What Does Scott Brown Victory Mean for Gun Owners?

I don't want to rain on everybody's parade, but I think gun owners will be right at this point to keep their enthusiasm in check. True, we dodged a bullet, no question. But how will Senator Brown now handle our trust? [More]

Today's Gun Rights Examiner column cautions against excess jubilation, questions why a firearms accessory supplier donated to Martha Coakley, and gives a link to my interview this afternoon on Trigger Sports LIVE!

Also get the latest from my fellow GREs.

Tell a friend? Really? Will you?

This Day in History: January 20

Stressing the need of accuracy concerning the sick Washington required, January 20, 1778: "The regimental surgeions every Wednesday and Saturday are to make returns to the brigadier of all the sick in their respective regts. They or their mates are duly to attend the huts of their men and see that the sick are provided for as well as possible. The surgeons are also to keep a book in which they will enter a copy of every return they give in." [More]

What Can Brown Do for You?

Dave Workman tells us. [More]

Austin Police Statement on Banning Private Sales at Texas Gun Shows

I just received this press release from the Austin PD...

In the interest of getting the information out ASAP and making it available to as many as possible, I'm also pasting the pages here as graphics--you should be able to click to enlarge...[More]

This development warranted a second Gun Rights Examiner column. It includes a pdf of the Austin PD presser. Please share this link far and wide via forums, blogs, email lists...to anyone who is interested in this case.

Dull...uh...Dillard for Governor!

Illinois Governor - Republican

Senator Kirk Dillard - Senator Dillard was selected for endorsement from a large and very qualified field of Republican hopefuls. The decision was very difficult in light of the fact that the field included a very good friend of the law-abiding gun owner - Senator Bill Brady, along with two other candidates with solid positions on gun rights. But, in the end, the ISRA-PVF board of directors decided that Sen. Dillard had the best hope of defeating anti-gun extremist, Jim Ryan, in the Primary Election. [More]

Did someone say "highlights"?

QUESTION: "Would you sign or veto legislation banning the sale and possession of semiautomatic assault-style weapons in Illinois?"

...Kirk Dillard: "Without having more sufficient detail, including the definition of an "assault-style weapon," and for what circumstances the use of these weapons would be approved, this question is difficult to answer."

OK, then.

[Via Bruce from Illinois]

Law-Abiding Gun Owners

Kurt agrees with me. [More]

About this.

Failed Leadership?

Schoolmarm Paul gives Obama an "F". [More]

It's all misdirection, you realize. The action right now is masked, behind the scenes and off the radar. And the manipulators are biding their time.

Hard to tell if this report is meant to give cover to that, to save face, or if these clowns really are this immature and impatient...

Howard Nemerov has more.

As does Kurt Hofmann.

Coming Soon to a Republic Near You

Illinois Careens Toward Bankruptcy: Report
No federal protection for states [More]

What, you mean they're not "too big to fail"?

I certainly am comforted knowing the Illinois political machine has moved it's headquarters over to Pennsylvania Avenue.

And they've brought their economic policies with them.

After all, Chi-Town isn't a place, it's an attitude!

Why Not Just Give Them What They Want?

The victims have all been women, ranging in age from 65 to 91. [More]

And while we're told "pepper spray is flying off the shelves," we see one irresponsible zealot ignore all of Paul Helmke's manly advice:

An 81-year-old woman scared off an intruder with a gun, firing several rounds for good measure.

Hey, what the hell happened to our right to feel safe?

[Via William T]

Creating Offenses the Hardaway

HB 2422 by *Hardaway.

Firearms and Ammunition - As introduced, creates various gun show offenses, including prohibiting any person who is not a licensed firearms dealer from transferring a firearm to another person if any part of the transfer takes place at a gun show or within 1,000 feet of a gun show. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17. [More]

Hmmm...I found "securing the Blessings of Liberty" as a valid function of government. I can't seem to find "creating offenses"...

I'll keep looking. I'm sure it must be in there somewhere.

Looks like some idiot subversive legislator is trying to make what's happening in Texas legal in Tennessee...

If you'd like to create an offense of your own and tell this stupid little fascist what you think of him...

rep.ga.hardaway@capitol.tn.gov

And yeah, I know. Some will tell you we need to be polite. Apparently because they realize these creatures are so evil and corrupt that they will abuse their political power for petty revenge if you don't show proper subservience, so we don't want to make them angry...

[Via Bob P]

Two Smoking Guns

ATF Documents Link on the AR15/M16 policy at the time of the Olofson bust, and more NFRTR lies [More]

And this is key:

Given the lengths ATF went to redact the "Firearms Work Note" document, and the documents ATF has now released that fill in the redacted blanks, it is difficult to avoid the impression that ATF has been involved in an obstruction of justice.

Everybody sure they don't want to reconsider and at least try...?

We're the Only Ones Letting Our Fingers Do the Walking Enough

The FBI illegally collected more than 2,000 U.S. telephone call records between 2002 and 2006 by invoking terrorism emergencies that did not exist or simply persuading phone companies to provide records, according to internal bureau memos and interviews. FBI officials issued approvals after the fact to justify their actions. [More]

Funny. I did a "find" on this story's text and the words "indict" and "arrest" aren't there. Ah well, I'm sure that's merely "a 'good-hearted but not well-thought-out' solution"...

