God forbid, it should happen, but what if the government that holds that right didn't like the sign bearer's identity politics and was willing to initiate said force? Would they bleat like a sheep advocating their idea then?
But not even the military can carry their guns in public. When was the last time you saw a service member on U.S. Soil with a loaded weapon on their person?
Ken Trainor can go and just fuck off. The only people mentally stable enough to carry a concealed weapon are those willing to do so.
So Joe Huffman tells his tale of renewing his P.O. Box contract. Joe makes a reference to the Vogons, which is an apt description, from the wiki.
The Vogons are a fictional alien race from the planet Vogsphere in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series by Douglas Adams,
who are responsible for the destruction of the Earth, in order to
facilitate an intergalactic highway construction project. Vogons are
slug-like but vaguely humanoid, are bulkier than humans, and have green skin. In the motion picture
they are depicted as having greyish white skin. Vogons are described as
mindlessly bureaucratic, aggressive, having "as much sex appeal as a
road accident" and the writers of "the third worst poetry in the
universe". They are employed as the galactic government's bureaucrats.
My google search yielded this. Lord help us, poetry by postal workers. Is it Thursday, I could never get the hang of Thursdays.
A report by the Government Accountability Office lauds DHS for making significant strides in implementing security changes but also states it has yet to reach the full potential of the department.
"Eight years after its establishment and 10 years after the September
11, 2001, terrorist attacks, DHS has indeed made significant strides in
protecting the nation, but has yet to reach its full potential," the
report reads.
If you considering molestingyoung children and inappropriate touching to be successful, then your metric is valid. A valid response is to scorn these wasters of breath and shun them for what they are, opportunistic sexual deviants.
This last weekend, I went and crewed for a friend for his race car. The music for the trip invariably has some Drive By Truckers in it. This song was on one of the CD's we listened to. Pretty good road music to tow a race car to.
E.D. Kain wrote an editorial in response to this blurb. Mr. Kain shows his ignorance in who gets to interpret the Constitution with this gem.
I’ve never interpreted the right to bear arms as the right to own any damn gun you want. The Second Amendment was written when arms consisted of flintlock muskets. You had to actually work to load one of those things (I loaded one once, a very long time ago, and while I’m sure you get better at it with time, it’s not a quick process).
Well there E.D., back when the constitution was written, we didn't have e-mail, the internet, nor television either. See, technology has changed, and for the better. I can write this piece and publish it in my own little corner of the internet. Just like I can load my semi-auto handgun and take a trip to the local range and blast holes in paper zombie targets as fast as I can pull the trigger.
He goes on about how carrying weapons has not stopped these attacks. Note though, that the National Guardsmen that were murdered in Nevada, were not carrying weapons on themselves. He seemingly cries that somehow an armed citizen should rush in and have a gun fight with the attacker.
The logic behind carrying weapons to prevent these sort of shootings also strikes me as fundamentally flawed.
I won't go into alot of detail here, but Tam has covered my argument better than I could have.
Ignorance, E.D. Kain can haz it.
Perhaps those <strike> citizen's </strike> subject's of the formerly Great Britain can find inspiration in the guns of Brixton and go back to being citizens. With ALL of the inherent human rights they are currently denied, including the right to self defense.
Penn Jillette recently wrote an op-ed piece for CNN.com
Among the questions asked was how we can help everyone. His answer was a simple "I don't know." How do you assist every single individual, regardless whether or not they want that help? I don't know.
When I posted the link to a friend's Facebook page, another commenter had this to say about Penn Jillette's answer;
Being Libertarian is not political skepticism. It's a very dogmatic view. Equating it with Atheism is a reach. Libertarian philosophy is not one of "I don't know," it is one not unlike any other that claims very much to know and asserts its claims universally.
As Uncle said in his post about this, why would I offer an alternative plan?
And the following video has plenty of it. Point shooting, crossing fields of fire, badass posery.
Speaking of the silliness that is 'point shooting" (oh the jocularity of missing your target and instead hitting granny because you couldn't take the split second to get a rough sight picture, good times with your lawyer and the criminal courts will ensue) three of the four photographs shown on this page have the "warrior" point shooting.
There's more comedic gold in that thar talkie picture show. Please, don't spit your soda all over your computer screen.
So it seems that a Chicago street thug choir boy was a teensy bit pissed that his mama got hauled away for having guns in the house.
Flamo’s not happy.
Standing on the porch of his Englewood home, chilly winter air streaming in through an open front door, the furious and pistol-packing ex-con (by his own admission he’s spent nearly half his 32 years in prison) is vowing revenge.
Now how is it that a convicted ex-con has a gun? That's unpossible, especially in Chicago.
So Jess Coleman, a 17 year old statist publishes a piece that attackes the
notion that guns on college campuses would be a good thing.
His reasoning is thus;
The argument that guns act as a deterrent is absurd. As Wentworth mentioned, the killer at Virginia Tech was a “deranged, suicidal madman.” That kind of person will surely not be scared of students with guns, especially considering he planned to kill himself anyway.
So a gun is not a deterrent? And I would ask, would he pull a gun on a person knowing that their opponent had the means to defend themselves? I sure as hell wouldn't.
But, then again, it is all about projection of the leftist's feeling that matters, not simple facts.
So some Hollywood blogger gets a hard on about rounding up tea party members and sending them to reeducation camps.
I don't believe the blogger has ever heard of the Clinton rules of engagement. From Sipsey Street Irregulars
Second, please recall Bill Clinton's rules of engagement as applied to the Serbs in 1999, wherein he decided that the political leaders, bureaucratic support structure, media infrastructure and intellectual underpinnings of his enemies' war effort were legitimate targets of war.
