This Day in History: March 10

There was a mistake in the Orders of the Sixth Instant -- Genl. Heath being ordered for the command therein mentioned, instead of Genl. Green, who is appointed for that command.

A Bad Ending

A student who turned in an "alarming" creative writing assignment referencing suicide and the Virginia Tech shooter was involuntarily committed, then expelled from the University of Virginia's College at Wise after campus police found loaded guns in his car.

I imagine if you're reading this post from a campus internet connection, you're now reading about Virginia Tech, guns, killing and suicide, so maybe that'll qualify you for a search and commitment, too! No, no, don't thank me, thank them.

It's called "Creative Writing" for a reason. I wonder what the liberal arts gatekeepers of acceptability would do with a young John Ross or Matt Bracken in their classroom?

Me, I'd have insisted on a search warrant, and challenged it later on probable cause.

The victim gives his side of things here (scroll down to comments by capablanca911).

[Via Mack]

The Unequivocal "No Guns" Sign

I'm figuring maybe one of the reasons so many criminals are bringing guns onto premises posted as "gun-free" zones might be because the signs aren't clear enough. In the interest of making sure every possible effort to communicate and clarify things so no mistake about intent can possibly be made, well, I just hope this helps:


I hope this clears things up. If not, I'll admit I'm stumped. Maybe we should be thinking of a totally different approach...?

Personally, I'd Rather Have My Kid

More than a year after a law enforcement officer’s mistake left a teen dead and a family in grief, Peyton Strickland’s parents finally have found closure.

That closure came on Tuesday evening with a settlement of $2.45 million and a public apology from New Hanover County [North Carolina] Sheriff Sid Causey. Additionally, Causey agreed to an independent review of the heavily armed team responsible for Strickland’s death.

That wouldn't bring any "closure" to me. I'd still miss my boy.

A friend of mine went to visit his relatives in Sicily. My Uncle is interred there, at the Nettuno American Cemetary. He was killed in action, little more than a boy, but by default more of a man than most, who had spent all his life prior to that in Warren, OH.

My friend took a Polaroid of Uncle Nick's grave and I gave it to my Mom. She looked at it and cried. Excuse me, dammit, I am tearing up now, it was just so sad to see her pain and to recall it now.

It was over half-a-century later and she still missed her kid brother. It still could break her heart, as losing their only son broke the hearts of her parents until the day they died.

I don't know what the hell this "closure" is the reporter being quoted is referring to. How do you stop grieving for a lost child?

[Via William Y]

The Pfleger/Pfarrakhan Love-Pfest

[Scroll down to 5th letter]

Personally, I stand with Farrakhan and his pursuit for justice and unity. I am proud to call him a friend and a prophetic voice of our times.

Yeah, I'm sure everybody is just taking him "out of context," Snuffy, or misinterpreting his words, just like they did to you when you roused the rabble to "Snuff out John R-i-g-g-i-o."

I mean, I can find all kinds of context for:

White people are potential humans--they haven’t evolved yet.

You play off bigotry, resentment, ignorance and cult-like devotion to maintain your place in "the community," don't you, Snuffy? And the Archdiocese let's you get away with it because you've made it clear to them that you'll take the parishioners--who are loyal to you instead of the church-- and walk.

That you haven't been defrocked and excommunicated speaks more to the gutlessness of the Archdiocese than anything else. And why the IRS hasn't shut you down is beyond me.

[Via HZ]

We're the Only Ones Exempt Enough

Among the thousands of drivers who have been issued $40 fines after being nabbed by Montgomery County's new speed cameras are scores of county police officers. The difference is, many of the officers are refusing to pay.

The officers are following the advice of their union, which says the citations are issued not to the driver but to the vehicle's owner -- in this case, the county.

Hey, how about the same defense when they shoot someone with a county-owned gun?

Don't you just love how "The Only Ones" who presume to exempt themselves from the law are the ones who are paid to enforce it against us?

Who would ever imagine servants taking such liberties with their masters?* Damned ingrates ought to be ashamed of themselves--right after they all get their corrupt hind ends fired.

[Via Raven's Beak]

--------------------------------------

* Federal Gazette, July 2, 1789, at 2, col. 1.

"What should we think of a gentleman, who upon hiring a waiting-man, should say to him "my friend, please take notice, before we come together, that I shall always claim the liberty of eating when and what I please, of fishing and hunting upon my own ground, of keeping as many horses and hounds as I can maintain, and of speaking and writing any sentiments upon all subjects." As a mere servant, the government had no power to interfere with individual liberties in any manner without a specific delegation. "[A] master reserves to himself ... everything else which he has not committed to the care of those servants."

Illinois Gets Another Anti-Gun Democrat

A longtime Republican district fell to the Democrats Saturday when scientist Bill Foster snatched former House Speaker Dennis Hastert's congressional seat in a closely watched special election.

Well, it' not like Hastert inspired any special loyalty.

So, how does the new guy compare on guns, especially against his opponent?

The 14th district includes Northern Illinois University, which was the scene of a deadly shooting on campus last month. On the issue of gun control, both Foster and Oberweis offered their views on "conceal carry," which is where citizens are allowed to carry handguns.

