Kentucky, Oregon Primaries Shaping Dem Race Today

Voters are weighing in today in primaries in Oregon and Kentucky. Interestingly, and not unexpectedly, a top Barack Obama adviser has urged Democrats to unite behind the Illinois senator for the fall campaign and bring the marathon contest for the presidential nomination to a close.

Details from the Associated Press.

Still, as time runs short for democrats to name a candidate for the November election, Hillary Clinton is claiming the lead in the popular vote.

A Different Kind Of Political Outreach 2

Its not just Hamilton County, Ohio (Cincinnati) republicans who are holding CCW classes. Licking County (east Central Ohio) republicans are doing the same.

It's a two-day deal -- the best way to both teach and learn CCW. Personally, I cannot stand the one-day classes. As an NRA instructor, I think it is unfair to ask a student to absorb all that material in a single day (12 hours classroom and range), especially if they are a newbie. But I digress . . .

The two-day class, sponsored by the Licking County Republican Patriot's Club, is set for June 28-29. The first day's class, June 28, will take place above Licking County GOP headquarters in Newark from 8 am to 6:30 pm. The balance of the class will take place at a private outdoor range in nearby Alexandria on June 29.

For information or to sign up, call 614/668-9777.

Glenn Beck's Cummerbund

Apparently, syndicated talk show host Glenn Beck was wearing a most interesting cummerbund during his presentation at the recently concluded National Rifle Association annual meetings and exhibition in Louisville.

The Ten Ring has a photo and comments. Note his comment about piracy and politicians and raping and looting.

Quote Of The Day

"I suspect those officers aren't as sympathetic when defiant gestures are aimed at them. This sense of entitlement and exceptionalism among law enforcement is a good reason to cut taxes and buy a gun . . . ."

-- Glenn Reynolds, author of Instapundit blog, commenting on "acts of defiance" being practiced by police officers in Montgomery County, Va. Apparently, when police officers there speed through red-lights, they flip their middle finger to the red-light camera. When they receive the automated ticket for their speed transgression, they refuse to pay. Why? On advice of the local police union, officers are telling the county that the ticket is not isued to the person driving, but to the vehicle's owner. Which is the county.

Don't Think Of It As Electing A President; Think Of It As Electing A Supreme Court (Scared Yet?)

From TownHall.com:

"The political “hot button” issues of guns and judges have become intertwined in this election year. The fate of both issues will be decided by the candidate we elect as president. Why? Because over a four-year term, that president will likely appoint at least two and possibly three justices to the United States Supreme Court. Simply stated, this year when we elect a president, we will also cast our ballot for the next Supreme Court."

Truer words were never spoken. This election is about the Supreme Court -- even more so than when George Bush was elected in 2000 over Al Gore and again in 2004 over John Kerry.

At this point in time there is no greater opportunity, and no greater threat, to the firearms rights of every mother and father, grandmother and grandfather, housewife and hunter, than right now.

While the choices of McCain, Obama and Clinton do not inspire, they should serve as further material to do one's research as we head toward the November general election.

"The Second Amendment is the insurance policy on American liberty. And whether you own guns or not, you cannot afford for a single minute to think that it doesn’t matter to you, your family or the security of this country."

Amen.

911 Dispatcher Fired After Swearing At Caller

Get this, the 911 operator in Nashville, Tenn. also told the female caller he didn't give a s**t about the ex-boyfriend who was threatening her.

WTF?

Rightly so, he was shown the door. But once again, this is proof positive that you are your own first line of defense. Waiting for others to save the day is a fool's errand. Now, while this is a rare situation, the time needed to wait for officers to arrive may meant he difference between a caller's life and death.

At least the guy was in training and hadn't been there long enough to gain any kind of seniority. Once people are entrenched, even in civil service jobs, the "screw-up, move-up" mentality sets in.

Good riddance that this bad apple was bounced out on his keyster before his apathy got someone killed.

A Florida Reporter 'Understands'

Kudos to Vicki Crawford at the Naples Daily News in southwest Florida. In her blog she has come to the defense of the Second Amendment, and has the following to say:

"And when Mr. Citizen becomes a homicide statistic, as far as I'm concerned, the folks that wanted such gun controls are as guilty of the man's murder as the person who pulled the trigger. When someone takes away a person's right to self-defense then that someone becomes responsible for that person's safety. No ifs, ands, or buts about it."

Nicely written, Ms. Crawford. Florida is an interesting place. The Atlantic Coast of the state is populated by refugees from New England -- New York and Massachusetts mostly -- who have brought with them many of their "nanny state" ideals. The Gulf Coast (where Naples is located), on the other hand, is populated by many Midwest retirees and snowbirds, most of whom (not all, just most) have a more enlightened, more open-minded and rational view of firearms self defense. THEY DO NOT FEAR IT!

But a lot of those folks from the East are finding that this quiet gem to the west is a nice place too. Only they want to change it into what they left behind in New York and Massachusetts, and what they want to leave in the greater Miami-Dade region. So Ms. Crawford sees the future:

"What does a gun mean to me? For one, if things get bad enough it means that I won't go hungry. As long as there are woods, and I have a gun, I have food. It also means that my neighbors won't go hungry. A gun means that I can keep what I have including my life, my property, my freedom, my privacy. It also means that my neighbor can sleep well at night for what endangers me also threatens him or her. It means that I don't have to be a victim of anything. Unfortunately all I'm permitted to be armed with nowadays is pen and paper. I can hurl harsh language and inflict a few nasty paper cuts, but the way things are going in this country, here may be a future where I won't even be able to do that."

Without question, Ms. Crawford "gets it." Great writing. Read her entire post and pass it on. And if you get a moment, let her know what you think of her blog and this post.

h/t to Alphecca

Ban The Assault Tasers

If this is what the world is coming to, we should ban these horrible devices now, especially if even one child could be caught in the crossfire.

Less than lethal is meaningless, especially when city councils around the nation say Tasers devices are important law enforcement tools, but then quietly arm their officers with machine guns, giving them non-frightening names like "patrol rifles" (but then try to ban the semi-auto versions of these same tools -- competition rifles -- saying they have only one purpose, to mutilate human bodies, and other such nonsense).

So, ban the assault tasers now. It's for the children, can't you see that?