No one else may have been paying attention to the unintended consequences of that, but many folks on our side of the present divide were.
Second, when democracy becomes tyranny, I still get to vote.
So there Comrade Wells, don't start none, won't be none. Or, are you feeling froggy?
Weerd gave a short movie review of a number of movies. Among them was "Love the Beast" a film by Eric Bana. In it, he chronicles his many year love affair with a Ford Falcon XB Coupe.
Car folks should appreciate it, as it helps convey that sense of love one has for an object that allows us a freedom that wasn't imaginable 100 years ago. The freedom to travel vast distances in relative comfort in short periods of time. The film also conveys the bond people have with their friends over such a machine.
There are some beautiful scenes of Targa Tasmania, where a good portion of the film is shot. Watching an event that receives minimal coverage here in the U.S. is worth the time to view the film. The movie is available on Hulu for viewing as well. It is rated R for language.
Earlier this week a three year old boy, son of a Maryland Heights Missouri police officer found one of his father's guns and shot himself to death. My heart goes out to the family as they deal with the death of their child.
For ten years now State Representative Stacey Newman D, dist 73 has been advocating for safe storage laws. She is opposed to guns in general and opposed our concealed carry law specifically.
Fortunately there is a great reluctance on the part of the Missouri legislature to enact such a law at this time. Prosecutors are worried they would have to potentially charge a police officer with this crime. While I don't believe that it should be law enforcement officers are the only ones to be worried about, it is nice to know there is resistance to this idea.
Just for comparison, in 2005 there were 789 accidental deaths from firearms in the United States, that equates to .30 per 100,00 people, or roughly the same chance as dying in a plane accident or from bronchitis.
It's not every day that children fly, nor do all children have respiratory illnesses. However, most children bathe everyday. In 2003, 56 children 14 years old and under suffered a fatal firearms accident. Conversely, 86 drowned in bathtubs and a whopping 285 drowned in swimming pools.
So, while Stacey Newman dances in the blood of three year old children by pushing for ineffective gun control legislation, I'll push for parents to teach their children to have proper respect for firearms and if they find one unattended,to immediately find an adult and tell them.
Coming on the heels of the last manned space flight made by the United States for the foreseeable future, we've seen the heights of man's reach and now his grasp has nothing to long for.
Recently Sheboygan County District Attorney Joe DeCecco blasted state lawmakers for passing concealed carry in the state of Wisconsin.
Brown county Sheriff's captain Randy Schultz took exception to the counselor's attack on the expanded Second Amendment law by pointing out the obvious that it isn't the law abiding person that a policeman must worry about, it's the criminal with no respect for the law.
But to answer the question of the title, every single one of us.
Recently John Kass of the Chicago Tribune wrote about Babes with Bullets boot camps, a shooting camp for ladies. But in his article he wrote this.
And this means that Illinois is the only state without such a law. In Illinois, our Chicago aldermen can carry guns in their purses and even in ankle holsters, and criminals obviously carry guns, since breaking the law is what they do.
I laughed, cause it's true. Illinois politicians are criminals.
Exactly, dude, I don't know you. All I know is some legal gun owners commit murder, no way to tell which ones or how many. ... So, safer to assume you're one of the murderers. Unless you'd care to prove you're not by taking a test.
What Mike doesn't take into account is all of the criminals currently posessing firearms. If they've used a firearm to commit a crime, they've already shown a willingness to harm someone for ill with a firearm. If I use a firearm, it is for sport or only to defend my life & property. Also, while I am not a doctor of neither psychology or psychiatry, can't murder be a rational premeditated decision? How do you test for that? Or how about a crime of passion in the heat of the moment? Mike Summitt doesn't have any formal education in those fields either.
It's time for a little fisking here at Top of the Chain. What appears is an ill written, even less thought out diatribe on everything evil about guns. Oh wait, that's the one thing the article failed to mention, and that is that guns are evil. They emit mind control rays that cause people to go on murderous rampages. Good thing though, as myself, I only buy defective guns, that don't have operating mind control rays.
During that national tragedy was when a clearer, more focused debate over stricter gun laws needed and should have taken place but since Giffords has recovered, left rehab, let’s have the debate now.
I believe what the author is trying to convey is, let us dance in the blood of those affected and enact infringements upon peaceably armed citizens rights to bear arms.
For all the gun enthusiasts who get the Second Amendment wrong by ignoring “a well regulated militia…” portion of the amendment thinking that all Americans have the right to bear arms and that anyone can get a gun without a waiting period or a back ground check or who can just buy a clip that was intended for hunting, maybe hunting people, which is what Congresswoman Giffords’s assailant was aiming for.
Now that is a run on sentence. Were I the author, I'd slap my English teacher for failing to convey a proper sentence structure. But I digress. I truly love when anti's pull up the 'well regulated militia' Sorry there skippy, but way back in 1791, 'well regulated meant well functioning. And a militia at the time consisted of abled bodied men between certain ages. Sorry there Bobby W., that argument doesn't hold water. And clips for hunting? Well, I suppose someone could go hunting with their M1 Garand. And the en bloc clip could be thrown at your prey. Personally, I'd rather pull the trigger and shoot the animal. It's much more efficient that way. Oh, and Jared Loughner, went through a background check, filled out a 4473 and everything.
For the most part, the Obama administration has been silent on the issue of gun control and the Supreme Court has consistently voted for individual rights to own a gun over stronger gun control laws.
And they'd do well to keep their mouths shut. See the Fast & Furious aka Gunwalker scandal. It truly is a shame that innocent people have died due to uncaring bureaucrats.
