Monday, March 09, 2009

SCOTUS Denies Furious Mike

New York City’s nine-year lawsuit accusing gun makers of flooding illicit markets with their firearms came to an end on Monday, when the United States Supreme Court refused to consider a lower court’s dismissal of the case. [More]
Despite Jack Weinstein's best efforts...

Now I'm waiting for Helmke et al to spin this as removing the last objection to removing those Tiahrt Amendment restrictions on releasing records...

Don't Let the Door Hit You, Arlen

Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) does not have the fall-back option of running as an independent should he lose his 2010 primary election, giving the senior lawmaker strong incentive to abandon his party this year.

Specter faces an extremely difficult primary race against former Rep. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), the conservative firebrand who lost his bid to oust Specter from his seat in the 2004 GOP primary by a mere 17,000 votes (out of more than a million cast). [More]
Because it always makes smart political sense to give an "A" rating and endorse the guy who allowed the "assault weapons" ban to pass by taking a powder, and who voted against allowing airline pilots to arm...

See, the problem is, guys like me just don't understand politics.

The Best Laid Schemes o' Mice an' Men...

Gang aft agley [More]

Dial 911 and Die

Can you imagine how that old lady with the walker would have fared against that creep had her family not shown up to save her--with guns? [More]

Naturally, the "Spokesonly One" says the dispatchers did a good job.

Hey, even if they had answered immediately, this still could have happened*:

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And, of course, expect the Bradys to come unglued and demand laws requiring her to store that shotgun unloaded and locked away separately from its ammunition.

[Via Jeffersonian]

* This recording, of course, is not from the encounter linked to in this post--it is one of our old Citizens of America ads. With the advent of certain chip/GPS technologies, you now can be located through your telephone, except I don't believe this is a capability most 911 dispatchers have available--yet. Which creates a whole 'nother set of considerations...

Like a Day Without Sunstein...

Sunstein would ban the eating of meat, hunting, and the private ownership of firearms. He would grant legal rights to animals and allow attorneys for them to file lawsuits. [More]
Well, he might try...

[Via Bob H]

A Toxic Threat

Lead, a toxic metal that can lower the IQs of children, is the essential element in most ammunition on the market today. [More]
But we see absolutely no credible correlation between expended hunter rounds and the population of unattended paint-gnawers, do we?

So the purpose of inserting that line in this story is...?

"Authorized Journalism," a toxic output that can lower the IQs of readers, is the essential element in dumbing down the electorate...

And don't you just love the category they filed this under? "Planet in Peril"

Oooh--really scary, kids...

[Via Dan S]

Meanwhile, Across the State Line in Sarah Brady Paradise

The gunman strode down the aisle of the sprawling First Baptist Church... [More]
And there was no parishioner to stop him.

It's the law.

[Via Ed M]

UPDATE-- See more from:

She Draws Him Like a Gun
--Idiot legislators
and
Newbius--Ad for martyrs

Anyone

[T]he president has the power to order the open-ended detention of anyone he designates an "enemy combatant." [More]
What, you mean like "Homegrown Terrorists"?

[Via Ron W]

Random Political Thoughts

I'm not going to link to specific individuals here. That said, there are certain conclusions being promulgated that could use a counterbalance. Just because assertions are made doesn't mean they're true.

We're told what a great victory NRA holding up the DC vote bill based on the gun amendment is--what clout it shows they still have. First, it ain't a done deal. Second the DC representation bill is unconstitutional. It's defenders, though, are OK with that because that's how politics must be played.

I've never been big on you must destroy something to save it. And if we somehow do "win," the trade-off will be another socialist gain at the nationwide level (the Utah concession will not be a complete counterbalance, because they embrace plenty of leftist nonsense, too) while something already in the judicial pipeline will be implemented over a relatively small population--and most of them don't want it anyway.

We're also told that political capital is justified here, but not in the case of Eric Holder because he never had a chance. We'll never know, though, what would have happened had Senators been told they would not get a pass, and had a membership of millions been mobilized. Perhaps if the statement were revised to say the Holder confirmation never had a chance because of lack of leadership and excuse-making for it...

