This Day in History: February 25

"And following the name was the fascination of the flag. The Reverend Slaughter happened to come across a February 25, 1776, copy of the London 'Morning Chronicle,' and in it he saw, as he called it, 'a remarkable article in these words': 'The Americans have a flag with a snake with 13 rattles on it, in the attitude to strike, and with the motto, "Don't tread on me." It is a rule in heraldry that the worthy properties of an animal on a crest should alone be considered. The rattlesnake is an emblem of America, being found in no other part of the world. The eye excels in brightness. It has no eye-lids, and is therefore an emblem of vigilance. She never begins an attack, and never surrenders, and is therefore an emblem of magnanimity. She never wounds until she has given warning. Her weapons are not displayed until drawn for defence. Her power of fascination resembles America - those who look steadily on her are involuntarily drawn towards, and having once approached, never leave her. She is beautiful in youth, and her beauty increases with age. Her tongue is forked as lightning.'"

These Changing Times

Change...

No change...

I'm confused. What is it the controlling socialist elites want?

All Fired Up for Gun Control

Let me get this straight:

Yvette Cade chose a man who found "numerous sadistical ways to intimidate" her.

He kept a baseball bat under the bed. He poured gasoline on her and set her on fire.

So she's out there including a demand for gun control in her testimony?

What if a tormenter wants to ensure a defenseless victim, Yvette? What would stop him from filing abuse charges against her, maybe producing a self-inflicted scratch or bruise as evidence, and making sure she couldn't protect herself?

[Via KABA Newslinks]

At the Request of the Bush Administration...

Here I go grousing about what ought to be looked at as incremental progress. What an ingrate.

But I'm not even going to focus on how they could--if they wanted to--make the goal one of enforcing the Second Amendment in National Parks regardless of state law...that's not the purpose of this post.

Look at the great care taken to credit the Bush administration. See? Republicans--now matter how much they betray us--are different from democrats. They give us scraps and crumbs. And we can then tell each other how large the portions are, and how delicious they taste.

Forget the guy just sent in his solicitor general to sabotage Heller. This is the counterbalance, and makes it all better.

We're allowing ourselves to get sucked into political bipolar madness here, hell, many of us want to be deceived. So we have the depressed low with Paul Clement's brief, but now, rejoice, a cause for manic high!

Now go out there and vote McCain! Before it wears off.

Not Dead Yet

A small group of Senators derailed an important Second Amendment bill that was passed by the House by a 63-3 margin. House Bill 1261 was narrowly defeated in the Senate 14-17, but a procedural move is likely to resurrect the issue under a different bill number.

I've been trying to rally support for this because a South Dakota reader asked me to. NRA-ILA urges immediate action, as "Only one week remains in the 2008 legislative session."

About Those Domestic Concentration Camps...

Beginning in 1999, the government has entered into a series of single-bid contracts with Halliburton subsidiary Kellogg, Brown and Root (KBR) to build detention camps at undisclosed locations within the United States. The government has also contracted with several companies to build thousands of railcars, some reportedly equipped with shackles, ostensibly to transport detainees.

What's been portrayed as the "fringe" of the "Patriot movement" has been clamoring for attention about this for years, complete with posting photos on the Internet. But they generally can't break it out beyond their circle--and are ridiculed as tinfoil hat militia kooks. The lefties get ahold of the issue, mention the dreaded Halliburton, and it makes the San Francisco Chronicle --as the subject of legitimate discussion and thought requiring congressional action.

Here's the thing: say it's all true, every word of it, (and with the way things are going, as well as recent government efforts to associate being a patriot with being a terrorist, nothing will surprise me any more), why is it the political left in general, and "Greens" (like authors Seiler and Hamburg) in particular, aren't the biggest proponents of the individual rights/insurrectionary theory interpretation of the Second Amendment out there? Have you ever met a Green who's not a statist gungrabber?

In truth, it strikes me as incredibly naive to think that there aren't efforts underway constructing facilities to be used if and when a national emergency is declared. In a society where people trusted their government (that is, in one where "civil defense" was treated and valued as a participatory partnership, rather than the Soviet "Homeland Security"/FEMA cattle-herding monstrosity conceived by the bureaucrats), you'd think such contingencies would be demanded and prepared for, with heavy and enthusiastic volunteer citizen involvement--why, we'd probably make a weekend fair out of it, complete with rifle matches and prizes.

Somehow though, and call me kooky, I just don't think that's the same vision shared by the feds.

[Via ZG]

Grading the Graders, Revisited

And, as I stated in my last post, the great state of Alaska scored 4 points out of a possible hundred, and ranked 44th out of 50. I guess we must be doing something right...

I found that the Brady's consistent top performer in terms of gun ownership legislation, The People's Republik of Kalifornia, is also the biggest offender in gun-related crimes.

The Mad Hatter looks at the relationship between Brady grades for states and "gun violence."