Obsessed and trigger happy gun enthusiasts like Sara Palin hold onto the notion that owning a gun is the best defense. During the Cold War, the policy between the United States and the Russians was termed Mutually Assured Destruction where each country matched the other weapon for weapon. The acronym MAD fits perfect with the argument and applies to the gun lobby and the NRA.
As far as Sarah Palin holding onto that notion that a gun is the best defense. There's a piece of wisdom that says never bring a knife to a gun fight. The MAD analogy, I am not quite certain and the logic escapes me? Is it that I should match gun for gun every criminal out there? Or the criminal should match me? hmmm.
These gun nuts believe Jesus was packing before he blew away the Gays and Democrats, ascending to the “right” hand of the father giving us the Ten Commandments, the Constitution and anointing Ronald Reagan and George Bush as Arch Angels of truth, justice, the bullet and the ballot.
I was always taught that God said to hate the sin, but love the sinner. However, go ask the Pink Pistols how they feel about their Second Amendment rights. Oh and not being a biblical scholar, but the Ten Commandments were handed down by God, not Jesus in the Old Testament. Jesus is the new testament. The rest of the sentence doesn't bear commenting on.
Ridiculous, but seriously for the gun enthusiasts, the framers of the Constitution never intended that Americans arm themselves to the teeth. In fact, any group that hides behind the barrel of a gun and the skirts of the Bible must have a deep sense of inadequacy. A gun after all is a powerful phallic symbol.
No, but they never placed a hard figure as to what a person might own for self defense either. Oh, and I know Pagans, atheists and animalists that all believe in the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. And what about women who keep and bear arms, are they compensating for what? A lack of a penis?
llic symbol.
Hand guns, assault weapons, AK-47s easily attainable are a Constitutional right some might argue along with Freedom of Speech and the right to Assembly.
No argument, recently SCOTUS affirmed in Heller V D.C and McDonald v Chicago that the individual has a right to keep and bear arms. Oh,and the Second Amendment has been in the Bill Of Rights for like 200 plus years.
Vehemently up holding the right to bear arms, without thought, rhyme or reason kills Democracy every time someone steps up to defend this particular right.
Oh, I totally agree, Democracy should be stamped out wherever it rears it's ugly head. Mob rule is never pretty and always ends in bloodshed. The United States is a Republic.
Is there any more cliches that this particular author failed to include? All of the same old rhetoric they spew without thinking a wit about the logic involved. I guess that is what makes it so easy to beat them. I think I'll grab a beer.
It seems that some dog owners are conveniently ignoring the courtesy of removing their dog's waste from the apartment complex. Now, discovering Fido's patty surprise as your walking your dog is not fun. Why anyone would respond to this with anything other than "it's none of your damn business." is beyond me.
And if you should see a ginger in sunglasses with a seriously dramatic look, you know someone is about to be charged with leaving crap on concrete.
To be sure, many Western democracies are bad role models when it comes to women's political participation and leadership. In the United States, only 89 of the 535 members of Congress - 16.6 percent -- are women, and fewer than a quarter of the members of the French and Canadian parliaments are women. This situation is appalling and needs to change.
Huh? I thought the idea was to vote for someone not based upon how their sex chromosomes were arranged. But here's the thing, Arabs = Muslims = women treated as second class citizens. Women in Saudi Arabia can't drive for sweet Vishnu's sake. And you expect them to hold positions of political power? Not if even the most liberal Muslim cleric has anything to say about it. And you can bet your sweet Fatwah that they'll decree a stoning or honor raping is in order to keep the girls in their place.
This week's music selection comes from being bummed that Kevin Baker has decided to take a hiatus from blogging for awhile. Misery loves company, and well, this week's track is the epitome of misery.
The Internationale is THE anthem for socialism. Lyrics to the Billy Bragg version below. And yes, what Gerard Vanderleun said still holds -
There are some lies that lodge so deep in the hopes of man that they can never be killed no matter how many are killed to make the lie true.
Stand up, all victims of oppression,
For the tyrants fear your might!
Don't cling so hard to your possessions,
For you have nothing if you have no rights!
Let racist ignorance be ended,
For respect makes the empires fall!
Freedom is privilege extended,
Unless enjoyed by one and all.
So come brothers and sisters,
For the struggle carries on.
The Internationale,
Unites the world in song.
So comrades, come rally,
For this is the time and place!
The international ideal,
Unites the human race.
Let no one build walls to divide us,
Walls of hatred nor walls of stone.
Come greet the dawn and stand beside us,
We'll live together or we'll die alone.
In our world poisoned by exploitation,
Those who have taken, now they must give!
And end the vanity of nations,
We've but one Earth on which to live.
So come brothers and sisters,
For the struggle carries on.
The Internationale,
Unites the world in song.
So comrades, come rally,
For this is the time and place!
The international ideal,
Unites the human race.
And so begins the final drama,
In the streets and in the fields.
We stand unbowed before their armour,
We defy their guns and shields!
When we fight, provoked by their aggression,
Let us be inspired by life and love.
For though they offer us concessions,
Change will not come from above!
So come brothers and sisters,
For the struggle carries on.
The Internationale,
Unites the world in song.
So comrades, come rally,
For this is the time and place!
The Internationale,
Unites the human race.
this is from a recent news article in regards to a shooting in *SHOCK* East St. Louis.
"There is so much more we need to be doing in terms of getting guns out of the hoodies and from under the t-shirts and out of vehicles," said East St. Louis Mayor Alvin Parks. "In Illinois, we don't have a carry and conceal law and there is no one who should have a gun in their possession that is loaded except for the police. What's troubling me is that these guns keep getting in the wrong hands.
This is what I hear from these bleating sheep. Bold emphasizes my selective BS hearing.
