It’s up over at Inside Larry’s Head, the Halloween edition.

Brittney, of NIT, has some.

Only Tennessee could start the season ranked number 3 and then wind up unranked. Feh.

Bruce’s rules for trick or treaters:

RULE #2: Parents, Don’t Disarm Your Children!

Pirates without cutlasses, soldiers without M-16’s, police officers without sidearms, and swordless Zorro’s will have their candy allotment reduced significantly. Sorry, kids, but you’ll have to take it up with your sissy parents. It’s my house, my rules.

Conversely, the children of parents who allow them to carry their weapons of doom and destruction will be showered with all sorts of unhealthy, rot-your-teeth-out crap.

Nice.

Boo! I plan on going as something real scary, so here’s my costume:
Read the rest of this entry »

The Gun Guy links to and tends to agree with this notion that there is a pending social and infrastructure collapse coming. Go read then come back.

I have heard this mentioned quite a bit by otherwise reasonable people (i.e., not the end of the world or black helicopter people). I wonder why people think this? Then I wonder if it’s really a possibility. Sure, the US is probably one terror attack or natural disaster away from a regional collapse but I don’t see a national collapse unless there is just a failure of gigantic proportions at fed .gov level. Then what?

I was on a flight last month and the guy next to me struck up a conversation. Turns out, he was a pilot for the airline we were flying on. The conversation basically turned into him telling that he thought there would be a huge social/governmental collapse in our lifetime. He was serious and reasoned that it was only a matter of time before some terror attack did a profound amount of damage on US soil.

Then, another guy I know in a professional capacity told me he wasn’t too concerned about social security because he planned on being raptured in the next few years anyway. I asked if he had a date because we’ve got some cash tied up in investments for Junior’s college fun and wedding.

Is this end of the world type stuff cyclical or does everyone know something I don’t? And, more importantly, if such an even occurred (well, except the rapture, I suppose), what happens next? We Americans can’t live without our Coca Cola and MTV.

What do you think?

A man was charged with threatening a police officer with a loaded gun and plead guilty to to recklessly endangering another person. You’d expect someone like that to rightfully be tossed under the jail. But you’d be wrong because this guy is a city supervisor.

Via David.

The ATF, apparently, makes the rules up as it goes along. A firearm R&D firm (who is properly licensed and is a special occupational taxpayer) has been charged with possession of a machine gun. The only problem is that, even though the ATF says so, IT IS NOT A MACHINE GUN:

Mr. Wrenn (a licensed firearms manufacturer, and SOT (Special occupational Taxpayer, meaning a license to make machineguns, etc) was charged with:

Posession of an machine gun- He had designed a semi automatic version of a Russion Maxim machine gun (Just like my comany’s BREN semi). They charged him stating it was a “machine gun” but, during testing it was found out the ATF made it up….It never would fire as a machinegun.

When that didn’t work they RE-indicted him for transfering a machine gun illegally- He designed a replacement part (upper receiver) that will only work in a “registered machine gun”. It was novel, and inovative (It turned a machine pistol into a belt fed beast that fired the same cartridge of the AK47). Heres the kicker….My company designed the near identical device. The ATF declared it as not even being a firearm, let alone a machine gun. OOPs!! They just figured that out, and boy are they pissed at me now as their very own paper work now very publicly contradicts itself. [What do you expect if the ATF doesn't have a written testing procedure, let alone a scientific one].

The ATF in its infinite wisdom during the first indictment siezed all the parts for this newly designed replacement receiver. When the ATF RE-indicted they also charged Mr. Wrenn with interstate fraud for not delivering the devices (That the ATF had locked up in a vault a year ealier) Is that not convenient for the ATF charge the man for “illegally” transfering what devices he delivered and seizing the rest, wait awhile and…..Presto!! You just got nailed for NOT delivering the remainder.

There was a case a while back when they were claimed a weapon was a machine gun but it turns out it was just a defective, worn out part. They still tried to push it and actually took the defective piece out to test fire when the gun was basically unsafe and could fire out of battery. They still could not get to fire in fully automatic mode. An upper receiver, per the ATF’s own rules, isn’t really a gun any way. Much less a machine gun.

Seen at Ravenwood, in California they will restrict felons from owning dogs. This comes complete with registration, safe storage, waiting periods and the whole anti-gun wish list:

The Contra Costa County board of supervisors unanimously supported on Tuesday prohibiting convicted felons from owning any dog that is aggressive or weighs more than 20 pounds, making it all but certain the proposal will become law when it formally comes before the board for approval Nov. 15.

The proposal would also for the first time require people with dogs deemed potentially dangerous to apply for a permit to keep their dog and to abide by certain rules. Supervisor Mark DeSaulnier said his desire to do something about dangerous dogs was galvanized by the March 29 mauling of 11-year-old JaQuan Rice Jr., as the boy walked near his home in Concord.

We must do something, anything for appearance. Even if it’s the wrong thing.

Only in Illinois:

DISORDERLY CONDUCT: in that Shawn (SIC) Kranish knowingly did an act in such an unreasonable manner as to alarm or disturb Janna L. Shwaiko and provoke a breach of peace to wit Shawn (SIC) Kranish walked into the Presidents (SIC) office and requested from Shwaiko a meeting with the President. Kranish was wearing a blue jacket with the words “I Carry” on the front of the jacket and he was also wearing a black nylon pouch or handgun holster (Note: Can’t officer Crumb tell the difference?). Shwaiko believed Kranish to be carrying a gun and it alarmed her in violation of 720 ILCS 5/26-1(a) of the Illinois Compiled Statutes.

The AP is reporting the pick for the Supreme Court will be Samuel Alito. On guns, here’s what I found:

In a dissent to a ruling that upheld the constitutionality of a federal law banning the possession of machine guns, Alito argued for greater state rights in reasoning that Congress had no authority to regulate private gun possession.

