Shameless Plug: Chi-Town’s Pell-Mell Gun Laws

Not surprisingly, when you consider the Chicago political establishment, anti-gun Mayor Richard Daley, who never saw a private citizen’s gun he didn’t want to ban, supports Mell’s proposal. Apparently Mr. Daley’s theory is, the only ones who can be trusted with firearms in Chicago are members of law enforcement, his personal security detail, and fellow politicians — at least ones he’s allied with.

"Chi-Town’s Pell-Mell Gun Laws" is my Rights Watch column for the November 2008 issue of GUNS Magazine, on sale now at helter-skelter newstands throughout the Republic.

Also in this issue is my review of David E. Young's "The Founders' View of the Right to Keep and Bear Arms."

The Race for the Presidency

Race is arguably the biggest issue in this election, and it’s one that nobody’s talking about.

Except maybe racist democrat activists who are talking race war if they don't get their way. Or racist democrat activists fixated on "white privilege."

Or racist democrat activists who wonder if Obama is black enough?

Or racist democrat activists who point out he's not?

Or The Lightworker himself, who makes sure the talking points are crystal clear?

Or maybe your own network?

What the hell are you talking about, Jack Cafferty? Everybody's been talking about it, except maybe the other side of the aisle. You racist democrat activist "Authorized Journalists" have had to reach so hard to find examples, you're reduced to inventing conspiracy theories and highlighting code words invented by racist democrat activist politicians.

We get the message: If you don't vote for Obama, you're a racist. Like it's impossible to oppose him for any other reason.

And let's not even talk about the 90% support he gets from...like I said, let's not talk about that, because it's obviously all issue oriented, and to do so would be "offensive" and "naive."

Here's the thing: If Obama loses, I believe race will be the deciding factor. But here's the other thing--it won't be for the reasons all the racist democrat activists will be pointing fingers and raging over. It will be because a substantial enough margin of voters from their own party--possibly a third of white democrats--won't vote for a black guy.

Beloved Hollywood Stars Safe from Evil Gun Threat

Three people hoping to attend The 60th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards were detained on Sunday (21Sep08), after police found a rifle inside their car at a checkpoint near the show.

Three people were detained by authorities when an aerosol rifle, similar to a BB gun, was found in the trunk of the car.

I'm familiar with "air rifle" and "CO2 guns," but I really can't recall ever hearing the term "aerosol rifle." Is it a term hobbyists use and I'm just out of that loop? Or is it more "Authorized Journalism"?

All I know is, another Skip Coolzip opportunity for television history has come and gone.

Those elites sure are protected, aren't they?

Pandering on Guns?

Mark Warner, who should know better, puts politics ahead of D.C. home rule.

It's tough for me to argue against that pandering charge for some of the politicos, but in fairness to Warner, his lead is substantial enough that he doesn't need to. It would be nice if it turns out not to be just "politics," and the bill actually gets passed in the senate and signed into law by the president. What I fear is this will give some democrats in close races enough cover with gun-owning constituents to get them elected without any actual change happening--kind of a no-risk "pro-gun" show vote they can make with a nod and a wink from party leadership, then once victory is in the bag they can be counted on for further treachery.

As for "home rule," I still note none of the antis raise it when things go their way...

We're the Only Ones Cheating Enough

A dozen Ohio Highway Patrol officers, including 11 of 40 at the patrol's Canton post, were fired Monday, resulting in a significant loss of manpower that could benefit drunken drivers and speeding motorists.

Three sergeants and eight troopers at the post along with a Wooster-based trooper were dismissed, after investigations found that they cheated on a written alcohol detection device certification test or knew about the cheating and failed to stop it.

11 of 40? Thanks goodness there were only "a few bad apples." I can't imagine what a significant number of rotten "Only Ones" complicit in messing up citizen's lives with cheating and lies would be like.

Oh, that's right. It would be like the Canton post of the Ohio Highway Patrol.

Meanwhile, Over in Bloomberg Paradise...

Two thugs armed with a bat savagely beat a Boston radio show host in a Bronx vestibule early this morning - striking him on the head eight times before stealing his phone, wallet and gold chain, authorities said.

Why didn't he just give them what they wanted?

Oh...he did.

"Founders' View" Update

I asked David E. Young for an update on how his efforts are going to spread the word on his latest book. Here's his reply:

David,

Last Saturday, the National Rifle Association Board of Directors passed a resolution commending and expressing gratitude to the attorneys who prepared briefs and the scholars whose research was successfully used by the attorneys to protect every American's constitutional right to keep and bear arms in the Heller case. I was one of the sixty-six individuals named in the NRA resolution.

