United States vs. Fincher

The title link goes to a new blog that will keep us updated on the persecution of Hollis "Wayne" Fincher, a lieutenant commander of the Militia of Washington County, who was arrested by BATFU on Wednesday.

This is an important development in the renewed wars on guns and on We the People by our government. As such, every gun rights activist should be informed as to the particulars of the case, and, importantly, to its history.

I'm sure there will be no shortage of forum chat room warriors pompously declaring that Fincher is getting what he asked for by flouting the law in the local media. They will be wrong, and as shallow in their opinions as they are in their commitment to liberty.

If you read the exhaustively detailed "Silver Bullet" report, it will be evident who the real lawbreakers are. Note it is a commitment to get through the entire document and understand it, but we need to ask ourselves if we would rather be informed than lazy.

The Militia of Washington County has duly kept the authorities informed for many years, exercising their right to petition for peaceful redress and pleading for recognition of Constitutionally-guaranteed rights. In response, they been completely ignored by public servants criminally derelict in their duty to honor their oaths of office, and by the media, who the Militia has pleaded with to take notice of their demands for justice (which it has predictably failed to do, just as it failed to exercise its watchdog role at Waco):


I ask you to take notice that Fincher took great pains--for years--to document--and inform "authorities"--of the lawful nature of his activities. I also ask you to take notice of some important points in The Morning News account:

Fincher was arrested without incident at his residence...Fincher has no criminal record...

And now consider:

The investigation was conducted under Project Safe Neighborhoods, the U.S. Department of Justice initiative that combines federal, state and local resources to combat violent gun crime.

We can see who has committed the "violent gun crime" here.

One last point about "Project Safe Neighborhoods":

"The NRA and our over four million members fully support the Justice Department's Project Safe Neighborhoods," said National Rifle Association spokeswoman Kelly Whitley.

I happen to have personally known a man for years, an honorable patriot, a fine human being, and a colleague of Mr. Fincher's in the Militia of Washington County, and have been following this group's novel activism in defense of their (and our) rights for years. I'd like for the slick talkers in Fairfax to explain to me and to other gun owners--who actually believe that "the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed"--how the persecution and removal of Mr. Fincher from society will make anyone's neighborhood safer.

People, make no mistake--this is naked tyranny unfolding before us. Our deserved fate as gun owners will depend largely on whether or not we sound the alarm and unify in a demand for justice for Wayne Fincher--or if we just ignore this, or even worse, blame the victim.

I'll follow the US v Fincher blog and report updates as I learn of them, including if help is solicited in Mr. Fincher's defense. In the mean time, I ask my fellow gun owners not to ignore this, and my fellow bloggers to spread the word.

[Via Locking Lug]

Welcome Back, Captain...

...from your 4-month voyage.

We're the Only Ones Judicially Selective Enough, Eh?

Justice Minister Vic Toews is sticking to his guns that cops should play a role in helping select Canada's judges, despite public rebukes from Canada's top judge and a national lawyers group.

Nothing like checks and balances, eh?

And I'm sure Vic Toews finds nothing Orwellian in his title, eh?

[More from "The Only Ones" files, eh...?]

[Via Cousin G, eh?]

We're the Only Ones Rewarding Enough

A submachine gun and other SWAT team weapons were stolen late Thursday or early Friday from an Orange County deputy's vehicle...The agency is offering a $2,500 reward for the return of the weapons...Earlier this year, a burglar stole a .223-caliber AR-15 assault rifle from an Orlando police patrol car. It has not been recovered despite a $1,500 reward.

Do I hear $3,000?

With the local paper reporting on it, there's no excuse for not knowing that "gun thefts are.. common" in the area. And, naturally, "[The Only One] was not identified..."

[Via Cousin G]

This Day in History: November 11

On this day in 1778, Patriot Colonel Ichabod Alden refuses to believe intelligence about an approaching hostile force. As a result, a combined force of Loyalists and Native Americans, attacking in the snow, killed more than 40 Patriots, including Alden, and took at least an additional 70 prisoners, in what is known today as the Cherry Valley Massacre. The attack took place east of Cooperstown, New York, in what is now Otsego County.

"Thanks for Your Email to NRA-PVF"

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Bradey, Jennifer
Date: Nov 6, 2006 11:17 AM
Subject: RE: New website submission
To: [edited for privacy-DC]@gmail.com

Dear Mr. Hofnann [sic*],

Thanks for your email to NRA-PVF.

