Can We Talk About Resuming the Conversation Yet?

The six-month anniversary of the shootings at Virginia Tech is Tuesday, and dozens of family members of the victims will be on Capitol Hill tomorrow urging Congress to strengthen gun legislation regarding background checks.

I don't suppose any families will be urging an end to mandated Cho Empowerment Zones?

I can understand. In the wake of Virginia Tech, the best Wayne & Co. could do was treat with the antis on HR 2640. To actually move forward on legislation that would give future victims a fighting chance would be exploiting the situation--or at least that's the line we were sold.

"What does it hurt to pause for a few days in the midst of a tragedy...?" we were asked. That presupposes a moratorium by maniacs, too, doesn't it? Do we need to wait until it does hurt, and if we do, what does experience with these matters show us the likely manufactured public sentiment will be?

"There is a time and a place for the discussion, the debate, and even the argument over gun control. I believe there is a time to resume this conversation," we were told.

Is it time yet?

We're the Only Ones Incompetent Enough

The rookie Houston Police Department officer who shot and killed a 14-year-old special education student in one of the decade's most controversial shootings earned his badge and gun despite flunking a crucial test of firearms handling as well as initial police field training, according to documents recently made public as part of a civil rights lawsuit.

The child was not guilty.
The child was not armed.
The child was crying for his "Mama."
And this...this creature gets 60 days.

At some point, I'd like to see the name Arthur J. Carbonneau remembered--perhaps as a special "Only One" award for exceptional incompetence and brutality. But not right now. I have boys near the victim's age, and the overwhelming love I have for them never fails to humble and awe me when I reflect on it. I can't even begin to think what my reaction would be if this were my son.

[Via LibertyPlease]

This Day in History: October 16

The enemy last night made a sortie for the first time. They entered one of the French and one of the American Batteries on the second parallel which were unfinished. They had only time to thrust the points of their Bayonets into four pieces of the French and two of the American Artillery and break them off, but the spikes were easily extracted. They were repulsed the moment the supporting Troops came up, leaving behind them seven or eight dead and six prisoners. The French had four officers and twelve privates killed and wounded, and we had one serjeant mortally wounded.

BREAKING NEWS: DC GUN BAN VIOLATED!!!

Later this month DC Police Chief Cathy Lanier will put about 30 officers on the streets to try and make a dent in the thousands of illegal handguns that are being used in violent crime in the District.

Homicides are up seven percent this year. Assaults with guns have escalated. Chief Lanier was quoted recently as saying "It's ridiculous. There are too many guns out there".

When, oh when will our Nation's Capitol implement some "common sense gun control"?

Oh, wait...

Getting Serious About Gun Control. No, Seriously.

In the meantime, we must stop exploiting the Second Amendment to justify our pathetic, quasi-patriotic, petty imitations of antediluvian, cowboy-esque individualism.

Hoo-ee. He sure makes purdy words. Not only that, but we live in "an inversed Orwellian state."

Soo Yang said it, I believe it, that settles it. How does the government endure all these pesky oversights?

What is it lately with sophomoric opinions? And I wonder if this child has any idea how seriously some of us are taking things?

...Try, Try Again

Mr McNulty said the number of incidents for which police firearms were authorised rose from 12,379 in 1996/7 to 18,891 in 2005/6 - a 53% increase.

In London, the number almost doubled during the same period, from 2,439 to 4,711, while in the West Midlands it nearly quadrupled, from 270 to 1,044...

"Firearms offences used to be rare in Britain and we associated gun crime with America. Now it is a daily concern for millions of people in our country.

You know where they ought to try this approach?

Australia.

If at First You Don't Succeed...

A ban on all firearms in South Australia has been urged by the state's Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), in response to a wave of shootings. [More]

That's the ticket--find something that doesn't work and then do more of it!

They're the Only Ones, Eh?

The repetitious paperwork is all in a day's work. But with an increased emphasis on air safety in a post-9/11 world, such red tape has become a hassle for U.S. air marshals crossing the Canadian border. That, in part, is why the federal government wants to relax rules so that foreign law enforcement officers don't need a permit when bringing their weapons into Canada. But some fear it may be opening Pandora's box by giving police agents carte blanche to carry guns in Canada.

There's not a thing to worry about. As we've proven here time and again, they're "The Only Ones," with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men...

