New York Gun Lawsuit Dismissed

Updated: Thursday, May 1, 2008, 6:40 am -- In a related story, Mayor Bloomberg and New York City are being forced in court to prove they targeted the "right" bad gun dealers. "Mayor Mike" may even be forced to testify.

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Updated: Thursday, May 1, 2008, 6:21 am -- NYC Mayor Bloomberg isn't happy with this court reversal. Too bad he still doesn't understand the rule of law in this nation. But if he's uhappy, that makes it a good day.

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Dave Hardy at Arms And The Law has details on a 2nd Circuit Court ruling that a New York City lawsuit against firearms manufacturers must be dismissed.

Judges that follow the law. Makes sense to me, a mere layman . . .

Quote Of The Day

In the end, more than freedom, they wanted security. They wanted a comfortable life, and they lost it all — security, comfort, and freedom. When the Athenians finally wanted not to give to society but for society to give to them, when the freedom they wished for most was freedom from responsibility then Athens ceased to be free and was never free again. -- Edward Gibbon, an English historian from the 1700s discussing ancient Athens.

Ban The Assault Iron Bars

From Australia:

"A man was hit in the head with an "extremely heavy" iron bar three times when a brawl erupted in the Launceston suburb of Mayfield, the Supreme Court in Launceston heard yesterday. Mark Russell McMahon, of George Town Rd, Mayfield has pleaded not guilty to one count of causing grievous bodily harm to Jason Cadman on April 23, 2006. Lana Eileen Hand has pleaded not guilty to one count of being an accessory after the fact by allegedly hiding the iron bar after the attack."

Ban the assault iron bars. For God's sake, do it for the children!!!

'Fish In A Barrel' At University of Idaho

Laurel, over at Politics, Guns & Beer, reports on failure at the University of Idaho.

She received the following Campus Security Alert via email:

"University Community, At approximately 9:30 a.m. today, an anonymous female caller using a courtesy phone in the Commons reported seeing a male person in the Commons, whom she has heard previously making threatening remarks. This male person is described as very heavy-set, with dark hair, wearing a white t-shirt and gray vest. Moscow Police are investigating. All members of the University of Idaho Moscow campus are urged to remain calm but vigilant, and to report any information by calling 911. Federal law requires the University to report security incidents to the community in a timely fashion."

Her response? With no one on campus permitted CCW, "we are fish in a barrel."

'Foreign Law And The First Amendment'

Not a piece on the basic human right of self defense, but worth reading. From today's Wall Street Journal:

"Late in 1941, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an opinion which, for the first time in our history, starkly distinguished American protection of speech from that of England.
Two union members had been convicted of assaulting nonunion truck drivers. The day before they were to be sentenced, the Los Angeles Times published an editorial urging the trial judge not to grant probation, but to punish the transgressors severely: "This community," the editorial asserted, "needs the example of their assignment to the jute mill."

"Contempt of court proceedings were brought against the newspaper. California law at the time, like that of other states, was rooted in English law, under which such commentary, aimed at a judge during a trial, constituted contempt. Under English law, both then and today, such speech is punishable by massive fines or even imprisonment.

"In reversing the ruling of the California courts holding the newspaper in contempt, the Supreme Court set this country on a different course. "No purpose in ratifying the Bill of Rights was clearer," Justice Hugo Black wrote, "than of securing for the people of the United States much greater freedom of . . . expression . . . than the people of Great Britain had ever enjoyed."
Today, there are sharp distinctions between U.S. and English law. One difference is that under the First Amendment we provide far more protection for speech that is claimed to be libelous.
There is no need for democratic nations to agree upon such matters. The values of free speech and individual reputation are both significant, and it is not surprising that different nations would place different emphasis on each.

"But a serious problem has surfaced. In recent years, English libel law has come to have a disturbing impact on the right of Americans to speak out. England has become a choice venue for libel plaintiffs from around the world, including those who seek to intimidate critics whose works would be protected in the U.S. but might not in that country. That English libel law has increasingly been used to stifle speech about the subject of international terrorism raises the stakes still more."

Read the full piece by clicking here. Very thought-provoking.

Impossible! They Don't Have Guns In The UK!

THERE has been a huge increase in being people shot, stabbed and even kicked to death since Labour came to power.

Shocking statistics released last night show a 14 per cent increase in murder and manslaughter in England and Wales between 1998 and 2007.

There was also a 28 per cent increase in deaths from bladed weapons. Those killed by shootings increased by the same figure.

The story in The Daily Express.

Dial 911 and . . . Wait

Two separate incidents -- one where a 911 operator in Columbus, Ohio treats a store owner like he's the bad guy, when in reality the retailer is confronting a criminal in his store after hours. And the police don't get there for some time over jurisdictional issues. The second incident . . . well, let's just say the 911 dispatcher's office in Memphis, Tenn. should let their employees get more rest -- just not on the job!

The first incident has me in an uproar for several reasons. Initially, the 911 dispatcher's questions to the retailer whether he has a permit for his gun. What the hell is that about? There is no permit for a gun required in Ohio. Just a license if you practice concealed carry (CCW). Message to Columbus Police: TRAIN YOUR DISPATCHERS IN THE LAW. Clearly in this case, the dispatcher has been watching waaaaay too much Law and Order or CSI on television.

The second incident is lawsuit material. Oh, but wait. If anything had happened to the victim, her family cannot sue the Memphis police. Remember, under court precedent, police agencies have no "duty" to protect any of us.

If you've never read the best-selling book, "Dial 911 and Die," you should. It gives far more harrowing stories than the two pointed out here.

Madness!!!

Incidents Once Again Proves Lawful Firearms Owners (Not Unexpectedly) Are The Ones With Self Control

Once again, it is lawful firearms owners who are the ones with self-control. This time, in West Palm Beach, Florida, and Nashville, Tenn.

Judge Them By The Company They Keep

Remember all the city lawsuits filed against firearms manufacturers and their associates a few years ago? Well, the National Shooting Sports Foundation recently noted that many of those mayors have . . . well . . . a few skeletons in their respective closets.

Via David Hardy

Criminals In Toronto Have Reason To Celebrate

The Toronto, Canada City Council voted 39-3 calling for a federal ban on handguns.

Mothers, add a few more locks to your doors. The Council just took the first step toward passing "the locksmith/law enforcement officer full employement act."

Pro-Gun Governor Spends Some Time With Jay Leno

Bobby Jindal is the governor of Louisiana. A VERY pro-gun conservative, this man is turning heads both in the state over which he governs, and nationally.

He recently was a guest on Jay Leno's Tonight Show. Check it out.

UPDATE: Meijer Ends Relationship With HSUS

The text of a news release issued today by U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance:

"Midwest Retail Giant Meijer, Inc. has ended its promotion with the nation’s largest anti-hunting organization.

"The leadership at Meijer, a Michigan-based regional chain of retail superstores, has responded to the concerns of the sportsman community and ended its partnership with the anti-hunting group, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), in an online pet photo contest. Meijer initially refused a U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA) request to abandon the partnership, which according to information on the Meijer website, called for the company to donate $1 for each person that entered the contest, up to a maximum of $5,000, to the HSUS Foreclosure Pets Fund.

"On Friday, April 25, the USSA sent out a call to action for sportsmen to voice their concerns over these donations to the biggest anti-hunting organization in the world. Sportsmen immediately took action, flooding the retailer with phone calls, faxes and emails. Thanks to this action by sportsmen, Meijer has now eliminated the portion of the contest that included a donation to HSUS.

“Our program was an outgrowth of our history of supporting local humane societies. We were not aware of the concerns that exist among hunters about HSUS. As you know, we have strongly supported the hunting community over many decades,” said Meijer vice president of corporate communications and public affairs, Stacie Behler. “We have discontinued our donation program as a result of the feedback. No new funds will be collected. The funds that were collected will be used exclusively for their Foreclosure Pets Fund, which is a grants program for animal shelters, non-sheltered rescue/adoption groups and animal care and control agencies to establish, expand, or publicize services or programs that assist families caring for their pets during the current economic crisis.”

"The money donated to HSUS through this promotion, while not going directly to its anti-hunting campaign, would have freed up dollars from the organization’s general fund that could have been used to continue the attack on the rights of sportsmen.

