Injustice In New Jersey?

So is the case against Brian Aitken a giant piece of injustice?

You read and decide.

Gov. Chris Christie has been asked for clemency for this man. I plan to read up more on this case and weigh in with my own thoughts this week. Clearly one needs to know the laws regarding firearms when one spends anytime in a particular state.

But this seems over the top. But then again, hey, its New Jersey!

Should You Renew Your NRA Membership?

Always a good question. My short answer would be yes, but the explanations are complicated AND I can come up with many reasons not to. I love arguing both sides of a debate!

Needless to say, there are many reasons to say yes. True, there are many things I disagree with the NRA on, but they are the 800 pound gorilla in the room on the 2A. Which is why members need to keep their feet to the fire, just as it did in the Harry Reid episode (more farther down in this post).

Other things I agree with. Like the endorsement of Ted Strickland over John Kasich for Ohio governor. It is a single issue group people!!! And the records of these two men are very different when it comes to the Second Amendment. Still, there were those who thought that the NRA only endorsed republicans. It doesn't. It never has. And I am a registered republican, in case you were wondering.

Anyway, The Captain's Journal had a good, albeit short piece yesterday on this very question: Should we renew our NRA memberships? The author of that blog wonders why there were kudos for Harry Reid from LaPierre, though ultimately no NRA endorsement of his re-election to the U.S. Senate. The kudos came because Reid, though he has sheparded anti-gun legislation through the Senate, steered millions of federal dollars for a shooting range in his home state. So they had to say something nice....

Have Wayne LaPierre and Chris Cox had their run at the helm? Is it time for new leadership? This is a debate that has been going on for some time.

And shows no sign of abating.

Happy Thanksgiving!

To you and yours, I wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. Much to be thankful for. My friends, my family, my health.

And a conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Court, and a conservative House of Representatives being sworn in early next year, and .......

Best wishes My Friends!

Obama Nominates Gun Grabber To Lead BATF

Not suprisingly, after months of criticism by the Brady Campaign because he has not yet nominated someone to head the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE), President Obama has delivered the antis what they want.

A gun grabber.

Obama nominated fellow Chicagoan Andrew Traver -- an avid anti-gun advocate -- to head the federal agency.

The Brady Campaign has been whining for some time now that without someone to head this increasingly politicized agency, that violence will increase. Never mind the fact that for two years the agency hasn't had a political appointee at its head and violence continues to decrease across the U.S.

SSSShhhhhhh.....don't tell anyone that it could be because more and more regular folks are carrying firearms for their protection. Which makes Joe Thug a little wary of mugging granny at the ATM.

Anyway, Traver has a long history of anti-gun advocacy. Among his positions -- he is against private ownership of competition rifles (SBRs that cause PSH among the unenlightened). He is head of the BATFE Chicago field office. You know, a city with some of the most draconian gun laws in the nation. Where, um, sorry Mayor Daley and Mr. Traver -- so-called "gun violence" is out of control. Largely because of the aforementioned gun restrictions. And here's the rub with this nomination. The federal agency is not supposed to be pro-gun, or anti-gun. It is supposed to investigate alcohol, tobacco and explosives crime, and be a firearms dealer regulatory group. The agency already has become politicized, starting with the Clinton-Reno administration. But with him at the helm, we may reach new heights of hypocrisy.

Mr. Traver still has to make it through the confirmation process in the United States Senate. Though, there is some talk that the president, facing an uphill battle, may make a recess appointment and put him in place without a Senate vote. Might be a rocky road to the top. And you can bet that pro-gun senators -- both republicans AND democrats -- are going to go through his background like a TSA agent rifles around an elderly woman's privates. He has close ties to the anti-gun Joyce Foundation, and has been complimentary of the work of the virulently anti-gun Legal Community Against Violence, a California think tank that has been exporting gun grabbing legal strategies across the nation.

No wait, thats not right. That is insulting to those senators. Lets just say his "activities" will be subject to blazing, intense scrutiny. Like walking into one of those controversial full body scanners.....

Important News For Politically Correct School Administrators

Some things are just important:

A school kid recently was told not to attach the american flag to the bicycle he rides to school. Because it might offend someone . . .

OH REALLY???

