This Day in History: January 11

The County Committee in Tryon County, New York, sends an urgent appeal to General Schuyler for men and arms to repress an impending attack by loyalists.

It's Only a Movie

"One (officer) grabbed my daughter Beth (18 years), who also had a gun to her face, slammed her down and kneed her in the back and held her in that position… My sons Adam (14) and Noah (only 7) lay down willingly, yet they were still forced to put their hands behind their backs and were yelled at to keep their heads down.

"My daughter Jeanette was coming out from the back bedroom when she was grabbed, drug down the hallway, across a couch and slammed to the ground," she said. "The officers then began throwing scissors and screwdrivers across the room (out of our reach, I suppose) and going through our cupboards.

"I asked if I could make a phone call and was told, 'no.' My daughter asked if that wasn't one of our rights. The reply was made, 'That's only in the movies,'" she told WND.

Assuming these are the facts, the sheriff's department is committing acts of war against citizens. Assuming these are the facts, the only way this will stop is when the personal costs of such behavior outweigh the perceived benefits.

Red's Update for 1/10/08

From Ryan Horsley:

Here is my post on Utah Senator Bob Bennett, who seems to side with ATF over gun dealers.

Also Gun Owners of America provides input on the new BATFE Reform Act.

Where There's a Will...

Police are receiving an urgent warning: be on the lookout for an old-style gun that's apparently making a comeback on the streets.

...And what's even scarier – the gun can apparently be made at home.

I trust we'll be able to do an NICS check on all these folks...?

Debusmann Burned

Is America, land of shooting massacres in schools and public places, slowly falling out of love with guns?

With his very first statement, Bernd Debusmann reveals for all to see that he's more interested in being obnoxious than engaging in an examination of the merits of his arguments. And relying on Josh Sugarmann to bolster his wishful thinking just confirms what we're dealing with.

Sorry, Bernd. We're not French smokers. And neat propaganda term: "gun rampages." Made possible only because fools like you enable "gun free zones" prohibiting "defensive gun uses."

Bottom line: If someone came into Bernd's Reuters office--no doubt another place where guns are prohibited--with evil and violent intent, just what do you think he'd be prepared to personally do about it? If the answer is "nothing," isn't that pretty much a contemptible position for a "man" to intentionally put himself in?

A Wrongheaded Extremist

It's past time to voice our disgust with wrongheaded extremists.

OK, but while you're voicing it, let me ask a few questions:

Wouldn't you have preferred that your son had a fighting chance to save his life?

Why are you bent on consigning other parents to the same anguish you are suffering--under armed force of law?

If someone brought guns one of those public place where you think they don't belong, and then began shooting, what precisely would you be able to do to protect yourself , your loved ones and anyone else until the police arrived?

If you won't protect yourself, why would you expect someone else to risk his life protecting you?
I'm sorry for your pain, but not so sorry I'll let you use it as a claim on my life, or the lives of those I love. Go ahead and give each of these questions an unequivocal answer, and we'll see who the wrongheaded extremist really is.

We're the Only Ones "This Bud's for Me" Enough

A small-town police chief has been fired after he was convicted of stealing beer from the fire department's refrigerator.

He was canned. Get it...?

Oh, never mind.

[More from "The Only Ones" Files]

CeaseFire PA Director's Watch: 01/10/08

It's almost like they're ashamed of something...

We're the Only Ones Getting a Bang Out of Our Jobs Enough

Madison's police commission has heard allegations that several town officers have had encounters with prostitutes while working the overnight shift.

I wonder if they at least paid them...

[More from "The Only Ones" Files]

This Day in History: January 10

Time makes more converts than reason.

BREAKING NEWS: CA APPEALS COURT RULES UNANIMOUSLY IN FAVOR OF SAF LAWSUIT

In a unanimous decision today, the California Court of Appeals ruled that the City of San Francisco’s handgun ban is illegal under state law, upholding a lawsuit filed by the Second Amendment Foundation and several other groups...

SAF was joined in the lawsuit by the National Rifle Association, Law Enforcement Alliance of America, California Association of Firearms Retailers and several private citizens.

Click on title link for complete press release.

Click here for Appeals Court decision.

UPDATE: Here's NRA's press release. Notice how SAF credited NRA, as they always do, even though the courtesy is never ever ever ever ever ever reciprocated?

We're the Only Ones Getting Our Percentage Enough

What's particularly interesting is the authors' section on bargaining and the law. They estimate that roughly 3 percent of all tricks performed by prostitutes who aren't working with pimps are freebies given to police to avoid arrest. In fact, prostitutes get officially arrested only once per 450 tricks or so, leading the authors to conclude that "a prostitute is more likely to have sex with a police officer than to get officially arrested by one."

Blown away in the Windy City.

Gauleiter Daley's finest. "The Only Ones" Snuffy and Jesse tell us are trustworthy enough to be armed. And in this case, don't forget the ironically named Beavers.

Lives Not Worth Protecting--At Least Legally

A 30-year-old woman found dead in some Daytona Beach woods may be the latest victim of a serial killer already blamed for the deaths of several women in the same area.