“This once again proves that the sportsman’s voice is not to be taken lightly,” said USSA senior vice president Rick Story. “We hope that in the future, companies such as Meijer will consider how partnerships will be received before launching them.”Behler recognized that hunters and sportsmen are a huge customer base for Meijer and mentioned that the company had received messages and emails from concerned sportsmen that identified other sportsman-friendly national organizations that could be substituted for HSUS in helping pets.

"The HSUS is America’s leading opponent of hunting, fishing and trapping. It led the charge in a 2006 ballot campaign to ban dove hunting in Meijer’s home state of Michigan, contributing $1.6 million to the effort. It opposes hunting on National Wildlife Refuges and other public lands. In fact, the organization is a plaintiff in an ongoing federal lawsuit to ban hunting on the refuges. HSUS does not operate or oversee animal shelters or have any legal controls over them.Meijer is to be congratulated for quickly severing its ties to HSUS once it began hearing from sportsmen.

"Although the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance is satisfied with Meijer’s decision, the fact that the partnership ever took place is still cause for concern.Meijer is a seller of sporting goods and hunting and fishing licenses and indicates on its website that it operates 182 locations throughout Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky.The end result of this campaign once again proves that sportsmen can make a difference.

"Companies such as Iams, General Mills, Accor Hotels, Pet Safe, Sears and Ace Hardware also ended relationships with HSUS after thousands of sportsmen levied strong protest."

As of today, add Meijer to the list. For anyone who has ever looked at a call to action, and said to themselves, "what good will my call do?" I point to this as an example. There is power in numbers and retailers and others take notice when sportsmen and sportswomen step up.

To all TRL readers who responded and either called, wrote, emailed or faxed Meijer, I thank you.

How Low Will They Stoop - Part 2

The Democratic National Committee is running a television ad that shows U.S. soldiers being blown up. Of course, not so long ago these same people were complaining about politicizing the war. Even more hypocritical, the clip comes from Bush-hater filmmaker Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11.

Pathetic.

How Low Will They Stoop?

"Sandusky and Cleveland, Ohio-area television networks and cable stations have refused to broadcast a People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) advertisement featuring the Ku Klux Klan (KKK).The commercial shows a KKK member attending an American Kennel Club (AKC) meeting. A PETA official says it is meant to show similarities between the two organizations and that “the AKC is a shameless promotion of pure bloodlines and against mixed breeding.”

PETA, one of the more vocal anti-hunting organizations, along with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), is shameless. Hats off to the TV station execs who recognized tasteless and irresponsible advertising and refused to be hustled by groups with alternate agendas.

Just Because

Photos from National Low-Flow Toilet Blow Up Day in central Idaho on Sunday.

Hehehe . . .

Prevent Suicide: Ban Assault Detergent

In Japan, a county pretty much without guns (at least legally), 32,155 people killed themselves in 2006. This makes Japan, according to authorities there, the ninth highest suicide rate in the world.

The latest rage to off yourself? Simple laundry detergent, mixed with simple household cleansers. CBS News has the details.

How does this square with the antis contention that if we would only do away with personal firearms, suicide will go away? While more people in America commit suicide annually (the most recent figures I could find were 32,637 deaths in 2005), as a percentage of the overall national population, the rate of suicide in the U.S. -- a nation where personal self defense and firearms freedoms are cherished -- was much lower.

Hmmm . . .

Wal-Mart And The Nanny-State

Syndicated columnist Michelle Malkin calls it a "Kabuki Gun Control Alert."

Here is her take on Walmart's new "tracking and reporting" system when customers of the chain that Sam Walton built purchase a gun.

Do I hear the sound of someone spinning in his grave somewhere in Arkansas? No wait . . . he started that spin when company officials started importing cheap (as in quality) goods from Asia in order to save a buck, and of course, pass that savings on to you and me.

Yeah right.

Virginia Commission To 'Study' Gun Shows

Appearing to "do" something in Virginia . . . with studies.

Solving problems that don't exist . . .

College Prof Changes Mind On Gun Control

Another piece of required reading. College professor Mike Adams has long been a firearms rights and self defense advocate. But he now favors some gun control. But wait until you read why, and see where he goes with his argument.

Last week he witnessed a left-wing professor lose control, visibly angry and shaking, and screaming at 19-year-old college students at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington who were holding a civil debate tied to last week's national Empty Holster Protest.

"But the same thing cannot be said of the UNCW political science professor who ultimately changed my views on gun control. He had really strong feelings and a willingness to face people who disagreed with his views. That’s why he came to visit our “Empty Holster Day” table last Tuesday. But, unfortunately, the political science professor let his feelings get the better of him, which led directly to my change of heart on gun control. He began hurling epithets like “stupid, ignorant, and crazy” to the nineteen year old Millage. He so badly disrupted the event that the College Republican President called me in my office asking that I come over to try and calm him down. I gladly complied with her request – largely because I know that these events generate intelligent debate until the first professor shows up."

Read his full essay at TownHall.com. And once again, pass it to someone else to read.

South Carolina Bans Public From Seeing CCW License Holder Names, Information

South Carolina has become the latest state to ban from public view the names and personal information of citizens who hold a valid concealed carry license.

This is good news. Just as police, firefighters and other first responders personal information is blocked from public view because criminals or other nut jobs may want retribution -- or in this case, to steal a gun -- this very smart move protects moms, kids and families from unnecessary scrutiny from thugs or nosy neighbors with a political axe to grind.

Wouldn't 'Enforcing' Laws Be A Better Way To Instill Fear?

In Springfield, Massachusetts, a police agency's new chief is having his street crime units become "Men In Black" to instill fear in criminals.

Sigh . . .

Well, I guess it will look good on the TV news. And that's what it's really about, right? Merely appearing to do something?

'Gun Bans Can't Stop Whackos Bent On Murder'

This column in the Kansas City Star can be summed up with a single sentence from this very well crafted piece:

"But at some point, you’d think the Regents would explain how a policy that
makes people defenseless can improve their safety."

Required reading. Check it out here.

And pass it on.

Philly Gun Ban Court Hearing Delayed

After a conference call with attorneys for the city of Philadelphia, and attorneys for the National Rifle Association, a judge has delayed a scheduled court hearing on Philly's questionable (in their legality) new gun laws until May 19.

C. Scott Shields, the Media lawyer who filed the suit for the Fairfax, Va.-based NRA, said the delay was to give lawyers for the city more time to decide if they will challenge "standing" - the legal right of the NRA to file the suit. In addition to the NRA, the lawsuit's plaintiffs include the National Shooting Sports Foundation; the Pennsylvania Association of Firearms Retailers; Colosimo's and Firing Line Inc., two city gun shops; and several individuals.

At an April 17 hearing at which Greenspan granted an order temporarily blocking enforcement of the gun-control laws, the judge said she had misgivings about the organizations' standing to sue. Generally, organizations cannot file a constitutional challenge without showing how their members are directly harmed by the law in question. At that hearing, Shields argued that the two city gun dealers and the individuals would all be harmed if the gun laws were enforced.

Moreover, the city of Philadelphia is hoping that this challenge will convince the state Supreme Court to reexamine its 1996 decision in Ortiz v. Commonwealth. That case invalidated a city ordinance regulating assault weapons, with the state's high court ruling that the state legislature in 1994 passed a law that specifically barred municipalities from regulating guns. Because of the Ortiz ruling, District Attorney Lynne Abraham said she cannot legally enforce the new gun laws.

Here are the five ordinances passed, and some questions:

- Permit authorities to seek a judge's order to take guns from people proven to be a risk to themselves or others. Based on what standards?
- Ban from gun ownership those who are subject to a protection from abuse order. A permanent ban?
- Give gun owners 24 hours to report to police after discovering the loss or theft of their gun. So the city plans to retrieve guns for owners? Sort of like a Cold Case squad? Making wrongs right?
- Ban possession or sale of assault or contraband firearms in the city. What if the only means of protection you have in your home is your competition rifle? And what exactly is a "contraband" firearm?
- Limit gun purchases to one a month and require buyers to get a police certification they have not bought another gun in the last month. Like rationing rice purchases? A police certification? How will that work? Will the police come take inventory of your safe?

The laws were passed, in open violation of state law. In essence, Philadelphia officials thumbed its nose at the rule of law. Normally, there are consequences for violating the law, but everyone knows there won't be in this case.

