GUNS Magazine: October 1957

Law Without Legality

As a subscriber to your good magazine, I am writing to you to find out if you are aware of the recent announcement of the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax Division of the Internal Revenue Service that it intended to "change" the regulations of the Federal Firearms Act. Of course, these "changes" turn out to be a drastic and vicious tightening of this act far beyond anything contained in the act itself, such as entering premises for search and seizure without a warrant or warning, presumably on any pretext or none at all, and other equally reprehensible features. In effect, this power-greedy bureau is writing its own law to supersede that of the Congress.

Perhaps I should draw your attention to the fact that this dangerous action, and others more and more restrictive that may logically be expected to follow in due time constitute not only a serious threat to shooters but to patriotic citizens as well; and that this time, they are not emanating from the crackpots and members of the lunatic fringe but from the henchmen of the administration itself.

What can be done about this situation? Something should be.

George W. Courtney
Richmond, Indiana

BATFU. Still lawless after all these years. And in case you missed it last month, the editor's response refers to this.

The October 1957 issue of GUNS Magazine is now online.

I like being part of a magazine that has a tradition of being a leader in educating its readership on not just "shooting sports" and hardware, but also on RKBA. I note many do not carry a regular monthly feature on protecting our rights, so I'm pleased to be associated with one that does.

Your Chance to Petition Gordon Brown

Add Your Name to Our Petition Here

I added "I.P. Nightly."



Feel free to join the fun.

Clyde Challenges Gun Law

Bonnie is pleased.

This Day in History: October 3

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor--and Whereas both Houses of Congress have by their Joint Committee requested me "to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness."

...Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

Go. Washington

Today, we accept the ACLU's version of the "wall of separation" as gospel. It was never the intent of the Founders to snuff out all religious expression in the public forum, but to instead abolish a national compulsory religion, such as was exemplified by the Church of England.

There's a huge difference. Note Washington "recommends." He doesn't mandate.

Now we've strayed so far that American schools are celebrating "winter festival" instead of "Christmas," so as not to offend complaining Muslims.

Seeing as how the political left is so profoundly and demonstrably wrong in their interpretation of the First Amendment, why would we also accept their version of the Second?

And why would some wish to separate a people from their history, their tradition and their birthright? Might there be a purpose in doing so, and would anyone benefit from it?

Who?

People of the Gun

There's a really handsome guy over there. Word has it Tom Selleck has gone into a descending spiral of depression realizing the competition he has in the gun rights community.

My delusions notwithstanding, why not join us? Wouldn't it be nice to create an album with thousands upon thousands of us proudly standing up for what we believe?

Special thanks to Jeff Soyer for taking this burden upon himself.

We're the Only Ones 'Catch-and-Release' Enough

The two off-duty cops allegedly punched and kicked a 26-year-old Yonkers man who was walking with two women. What triggered the alleged attack was not clear.

Officers from the 47th Precinct, driving by the fight, grabbed the two suspects and handcuffed them, sources said.

But when arresting officers learned the two were off-duty cops, they let them go, sources said.

You know: "professional courtesy."

[Via Declan]

[More from "The Only Ones" Files]

We're the Only Ones Bada Boom Enough

The acquaintance, a Middletown man, was concerned about the ex of a woman he was dating. He asked Etkin for advice on how to handle the matter. Etkin told the man he'd look into it.

According to prosecutors, Etkin told the man the ex was a high-ranking member of the Genovese crime family, and that a hit had been put out on him. Etkin told him he'd negotiated with organized crime figures to withdraw the hit, for $3,500.

Sounds like somebody's been watching too many episodes of "The Sopranos."

[Via Declan]

[More from "The Only Ones" Files]

We're the Only Ones Providing and Disposing Enough

The gun used to kill a 15-year-old Trenton youth in a gangland slaying two years ago was provided by a former Mercer County corrections officer who then helped to dispose of the weapon, an admitted accomplice allegedly has told investigators.

Well then, there's only one thing to do. Sue the manufacturer.

[More from "The Only Ones" Files]

USDA Declares Gun Range Sacrilegious

"This is a sacred site to native peoples," said Monique Sonoquie, a coalition spokeswoman. "Many families and groups use the site for ceremonies and prayers, and having the gun range as close as it is not only unsafe but disrespectful to the sacredness of the land."

If it's unsafe, there ought to be objective evidence in that regard. If the US government is acknowledging something is "sacred" as a reason for permit denial, how is that not making a "law respecting an establishment of religion"?