We have been receiving a bit of communication from NRA members after the latest publicity campaign from GOA regarding Ron Paul's NRA-rating. [1] GOA does this to encourage folks to join their organization rather than NRA. Think about it: if they said NRA was doing everything right, they wouldn't have any members. Only in trying to stir up disagreement among our members, do they reap the benefits.

NRA has accordingly graded Congressman Ron Paul a "B". We have NOT endorsed against him - as widely MISreported.[2]

Congressman Paul is a staunch libertarian, and as such, would not vote for the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act on countless occasions over the past decade. Although he opposed it on libertarian grounds, he still voted against us on one of our top legislative priorities for over a decade. We cannot make exceptions for the reasons WHY Members of Congress don't vote for a bill because they will all come up with some reason not to be supportive. This bill was critical in protecting our firearms heritage in this country, and NRA very successful shephered its passage through the Congress in 2005.

Feel free to let me know if you have any other questions.

Thank you.

___________________________________________
Jennifer Bradey
Manager, Political & Legislative Activities
National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action
11250 Waples Mill Road
Fairfax, VA 22030
(800) 392-VOTE / (703) 267-1195

There's only one problem, Ms. Bradey. GOA says it is "unaware of any publicity campaign" on this. If this is true, someone owes someone else a sincere and public apology. I have forwarded the NRA email, including the header information that validates it is "authentic", to GOA.

[1] All I can even guess that Ms. Bradey is referring to is an article by Kevin Smith that appeared on Alex Jones' website where Larry Pratt defends Ron Paul upon learning of the NRA rating. But Pratt does not mention NRA. This is hardly a GOA "campaign," and certainly not one conducted with a hidden motive to skim off NRA members to swell GOA's ranks, as Ms. Bradey accuses.]

[2] Ms. Bradey is correct and the Smith article is in factual error on one point. NRA never "endorsed" Shane Sklar, and WarOnGuns took care to point this out--along with how the Sklar campaign's presentation of their rating blurred the distinction so that it would be likely to infer an endorsement. Besides which, give one candidate an "A" and his opponent a "B" and the average person will understandably assume a preference has been expressed. But technically, she's right.

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

* "Mr. Hofnann" is Kurt Hofmann. He's the activist who initially wrote to NRA and reported their response on the 1911 Forum, so this story is really his. Kurt is new to blogging, having recently created Armed and Safe, which I am adding to the blogroll as soon as I get done posting this. Go on over and check it out.

We're the Only Ones Still Employed Enough

The Michigan Department of State Police needs to explain exactly how many illegal acts a trooper would have to commit before he or she is deemed unfit to arrest anybody else. In what appears to be a lampoon of the department's code of honor, a trooper who lied about a traffic crash, fled the accident scene and then falsely reported his vehicle stolen, is still on duty.

They don't need to do anything, fool. They're "The Only Ones."

Case in point--any of you with a company car--get caught doing the same thing and see if you're not summarily fired. You can let us know after you make bail.

[Via Cousin G]

We're the Only Ones in Suspense Enough

The second former Abita Springs police officer to be sentenced this week in a 2003 corruption case got a suspended three-year prison term on Thursday...Garcia was acting police chief when he and Kondylis were arrested on charges accusing them of selling high-powered police weapons on the street for personal profit.

Let's see, 2 lieutenants and the chief...kinda takes away the "few bad apples" theory, at least for Albita Springs.

Suspended sentences seem kinda harsh for a Louisiana "Only One", but we can at least be thankful Judge Burris didn't treat him like a mere citizen...

[Via Cousin G]

This Day in History: November 10

During the American Revolution, the Continental Congress passes a resolution stating that "two Battalions of Marines be raised" for service as landing forces for the recently formed Continental Navy. The resolution, drafted by future U.S. president John Adams and adopted in Philadelphia, created the Continental Marines and is now observed as the birth date of the United States Marine Corps.

The photo is from my uncle's graveside services earlier this year at Arlington. My older brother is second from the right.

Impact of Election on Second Amendment

[N]otwithstanding widespread calls for moderation within their ranks, the Democrat leadership in the House and Senate will unquestionably put gun owners on the defensive by seeking to renew the so-called assault weapons ban, close down gun shows, and drastically expand the Brady gun control law.

So the NRA strategy of backing a critical mass of Democrats,which helped give them control of both houses of Congress, was a smart political move:

A. Because the "Blue Dogs" will resist the the promised rewards and/or threats of retribution from their party leadership and help lead the fight to kill this legislation, or

B. Because fundraising and membership drives always work best in a climate of imminent threats?

Just asking...

We're the Only Ones Getting in on the Action Enough

Residents of this suburb claim they have resorted to lynching because police do not take appropriate action against alleged criminals. Citizens are said to have caught criminals and handed them in to the police, only to have the alleged wrongdoers put back on the streets -- where some have apparently harassed and even murdered those who took them to police stations in the first place.