Tennessee Carjacker Gets A Surprise

A would-be carjacker in Tennessee got more than he bargained for when he tried to steal a car at a gas station -- and what became HIS ordeal was caught on tape.

via keepandbeararms.com

Chicago Cops Getting Machine Guns; Law Abiding Taxpayers Firearms Rights Ignored

UPDATED: April 30, 2008, 6:25 am -- CCRKBA is blasting Chicago's Daley for this decision, calling it "one more step toward turning his city into a police state by planning to give police fully automatic M4 carbines, while still fighting to block the gun rights of citizens not only in Chicago but throughout Illinois."

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Either its poor word choice, or Mayor Daley's blind war against guns took a bizarre turn.

In a city where an honest taxpayer's firearms rights are virtually non-existent, the good mayor has taken his extreme policies a step farther and advocated arming police with M-4 rifles -- machine guns.

Does anyone else see a problem with this "disarm the law-abiding populace, arm the police" picture?

The UN Conundrum With Respect To Firearms

Updated: Monday, April 28, 2008, 10:28 am -- News of the day becomes more of a concern, this time out of Zimbabwe. And yet once again the UN is busy worrying about the fact that American civilians own firearms?

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Let me get this straight . . .

The United Nations has been going out of its way to pass "disarmament" resolutions, including some that would require signatory nations (such as the United States) to drastically restrict firearms rights of citizens. In some parts of the world, this policy has been deadly.

But . . . the same agency has been covering up that its troops in the Democratic Republic of Congo have been giving arms to militias (and smuggling gold and ivory).

From the BBC:

"The allegations, based on confidential UN sources, involve Pakistani and Indian troops working as peacekeepers. The UN investigated some of the claims in 2007, but said it could not substantiate claims of arms dealing. UN insiders told the BBC's Panorama they had been prevented from pursuing their inquiries for political reasons."

Interesting. And sad. That an organization with such lofty goals at its founding has disintegrated into a world body that tries to prop up dictatorships, but quietly -- and sometimes openly -- attacks nations that look out for individual rights and have given so much to the world.

Obama Finally Speaks Out On Chicago Violence

Sen. Barack Obama has finally spoken out regarding the recent spike in violence affecting Chicago, the city in which he spent his early political career. Chicago's many gun prohibitions keep firearms out of the hands of honest taxpayers who only want to protect themselves, and leave guns in the hands of some of the nation's most violent criminals.

Here is what Sen. Obama had to say, in an article in the Chicago Sun-Times, while on the presidential campaign trail:

"Obama said elected officials can help by restoring federal funding to put more
police on the street and passing more gun-control legislation, such as better background checks for gun purchasers. But laws alone can't change things -- some
parents have to get more involved in their children's lives, he said. "Children have to be taught right and wrong, and violence isn't a way to resolve problems," Obama said. "Kids have to be kept off the streets at night. A lot of these kids, unfortunately, they might not have parents at home who are helping to give them guidance."

Sen. Obama, more cops on the beat is not a bad thing. But the next statement is purely feel good political blather -- code -- to tell your constitutents that you are "doing something" about "the gun problem." The real problem is what you finally address later, kids not being taught right from wrong.

Do something about that, and reinforcing it, and having their families reinforce it, will do far more than another useless law that won't be enforced anyway. The gun bans Chicago has in place now are getting honest women and children killed.

It's About The Second Amendment

Marion Hammer, past president of the National Rifle Association, writes in the Tampa Tribune that arguments for property rights or profits must not take precedence over the lives of hardworking men and women.

"An employer's political philosophy or contempt for firearms rights does not trump a law-abiding person's fundamental, right to self-protection."

Read the full piece here.

And Now, A Message About Global Warming

Not a gun story, but as a chocoholic . . . well, I had to post this.

I'm not a global warming nonsense supporter, but if there was one reason to stop "it" . . . it would be this . . .

h/t to Breda.

Another Good Reason To Buy A Competition Rifle

Alien invaders.

No, not those crossing our borders, but from . . . outer space? Dustin (with tongue firmly planted in cheek) suggests something in the semi-auto variety, rather than single shot, would be a better choice against any alien invaders swooping in from another galaxy.

Inquiring minds wonder about the source of mysterious lights over Phoenix in the past few weeks. So stock up now boys and girls, before a change in political philosophy in the White House prohibits your purchase of a sleek, "black rifle."

Competition rifles -- protecting the homeland for years and years and years . . . .

Anti-Gun Cabal Financing

Uncle has some interesting observations, pointing to David Codrea's War On Guns site, showing the interconnect between seemingly neutral, respected, philanthropic foundations and the anti-gun causes they fund.

Retailer Meijer Aligns Itself With Anti-Hunting HSUS

Meijer, a Michigan-based regional chain of retail superstores, has aligned itself with the anti-hunting group, The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), in an online pet photo contest, according to U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA)

USSA says it requested that Meijer abandon the partnership. According to information on the Meijer website, for each person that enters the contest, Meijer will donate $1, up to a maximum of $5,000, to the HSUS Foreclosure Pets Fund. The money donated to HSUS through this promotion, while not going directly to its anti-hunting campaign, will free up money from the organization’s general fund that can be used to attack the rights of sportsmen.

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, the nation’s leading sportsmen’s advocacy organization, has urged Meijer to end its support of HSUS, but the company refused, according to USSA.

“While my answer probably isn’t going to completely satisfy you, it is important that you (USSA) and your members understand that we understand what you are saying. We believe that we have funneled this money away from the Humane Society and instead put it to use where we really wanted it, which is helping families and helping rescued animals,” said Meijer vice president of corporate communications and public affairs, Stacie Behler. “Our goal here was not to provide funding for the Humane Society of the United States, but instead for a fund that would be funneled out nationally.”

Nice words, true, but USSA's position is correct. HSUS' general fund now will have far more dollars available to push its anti hunting agenda, which in reality is anti wildlife management. Hunting and trapping are not just effective tools, but among the best tools for managing America's wildlife population, according to the wildlife biologist community. Meijer makes a lot of money selling hunting gear, and I patronize a store near me frequently for outdoor wear and gear, plus I usually pick up my hunting license there each year. It's sad that the Meijer organization has been sucked in to this "wolf in sheep's clothing" approach to helping fund HSUS.

Operating 184 locations throughout Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky, Meijer needs to hear from sports people. USSA says companies such as Iams, General Mills, Accor Hotels, Pet Safe, Sears and Ace Hardware ended relationships with HSUS after thousands of sportsmen levied strong protest.

It would be a shame if people had to boycott this fine company.

Hmmm . . .

"I don't want to alarm anybody, but maybe it's time for Americans to start stockpiling food.
No, this is not a drill."

From The Wall Street Journal.

Arming A Peoples Not For Regime Change, But For Self Defense

"In short, Mr. Mugabe's opponents need weapons soon. This is not to effect regime change, but for simple self-defense."

Incredibly thought-provoking reading from The Wall Street Journal regarding the genocide taking place in Zimbabwe under the harsh regime of Robert Mugabe.

Is He Serious?

Gun Control is a "basic freedom?"

Jeff Soyer picked up a perplexing political story from North Carolina. I am hoping he just mis-spoke or was misquoted.

Hillary Clinton's Rhetorical Recoil Leads The Pack

A cleverly written piece on Sen. Clinton's . . . memory issues regarding her record, particularly on the Second Amendment.

Check it out at CQ Politics.

BTW, John McCain doesn't get off easy either.

Of course, Sen. Obama's rhetorical record on self defense issues is abominable, as well.

North Carolina Schools Prohibit Marksmanship Team From Participating In Statewide Tourney

I missed this story earlier this month. A North Carolina school district banned East Wake High School club marksmanship team (a team affiliated with Future Farmers of America) from participating in a statewide shooting tournament. The reason? One of East Wake's principals, with the support of the area superintendent who oversees that school, stated that ammunition and students don't mix.

The full story is here.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation, Ducks Unlimited and the International Hunter Education Association voiced their strong objection to the blatantly unconstitutional act.

h/t to Pete Stryjewski

New York Spends $30M On Ballistics ID System And Doesn't Convict Anyone

"Last week, we told you about a push in the state legislature to make semiautomatic weapons sold in New York capable of microstamping ammunition. Some gun advocates point out that the state already has a system in place to trace spent shell casings and that system doesn't work. New York's seven-year-old database is called COBIS which stands for Combined Ballistic Identification System. Since police began implementing the system in 2001, the database of gun markings has been used in just two criminal cases but neither one of those resulted in a conviction."

Still, New York State Police say one day the COBIS system will pay off.

Perhaps, but at what price? The nanny state has always believed it could spend our money and create utopia.

All they do is spend money . . .

