Thank Set Thulsa* is Safe!

Authorities seized 104 potential weapons from people who came to the rally Wednesday for presidential candidate Barack Obama at the St. Pete Times Forum, police spokeswoman Laura McElroy said.

And let's all thank the fine men and women of the Secret Service and TSA for showing stupid democrat supporters what they really think of them.

Or as Nelson Muntz would say:

[Via Brian F]

UPDATE: Oh, now I see. You can't be too careful when there's a credible threat.

*-Thulsa

Olofson Parts EMails

From David R. Olofson:

While I’m waiting on the last few affidavits to get done I thought I would work on that infamous Email the government keeps referring to. After a whole lot of fighting (feds don’t want it publicly disclosed, go figure(just like the video)) I finally got my hands on that email the government keeps claiming proves I bought a set of M16 FCG parts. Here it is, all four emails over a few week period wrapped up in one. See if you can find the deal for that M16 FCG parts set they claim I bought from him.

While some, generally anonymous chatroom warriors, would rather attack Mr. Olofson, some viciously, those of us with our eye on the ball know we need to focus on supporting this case and bringing information to light the government would rather you not see. You know, stuff the watchdog press "Authorized Journalists" are either oblivious, apathetic or hostile to sharing.

Let's see if this dang new-fangled widget thingy works...

Olofson EMails.pdf

Hosted by eSnips

Maybe We Could Draw One

OL: The Assault Weapons Ban-- you voted against it. But you also said you might be open to voting for an assault weapons ban, depending on the details. Do you know any details that would support that argument?

McCain: No, because a lot of these are weapons that people use for sport, for practice and for enjoyment- outdoor enjoyment. So no, I don't see a scenario where that would be the case. I'm sure maybe we could draw one. But the danger of an assault weapons ban spilling into weapons that people would use for everyday hunting is, I think, the challenge.

"Maybe we could draw one"? And you're "sure"?

Go ahead, Senator, flesh this out for us, including why your fallback is it might present "sporting purposes" complications.

And while you're at it, maybe you could draw a scenario and give us details that would support the argument for "outlawing cheaply made handguns called Saturday night specials."

"Customer Service"

Here's my exchange with Marathon/SuperAmerica/Speedway over their firing an employee who dared to fight back against a robber:

From: David Codrea
Sent: Wed 5/21/08 5:03 PM
To: custrelations@marathonpetroleum.com

I can't in good conscience do business with a company that would rather see its employees dead than defending themselves. Whose the genius in risk management who figured out you should just give a monster what he wants? What if what he wants isn't money?

Corporate bureaucrats--is there anything they don't know?

http://waronguns.blogspot.com/2008/05/marathon-man.html

David Codrea

Here is their unedited and complete reply:

Dear David,

Thank you for contacting us regarding your concerns about actions we have taken in response to the robbery that occurred at our SuperAmerica store located in Roseville, Minnesota.

The primary concern of Speedway SuperAmerica is the safety of our more than 19,000 employees, and the millions of customers who frequent our stores each day.

Unfortunately recent news reports did not accurately reflect the full facts surrounding this robbery and our decision to terminate an employee who violated company policy by intervening during the robbery.

Our policy is that employees are never to do anything to endanger themselves, co-workers or customers in the event of a robbery. In fact, the first principle in the policy is, “Cooperate! Don’t argue, resist or attack the robber.” Law enforcement officials support our position to avoid any confrontation during a robbery. According to our surveillance video, our female employee present during the robbery was not assaulted.

The employee who was dismissed signed documents acknowledging he had read and understood the policy. He was given a copy of procedures to use if involved in a robbery. In addition, he also completed a computer-based training program, followed by a test that indicated he understood the policy. In written statements to local police, neither employee present during the robbery indicated any physical attack.

While it is regrettable this situation occurred, it is important that we have and enforce policies to ensure the safety of all our employees and customers during a potentially dangerous situation. There is nothing in the store that is as valuable as our employees and our customers.

We appreciate your concern and the opportunity to share these important facts with you.

Sincerely,

Anthony Kenney

President, Speedway SuperAmerica

Well, if "The Only Ones" support their position, who am I to argue?

Shocking Memories

He doesn’t remember the epileptic seizure he suffered July 18, 2007, when he was 16...

