"pH Factor" Reaching Point of No Return

Celebrity bad-girl Paris Hilton and social networking website Bebo were the hottest topics on Google in 2006, the superstar online search engine revealed.

Just in case you were wondering why Western "culture" is in the sorry mess it is...

NRA Sides With McCain on "Gun Show Loophole"

Here's what NRA tells politicians seeking their favor:

The NRA does not oppose an expansion of instant checks to firearms sales by non-dealers at gun shows, as long as such checks are made readily available and conducted in a non-bureaucratic and speedy manner (within 24 hours) to account for the unique and temporary nature of these events.”

Compare that position with the one they tell the rubes.

Or perhaps I should have titled this: "NRA Sides With Miller Court on Firearm Restrictions":

In the same candidate survey, NRA expressed their opposition to gun bans, but made a point of stating that they do not oppose current restrictions on full automatic firearms, short barreled shotguns, and certain destructive devices.

Anybody still believe the current crop of mercenary staffers in Fairfax is interested in "shall not be infringed"?

BATFU Gives Pokey-Poke a Passy-Pass

A while back I received an email from CDT about my "Planet of the Ape" exposé on anti-gun Mark "Pokey Poke" Wahlberg (that's also the article Larry Elder referenced in his book). The essence of the piece is that Wahlberg has been convicted of violent crimes, and his handling of any actual firearms in films could be a violation of federal law. And it also explains the origin of the nickname I've given him.

Tavares' email said in part:

I used it as research material to write a letter on the subject to the BATF tonight. I asked them for a formal response as to why Wahlberg gets a pass when others don't.

Here are the results of his inquiry:

To those who asked me to keep them informed if the BATF ever responded to my letter of complaint about convicted felon Mark Wahlberg getting a "free pass" to possess guns while making one Hollywood shoot-em-up after another: the BATF has responded.

There are only three sentences of actual content buried in a page and a half of pap. The first is a restatement of the definition of firearm in 27 CFR 478.11. The next two say:

"Because you saw this individual possessing a gun in a movie trailer, it is not known whether or not this item meets this definition. The possibility exists that it could have been a movie prop and made to function as a real weapon through the use of special effects."

In my original letter, I wrote, "Please consider this a formal complaint. I ask that you look into this situation..." BATF's response: we won't even investigate. See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.

Imagine reporting a screaming street-rape to 911 and being told, "We're not coming out, because... well, you know, it's possible that they're just role-playing and she's actually enjoying it." Same logic, after all.

I have both my letter and BATF's scanned and waiting to go on the web. I have a TIME magazine photo of Wahlberg waving a pistol in a shot from "Four Brothers." I'm waiting to obtain a vidcap of Bob Hoskins brandishing the "toon gun" from Roger Rabbit. I want to run the page under the headline, "If you can tell the difference... the BATF needs you!"

To those who might be inclined to agree that B-A-T-F-U had insufficient evidence to go after Wahlberg, just remember that a picture in the paper was one of the reasons used to stormtroop in and destroy Wayne Fincher's life. Besides, movie productions keep meticulous accounting records on props rented, armorers and trainers hired, etc. Determining the truth would be an afternoon's work for a competent investigator.

These Boots are Made for Stompin'

Kicking somebody during a fight can be more dangerous than using a sharp or blunt weapon, research shows...

Firearms injuries, which were very rare, were not considered...

"There's an important link with alcohol. Often in fights people are kicked when they fall over and one of the ways to reduce kicking is to reduce severe intoxication because fewer people would fall over.

Well, we've tried alcohol prohibition and "gun control," and those haven't worked, and besides, it appears from this "study" that guns aren't the problem anyway. So maybe we need some kind of boot control--after all, who needs pointed toes or heels over 1"?

Someone also ought to clue the good ivory tower docs into the fact that many--if not most--fights are going to end up on the ground regardless of whether or not the participants have been drinking. Real life altercations are very different from the choreographed sequences portrayed in the movies--nowhere near as pretty, nowhere near as temporary. A blow to the head or other vital area, whether with fist, elbow, foot or knee, a gouge, a bite, a stranglehold or a shove, can all have crippling or lethal consequences. No one has a right to initiate violence in this manner, and the victim has every right to stop such an attacker with lethal force.

