Buy A Piece of History In Utah: John Browning's Home Is For Sale

A beautiful home in Ogden, Utah, formerly the mansion of John Browning, is on the market.

Xavier has the details and photos.

Sweet on so many levels!

Sarah Palin Goes Out On A High Note

Yesterday, as she gave one last speech before leaving the office of governor of the State of Alaska, she gave a wide-ranging speech on the Second Amendment, the legacy media's laziness, why ALL the children of politicians should be off limits to pundits, and how she's not going away.

Three of the best lines . . .

"We eat, therefore we hunt."

"Our new governor has a very nice family too. So leave his kids alone."

"How about in honor of the American soldier, you quit makin' things up! (a reference to members of the military who are willing to risk their lives to protect, among other things, the right to freedom of the press)

Watch her farewell address here.

Another Anti-Gun Mayor Nailed For Corruption

No wonder they fear their citizenry possessing firearms. They, themselves are crooks. and everyone knows that criminals fear law abiding citizens who keep guns.

The latest from the federal sweep of New Jersey, where numerous public officials and even religions leaders were arrested for bribery and corruption charges.

One of those, Joseph Doria, when he was mayor of Bayonne, N.J., was among those eagerly signing on to New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg's anti-gun mayor's club.

Two Votes

The legacy media may be portraying this as an amendment that never stood a chance, but the "Thune Amendment," an addition to a military appropriations bill that would have legally enabled anyone in the U.S., with a CCW license to carry in any other state that permits CCW, failed by a mere....2 votes.

Some 20 democrats broke with their party and voted for the amendment. Incredibly, even Sen. Harry Reid, the embattled Nevada senator who is in the political fight for his life, voted for the amendment. This goes against years of anti-gun, anti-self defense votes. I believe, however, that the vote counters knew the amendment would fail -- even narrowly -- giving Reid political cover to vote in the affirmative.

Anti-gun groups are crowing at their so-called great victory. A rare victory for gun control advocates, those who choose to obstruct vital citizen safety legislation such as this amendment have been on the ropes for several years now as more and more Americans have become enlightened about their personal safety, and their personal responsibility to such. Even much of the media doesn't get it. Check out Bryan Miller and USA Today.

Here in Ohio, both my senators -- Brown (D) and Voinovich (R) -- voted against the citizen safety amendment. The votes were not unexpected. Brown has long opposed the basic human right to self defense, and Voinovich is pretty squishy on the issue, as well.

Sebastian, over at Snowflakes in Hell, posted real-time coverage of C-Span news reports leading up to the vote. It makes for interesting reading.

Most importantly, this issue isn't going away. The National Rifle Association, noting the close vote, has pledged to keep this issue in the forefront of national firearms rights and self defense policy.

Two votes . . . A slim margin and the anti self defense scare-mongers know it. And they are frightened by the continued loss of their power and influence.

A Day In The Life Of An 'Open Carrier'

A superb piece from a publication in San Diego, Calif. shows what individuals in the Golden State are experiencing as part of the "open carry" movement.

In this case, they are carrying unloaded firearms. For an open carry protest it might be appropriate, but its not what I would do. Still, it takes baby steps to get started on the Left Coast, and the subjects of this story and their peers are turning heads and getting people to think and discuss the issue there.

A very good read. Worth passing along.

A Beautiful Day For Waterfowlers and Eddie Eagle's Message Of Safety

I am just back from a spectacular day at the Cardinal Center in Morrow County, Ohio, where the Waterfowlers Bootcamp (Day 1) took place. Under partly cloudy skies, Eddie Eagle swooped in to teach kids the four main lessons of this award-winning, highly effective safety program.

Below are a few photos from the event, which concludes Sunday.

While strolling the grounds, Eddie got a crash course in duck and goose calling, and watched some fantastic dog demonstrations with expert retriever trainers. I will be back out tomorrow morning with Eddie once more, handing out stickers, temporary tattoos, coloring books, and spreading the Eddie Eagle GunSafe message.

That being, if kids find a gun in an unsupervised situation, they should:

-- STOP!

-- DON'T TOUCH!

-- LEAVE THE AREA!

-- TELL AN ADULT!