People Aren't Going To Prison, and It's The Gun's Fault? Are They Serious?

It's the "gun's fault" that people aren't going to prison over shootings in Chicago? Are they serious? That's what my colleague Bruce Krafft asks. And its a good question.

These politicians and society controllers are ignoring root problems in these communities and trying to go after the lowest hanging fruit, as we say in the business world.

The panacea -- the world will be a better place without guns. Chicago has some of the toughest gun control in the nation, and people are getting killed left and right. Because the criminals don't pay attention and don't give a damn about the law. But that isn't stopping Chicago aldermen from traveling to Illinois' state capitol to lobby for more restrictions on constitutional rights.

What they should be doing, if they want people to go to prison, is to lobby for tougher sentencing. Period.

Innocent people, law abiding people, and children get killed because honest taxpayers have their hands tied by Daley and his cronies. Folks, "common sense" gun laws are laws that give people a choice to own a gun, or not. They are NOT laws that take away the means of the basic human right of self defense.

Sheesh . . .

Firearms Dealer to Visit Va. Tech Campus; University Reacts With Outrage

Invited by student activists at Virginia Tech who are pushing to reform the antiquated prohibition of firearms on college campuses in Virginia, the man whose company sold a gun to Seung Hui Cho and gun equipment to the Northern Illinois University shooter was invited to speak last night at Virginia Tech.

Eric Thompson, the owner of TGSCOM Inc., says he believes he has, “A special responsibility to do all he can to try to prevent further loss of life.”

WSLS TV, the CBS affiliate in Roanoke, Va., reported the following :

"In response to Thompson’s visit, University Spokesman, Larry Hincker released this statement: “Free speech is a hallmark of university life. Still, I find it terribly offensive to learn that the gun-seller of the weapons used in the Virginia Tech campus murders would set foot on this campus. Additionally, the organizers appear to be incredibly insensitive to the families of the victims who lost loved ones and to the injured students still recovering from this horrendous tragedy.”

Personally, I find it terribly offensive that the university created a false sense of security for students, professors and staff last year when it arrogantly denied repeated requests to permit CCW holders to carry their personal sidearms for protection while on campus.

It is incredibly insensitive that university officials apparently do not care about the concerns of students who desperately want to protect themselves (and are trained to do so) because the university can't -- or won't.

If You Have No Argument Against The Message, Attack The Messenger

The Violence Policy Center tries to redirect its failing gun control argument by attacking the National Rifle Association's membership.

. . . .But ignores the "Million Moms" claims . . .

. . . And ignores the Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence -- not a coalition but a one-woman show operating from a P.O. box in Toledo, Ohio . . .

Hmmm . . .

Voice of America Telling the World About Advances In Smart Gun Technology

First off, what is the Voice of America doing channeling gun controllers? And why is this taxpayer funded organization spreading the word about a tool that ultimately, if mandated, will result in fewer Americans having an effective tool that everyone in the family can use to defend themselves? Of course, many would call these technology toys "gun control's future." The sad fact is that those organizations who wish to push "smart gun" technology upon America are not trying to save children. That's their cover story. It's about requiring that only the most expensive handguns be permitted for says, thereby further reducing the number of firearms owners, because not everyone would be able to afford such an expensive toy. Let's call it what it is. Smart gun initiatives are a wolf in sheep's clothign.

Back to the VOA story. There is another problem. As the editors at keepandbeararms.com so eloquently point out, the inflated figure of "9 children a day" can only be reached by including "children" up to age 19. The average of accidental gun deaths among actual children (up to 13) over the last 7 years is one every 6 days. 59 a year is still too many, but it is a far cry from "9 a day."

Hmmm . . .

BBC Correspondent Learns A Little Something About America

"Justin Webb, BBC's North America editor, reports to UK listeners and readers on the "paradox" that America is less violent (and feels much safer) than Britain, where private hand gun ownership is banned."

A good piece at American Thinker. Check it out, and click on the link above, also, to review the BBC report.

Chicago Tribune Editorial Board Member Accuses City Of Misfiring On Guns

Steve Chapman is a member of the Tribune's editorial board. His is a viewpoint probably not shared by many of his colleagues, but it is refreshing thinking. An excellent, thought-provoking piece.

He begins with:

"When a rash of gun murders takes place, it makes sense for the police to do one of two things: renew tactics that have been effective in the past at curbing homicides, or embrace ideas that have not been tried before. But those options don't appeal to Chicago Police Supt. Jody Weis. What he proposes instead is a crackdown on assault weapons. I'm tempted to say this is the moral equivalent of a placebo—a sugar pill that is irrelevant to the malady at hand. But that would be unfair. Placebos, after all, sometimes have a positive effect. Assault weapons bans, not so much."

And he winds up with this:

"Gun control hasn't worked as a remedy for crime. So what makes anyone think the answer is more gun control?"

Compelling, to say the least. Read the full opinion piece from the Chicago Tribune.

Philadelphia: 'Let's Redefine Gun Control'

"Here in Philly, where curbing the gun-violence epidemic was a staple of Michael Nutter's mayoral campaign, we are witnessing a furor that may reach a national scale. A city judge last week granted the National Rifle Association's restraining order that forestalls Nutter's package of gun control measures, passed by the City Council, and the NRA is calling for Nutter's arrest on the grounds that he's a tyrant practicing "official oppression." Measures that broaden cops' authority to confiscate guns and otherwise limit gun rights may come under discussion in other cities; many agree with Nutter on their utility in curbing crime.
"But before dissing the Second Amendment, let's give some thought to those who've had run-ins with violent thugs and used guns in self-defense, or people who wish they'd been able to. On March 5, in New Cumberland, a homeowner used a handgun to drive away two invaders after surprising and struggling with them in his kitchen, as reported in the local Patriot News and the Civilian Gun Self-Defense blog. On March 1, in Pittsburgh, a cab driver fatally shot a man who tried to rob him after the driver picked up the man downtown, as reported in the Inquirer.

"Or consider the family of Tammy Zywicki. That name might not mean much to you, but people at truck stops throughout the Midwest know who she was. A Grinnell College senior, Zywicki was traveling from Evanston, Ill., to the Iowa campus in August 1992 when her car broke down. Shortly after that, someone abducted Zywicki, took her to an isolated place, raped and stabbed her repeatedly, and then dropped her body by the side of a road in Missouri. It was a tragedy that marred the lives of Grinnell's class of 1993, Zywicki's family and many others."

"A 1993 article by Richard Griffiths, written for Independence Institute, a Colorado think tank, compares the Zywicki case with that of another abducted woman, Kate Petit. After Petit's car broke down on a highway outside Tampa, Fla., a strange man stopped and got out of his car to offer help, then pulled a knife, forced Petit into his trunk and drove to an isolated spot. Petit could have wound up like Zywicki, but when the psychopath opened the trunk, he got a dose of lead from the licensed .38 handgun Petit kept in her purse. It's one more example of how responsible gun owners exercise their Second Amendment rights."

Responsible journalism and a very well thought-out piece in the Philadelphia City Paper.

Click the link above and read the entire story. It's refreshing to realize that at least one journalist in the City of Brotherly Love has their head on straight.

Stupid Statement Of The Day

Over at Say Uncle, Uncle posted a note that he is no longer patronizing Pizza Hut after the company fired a driver who used his personal firearm to shoot a robber who had put a gun to the same delivery guy's head.

There were a number of comments from Uncle's readers. One such reader noted that he recently discussed the case in an adult education class in Des Moines, Iowa. Mind you, I'm not faulting the guy who posted the comment, because he is just recounting the conversation he had with students. The stupid statement is what people in his class told him. He said:

"The mostly female, liberal group thought Pizza Hut was right, for all the stupid reasons unarmed people usually do. Too dangerous, why did he have to shoot multiple times, etc, etc. But here’s the strange part. They all agreed that if the crook has shot and killed an unarmed Pizza Hut delivery driver, the driver’s family should sue Pizza Hut because the driver was not protected."

Huh? Were they even listening to what they said?

Lunacy!

ABC News And Grande' Errors of Fact

Like I have said so many times before, you used to get fired for commiting a serious error of fact. These days, however, commiting a whopper gets you nothing but ratings.

Consider ABC News' latest gaffe. Confederate Yankee gives us the straight skinny on Brian Ross' hit piece on the Second Amendment. Mr. Ross accuses that all important American birthright for somehow being responsible for killings committed by Mexican drug lords.