"There is so much more we need to be doing in removing peoples natural right to defend themselves" said East St. Louis Mayor Alvin Parks. "In Illinois, we keep voting down a carry and conceal law and there is no one who should have the power to defend themselves against armed violence except for the police. What's troubling me is that these wogs keep wanting to exercise their natural rights.
Please note, I am not advocating for guns to be used to commit crimes.
Recently Diana Wueger tweeted about the futility of covering domestic firearms laws. I misunderstood her tweet and took exception to it. She explained that she was being self deprecating and went on to ask me what regulations I'd do away with. Being twitter I couldn't give too long winded of an answer and off the cuff I replied with NFA 34'.
Now NFA 34' otherwise known as 26 U.S.C. ch. 53. This is the federal basis for gun control in the United States. It taxes certain guns and other related items. I don't believe for a minute that Congress would repeal this law. It will be up to the ultimately SCOTUS to rule on the legality of taxing exercising your codified natural right.
In keeping with the ideal that all politics are local, I'd work at my state level here in Missouri to have state pre-emption of open carry. Missouri is unique in that state pre-emption in regards to firearms is applicable to everything but OPEN CARRY.
Beyond that, I would work toward making Missouri another Constitutional Carry state.
But THIS is the problem with your's and mine country.
I swear, it's like Johnny the bully's mom saying if you just gave Johnny a stick, rather than his fists to beat up the weak kids for their milk money, Johnny wouldn't beat the weak kids up.
But last night I had a rather vivid dream that I shared a cab with P.J. O'Rourke.
12 June, 2011
Mike Barkley, who many people in the gun rights community know as MikeB30200, is an anti rights blogger. It appears he is running for congress on an anti 2nd Amendment platform.
While it is none of my doctor's business what sorts of tools I keep around the house, it's his or her right to speak. With very few exceptions, the government has no business curtailing what someone says.
I've given this some thought, and I would ask my doctor why he wants to know this. Second I'd ask if they currently own any firearms. (Hey no one said I couldn't answer a question with a question.) Third, if he didn't I'd invite him to come to the range. I would try to show him how much fun going to the range can be.
Barring all that, should he refuse to simply drop the matter, I'd go find a doctor that left my tool choice to me and tell him to mind his own damn business.
Update: Newbius in comments left in this post, pointed me at this. That works, I'm certain a lawyer would have a field day with a doctor's testimony after signing that.
Two-and-a-half tons of screaming pissed off Dakar truck flying four feet off the ground at 80 miles and hour- beautiful violence. - Benjamin K. Slocum Esq.
The only thing I'd add is that I'd like to see that in person - TotC
Shooting is an activity that demands constant attention. Sure, you can go and buy a box of .22 lr shells and blast holes in paper for an afternoon to have fun. Loading your own formula of ammunition allows you to tailor a load to your guns unique characteristics. For example I shoot a 125 gr Rainier copper coated lead FMJ slug. I use CCI small pistol primers igniting 4.2 grains of Bullseye, loaded to an overall length of 1.15 inches. As shown below, the middle of the target shows my first three magazines. At this point I was feeling pretty good about what I had done.
Notice though the difference with the orange target circles, particularly the upper right one. This was my first three magazines at one of the orange circles. They allowed me to focus on a particular spot and tighten up my groups. At this point I am still shooting 4.2 grain loads. A drawback to this load was a lot of stovepipes and jams with the gun.
It wasn't until my last six magazines that I began shooting a load consisting of 4.3 grains of Bullseye. I had only one stove pipe and I chalk that up to a gun that had something like 500 + rounds through it since it's last cleaning. The gun ran reliably What changed besides upping my powder load by 1/10th of a grain of powder? Tune in tomorrow and find out.
Wisconsin right now is a hotbed of Second Amendment activism. The state's legislature and governor are both in favor of some kind of concealed carry. And while constitutional carry would be sweet, I doubt it will happen. For such an occurence would be unprecedented. Wisconsin is known as a progressive state, just not in that way.
In the law enforcement community, there are those who oppose any form of concealed carry and those who see it as a logical part of the Second Amendment. Collectivist Police Chief Barry Weber of Wauwatosa opposed the measure and wishes to be all inclusive in who's to blame for crime.
“My opinion is that as our society got so bad that the only way that we are going to feel safe is that everyone has got to have guns to deter more crime," he said. "I think that is a travesty and we all bear the blame for that."
The only blame I bear is that I didn't let my elected officials know in strong enough terms not to hire someone like this collecticrat.
Did you read that headline? Please go back and read it again. If you're like me, visions of nervous Bushmaster executives meeting with drug lords in seedy Mexican hotel rooms are what came to mind.
The implication that a U.S. arms manufacturer is illicitly supplying weapons to the Mexican drug cartels is astounding.
A Hearst Newspapers survey of 1,600 guns purchased mostly in Texas and Arizona -- which were either shipped to Mexico or intercepted en route -- shows the Bushmaster .223 AR-15 ranks second among firearms apparently used in drug warfare.
Which makes you wonder why the government isn't doing more to help out U.S. companies in these tough economic times. Oh wait, they are.
Dear President Obama: I am writing today with a somewhat unusual request. I am asking that you return America to its August 20th, 1959 borders so that Hawaii is no longer a state and you are no longer a citizen. Sincerely,
Fon Du Lac WI police chief Tony Barthuly has this to say about concealed carry coming to Wisconsin;
"I have mixed emotions about it (concealed carry). I am an avid hunter myself. The gun is just the delivery system to injure or kill someone. It still takes someone behind that tool to cause the act," Barthuly said. "That's why the licensing is so important. If there can be a mechanism by law to make sure that there is training and licensing, we won't put guns in the hands of high-risk individuals."