It sounds to me like the opponents just don't like guns, so they're playing the "culture card."

It also looks like the objective evidence--along with past decades of safe operation--shows that safe and responsible management and operation of the range is readily achievable.

Lawyers, Guns & Money

Chris Horton took the slide show idea and ran with it.

Hopefully, other bloggers will also find utility in this tool and come up with creative ways to employ it in promotion of our rights.

Red's Says "Scuttle Sullivan"

I am urging everyone to contact their Senators to NOT Confirm ATF Acting Director Michael J. Sullivan to ATF Director.

Sounds like a plan to me.

[More about Red's Trading Post from WarOnGuns]

Baltimore Implements Roach Motel Registration

Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon has signed a key component of her crime-fighting plan.

The bill requires gun offenders to register their address every six months.

Looks like the Baltimore Social Registry is finally ready to roll out. Who could be against that? After all, it's not like any one of us deciding that a threat outweighed legal consequences would ever be caught up in such a net.

That the baddest of the bad will ignore this, or that it is unenforceable outside Sheila's jurisdiction is hardly the point. The point is, guns and gun owners can now be vilified and associated with the scummiest dregs of society--perverts all.

Vermin.

What they need now is some way to put serial numbers on list "members." Perhaps some form of arm tattoo, as has been done with "gun criminals" in days gone by?

This Day in History: October 2

Madison's support of the bill of rights was of critical significance. One of the new representatives from Virginia to the First Federal Congress, as established by the new Constitution, he worked tirelessly to persuade the House to enact amendments. Defusing the anti-Federalists' objections to the Constitution, Madison was able to shepherd through 17 amendments in the early months of the Congress, a list that was later trimmed to 12 in the Senate. On October 2, 1789, President Washington sent to each of the states a copy of the 12 amendments adopted by the Congress in September.

UM "No Weapons" Policy Ignored!!!

Classes were canceled on the main campus of the University of Memphis Monday after a fatal shooting there Sunday night.

Look, we're getting a little sick and tired of repeating ourselves:

In accordance with federal and state laws, the University also prohibits the possession of any weapon by any individual on University premises, except law enforcement officers in performance of their duties.

If it's still not clear, we also have TBR Guideline P-085 Workplace Violence Prevention.

How much clearer can we make it?

NO GUNS ALLOWED.

THIS MEANS YOU.

YOU CAN'T HAVE GUNS HERE.

KEEP YOUR GUNS OFF UM PROPERTY.

NO GUNS. PERIOD.

GUNS AREN'T WELCOME.

LOOK, WE'LL EVEN SAY "PLEASE": PLEASE DON'T BRING GUNS HERE. PLEASE?

NO GUNS. NO GUNS. NO GUNS. GUESS WHAT THAT MEANS: IT MEANS NO FREAKIN' GUNS!!!

I don't see how we can state things any more plainly. If this doesn't work, I just don't know what else there is left to say or do.

Damn guns.

Virtual Pro-RKBA "Burma-Shave" Signs

Those at least as old as me will recall the "Burma-Shave" ad campaign--they'd post signs along the side of the road, each one presenting the line of a poem--so that motorists driving by would get the complete message only after they drove to each sign. Corny rhyming aside, it really was clever, as it had consumers making a special effort to look for the next piece of the message.

Some years back, the Champaign County Rifle Association resurrected the idea, and began placing pro-gun signs along the side of the road--an effort that has delighted many of us, and enraged some of the antis to the point of vandalism.

I've been toying with the idea of posting "virtual Burma-Shave signs" alongside the "information superhighway," and the following is one potential way to do it. I'm sure many of you are not only better poets than I'll ever be, but it won't take much to slap me silly at graphics presentation--so if anyone wants to take this idea and run with it, I think it'd be great to see all the different creative approaches--let me know yours and I'll link to it--matter of fact, if enough want to play, next Monday I can do a "Burma-Shave RKBA Carnival," maybe even come up with some sort of nominal prize for the winner. At the very least, I have a spare, never-been-worn Red's cap.

Now after all this build-up watch the slideshow not work.

Time to Widen Investigation in Darrow Case

Been meaning to bring this up, but I've been under the weather lately. Anyway, it has to do with the Brett Darrow affair.

Others have already noted how the St. Louis police staked out the guy's home. Watch the new tape. Watch how they flee when a light is shined.

