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I have encroaching crab grass that has taken over roughly half of my backyard. How do I deal with it?

The Hammer of Truth has a lot on of info and analysis of the ATF hearings, including snippets of testimony. Meanwhile, Bitter tells us that the Brady Bunch is standing by its original claim that breaking the law is OK if it’s under the guise of sensible gun control.

On gun locks:

Locks only work where they’re attached: proper training works everywhere.

From reader Addison, the war on Wal-Mart is heating up. But this isn’t really a post about the War on Wal-Mart, rather it’s a post about this bit of wisdom from the .gov:

Mr. Hubbard noted how effective splitting the difference can be in moving legislation toward a larger goal. “If you give up 80% of what you want to get 20%,” he said, “after five years you will have nothing left to give up.” Mr. Hubbard also noted a quirk in the system that made raising taxes and expanding the Medicaid rolls attractive. With the federal government paying half or more of every dollar spent on Medicaid, states were essentially leaving federal dollars on the table by not expanding the program.

Wal-Mart is falling victim to a war of attrition. But that’s how everything is treated by the .gov that they don’t like. There will never be a repeal of the fourth amendment. The war against it is to nitpick under the guise of reasonable and to keep at it until it is merely a quaint novelty item written by some old dudes over 200 years ago. Same with taxes and gun regulations. At last count, the tax code was 653 sections and near 1,400,000 words. I never thought it was a nefarious plot to just grow the tax code into the monstrosity that it is. In the past, I’d always thought that such attrition was merely the nature of the leviathan that is our .gov or, more reasonably, a function of bureaucratic bungling. Now, thanks to Mr. Hubbard, there are those who engage in this nonsense intentionally. One inch at a time.

Jeff has the latest in anti-gun bias in the media.

In an effort to raise awareness of the second amendment, the The Tiger Town Observer’s editor Andrew Davis is having a raffle for an AK and a Marlin rifle:

An independent student newspaper at Clemson University that last week published Danish cartoons of Muhammad is sponsoring a drawing this week for an AK-47 assault rifle, stirring some student and faculty protests.

Andrew Davis, editor-in-chief of the conservative tabloid The Tiger Town Observer, said his purpose is to celebrate the Second Amendment’s guarantee of the right to bear arms.

Kids today.

Tim says he won’t own a gun because he’s a pacifist. Blake says you can be an armed pacifist. I concur. As someone who is generally armed, I can tell you that I will not use a weapon if the only thing I risk losing is material wealth. I could care less. I have insurance. However, the threat of violence to me or my loved ones will be met with force. That said, a couple of Tim’s ideas leapt out at me:

The fact that my wife “naturally” does not consider reacting to violence with violence fills me with wonderment and awe. Honestly—if someone on the highway cuts her off and flips her the bird, Sue just smiles and waves at the aggressive driver. I admire her so much for that. For whatever reason, the notion of countering violence or aggression with compassion is a relatively new concept for me. However, it is a concept that I buy into with my entire body, heart, mind, and soul.

This passage implies to me that he was, at least until recently, the kind that would engage an aggressive driver in a bit of aggression himself. If that’s the case, it’s probably for the best that you not arm yourself. Full disclosure: When someone flips me off in traffic, I blow them a kiss too but it’s because I’m a smart ass and not out of compassion. Additionally, he says:

It seems reasonable to me that if I am futzin’ around with a firearm or some other kind of lethal weapon, whether that weapon is on my person, in my vehicle, under my bed, or wherever, then I am probably concerned more with fear than I am with loving and caring about my family and other ones who are dear to me.

This is the kinder gentler way of saying that gun-nuts are scared folks with little penises. And it doesn’t fly. Sure, some folks like me (a self professed gun nut) do seem preoccupied with guns and that’s only because I think they’re fun. It’s a hobby. But in the event I was not a gun nut, I’d very likely still own a handgun for home defense because, here in the real world, idealism isn’t worth a squirt of piss when it comes to defending those I love. And it is not that I’m scared or in fear or this ridiculous notion that I’m scared more than I love my family. It’s realism. Study after study has shown that active armed resistance is the best way to deal with a violent situation. More:

Speaking only for myself, Sue and I have a home security system, and we have security systems in our vehicles. In the past, I have had my material possessions ripped off—it isn’t the greatest feeling in the world, but, after all, they are only replaceable material possessions. In moments of meditation, the worst thing I can think of would be for harm to come to someone I love. Yes, that would be tragically painful. On the other hand, I nonetheless cleave to the belief that countering violence with violence is not a solution to the problem of fear.