We won't put guns in the hands of high-risk individuals? Ok, a particularly stupid criminal that would subject themselves to the procedure of training & licensing, you would be able to stop. What are you going to do about the other 99.9% of criminals who have more than two functioning brain cells to rub together?
24 May, 2011
Looks like Ohio is set to allow guns in bars. And with the usual PSH and blood soaked wringing of heads comes this;
What has resulted is a mixed bag of agreements across the country juxtaposing the rights of those who wish to carry a gun for self-defense against the rights of those who, for example, wish to dine with their families or take in a ballgame without a firearm legally hidden on the hip of a person one seat over.
Ole' Reginald is worried that when Bubba in Cleveland is packin, he's gonna cap a Southie when the BoSox whip up on his beloved tribe.
“Thank you for contacting Walgreens regarding this matter. Our policies in this area are designed to maintain the maximum safety of our customers and employees.Store employees receive comprehensive training on our company’s robbery procedures and how to react and respond to a potential robbery situation. In past incidents, employees have told us they’ve found this training effective.These policies and training programs are endorsed by law enforcement, which strongly advises against confrontation of crime suspects.Compliance is safer than confrontation. Through this practice, we have been able to maintain an exemplary record of safety.We’ve made significant investments in security technology in recent years, including increasing the number of digital surveillance cameras at our stores.With upgrades to security technology, we are able to provide police with high-resolution photographs and video of crime suspects.We continue to invest in state-of-the-art security measures and high-definition surveillance equipment and hope that the apprehension of robbery suspects in the Benton Harbor area will prevent future crimes. Thank you for contacting Walgreens to share your comments.”
In particular, when law enforcement strongly advises against confrontation of crime suspects, I wonder what ideal world they live in? As a peaceably armed citizen, I would not go looking for trouble. I would not actively seek out a criminal and confront him or her. That is the law enforcement's job, to confront, arrest and convict criminals. I commend them for doing that job. It is many times thankless & dangerous.
However, when a criminal actively confronts an otherwise law abiding person, the victim of the crime is forced to confront the situation unfolding before them. Law enforcement's recommendation about avoiding such confrontation has just gone pear shaped, the second the criminal introduces the threat of physical violence to the confrontation. How is it to be avoided? The criminal is demanding something of you, your property or property you're responsible for, your acquiescence to his activity, possibly he even wants to take your life.
A proper response would be to apply violence in greater force with the explicit aim to end the threat. Sadly, many business' and lawyers do not see it that way in today's society.
I figure since Stanley Thornton has already thrown a temper tantrum over what Senator Coburn has proposed in regards to Stanley's supposed disability, I'd like to send him a present.I'm thinking a voucher for a copper clad lead surprise. Of course he needs to find the blued steel binky to insert it through.
“You wanna test how damn serious I am about leaving this world, screw with my check that pays for this apartment and food. Try it. See how serious I am. I don’t care,” the California man said. “I have no problem killing myself. Take away the last thing keeping me here, and see what happens. Next time you see me on the news, it will be me in a body bag.”
Folks, the man is a drain on society who is able bodied enough to produce or modify various items for his fantasy life. He isn't disabled, he's lazy. If he wants to kill himself over losing his disability check every month, who are we to stop him?
So yesterday I went shopping at garage sales and came across some good buys. Among them was an Olympus C-5050 Zoom camera. The one thing that probably caused the seller to get rid of it was the battery door wouldn't shut all the way due to a broken tab on the body of the camera. There is a camera repair place within spitting distance to me (note to self: explore what else is within spitting distance or work, you never know.) I intend to visit them this week and see if they have the parts I need. Barring that I've found part of what I need on ebay, and I am confident I can repair this.
It's been *mumble grumble* years since I had my high school photography class. And while it was fun and I learned a lot, much of it I've forgotten. If anyone has references or resources that they know about, please send them my way. This camera seems to bridge the gap between SLR and point and shoot cheapo digital cameras. I'd like to learn how to get more out of this camera than my current skill allows.
One of our country's future journalistic contributors wrote an editorial in regards to guns on campus at DePaul University. The quote that stood out was this gem.
"I would not feel safe if I was sitting next to someone on the train or bus and they were carrying a weapon," said O'Brien. "I don't trust a stranger to protect me, let alone trusting them to carry a gun," he said.
See, that stranger is not there to protect you. If you were to ask them, they'd probably tell you they could care less for you, beyond and initial assessment of whether or not you're a threat. Oh sure, if they are a peaceably armed citizen, they care enough about themselves and don't wish for an occurrence of violence to occur to anyone. But you? No, it is not their job. The gun they carry on their person is to protect them.
09 May, 2011
Very recently, the Illinois legislature voted on allowing concealed carry. Ultimately, it failed to pass with the required number of votes, and Governor Pat Quinn had already said he would veto it. He needn't worry as the legislation failed to garner enough votes.
Governor Quinn, in gloating over this 'victory' to disarm the citizenry finds it ironic that the legislation would be voted into law, the very same day that Illinois honors fallen police officers. As if peaceably armed citizens are directly responsible for the deaths of those policemen.
It is time for the good people of all states, including Illinois to let it be known that the people should be choosing how to conduct themselves in their persons, and their property, including having the means to defend the same. The blood in the streets argument is a valid one when tyrants pour it out and dance in it to further their rights denying agenda.
Reliable evidence undoes the folk belief that in the absence of guns, other equally efficient means would produce the same number of homicides and suicides.
A firearm is quite an efficient tool in the right hands. The gun though is a weapon of distance. Barring bows and arrows, I can't think of another weapon that is wielded with such immediate effect that allows the user such a degree of distance from their intended opponent.
So, I am going to try again to post this video. Last Friday, all you probably saw was some html code. Well, I hope it shows up this time.