"Exaggeration" is Such an Ugly Word

As Kent McManigal observed, the proper word is "lied."

[More on BATFU and Red's Trading Post from WarOnGuns]

This Day in History: October 15

The Battle of Ridgway Farm
October 15, 1778

...At the Ridgway Farm, the lone sentry was easily overpowered and sleeping soldiers were awakened and killed, before they could mount a defense. Only 5 were left alive and taken prisoner. Pulaski's camp was close by and they were quick to respond, but arrived too late. Ferguson's plan to remove the planks from the bridge, plus the high tide, cut off the pursuit and most of the British returned to their ships without incident. Baron Rose and from 30 to 50 of his men died in the attack.

Hessian Signs Microstamping Bill

Delivering a top priority of the gun-control movement, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation yesterday requiring that new models of semiautomatic handguns sold in California be able to stamp identifying serial numbers on shell casings.

In a surprise move, he also signed a bill banning lead ammunition in the sprawling range of the endangered California condor.

Aren't you glad the major gun groups sat out on the recall election, some even spreading the word to gun owners that Arnold was a "stealth pro-gun candidate"?

It's not
like some of us (OK, me)
didn't warn you.

Is the betrayal complete yet, or are we still going to follow the "lesser of two evils" route? We have a grand opportunity to repeat the Arnold experience on the national level, you know, and we're even being primed for it.

Keep listening to the establishment gun lobby apologists, particularly the ones from those islands of success, California and New York, as they drip with poisonous scorn against anything not originating within their little controlled circles, and boast of their wonderful achievments of getting invited to surrender ceremonys.

"Burma Shave" III

As always, credit for the original idea goes to the Champaign County Rifle Association.

Burma Shave I
Burma Shave II

March Against "Gun Crime"

Keep those knees straight...

Get those boots up higher...

What a Difference a Mindset Makes

They're having a gun show.

And the newspaper isn't going into hysterics.

See? Is rational, factual reporting really that hard?

This Day in History: October 14

October 14. 1775
In London, Secretary of State Lord Suffolk receives intelligence that the colony of Pennsylvania is preparing an armed fleet and floating batteries to prevent the passage of the King's ships through the Delaware River. He recommends that the Admiralty dispatch vessels to destroy the floating batteries.

Kennedy 'Eating Ice Cream' After Surgery On Artery

Excellent.

Would you like some butter and Crisco with that, Senator?

How about some fries?

We're the Only Ones Making Honest Mistakes Enough

According to police, the man thought the gun policy at school didn't apply to current or former cops.

Gee, I wonder where he'd ever get the idea there may be two sets of rules, and why he'd be conditioned to assume that there are...?

[More from "The Only Ones" Files]

Great White North Justice

"He put the public safety of Canadians at risk," said federal prosecutor Michael Robb. "This is an extremely serious offence."

Hardy was in custody 86 days. Robb said the sentence might be perceived as harsh, but said Americans should be made aware of Canadian gun penalties. Canada Border Services Agency officers found a loaded .22-calibre semi-automatic pistol in a case under the passenger seat of Hardy's vehicle as he entered Canada July 18 at the Blue Water Bridge.

Yeah, no criminal record, gun cased under the seat. Sure sounds risky to me. For Hardy.

But it is what it is, and we need to understand the consequences of carelessness or defiance, do what we can to avoid the first, and approach the second seriously and with as many precautions as we can.

2A Carnival 13

Over at Free Constitution...

Stan tells me via email the dang flash movie from two days ago is really annoying because the sound comes on and stays on. I agree--I don't think I'll use that medium again unless I can figure out how to keep it from automatically coming on. Still, I'm glad I made it and stand by its message, so no, no one gets their money back.

As I said in that post, left click, then right click, then click on "Pause"--in any case, as I add new posts, it will soon move off the page.

But I digress. Go check out the Carnival.

Blood Dancing With Sarah

Yuri Orlov shows us the steps, and they're pretty convoluted and twisted.

I got the same email and was going to comment on this myself. My primary observation: How in hell would "strengthening" NICS to incorporate more mental health records have any impact whatsoever on a 14-year-old who bypasses the system altogether to get his guns?

The answer, of course, is it wouldn't, and the Bradys are once more lying for dollars.

I wonder if I gave them my physical address if they sent me this kind of stuff via snail mail--and then I could file a complaint and start a mail fraud investigation?