Give Me Liberty

My recommendation: Buy it. Now.

Blogonomicon gives us an update on the Patrick Henry speech as performed by JohnLitel.

He shared with me via email how moved he was by this, which means I have every expectation that we will be as well.

Precipice

And so we must expect that, in the societal disturbances -- from individual crimes of theft to roving gangs to racial strife -- that may attend our coming crisis, it will be the armed citizenry that once again shoulders the burden of defending our loved ones, our homes, our property and our communities.

Mike Vanderboegh thinks we're in for some interesting times...

Hectoring and Bossing

If a person imagines his wisdom and privilege are sufficient to tell you what you may say, how much you can eat, and how to raise your children, chances are excellent that he is what we would call in common parlance a "liberal."

That pretty much sums up the nanny-staters. At least the ones too stupid to recognize the tyranny they're enabling.

[Via Bruce Mills]

Meanwhile, Over at the Hog Butcher for the World...*

Seizing upon the controversy enveloping Mayor Richard Daley over Chicago gun violence and city policing, Gov. Rod Blagojevich said Wednesday he's holding discussions with his State Police and Illinois National Guard officials about any crime-fighting role they can play.

What, you mean the ban on handguns (except for aldermen) isn't working? And the only way we can ensure peace and freedom is to take another step toward martial law?

But don't worry--this isn't (technically) a violation of posse comitatus. That only applies when they've been federalized. Never mind that they serve in a dual enlistment capacity as reservists.

At the risk of crying Katrina, let me just observe that the citizen militia as envisioned by the Founders--you know, that anachronism that's "necessary to the security of a free state"--is nowhere to be found in this mix, and that's by design.

Which means we will neither be secure nor free. But plenty of opportunities to ratchet up the controls will sure present themselves.

[Via Mack H and Brian F]

*

Meanwhile, Across the Pond in Sarah Brady Paradise

'I repeated that the only people being photographed were my own children. She said I could be taking pictures of just any child to put on the internet and called me a pervert. We immediately left the show.’

See, you need to learn a lesson from our open carry experiences here, old chap.

If you'd been wearing a uniform, everyone would have assumed you were authorized.

[Via Zachary G]

We're the Only Ones Not in it for the Money Enough

City police officers in one Florida county will have unrestricted authority to make traffic stops outside of their jurisdiction beginning Aug. 1.

"We're stressing that revenue-producing is not the purpose here," he said.

How much is that bridge again?

But fine. Let's take him at his word. It's for a nobler purpose.

Heck, we saw that same "everybody benefits" rationale for allowing "Only One" nationwide concealed carry. Except when they have cause to think twice...

You know what we really need: nationwide jurisdicition. Say, how about a federally-directed national police force, with jurisdiction everywhere? It would sure help get rid of some of those pesky regional pressures when people don't know who you are, where you come from, where you live...

Thulsa said it, I believe it, that settles it (16:45 into the video):

We cannot continue to rely on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives we've set. We've got to have a civilian national security force that's just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded.

Except, as Bob Unruh reports in WorldNetDaily, now he's trying to make it look like he didn't say it. And the "Authorized Journalists" are playing right along.

But in any case, when The Lightworker uses the term ""civilian national security force," I think it's a pretty safe bet to assume two things: He's not talking about the citizen militia of the Second Amendment, and he's got bigger fish to fry than traffic revenues.

[Via Avg Joe and Matt L]

This Day in History: July 17

We, reposing special trust and confidence in your patriotism, valor, conduct, and fidelity, do, by these presents, constitute and appoint you to be General and Commander in chief, of the army of the United Colonies, and of all the forces now raised, or to be raised, by them, and of all others who shall voluntarily offer their service, and join the said Army for the Defence of American liberty, and for repelling every hostile invasion thereof...

A Quick Note to Waco Jim

Mike Vanderboegh pokes another stick at BATFU.

Hey, we ought to do a book along the lines of "Where's Waldo?"

Pictures of gun show floors and you have to find the JBT...

Line Right Up and Stick Your Neck on this Block

D.C. police will start the gun registration process at 7 a.m. tomorrow...An officer from the gun unit will meet the applicant at the door and take temporary possession of the gun to ensure safety at headquarters.

But of course. It's only safe if they have it.

And, again of course, if you have a semiautomatic, you're screwed. After all (he asked tongue-in-cheek), wasn't there a "common use" escape hatch in the majority opinion?

The idea of forcing citizens to take a test to exercise a right smacks of a Jim Crow-era story I once heard about blacks trying to register to vote. The sheriff had a jar full of beans, and the test for eligibility was to guess how many were in the jar.

Evicting Indy Gun Criminals

Battle plan targets criminals with guns

What, criminals with guns in Indianapolis?