David Kopel says:

In United States v. Rybar, Judge Alito wrote a blistering dissent from the majority opinion which held that, notwithstanding United States v. Lopez, Congress had the power to use the Interstate Commerce power to prohibit the mere possession of machine guns manufactured after May 1986, even though Congress had made no findings about the effect of such machine guns on interstate commerce. Judge Alito’s dissent did not address the majority’s assertion that Rybar had no Second Amendment rights because Rybar was not a member of the militia.

Arfcom regular Shoot N Scoot has finished his first AR-15. Scroll down to see the finished product.

The Carnival of Cordite is up!

Yesterday Say Uncle posted on the Canadian threat of a lawsuit against American gun makers. This quote was included in his post.

Federal Justice Minister Irwin Cotler made the suggestion earlier this week, saying more than half the guns used in homicides in Canada originate in the United States.

Over 50%. Wow!

One small problem with that number. The truth.

Mr. Wilkins said that Canadian officials admitted in meetings with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice this week “that that figure was just grabbed out of thin air.” He insisted the Canadian government should focus on joint efforts to combat gun-running rather than pointing fingers.
…………………….
Mr. Wilkins told CTV’s Canada AM that the Canadians admitted the figure has no basis. Mr. Wilkins declined to tell The Globe whether the Prime Minister conceded the figure was not substantiated.

I guess they have decided to use the sad tactics of the Brady Center and just lie.

Yahoo news is flashing that Libby was indicted. CNN says:

Lewis “Scooter” Libby, Vice President Cheney’s chief of staff, indicted by grand jury on charges of obstruction of justice, making false statements and perjury in CIA leak probe.

The poll over at Gun Law News (upper right corner) shows an overwhelming lead for National CCW. KABA linked to it so it’s getting a lot of play.

I’ve said before that an AK looks unnatural with an AR stock. I’ve found the exception and the shorty AR stock looks kinda cool. Good price on the VEPR too.

And I am speechless. Something isn’t right in the world when the reasonable party in a debate is Kos.

Chris notes that investment portfolios of congressmonkeys beat the average portfolio by a whopping 12%. I don’t think they’re baby geniuses but I’m guessing that somehow that whole regulating commerce thing is working out for them.

Tam responds to the Gun Guy losing his mojo:

They’re just guns, folks; easy come, easy go. Unless you’re talking about an heirloom, historical artifact, or rare out-of-production piece, they’re easy to replace. And even those are easier to replace than a kidney, or the roof over your kid’s heads. Don’t lose perspective.

So does Les:

Somehow I don’t think he’s seen the last of his gun buying. He probably won’t replace all of the ones he sold, because part of the fun is seeking something out and trying something new, but I have the feeling he’ll get the fever again once his finances recover.

I still have a few items left for sale and they are listed below. Sorry, the 90 rounder and 6X24 scope are gone. Make an offer if interested.
Read the rest of this entry »

Yeah, you guys got tired of the major announcement bit. But it seems to me that the media are doing the same thing with this whole Plame/Rove/Wilson/whatever mess. For like four days, the news has been nothing yet but it’s coming.

To come up with a gay pun for Sulu but couldn’t. So, just the news:

George Takei, who as helmsman Sulu steered the Starship Enterprise through three television seasons and six movies, has come out as a homosexual in the current issue of Frontiers, a biweekly Los Angeles magazine covering the gay and lesbian community.

Update: Well, that pun is pretty bad.

No, really:

Justice ministers across the country will ponder next month an Ottawa proposal to sue U.S. gun manufacturers as part of a strategy to curb the movement of illegal firearms across the border.

Federal Justice Minister Irwin Cotler made the suggestion earlier this week, saying more than half the guns used in homicides in Canada originate in the United States.

Stupid Canadians, don’t they know those evil gun makers are immune. More:

But Sanjeev Anand, a professor of constitutional and criminal law at the University of Alberta, said he’s not sure Cotler’s idea would be effective.

“If someone buys a gun in the States and smuggles it into Canada, how can you blame the manufacturer for making it available — which is something you can already do under American law?”

A more effective approach, said Anand, would be for Ottawa to take direct action and tighten up security at ports and border crossings.

You know, some smart cracker said the same thing yesterday.

Apparently, a 9 person protest warrants page B01 coverage for the Washington Post.

My fellow conservative-ish sorts, you have a job to do. It is to start opposing Alberto Gonzales right now before he gets nominated to the Supreme Court. No, really.

Miers withdraws! Good.

Mark Coffey asks:

Where do we go from here?

Janice Rogers Brown or Alex Kozinski get my vote.

Update: Say, you think this is to counter the Fitzmas that will supposedly occur when indictments are handed down? Because I’ll tell you now, if Bush nominates Brown or Kozinski, it wouldn’t make a bit of difference to me if Karl Rove and Dick Cheney both strangled hookers. Or puppies.

Update 2: Don Surber says:

OK, I was wrong. You were right. Hey, was it worth killing the Bush presidency? Prediction: Democratic Congress in 2006. That means winning 24 of 33 Senate seats. They will do it.

Happy?

I think a loss would force these guys to get back on track. But given Surber’s track record on predictions . . .

Update 3: Cam Edwards:

How long before someone on the Left suggests her entire nomination was a Rovian plot to distract from any possible indictments handed down by Patrick Fitzgerald? You know, nominate her with the idea that she’ll withdraw the day indictments are handed down in order to distract the media with two big stories?

I give it 90 minutes. I’m sure you can find a comment either on Democratic Underground or Daily Kos.

I am far from liberal and think that is highly likely.

Bob Krumm:

could clinton have survived the blogosphere?

Just a question. Conversely, would Bush be better liked in a pre-blog world?

Just as television changed the presidency circa 1960, is the internet now forcing a similar change?

It seems to me that neither the current President, nor the last one have been well-equipped.

Good question. Yeah, Drudge was a thorn in Clinton’s side but what about blogs? The dissemination of opinion and news is no longer controlled by corporations and news agencies. In my opinion, said news agencies tend to go easy on the administration because if they push too hard, they lose access to the powers that be. That would put them out of a job. Once something is on fire and sitting on the White House lawn, they have to cover it. People like me who don’t have access and don’t really want it, could care less about keeping it.