No one I know is intimating that countering violence with violence is a solution to the problem of fear. Rather, countering violence with violence is a solution to the problem of violence. Again, the implication is that those who choose to be prepared are scared. Perhaps in some hippie, tree-hugging fantasy land where houses are painted with pixie dust and the streets are made of lollipops, this plan might work. But here in the real world, I’ll trust a gun over the compassion of a robber/ rapist /mugger /murderer any day.

My advice: You should hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.

MGI has introduced their modular AR-15 weapon system. You can see some detailed pics here. You can buy it here. It’s a neat concept. The lower receiver has interchangeable magazine wells so the weapon can take either AR-15 magazines or AK-47 Magazines. It also has a quick change barrel system so that you can swap between your 5.56 and 7.62X39 barrels. It basically gives you one AR-15 that can fire multiple calibers. Interesting concept. However, I see no prices listed and I’d say for the price of that thing, you could just buy two AR-15s.

Looks like it’s a no go:

The head of the Illinois Senate said Monday that lawmakers are unlikely to approve an assault weapons ban — one of Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s priorities — this spring.

“I don’t think anything will happen with that (this year),” said Senate President Emil Jones Jr., D-Chicago. He said the measure would be “very difficult to pass” through his chamber.

And it’s still amusing to watch the press peddle this lie:

The federal ban on manufacturing and importing certain military-style weapons expired in September 2004. Since Congress did not reinstate it, each state must decide whether to impose its own ban.

Wrong. It was a limit on the number of aesthetic features which weapons that look like military-style weapons could have.

Unless you want to debate what exactly that just compensation is:

When Brian Adamek bought a couple hundred acres of rich black land soil from his father two years ago, he says he was planning for his future and the future of his wife and 3-month-old son.

But his dreams may be dashed if the city follows through with its plan to expand a nearby landfill by using its power to condemn his property for what city officials consider the greatest public good.

[snip]

City officials approached Adamek about his property a year and a half ago, offering $630 an acre for land he said he bought for $730 an acre from his father just a few months prior. Failure to accept that offer, Adamek said he was told, could mean he could get absolutely nothing for it should the city move forward with the authority enabled to them under the powers of eminent domain.

Public good is not public use. And the threat of taking the land and not paying seems a bit of an overreach.

Not every day you see a TeeVee commercial for a gun store. Heh.

Take this survival quiz. According to it, I’d be dead in the event of terror/crime and a dog or shark attack. I disagree with its assessment of dog attacks and dealing with criminals. But different strokes.

Ya know, when the skin heads are a better model for public behavior than the alternatives, society has some issues.

The guys at Uzi Talk asked the ATF if, as reported by everyone including me, an SBR was required to be engraved when made my an individual out of an existing firearm. They ATF said it was not required. Cool. They have a scan of the letter.

Update: Some snark in the comments at Uzi Talk:

And the ATF says, that Oly Arms can replace M16 receivers, oh wait no they say they can’t sorry, you guys who had your receivers replaced with post 86 manuf. recievers are grandfathered, wait we will have to review that opinion.

The ATF says you can’t have a short barrel TC and a Buttstock and rifle barrel kit. Oh wait they changed thier mind.

The ATF says you can’t have a home based, FFL, and you must provide a floor plan of your shop to the ATF with the locations of your firearms. Wait a minute we were just making shit up again, nevermind.

The ATF says that inline muzzle loading rifles are modern firearms because they ignite with modern primer ignition, oh wait we change our minds again but we are sure that 209 shotgun primers are actually ammunition and convicted felons can not buy shotgun primers. Check with us next week to be sure.

The ATF says the lower receiver of an AR15 is a firearm the upper receiver is parts. The ATF says the lower reciever of a FAL is a spare part and the upper receiver is a firearm. The ATF says the pistol frame of a Browning buckmark is a firearm and the barrel/slide assy. is a spare part. The ATF says the grip fram of the Ruger 22 pistol is a spare part, and the barrel/slide assy. is a firearm.