"I support it, because I think that would make it more dangerous for criminals to know that someone might fight back," Oberweis said.

Foster said he would ask the sheriffs of the district their opinion on the subject.

"There's a lot of wisdom in the sheriff's in our district," Foster said.

Assuming his NRA "A" rating was deserved, I have to wonder how many gun owners in Oberweis' district volunteered to help his campaign--you know, donated money, donated time working phones, walking precincts, placing signs, how many organized fellow gun owners, talked to friends, families and neighbors, got their clubs involved, wrote letters to the editor, got gun shops and ranges to help spread the word, did voter registration drives, registered themselves, voted themselves...you know, in other words, the bare minimum you'd expect from anyone who's going to now gripe on forums about the outcome, assuming they're even aware of it and what it means...

Nancy Gets Her Gun

And Nancy seems to get it.

But this Felicia Feaster person, who can't seem to keep her ignorance out of the introduction, is a whole 'nother matter.

If a man wrote anything as condescendingly chauvinistic as "Women are supposed to be nurturing and peaceable," or cited "the reflex to bake up a plate of snickerdoodles," you'd expect howls of outrage, that is, if there were anything consistent and non-subversive about "feminist" leadership.

And then dragging out Freud... I hate to disillusion you, Sweetie, but really, a gun is just a gun. The only people who seem to have problems distinguishing them from... something else... appear to be "liberal" women--and those who see themselves as such.

I guess I shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth--on the whole, this appears to give armed women a forum in front of new eyes, and the accompanying slide show does a better job than the introductory commentary, although I could do without clever remarks along the lines of "I don't know if she's going to serve me Cheeze Whiz and Triscuits of bust a cap in my ass."

[Via HZ]

This Day in History: March 9

Morning Equation

Slept in + 2 ft. of snow + 100 ft. driveway = Late start.

Dissatisfied customers should form a refund line at the service window.

We're the Only Ones Securing the Homeland Enough

Bribery. Drug trafficking. Migrant smuggling.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is supposed to stop these types of crimes. Instead, so many of its officers have been charged with committing those crimes themselves that their boss in Washington recently issued an alert about the ''disturbing events'' and the ``increase in the number of employee arrests.''

I don't know what anybody expected. Oh, wait, I forgot--"Only Ones" are supposed to be better than this, because they're...uh...better and all.

"Homeland Security" always sounded like a term the Soviets would use anyway. I don't know why "civil defense" wasn't adequate, but I guess that's too uniquely American, and just doesn't sound like it fits with the international direction everything is going. Besides, it's not like you'd want local teams of volunteers working with the sheriff, the fire department, the hospitals--they'd just make a picnic out of training weekends, get to know each other, maybe figure out some things they could do to help, and it'd make folks a whole lot less dependent on (and obedient to) whatever FEMA teams we manage to get out there, supplemented by a few California Highway Patrolmen--just to make sure no old ladies drink contaminated water or shoot themselves.

I always thought it was ridiculous after 9/11 when the "Vote Freedom First President" basically told us as citizens to be on the alert (for what?) and just go about our business (meaning "spend") and they'd take care of everything--oh, and we'll just need to tweak a few liberties here and there, but that shouldn't worry you none unless you've got something to hide.

You don't, do you?

[Via Peter R]

Ideological Cleansing in the Golden State

I've heard many in the liberty movement advise taking kids out of government schools. Here's the problem--they won't let you--at least on the Left Coast. And most, under the back-breaking burden of taxes and regulations under which the average family strains to survive, simply cannot afford a private (albeit still regulated) school alternative.

Several of you have written to me about the ruling in California where the 2nd Appellate Court basically outlawed home schooling, putting over 160,000 families at risk of legal penalties if they don't bring their child in to worship at the altar of the state.

This, of course, is what happens when public employee unions abetted by fascist judges get the upper hand, and there is nothing more insidious than that alliance in the Golden State.

It would appear that even with an exodus of people from the productive sector abandoning California, they are prepared to sustain further losses (they can always raise taxes on their captive populace--or better yet--pass a bond measure that those who can't vote yet will end up obligated for)--they would rather have fewer of those people than allow their peculiar, dangerous, disrespectable way of living to continue (and give others any ideas).

We saw a similar imperious attitude when the loathsome Don Perata suggested a teenage sport shooter should leave the state and live elsewhere if she wished to continue her Olympic training.

See, those who have hijacked the term "liberal" place great stock in tolerance--as long as said tolerance consists of indoctrinating young skulls full of mush in Marxism and destruction of traditional values. Try practicing those and they quickly morph into the bigoted parochials they so abhor when they come from non-urban settings: "We don't like your kind around here."

We've heard the term "ethnic cleansing," and most of the world considers that a war crime. Here we have something evil that stabs at the very heart of human thought, spirit and liberty: Ideological cleansing.

Think like us or get out.

Stay and resistance is futile: You will be absorbed.