Well, many civic-minded American citizens found that suggestion offensive. In fact, many "bike" riders rode with the young man to his school the day after the controversy made national news.

Click here to see what happened.

These clowns who are teaching our kids not to express love for their country . . . pure idiocy. There can be NO other explanation.

Happy Veteran's Day!

There are many men and women who toil next to you and I on a daily basis in the workplace, or live on our street, or we pass them on the sidewalk.

Many, though you would not know it, are veterans of our nation's military services. Please take a moment today -- it is the least you can do -- to thank a veteran whom you know. Thank them for their service, for their sacrifice, for taking low pay to stand in harm's way on your and my behalf.

Once it was Armistice Day. A celebration taking place at the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month. Celebrating "the war to end all wars." At least that's what it was called back in the early 1900s. Today it is known as "Veteran's Day." It is a day worth remembering those who stepped away from a typical life, donned a uniform and defended this nation.

To the many U.S. veterans around the world, I say "thank you."

Happy Trillion Dollar Wednesday!

HAPPY Trilion Dollar Wednesday!

Yes, in case you didn't know it, today is the day the U.S. Federal Reserve will announce it plans to flood the markets with boatloads of newly printed cash, in an attempt to .... ahem..... stimulate the economy.

Riiiiiighttt......

There is no better way to fire up inflation (which, BTW, is already here). Don't think inflation is here? Have you seen the portion size of stuff being sold at the groceries? Loaves of bread are smaller, cookies themselves in packages are smaller, soup cans are smaller. True, prices have not gone up but you are getting less.

The Conservative Revolution that occurred last night cannot get in place soon enough!

On Recycling and Nancy Being Forced To Turn Over The Keys To The Jet

Well it was a night for recycling, AND throwing out the trash last night!

Voters across the U.S. said "enough," and with their votes demonstrated they are suffering from serious buyer's remorse.

In California, former Gov. Jerry Brown was recycled back to the governor's office, at 72, some 40 years after he was first elected to the high office there. In Ohio, republican Mike DeWine, trounced by people in his own party some years ago for being such an ineffective and liberal leaning U.S. senator, was recycled back into the fold and elected Ohio attorney general. Of course, nepotism played a part in that -- a member of his family is head of the Ohio GOP, and pushed Dave Yost off the AG nomination train in favor of Mikey. Yost ran for and was elected auditor of state, but he would have been more effective in the AG's post. DeWine's real goal is the governor's seat. More on that later.

On throwing out the trash? Anti-gun democrats all across the nation, with a few exceptions, were pushed out the door by voters who were in an anti-incumbant mood. Amazingly, Harry Reid hung on to his Senate seat in Nevada, as did Barbara Boxer in California. Tea Party candidates across the nation did fairly well, though a high-profile race in Alaska seems to be going the way of the write-in candidate (actually the republican office holder who lost her primary then in a fit of anger stayed in the race).

Our new governor has a mixed record on firerms. John Kasich. Much has been written here and elsewhere, and I won't comment on it again, at least for now. But his feet will be held to the fire and actions speak louder than words. Outgoing Gov. Ted Strickland is solid on the 2A. Always has been, always will be I would venture. But his belief in Obama's social welfare programs always troubled me. Still we have a chance to do good in the coming years. As long as conservative lawmakers at the state level and nationally remember what brung 'em to the party!

For me, it should be about fighting for the nation, to get it back on track and out of this "give-away" mode we have been in for the past two years. When candidates suddenly talk of fighting for their political lives, instead of talking about fighting for the country, well.....

Now for those who say right away, "oh great now there will be gridlock," I remind them that Madison and others created a nation with divided government. The executive and legislative are supposed to balance each other, along with the judiciary. But one should never be a rubber stamp on the other. I found it humorous and frustrating at the same time that President Obama would blame republicans for his inability to get his agenda passed, when in truth it was people in his own party. The democrats controlled both houses. They steamrolled healthcare and some other issues through over the strong objections of a majority of American citizens. But on other issues he had trouble, and blamed the GOP. Intellectually dishonest at a minimum.

Truth be told, gridlock is good. It is a way to force compromise. And in the case of issues that far more problematic, it is a way to stop bad legislation its tracks. To kill it.