The ATF says model rockets motors over 1/4 oz of solid fuel is a destructive device requiring registration, oh never mind they are just rocket motors after all. The ATF says if a firearm fires more than one projectile with a single pull of a trigger it’s a machinegun, but a 12ga shotgun shooting 12 pellet 38 caliber with one pull of the trigger is not a machinegun. The ATF says a rifles bore weapon over 50 caliber is a destructive device, but 12ga rifled barrels shooting slugs, and 600 and 700 nitro express, well our banker friends like to hunt with those so they are sporting rifles, but a Boys 55 rifle is destructive even though a boys converted to 50BMG is more powerfull it’s non-destructive.

See a pattern here. ATF gives opinions, congress and legislature make laws.

An ATF opinion is not worth the FFL newsletter it is written on.

Heh.

I’ve been pondering the reasons why some media outlets have refused to run the Mohammed cartoons. The only reason I can conclude is that they’re pussies. See, they’d trot out pictures of Kanye West as Jesus or Piss Christ or whatever else may offend Western religious groups without batting an eye. Why is that? Is it because offending Christians rarely results in mass riots, firebombing buildings and stoning people? I think so. I think they either fear more riots or, more likely, themselves becoming targets of this zealous nonsense. I think their refusal may be racist.

That is not to say that all Muslims are violent and prone to such things. Of course, some Christian folks have been known to firebomb abortion clinics.

Update: And to be clear, the allegation of racism is meant to be snarky. But the allegation that they’re pussies is not.

It’s accepted wisdom among folks who travel with guns not to go through New York or New Jresey or any of the airports. Even though you may go out of your way to lawfully transport a secured and unloaded firearm, the overzealous laws there require the police to arrest you for it. Said policy is being legally challenged:

The Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs, Inc. (ANJRPC) announced that it has commenced a lawsuit against the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and one of its police officers for wrongfully arresting and imprisoning for nearly five days a 57-year old Utah man delayed at Newark Airport by a baggage error while traveling from Utah to Pennsylvania.

The lawsuit seeks more than $3 million in damages for civil rights violations and a permanent injunction forcing the Port Authority to follow Federal law on interstate transport of locked, unloaded firearms that have been secured in luggage and declared by law-abiding citizens.

The Utah man, Gregg Revell, a real estate broker and family man with no criminal record and a Utah firearms permit, was flying alone from Salt Lake City, UT to Allentown, PA to retrieve a car he bought and drive it home. He was travelling with a firearm for personal protection. As required by Federal law, the firearm was unloaded, cased, locked and inside his luggage when he declared it at check-in in Salt Lake City on March 31, 2005.

Due to an airline-caused baggage error, Mr. Revell missed his connection from Newark to Allentown and had to stay overnight in New Jersey. When he checked in at Newark Airport the next morning to complete his travels, he again declared his firearm, as required by FAA regulations. He was then arrested for possession of a firearm without a New Jersey state license, and imprisoned in Essex County jail for five days until his family arranged bail, which had been initially set unusually high at $15,000 cash (no bond).

But Mr. Revell’s travels were protected by the Firearms Owner Protection Act, a Federal law passed in 1986 to protect law-abiding citizens who travel with firearms. (See 18 U.S.C. § 926A.) That law trumps state and local gun laws and protects interstate travel with firearms under certain circumstances, all of which were present in Mr. Revell’s case. Several months after the arrest, all charges were withdrawn and the prosecutor’s case administratively dismissed.

Via Gun Law News.

It takes balls to claim you shot someone in self-defense when you were busy shooting up a mall:

Brendan “Dan” McKown, the most seriously injured of the Tacoma Mall shooting victims, disputed Dominick Sergio Maldonado’s claim that he shot McKown in self-defense.

“My gun was out of sight, and he had a gun out,” said McKown, a stand-up comic who worked as a store manager at the mall. “When he brought his weapon up on me, that’s when I drew. Admittedly, I had my hand on my gun.”

Besides, he said, it’s “kind of hard to claim self-defense when you’re shooting up the mall.”

Indeed, prosecutors say Maldonado would have no self-defense claim, even if his version of events were true. Legally, if someone is the first aggressor, self-defense isn’t an issue.

Maldonado is an idiot.

This looks promising:

It might be the most popular idea in the Tennessee General Assembly this session.

Lawmakers from both parties have introduced a flurry of bills to restrict government from using eminent domain to seize property and turn it over to private developers.

There have been 59 bills filed to limit the use of eminent domain – dozens each in the House and the Senate, submitted by both Democrats and Republicans.

