proscription articulated in the Second Amendment. Attempts at obtaining peaceful redress through court actions and petitioning have been in vain. We are watching the upcoming election with desperate interest, as so much is at stake for us. I am therefore making this letter public, and am requesting an answer for public disclosure.

Sincerely,
David Codrea
California gun owner
---------------------

Special note to WarOnGuns visitors: I'm sending Mr. Poochigian a link to this post, and will report his reply or lack of one. The success of getting an answer is really out of my hands, though. If California gun owners don't take the under-1-minute needed to express their expectation that he answer these questions, he'll really have no reason to pay any attention to this. If you don't live in California, please direct your friends who do to this post. If you do live in California, please contact the Poochigian campaign. Here's a link to his contact form.