Steve Stivers and Rob Portman are great people to go to Washington. Going to the House and Senate, respetively, they will get things done. I have not yet met Mr. Portman, but I know Steve Stivers. Honest, focused, and with a keen understanding of what it takes to move the country forward instead of turn us into a welfare state. Stivers will replace Mary Jo Kilroy, whose concession speech sounded like a victory rally. "We got this done, we got that done!" It was surreal. But then, maybe that was her goal: Sacrifice a longer term in order to put in place extreme concepts that would be hard to undo. I just don't know....

Here's a truth: Mary Jo's accomplishments, though little known by the masses, were to vote in a pay package that gives her thousands of dollars a month for life in her Congressional pension. She also voted in a healthcare package, far different from the aspirin you and I will be allowed under ObamaCare, for herself and other members of Congress that is quite the cadillac. Once again, Congress exempted itself from what it pushed onto the masses. No wonder she was excited. She never has to work another day in her life and she will have excellent healthcare, courtesy of the American taxpayer. Yeah, she got a lot done alright.

Overall, however, balance has been restored to Congress to some extent. There could have been further gains, but the American people have spoken. Harry Reid, hated by many in his state of Nevada, will still likely be president of the U.S. Senate, but the democrats have only the slimmiest majority. In the U.S. House of Representatives, fellow Buckeye John Boehner will likely be elected Speaker of the House, replacing the universally reviled democrat Nancy Pelosi. There is much work to be done. And pro-gun, pro freedom candidates were elected all across the nation last night.

In an interview with a national candidate this morning on NPR, the newly elected lawmaker commented that America is a land of second chances. And he was grateful that voters are giving republicans a second chance to make right what they screwed up after the 1994 elections. Then, we got a great congress that gave a balanced budget to President Clinton (which Clinton signed then took credit for), then started spending willy nilly in later years. And in the mid-term elections during President George W. Bush's tenure, they were voted out of power.

President Obama has to realize at this point his rough-shod attitude about "enemies" (his latest word for American citizens who disagree with him, though he has since apologized) has got to stop. He will be the one who looks like a bully. He has tried to blame his problems on republicans and Bush, but to no avail.

The American public spoke last night and said it wants conservatives front and center in the debate. For one, I relish the opportunity...

Mostly pro-gun, pro 2A candidates won last night. The Tea Party movement, once villified and mocked, is real. It is not a party. It is a philosophy that the powers-that-be have got to wake up to. The electorate already gets it. The White House needs to take the pulse of America, instead of sitting idly by and thinking "oh they will get used to it."

For as we saw last night, nothing is permanent.

As for my fellow Ohionas, Mr. Kasich I wish you well. I hope you demonstrate with your actions what you have hesitated to express with words, but have told others you believe. Mr. Dewine, you are being watched. Your anti-gun stance personal feelings need to be put in the back seat. I am told you now have a CCW. You should step up and talk about your new feelings about firearms. Talk about how you were wrong before, or how your views have modified. It will go a long way toward building support among 2A advocates in Ohio as you prepare your run for governor in eight years.

And now we wait, and watch....

Oh, and Nancy Pelosi has to hand over the keys to the jet! Heh....

What You DON'T Want To Hear When You Work In A Gun Store

Anyone who has ever worked in retail has probably combined a mental or even written list of the odd things you hear while behind the counter.

Marko has worked in a gun store before, and has compiled an interesting list of the things you just do not want to hear....

Elections Tomorrow!

UPDATED 3:43 PM, Monday, November 1, 2010 -- Here is a piece from Buckeye Firearms Association's Ken Hanson, which touches to the Kasich/Strickland battle for the hearts and minds of gun owners better than anything I have published. Nicely written Ken!

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I had a long, enlightening conversation with Steve Elliot yesterday about the upcoming elections and the expected tidal wave of "more conservative" lawmakers expected to be swept into office with Tuesday's national vote.

Steve, along with his wife, Annette, operate C&E/Showmasters Gun Shows. Steve was in Columbus for a show at Westland mall over the weekend and I was working with Mike Regan and Jim Pryor at the NRA member recruiting table. It was a good weekend for both the family show, as well as for NRA new memberships.