Lawmakers say the issue is one of the first things their constituents want to talk about, and there’s broad support for the idea across parties and interest groups.

Good to see pressure put on them.

“In Tennessee, property rights almost rise to the level of being sacred,” said Rep. Joe Fowlkes, D-Cornersville, vice chairman of a joint committee studying eminent domain. “When people think that their private property might be taken from them and given to another person, it stirs them up.”

I don’t think it’s almost, I think it is.

Yesterday at the gun show, I saw the most odd beast of a gun. It was some evil black rifle looking contraption that had a shotgun barrel up top and a 5.56Nato barrel down below. One trigger operated both and you selected which to fire via a little switch. I should have written the name down but didn’t. Can’t remember what it’s called to link to it. If anyone knows, let me know.

I’m not interested in buying one just thought it was odd.

Update: Thanks to Tam, it’s a Crossfire (other link here). Odd looking thing.

Charles picked up a new toy. One of these. Charles, post pics!

It is amusing to me that when the Century CETMEs came out, they could be had for about $300. At the recent gun show, they were going for $500 plus. Not sure if it’s that dealers had no idea what they were or if they were just trying to rip folks off.

They are surprisingly low. Jeff says:

If people really want to be safe, they should get rid of all their furniture!

Heh.

The Denver Post writes:

It was called Senate File 79, a proposed law that would have allowed hunters to carry automatic weapons such as machine guns into the woods. And to equip those guns with Godfather-style silencers.

Which conjured up some negative images. People using the silenced guns for poaching of wildlife, for example. And, of course, the image of the Soprano family vacationing in Wyoming, being insulted by an elk and having it whacked.

However, the proposal went on to say that while hunters – who make up more than half the population in this wildlife-rich state of just more than 500,000 people – would be allowed to have the automatic weapons and silencers, it would remain illegal to actually use them for hunting.

People have these morbid fantasies that sound suppressors were regulated as part of the 1934 National Firearms Act due to mafia style hits or some such. Actually, they were regulated because people at the time of The Depression were using them to hunt on restricted Federal land to avoid getting arrested.

Suppressors do serve a safety function because the report of a firearm can do significant damage to your hearing. When hunting, other hearing is just not desirable as you can’t hear other things in the woods. Makes sense to me to allow them for hunting. In other countries, suppressors aren’t regulated that extensively and there are suppressor only ranges to avoid hearing loss and to keep from annoying your neighbors.

Good:

Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia fondly remembers carrying a rifle around New York as a boy and says outdoorsmen should attack the idea that guns are used only for crimes.

[unnecessary reference to Cheney hunting removed - what media bias?]

“The attitude of people associating guns with nothing but crime, that is what has to be changed,” Scalia told the audience of about 2,000.

“I grew up at a time when people were not afraid of people with firearms,” said Scalia, noting that as a youth in New York he was part of a rifle team at the military school he attended.

In Illinois, there is a bill to ban manufacture of weapons that look like assault weapons. There a some pretty prominent gun makers there, like ArmaLite and Les Baer. I’ve never understood why manufacturers operate in such states, you have Colt in Connecticut and S&W in Massachusetts as well. And it seems only reasonable that it’s only a matter before the powers that be turn their sights on you and, in Illinois, they have.

So, to all you gun makers out there, consider moving to a free state.

The latest are up at Ex-Donkey.

The happy feet edition:

Josh Sugarmann, executive director of the Washington D.C.-based Violence Policy Center, said his group backs the law and handgun bans generally but that it chose not to participate in the San Francisco case because of a lack of resources.

Can you spot the machine gun in this picture:

Look close. It’s the shoe string. Notice the metal tab? It contains a serial number. That is a post 1986 dealer machine gun registered in the NFA’s NFRTR database as a machine gun. It was subject to significant paperwork and made by a special occupational taxpayer.

Someone once asked the ATF if such a device was a machine gun. They said it was. So, some smart ass made and registered one. It works similarly to bump firing except it uses the charging handle of the Mini 14 (instead of the guns recoil) to which it is attached to reactivate the trigger once it has been reset. In short, pull the key ring for full-auto fire.

Similarly, I’m pondering writing a letter to the ATF to ask them if I should have my finger registered because I know how to bump fire a semi-automatic rifle.

The Carnival of Cordite is up for your weekend gunblogging pleasure.

Reader James tells us the kid bears a resemblance to a shooting suspect.