Oh, and those of you who do manage to get out--having to sell your home in an economic downturn, pull up roots, leave your job, friends, families to start over somewhere else, becoming essentially forced refugees in your own country: The dark cloud is spreading. It'll be coming your way again soon enough.

It'll be coming for all of us until we decide it's time to take back what is ours.

Another Hoop at Heathrow

Millions of British airline passengers face mandatory fingerprinting before being allowed to board flights when Heathrow’s Terminal 5 opens later this month.

Cool--I can't wait for that here. Because it will help make us feel safe and stop terrorists! Plus it will condition us to accept even more terms and conditions, demands and requirements, hoops and intrusions,to help keep us free.

I have no doubt that if some egghead working for a "public/private partnership" contractor demonstrated that individual colo-rectal patterns provided positive identification, there'd be no shortage of passengers lining up for their probes so they could get on a bus and go to work to pay their taxes.

[Via MacEntyre]

Speaking of Downplaying...

...someone's being awful quiet lately...

Downplaying?

An armed student at Jerusalem’s Mercaz Haray seminary played a crucial role in stopping a gun-wielding terrorist Thursday, but the American press is downplaying his heroism because it proves that armed students can stop campus gunmen, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms said today.

Who'da thunk "Authorized Journalists" would insert their agenda into their work? Or require people outside their controlled circle to purchase a press release in order to get a word in edgewise...?

Clay has more.

This Day in History: March 8

That some desperate wretches should be willing to steal and enslave men by violence and murder for gain, is rather lamentable than strange. But that many civilized, nay, Christianized people should approve, and be concerned in the savage practice, is surprising; and still persist, though it has been so often proved contrary to the light of nature, to every principle of Justice and Humanity, and even good policy, by a succession of eminent men, and several late publications.

GUNS Magazine: March 1958

The realities are that firearms records give much comfort to the book-keeping personalities in government and law enforcement work, but are functionally of little use in most cases involving criminal uses of firearms. Guns employed by professional crooks are not registered to them. Factory records, although in some cases quite complete, show only the jobber to whom shipped, nothing more. Elements which make a conviction in any case, including those involving firearms, are far more concrete than the shadowy record of gun shipments which lead to a blind wall. The concept of firearms records for crime detection, while theoretically neat, in practice lacks merit. ["What's Happening on the Legal Front," pg. 8]

See, some people knew 50 years ago what a fraud the whole system was--and now, because they weren't listened to, the government is perpetuating the fraud as an excuse to close down gun dealers--all of which does nothing to fight violent crime.

The March 1958 issue of GUNS Magazine is now online. Even then they were at the forefront of informing their readers about regulatory threats to RKBA.

Also in this issue is a warm memorial tribute to the great Ed McGivern, a look at what Eli Whitney gave us besides the cotton gin, articles of interest to collectors, hunters and shooters, and of course, the classic period ads that are both fascinating and frustrating to look at--just remember--back then, a dollar was actually still worth about a dollar.

The Wrong Questions

Having a vested interest in the results can itself lead to an unethical abandonment of the scientific method. But the biggest problem with their “random” sample: None of the boys were active shooters. Aside from a bit of “don’t touch that” counseling, there’s no indication any of them were trained in proper firearms use, regularly participating in supervised shooting with responsible adults. Yet the fact that this, rather than ignorance, might prove the safest course was not even considered.

"The Wrong Questions," my Rights Watch column for the May 2008 (yes, really) issue of GUNS Magazine is now online.

The Chosen People

Who chose them?

Set, of course.I can't help but think of a T-shirt I saw a while back: "Campus Crusade for Cthulu: It Found Me"

Subsitute the chant "O-ba-ma!" with "Thul-sa-Doom!" It fits perfectly.

Friend Russ Howard sent this out the other day:

At first I thought Obama's slogan "Yes we can", was a vapid placebo, but a couple days ago it came to me what it means. We'll be hearing it a lot if Obama becomes President. While the use will always be generally similar, slight variants, emphasis, etc., will depend on the scenario. For example:

"Hey! You can't take 100% of my disposable income!"

"Yes we can."

Or,

"Hey, you can't take my guns!"

"Yes... We ... Can."

Suggested variations, depending on the situation,

* Sideways nod and raised eyebrows for emphasis

* "Oh ho ho ho, yes we can."...

* "Oh really?"...

* Dr. Evil pinkie on the corner of the mouth

etc.

Obama: The Little Commie Who Could.

Pfleger...Paging Snuffy Pfleger...

The stress of defending the pope has led to a number of casualties in the past, raising debate about whether the Swiss Guard and Gendarmerie are anachronisms.

A young Italian Gendarmerie cadet, Alessandro Benedetti, was found dead from gunshot wounds in an apparent suicide in September.

In 1998, Vatican City was rocked by the triple shooting deaths of Alois Estermann, the then-head of the Swiss Guard, together with his Venezuelan wife and a young Swiss Guard lance corporal, Cedric Tornay.

The Holy See blamed Mr. Tornay for shooting the other two before turning his gun on himself.

Shouldn't you be, like, outside protesting with a mob and threatening to "snuff out" Pope B-E-N-E-D-I-C-T or something...?