Off on a Comet

Rudy Giuliani, who sought to make the leap from New York mayor to the White House, bowed out of the Republican presidential contest Wednesday...

So long, Marsh...uh...Rudy. Don't let the Oort cloud hit you in the...

Maximum Mike's Anti-Gun Ties

From Ryan Horsley:

"Maximum Mike" has shown his true colors and every gun owner needs to contact their Senator to oppose Sullivan's confirmation.

Speaking of which, I neglected to mention that Saxby Chambliss cheesed out of the controversy with weasel words.

As a general rule, I've found any time someone begins a sentence with "Rest assured," they may as well be holding up their middle finger.

Republican Gun Control

ANTI-GUN CRUSADERS seem worried about the advent of a Republican administration. Heaven knows why. Republicans, in recent years, have managed to do nearly as much damage to the Second Amendment as Democrats.

This is is an old article, but it's still a surprise to some of us. I created the following poll back in 2003:


Guess who it was about, which I intentionally didn't reveal until the polling was complete?

But some among our brave ranks, those who comfort themsleves by denying that defending freedom is not only costly but personal, keep drinking that Kool-Aid. And encouraging the rest of us to join them so they won't feel so bad about it.

[Via ZG]

And the Hits Just Keep on Coming...

"Assault weapon" ban...one gun a month...end private sales...ammunition accountability... ammunition encoding...

The Illinois Legislature reminds me of that scene from Star Trek, in "The Omega Glory," where Captain Tracey violated the Prime Directive and engaged in battle against the "Coms" with his phaser. I don't have the exact quote but it was to the effect "I drained (four?) power packs, and still they kept coming..."

Lawless disregard for "the supreme law of the land," and they're allowed to get away with it. They make my case for me about citizen tribunals...

[Via HZ]

What a Mitt Head...

Bottom line: Romney supports the second amendment and showed unique prowess in helping gun owners in a extremely blue state.

Thanks, Justin Hart! That Kool-Aid was delicious!

I take back everything I've said.

Clearing Up "Misconceptions or Apprehensions"

In terms of what “serious” activists on both sides of the issue want for handguns and “assault weapons”, that’s easy. Serious gun controllers want to ban them and serious RKBA advocates will not surrender theirs. Intermediate steps like licensing, registration, etc. are just that–increments on the way to a goal.

I try my best to depart from my usual scorched earth policy. I don't know if the effort is worth it with Suzanne Harris, but maybe some of her readers will be receptive...

[Via Say Uncle]

Where, Indeed?

Chris Horton notes CBS has adopted the standards of Faux News, which, incidentally, is still avoiding highlighting Ron Paul every step of the way:

I guess he's not in the battle.

See, if you give all the other candidates exposure except one, and you have the power of the national media, you can create a self-fulfilling prophecy. And while I join those who are disappointed at Dr. Paul's showing in Florida, it's hard to make the argument that he hasn't beaten Rudy Giuliani on the whole thus far, and there's been no shortage of coverage for "America's Mayor" (if for no other reason than to see what time the comet's leaving...)

My Kind of "Only One"

Republican presidential candidate and Texas Congressman Ron Paul has unveiled a new television ad – titled “The Only One” – that is running in Tennessee and Arkansas.

You can view the ad here.

[Via Paul W. Davis]

My Kind of Trial

Retired Army Green Beret Smokey Taylor was court martialed this weekend, and came away feeling good about it. Taylor, at age 80 the oldest member of Chapter XXXIII of the Special Forces Association, was on mock trial by his peers under the charge of "Failing to use a weapon of sufficient caliber" in the shooting of an intruder at his home in Knoxville, Tennesee, in December.

Seeing as how citizen tribunals are proving so much better at producing justice than the official ones, maybe we ought to conduct a few more...

[Via Brian F]

CeaseFire PA Director's Watch Weekly Update

I've decided this doesn't merit a daily update. After reading a comment by TJH, I was considering doing it in spates, but for now will go with weekly updates.

This Day in History: January 30

On January 30, 1778, General Washington gave a report on the result of a General Court martial held on January 23, when a soldier of the artillery was tried for desertion and stealing a horse from General McIntosh. The soldier was acquitted of the desertion charges, but found guilty of theft and was sentenced to receive 100 lashes on his back and have "half his pay stopped monthly until General McIntosh is fully satisfied".