Shot in a revolver:

I’ll carry the revolver loaded with one round of shot for *two* reasons. 1. It’s a critter that has gotten inside. 2. It’s a kid. Yes, I know that the feral little savages may be packing and may happily shoot me for a thrill. They could also just be stupid punks. If they’re being stupid, they get a “whiff of grape” so to speak, and the chance to leave, and live. If they don’t surrender, or run, but come forward after that, or reach for anything, then the Tokarev will speak.

True story and rare poker blogging

I play Texas Hold ‘em poker with friends on occasion and this really happened. I’m dealt a pocket pair of fours. With a pair (even a low one), I’ll stay in at least for the flop. So, I do and flop is most kind when it reveals another four, a five and a face card. Three of a kind on the flop, I think. Sweet. Now, not to overplay and scare folks whose money I want off, I slow play a bit. Everyone folds but me and one guy. The turn turns out to be another four. Sweet, four of a kind. I am invincible! I bet more aggressively. The opponent stays in. The river, another five. You play four of a kind to win because the odds dictate you do that. I’m all in. My opponent is too. I assume he’s riding a face card full house or he’s overplaying a three of a kind.

He flips over a pocket pair of fives. Son of a bitch. Four fours beat by four fives. He looks at me and says: Look on the bright side. That will probably never happen to you again as long as you live.

Not sure if anyone will take them up on it, but this is a good idea:

Each candidate will be provided with a blog on KnoxNews.com. On it, you can post whatever information you want about yourself or your campaign. Visitors to the Web site will be able to post comments or questions on your blog (you have the ability to delete any comments you want). We will be promoting these blogs online and in print.

I don’t like the deleting comments bit (profanity and questionable content excluded, of course) as it indicates a fear of dissent.

Nope, no bias here.

The epic battle of Tom v. Kevin discussing the impacts of culture, poverty, guns and welfare on crime has kicked up a notch. Tom responded to Kevin’s bit here. Kevin has responded to that response here. Behind on my reading so I’ve not read Kevin’s response yet. These two should get a room.

According to everyone, I was wrong in this post. Modern portable phones apparently are cellular.

Publicola, who’s in Colorado, looks at the case of the kid arrested for posing with guns on his myspace account, which I mentioned here. The police should have done something. After all, if this kid later went on a shooting spree at a school and this info came to light, we’d all be criticizing the cops. That said, I think the police should have just informed the parents and not arrested him for not breaking the law.

Jed says:

It’s been a year since the Supreme Court ruled on Kelo, and her house is still there.

Blake notes:

Clay Palmer, a college student who honked his horn at a police officer, had his ticket reduced to a warning in Chatanooga (sic). The student was honking in protest to the officer turning on his blue lights to go through a traffic light only to turn them off after he went through. Palmer was charged with violating the city’s noise ordinance.

I realize and appreciate the need for officers to occasionally and in the course of duty to be able to disregard some traffic laws. But that doesn’t appear to be the case if he turned around just to get some guy for being a smart ass. If they’re not in pursuit, they should abide by traffic laws for the safety of others. If he’d ran that light and caused an accident, that would be inexcusable.

Michael Silence brings us some good news:

Businesses shouldn’t have to pay property tax on their computer software, an administrative law judge ruled.

The order came last week from administrative judge Pete Loesch in a case filed by Nashville-based American Healthways Inc., challenging an attempt by the Davidson County assessor to include computer applications on a personal property tax schedule.

There was a push recently to get a law that taxed software into effect. Last I heard, it was stopped.

Nicki reports:

Last week I brought you the story of Mark Edward Marchiafava, whose unlawful arrest by Gonzales, La. police and subsequent confiscation of his property raised the ire of Liberty Zone readers. This morning, I’m gratified to tell you that Mark took a trip to Gonzales yesterday and retrieved both his weapon and his bail money.

H/t David.

Marc has completed his 9mm AR-15 build. I’m green with envy since mine is not done yet.

Generally, it’s not a good idea to take pictures of yourself doing something illegal. It’s dumber to post those pics on Al Gore’s Internets. That’s why I don’t have much sympathy for this guy:

A 16-year-old boy was arrested Wednesday after postings on the popular Web site MySpace.com allegedly showed him holding handguns, authorities said.

Police searched the boy‘s home after receiving a tip from Evergreen High School on Feb. 10, the same day he was suspended, officials said.