I can remember this band causing me to question being taught that it wasn't Marconi who discovered radio. My radio and television teacher, Mr. A.C. Eley, God rest his soul, would debate with those of us that questioned the common view.
And for more on Nicolai, go here. Who says Rock and Roll is all about sex, drugs, and well... Rock and Roll? Anyway, I hope you enjoy.
Take one sexist misogynist newspaper columnist, add in one NRA convention, take the idea that the NRA caters more to men than women and an ass kicking ensues.
Breda and Labrat both bring the smackdown to Heyl.
Go on there Eric, I triple dog dare ya to spew your line in front of the ladies.
So the Senacrat's gang of six is crafting a budget plan that will piss everyone off. All I can say is, that in the short and long term, IT. IS. NOT. ENOUGH. I could really give a flying baboon's ass whether or not your seat in the senate or the house is lost because of this. Two words for the clueless in the North Virginia swamps, CUT MORE!
Today, I was inspired to make a trip to the range with my shootin' buddy B. I texted him at about 8 am or so and asked if he wanted to go later. I almost immediately received a reply back, that sure he was game.
We took off for the closer of two unsupervised ranges we frequent. While driving through the conservation area, we see a sheriff deputy in front of us. Something started noggling in the back of my mind. Sure enough, he was headed for the shooting range, and pulled in right ahead of us. Buddy B and I walk down the incline and start to set up at the 100 yard table as that was the only one open. We had brought a target stand to use. That's when the sheriff's deputy brought us over for his say on the matter of targets. It seems the local conservation agent was quite unimpressed with how people were treating this particular range. Trash was being left about, unapproved target stands that had been abandoned were rotting away, and empty shotgun hulls were littered about the place. The deputy explained how the range was on the verge of being shut down due to people using non approved targets, this included my portable piece of corrugated plastic on a wire frame. Rather than risk getting a ticket, with my non approved target stand, we opted to leave.
In talking to the deputy, he stated the reason for no unapproved target stands was the fear of a riccochet. I know for a fact that at the closest to me supervised range, the rifle side targets can be set as close as 25 yards, with the intervening 75 yards nothing but open space, and yet somehow riccochets aren't happening with such a great frequency that the range is in danger of being shut down. Sure, I can see this if some ignorant individual is shooting at bowling balls. But steel plates, bowling pins, and pie tins are routinely used as targets. My corrugated plastic surely presents an astronomically low probability of causing a riccochet? I think not.
Range number two is where we ended up. No litter, someone had policed up a good portion of the brass, and we set up my portable target stand. I saw a number of others as well, and when folks were finished they removed their debris and left. When it was all said and done, I had a great time, and left my shooting area neater than when I found it.
Other than the matter of an unanticipated change of venue, buddy B and I had a really good time. The weather was beautiful and the company was superb.
So Indiana is wishing to preempt local gun laws and make them uniform throughout the state. And of course, the local hishineyass grand poobah mayor thinks it's a bad idea.
“My issue with 292, where we have an ordinance that says you can't shoot a gun in the city limits, that would override that," Kauffman said. “This is a local home rule issue too, you know. What rights do cities have to determine what they are going to allow guns to be shot for?”
On the other side is Joe Dervin, NRA member and probable FUDD.
“I agree with the bill, because it limits local governments from setting up their own rules and regulations that most gun owners are unaware of,” he said.
However, Dervin states that he wishes their was mandatory training before owning a handgun.
Dervin would also like to see a rider added to the proposed bill that would require safety training before a person can own a handgun.
'Scuse me? Um, no thanks for your support there Joe. Now go to the nearest range and practice up with your .357 lever action to take Bambi this fall.
Is it just me, or does anyone else feel that the greatest threat doesn't come from the likes of the CSGV, the Brady Bunch and their ilk, but rather, misguided fools supposedly on our side?
Back then, it was icky because it was boring and I couldn't understand half of what they were talking about. Now it's icky because it's boring and I realize that they're a pack of self-important jackanapes and poltroons without the brains God gave a turnip and all the finely honed grasp of ethics and consequences exhibited by your average neighborhood crackhead, but with better clothes.
And yet, people still think that somehow Charles Krauthammer is such a great guy.
Don't even mention those cash-in-transit guys standing in front of their armoured trucks with machine-guns. If they so much as looked in my direction, I wanted to pee in my pants.
It's great when people are excited about the Second Amendment and wishing to share it with others.
However, when someone expresses their non interest in it, don't be THAT guy. It seems the Wild Bill Hickok wannabe had a most negligent discharge and the chunk of lead ended up in the ladies collapsed lung.
The woman said she told Harp she did not like guns and did not want to see it. She said Harp began spinning the gun on his finger and it discharged.
You don't win hearts and minds by being a dumbass. And you get what you deserve when you break three of the four rules.
Or is it Heads Graham, tails Huckabee? After Dr. Terry Jones decided to use the Koran as the fuel in the triangle of fire, Lindsey Graham, (R)ino decided he'd like to limit free speech.
I wish we could find some way to hold people accountable. Free speech is a great idea, but we’re in a war. During World War II you had limits on what you could do if it inspired the enemy. Any time we can push back here in American against actions like this that put our troops at risk, we ought to do it.
And from Sir Hucksalot, Mike Huckabee, during a videotaped conference, wants thus;
“I almost wish that there would be, like, a simultaneous telecast, and all Americans would be forced–forced at gunpoint no less–to listen to every David Barton message, and I think our country would be better for it. I wish it’d happen.”
Um, no there Graham and Huck. Your Huck/Barton/Graham Inquisition will end with me and a bunch of others reminding you why exactly there is a second amendment. So, don't start none, and there won't be none.