Heaven's Gate Redux

I caught parts of George Stephanopolous' interview with Rudy Giuliani the other night and kept noticing something that creeped me out. Talk about separated at birth...

Watch the video yourself and see how many Applewhite Moments you can spot.

In another bit of eerie similarity, it looks like the asteroid leaving us might just be preceding Rudy's departure, and that would just be Heavenly.

We're the Only Ones Without Citizen Back-Up Enough

A vagrant wanted for questioning in a rape overpowered a police officer who was trying to handcuff him, then shot her to death with her own weapon Monday, police said.

Remember New Orleans.

It sounds callous and unsympathetic, and I don't mean to be. But if we refuse to examine conditions emanating from government that make events like this inevitable, and I'm talking a whole range of issues here, nothing will ever improve.

[Via Cousin G]

[More from "The Only Ones" Files]

We're the Only Ones Licensed to Kill Enough

"Do you think our police should adopt a shoot-to-kill policy when fighting crime?"

Sure, why not? After all, they are "The Only Ones."

Maybe it'll prompt an appropriate response from the minority who voted "No," but all things considered, I doubt it.

A Devastated Family

The way this is written make the guns the guilty party and does its level best to make the criminals in the Cooper family out to be victims.

An interesting glimpse into "Authorized Journalist" manipulation...

Spitzer's Political Perpetual Motion Machine

Nearly every one of the 225 violent felons authorized for release during Gov. Spitzer's first 11 months in office had been convicted of murder, records made public by the state Parole Board yesterday showed. [More]

That way, they can kill again using "illegal guns," and Eliot can exploit that to the benefit of his career. If you flow-charted the process, it would be represented by a loop. But Eliot's got enough extraneous Rube Goldberg diversions built into the design so that it's not readily apparent.

As long as he has an endless supply of criminals to feed into the hopper on one end, he'll be able to continue the illusion for those who don't know any better.

Listing to the Left

Canada's billion-dollar national gun registry doesn't keep up-to-date stats on the number of legal handguns in the country, the Sun has learned.

Meanwhile, Canadian urban violent crime escalates, as do calls to ban guns owned by citizens obedient enough to be registered. That a gun from the registry was apparently used in one of the anecdotes related here has served to fuel that--despite the obvious, that it was used illegally.

It's just so totally freaking insane. That anyone can't see it, that we're even having an argument points to a monumental convergence of evil--that would be you, Messrs. Layton, McGuinty and Miller-- ignorance--that would be you, Canadian citizen gun control advocates--and abdication--that would be everybody not engaged in opposing them.

The registry doesn't work as a crime fighting tool because it was never supposed to: the controllers know it's just a matter of probability before a listed gun is used in a criminal act, which they can then leverage into a blood dance opportunity. The hidden end is, the biggest proponents of maintaining and expanding the registry are the ones who ultimately want it to disappear completely--just as soon as there are no private--I mean, "legally owned" guns to register.

[Via Bruce Mills]

This Day in History: January 29

January 29, 1778. "The commanding officer of each brigade is to appoint a Capt'n daily to visit the sick of his brigade in or near camp to examine whether they have proper attention paid to them and are furnished with everything their situation requires as far as circumstances will allow."

Deliver Us from Saslaw

In a clearly audible voice, Senator Saslaw said to his companion: "I see we're debating a gun bill today. Half of the cast of Deliverance is in town." [More]

So, Senator, just out of curiosity, what would you be prepared to do if someone with malevolent intent said "you got a purdy mouth..."?

Squeal like a pig?

A True Assault Weapon

"D.C. statute states anything that you use in a prohibited manner can be considered a prohibited weapon," he said. "Even a writing pen could be considered prohibited under certain circumstances."

Yes, exactly. That's what an assault weapons is.

It's one of the reasons I've always enjoyed Jackie Chan movies--he takes every day objects and employs them as integral parts of his fight choreography. If you don't assess your surroundings, wherever you may be, and don't notice what is at hand and how it could be used, I'd recommend more focus on situational awareness. Knowing what is around you--to pick up, to wield, to throw, to get behind--can be every bit as important as who is around you.

You never know when you'll need to buy yourself a few seconds to get to your carry weapon (or to give yourself an edge if caught without it), and besides, making this a habit can only help reinforce the mindset needed to anticipate, react and prevail.

[Via Armed and Safe]