One photo allegedly showed him lying on a floor surrounded by nine rifles with the caption, “Angel o‘ death on wings o‘ lead.”

Not sure why he was arrested exactly as the article doesn’t mention the charges. I would assume he was likely in illegal possession of a handgun since he’s a minor. Anyone else know?

Update: Apparently, it is not illegal for a minor to be in possession of a handgun in CO as long as he has parental permission. CBS4Denver reports:

A student at Evergreen High School was arrested and charged with having weapons after he posted pictures of himself on MySpace.com.

The pictures were brought to the attention of the school by a parent and the principal contacted the sheriff’s department.

In one of the photos, the teen was surrounded by nine rifles and was holding two handguns with a caption that read, “Angel o’ death on wings o’ lead.”

“That’s pretty disturbing, a kid with guns you know,” said a student at the teen’s school.

Sure, it’s disturbing but it’s not illegal. Why would the parent and principal not contact the kid’s parents first?

Insty reports Michelle Malkin’s site has been hacked. I didn’t notice because her RSS feeds still worked. Another reason to use feeds! Actually, Malkin reports it’s a DOS attack.

Update: That was quick. She’s back up.

Seen at ar15.com, when someone says Convince me as to why 5.56 is “enough”:

The conclusion of almost every informed discussion on the matter is that 5.56mm fucks people up

Heh:

Also recovered were six inert grenades, a military knife with a swastika on the handle and the phrase “Blut und Ehre”–German for “blood and honor”–on the blade and an AR-15 rifle (this sentence as published has been corrected in this text). Police allege the man was trying to convert the semi-automatic machine gun to fully automatic, a violation of federal law.

Err, if it’s a machine gun, it is capable of fully automatic fire. If it’s semi-automatic, it is not. Looks to me like they corrected the wrong sentence.

More proof that the VPC, Brady Campaign, and Million Mom March propaganda is working, at least on the press.

In what should be a shock to no one, cell phones* don’t actually interfere with hospital equipment:

Despite signs in hospitals nationwide, little evidence exists that modern cellphone use interferes with medical equipment, and allowing doctors to use cellphones decreases medical errors, a paper in the journal Anesthesia and Analgesia finds.

Cellphone bans in hospitals are “annoying, and you’re doing it for no reason. It’s all voodoo,” says Roy Soto, an anesthesiologist at Stony Brook University in New York and lead author of the paper in the February issue.

I’m also guessing they don’t interfere with airplanes. But, in either location, I don’t want to be around some loud talker on their phone. I think these policies are to minimize annoyance to other hospital customers who may be pre-occupied with a steering wheel imbedded in their chest or a heart attack. In other words, they are policies to keep you from being a dick.

When Junior was born, we were at the hospital for near two days. Signs said no cell phones. Yet, each doctor had one and they were on and they answered them. They also had pagers. The reason is no doubt for emergencies and increased efficiency in communication. And I have no issue with that. However, when at the hospital or on a plane and otherwise occupied or just wanting quiet, I don’t want to hear some loud-talking, self-important executive type with the sniffles yammering on and on about shifting paradigms and leveraging resources.

And Mythbusters says they don’t cause explosions at gas pumps either.

* And, yes, I know it’s very rare to actually see a cellular phone these days. Most phones are not cellular at all.

I’ve posted on my issues with Tasers (more specifically their application) before. Well, this is a new one:

“Taser! Taser!” Cassidy shouted as she sent a two-pronged wire, packing 50,000 volts, at Crouch’s chest. What happened next stunned everyone.

A Taser probe pierced the pocket of his khaki shirt — and ignited the butane lighter inside. Cassidy’s pocket exploded in flames.

“The subject,” recounted Sgt. Al Tolley in a subsequent report, “immediately dropped the knife.”

In the past, I’d see articles like this screed against how certain dog breeds are just evil and I’d feel inclined to comment about the inherent stupidity of the person who wrote it and how they’re selective with the facts and how their personal tale of tragedy impairs their objectivity. Now, I just don’t give a fuck. Sure, I still like to blog. Sure, I still oppose breed specific laws. Just don’t feel the need to comment but felt the need to comment on the fact that I don’t feel the need to comment. Weird, huh?

Am I burnt out? Uncaring? Or is it because I’ve addressed it all before? Not sure. I think it’s the realization that the people are fed lies and misinformation every day from supposedly credible news sources and there’s really not a lot I can do about it. So, there you have it.