We're also told that Kirsten Gillibrand's turning is the fault of her critics--that instead, we should have sent her money or something. Good grief.

And finally, I would like to address NRA Board of Director nominations. We're told direct questions designed to evoke unequivocal answers about where they stand on RKBA/SNBI will not be asked because they are not politically effective.

I'll say this much--of the nominees I am seeing endorsed, one publicly dismissed hard liners to the LA Times as "those people" (as in "I would not consider those people mainstream America"), and the gun he was lobbying to defend ended up banned. Perhaps publicly referring to it as "toy" and talking about "our fine hobby" was perceived as more politically effective than speaking of unalienable rights? You sure can't tell by the results.

Another of the nominees has publicly stated he would arrest an otherwise peaceable person who he discovered was carrying concealed without a permit. One can only wonder if he would do this on an individual level what his professional response to a general confiscation order would be.

You'll get no NRA Director endorsement from me until my questions are answered--properly. Electing people who are not afraid to publicly and specifically declare their principles along these lines is the only thing that will bring real change to the board. Which means the apologists have "won" and the status quo will continue.

And we'll continue to enjoy the same political effectiveness that brought us Barack Obama and a democrat sweep of both houses.

You go ahead and listen to those fellows who disagree with me if you want--you'll hardly be alone. I don't expect more than a small percentage of gun owners to agree with me on any given day anyway. As an aside, of those who do, some of you are my best teachers. Thank you.

Wee Republic

If you cannot discuss racism on a conservative message board where can you discuss it? [More]
Apparently, this is too much for them.

We're the Only Ones Pre-Qualified Enough

A man suspected of robbing a California store has landed in custody after turning up to take a police entrance examination in the same town. [More]
Sounds like he's got a practical life experience leg up on some "Only One" applicants.

[Via Mama Liberty]

Self Defense

Without guns, of course.

the pistolero is right to be thoroughly disgusted.

Hey, if it's good enough for Rihanna...

"Obama or Die"

Check out Obama supporter Chris Brown.


Chris, dude: That's a serious message. If you got rid of the "or" it would probably be a crime.

And here's Chris Brown's sweetie, Rihanna. Hey, he's not going to tell her again.


What could the poor girl have done to protect herself? Ah--one problem: Chris Brown's main man--the one with an armed-to-the-teeth taxpayer-funded Praetorian Guard-- doesn't think people should be carrying guns around. He says "that creates a potential atmosphere where more innocent people could (get shot during) altercations."

That more guilty people might get shot did not factor into the discussion.

But that's OK. Rihanna loves Obama too.


And she might even take Chris back, because he showered her with gifts for her 21st birthday...

Gee, I hope nobody thinks I'm insensitive if I bring up the subject of poor individual choices, or observe that some people apparently have a sick need to be dominated...

It's because of them that you and I must disarm. Or something.

Hey: Obama and d... uh, sorry...or die!

A Massachusetts Sovereign

Ron Bokleman, President of of Norfolk County League of Sportsmen has submitted for consideration a State sovereignty resolution for Massachusetts which has been filed by Rep. Elizabeth Poirier. You can read the resolution and about it from this starting point.

Bokleman provides clarification on why he's doing this and what he hopes to accomplish in a follow-up article. I bring it to your attention for a reason: I want you to read it.

"We Will Not Obey"

We will NOT obey any order to disarm the American people...
That's probably for the best, since we will not comply with those orders...

From Oath Keepers. [More]

Tyranny is Counting on Ignorance

This is the American electorate. These are the people who cancel and overwhelm your vote. [More]
Today's Gun Rights Examiner column spotlights the Heirs of Liberty, aka "The New Eloi."

Also see important developments in Massachusetts and South Dakota, and read the latest from my fellow GREs.

This Day in History: March 9

Though I Never Wish to Complain I cant help The Disagreeable feelings So Common to mankind when they find themselves Slighted & Neglected. When I had Compleated the Disagreeable retreat from Canada I was Superseaded with Circumstances of Indignity Since which & before Every Major General Except myself have had the Honor of Commanding posts Separated from the Main Army. [More]