A formal complaint should be submitted to the St. Louis PD. Why were they there? Were they acting under orders or a free agents? Is there an ongoing investigation of Mr. Darrow? Is this not an overt act of intimidation and retaliation, and is this what all citizens can expect who dare to document theior encounters with the police, and who dare to insist on appropriate conduct by officers?

I don't know their law, but it seems making a u-turn in traffic when there is no emergency, simply to avoid being caught doing something you shouldn't be doing, is a traffic violation that any non"Only One" would be cited for. So I'd file a complaint and present the taped evidence for that, too.

One other item troubles me even more. The website St. Louis CopTalk posted Darrow's home address, along with an anonymous pledge of deadly violence against him, including:

A user calling himself "STL_FINEST" wrote the following item, presented unedited and in full:

in reply to "Who is this terd?"
I hope this little POS punk bastard tries his little video stunt with me when I pull him over alone- and I WILL pull him over - because I will see "his gun" and place a hunk of hot lead right where it belongs.

The post has been conveniently deleted and the forum owner claims he can only log back to the previous 300 posts. That doesn't smell right to me, particularly since we're told what marvelous forensics there are when the "Only Ones" want to use our computers against us--that they can even retrieve erased/deleted files. I have to believe there is a computer somewhere in the system that has a complete record for backup--those with special knowledge in this please correct me if I'm wrong.

Bottom line, Darrow prevailed because he could prove an Only One threatened him with made-up charges, and here we have another (apparently) threatening to make up a justification to kill him.

With what has gone before in this case, and knowing that the forum is moderated, I can't think of any legitimate excuse for an independent law enforcement agency not to seize all records and track down, identify and prosecute the warped little anonymous thug who made the threat. It's past time to track this sick, vicious animal down and render it incapable of harming humans.

[Via Say Uncle, Diary of a Mad IT Manager, DarkBlog]

An Only Ones Three-fer

We're the Only Ones Not Ready for Prime Time Enough: Videotape an "Only One," get arrested.

We're the Only Ones Killing the Family Pooch in Front of your Toddler Enough: Wrong house? Waddya mean, "wrong house"?

We're the Only Ones Standing By Whilst Your Child Drowns Enough: Possibly the most disgusting example of "Only One" cowardice and uselessness ever presented at WarOnGuns.

[More from "The Only Ones" Files]

See How Well Not Having Guns Worked For Me?

The right to have and carry guns for protection is what gives the criminalized gun carrier the right to have and use his to kill innocent people.

The title "innocent gun" is inane. No gun is innocent until is melted down to liquid metal and used for the good of mankind. The innocent gun makes criminals by giving the coward the nerve to act.

I was in retail for six years. During this time I had five employees killed by "innocent guns." I had more robberies in this time, but no guns were involved. One of my men was hit with a tire iron. He laughed about it later.

Yeah. Tire irons. Ha ha.

And nobody's thought about suing this incompetent for knowingly and continuously putting his employees in harm's way, with the reasonable expectation that more would suffer fatal ends because nothing was done to protect them?

I think the guy's story stinks and I don't believe a word of it. If it is true, and if I were a surviving family member of one of those employees, I'd be issuing subpoenas and taking depositions to find out exactly what was and was not disclosed to my dead loved one prior to their accepting the job, and what training and safety precautions were afforded them afterward, with the express purpose of establishing, at minimum, a financial liability for Mr. Thomas G. Sykes, if not charges of criminal negligence.

This Day in History: October 1

James McCormick of Capt. Farrington's Company, Col Sergeant's Regiment, having been tried and convicted by a Court Martial whereof Col Lasher was President of "Desertion and Mutiny" -- is ordered to suffer Death, on the 8th. and 5th. Articles of War -- The General approves the sentence, and orders him to be hang'd to morrow at 11 O'Clock -- The troops off duty are to be paraded on the Grand Parade at that time.

That's All, Folks!

At least for today.

I've been fighting a particularly nasty bug all week--fevers, chills, racking coughs, headaches, rib aches, disorientation, weakness...I finally figured out trying to overcome things by sheer willpower wasn't working and went to the doctor and got a couple prescriptions, at least one of which does not promote industriousness and lucidity.

Bottom line--I've been sitting here at my computer for an hour and a half, mud-headed, and just can't think my way through posting things. If I get hit enough times with a 2 x 4, I can eventually take a hint. For the rest of today, the couch and the remote control represent the totality of my ambitions.