While I do not travel all that much, it seemed appropriate to attended the NRA President's Reception on Friday evening and the Board of Directors meeting last Saturday for this event in Arlington. There was a veritable sea of pro-rights people present including Heller attorney Alan Gura, David Hardy, David Kopel, Stephen Halbrook, NRA President Sigler, Board member Robert Viden, James Schaller, and many, many others. Approximately half of those being honored attended the events.

On Friday while going to the reception, I noticed Sebastian from Snowflakes in Hell lounging in a hallway overstuffed chair.

On Saturday prior to the Board meeting, I had an opportunity to show Sebastian my copies of "The Origin of the Second Amendment" and "The Founders' View of the Right to Bear Arms." These copies have all the Emerson, Parker, and Heller case citations (over 180 total) highlighted and tagged. He took a picture with his cellphone camera, and also one of the reception the previous evening.

It was pretty uncomfortable in the suit because I have only worn one about three times in my life and the temperature was quite warm. Decided it would be appropriate for this occasion to dress up a little, though.

My next venture out from Ontonagon, Michigan will be to Phoenix, Arizona next weekend September 26, 27, and 28 for the 2008 Gun Rights Policy Conference sponsored by the Second Amendment Foundation. I will have a book signing table for The Founders' View of the Right to Bear Arms there. Hope to see lots of pro-rights people and answer lots of questions.

Take care,

Dave Young

My review of Founders' View is published in the November 2008 issue of GUNS Magazine, which ought to be at newsstands now. Here's the gist of it:

Both "Founders" and "Origin" are important books for anyone who wants to understand why the Founders wrote the Second Amendment and what they meant by it.

Canadian Gun Rights Up in Smoke?

Jack Layton was accused of softening his support for the decriminalization of marijuana after two well-known pot activists resigned from running for his party in British Columbia...

Before Layton began speaking a handful of protesters showed up at the rally carrying signs protesting his proposed ban on handguns.

The security detail asked them to leave the room and then asked a reporter who wanted to speak to them to take them outside for an interview.

The officers allowed the protesters to stay when many more reporters came over to speak with them.

David Hamel, a member of the National Firearms Association who said he was there to represent only himself, said he feared that a ban on handguns would only be the start of an all-out ban on firearms.

While I discourage getting stupid, I never thought pot should be illegal.

That said, I can see where a politician who wants to trick people into giving up their best means of defense (along with, what, another $175 million for [ahem] smoke and mirrors?) would want them to get as stupid as possible.

Kudos to Mr. Hamel for being a voice of unaltered consciousness. If only more Canadians would follow his lead...

Preserving "Our Culture"

One of the main reasons expressed to oppose independent migrants is that they will supposedly overrun the country and destroy "our culture".

Kent McManigal continues developing a thought.

I'm saying this as politely as I can: I remain unconvinced.

Nine Principles

7. Police, at all times, should maintain a relationship with the public that gives reality to the historic tradition that the police are the public and the public are the police; the police being only members of the public who are paid to give full-time attention to duties which are incumbent on every citizen in the interests of community welfare and existence.

Not "Only One" members...?

[Via Jeffersonian]

This Day in History: September 22

The undernamed Prisoners, try'd by a General Court Martial for "Mutiny, Riot and Disobedience of orders," are severally guilty of the Crimes, wherewith they are accused, and the Court upon due Consideration of the Evidence, do adjudge that the prisoner Joseph Scales receive thirty-nine Lashes upon his bare back and be drum'd out of the Army, and that the prisoners, John Gillard...do each of them receive Twenty Lashes upon his bare back and be drum'd out of the army -- The Prisoners Lawrence Blake, Samuel Bodin, John Besom...be fin'd Twenty Shillings lawful money each.

Joseph Foster, Joseph Laurence and Joseph Tessenden, being recommended by the Court Martial, as proper objects of mercy, The Commander in Chief is pleased to remit their fine, and to order the sentence upon all the others, to be put in Execution at Guard mounting, to morrow morning -- Those upon Prospect-hill to receive their punishment there; the rest at the main Guard.

Dr. Phil Follow-Up

“Oh, I hate the idea,” Carol says. She has a 7-year-old who’s been asking questions. “He asked me, ‘If I do something wrong, are they going to pull guns out on me?’ What do you tell a child like that?”

You tell him "No, of course not." And then you take him to the range, teach him about guns and how to shoot them, explain how you and daddy will protect him and that other good grownups can too.

Good Lord, Carol, assuming you let him, he's supposed to be a man one day. It's your job to teach him how. What kind of hysterical mommy's boy weakling do you want your son to be?

Dr. Phil actually did better than I was prepared to give him credit for:

You know, I have to say, and I’m not sure where I come down on this, but I can say, if something happened, if I was in a classroom or somewhere else, and somebody came in shooting, boy, I’d sure wish I had a gun.

Well then you are sure. Why not say so?

As for Linda Bridges of the teacher's union, no surprises there.