Our conversation covered a number of races across the U.S., and here in Ohio. The differences between Gov. Ted Strickland and challenger John Kasich. Strickland endorsed by the NRA and and A+ rated candidate because of his long, long, long time support of the 2A, and firearms owners. But he is a supporter of President Obama.... And Kasich, somewhat more fiscally conservative and, until very recently, hostile to and then absolutely silent on the 2A, though he is finally making some noise in the closing days of the election that he is a pro-gun guy. His vote for the assault weapon ban when he was in Congress in '94 doesn't help him terribly, and the fact that when he launched his race for governor he wanted his surrogates to go out and tell people he wouldn't take their guns -- rather than do it himself -- raised A LOT of eyebrows. Damn cowardly, most said, including this author. Plus, it was a clear sign he hadn't changed his stripes. But, like I said, lately he has made some positive noise himself on the subject. Finally!, Although his surrogates filed a claim complaining that his "F" rating from the NRA is false (as publicized in an ad by the Strickland camp), that claim was thrown out because the info in the ad is.... wait for it.... TRUE!

We chatted extensively about the Cordray vs. DeWine race for Ohio AG. The former gun control supporter (democrat Cordray) who now says nice things about guns, vs. the former U.S. Senator who is the only republican from the Senate ever to be endorsed by the Brady campaign. I really wish Cordray had signed with other state attorneys general stating that he did not want to see the meaningless assault weapons ban from 1994 re-instituted. Across the aisle, DeWine really wants to be Ohio governor, but after being soundly defeated in his last senatorial election (mostly because gun owners and other conservatives wouldn't support another term for the RINO) he is settling for a run at AG in order to get into the state office "rotation."

And in the closely watched Ohio 15th congressional election, where first term congresswoman and gun control supporter Mary Jo Kilroy is being challenged by former state senator Steve Stivers, the race is close, but leaning toward Stivers. Stivers is pro-gun, but the fact that he was a bank lobbyist about 10 years ago (he has done many other things since) is being dredged up because Kilroy's campaign is grasping at straws in order to get traction.

In our conversation, Steve Elliot noted that in a number of earlier, already-decided races -- Brown in Massachusetts, Christie in New Jersey, and another guy in Virginia -- the polls had their numbers in place right up until voting time. Interestingly, the conservatives won, in almost every case, by 10 points higher than the polls were projecting. So what does that say about Tuesday night's results? Could we see something similar? Where voter disgust for the ridiculous economics of "hope and change" and the harm it is causing our economy and our families is higher than the pollsters are showing? Could there be not just a tidal wave of conservatives swept into office, but by significantly higher vote margins than anyone anticipates?

Who knows? One thing is for sure. There is a clear "throw the bums out" mentality across America right now. If you are an incumbant, you are in danger. If you are a left-leaning incumbant, in most (not all) cases you are in REAL danger of losing your election. And you know it!

The legacy media, in typical PSH mode, is freaking out about the election. Nina Totenberg at NPR is saying she is very worried about the outcome of the election. Geez Nina aren't you supposed to keep your opinions of how you "feel" to yourself? Isn't that what got Juan Williams fired? And Chris Matthews over at MSNBC on his Hardball show was having kittens because a couple of conservative candidates, Sharon Angle among them I believe, said something about the Second Amendent coming into play if the country continues down the road it is on with the treasure of the nation's citizens being looted to pay for more and more social programs. Matthews and one of his panelists both opined that "this is not the way we do things in America."

Er, uh, Mr. Matthews, I am surprised I have to break this to you. You seem like such a smart guy. But it did happen one time previously. I know you are the world's foremost authority, but PLEASE consult a book on American history....

I and many other policy-wonk types expect to stay up all night and watch returns come in. I have been invited to a few candidate parties to watch the election results being tallied but not sure if I will head out. May hit a local pub and watch with a friend. But Steve's take was interesting. "There won't be any need to watch it all night," he said in his familiar Virginia drawl. "This thing will be over by nine o'clock."

And there you have it. Other than to see what happens with Harry Reid's race for survival against Sharron Angle in Nevada, or to see Barbara Boxer squirm out in California, the sea change will likely hit the institutional Left like a brick wall almost immediately after the polls close.

And it may, indeed, be a very good night for the 2A, and for preserving liberties in the face of a two-year firestorm storm intrusion into the market, and our lives, by the federal government.