This Day in History: February 24

February 24, 1777
"set out at 8 o clock. Crossed 2 Very bad cracks before we got of. Foxes on ye Island. then I walked to ye Narrows with one Frost & Majr. Stevens, where we sounded the depth of the water, 7 fathoms in one place &c. and the width of the Chanel is 280 yards between ye two Islands, then rode to Sabath day point where we made a good fire, fed our horses & Eat some Vituals & then rode of in a Very great Snowstorm, wind at N. W. got to Ti about 5 o clock." -- Col. Jeduthan Baldwin

Opinions Needed

I need some expert opinions. I have a customer that has an AR-15 11.5" barrel, gas port is .096" and it is going full auto. There are no FA parts in the gun. I have never experienced this before, any ideas?

While I don't pretend to be an expert, here's my opinion.

For God's sake remove this post and thread from your forum immediately. I purposely didn't include a link to it because I don't want to help in you or your customer's destruction. If you need expert help beyond your experience, it's best to get it quietly. Trust me, you'll end up paying a lot less.

[Via Len Savage]

"You Don't Expect This"

Not on 56th Street. Especially in front of Starbucks...

What, you mean we can't predict these things?

And OK, I realize with a set-up like this, some will think me remiss if I don't link to this...

We're the Only Ones Confused Enough

Confused police abandoned their search for a car wreck, leaving a 66-year-old epileptic to die outside his vehicle in freezing temperatures while his autistic grandson huddled inside.

Yeah, it sounds like "some sort of weird joke," doesn't it? Or am I the "Only One" who thinks so?

[Via Shermlock Shomes, Investigator]

Fighting Ugly Plaque "Authorized Journalist" Style

Paul W. Davis reminds me that I should have pointed out one other troubling indicator on yesterday's plaque presentation:

A point that needs to be raised:

"This plaque and two others just like were sent to the Lawrence Police Department over the weekend. This image has been altered at the request of thepolice department to take out other wording engraved on the plaque, as it isevidence in an investigation.
Jim Patten / Staff photo"

Found here.

This is no different than Soviet "journalism." Investigation my eye, the sender knows exactly what was on them, as do the police. Just who are they hiding it from?

You are correct, there is no cause for investigation. However, the more disturbing problem is the complicity of the newspaper in covering up what is really going on here.

The hit dog yelps the loudest.

Well, uh, yeah Paul. You don't expect "Authorized Journalists" to be, like, government watchdogs or anything, do you...? Or champions of the First Amendment...?

As long as we're on the subject, I trust everyone had an opportunity to read straightarrow's email to the chief?

We're the Only Ones Declining Enough

She admitted to drinking two beers and declined to take a breathalyzer test.

...The charge of refusing to take a breathalyzer test was dismissed as part of the plea agreement...

Nah, I see no evidence of professional "Only One" courtesy, do you...?

[Via Ron W]

Guess Who's (Not?) Coming to Dinner?

Per 45superman in "Comments":

Well, well, well--would you look at the latest iteration of the board of directors page? It has been updated, and of the four members added in November, three (Bob Eddis, Warren Haggerty, and Dan Muroff) are finally acknowledged on the website. Care to guess who the poor, forgotten (apparently) fourth is?Isn't that odd?

Yeah. The other odd thing is we haven't heard a peep out of you-know-who, nor has the dreaded libel suit come through.

It's almost as if whoever pulls his strings got embarrassed by the appalling lack of judgment and told him to stifle it...

The Riddle of Steel

Speaking of Thulsa Doom, Cryptic Subterranean gives us two important clues on his answer to "The Riddle of Steel":

"Obama on Guns"

"Obama on Gun Control"

If I had to take a wild guess, I'd say it has to do less with controlling guns than the hands that wield them...

The Schism at the Cult of Set

Multitudes of you seeking enlightenment have asked me if I'm aware of the "Is Barack Obama the Messiah?" movement.

In short, yes. It is heresy.

Do not be taken in by breakaway movements.

The only true and Orthodox Barack-worshipping sect is the one led by Thulsa Doom himself, the Cult of Set.

These other guys? They're like Unitarians or something...

Meanwhile, Les K has found an even more insidiuous cell of blasphemy: "Sportsmen for Obama".

Cool sites, actually--the "Messiah" one has done a great job documenting the quasi-religious insanity that is the Obama campaign, and the "Sportsmen" site gives us a comprehensive look at the totality of his anti-gun sentiments. Go look around.

This Day in History: February 23

Arrangements were made for von Steuben to be paid following the successful completion of the war according to his contributions. Congress told the Baron to report to General Washington at Valley Forge. He arrived at the camp on February 23, 1778. One soldier’s first impression of the Baron was “of the ancient fabled God of War … he seemed to me a perfect personification of Mars. The trappings of his horse, the enormous holsters of his pistols, his large size, and his strikingly martial aspect, all seemed to favor the idea.”

