This Day in History: May 24

May 24, 1775 - United Committees meeting of Palatine, Conajohary (sic- hereafter spelled Canajoharie) King'sland and Germanflatts districts at the house of William Seeber in Canajoharie District

This probably looks like one of the more dull entries for the "History" feature, something I usually post without much comment. If you just read the above date selection, you'd never know what an interesting page this is. It shows us the structure of local self-government, and how, when an active citizenry is involved in charting its own political destiny, things like a wayward sheriff or delegate representing the best interests of the community are kept under control.

We could do worse than to emulate such a system--and we have.

But hey, who has time? Besides, tonight is "Dancing With the Stars."

Cav Arms Indictment Still Sealed?

Three posts up from the bottom of the page, from "Cabby":

Ok...News from the Eastern front.

I got a call from Sen. Chambilss' Chief of staff this morning. With Sen. Kyle in the lead they have made inquiry into this matter with the ATF. The ATF has responded that they can not comment, as the INDICTMENT IS STILL SEALED!!! WTF!!!

Has anyone else heard this?

Ok enough bad news. From my conversation with Chambliss' office:

The good news is that a number of Senators are really pissed at the ATF. The directors confirmation has been shelved. On Jan. 21, 2009 he will be out on his ass. Red's Trading Post was brought into the conversation, and not by me!!!

I think we may actually have friendly troops in Washington who are actually willing to stand and fight on this one.

I need to include my standard caveat when dealing with raw and unconfirmed data. I post this because cases like this really do affect us all, even if only tangentially, and we're sure not getting this news about how "our" government operates from the "watchdog media."

But again--I have not confirmed this and view it as interesting, plausible and even likely, but just not validated by me. The info is out there--so I'd just as soon people getting it know to keep that in mind before drawing other speculative conclusions.

Assuming it's reliable, such behavior is intolerable. Let's hope some of those "friendly troops in Washington" are in a stomping mood.

[Via Jed]

Bloomberg Gets a Pass

“I’m not going to permit the case to turn into a media show on either side,” Judge Weinstein said in court to a city lawyer, Kenneth Taber. “I see no reason to have the mayor here. From the city’s point of view, he doesn’t add anything to your case.”

What about from Jay Wallace's point of view? Might it add anything to his case? Or are we being told there'd be no benefit to a cross examination?

Is there really nothing to learn about...oh, I don't know...conspiracy and lawbreaking...by having Bloomberg under oath? I mean, it's not like some states and even the feds haven't warned him about running afoul of their laws and screwing up current investigations.

And it's not like Weinstein hasn't been a silent partner throughout all this.

I do note the article says Wallace's attorney could not be reached, so I don't know if he would consider this a favorable development or not. I'm just commenting as an outsider looking in. From over here this looks staged, and my first reaction is to wonder if the city attorney is shedding crocodile tears.

Whatever you do, PLEASE don't throw me in that briar patch!

I'm Stephen Aboot...uh...Patrick Lynch of the WG...uh...PBA!

Patrolmen's Benevolent Association President Pat Lynch promised his members the sun, the moon and the stars - huge raises, no givebacks - and wound up winning them a pinch more than bupkis. [More]

So what they're saying is, Liberty Lynchin' Patrick of "lift a finger and die" fame is essentially incompetent?

That Patrick Lynch of the PBA is about as effective a negotiator as "Stephen Abootman of the WGA"?

Frustrated ineptitude combined with authority would explain the affinity for citizen disarmament and the proclivity for threatening violent retribution.

Thing is, Abootman was funny.

We're the Only Ones Flatfoot Enough

With gasoline climbing toward $4 a gallon, police officers around the country are losing the right to take their patrol cars home and are being forced to double up in cruisers and walk the beat more.

Walk...the..beat...?

You've got to be kidding.

In some neighborhoods, they're the "Only Ones" not on the street, and they aim to keep it that way. Go out there? What are you, nuts?

They ought to make them turn off the air conditioning and roll their windows down, too--besides, if they notice what's going on around them, they'd actually be safer.

Shhh...It's a Secret

Is the next president willing to continue this degree and extent of kingly secrecy, in which the Justice Department will be deeply complicit?

And they say there are no stupid questions.

Besides, Hentoff's a lefty--figures he wouldn't like the "Vote Freedom First President." If you're not doing anything wrong, what have you got to worry about?

And remember: They hate us because we're free.

[Via ryanmguard]

An Unlikely Source

From WarOnGuns Correspondent 1894C:

This rabid [edited] anti-gun site:
http://www.gunpolicy.org/
is a surprisingly good source of articles that I found interesting.

From Japan a story of a pathologist for the state being tried for casting bullets.
http://mdn.mainichi.jp/national/news/20080522p2a00m0na011000c.html

From England a story about the continued failure of GBs war on guns, knives, pointy sticks...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/may/22/ukcrime.jacquismith

From Washington a story on how the Dem controlled Gov may not mean a free pass to the gun grabbers.
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/gun-control-backers-not-bold-on-2009-2008-05-20.html

So help me out here--are you saying they know the truth but they're lying anyway?

One point of clarification--this originally said the site was tied in with the Joyce Foundation. I looked at the principles involved and did not see them listed, and the site doesn't appear to be one of the beneficiaries from this list.