There are also indications that certain members of the police have aided and abetted criminals, renting out their guns and even participating in crimes. Officers have been caught perpetrating assaults in money exchanges and shops. Recently, police apparently gunned down two colleagues who were escorting a civilian carrying a large sum of money to the border with Swaziland. The unidentified police officers then made away with the money, and have yet to be found.

Where do these "Only Ones" think they are--New Orleans?

[Via Cousin G]

"Because I Say So..."

Since Oct. 17, township police have cited Seruga at least 10 more times for using a gun at his property's firing range within 150 yards of an occupied building. The township ordinance states an exception that someone may discharge a firearm "when done by a landowner upon his land"...

"It isn't an exception," Cahalan said.

When pressed to explain why, Cahalan would not elaborate. "It just isn't," he said.

He forgot to add "So there."

[Via Cousin G]

Blogger Problems Today

Been trying to post for the past hour and keep getting server problem messages. On a hunch left Firefox and went over to IE--I'm in, but this is a late start. I'll post what I can in the next few minutes, but today will be light.

This Day in History: November 9

On this day in 1780, British Major James Wemyss, commanding a force of 140 horsemen, attempts to surprise 300 South Carolina militiamen under General Thomas Sumter at Fishdam Ford, South Carolina. Instead of capturing Sumter as planned, Wemyss, "the second most hated man in the British army," was wounded in the arm and knee, and captured by Sumter.

Stalwarts versus NRA

Nevertheless, the NRA does some very good things and for this it does need to be honored, but the NRA's attitude in standing firm for what it so long touted itself to be, is another, and why I do not actively support them any longer.

Whose Paranoid articulates a conclusion many are reaching.

Too bad. It's like the Republicans. Power was entrusted but defective leadership squandered opportunity.

Paul Wins!

Sorry, Texas gun owners. You'll have to settle for a "B" instead of an "A."

Brown Wins!

Santa Barbara gun owners can breathe a sigh of relief and rest assured that this NRA "A-rated" sheriff will do his utmost to restore their uninfringed Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.

Can't they?

GOA "Unaware of Any 'Publicity Campaign'"

I informed Gun Owners of America about the 1911 Forums thread where an email reply ostensibly from an NRA representative about the Ron Paul race was posted.

Here's what I sent:

Please note the following (scroll 2/3 way down the page to comment by ‘kjhof]):

http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=157138

“We have been receiving a bit of communication from NRA members after the latest publicity campaign from GOA regarding Ron Paul's NRA-rating. GOA does this to encourage folks to join their organization rather than NRA. Think about it: if they said NRA was doing everything right, they wouldn't have any members. Only in trying to stir up disagreement among our members, do they reap the benefits.”

I haven’t seen this publicity campaign the NRA rep refers to. Have you sent out alerts on this, or is there a web page you can refer me to?

Also, will you give me a “for the record” comment on the NRA allegation?

Thank you,

David Codrea

Here's what I got back:

David,

We are also unaware of any "publicity campaign" on this issue. Other than publicizing his GOA rating as we do with all candidates we can identify, we have not been active in Paul's district this election. (No alerts, no postcards, etc.) And of course, we gave Paul his usual A+ rating.

Regarding a "for the record comment," we consider all of our responses to e-mailed questions to be on record unless specifically stated otherwise. We don't have any idea what the quoted passage is referencing, if anything.

I also feel obligated to point out that it is by no means uncommon for forum threads to include inaccurate information, misattributed quotes, and even outright false or manipulated posts. Do not interpret that to mean I'm at all suggesting such has been the case in this instance. I'm pointing it out because, since GOA has been unfairly tarnished in those ways more than a few times over the years, we are obligated to give NRA-PVF every last bit of the benefit of the doubt. So I suppose the sound bite would be: "I would be interested in seeing the original e-mail -- with all header information included."

In liberty,

--Craig.

Craig Fields
Director of Internet Operations, GOA

I have not been able to access the 1911 Forum site since yesterday afternoon. I'll keep trying with the intent of contacting poster "kjhof" about this.

We're the Only Ones Déjà Visité Enough

The first mistaken break-in was more than enough for Sheila Jones, who bought the house a year ago. But what makes her even angrier is that the police barged back into the house 20 minutes later.

Because you just can't get enough of "The Only Ones"...

[Via Cousin G]

RKBA Campus...er...Bone Toss? #4.5

The Mad Hatter presents another recap on scholastic thought as it relates to 2A.