Still, catch a non-federal "Only One" "willfully" violating one of their edicts and Katie bar the door...

Nevada Senate Candidate Tarkanian Calls for Vigilance in Defending 2nd Amendment

Danny Tarkanian is running for the United States Senate in Nevada. The candidate has prepared a statement defining his position and observations on the right to keep and bear arms. His campaign asked me if I would present them here, and because we have been closely following that race, I agreed. What follows are his words... [More]

Today's Gun Rights Examiner column cedes the floor to allow a credible rival to Harry Reid to further define himself.

Also get the latest from my fellow GREs.

Tell a friend?

This Day in History: January 19

[More]

More About Texas Gun Shows in Austin

In re yesterday's post:

Click to enlarge

I just got this and have not yet listened.

I do note some in comments endorse taking it out on the proprietors. I can't join that call because I don't know the facts. Here's the thing--it's not our livelihood at stake and based on all the talk and no action I observe from most in the internet "pro-gun" community, my bet is very few would come forward to help them fight this. It's a bit like watching the other barnyard critters complain about the Little Red Hen's bread not being up to snuff.

I'd venture unless a big outfit like NRA's Civil Rights Defense Fund comes to their rescue, and attorneys get involved who can convince Texas state authorities to issue some counter order or get an injunction from the courts, it's hardly any more fair to beat them up--with what we know at this time--than it is for us to condemn a gun owner for accepting a plea.

Hopefully there is something in the works. I'll need to listen to the segments, and again tomorrow, and perhaps I'll revise my assessment--perhaps not.

And no, I don't know which hour it's in or how soon it begins. Here's the main access page.

UPDATE: I'm listening to this segment now: http://podcast.gcnlive.com/podcast/alex/0118104.mp3

"Darwin" sounds like he's doing what he can and is going to fight this. His is a family business, so we're not talking unlimited resources here. It looks like Alex Jones will be going there at the next show in 3 1/2 weeks. Be nice if there was a game plan by then for supporting gun owners to show up and make a media/protest event of this.

It also sounds like the previous proprietor was caught on some stings and the feds are taking those out on the new guys.

As I listen, my sense is these are people we should be getting behind and supporting, not judging.

My Trijicon Sight is Defective...

Mine has Q 5:033 inscribed:

The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His apostle and strive to make mischief in the land is only this, that they should be murdered or crucified or their hands and their feet should be cut off on opposite sides or they should be imprisoned...

I guess that last bit is if you plea bargain...?

The "Authorized Journalists" are going nuts. Here's a video from six months ago (see around 3:50 into it).

I can see the point that this could complicate Middle East operations. By the same token, a private company can put anything they like on their products.

Having worked in the defense contracting industry for over 16 years in a past life, I find it hard to believe the military procurement guys didn't know. But then again, having worked in the defense contracting industry for over 16 years, I find it perfectly believable.

An Open Letter

Vanderboegh writes one. [More]

It may surprise you, but I'd like to protest the lady's innocence. How can anyone bring more public disgrace to BATFU than their top management brings on themselves?

Ed Schultz Attacks Another Box of Freedom

What Schultz is proposing is nothing less than casus belli. [More]

Today's Gun Rights Examiner column looks at a subversive punk on a soap box.

Also see how Nevadans are rallying behind the gun rights questionnaire, learn about legislative confusion in Oregon and get the latest from my fellow GREs.

Tell a friend? You?

This Day in History: January 18

At a Brigade Court-Martial held 12th. instant whereof Lt. Colo. Harmer was President, Ensign Foster of 6th. Pennsylvania Regiment having been found guilty of challenging Captn. Cruise and behaving unbecoming the Character of an Officer and a Gentleman was sentenced to be discharged from the service...[More]

Messin' with Texas

By what authority? [More]

Where is this within BATFU's charter?

By what section of the Texas Penal Code or the Texas Government Code does the Austin PD claim authority?

They're discussing this over at AR15.com.

Correspondent Walter L appears to shed some light:

The Texas Gun Shows have been “ordered” by the Austin PD and BATF to allow no setups for gun sales from non-FFLs. All individual sales will have to go through licensed dealers.

Chasing some stuff down, it seems that HEB owns the building they use and the APD and BATF have gotten to them—threatening with the possibility of suit if there are sales on their property for non background checked transactions. Thus it’s the “landlord” not LE who is calling for the restrictions.

So what is this? They realize they don't have actual delegated power but aren't beyond a little backdoor "pressure" under color of authority to still get their way? They're stepping a bit outside the bounds of enforcement, wouldn't you say?

How is that different from extortion, a mob hood coming into your business and saying "Nice place you've got here--shame if something happened to it"...?

Is this the way Bloomberg's wet dream to end private sales will be enacted? Not through rule of law, but through official intimidation?

And just how does any of this square with the bottom line justification for government in the first damn place: "To secure the Blessings of Liberty..."?

UPDATE: Received via forwarded email.

and I just sent an email to the Austin PD:



[Via Chris P and Walter L]