Good thing he didn't show up today. With pistols, that is.

And yeah, I know about the proposed new rule and will be talking about it in another post some time this weekend.

The Shreveport Reaction

In reference to the recent Angela Garbarino "unpleasantness":

Joyce Bowman, who represents District G, said the incident gives the city a "black eye."

I don't think it's the city that got the black eye, there, Joyce. Two of them, along with split lips, knocked out teeth, that Frankenstein stitch on the forehead, bruises all over her body...

...She said she would like to say more, but "it is a legal matter now and I serve on the Risk Management Committee — I do not think that it would be wise to speak on the matter at this time."

Circle the wagons and bring in the mouthpieces and bean counters. God forbid a representative of the people should take a moral stand based on what's right.

District B Councilman Monty Walford said he wants to learn more before saying much on the subject. "I'm not ready to pass judgment one way or the other. I've been told I need to see the whole video."

I've heard of "The Full Monty" but until now, not "The Full-of-it Monty. I'm sure there's gotta be some scenario to explain how she worked herself over like a professional from a fall on the floor. While you're at it, Councilman Python, why not share the whole video with the rest of us, too? Why wasn't it all released? And I'm sure you'd be this reasonable had the brutality been inflicted on your mother, wife or daughter.

Councilman Joe Shyne, who represents District F..."One thing you can say about it, at least it wasn't racial."

Dang if it isn't Optimist Prime! That's some silver lining you found there, Joey. Who says the glass is half empty?

...Shyne said he was upset by the risky position the incident places the city in, since it is self-insured..."That's money that could go to police salaries or equipment and benefits," he said.

Or truncheons or...hey, has anybody besides me noticed a complete absence of concern for the only legitmate purpose of government,the protection of people, their rights and property, and a complete focus on CYA and stuffing pockets with as many wads as possible while the building burns...?

...Other council members did not return e-mails or messages left on their work or cell phones.

They're no doubt too busy getting guns "off the street".

And Chief Whitehorn agrees:

Thank all of you and I have passed that information along Mr. Mayor to all of our fine men and women of the police department. We have received about 50 calls on the gun program, the gun initiative that we’re following up on. We’ve made some arrest and hope to make many, many more.

No doubt. Because when people see how they're treated when Shreveport's finest takes them into custody, and how deeply their elected representatives care about making sure their rights are upheld by city employees, they might not be inclined to go peacefully.

If you thought there was a good chance you'd get a beating like that--excuse me, I meant "you'd slip and fall"--would you?

Why anyone would reelect any of these bloated ticks after this sorry performance is beyond me, but they probably will.

UPDATE: I note Chief Whitehorn makes a special point in his press release to say "Before being transported from the scene, she was treated by Shreveport Fire Department paramedics for facial injuries resulting from the vehicle crashes."

Just compare the "after" pictures to the "before" provided in the video.

Nice try, chief.

"Not Overreacting"

A long University of Nebraska-Lincoln tradition came to an abrupt end this week after a student brought a Nerf gun into a classroom..."All of a sudden, I saw five or six officers rush into the room," said student Arthur Scott...Vice Chancellor Juan Franco said they're not overreacting.

No, no of course not.

You can't be too careful, these days.

Ai-yi-yi...

[Via Joe's Crabby Shack]

We're the Only Ones Fighting Ugly Plaque Enough

They were real looking enough. Three wooden plaques each embossed with a gold police shield, a small gun piece and each engraved with an officer's name.

But these "plaques" sent to the police department Sunday were no awards. They came from a bogus address in Puerto Rico, supposedly sent from a former assistant district attorney and were in recognition for the officers being "corrupt." They were dated "9-11-2007."

As first reported on The Eagle-Tribune's Web site eagletribune.com yesterday, police Chief John Romero has launched an investigation into who sent the packages. He said police are contemplating criminal charges, possibly at the federal level. Police yesterday dusted the plaques for fingerprints. Romero was one of the recipients of the so-called award.

Oh, good grief--make a federal case out of it. Sounds like anyone who would sic the feds on someone for exercising their "supreme law of the land"-guaranteed First Amendment right to criticize government is corrupt. Dusting for prints--like I said, good grief.

And newsflash: It doesn't matter if you find it "disturbing," employee.

Think about it--if Romero has his way and identifies the sender, armed "Only Ones" will go out to bring him in by force--lethal force if he defies them, or maybe doing a flash-bang dynamic entry regardless--just to be safe from the Plaque Terrorist--and assuming he survives, they'll take him hostage, and assuming he survives that process, they'll try to get a magistrate to throw him in a dungeon.

Here, John, on behalf of The War on Guns, I'm pleased to present you with an award you've more than earned:


Now investigate me. I'll even save you the trouble of dusting for fingerprints. Or at least for one of them.