Did you get that? It was not about criminal use of a legal product. But an American Constitutional right -- words on a 200+ year-old parchment -- causing murder and mayhem south of the border. Insanity!

From the ABC report:

"The drug cartels' weapons of choice include variants of the AK-47, .50-caliber sniper rifles and a Belgian-made pistol called the 'cop killer' or 'mata policia' because of its ability to pierce a bulletproof vest.

"It's in high demand by your violent drug cartels, their assassins in Mexico," said Newell of the ATF. The gun can fire a high-powered round used in a rifle. "

Okay. First off, does anyone else out there know that an arrow, fired from a bow, can pierce a bullet resistant vest? That virtually any firearms round, at the correct angle, will pierce such a vest? Basic physics. Even the least competent ballistics expert knows this. Does Mr. Ross know there is NO SUCH THING as a bulletproof vest? Never has been!

Idiocy. Laziness. Stupidity. Or flat out, unmasked bias?

If they only had a brain.

Is The NY Times 'Un-Endorsing' Hillary?

The New York Times, in a stinging opinion piece, harps on Sen. Clinton's eroding lead, and suggests that even despite the Pennsylvania primary win, her negative campaigning is doing her in.

Classic Cartoon

Anyone remember Courageous Cat, the cartoon from the early 1960s? I don't, but I found this a few days ago and thought it interesting enough to share.

This episode, "The Case of the Gun Mix-Up."

Obama And His Troubling Anti-Self Defense Past

David Hardy, an attorney and scholar who writes Arms and the Law, notes that Mr. Obama can say all he want about his belief in the Second Amendment (Hillary Clinton can, too), but that doesn't erase his fingerprints being all over a number of overtly anti-gun initiatives over the years.

His time as a director with the Joyce Foundation, which has literally pumped millions of dollars into anti gun organizations, is of particularly concern. Frankly, to not distance yourself from an organization that is intellectually dishonest (the Foundation "bought up" editions of certain law reviews, then cited the anti-gun "placed articles" in their later Heller amici as independent thought) shows a lack of something . . . of character, for one thing.

Its all probably yet another strong reason why the junior senator from Illinois did not do better in the Keystone State against Mrs. Clinton. But then, it's too easy to blame it all on white male voters, right?

Of course, Tam over at The View From The Porch views it all differently, and more succinctly: "Imagine that . . . Obama's "Insult the Voters" tactic backfired massively, as bitter cousin-marriers turned out for Hill-Rod, who is trying on her War Face in a manner to please Gunnery Sergeant Hartman."

Ouch!

Obama: 'This Year's Model'

Has Hillary's Pennsylvania win upset "This Year's Model?"

Before PA voters took to the polls, Silicon Graffiti created this eye-opening piece on Sen. Obama as heir apparent to John Kennedy and Bill Clinton.

h/t to Glenn Reynolds

HSUS Grooming Youthful Anti-Hunting Activists

The nation’s biggest anti-hunting organization has launched a new tool in its attempt to recruit young people.The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) recently launched a free online service learning program -- "Humane High School" -- aimed at middle- and high-school students.

U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance has some detail. Here is some info from the HSUS website promoting Humane High School:

"Humane High School connects academic instruction to a student's real life experiences," said Stephanie Clark, Humane High School principal and manager of
outreach and training for Humane Society Youth, The HSUS's youth education
division. "It asks students to think critically about issues affecting animals and provides action steps to reinforce learning, such as writing a letter to an elected official. All the while, students are combating cruelty in their communities, and learning valuable skills that can be used in internships and in the workforce."

Most people will look at this and believe (as a good friend of mine might say) "this is about making sure that kids don't poke puppies in the eyes with sticks." In reality, HSUS has been pushing these types of programs for years as part of its long-running anti-hunting campaign.

Humane High School is yet but another tool in its anti-hunting bag of tricks. Developing . . .

This Drives Me Nuts

As a recovering journalist, this kind of nonsense makes me nuts. With advance apologies to my many friends in the media who DO have a brain (many, MANY of whom are shooters, as well), I bring you something Robb Allen over at Sharp As A Marble posted.

"Because, when you don't know what the f#ck you're talking about, it's probably best that you don't write about it, making yourself look like an idiot in the process."

Read Robb's full post, and the link above.

No Surprise: Australia Study Shows Gun Laws Do Not Work To Reduce Crime

"In the spirit of the 2020 Summit, academics have released startling new evidence about the impact of Australian gun laws, and argue that future public policy must differentiate between what does and does not work.

"In a new peer-reviewed study, Dr Samara McPhedran from the School of Psychology, and her colleague Dr Jeanine Baker, who also hold executive positions in the International Coalition for Women in Shooting and Hunting, show that the accumulated studies on Australia's 1996 gun bans and half billion dollar 'buyback' do not point to an impact."

A great read. Check it out.

Spinning The Pennsylvania Primary

From Camp Obama . . .

From Camp Clinton . . .

With observations from many:

From Ann Althouse . . .

From Andrew Sullivan . . .

Something New From the Mind Of Oleg Volk

One of Oleg Volk's newest creations . . . an indictment of the extreme rhetoric coming out of New York City and its mayor, Michael Bloomberg.

If you've heard the old saying, "a picture is worth a thousand words," this image speaks volumes.

Florida Chamber Of Commerce Is Suing Over Commuter Self Defense Law

"The Florida Chamber of Commerce and the Florida Retail Federation today filed suit against the Attorney General of Florida in an effort to block a controversial new law that allows employees with concealed weapons permits to bring their guns to work even if their employers have a ban on weapons."

Hmmm . . . let's see. Businesses say they fear for the safety of employees and customers. So what were they doing before the law to SAFEGUARD the safety of employees and customers?

Nothing perhaps? Yes, those video cameras will definitely keep suicidal mass murderers out of your building. That's sarcasm again, folks. I'm not an attorney, but I would really like to see the legal theory supporting this argument.

An Incredible Self Defense Tale

Dave Hardy has some detail and links.

Here is the headline. Blind man pins robber, holds him at knife point until police arrive.

He da man!

Breda, Mike Are 'Aces'

They received perfect scores on their written Ohio CCW tests this morning and had some (very serious) fun at the range too.

Breda is my blogging buddy up in northeast Ohio, and she and her husband completed their course, and planned to apply at the sheriff's office for their Ohio CHL later in the day.

Of course, that this "tacti-cool" librarian went out and purchased a ball cap for the occasion cracks me up. Breda, the cap is not required wear and I'm glad you're not doing the ponytail thing out the back of your headgear. It's so yesterday. LOL.

Congrats to you and Mike!

Ohio Senate Hearing Wednesday Will Hear CCW 'Fix' Legislation

At 10 am Wednesday, the Ohio Senate Criminal Justice Committee is scheduled to meet in Columbus, and one of the issues on the agenda is a hearing for SB 318, the "Firearms Modernization Act" sponsored by Sen. Keith Faber (R-12). The bill is being referred by many pundits in the Ohio Statehouse as the "Concealed Carry Fix-It Bill."

It is a reasonable (there's that "r" word again) moniker. Among its many provisions, SB 318 will:

- allow a concealed carry licensee to carry concealed handguns in buildings that are owned or leased by the state or a political subdivision of this state and are located in a park or rest area or are not used for a primary governmental function;

- alter the requirements for renewing a concealed carry license, to allow a concealed carry licensee to carry a handgun in places of higher education, places of worship, daycare centers, and government buildings if the handgun is unloaded and in a closed package, box, or case;

- prohibit a landlord from prohibiting a concealed carry licensee who is a tenant or guest from lawfully carrying or possessing handguns in residential premises;

- allow concealed carry licensees to carry a concealed handgun in designated drop-off and pick-up areas of school safety zones;

- allow a concealed carry licensee to carry a concealed handgun in a type D liquor permit establishment if the D permit holder does not allow consumption of beer, wine, or intoxicating liquor on the premises;

- exempt from certain concealed carry law requirements a person transporting a weapon in a motor vehicle;

- modify the records related to the concealed carry licensing process, that a sheriff must destroy to provide that certain records relating to concealed carry licensing are not public records;

- redefine unloaded for purposes of the offense of improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, and;

- prohibit the confiscation of lawfully owned and carried firearms during a state of emergency or disaster.

Proponent testimony will be heard on this bill tomorrow. To read the full text of SB 318, click here.

In Chicago, Home of Mass Killings and Useless Gun Control, A Reporter Asks A Question

His question? Where are the gun controllers?