I have a question for the "just give them what they want" advocates: What if this is what they want?

We talked about this a while back. But the victims are part of the criminal underclass, prostitutes, drug users, so they're prohibited by law from possessing the means of defense. And most "enforce existing gun law" gun owners are OK with that.

120 Pounds of Pure Tough

UPDATE NOTE: Ken Blumreich was misquoted by the reporters. See his clarification comment here, and my clarification post here.

She was an experienced hiker and accomplished martial arts student described by her self-defense instructor as "120 pounds of pure tough."

"I've seen her take down men twice her size," said Ken Blumreich.

No you haven't, Ken, not in a real fight, against a man whose intent is to kill. Those don't take place on mats, wearing protective gear, and with a sensei enforcing rules of engagement, including when to break off. And I don't know of too many dojos where full contact between men and women is allowed--or too may insurance carriers that would underwrite such an operation.

Look at the specs on the alleged assailant: He's 60 years old, 5/10", 160 lbs., bad teeth...doesn't sound like the most formidable of opponents, does he?

She was less than half his age, in the prime of health and strength and endurance...

We touched on this here. Life just isn't like the movies, where dashing heroines employ their fighting skills to dispatch multiple hulking killers with skill, and most of all, style. The simple fact is, except for extremely rare anomalies, a woman stands no chance against a man in a mortal physical confrontation.

I truly don't mean to disparage martial arts--they have their place in the toolkit. But ultimately, when confronted by a man intent on doing her vicious harm, a woman needs the ability to respond with lethal force, meaning she needs training, she needs the mindset, and she needs an equalizer.

A Victory in Chambersburg

Greg Rotz says he did nothing illegal when he brought his openly carried firearm to a voting precinct on election night in November.

According to state law, he's right. That's why after a very short hearing Tuesday afternoon, a judge decided Rotz's permit should be returned.

Two questions:

Since when do rogue sheriffs get to make up their own laws with no personal consequences for when they're caught doing it?

Why hasn't the name of the fascist constable been made public, and what the hell does his being comfortable have to do with our rights?

Be sure and watch the accompanying video. The reporter's last statement is worth noting: One of the reasons this came to a swift and successful conclusion is because of Internet mobilizing of gun rights activists. Fulfilling their supposed role as government watchdogs better than they do is another reason why so many "Authorized Journalists" resent and disparage the "amateurs."

[Via Seth]

An Obvious Solution

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine on Tuesday proposed requiring background checks for everyone who tries to purchase firearms at gun shows - legislation he called critical to helping prevent tragedies like the shootings at Virginia Tech.

Why didn't we think of this before? Next time there's a school shooting, just step up and inform the madman about Tim Kaine's critical new edict--that ought to stop him in his tracks! Providing he isn't one of the over 99.3% of criminals who obtained their firearm from a source other than a gun show...

[Via SameNoKami]

We're the Only Ones Popping Our Partners Enough

The trooper shot last month while attempting a traffic stop in far East El Paso was wounded by a bullet fired from his partner's .357 handgun, officials disclosed Monday...

I guess "a bullet fired from his partner's gun" sounds better than "a bullet fired by an "Only One."

And, naturally:

The name of the trooper whose gun went off is being withheld by DPS and the Texas Rangers. Hoelscher was unable to say if the trooper will face disciplinary action.

[Via Michael S]

It's All About Control

What should be controversial in the proposed revisions to Title 24 is the requirement for what is called a "programmable communicating thermostat" or PCT. Every new home and every change to existing homes' central heating and air conditioning systems will required to be fitted with a PCT beginning next year following the issuance of the revision. Each PCT will be fitted with a "non-removable " FM receiver that will allow the power authorities to increase your air conditioning temperature setpoint or decrease your heater temperature setpoint to any value they chose.

I like the way Joseph Somsel begins this piece, parodying the intro to "The Outer Limits": We will control the horizontal...

Y'see, it's not about "gun control" per se, it's about control, and more specifically, who gets to do the controlling.

I've been warning for years that the next step after personalized guns are mandated will be to require a remote radio-controlled shutoff switch for the authorities. After all, who could possibly be against such a life-saving device--except someone up to no good?

How tough of a sell do you think that would be to our savvy and informed electorate?

[Via Les K]

We're the Only Ones Stunning Enough--Just Kidding...

A Fentress County deputy lost his job after being accused of zapping a fellow deputy and an innocent citizen with a stun gun.

Investigators say Deputy Chris Peters borrowed a stun gun from the constable and then started shocking people.

Ha ha. Good one, Chris.

Hey, as long as you're in the mood for pranks, I've got another one for you to try: Break into an armed relative's house at night and don't tell 'em it's you!

Oh, my ribs, they ache with mirth!

I do have one question though: If I go and commit criminal assault on a couple people, including an "Only One," the worst thing that'll happen is I'll lose my job?

[Via Tony G]

CeaseFire PA Director's Watch: 01/09/08

I'm starting to get worried. Maybe someone should knock on the door and see if everybody's OK in there...?