Also, here’s something I’ve pondered: Can blogs survive a new presidency? See, lots of political blogging hacks have dedicated a ton of pixels to promoting their side or to poo-pooing the other side. So, when their guys are in or out of power, many bloggers will become hypocrites. I think, often times, bloggers forget they have archives. And the fact is the next administration (regardless of party) will carry forward some policies their opposition has lambasted. Will they continue to do that? Or defend them? Or ignore them? You don’t really think Kerry would have pulled the US out of Iraq, do you?

Update: Somewhat related, Joe Public:

But now is it going to be even worse? Has the internet done this to us?

And Michael Silence asks:

Are so many blogs and opinions burning us out?

OK, I posed the question about the direction the gun lobby should take but GLN already had a poll up (a while back and I missed since I use bloglines). Go on over there and take it, it’s on the right hand side.

Update: I see that National CCW is currently the winner. I don’t think that’s a good idea and here’s why:

It doesn’t help folks in places that have bans (or near bans) on handguns, like DC and Chicago. Additionally, mandated CCW would motivate anti-gun states to push for just outright bans on ownership (Sure, you can carry but you can’t own them). Also, I think it’s probably a waste of resources to do at the state level in states like NY, CA, and Illinois. Because it won’t pass. Ever. It is more likely to pass at the Federal level.

For this reason, my vote went for repealing the Hughes Amendment. Actually, it was tie between that and repealing the sporting purposes language. So, I flipped a coin.

As an interesting side note: With the exception of national CCW, all other options involve repealing something. So, memo to the NRA:

We don’t want new laws, we want the repeal of old laws.

Tennessee continues its misguided fight against adult establishments. This time, it’s Chattanooga.

Speaking of, I’ve seen a couple of billboards around Knoxville that say:

Pornography Victimizes Women and Children

What? If there is pornography that victimizes children, it is illegal and immoral. Equating pedophilia with regular old porn is a bit disingenuous if you ask me.

The NRA reports:

This week, legislation to prohibit firearm confiscation (HB 285) was filed in Florida to help preserve the right of citizens to lawfully possess firearms during an officially declared state of emergency. The bill was filed by Florida Representative Mitch Needelman (R – Melbourne) and has the full support of the National Rifle Association (NRA).

The NRA is really pushing this Remember New Orleans thing.

The Gun Guy has lost his mojo:

What I had not realized was that when I made the decision to sell my guns, a little part of The Gun Thing would die inside me. And I don’t know if it will ever come back.

I have found that most of the enjoyment I get out of my guns (particularly the ARs and AKs) is building them. Once I invest the time and effort in assembling, modifying, using the Dremel, finding the right sight system, and adding all the bells and whistles that I can’t wait to get to the range. Then, after I get it sighted in and take it to the range three times, I see the next toy that I want. Suddenly, the old gun doesn’t do it for me. I want the next thing. That’s why I’ve basically turned over six AR-15s in the last year. It’s true.

The other thing is ARs are pricey. So, typically to justify my next project, I sell off or trade a past project. And I invariably regret selling off and trading them. So, I have decided in the future not to sell them off but to just amass a collection. The fact is, I miss my SigArms P220, my SigArms P226, my 20 inch AR configuration, my Charter Arms Bulldog 44, and my M1A (the latter, I miss most of all).

Anyway, enough belly-aching.

In political newspeak, could have been more precise is code for I lied.

Momma Bear, who blogged at a site that has been on the blogroll since I had a blog, has died. My thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends.

The NRA reports that:

PRESIDENT BUSH SIGNS “PROTECTION OF LAWFUL COMMERCE IN ARMS ACT” LANDMARK NRA VICTORY NOW LAW

I don’t think so much misinformation has been perpetuated by editorial boards regarding this bill since the renewal of the PATRIOT Act and the assault weapons ban. It’s a victory for gun rights only in the sense that it gives the anti-gunnies something to cry about. And that was the only reason I really supported it. After all, special protection is special protection.

That said, what now? What’s next on the agenda? While the antis are down, will the gun lobby press the advantage or lay low? Not sure. Part of me wonders if getting aggressive would lead to opportunities for the press to successfully continue its vilification of the gun lobby. Another part says: kick their bitchy little asses. Quite a conundrum.

So, what next? National CCW? Repeal the NFA tax? Repeal the 1986 Hughes Amendment? My personal favorite would be repealing the Hughes Amendment.

Oh, where to begin?

Update: Thanks to GLN, I forgot all about that sporting purpose hooey. That’s probably first on my list now or at least tied with the Hughes Amendment.

I didn’t get into the whole blog promotion of the movie Serenity but I have a question: If blogs are the new media and a force to be reckoned with, why did Serenity lose so much money?

Everyone is linking to this, so I will too:

An uber-insider source has just reported the following to TWN (since confirmed by another independent source):

1. 1-5 indictments are being issued. The source feels that it will be towards the higher end.

2. The targets of indictment have already received their letters.

3. The indictments will be sealed indictments and “filed” tomorrow.

4. A press conference is being scheduled for Thursday.

Could be. But it could also be that blog credibility takes a hit if this is not the case.

First up is firing people: it sucks and I don’t recommend it. Every time I’ve had to do it, it wasn’t for cause (which I would think would be easier) but because positions get eliminated, restructuring, or insert other feel good business lingo here. And whenever I’ve had to do it, I felt like a bag of dicks after. But this ain’t a post about that. This is a post about this:

Currently, yours truly is seeking other employment options. The Mrs., who is always helpful, decided that she’d spend a portion of her lunch hour helping me in my search. She then sent me a list of opportunities that she thought I’d be interested in. That’s when it occurred to me: She has absolutely no idea what I do for a living.

