And So it Begins

I'm going to focus the rest of my blogging today on updates for The New York Times' Virginia Tech panel.

There is a new addition to the list: Dr. Richard Kadison, chief of mental health services for Harvard's health services.

It appears mine was the first panelist submission, so I've linked to it below, under John O'Neil's introduction. The basic ground rules are keep each post around or under 300 words. I will continue to add links to this post as they appear, so check back in if you want to keep informed on this.

Master Link to Panel Page (All Posts)

Virginia Tech: After the Shootings
by John O'Neil

Guns on Campus: Could They Prevent a Repeat?
By David Codrea

Better Prepared, but Safer?
By Richard Canas

Changes at Many Levels
By Ada Meloy

Remembrance and Protest
By Rev. Alexander W. Evans

The View From the ‘Lie-In’
By Josh Horwitz

No More ‘Easy’ Guns
By Rev. Alexander W. Evans

Changed Law, Unchanged Danger
By David Codrea

What Campus Police Think
By Ada Meloy

Sharing the Worries When a Student Is Troubled
By Richard Kadison

Rethinking the Role of Campus Police
By Richard Canas

Guns No Deterrent to the Suicidal
By Josh Horwitz

Arguing for Gun Choice
By David Codrea

Creating More Routes for Help
By Richard Kadison

UPDATE: We're done. I emailed Mr. O'Neil and asked if comments were closed for good and will advise when he replies--it may be tomorrow 'til he does.

Thank you all for your kind support here, and especially to those of you who provided the best, most intelligent backup I could hope for. I knew going in I'd be surrounded on the panel by people conditioned and incapable of grokking our views, and also that I would not be able to catch every chair and bottle thrown in the melee. You articulated our "side" with thoughtfulness and composure, and I'm sure gave their readers much to mull on. And based on the near absence of contrary comments, I'd say that despite my being outnumbered, you kept the hordes at bay.

If they do this again, it will no doubt be due in large part to the way you handled things.

Illinois Gun Owner Alert!

I'm otherwise occupied and don't have time to address this properly, but please click the title link and go on over to Armed and Safe to see how the antis are mounting an all-out assault in Illinois--today.

As extremists are involved, this is extremely important.

We're the Only Ones Who Will Rock Your World Enough

A police officer has been placed on paid administrative leave amid accusations she threw rocks at a car owned by her estranged husband's girlfriend.

I wonder--if you threw rocks at an "Only One's" car if you'd be "placed on administrative leave."

Even if your "emotions got the best of" you?

Why not try it and report back to us?

[Via Shermlock Shomes, Investigator]

Sparen Sie Geld. Live Besser.

The Real Gun Guys show us how.

Defender of the Castle

Another one weighs in. This time, it's Tim Schaffer.

Thank you for contacting my office regarding Senate Bill 184, the Castle Doctrine Bill. I am a proud co-sponsor of this legislation.

As a defender of second amendment rights, I support the law-abiding citizens’ right to bear arms. This bill is currently pending before the Senate Judiciary – Criminal Justice Committee. I will continue to do all I can to support the passage of SB 184.

Thank you again for your letter and please feel free to contact my office if you have any further questions or concerns.

Ohio castle-dwellers: You're doing your part, right? There will be no breach in the wall because your station is undefended?

Close the Candidate Loophole

You know, the one that allows democrats to run as republicans...

[Via Zachary G]

We're the Only Ones Getting the Boot Enough

The weapon was accidentally discharged. The bullet struck the boot sole of a team member behind Sgt. Turner.

Nah, no CYA weasel-wording there.

Sure glad "The Only Ones" got that ammo away from someone who might have endangered others with it, though.

[Via Jeffersonian]

A Long Train of Abuses

What this comes down to is that if the federal government wants to f*** you over, without having to bother with due process, then they effectively bring an action against your property.

Jed brings us the latest on BATFU's murder attempt against Cavalry Arms.

Death of a Whipping Boy

There is nothing remotely liberal in demanding that the state should have a monopoly on the use of force over the rest of the population...

Whatever his motives, whatever underpinned his passion for guns, Charlton Heston, in demanding equal treatment for blacks in the 1950s and later calling for everyone to have the right to bear arms, was a better representative of the spirit of American equality than any of those gun control campaigners who turned him into their favourite redneck whipping boy.

Nice to see the light of reason has not completely flickered out across the pond.

[Via M. Terry]

Gray Lady Update

I sent in my opening statement and got back the following:

Thanks. I'm about to hop on the train, so this won't go up for a bit, but it will!

I was the first panelist to clock in, and the list has not changed. I did recommend considering Messrs. Cramer and Hardy and Dr. Lott, and expressed concern that I may need to weigh in more often that anyone else due to the stack-up, but was told they'll be discussing more than guns, so essentially, don't worry my pretty little head about it.

Hey, when your head is this pretty and this little, what else is there to worry about?

I'll post again on this when something develops on the NYT site. Until then, I'll see how many of your link tips I can get through while waiting.

And They Lived Happily Ever After

Last night, the 15th, the McHenry Co. Board voted unanimously to pass the Illinois Second Amendment Resolution! I think we were the 75th county and the 1st collar county to pass the resolution... It is possible that another county voted to approve the measure last night too...