"Fair fights" are fantasies conjured up by those who have never been assaulted and don't know how such things are done.

[Via 1894C]

We're the Only Ones Locking Down Enough

Deputy Greg Gardner accidentally discharged a bullet from the rifle he was carrying while located in an “incident staging area at the school.”

And Wayne agrees with Jim and Sarah that guys like Greg are "The Only Ones" qualified and entitled to keep and bear arms in Harris/Klebold Empowerment Zones.

[Via TheGuyFromWI]

This Day in History: December 20

On this day in 1783, Virginia cedes the vast territory it had previously claimed by right of colonial charter to the federal government of the United States. The Ohio Valley territory, which covered the area north of the Ohio River, east of the Mississippi River, and south of the Great Lakes and Canada, had been contested by Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut.

We're the Only Ones Superior Enough

An off-duty Detroit police sergeant who was shocked with a Taser gun in Farmington Hills last week has hired an attorney...

Reed added that Marshall was superior in rank compared to the Farmington Hills officers, and they need to learn respect for their superiors.

I'm a more exclusive "Only One" than you are...

Being a mere inferior citizen, how'd you like to have a guy with Marshall's attitude in your face? And do you think the Farmington Hills cops would have settled for tasing you if you refused to disarm?

It's important that we understand our place when in the presence of superiors, you know...

Bush Administration Declares Second Amendment a "Collective Right"

As in the NPRM, under Sec. 460.53, a space flight participant may not carry on board any explosives, firearms, knives, or other weapons.

XCOR inquired whether the FAA had the authority to impose security requirements under its statute and the U.S. Constitution. The Second Amendment to the Constitution provides that "[a] well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.'' This right is not unfettered. Nearly every statute restricting the right to bear arms has been upheld. For example, in 1958, Congress made it a criminal offense to knowingly carry a firearm onto an airplane engaged in air transportation. 49 U.S.C. 46505. Additionally, nearly all courts have also held that the Second Amendment is a collective right, rather than a personal right. Therefore, despite the Second Amendment collective right to bear arms, the FAA has the authority to prohibit firearms on launch and reentry vehicles for safety and security purposes. [Emphasis added-DC]

The FAA has released its rules for tourists in space. And per the AP, if you wish to travel, you have to "promise not to sue the government." They issue a license, you sign a "waiver of claims" (Sec.440.17). So a Citizen would presumably have no standing if they wanted to challenge a ruling by unelected bureaucrats on Constitutional grounds. Pretty nice to be able to mandate yourself not responsible, that is, irresponsible, for that which you are, in fact, responsible.

The FAA reports to the DOT, and Secretary Peters reports directly to the President. It is inconceivable that she would allow policy directives to be issued against his will.

It looks like they didn't consider my comments when they crafted the final set of rules, but that's OK. Could I have some more Republican Kool-Aid, please?

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

I just sent the following to Laura Montgomery, Senior Attorney, Office of the Chief Counsel, Federal Aviation Administration:


Of course I will post any reply...

Assault on Home Rule

Ohio lawmakers recently voted to override Gov. Bob Taft's veto of a bill wiping out local gun laws. When they did that, they may as well have declared open season on cities' 94-year-old "home rule" right to govern themselves in accord with local needs and wishes as laid out in the state constitution.

Of course, if "home rule" involved, say, a First Amendment issue that we disagree with, say, putting a manger up in the town square over Christmas, we'd be squealing like the indignant piglets that we are.

Forget the "supreme law of the land" and "unalienable rights." It's much easier to assault those, and declare open season on sovereign citizens.

And newspapers wonder why their bottom lines are tanking. Don't these 10-year-old girls have some permit holder names to publish or something?

Fashionably Late to the 2A Carnival

Welcome to the seventh edition of the Second Amendment Carnival

...better late than never

You got that right, Stan. I almost missed it completely, but as you say, better late than never.

This Day in History: December 19

“These are the times that try men’s souls; the summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.”

I'm King of the World!

Asked what rules they would make if they were king or queen of the world, the number one response from the under-10s was to ban knives and guns.

What more needs to be said about the mindset and maturity of those who would disarm free men and women?

And while this survey was conducted in the UK, I don't see much difference in the vacuous and materialistic attitudes of children in this country. Give 'em another decade and they'll be voting.