Then, I had to update ye old résumé. Now, I’ve always abided by the rule that your résumé should be one page. Trouble is, not all the awesome and amazing shit I’ve done will fit on one page. Apparently, that’s no longer the rule as the four or so folks I’ve hired in the past year all had multiple page résumés. So, for the first time, I’ve expanded it to two pages. And it left me feeling quite unnerved.

So, last night, I asked the Mrs. to proofread my now updated, two-page résumé. She then informed me that, while it didn’t contain any spelling/grammatical errors that she could find, she didn’t know what half the stuff on there meant. Again, she has absolutely no idea what I do for a living.

Arfcom regular Shoot-n-Scoot has published pics of his current AR and AK build projects. Go have a look.

Looks like Cam Edwards got his way regarding Mike Wallace and his ties to the Brady Bunch. CBS Public Eye:

I trust Mason and CBS News to carry through with the pledge to turn down a Wallace story if there is a conflict involving his Brady Center appearance. It is the right thing to do. And I have no doubt that we’ll hear about it if that does not happen.

Don’t worry. We’ll be watching if he does.

Not sure whose site this is but it rounds up gun news. And it has a cool name: Guns, guns, guns!

Jeff has the latest on gun bias in the media.

Mike Spenis doesn’t blog much but when he does, you should be reading:

I have zero patience for the intellectual dishonesty already on display in some corners of the internet. On the one hand, we have people saying that perjury is a serious crime when the other guys do it, but when our guys do it, it’s only a technicality. On the other, we have people here who equate indictment with proof of a massive administration conspiracy, unless it was our president’s staff who was indicted, in which case it’s just unproven character assassination.

Let’s cut the crap here. Perjury under any circumstances is a serious crime. It’s serious because it undercuts one of the primary mechanisms of the balance of power; it’s serious because those in a position of public responsibility and public trust are rightly held to a higher standard when they misuse of their authority, and, most importantly, it’s serious because if I did it, I’d be in trouble, so if they do it then they don’t get a free pass.

When you dream about bloggers, that’s probably no big deal. But when you dream about bloggers then blog about it, you may have a problem.

No, not here. But Spoons:

I plan to keep the site up to maintain an internet presence, and to have an occasional bland post or personal update, but don’t expect to see any particularly no-holds-barred biting political commentary (as you haven’t really seen at all here this year).

Bummer.

Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin demands the US crackdown on guns and will raise the issue with Condi Rice:

Guns are Prime Minister Paul Martin’s newest target in what seems to be a deliberate and continuing attempt to take some careful pokes at the United States.

Following on his increasingly hot rhetoric on the Canada-U.S. softwood dispute and vague hints about using precious oil as a bargaining chip in the trade wars, Martin is now making clear that his government is going to draw a line with the United States on guns as well.

“There is an estimate by the police that up to 50 per cent of the gun crimes in Canada are done by people with guns obtained in large part illegally from the United States,” Martin told an Ottawa news conference yesterday as he outlined his government’s still-developing plans to get tough on firearms crime.

Where do the other 50% come from? Say, wasn’t that billion dollar boondoggle registry of yours supposed to cure all ills? More:

“The Americans ask us to do things in terms of the border and the security at the border is very important for Canada and our ability to provide the Americans with their comfort in that area is something that we will do. I think that there is an obligation on their side to work with us to prevent gun smuggling into Canada,” Martin said yesterday. Up until now, the Prime Minister had been treating the growing concern over firearms crime as a domestic issue, even a Toronto-only issue.

Maybe if you secured those borders then, you know, those evil guns wouldn’t bet getting in? I mean, I’m just thinking out loud and all but seems that 50% of the illegal guns there come from the US would have had to cross the border.

The quick picks and why:

District 1
Joe Hultquist

No viable opposition and Joe has done a good job.

District 2
Kenneth Knight

The history of the Market Square Project and the sale of the Candy Factory have shown that Barbara Pelot is a champion of building and approving anything. She is so pro-development that it is clear no critical thinking is occurring. A very nice lady who is popular out West but she is a rubber stamp at a time when we need City Council members that will ask questions and consider the outcome before they automatically vote Yes. Her performance on the Market Square Project is more than enough reason to give someone else a chance. Kenneth Knight did this city a solid when he and others stood up and forced the proposed Convention Center Hotel to a voter referendum.

District 3
Steve Hall

This is a little more difficult only because of the Stacey Campfield and Lumpy Lambert static that interferes with a pretty basic choice. Do you want Steve Hall or Ellen Adcock/Victor Ashe? Steve Hall has done a good job and is not a rubber stamp. He is gruff and occasionally hangs out with Lloyd Daugherty on 1180 AM talk radio. His provision to require a supermajority for all eminent domain votes is good for Knoxville. This has brought Steve great opposition and is a key reason why we still need him on City Council. Parks are great until they come for your house to build the next park on. He voted against the sale of the Candy Factory and is popular in his district. Hall showed more leadership than any of the members of City Council on the Red Light issue that council approved against the wishes of the residents. This will be a close race.

On Sunday on the Gene Patterson TTW program Gene asked Ellen, “The argument goes that Ellen Adcock gets on city Council she’s going to take her orders from Poland. You will be calling Victor Ashe every time there is a major issue. Is that true?”

Ellen Adcock replied, “Gene, you know me and I was actually in the administration and I think I know when there is times to follow through on things, I’ll take his advice because he is a knowledgeable person, there are people here in this town now that value his knowledge but I certainly not taking orders from Poland I know how to hit a delete button.”

Translated into English it is an Ellen Adcock/Victor Ashe ticket. Remember the Convention Center and vote accordingly.

District 4
Rob Frost

This is easy. Vote for Rob Frost or for the Kim Litton/Knoxville Home Builders Association. Rob has done a good job and has shown he is an independent thinker. He voted against the sale of the Candy Factory. He is critical to a meaningful vote on eminent domain. After the recent Supreme Court decision we need a solid eminent domain ordinance in Knoxville. Victor might come back. Seriously.

District 6
Mark Brown

No viable opposition and no reason to change.