Some visitors to the Waterfowl Boot Camp pose with Eddie Eagle for a photo

Eddie comes nose to nose with some beautiful mounts created by a Central Ohio taxidermist

Wow! Who knew Sarah Palin would be stopping by....

Her cardboard cutout insisted on having her photo taken with Eddie Eagle

Eddie and yours truly pose for a photo at the end of a long day teaching the Eddie Eagle GunSafe message

One last note to share.

I was also there with a number of colleagues from Peoples Rights Organization (PRO), at the request of organizers of the Waterfowl Bootcamp, to represent the National Rifle Association and man a recruiting table. Pete Stryjewski of PRO, who also volunteers with the Ohio Waterfowl Association, set it up, and both Mike Regan and Jim Prior, two great guys, spent the lion's share of their time today at the NRA recruiting station.

I have some important thoughts . . . serious issues, if you will . . . with how that all went. And of the divide and conquer strategies that anti-hunters, those who abhore self defense, and those who are virulently anti-gun, use. I am going to write on that after I have had a few days to process it all.

To the organizers of this fantastic event, thanks for inviting Eddie Eagle to take part and spread his important safety message. I have been involved with the Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program for just about 10 years. It does my heart good to see kids respond in such a positive manner when they realize they are learning something important.

Today was no exception. I look forward to repeating it all tomorrow.

Ohio's Waterfowl Bootcamp

Big events across the Buckeye State this weekend, with one of the biggest being the Waterfowl Bootcamp, put on by the Ohio Waterfowl Association.

Taking place at the Cardinal Center, a premier trapshooting range in north Central Ohio that has become the new home of the Ohio Trapshooting Association, the "Bootcamp" will feature many events and programs for waterfowl hunters of all ages.

Click here for a link to the event, which includes seminars on painting decoys, calling in geese, and numerous youth programs.

Speaking of youth, I will be there with two other representatives of Peoples Rights Organization (PRO) to sell National Rifle Association memberships. Additionally, I will be teaching the Eddie Eagle Gunsafe Program, a nationally recognized and U.S. Justice Department endorsed firearms safety program for young children. The STOP! DON'T TOUCH! LEAVE THE AREA! TELL AN ADULT! message is strong, and has been adopted and taught by private citizens and police departments to kids all across North America. And with great success.

If you are in the area, stop by. The Cardinal Center is at State Route 61 and Interstate 71 in Marengo. Word is, Eddie himself will be "flying in" to teach the special "gun safe" message to kids attending the Waterfowl Bootcamp. And I am bringing a big supply of temporary tattoos, stickers, and Eddie comic books.

Mike DeWine Wants To Be Your New AG

The only sitting republican U.S. senator ever to be endorsed by the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence (formerly Handgun Control Inc.) wants to run for Ohio Attorney General.

Hmmmm.....

Based on his anti-gun, anti self defense, pretty much anti freedom voting history in the U.S. Senate before he was thrown out by voters a few years ago, I vote NO!

We already have an attorney general in Richard Cordray who is, many believe, a wolf in sheep's clothing regarding the 2A. Although, to be fair, he did sign on to an amicus brief with other state attorneys general arguing for "incorporation" regarding the 2A; that is, that the constitutional provision in the Bill of Rights to right to keep and bear arms applies to the states and local governments, also. As in . . . "shall not be infringed."

David Yost, Delaware County prosecuting attorney, has a generally strong record on the Second Amendment. He would appear to be a far stronger choice as republicans go for this race.

I have a pretty good idea what Ohio's three big grassroots gun rights groups will have to say on Mr. DeWine's candidacy. When Sarah Palin was John McCain's VP candidate, she spent some time criss-crossing Ohio on a brief bus trip. She was being escorted by none other than Mike DeWine. I fired off a letter to her office and to the McCain campaign advising them that a DeWine/Palin combination is sort of like oil and water. Whether Ms. Palin picked up on the idea that former Senator DeWine is not a conservative, is anti-gun, and was rejected by most voters in his own party this last election cycle . . . well I don't know how that barn-storming partnership worked out.

All I know is that on the issues, law abiding firearms owners have many, many, many issues with Mr. DeWine. I guess he doesn't care.