We're the Only Ones Elephanticidal Enough

A killer elephant named after Osama bin Laden by fearful villagers was killed by sharpshooters, officials said Sunday. The animal was blamed for 14 deaths in the northeastern state of Assam.

And one can only wonder how many of those 14 would still be alive if high-powered rifles were not practically limited by government policies to the elites and "The Only Ones."

Related Reading: "Gun Ownership in India"--Excellent insights by Abhijeet Singh

A Protection Racket

But Ohio’s cities were not happy with the state’s overriding their right to enact gun protections...

See the way the "authorized journalist" slips into a supposedly "straight news" piece the editorial concept that banning you from having a gun is for everybody's "protection"?

Reagan Knew Value of Gun Ownership

President Reagan most assuredly understood that honest gun owners are not a threat to anyone, and neither are they a threat to national security or their own neighborhoods. After all, the man took a bullet less than three months into his first term, yet he never used that as an excuse to make his office a bully pulpit for gun bans or repeal of the Second Amendment. [More]

I read this story or something very similar years ago. I have no idea why it's being resurrected now, but the claim that Reagan was a 2A champion who never promulgated citizen disarmament edicts is unmitigated BS.

Years ago, we ran a poll on KABA asking "What do you think of this politician?" without identifying who we were talking about. We listed several gun control measures he had endorsed, including the Brady Bill, waiting periods, an "assault weapon" ban, and signing legislation to ban the open carry of firearms.

The results?

[N]early 80%...who voted based solely on his actions deemed them “traitorous,” and the vast majority of the balance deemed them “misguided.”

I know Reagan had a persona many found reassuring, paternal and likeable. I was not immune to his charisma myself. But truth is truth, and we're not doing ourselves any favors ignoring it.

As for why some would have you believe differently, you'll have to ask them.

[Via KABA Newslinks]

Rational Review 2A News Announcement

From Mary Lou Seymour:

Due to either a Yahoo breakdown or a cyberattack by unknown persons, the 2AM News email edition, located at Yahoo groups, was deleted last week. (Our parent pub, RRND, was also deleted.) Unfortunately, the entire email subscriber list for 2AM News was lost, presumably forever.

So, I have created a new Yahoo group, 2AM News Digest, located at groups.yahoo.com/group/2AMNewsDigest. If you were a subscriber, please resubscribe by clicking on the above link.

UPDATE:

I've now been informed that possibly it can be restored, but I'm not sure when (or even if it'll actually happen). I had created another group to replace it, but I am now going to wait a day or two to see if the old list reappears ... if so, I'll send out this week's 2AM News then; if not, I'll crank up the new list. Thanks to those who have subscribed to the new list so far and stay tuned!

This Day in History: December 18

The new United States celebrates its first national day of thanksgiving on Thursday, December 18, 1777, commemorating the American victory at the Battle of Saratoga after the surrender of General John Burgoyne and 5,000 British troops in October 1777.

There Are Bad Ideas...

...and there are really bad ideas.

Cryptic Subterranean alerts us to the latter: "Password-protected bullets."

Good grief.

Handgun Owners Irate Over Having Names Published Online

Dozens of readers have taken issue with The Journal News over its decision to run a list of pistol permit holders in Westchester and Rockland counties as part of a wider investigative article.

The names of more than 30,000 licensed handgun owners were posted online as part of "Falling Through the Cracks," the paper's Dec. 10 report...

"The Constitution gives people the right to own guns in this country, and it also gives people the right to know whether they own a gun or not," said Henry Freeman, editor and vice president/news at The Journal News. "This is a public record. People have a right to know that.

"We did take it into consideration and did not publish your street address, which is also public information."

Irate?

Irate doesn't quite cover it, you miserable...

Your understanding of the Constitution is as broken as your moral compass. You're a betrayer of your countrymen and a betrayer of your name. You and your employers may yet end up with blood on your hands.

A Questionable Fellow

Gun control researcher Philip Alpers has accused the police officer in charge of firearms licensing of bias over a series of emails questioning his credentials.

Inspector Joe Green has written to two universities where Mr Alpers has held posts, questioning the former TV journalist's roles.

Mr Green has also written to Mr Alpers warning him he could be charged if he continued to use the title Harvard fellow.

So the co-author of the questionable Australian "gun death" study has questionable credentials?