Last night, Bill Kristol was on The Daily Show. Bill Kristol, who is probably the only guy I’ve seen on the show shorter than Jon Stewart, was getting ribbed pretty hard. Why do I bring it up? Well, Kristol predicted that Miers would withdraw her nomination. Here’s hoping.

Update: Oh yeah, one funny bit was when Stewart said something to the effect of:

You guys have been waiting for this for a long time. You have the house, senate, presidency and the court. You must be very disappointed at the administration’s lack of competence.

Heh.

Sorry, Rich, but I love kim chee (or kim chi, never was sure how to spell since I see it spelled both ways). In other news, kim chee may treat or prevent avian flu.

Excellent:

Gov. Rick Perry ceremonially signed a new property rights law Monday in Waco, saying Texas will protect homeowners from losing land to private economic development projects.

The law, which the Legislature passed in August in response to a controversial June U.S. Supreme Court decision, restricts a governmental body’s power of eminent domain to seize private property.

“We believe government should not encroach upon the private property rights unless there is an eminent public need,” Perry said. “Eminent domain for public use is a necessary power. Eminent domain for private use is a great threat.”

Saying he and the Legislature attempted “to close a door the Supreme Court jarred open,” Perry received a standing ovation from more than 60 people at the Waco Association of Realtors office, which supported the legislation.

Andy Barniskis of the Federal Observer isn’t real happy with S.397, the gun immunity bill:

I am convinced that S.397, the federal legislation recently passed to protect the firearms industry from frivolous civil liability claims, was nothing but industry protectionism, with little or no consideration provided for the protection of the rights of gun owners. From the way it was passed, I suspect a segment of the sporting arms industry received undue benefits at the expense of our individual rights.

In general I do not support government protection of industries, but not all such protection is bad. Protection of an industry from competition is almost always bad. Protection of an industry from abuses of its genuine rights (which are extensions of the rights of the individuals who own it or benefit from it) is always good. The recently passed protection for the firearms industry would seem to fall in the latter category, but the non-germane, anti-gun amendments contained in it call to question the purity of the motives of its more strident supporters. There was no need for anti-gun amendments to be included, yet the loudest industry lobbyists insisted that only the bill containing those features be passed.

Which anti-gun bills? The only one I recall was the addition of the gun lock requirement for handguns, which is really irrelevant since I figure 99% of new handguns come with locks anyway.

As suggested by Angel Shamaya, founder and former owner of KeepAndBearArms.com, protection of the rights of the firearms industry should have been approached from a much broader, constitutional rights foundation, acknowledging the Second Amendment and other recognized civil rights.

Uhm, it did:

(a) Findings- Congress finds the following:

(1) The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution provides that the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

(2) The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution protects the rights of individuals, including those who are not members of a militia or engaged in military service or training, to keep and bear arms.

If Mr. Barniskis is upset about the bill being protectionism, that’s not a very good way to express it. And it does some of the things he says it should. It doesn’t look like he researched the bill very much.

A while back, the trailer park FEMA built did not allow guns on the property. That is no longer the case:

Residents can now possess and store firearms in trailer parks or other temporary housing set up for hurricane victims by the Federal Emergency Management Agency under a new policy announced today.

Use of weapons is still prohibited in the parks, according to FEMA spokesman Butch Kinerny.

Gun rights groups had sought the change, saying the original policy violated Second Amendment protections for gun ownership. Kinerny said FEMA made the change after consulting with lawyers.

That, the citizens of Brazil rejecting a gun ban and a Brady Center person resigning all in a couple of weeks indicates trouble with the anti-gun crowd.

We’re winning.

TriggerFinger has an update to the case of David Bach, an upstanding citizen with a top level security clearance who wanted a CCW permit in New York, and links to this analysis of the case.

Seen at Smijer and Buck’s:

I’m often amazed at the way politicians, who spend hours poring over opinion poll results in a desperate attempt to discover what the public thinks, are certain they know precisely what God’s views are on everything.

It may be a sign that the .gov is a bit too big when it conducts clandestine surveillance on some U.S. residents due to administrative errors.

There are rumors that Shep Smith may be gay and Kleinhelder says So what?

The City of Waynesboro offers CCW classes on the front of its homepage.

Heard City Council Candidate Steve Hall on the radio this morning. He, I’m pretty sure, referred to himself as a physical conservative. He meant, of course, fiscal conservative. That alone would be a reason why he wouldn’t get my vote. I don’t live in Knoxville, so it’s a mute point*.
Read the rest of this entry »

Nah, I’m fuckin’ with ya. Blogging will resume later.

***MUST CREDIT SAYUNCLE***

Bush is set to name Alan Greenspan’s successor to the Federal Reserve Board today at 1PM. In documents obtained by SayUncle, it can be revealed Bush is expected to announce Cris Comerford, the White House Chef, to the job.

Cris is highly qualified and, hey, cooking is no different from cooking books said Bush of the nomination. Most importantly, he continued, she has a vagina and that’s key to any presidential appointment.

In a memo written earlier this year, Cris said: You’re the most bestest President ever. Apparently, that’s a qualification for the job.

The appointment is subject to Congressional confirmation. Senator Chuck Schumer, D-NY, said Dude, what the Hell? and had had a nervous breakdown. Meanwhile, Arlen Specter refused to comment.

Blogger and radio host Hugh Hewitt opined Man, this shit sandwich keeps getting better and better. I’d have never thought to add capers. Really covers up the turd taste. Solid B+.

Update: Bush picks Ben Bernanke, chairman of the president’s Council of Economic Advisers, who, according to experts, doesn’t have a vagina. Stupid anonymous sources.

Today is the day when Knox County Commission decides whether to grant Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale permanent control over the Knox County Library System or to go back to the library Board of Trustees like all of the other cities in the state.

So why should the temporary control granted to the County Mayor be made permanent? The Knoxville News Sentinel and Metro Pulse make the case but to save you a little time I can say it in fewer words. New Downtown Library. There that wasn’t so difficult was it?