"I've written several posts and column items recently on the issue of gun control -- the most recent one asking for ideas from both sides about compromises that gun-rights people and gun-ban people might be able to live with. And each time it has struck me how tiny, uninspired and vague the response has been from those who favor new laws to try to keep guns out of the hand of evildoers."

Mr. Zorn of the Chicago Tribune continues that he may shut down his online forum to talk about gun control if more gun control backers do not join the fray. Actually, here is how he phrased it:

"If gun-control advocates don't want to or can't join the conversation here, I'm prepared to shut it down as the futile exercise it may well be."

Yes, Mr. Zorn, the shrill rhetoric about gun control is falling on increasingly deaf ears. Because the doom and gloom scenarios are just so much talk. Gun controllers used to sound like some sci-fi TV show, the Borg from Star Trek repeatedly sounding the "Resistance Is Futile" warning. In reality, you expected no resistance because people would blindly follow the gun control's extreme policies. But self defense activists know their statistics. Facts are on their side. And grandmothers and moms and parents want the option to be able to defend themselves. They are tired of being prey, and tired of being lied to that gun control will keep their children safe.

Chicago is a beautiful city. One of my favorite. But it is a dangerous place because gun control has helped create an environment where the law abiding have no rights to defend themselves. The basic human right of self defense is not just ignored, but spat upon by Chicago politicos.

"Downstate Illinois" knows this. When will Mayor Daley, and his buddies, finally admit it?

Not convinced yet? Check out Rustmeister. He has a few thoughts on this issue, too. Read his take here.

Here's Something You Don't See Often In The Daily Kos

Did hell freeze over or are pigs flying?

There's a very well written piece in yesterday's Daily Kos from an individual who is defending the individual right to keep and bear arms. Yes, defending the 2A!

Some good snippets:

"All of our rights, even the ones enumerated in the Bill of Rights, are restricted. You can't shout "Fire!" in a crowd. You can't threaten to kill the president. You can't publish someone else's words as your own. We have copyright laws and libel laws and slander laws. We have the FCC to regulate our radio and television content. We have plenty of restrictions on our First Amendment rights.

"But we don't like them. We fight them. Any card-carrying member of the ACLU will tell you that while we might agree that some restrictions are reasonable, we keep a close eye whenever anyone in government gets an itch to pass a new law that restricts our First Amendment rights. Or our Fourth. Or our Fifth, Sixth, or Eighth.

"We complain about free speech zones. The whole country is supposed to be a free speech zone, after all. It says so right in the First Amendment.

"But when it comes to the Second Amendment . . . You could hear a pin drop for all the protest you'll get from liberals when politicians talk about further restrictions on the manufacture, sale, or possession of firearms.

"Suddenly, overly broad restrictions are "reasonable." The Washington D.C. ban on handguns -- all handguns -- is reasonable. (Later this year, the Supreme Court will quite likely issue an opinion to the contrary in the Heller case.) Would we tolerate such a sweeping regulation of, say, the Thirteenth Amendment?"

Read the entire essay. The author is getting flamed like you can't believe in the comments section. Take a moment and support this open-minded, enlightened individual. And thank them for taking the time to educate Daily Kos readers!

PA: "Shameless Example of Ignoring Law'

An excellent opinion piece in today's Philadelphia Inquirer from Daniel Pehrson, president of the Pennsylvania Firearms Owners Association, regarding the ordinances passed by Philadelphia's City Council in blatant disregard for Pennsylvania state law.

Here's an excerpt:

"When the chief law-enforcement officer so shamelessly encourages city leaders to pretend they didn't hear legal advice from other officials, advice that could save thousands in taxpayer funds for litigation, it's time to question if he really has the best interest of the city in mind. Lawful gun owners are not the problem, and our city leaders know it. They are in a better position than most to see the justice system turning criminals out to the streets, rather than putting them in prison. To solve the crime problems in Philadelphia and in other communities, leaders must be willing to embrace the rule of law, not blatantly sacrifice it for political points."

I understand that a certain pair of firearms bloggers I read pretty regularly helped in drafting and submitting this piece. To them I say "nicely written!"

Visitors

I met two very interesting and wonderfully personable people from Virginia today. I hope to be able to tell you much more about the visit in the coming weeks. The day's visit, unfortunately, cut seriously into some important personal plans; time that I can never get back. In the end, however, good things are likely come of this meeting for firearms aficionados throughout Ohio.

To my new friends, thank you for coming up to the Buckeye State today. As Bogie said to the inspector in "Casablanca," I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

PA: Clinton 54%, Obama 46%

It's Hillary over Barack in Pennsylvania.

Exit polling also shows that voters were put off by the negative tone the campaign took as the two democrats duked it out for Pennsylvania's 158 delegates.

Whoopi Says Dem Party Is Elitist

An interesting comment. I know plenty of republicans who are elitist, and I've even been called that once or twice, though I would disagree.

Yes, loveable, huggable me.

Still, Whoopi made some intriguing observations about the words flying back and forth in the democrat primary between Sens. Clinton and Obama, and how each candidate is being painted by their party, their supporters, and the media. Plus, how average Americans perceive the two.

Interesting reading.

Quote Of The Day

A comment from Glenn Reynolds, the Instapundit, regarding the mass shootings in Chicago over the weekend.

"Chicago sounds like Mosul," wrote Instapundit reader Michael Yon. But Reynolds took the thought a step farther with the following observation:

"Still, they're different: One has crooked officials, violent gangs with their hooks into government and law enforcement, and a culture of corruption that has resisted the central government's effects to clean it up, and the other is a city in Iraq."

Hmmmm . . .

Empty Holster Protest At Virginia Tech

"Junior building construction major Ken Miller was walking in Newport News when he encountered two men. One walked behind him, the other stayed in front, and they were both swearing at him.

"They were definitely acting aggressively," Miller said, adding that he believed they were about to attack him.

"But the men backed off after Miller let them know that he was armed. As a concealed carry permit holder, Miller was legally allowed to carry a firearm to protect himself against such an invasion. While he was legally permitted to carry a firearm in Newport News, he could be expelled for doing so on the Virginia Tech campus."

Students at Virginia Tech, and at college campuses across the nation, are protesting their legal inability to defend themselves against violent criminal attack via the Empty Holster Protest.

It's All About Pennsylvania Today

Updated: Tuesday, April 22, 2008, 8:47 am -- National Public Radio had a funny lead-in to its story about the Pennsylvania primary. "Our long national nightmare is over; the Pennsylvania primary is finally upon us."

********
Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are squaring off in Pennsylvania's primary election today.

Results for democrats will either find one candidate still standing, or the two moving to a knock-down, drag-out brokered political convention.

Stay tuned . . .

"Preference Falsification"

Eugene Volokh has penned an interesting piece regarding "preference falsification," meaning that a certain practice, if not viewed positively by society, is intentionally undereported.

"I Knew Nobody Who Owned a Gun": I've often heard this line in various
forms, most recently in a WallStreet Journal article that's generally sympathetic to gun owners: "Growing up in Seattle, I knew nobody who owned a gun." The striking thing is that this statement is almost certainly false: I strongly suspect that anyone growing up even in a very insular corner of Seattle did know people who owned guns. He just didn't know that he knew them, because they weren't telling, and one of the reasons they weren't telling was precisely the casual assumption that of course no one in their circle would ever do such a thing."

You get the idea. Nice piece.

NY Doesn't Know What To Do About Graffiti Spike

New York City officials, up to their ears in graffiti, should do what elected officials in my city, Columbus, Ohio, did more than a decade ago. They banned the sale of spray paint and wide-tip markets to anyone under 18.

And we haven't had ANY graffiti since . . . See what age restrictions will do?

sarcasm, folks, its sarcasm....

And They Say Firearms Owners Are A Threat?

Thirdpower over at Days of Our Trailers points out the obvious: Media generated hysteria breeds more hysteria.

Check out the examples.

'Feeling' Safe vs. 'Being" Safe

I have railed on this topic for years. Frequently you will hear certain politicians and LEOs talk about ensuring that people "feel" safe. Oh yes, a no guns decal on a door into a coffee shop does wonders for my safety. In reality, it concerns me because the scumbags (those neanderthals who can read) who don't care about the law suddently know that inside is an environment rich with potential victims.

Rarely do you hear politicos and police talk about people actually "being" safe.