You know, we hire nurses to do medical procedures at schools. We hire teachers to teach. We should hire security guards or police to do law enforcement functions.

Self defense becomes "law enforcement," an exclusive province of the state.

Sometimes, you can judge a book by its cover.

Almost There, Matt

The common declaration that no one "needs" a handgun infuriates me even more. I can't deny it – it's true. No one needs a handgun, short of the obvious exceptions of police officers, military personnel, and a few select other professionals. I'll grant that right now.

You were doing pretty well there until you got to that part, Matt Gurney.

Do a bit more learning and thinking about why that may not always be so, and you may well turn out to be that "articulate spokesmen" you're hoping for.

A Professor of Constitutional Law

Yeah, so is The Lightworker. No wonder we're in the mess we're in.

[D]espite our best efforts, more people will die.

Yeah, there's only one side to that equation, right, Mary Cheh? What secret knowledge are you holding back from us that makes you so authoritatively certain more lives won't be saved?

We'll see how well her ideal liberal academic framework of carry prohibitions, magazine capacity limits, microstamping, theft reporting requirements and other predator-favoring nonsense holds up when things fall apart and people get desperate.

I can just see Mary confronting the opportunistic and warning: "STAND BACK! I HAVE A LAW DEGREE!"

Oh, and as an aside: Kathie McLay, would you please put that sign down? Some would say you're making us look bad.

A Brother in Need

"Not getting on this island was not an option," David Culpepper said. "We have a brother in need."

Damn straight. And what a great name.

I love seeing this spirit. It feel like America.

We're the Only Ones Wacky Enough

A judge in Las Vegas has dismissed a firearms charge against US comedian Jerry Lewis.

I'm delighted charges were dismissed. I don't even mind that his rep apparently lied about the gun and they let him off anyway.

I just want to make sure that this isn't because celebrities are "Only Ones," and that you and I will be given the same break.

YouTube Bans "Assault Videos"

YouTube is to ban footage showing weapons being used to intimidate people on its website in the UK.

I'll bet that's not true.

I'll bet you'll still see footage of state enforcers using weapons to keep civilians in line with their rulers' wishes. See, it's the difference between "assault videos" and "patrol videos."

YouTube said it was necessary to reflect "local laws and sensitivities"...

Ahh...kind of like The Lightworker's one Second Amendment for urban areas, another for rural...? That is, of course, until "local laws and sensitivities" can be preempted with centralized rule...

They said Bill Clinton was the first black president. Perhaps Barack Obama will be our first British one.

[Via David Hamel]

Feds Remind Wyoming Just Who the Boss Is

A federal appeals court in Denver, CO, has ruled against Wyoming in a lawsuit over a state law that seeks to allow people convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence to regain their gun rights, according to The Billings Gazette and Associated Press...

The Wyoming Attorney General’s Office has said that Wyoming courts expunged 63 misdemeanor convictions from 2005 through last October 2007. Only one person with an expunged record had gone on to receive a state-issued concealed weapons permit as of last October...

The ATF said that conviction records weren’t truly expunged if they were kept on the books for any purpose.

Here's BATFU all worried about technicalities again, and willing to see you die in the name of procedure.

Anybody have info on the 10th Circuit Appeals Court panel judges involved, or the district Judge Alan Johnson, who initially ruled against the state? Like who appointed them? I'll need to look around when I get some time, but for now can't help noticing one of the Wyoming District Court's three missions is:

To represent the District of Wyoming in a manner that will instill trust in the Judiciary.

Oops. Flubbed that one up, Alan.

And there's one other question I don't hear too many raising, so would appreciate any and all who wish to add their voice in asking:

Why aren't the Brady Campaign and anti-gun politicians who have been going nuts over DC been consistent in their demands for "home rule"? You'd almost think that's just a convenient ploy to gin up outrage with, that they really don't give a damn about it unless it serves their purposes...

[Via Jeffersonian]

This Day in History: September 21

The Committee of Accounts produced an accol from the Committee of Berks County amounting to two thousand and seventy pounds, nine shillings, advanced and paid for the riffle companies and Col. [William] Thompson.

Ordered, That this be referred back to the Committee, who are to examine and pay the accot.

Ordered, that the President write to Genl Washington and request him to order Col. [William] Thompson immediately to send to the Congress an account of the expenditure of 5,000 dollars paid him by order of the Congress on the 29th July, being in advance for the service of a Battalion of Rifflemen under his command.

We're the Only Ones Treating You Like Animals Enough

They treated us like animals. They were not there to protect and serve, they were there to search and destroy.

I guess I have to disagree here. If they'd treated you like animals, you'd be left laying in a pool of your own blood for hours--just like your dogs.

But they did treat you like terror hostages. Which is what you were.

Which makes Prince George's (Md.) County head "Only One" Michael Jackson a terrorist.

[Via Brian F]