Putting on my “Karnac the Magnificent” prediction hat I predict that Knox County Commission will ignore any common sense oratory from County Commissioner Mike McMillian and will vote for permanent control of the Library System to be granted to the County Mayor. Soon after the drum will beat for the new Downtown Library which according to the “Friends of the Knox County Public Library” is desperately needed. Is it? I guess it depends who you ask.

I am not sure exactly why, but this is a brilliant political move. One thought is that is will occupy the entire political mind share coming into the 2006 election sucking up the oxygen from other issues. Another thought is that it guarantees the urban vote to the County Mayor and all County Commissioners that vote with him.

Some might ask why a new $40 to 65 million dollar library with daring architecture should be built downtown when the branch libraries cost only around $5 to 7 million. The “Friends of the Knox County Public Library” have plenty of answers. That is a great name for a special interest group. There may be a clash with the “Friends of Knox County Taxpayers” group otherwise know as the rest of the Knox County. Isn’t it great sport when politicians pit City people versus County people? Red state or blue state?

Is there another issue that is on the political horizon that savvy political types would like to see suppressed. Oh there is, it is the dreaded and looming discussion of impact fees. The genie is out of the bottle as the little town of Farragut is underway with a full debate of impact fees. Knox County will have to follow. That is one discussion the Home Builders Association of Knoxville does not want to have in an election year.

The latest round up of secular conservatives is up at Louisiana Libertarian.

David Codrea notes:

While Nevadans without such permits have to pay $25 to have an FBI criminal background check run each time they purchase a firearm, serious gun owners and shooters were told that as a fringe benefit of acquiring the concealed carry permit we’d be allowed to buy firearms without undergoing (and paying for) a new $25 “Brady” check each time.

Guess what?

In an Oct. 13 letter, Maj. Robert Wideman of the division of the Nevada Department of Public Safety (state police) advises Nevada gun dealers that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has determined that will no longer be the case beginning Oct. 23.

$25 seems steep. It’s $10 here in Tennessee, though CCW permits do not exempt you from background checks. Someone is working on that though.

The impact in Nevada will be a drop in gun sales and a rise in the number of background checks. The reason for this change is that not all entities that issue permits conduct background checks. I find it odd that a sheriff any where would issue a permit and not conduct a background check. Something isn’t right.

Update: So, the directive for this is coming from the ATF. Seems the feds are overriding state law. Not sure if that’s a constitutional issue or not. Someone enlighten me.

No, not here but in England.

Pete notes that technology has bitten a cop on the butt:

Investigator Joseph W. Brown of the Massena village Police Department testified that he stopped the car the driver was using a cell phone. The judge rejected the testimony because account records for the men’s phones showed neither of their phones had been used between the time they received the marijuana and the time they were stopped. As a result, he ruled neither the marijuana or any other evidence gathered as a result of the traffic stop can be used against the men.

Now, I respect cops and most are decent people. But when they have to lie to try to get a conviction, they are no better than criminals.

Isn’t that perjury?

Eight days and no update? Hope all is well.

From the department of no kidding, WBIR:

Tennessee Senator Bill Frist says an investigation into his sale of stock in a family-founded hospital chain will affect whether he will seek the presidency in 2008.

But the Senate Majority Leader says he has not lost the public’s trust and hopes people wait for the results of the investigation before making any decisions about him. Advertisement

Frist says he did not use inside information in deciding to sell millions of dollars in HCA stock. The sale came two weeks before the stock price dipped by 9 percent.

There could be nothing to his stock sale but if it’s found out there’s a problem, he is done for and he knows it. So, let’s see here:

Frist under investigation
DeLay under investigation
Plame/Miller/Rove/insert name of someone else investigation

Not looking too good for Republicans these days. It’s like there’s a witch hunt or something. Or, you know, shenanigans.

Today, Chuck Schumer said that Miers lacked confirmation votes. In the even the Senate goes Nuclear over the Miers’ confirmation, all hope for the Republican party is lost.

BTW, on spell check suggestions that are ironic: For Schumer, we have schemer.

Owen has the skinny on a reporter who took the Minnesota CCW class.

Too funny.

David Kopel reports that the citizens of Brazil rejected by a pretty good margin a measure to prohibit the commercial sale or manufacture of all firearms and ammunition. Excellent. This 64% to 36% vote will damage the international gun prohibition movement. Initially, it looked like Brazil would pass it but an effective campaign quelled it. Good!

A VEPR in bull pup configuration. That’s one ugly AK.

I’m having a sale. The Uncle household is about to move so, as with moves past, we’re discovering a lot of stuff we have that we don’t need. There’s a garage sale in the works. I have a few gun items that I realize I don’t really need anymore and they’re for sale but probably wouldn’t sell at a garage sale. If interested in any of the following, make an offer. I’ve included pics and prices I know I’ll take. May go lower, make an offer.
Read the rest of this entry »

Because TTLB asked bloggers to take a stand.

The other biased Washington paper writes:

The White House has begun making contingency plans for the withdrawal of Harriet Miers as President Bush’s choice to fill a seat on the Supreme Court, conservative sources said yesterday.

“White House senior staff are starting to ask outside people, saying, ‘We’re not discussing pulling out her nomination, but if we were to, do you have any advice as to how we should do it?’ ” a conservative Republican with ties to the White House told The Washington Times.

The White House denies it, though.

Chris Kromm reports that Agents detained about 100 illegal immigrants working for a Halliburton subcontractor hired to do Hurricane Katrina recovery work. I would think that if the administration wanted us to believe DHS claims of deporting illegal immigrants, this would be a good pace to start.

Update: to be clear (based on comments), yes it is a subcontractor. Still, it is bad news for a company with such close ties to the administration. And it still would be a good idea to start cleaning up entities violating illegal immigrant laws regardless of how many degrees of separation there are.

David Hardy on the Brady Campaign:

(1) Once again, Brady shows its only real agenda is “anything that restricts gun ownership” — including in this case complete or near-complete bans on rifles and (2) in light of this, its support for the DC ban, etc., Brady will find it harder and harder to argue that it only favors “reasonable limitations” on handguns.