Well, the "Real Guy Guys" had a discussion on this worth noting. Even within the shooting sports and self defense there are some who get in a discussion and take the wagon over the cliff without realizing what they are doing.

Words matter, people!

Empty Holster Protest, Part Deux

The second national Empty Holster Protest is upon us.

Read the news release from Students For Concealed Carry on Campus, and their "protest guidelines." They have really thought this out.

Kudos on a great campaign, and best wishes for another successful media blitz! In less than a year, this grassroots, student organization has reached more than 27,000 members across the U.S.

Jeff Soyer Names Another 'Idiot Of The Day'

Hats off to Jeff Soyer, who writes the Alphecca blog, for identifying another "idiot of the day."

"Yes indeed, better to allow deer and turkeys to breed themselves into starvation. That’s civilized. Better to allow criminals a completely unarmed nation of victims. That would be civilized. Better to think that the Bill of Rights refers to the rights of government, not individuals; whether regarding free speech, speedy trials, or the right to bear arms. That would be the sane approach . . .

What’s in the water down there in Massachusetts?"

Read his full piece and link to the original (offending) column. You will be shaking your head.

News From Illinois, Pennsylvania

In Illinois, just last week Chicago Mayor Daley suffered a setback, when a key piece of his anti-gun legislative package failed. Some wags are suggesting that he may have reached the end of what he can accomplish with Illinois gun control.

I'm not so sure. With a rash of shootings over the weekend in Chicago, Daley and his cronies may use this as fodder for a new round of discussions, when the reality is that the shootings represent his sorely failed policies.

Meanwhile, in Pennsylvania, site of a hotly contested presidential primary -- with gun rights as a centerpiece of conversation among voters -- the actions by Philadelphia Mayor Nutter to pass a raft of extreme gun control bills in violation of state law took another turn in the past few days. The National Rifle Association has asked a judge to issue a restraining order blocking implementation of Nutter and Philadelphia City Council's illegal gun laws.

Schumer A Hero of Conservation? He Won't Be Once He Has Your Guns!

Field & Stream magazine, which I have enjoyed reading for many years, has in its pages each month a section called "heroes and villains." For some reason I have let my subscription lapse, so it was with great anticipation that I was able to thumb through some back issues of the magazine while having new tires put on the Cherokee over the weekend.

Recently -- inexplicably -- the magazine called Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York one of its heroes of conservation for his support in the past year a number of conservation initiatives. Now, keep in mind, one of his biggest supporters is the left-of-center League of Conservation Voters, populated mostly by greenie-weenies. It is not so much an organization about the outdoors and conservation policy, as it is about preservation policy, railing against oil companies, and advocating for extreme climate change policy.

(Actually, if LCV is against big oil, someone should tell them about the many advantages of outdoor, wood-fired boilers, and see if they will support such "no oil/no gas" initiatives. But then they would likely find fault with that, too.....)

Nevertheless, somone nominated Sen. Schumer for this "hero" designation in Field & Stream. My advice to those outdoors people who feel the senior senator from New York is such a hero -- he won't be (particularly to hunters) once he takes your firearms away. For someone who says he wants to support conservation, his words do not necessarily translate into "I want to support hunting."

He is one of the key movers and shakers behind dangerous gun control legislation in the United States Senate. And he is unabashadly bold and upfront about his intent.

Frankly, he can say he supports animals and fish, and perhaps even the culture of our outdoors. But an extreme record on gun control, registration and confiscation merits consideration when debating whether to bestow a Field & Stream "hero" moniker on anyone.

Government Knows Whats Good For You?

Not firearms related, but worth noting. To combat rising energy costs, many people are turning to wood-fired boilers. And the do-gooders are coming out in force to complain.

What is very disturbing is that these devices are the perfect solution when more and more people say this nation should reduce its dependence on foreign oil. So a solution IS found, and government says this is not palatable, either. Note that Maryland has banned outdoor boilers, and Suffolk County, N.Y. permits them only in case of a natural disaster.

Sad, very sad.

A Bloody Weekend In Chicago

Updated: Monday, April 21, 2008, 12:18 pm -- The copy editors at Time magazine are morons. Look at the headline, then look at the body copy. The actual story has not changed. Someone is letting their bias show. When I was a working journalist, such errors of fact could get you fired.

*******
Updated: Monday, April 21, 2008, Noon -- Rachel Lucas has an idea. Just make things MORE illegaler. That'll stop the criminals. Rightttttttt.......

*******
This weekend, some 32 people were shot, two were stabbed and six died on the streets of Chicago.

Perhaps because Mayor Daley and his cronies' policies have ensured that only violent criminals are armed, and honest, law abiding taxpayers have no legal way to defend themselves.

Daley has created, or at a minimum, perpetuated a warzone on Lake Michigan.

BTW, Sen. Obama should take note. But then he'll probably find a way to turn it around and call for more gun controls. But wait, he can't do that because he needs the support of firearms owners in Pennsylvania in Tuesday's primary election there and he's now a supporter of the Second Amendment. Oh what to do . . . what to do!!!???

Presidential Campaign News

The latest on the race for the U.S. presidency:

- Camille Paglia on why women should not vote for Hillary Clinton.

- John McCain continues to have trouble raising money.

- Billionaire publisher Richard Mellon Scaife, who spent millions investigating Bill Clinton, endorses Hillary Clinton.

- More establishment democrats are turning to back Barack Obama.

- Hillary Clinton offers to protect Saudis with nuclear weapons.

- John McCain said preserving tax cuts is more important than obtaining a balanced budget.

Obama Ducks And Weaves on 2A In Last Week's Debate

I missed this part of last week's debate between rival democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Apparently, Sen. Obama was ducking and weaving to avoid talking about his position on the DC handgun case -- Heller.

Various politicos have some observations on this. Some of it here, and more here. Interestingly, last fall he told reporters he felt the existing ban on handguns in the District of Columbia was constitutional. He would not use those words during last week's debate.

Ostensibly so he would not offend Pennsylvania voters, many of whom are staunch supporters of an individual right to keep and bear arms.

Iwo Jima Vets Are Pissed At Time Magazine

Yes I said "pissed." That is the only way to describe the visceral anger coming from WW2 veterans, particularly those who fought on Iwo Jima in the Pacific. Why are they torqued at the editors at Time magazine?

Because of cover art on a recent edition that used the Iwo Jima flagraising as inspiration for an issue focusing on "green" initiatives.

"The cover of the April 21 issue of Time took the famous Iwo Jima photograph by Joe Rosenthal of the Marines raising the American flag and replaced the flag with a tree. The cover story by Bryan Walsh calls green “the new red, white and blue.” Donald Mates, an Iwo Jima veteran, told the Business & Media Institute on April 17 that using that photograph for that cause was a “disgrace.”

“It’s an absolute disgrace,” Mates said. “Whoever did it is going to hell. That’s a mortal sin. God forbid he runs into a Marine that was an Iwo Jima survivor.” Mates also said making the comparison of World War II to global warming was erroneous and disrespectful.

“The second world war we knew was there,” Mates said. “There’s a big discussion. Some say there is global warming, some say there isn’t. And to stick a tree in place of a flag on the Iwo Jima picture is just sacrilegious.”

While creative, its just not cool. Most of the green initiatives, well meaning as they are, are being pushed by people who openly loathe the military. So to use one of the most famous military photos in all history . . . well, that's got more than a few Marines -- and other supporters of the U.S. military -- seeing green.

Baracky vs. Hillarocky

Hmmmm . . .

Some people have WAAAAYYYY too much time on their hands. But the results are clever. Well, some efforts are more clever than others.

Tell me your favorite.

. . . Baracky

or

. . . Hillarocky

Photo Of The Day

We are at Patriot's Day, Plus One. Still, this photo deserves being viewed every day. As a reminder.

USAir Pilot Whose Firearm Discharged In Cockpit To Be Terminated

"An US Airways pilot who aviation officials say accidentally fired his handgun in the cockpit during a flight will be fired, a spokesman for a flight officers group said. The airline has begun the termination process for Capt. James Langenhahn, said Mike Karn, vice president of the Federal Flight Deck Officers Association.

"Langenhahn told police that he was stowing his gun in the cockpit of a jet preparing to land in Charlotte, North Carolina, last month when it accidentally fired. The federal Transportation Security Administration is investigating the incident."

I missed this story earlier in the week week when it was announced. Mixed feelings here. I think the policy of handling firearms in the cockpit so frequently prior to, during, and immediately following a flight, is absolute lunacy. This policy of the Department of Homeland Security, or of TSA -- frankly it doesn't matter who is responsible for this irresponsible procedure -- it needs to be reviewed.