His brother, Travis Baker, 17, remembers all of it. He recalls screaming at Corinth police to stop shocking Blake with a Taser. His mother, Deana, remembers hearing Travis crying on the telephone.

He'll remember this. He'll never forget it.

[Via Andre]

An Unusual Day...Or a New Trend?

I received the following observations and inquiry from Phillip C:

I took some guns in to get a verbal appraisal done, just an idea of what they were worth, for a friend whose husband died and left behind a few.

I've been going into the gunshops around here off and on for a few years, but a little more regularly lately. I fell off a 40 foot cliff last July, breaking my hip and fracturing my skull, and during my recovery realized how much like an easy target I looked, and decided to renew my expired CCW license and purchase a newer handgun than the old one I had in my twenties. Naturally, going to gun shops is kind of addictive, and I've been to several in the area.

Anyway... the point is: I was in two different gun shops today, and noticed a larger than average number of people browsing, and some buying. I watched as one old fella had a pistol that he had in a closet appraised, and then ended up going to look at shotguns for home defense. I don't know if it's the current political situation or some other cause, but it seems more and more people are getting into guns than the past few years.

Just something I noted during my trips to the shops today. Might be interesting to find out if other people are noticing the same thing, or if I just happened to land on an unusual day.

"One way to find out," I wrote him back, "at least anecdotally--let me post your email and ask the readers."

He said "yes" and I'm asking. Are you noticing an increase in activity, and if so, why do you think that might be?

Pardon Me?

Gov. David Paterson just announced his first gubernatorial pardon for Ricky "Slick Rick" Walters, a hip-hop artist convicted in 1991 on attempted murder and weapons charges who now faces deportation to the United Kingdom.

Yeah, why would you fight violent crime by holding thugs accountable for their actions when you can do photo ops with "Only Ones" and other anti-defense loons and call for even more citizen disarmament?


Let's see--Slick Rick shoots two people and serves six years. What did Wayne Fincher do again...?

[Via Declan]

Another Unexpected Resource

We talked yesterday about how GunPolicy.org was a surprising resource for gun-related articles we could use to our benefit. Here's another.

I'd say The New York Times has put together just about the most comprehensive one-stop page out there--it certainly merits regular consulting for people who want to keep up on current "gun control" events.

You'll also note some familiar gun blogs listed. Lest anyone dismiss this as just a robot key word match up, note "The publications tracked by Blogrunner are chosen by New York Times editors."

So congratulations to those of you who were selected. We are making inroads, and my belief is--at least from the Internet side--NYT is starting to realize that presenting our side is good for business, and probably, based on my interactions with them, may even be starting to resonate with some insiders. Anyway, it's progress.

I'm going to put a link to this page in my blogroll sidebar so we can access it whenever we want.

My prediction: As our recent adventures with the Brady/Huffpo folks demonstrated, I think they're going to see a respectable number of hits coming from the "pro-gun" side, and only a trickle out of the antis, whose sites evidently are mostly visited by us anyway.

We're the Only Ones "Bratz" Enough

A Starr County grand jury has indicted the police chief of the small South Texas town of La Grulla on a charge of soliciting sex from a minor.

And again with the age-old question: On the date, would you buy her a Big Kids Meal or a Happy Meal?

If you were an "Only One," which would you choose?

No Good News

When I was compiling the "Academic" post, below, I also happened across an excellent analysis of our choices in the presidential race.

Go and take in the whole thing. I'll still be here when you're done.

Hey...nice button!

Oregon Citizen Disarmament: It's Academic

The Oregon School Boards Association has filed an amicus brief in an effort to prevent trained, licensed, school employees from having self defense firearms on school property.

This is no surprise as the OSBA has a long history of opposing self defense in schools. But now the Oregon Department of Justice has joined the battle against self defense with their own amicus brief.

So what's the problem? Pragmatic gun lobby organizations agree:

[W]e believe in absolutely gun-free, zero-tolerance, totally safe schools. That means no guns in America's schools, period ... with the rare exception of law enforcement officers or trained security personnel.

So the Oregon Firearms Federation is just being divisive. Besides, it's a political non-winner. If you talk about guns in school, it will just scare the general public into thinking all gun owners are extremist maniacs, and it will make us all look bad.

No?

If you disagree with that, you could argue your case in "Comments," below. But I would suggest if you really disagree, it wouldn't hurt to show how much, by sending a contribution to help fight this battle in court.

[Via Jeffersonian]

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....