Ayup. We just want to close the gun show loophole, this week.

SayUncle interviewed David Anderson, the owner of Sunshyne Video – a local adult video store. David’s business has been under attack by local authorities and I’ve covered this issue many times before. On to the questions (and some of the links are not safe for work):

Let’s get the free plug out of the way, tell me about your business, where you’re located, business hours, and contact info.

Ok great! I love free plugs. Just helps to brand Sunshyne Video even further as household name. Sunshyne Video is located in Maryville at 3531 HWY 411 South and can be reached at 865-983-9705 or 865-982-6662. We are open 6 days a week and the main hours are 9 Am to 11 PM. Closed Sundays and holidays.
Read the rest of this entry »

The Carnival of Cordite is up!

Miers failed to pay her dues a couple of times and had her license suspended twice. She can’t run a spell check on her questionnaire. And her grammar may be less than stellar. I would think a Supreme Court judge may need to pay attention to details.

Marc is auctioning off his business in California and returning to Tennessee. Wish him luck!

Perusing the text of the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, this leapt out at me:

(a) Findings- Congress finds the following:

(1) The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution provides that the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

(2) The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution protects the rights of individuals, including those who are not members of a militia or engaged in military service or training, to keep and bear arms.

(3) Lawsuits have been commenced against manufacturers, distributors, dealers, and importers of firearms that operate as designed and intended, which seek money damages and other relief for the harm caused by the misuse of firearms by third parties, including criminals.

(4) The manufacture, importation, possession, sale, and use of firearms and ammunition in the United States are heavily regulated by Federal, State, and local laws. Such Federal laws include the Gun Control Act of 1968, the National Firearms Act, and the Arms Export Control Act.

So, for the second time that I know of, congress has explicitly recognized an individual right to arms. Additionally, congress has recognized that the firearms industry is heavily regulated. Quick, someone tell Kristen Rand, director of lying for the Violence Policy Center.

Der Commissar notes that Tradesports’ odds on Miers being confirmed dropped. A lot. Some Senators with Rs after their names are breaking with colleagues too.

Via Les, comes this list of blog design mistakes. I may need to address 1, 2, and 5 since I’m guilty of those. On number 2, I doubt I’ll put a photo up.

Looks like somebody forgot to renew their domain name.

I really have a hard time getting too bent out of shape over the predicament that Tom DeLay is in. See, campaign finance laws are, in my opinion, like tax, gun and environmental laws. All are so arbitrary and complex that they are so easy to violate without meaning to. If evidence comes to light that DeLay intentionally skirted the law, I may take issue with that.

Speaking of scandals: On the Plame case, I still stand by my original prediction:

Rove is, once again, poking liberals and the media with a pointy stick. When it’s all said and done, the media and those on the left hollering will, once again, look like imbeciles and be forced to kind of acknowledge a little oops. Rove will light up a cigar, have a drink, and giggle like a school girl.

Could be wrong, though.

Radley Balko details three instances in which cops on drug raids hit the wrong houses. Oops, wrong house:

A police SWAT team paid a surprise visit to Paul Foley and his family late Wednesday evening, bursting through his front door, yelling and screaming at everyone in his house, and then apologizing for the disturbance.

Oops, wrong house part 2:

Henry County police making a drug raid last week burst into the wrong house, roused a couple from bed and handcuffed the man.

“We dropped the ball,” Henry Police Chief Russ Abernathy said Wednesday. “It was inexcusable, not acceptable. Things like this do happen, but it is not supposed to happen to us.”

Oops, wrong house part 3:

A longtime Bel Aire resident has presented a petition calling for the police chief’s dismissal, and the mayor has launched an investigation of what went wrong when police raided a couple’s home searching for marijuana and instead found sunflowers growing in the back yard.

Fortunately in these three cases, no one died.

Local Internet Porn Star, Bekah, looks at (WARNING: Link not safe for work) porn and the law over at the Sunshyne Video blog. A taste:

In the past when I have read other comments and quasi-informative publishing’s on the concept ‘porn and law’ it seemed to mean: Porn – acts depicted that are there for the sole purpose of sexually arousing the viewer or consumer and the obedience or interpretations of the law. What opinion and perception that was not addressed was; should law be there at all, and if Porn is any form of a way for one to gain resources to survive, then is Porn not a job and not some abstract thing that lessens society or brings society to an uncivilized state? I choose to approach this Porn and Law opinion in the perception from an Anarchist and a Porn Star.

John Tierney on media bias:

The problem isn’t so much the stories that appear as the ones that no one thinks to do. Journalists naturally tend to pursue questions that interest them. So when you have a press corps that’s heavily Democratic — more than 80 percent, according to some surveys of Washington journalists — they tend to do stories that reflect Democrats’ interests.

When they see a problem, their instinct is to ask what the government can do to solve it.

You see this all the time, the most recent example was Katrina and what shoulda/coulda been done and what the .gov can do to fix it.

I’ve also said that I don’t think there’s a liberal bias in the media, per se, but that there’s an issue bias. See, media stories tend to be pro-abortion, anti-death penalty, anti-gun, pro-establishment and pro-government. I think the latter two are merely so that the press can maintain their access to the powers that be. Throw in issue bias and a bit of sensationalism, and that is the modern media.

Over in the comments at Cathy’s that I linked yesterday, Barry says:

Opposed to the use of guns…opposed, too, to the somewhat “awe” of guns some folks have that approaches a kind of hyper-hobby, almost a worship.

I think the issue (though I promised not to mention the specific incident ever again) is that the anti-gun folks are the ones who display awe at guns. There’s this irrational awe or abhorrence of guns from those who either fear them or are against them. Barry, based on prior comments I can’t mention again, fears them. I think his fear of them is why he views someone who is into guns as one who worships them. There are gun owners (like me) who like them, collect them, shoot them, and buy accessories for them. Just like there are people with an obsession with, say, Disney. The reason people are passionate about their gun hobby is because it’s under attack. Maybe if we attacked Disney, Barry would then understand. There are also gun owners who own them to hunt. And gun owners who own them for protection, though they’re not really into guns.