The Federal Flight Deck Officers Association plans to fight the termination. "This was accidental not intentional," said Mike Karn, association vice president. "This is not the way to treat a long-term pilot."

While the accidental discharge is troubling, the distinct possibility that this pilot's career is being sacrificed so that the airline and TSA can avoid dealing with a glaring bureaucratic snafu is of far greater concern, I would think.

Congressman Faults Colt For Its Exlusive Government M4 Contract

"No weapon is more important to tens of thousands of U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan than the carbine rifle. And for well over a decade, the military has relied on one company, Colt Defense of Hartford, Conn., to make the M4s they trust with their lives. Now, as Congress considers spending millions more on the guns, this exclusive arrangement is being criticized as a bad deal for American forces as well as taxpayers, according to interviews and research conducted by The Associated Press."

The full story is here.

Interestingly, 89 percent of soldiers using this firearm are satisfied with the M4. Personally, $1500 is not an unreasonable price. What's the alternative, the blue rubber rifles that people are afraid to see on the streets around an ROTC building on a college campus?

OSU Student Hunts QB Spot, White Tails

Joe Bauserman walked away from an OSU scholarship offer in 2004, pitched in class-A ball for the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, then walked back onto the Buckeyes roster last fall. He's now angling for quarterback time at Ohio State.

And he's an avid hunter.

Happy Patriot's Day

A day to remember that most Americans don't even know about. It is marked with festivals, parades, the Boston Marathon, and many other events throughout New England.

To learn more, click here and here.

I remember some talk several years ago in the wake of the brutal 9-11 terror attacks upon the United States to mark September 11 as Patriot's Day. That proposal died quickly as historians and others reminded America that there already is a Patriot's Day, which commemorates "the shot heard 'round the world."

Happy Patriot's Day!

Please take a moment to remember all those who have gone before us in the fight for freedom.

Firearms Owners and The Happiness Gap

Why are gun owners so happy?

"Americans with guns are neither a small nor downtrodden group. Nor are they "bitter." In 2006, 36% of gun owners said they were "very happy," while 9% were "not too happy." Meanwhile, only 30% of people without guns were very happy, and 16% were not too happy.

"In 1996, gun owners spent about 15% less of their time than nonowners feeling "outraged at something somebody had done." It's easy enough in certain precincts to caricature armed Americans as an angry and miserable fringe group. But it just isn't true. The data say that the people in the approximately 40 million American households with guns are generally happier than those people in households that don't have guns."

Neat stuff. I am particularly intrigued by the stats where more people who do not own firearms are feel outraged at things people have done than gun owners. Kind of flies against the stereotype we hear so often in MSM and in hearings before lawmakers time and time again, doesnt it?

Neat reading at Marginal Revolution.

Canadian Columnist Advocates For Guns and God

Outspoken syndicated columnist Mark Steyn has a bone to pick with anyone attacks two of the things that, in his opinion, elevate the United States above places like Europe.

"As for "gun-totin'," large numbers of Americans tote guns because they're assertive, self-reliant citizens, not docile subjects of a permanent governing class. The Second Amendment is philosophically consistent with the First Amendment, for which I've become more grateful since the Canadian Islamic Congress decided to sue me for "hate speech" up north. Both amendments embody the American view that liberty is not the gift of the state, and its defense cannot be outsourced exclusively to the government."

He hit the nail on the head with that statement. Very well said, Mr. Steyn. Read his full column in the Orange County Register online.

No Woods For Poet Atwood

Margaret Atwood is one of Canada's most celebrated poets. She also has written more than 20 novels, and won scores of awards for literature.

"The Door" is her first book of poems in more than a decade, according to reviewers. It is a mix of themes. But one stands out. And it is disturbing . . . at least her viewpoint of something millions of Americans -- and Canadians for that matter -- find perfectly normal. In a poem called, "The Autumn," she writes of the woods.

See if anything in the following verse, where she advises readers to stay out of the woods, bothers you:

"It's filled with angry old men / sneaking around in camouflage gear / pretending no one can see them/ They aren't hunters, these men. / They have none of the patience of hunters, / none of the remorse."

Huh?

She then concludes her verse with the following:

"I remember the long hours crouching in the high marsh grasses - the low sky empty, the water silent, the hushed colours of distant trees - waiting for the rush of wings, half-hoping nothing would happen."

Her verse strikes me as self important nonsense about wanting to keep the woods to herself and not share their beauty with anyone else. She forgets, however, that the woods have been filled with people -- men and women -- long before she was born (that would be in 1939).

Anyway, her writing has been pegged as powerful because she takes on big subjects, and because she rarely uses rhyme in her verse. Filled with a twisted sense of humor, I am struck by the fact that no one has probably ever written a limerick about Ms. Atwood. Yes, a limerick. One of the more controversial types of poetry, limericks are five-line poems with a strict form originally popularized in English by Edward Lear.

Ms. Atwood's attitude about people in the woods is disturbing, to say the least. It's sad, actually. So I think a limerick contest is in order. Anyone out there want to finish what I start? Or better yet, write your own? I only ask that they not be X-rated (or what is it now, NC-17?). One of the things about limericks is that in true folk form, they are usually obscene. And the clean ones are, well, boring.

So here goes. Fill in the rest, or give it your own best shot.

"There was a poet named Atwood,
Whose attitude about hunters was no good,
________________________
________________________
________________________

The 2A Has Racist Origins?

A fascinating . . . and disturbing piece from Mother Jones magazine.

"Gun-wielding journalists who can't shoot straight may not be the bulwark against tyranny libertarians had in mind. Yet they're just one of the many scary scenarios the District faces should the court rely on language inspired by slavery and the libertarians' whitewashed version of American history to restrict the ability of a majority black city to protect its citizens from gun violence."

Huh? Read the full essay for yourself. Any thoughts to send back to the author?

Waving The Bloody Shirt

"One of the least attractive features of the anti-gun movement and its cheerleaders in the press is their ghoulish exploitation of murder to advance their own political ends. Amanda Ripley of Time is using the Virginia Tech dead as a platform upon which to stand and repeat her tired argument for truncating Americans' Second Amendment rights. It's an altogether unimpressive performance from the not-especially-talented Miss Ripley, and the worst of it is trotting out the myth that a magical "loophole" exempts firearms sales at gun shows from background checks and other restrictions.

"As has been documented extensively enough that even a Time journalist ought to be familiar with the facts, the sale of a firearm is regulated in exactly the same manner whether it takes place at a gun show or in some other venue. Sales at gun shows are not given any special exemption; sales by people who are not gun dealers are. If my brother-in-law decides he admires my duck gun and wants to buy it from me, I am not obliged to do the things a gun dealer does before making a sale—because I am not a gun dealer."

A great piece from National Review.

Just Because

Wired is reporting that NORAD has U.S. Northern Command have allegedly released tapes of audio files, telephone conversations and situation room discussions, from the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Check it out.

She Chose To Live Without Fear

The setting is Detroit in 1972, but it is as real today as it was back those 36 years ago.

In "A Grandmother's Gun," Breda eloquently tells the story of one woman who refused to be a victim, and lived to see another day.

Ridiculous Panic At Ohio State Forces ROTC To Put Fake Rifles Out Of Site

Panic by the uninformed, and apparently the uneducated, on one of America's greatest college campuses, is causing change.

"Ohio State University's ROTC cadets have ended the decades-long practice of combat training with mock rifles on the main campus because of public edginess in the wake of the Virginia Tech shootings, officials said.

"Since the decision was made a couple of weeks ago, tactical training with rubber replicas of an M-16 rifle has been moved indoors, or cadets have trained without rifles, said Navy Capt. Steven Noce, who heads the university's ROTC program.

"Officials initially responded to concerns by changing the mock rifles -- which the ROTC calls "rubber ducks" -- from black to blue or orange, Noce said. But they were still too realistic in certain light, he said."

"Those kids have been drilling with those things for decades," said Charles Smith, a political-science academic adviser who heard about the decision from an ROTC student he knows. "They were making them point their fingers, and apparently one picked up a stick."
Because the ROTC students train in battle-dress uniforms, "it's real obvious who these people are," Smith said."

I'm just shaking my head, and really don't know how to comment on this one.

Arguing For Gun Choice

David Codrea argues for "gun choice" in the New York Times.

Nice stuff.