I love a happy ending.

[Via Discontented Cookie]

A Rose By Any Other Name

Assembly Endorses Gun Safety Measures

Because "gun safety" sounds so much more palatable than "citizen disarmament."

My hands-down favorite: "ban advanced weaponry used to kill police officers."

Hell, if that's the justification, ban 'em all!

Think they're talking about the .50? Sure reads that way. But what else would we expect from a lying propaganda rag, I mean, the North Country Gazette?

[Via cycjec]

This Day in History: April 16

Resolved, That Jacob Hans be, and he is hereby, appointed Captain to one tier of Fire-Rafts.

Resolved, That Mr. Owen Biddle and Mr. Parker be a Committee to prepare a plan for a Powder Magazine, and to lay out the ground upon which it is to be built.

Invitation from a Gray Lady

The New York Times just contacted me and asked me to be on an online panel tomorrow to discuss Virginia Tech.

I'll have more as things develop.

A Golden Opportunity

"This is a tool, an additional tool, that the police departments across the land can use," said Sen. Marty Golden, R-Brooklyn. Golden said he plans to push for a similar bill in the Senate.

Because the republicans are our friends.

This is why you can't donate to the party. Individual candidates, yes, but party contributions can be spread out to enable police statists like Smarty Marty here.

I'm sure there will be some gun owners who support him anyway, because the democrat would have really wanted to hurt us.

And then we wonder how things got this way.

Honor Killings

As the nation prepares to mark the first anniversary of the Virginia Tech shootings, a group of Charlotteans is planning to honor the victims of gun violence Wednesday during a demonstration uptown.

How will ensuring a continual supply of defenseless victims honor anyone but the killers?

So In Other Words, Both are Traitors?

In terms of policy, there's not much to separate Clinton and Obama on the issue of guns. Both would restrict gun purchases to one a month -- and both want to renew the assault weapons ban.

Hell, I can't afford one gun a month anyway, and you don't need machine guns to hunt with.

Right, AHSA?

Mentalidad Americana

Clara imagen de la mentalidad temerosa y agresiva americana.

Yeah, that's us, fearful and aggressive.

It's not like you couldn't figure out it's a joke sign in about 5 seconds on Google. So which is it, Sergio Malagrida Rakosnik? Are you just lazy, or do you maybe have an agenda?

Do you think we should give comment poster "Fontana" the benefit of the doubt for this being a joke as well? (Spanish to English via Inside Europe: Iberian Notes):

I have been told that in some states in the USA, North Carolina, Virginia, and Mississipi (sic), man-hunting exists, they turn loose a prisoner and hunt him like a rabbit, the victims are usually marginalized, generally blacks and Hispanics, and they are hunted like deer, with dogs and big rifles, a lot of money is spent on these hunts, human life in that country is worth nothing.

[From Sam W via MaxedOutMama]

A Mother of Eight

A "single mother."

Look, I don't take away from her that she's trying to do something now, but good grief.

Sorry, My Faux Chicago, but all you see fit to bring up as a solution is more money or smaller classrooms or after-school programs.

Anybody here not know how babies are made? This isn't worth a mention because it might offend? Once can be seen as a mistake in judgment. You start a personal breeding program and there's a whole 'nother dynamic at play here.

One that should have no bearing on my right to keep and bear arms.

We can dance around the issue and ignore the elephant because we're afraid to address it head-on, but that won't help the least fortunate among us, or any of the rest of us one bit. The only ones it will help are those in "leadership" interested in expanding their power and control by creating, sustaining and expanding artificial dependencies.

The Catch in California?

From Dave Licht:

Any gun in California needs to be registered;

Note that there(technically)is no statute that says your pre 1/1/98 gun has to be registered but if you acquire a gun (even if you are not prohibited)after 1/1/98 and do not register it the "potential crime" under 12072 PC is essentially colluding with the seller to avoid registration - a misdemeanor - or a felony for multiple "violations".

HOWEVER - and this is the catch - once it comes into police possession - they will only return it to the registered owner - Sooooo, if your gun is old and was purchased by a "last known" not you, they will not give it back - period - say the last owner is dead or it went through a couple of hands before it got to you or you got it before registration was required - too bad.

Lose your guns in a "state emergency" - "just show us your registration" and you can have it back - flooded out, car stolen with "your" guns in the trunk - Burglary at your house? You live in Oakland and you want your house searched for your safety.........You will only be able to keep or get back guns that are registered to you.

Using the analogy wherein you are robbed of a couple hundred guns and it would take 10 - 20 years to get them back - Think again - every gun in that collection not "registered" to you would be forfeit to the state - you could only get back the ones "registered" to you - NO Affidavits.

Say the DOJ did a safe compliance check at your house in Kalifornia (which the DOJ can do if you sign that you have a safe when you do your purchase paperwork in CA) - Every non papered gun they find they could (arguably) take away and you would be forced to trade a felony collusion to avoid registration under 12072 PC in "exchange" for the privilege of forfeiting your guns to the "proper authorities".

This IS the knock 'em down one at a time and wipe 'em out by attrition, de facto registration law...

Interesting scenario, one I've never thought through. Anyone have any insights?