Here’s the deal, guns are a tool and are inherently neutral. Guns do not kill on their own. They don’t have magical powers. And, truthfully, nobody fears (nor should they) gun nuts. They fear criminals, who happen to have guns or bats or knives. No one walks down the street saying Man, I hope there’s no gun nuts out today. They keep an eye out for criminals. If someone were to encounter a criminal who was doing them harm, they’d probably be glad if one of us gun nuts showed up.

If you saw me on the street, I’m a clean-cut, thirty-something who is probably wearing khaki pants and a collared shirt (business casual looking). But I also have a Glock 30 and 34 rounds of 45ACP on my person. There’s no need to fear me, I’m one of the good guys.

I’m not a cat person. Never have been. Here’s why:

I don’t like to keep a box of turds in my house.

Also, if you point at something, a dog will look. The cat will sniff your finger.

Dogs will bark at intruders, cats will show them where your bedroom is.

Dogs come when you call them. Cats look at you like you’re an idiot.

Dogs can be house broken. Cats will always go in your house, though it’s usually (but not always) in a box.

And cat piss ruins anything it touches.

Tom and I don’t agree on much but we do agree that cats suck.

Update: And A University of Missouri-Columbia study says that having a dog can help people get more exercise and lose weight.

Oliver Willis 10/15/2005:

I think it’s past time for there to be a changing of the guard in black leadership in America. People like Farrakhan, Sharpton and Jackson are no better than hustlers, bigots, and crooks. There are hundreds of black leaders who believe in improving the lives of black Americans, and America in general, but the media keeps giving time to the Axis of Irrelevancy.

Oliver Willis today:

Republicans think that because their candidate is black, he can wave magic pixie dust over Marylanders (Republicans think that black people are incapable of making up their minds for themselves and are compelled to vote based on skin color, how insulting) and hide the fact that Steele is just another right-wing Republican far out of touch with the values of Maryland and the future of our state.

So, if that leadership is Republican it’s not cool? Or do you not think that Steele believes in improving the lives of black Americans, and America in general? After all, that’s only something a Democrat can do, right?

And stating that an entire political party thinks that black people are incapable of making up their minds for themselves and are compelled to vote based on skin color is baseless rhetoric.

David Codrea:

But funny thing about liberty–it doesn’t just apply to people I approve of

Word.

Cathy:

Help me, I’m floundering. I don’t want a gun in my house but I’m not so certain how I feel about other people owning them any more. I don’t believe it is my father’s strong republican beliefs coming out as I get older. I once felt strongly opposed to guns because their only purpose is to kill. I’ve been along on enough hunting trips to see the damage that guns do but my peace-loving self has been overtaken by my maternal instincts. Yet, I suspect it is fear that makes me not quite mind if the world knows that most Americans are armed. I don’t like this maybe feeling. Am I for or against private gun ownership? How do I decide? What questions must I ask myself?

Head on over and offer constructive advice (emphasis on constructive). I did.

The NYT:

The Supreme Court nomination of Harriet E. Miers suffered another setback on Wednesday when the Republican and Democratic leaders of the Senate Judiciary Committee asked her to resubmit parts of her judicial questionnaire, saying various members had found her responses “inadequate,” “insufficient” and “insulting.”

Senators Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, the committee chairman, and Patrick J. Leahy of Vermont, the senior Democrat, sent Ms. Miers a letter faulting what they called incomplete responses about her legal career, her work in the White House, her potential conflicts on cases involving the administration and the suspension of her license by the District of Columbia Bar.

It’s looking more and more like Verb every day.

Yes, it’s true. Those evil fast food corporations may be protected even though they make a dangerous product:

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill Wednesday that would block lawsuits by people who blame fast-food chains for their obesity.

The “cheeseburger bill,” as it has been dubbed in Congress, stems from class-action litigation that accused McDonald’s of causing obesity in children.

The legislation’s backers say matters of personal responsibility don’t belong in the courts.

Oh and the gun immunity bill passed the house too:

Congress gave the gun lobby its top legislative priority Thursday, passing a bill that would protect the firearms industry from massive lawsuits brought by crime victims. The White House says President Bush will sign it into law.

The House voted 283-144 to send the bill to the president after supporters, led by the National Rifle Association, proclaimed it vital to protect the industry from being bankrupted by huge jury awards. Opponents, waging a tough battle against growing public support for the legislation, called it proof of the gun lobby’s power over the Republican-controlled Congress.

As I’ve said before, I’m lukewarm on the bill. It is gun friendly but special protection is special protection. At least it will curb efforts to put gun makers out of business for selling lawful products.

Seriously. I matched the powerball number and won a whopping $3! Guess I’ll be needing that tax lawyer.

Never heard of the Korobov but it has a neat history. Supposedly, it was more accurate and controllable than the AK-47.

We’re winning. More importantly, they’re losing:

Congress may decide in conference to ease District of Columbia gun restrictions (H.R. 3058). The House will vote Wednesday on shielding gunmakers from liability suits (S. 397). And last year, Congress let the assault weapons ban (P.L. 103-322) expire.

It’s enough to make a gun-control advocate quit.

“It’s not an easy job to get up every day and duke it out with the gun lobby,” Michael Barnes, president and CEO of the Brady Campaign and Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, said Tuesday, “but it’s very important.”

Barnes resigned this week.

He conceded that his side of the gun debate is faring poorly on Capitol Hill, but said that’s not the whole lobbying picture. “In many states throughout the country, things are moving in our direction,” he said.

Go have a celebratory drink or two. I will.

Dog bites man…..Old news.

Man bites dog…..News.

Dog bites anti-dog man with felony charges possible…..News with karma.

The author of a new state law that allows felony charges against owners of dangerous dogs was hospitalized over the weekend after his own dog attacked him.

Will he arrest himself?