To think that either one of these Rinos was oh so close to real power.
While perusing Facebook the other day, a friend made a related comment in his post about unions. He asserted that the CEO of his former company made WAAYYYY too much money and took unnecessary business trips.
When someone is hired into management into a company, they are paid at a rate that is negotiated one on one between the employer and employee. But how much is WAAAYYY too much? That CEO has shareholders to answer to. He also has his own employees he's responsible for. He could make bad decisions that lead to massive layoffs. He must LEAD the company on a path to profitability. Unions and socialists decry that people make "WAAYY too much money" and yet negotiate for better wages for their members. A line worker at an assembly plant is responsible for doing his job in a consistent manner. One that he learns as he goes on with the job. That CEO is responsible for an entire company. Why shouldn't he be compensated accordingly?
I was once asked by a citizen disarmament advocate, a follower of the Bradys, what I thought about more firearm restrictions. I began to answer when he impatiently broke in, "Give me the short answer." I replied, "Okay. . . If you try to take our firearms we will kill you." All the fellow could do was stare at me in disbelief. This is the restated meaning of "shall not be infringed." Some people, however, have to have it translated for them. Believe me, the NRA is the least of the citizen disarmament advocates' problems.
Confronting bigots with their own mortality is a sure way to explain to them the seriousness of their misguided actions. - TotC
Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall indeed. If you consider NATO and the Warsaw Pact as a balance between good & evil, and the need for that balance, why is NATO still around? I mean there are now three wars kinetic military actions that they've been involved with, and not one Red Star in sight throughout any one of em.
It's been awhile since I posted anything. A long while in fact. I haven't had much to say, as my muse seemed to have taken a vacation. I do feel a stirring though. I'm gonna try to post something tomorrow and a Friday Fun Track as well.
Police across the country have faced a number of deadly violent incidents in the last week. They are worried that the po po is a target after so many instances of cops being shot at.
Richard Roberts, a spokesman for the International Union of Police Associations had this bit of useful insight into the situation -
"We don't have any data, but there seems to be a type of criminal out there looking to thwart authority," he told the station.
Choosing a career path that puts you on the opposite side of the law is thwarting authority. That is a flash of brilliance right there Richard, worthy of Sherlock Holmes.
This was Oklahoma City Ward 4 councilman Pete White commending the bigotry of Oklahoma City police chief Bill Citty. While others see it as courage, I see it as bigotry.
The chief calls for 'better' tracking of guns, particularly guns guns similiar to the M-16 military rifle. But I wonder what that tracking entails? Registration? maybe, confiscation, possibly?
I'd agree that the language coming from those that would infringed upon a natural and specific enumerated right is out of control. Perhaps Councilman White would like to address that by restricting the chiefs first amendment rights.
I ran across this article on The Joyce Foundation. (no linking per my policy) The article paints them as the gun control advocate's answer to the NRA. Ellen Aberding, president feels the need to carry on pushing for gun control, long after other organizations have quit.
And that requires stricter gun control, Ms. Alberding says. She feels an additional obligation to carry on after other foundations stopped funding gun-control efforts over the past decade as the U.S. Supreme Court, Congress and state legislatures endorsed fewer and fewer restrictions on guns. Currently, only Illinois and Wisconsin prohibit carrying concealed weapons.
The funding they provide is laughable, 3 million dollars spread over 16 different grants. Let's see here, 3 million dollars goes into 80 million gun owners.... That's $26.66 per gun owner they're spending to convince the general public that a specific enumerated right isn't.
Slowly, but surely, these bigoted fools are sweeping themselves into the dustbin of history. I'd like to lift the lid on the trash can and help them into it.
Massachussetts has arbitrarily decided that the writer of a blog, in exercising his First Amendment right to infringe on his Second Amendment right by disarming him.
Travis is going to need money for the legal bills that are sure to follow. He runs an online comic book store. There are already comic book artists that are speaking out against him. What sweet irony would it be to buy something from Travis to help him make a living, that came from one of these bigoted fools?
Molon Labe!!
update: I kinda just banged out this post originally and didn't do the proper thing and credit the image. In it's current form, it comes from Borepatch. While I occasionally have a dim little flicker of something profound, Borepatch consistently hits Grand Slams out of the park.
This quote, that Kevin quotes comes from H.L. Mencken -
The government consists of a gang of men exactly like you and me. They have, taking one with another, no special talent for the business of government; they have only a talent for getting and holding office. Their principal device to that end is to search out groups who pant and pine for something they can't get and to promise to give it to them. Nine times out of ten that promise is worth nothing. The tenth time is made good by looting A to satisfy B. In other words, government is a broker in pillage, and every election is sort of an advance auction sale of stolen goods.
The whole piece at TSM is worth the read, as always. And the scary part is that Kevin's chew toy votes.
When talking about gun control, the proponents of such will almost always use hyperbole to advance their agenda. When Josh Sugarmann coined the term "Assault Weapon" to use in pushing for the AWB of 1994, it was based on cosmetic appearances alone. Not a single mechanical function of one of these rifles helped to lump them into this arbitrary set. For years now, journalists keep blathering on about military style assault weapons. Now it seems there's a new category out there, police-style assault weapons.
So now, the Glock that Jared Lee Loughner purchased by lying on his 4473, is a police-style assault weapon? Beyond what David Codrea chroncicles at his website on police misbehavior, I doubt seriously the police routinely 'assault' anyone.
Hundreds of thousands, if not millions of Glocks are found every day in gun safes, being worn by licensed concealed carry permit holders, and by police carrying out their duties. The gun is a tool. It ought to be treated as such. By not calling out those who would make up another term to cloud the debate is doing a disservice to the Second Amendment.
Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell said Sunday that a citizen protecting his home or hunting doesn't need a gun with 33 bullets per clip.
"I think the nation's spirits would be lifted if the Congress acted quickly with the president and reinstated the assault weapons ban which also had the ban on these large magazines, these clips that carried 30-plus bullets," he said
Heh, I think the nation's spirits would be lifted quickly if Congress acted decisively to move to a deserted island and not bother their constituents any longer.
BTW, Ed, it's a magazine MEH GUH ZEEN! not a clip.
Say what? Isn't this piece of federal regulation supposed to catch the very thing that happened in regards to Jared Loughner in Arizona? It seems that Jared Lee Loughner lied on his 4473, the paperwork that EVERY SINGLE PERSON MUST FILL OUT WHEN PURCHASING A NEW GUN THROUGH A LICENSED DEALER.
And now, that bastion of state nannyism, Chuck Schumer is wishing to add more regulation. We keep adding laws and regulations in the fervent hope that the next one will be the one that solves all of society's ills. And over and over, this premise proves false.
The same two songs, one the original by the band Muse, quite the group of libertarians they are and I heartily approve of their eclectic musical influences. The second is from the Vitamin String Quartet. Just ignore the fact it comes from the Twilight series of movies.
I'm trying really hard not to put it on. But the darn thing looks so warm and inviting. Especially considering how cold it is here. (link NSFW) In regards to the political rhetoric issuing from all sides, STOP!!!! To paraphrase; rhetoric is not the solution to the problem, rhetoric is the problem. Mayhaps that's my inner Chewbacca showing himself. Or my inner Reagan, Hmmm, did George Lucas ever offer Ronnie a part?
OK, so maybe it is slightly misleading. But the fact is, if you own a Kindle or have a Kindle compatible device; i.e a Smartphone with the Kindle app installed, you can download good egg Ambulance Driver'se-book, En Route. His publisher somehow missed out in providing the book for Kindle users during the original offering and has graciously extended the offer thru 17 January. Hurry up, will ya and download it already. It's free. Well? What are you waiting for? GO!!
Using the Second Amendment as a remedy for a redress of grievances IS NOT, SHOULD NOT, CAN NOT be the first option chosen when you have a serious disagreement with a politician's views. The way to turn this country around, is by winning hearts and minds. Violent revolution won us the chance for peaceful redress. This is one of our most sacred ideas, that we have peaceful transfers of power. I urge everyone to address the cultural norms they see if they disagree with them. Please don't go down the path of violence unless and until the state makes the first move. Then and only then should we take up arms and fight.
David Codrea has a line on getting to the bottom of the an important question. It is alleged that the murder of a Border Patrol Agent recently was committed with one of those "walked" guns.
Iowa has recently became a shall issue state in regards to concealed carry. Rather than the usual the sky is falling PSH hysteria that accompanies these pieces, the Telegraph Herald provides a refreshingly unbiased view of this subject.
And Dubuque bank takes a relatively neutral position on the subject.
"If somebody walks in with a sidearm, who's not a uniformed police officer, that's going to make some of our customers uncomfortable," Beresford said. "While we're not posting signs, and we're not trying to create any prohibition, we certainly will not encourage it."
We are winning. Everyday folks are realizing that peaceably armed citizens pose little threat to their fellow citizens. Even the press is waking up to this. I'd like more of the same, please.
Ann Wagner, one of five contenders to replace Michael Steele as head of the RNC was asked Monday in a debate as to the number of firearms she owns. Her reply...
"About 16," replied Wagner, "everything from pistols and a Glock, to shotguns, rifles, and my son, who's on the combat weapons team at West Point, has an assault rifle,"
She also said they just bought a gun safe for Christmas. Tea Party members were quick to tweet their approval of Mrs. Wagner's gun collection. Here's video of the whole exchange.
"The threat has changed from simply worrying about foreigners coming here, to worrying about people in the United States, American citizens — raised here, born here and who for whatever reason, have decided that they are going to become radicalized and take up arms against the nation in which they were born.”
Yes sir, Mr. Holder, finding out that some kid has decided that becoming Jihadi Johnny is what all the cool kids are doing has me worried also. However, the last part of that statement, the one about American Citizens taking up arms, has me concerned.
For somehow, disagreeing with this administration on even the smallest point, has me and a whole bunch of other people labeled as domestic extremists.
Who knows, maybe Mike Rogers will call Holder to heel and the DOJ will get around to, I don't know, actually pursuing justice. I am not going to hold my breath though.
Missouri ranks 9th in Police Officer Deaths, not exactly a ringing endorsement if you wish to pursue a career in blue here, however the head of the Missouri FOP haf this to say.
The Sugarmanns, Horowitzs, Bradys and Petersons would have you believe that the problem for the police is peaceably armed citizens flipping out and going on cop killing rampages. It just doesn't happen.
Here's a more thorough piece.
According to this WSJ article, state legislatures were keeping busy apparently.
State legislators passed about 31,000 news laws in 2010, down slightly from the previous year. Many of those laws took effect at the start of this year, and many reflect the potential misuse of computers.
31,000? Seriously, and that is down from 2009. I'd like to propose a law, every time from now on whenever a politick says something to the effect of, "We need a law that does, covers, addresses this...." someone takes said drain on productive society and not so gently explains in a direct and forceful that their political life depends upon them resisting this urge.
Should they see the light and say "We need to repeal this law." pet their tummy and tell em in a baby talk voice say, "thatsa good boy!"
One has to wonder how many copies of Das Kapital Mr. Kelly has gone through. Classes and privileged few, why I'm a bit shocked the word bourgeoisie wasn't used.
My wish for the New Year, that people like Michael Kelly discover how wrong they truly are.