Bitter has a lot on the NRA and its future. I didn’t realize there numbers were down so much. I’d re-join in a minute if they’d actually get on any gun issue that’s important to me.

A while back, discussing how movies these days basically suck, I wrote:

Find the most complex, attention getting conspiracy theory and make a movie out of it. Seriously, New World Order, black helicopters, John Titor, Scientology, pick one. Sure, they’re so far-fetched but, dammit, they’re entertaining. Is it sad that I’d rather read the ramblings of crazy people and scam artists than go to a damn movie.

Well, guess what. Looks like there will be one (link on left side). Not sure if it’s going to be a big Hollywood production (looks independent – meaning low budget – to me). Still, good idea.

Zendo Deb:

In the middle of the night, I want something simple and effective. That’s a wheelgun with stopping power.

Denise says:

My strategy will not work for everyone because houses are laid out differently and there are different circumstances (I have no children, for example). This is only what I’d do, so make your plans accordingly. And you should have a plan just in case you wake up to a thief or worse in the night.

She has more.

Marc (formerly of laylines) now has his own domain at Ninth Stage.

Check out Abhijeet ’s Blog – Chronicles of an Indian pro-gun geek.

To Tom for getting his concealed carry permit. He was surprised they gave them to Democrats. Hopefully when he’s next in town, I’ll take him gun shopping.

I got nothing to say about the really stupid decision to allow port regulation by the UAE folks that hasn’t already been said. It’s short-sighted and stupid. It’s also indicative of the fact that Bush is someone’s croney for whatever reason. Quid pro quo? Tit for tat? Something lame and America could suffer for it. And Phelps nails it:

I’m honestly flabbergasted. I just don’t get it. No veto on any prospective Scary Weapons Ban. Not pork laden budget after pork laden budget. Not the Medicare Drugs fiasco. But letting foreign companies accept contracts for American civil service. That is the foundation of our republic, and the thing that we send George W. Bush to the White House to protect.

Some guns cost an arm and a leg. I had no idea they could cost even more then I would pay.

Article is old, but the message is worth noting.

Remember your audience. But Uncle, you’re preaching to the converted.

In the comments section at Crooked Timber, Doctor Slack takes me to task (and perhaps rightfully) for using rhetoric that is, uhm, over the top:

Now, it’s entirely possible that Nick is making unfair assumptions about you on that score. It’s very easy to misread ommon (sic) forms of hyperbole in people’s everyday discourse and come to mistaken conclusions about them as a result. Maybe you’re usage of that hyperbole comes tagged in your mind with all the necessary implied caveats about gun safety and moral rectitude and not actually blowing someone away for the hell of it.

Specifically, he took issue with this quote:

If you’re in my home uninvited rummaging through my belongings, I will lawfully assume that you mean me and my loved ones harm. You will be considered a hostile target. The only warning you will receive will be the 230 grain, jacketed hollow point piercing your flesh.

Yes, it is a bit heavy on the rhetoric. I write for me and for my audience who tend to share my views and knowledge of the gun issue, with some exceptions, of course. But he is correct that my language may overshadow my point in terms of preaching to the non-converted. In other words, a reference to popping a cap in someone’s ass isn’t going to convince a soccer mom that I’m correct. Sure, I could have flowered it up with a few ‘if, then’ statements or reference to ensuring the safety of loved ones or how if you’re in my home I would feel absolutely no obligation to allow you to justify your reason for being there or whatever else to make it more palatable to a more squeamish audience or passers-by from a comment thread elsewhere.

But we all engage in over the top or unfair rhetoric on some issues. For example, anti-choice, selected not elected, why do they hate America, stay out of my uterus, or [insert your convenient political catchphrase that fits on a bumper sticker] here. The power of language, and more specifically, rhetorical choices has an impact on the debate. It can lead to thought-provoking exchanges or complete disregard for someone who may otherwise make a decent point. After all, Doctor Slack probably would not have responded if I used less-offensive language. As a for instance (warning: foul, foul, potty mouthed language follows – click more at your own risk and expense):
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In a new twist on gun buyback programs:

The Philadelphia 76ers and police officials Tuesday announced a program aimed at curbing gun violence by exchanging tickets for guns.

The one-week program opens Wednesday. Anyone can bring a working gun into a city police station and exchange it for a voucher good for a pair of tickets to an upcoming 76ers game, no questions asked.