You mean these guys?

Or how about these?

Or these?

Or these?

Or...

I don't need to link more do I? I mean, this is only what goes back to last month, that I've noticed, and I haven't even particularly been looking.

Carl Brizzi does give us a candid admission, though:

We must act...collectively...

Yep. That is what it's all about.

And here's looking toward Project EVICT being every bit the success Project Gula...uh...Exile has turned out to be.

Bob Barr Poster Contest Update

I haven't forgotten, I've just been busy. I suppose we should wrap this thing up.

A public record has been created documenting the Barr campaign and the national LP know about the Lautenberg concerns and have chosen to ignore them. That means they have chosen to demonstrate no difference between their MO and those of the major parties.

I'll plan on doing a final presentation and vote on Sunday. Anyone still wishing to participate has until Saturday night. Here's how.

Sorry--I still haven't decided on a prize. I'll come up with something.

In the mean time, get your entries in if you want to play, and check in on Sunday to vote--which means I'll also need to design a poll...

The Dream Team

Will Romney's Combative Style Net VP Nod?

I can't wait to see the contortions and hear the excuse-making if this one pans out.

We're the Only Ones Thinking Twice Enough

An off-duty police detective failed a required sobriety test after wounding an armed suspect, leading a union official to suggest Tuesday that officers will think twice about stepping in when they're off the job.

But I thought that was the reason they were among The "Only Ones" permitted to carry in The Big Apple.

If they won't step in, particularly when ordinary people are mandated defenseless, what possible reason could there be to continue allowing it?

And what does it say for how the rulers view us, when armed and drinking enforcers are considered more trustworthy than a sober citizen in a different line of work?

[Via SameNoKami]

Les Misérables

Four Boise teenagers — three females and a male — are facing felony burglary charges after Meridian police say they they stole $45 worth of items Monday at Wal-Mart....

Stowe said it can be hard to prove intent in many shoplifting cases, so those suspects are usually charged with a misdemeanors. He said the officer in this case felt he had evidence to support the felony charge.

Yeah, I'd say none of them deserves to ever be able to protect themselves again for the rest of their lives. That sounds reasonable.

I wonder if this "Only One" has factored in what creating desperation does to the chances that people with nothing to lose will often violently resist?

[Via Avg Joe]

Inching Back Up the Path

But if they applied the 1966 Miranda standard to the Second Amendment, they would instead have ruled that, when I enter a federal courthouse or other government building, the receptionist or security guard who greets me would be required to say, "Ah, sir, you don't seem to be wearing a sidearm. I'm required to advise you that you have a right to keep and bear arms. If you don't currently have a gun, one will be provided you at government expense.

Vin Suprynowicz shares some measured Heller insights.

[Via cycjec]

No Impact

The recent historic handgun ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court should have no impact on gun control and licensing provisions in New York state, a local judge has concluded.

Then I'd say he's right in line with the "Vote Freedom First President's" administration...

[Via Jeffersonian]

A Threat of Immediate Harm

"[S]everal council members said they agreed with tougher language that requires weapons to be unloaded, disassembled or trigger locked, except when there is a "threat of immediate harm to a person" in the home."

We knew DC would play these stupid games. Here's the thing:

If government can openly defy rulings of their choosing, why shouldn't we?

It could be they won't end up liking the unintended consequences when not only has respect for the law been eroded, but also fear of it.

[Via Jeffersonian]

No Cause for Celebration

The DEA, which our great moral leader Richard Nixon created in 1973 and charged with the impossible but politically useful mission of winning the "all-out global war on the drug menace," turned 35 on July 1.

So, how's its track record after 35 years of difficult, often dangerous drug-war-making? If the DEA were a heroin addict, it would have overdosed on its own incompetence by age 6.

I guess that depends on what its real mission is. Because if someone wanted to inject a tyranny-enabling cancer of corruption into this country's law enforcement and police state tolerance into its populace, I'd say things have worked out pretty much as planned.

[Via Michael G]

Flushing Away RKBA

A popular American pulp and paper company has banned employees at its toilet paper plant from storing concealed weapons in their cars while on company property – a move that defies Florida gun law...

Company spokesman Jeremy Alexander said the plant's rules ban firearms on the property because it ships about 700 gallons of fuel each day to operate.

''This is based on our Homeland Security requirements," he said. "It's not because of the products we make.''

Let's see: If "a well regulated militia" is "necessary to the security of a free state," how does disarming said militia make said state more secure?

It doesn't?

You mean both Jeremy and DHS are full of...?

[Via Avg Joe]

"Me & My 30'06"

Joe Bethancourt sings us a song. Then click on some of the other links and he'll sing you some more.

[Via Featherless Biped]