Setting a "LEO" Straight

I'm sure you meant that what I said is too extreme, a word that depends on context: extreme compared to what? In this case it seems that it's extreme compared, not to what the Second Amendment actually provides, but what you'd rather believe it does. A firm believer in the strict interpretation of the Second Amendment would not go on to say the other things you do about the rights it was written to preserve. But perhaps I can help.

Perhaps.

Assuming a degree of open-mindedness and a recognition that help is needed...both tall orders from what I've experienced.

[Via Ron W]

What DC Means by "Home Rule"

City police in DC are about to get a lot more firepower. Thanks to military surplus, the Metropolitan Police Department is converting hundreds of military automatic weapons into semi-automatic rifles and hopes to have many of them deployed on city streets within the next month.

So how much time until the conversions are complete and we reverse DC government's stated goal of getting more guns off the street? And these are the same people who won't let you keep a handgun in your home?

My first thought was that doesn't leave much time for training--particularly in urban warfare tactics, which is essentially what they'll be used for. Y'know, just because you give some yutz a rifle doesn't mean he'll know how to deploy in the variety of scenarios he'll encounter--and just as importantly, when not to.

Figures the FOP, who froth at the mouth about how home-as-refuge protections will endanger their precious hindquarters, would be on board with this for all the "more equal" animals.

And here's a speculation worth peeling back and looking under, from Len Savage:

M-16 minus auto sears are semi auto? I thought that they are machine guns? [as in frame or receiver of MG]

Without a proper ATF form 5 [tax free transfer to law enforcement], these are contraband according to ATF.

One could only know if one looked at the "converted" firearm....

Red's to Stay in Business

Mark Geston, an attorney representing Terry and Ryan Horsley of Red's Trading Post, said he could not yet release details, but said the proposal would allow the Twin Falls gun shop to continue operating.

We'll post them as we receive them.

This Day in History: May 23

The Committee of One Hundred was officially replaced by the New York Provincial Congress which first convened on May 23, 1775, but the committee continued to meet for a while.

Red's "Close to Settlement"

An Idaho gun shop that went to federal court to keep the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives from stripping it of its gun license has
reached a tentative settlement agreement.

Keep your fingers crossed and say a prayer for Ryan and his family that this means they'll be able to stay open.

UPDATE: Here's another account. It doesn't really say a lot more, but there is a video (that suddenly cuts off near the end).

Olofson Responds...

...to Sebastian's post and to comments that we discussed yesterday.

Go and read.

UPDATE: Sebastian properly deemed it deserving of its own post.

Let Me See If I've Got This Straight

But I applaud the mayor and Council for the audacious act of civic disobedience.

So the answer to making Philadelphia "thug-free" is to let the top thugs disregard the law and do what they want?

Hey, can I do that too, or does it only apply to...uh..."Only Ones"?

I know it's considered bad form to point and stare at the mentally defective, but Jill Porter's publicly-documented serial descent into barking-at-the-moon lunacy is such a fascinating curiosity to observe first-hand.

I also like the comment by "Barbara Moss":

I wish Jack-Ryan-Would-Please-Die...

Oh now Barbara--sometimes people don't realize they have posted and they resubmit comments. I know multiple posts can be irritating, but really--I wonder if there might be something we could... extrapolate from this...?

My Kind of Promo

Buy a Car, Get a Gun or Free Gas! Your Choice America!

Your choice. Exactly.

Guess what they're choosing?

Take the survey and show your support. And let Max Motors know you appreciate it. And if you live in the area and need a car, why not give them first crack at your business?

[Via SameNoKami]

What's to Lose?

Kent McManigal just shared a thought with me:

If "they" can now punish us for owning a machine gun that isn't a machine gun until they tamper with it, why would "theoretical gun owner" worry about getting caught with a real machine gun? Is there a worse penalty? There seems to be an unintended consequence lurking there somewhere.

We're the Only Ones Critical Enough

A push by the National Rifle Association to loosen a number of state gun laws is drawing heavy criticism from prosecutors and a variety of law-enforcement groups who argue it will make them and the public less safe.

Oh, these were the geniuses...

Figures they'd be "Only Ones." Hey, they've got theirs...

Here's the NRA-ILA contact list.

[Via Jeffersonian]

Dial 911 and Have an Extended Conversation

The way I see, it, you can either do this...

...or you can end things sooner.

Simply put, you can rely on others to be responsible for protecting you and yours, or you can rely on yourself.

What gets me is the idea that the choice isn't mine. What genius thought that one up?

[Via Jeffersonian]

Calling All California Gun Owners

From Tom McClintock:

[M]y opponent has unleashed the ugliest smear campaign I have seen in over 30 years in politics attacking both my integrity and my patriotism. He has backed it with over $2.5 million of his personal fortune and actually bragged that he planned to “bury McClintock in money.”

...[W]e’re stretched to the breaking point to keep our ads on the air. In fact, I’ve had to ask my campaign staff to hold off paying some of our bills for the primary election in order to keep at least a minimal presence on the air.

Are you going to help out? Or do you like it when "moderate" Oseholes betray you and support gun and ammo bans?

Something Wicked This Way Comes...

...and even Republicans are afraid!

Boogedy-Boogedy!

[Via ChareltonHest]