Looks like support for the voter passed ban is scarce among others:

On Thursday morning, a lawyer with the city attorney’s office will try to convince a judge that a voter-passed initiative banning handguns and restricting other firearms is allowed by state law.

But save the four members of the Board of Supervisors who placed it on the ballot last November, the ordinance appears to have few prominent friends, even among national gun control advocates.

Mayor Gavin Newsom all but disowned it just before Election Day. State Attorney General Bill Lockyer and U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, strong advocates of assault-weapons bans, have taken no position on the San Francisco law. Of four national gun control groups, only one, which is based here, has submitted a friend-of-the-court brief supporting it.

Meanwhile, national and state gun rights organizations, along with groups representing movie industry armorers and San Francisco police officers, have jumped into the fray, offering briefs to overturn the law.

At increasing gun sales:

GUN ownership is on the rise in Queensland with evidence the tough restrictions introduced after the Port Arthur massacre nearly a decade ago are losing their effectiveness.

Despite bans on certain types of weapons and a successful buyback and amnesty, police figures show there are more firearms in the community now than three years ago.

Police Minister Judy Spence yesterday foreshadowed possible changes to the Weapons Act, to be reviewed this year, saying she was “aware of some operational suggestions from police and these will be considered as part of this review”.

Queensland police Weapons Licensing Branch manager, Inspector Mike Crowley, said gun ownership applications had increased 30 per cent since 2002. Up to 11,000 of last year’s 26,000 applicants were first-timers.

Defense Review has more quick hits from the SHOT Show. Leitner-Wise is making a gas piston operated AR-15 in 6.8SPC. Any word on the availability of ammo for that? I’m pondering eventually getting either a 6.8 or the 6.5 Grendel but my decision hinges entirely upon ammo availability.

And Arfcommer SMGLee has tons of pics.

Xrlq’s secret is out so I can blog about it now. In 2008, the Republican Presidential candidate will lose in California by one more vote. While he and I had dinner the other night, he asked how much savings there was in building your own AR-15 vs. buying one. I said considerable. His eyes lit up. Mine did too because every time an AR-15 is brought into this world, SayUncle smiles, an angel gets its wings, and one more of Diane Feinstein’s brain cells dies. I even recommended that he head on over to Coal Creek Armory on his way out in the morning and snatch up a Rock River Arms lower receiver for $109 (good price!). Then he said he’d do that if he was willing to go to jail. I said my understanding was that a rifle (not a handgun) could be purchased legally out of state.

Then, he got into a few issues that I figured I’d ask readers (particularly those that deal in firearms) about. Xrlq said he thought his residency was still California until he actually arrived in Virginia. A Californian in California cannot legally possess an AR-15 lower receiver made after the date their ban on weapons that look like assault rifles went into effect. So, my questions:

Can someone with a California residency (and I assume drivers’ license/ID) purchase said lower receiver in another state? I would assume they could but the law would be violated if it ever went to California. I recall reading it’s not uncommon for some Californians to have entire gun collections at friends’ houses in other states.

Assuming Xrlq was legally prohibited from buying said lower receiver as a California resident, at what point does he become a Virginian? He seems to think it’s when he enters Virginia with the intent to stay. In other words, he thinks that under Federal law he would have to go to Virginia with the intent to stay there then come back to Tennessee to legally purchase the lower receiver.

Any way, congrats to Xrlq and welcome to a free state.

What follows are a few things on my discussion of house guns. First, is that both my weapon choice and general attitude are specific to my situation. Tam, who is as gun nut as gun nut can be, says, for example:

I’m gonna fort up in my bedroom on one end of the house with the SureFire-equipped carbine and wait for the cavalry to arrive

She has much more. I concur with her situation. If I were single or it was just the Mrs. and I, I would have the same plan. I’d grab a weapon, call the cops and wait. However, I have a toddler whose bedroom is on the opposite side of the house. Her safety would be my number one priority. I am not willing to sit in my bedroom awaiting the arrival of the police. As such, I would become the aggressor. There’s simply no other viable option.

Some one emailed me a link to this post over at Crooked Timber about the great gun divide written from a leftist perspective. The post is worth reading. Seriously, go read it and come back. This shit will be here when you get back. But in the comments section there, I’ve had a little back and forth with some insightful folks and an idiot. As if to prove the point of the post about the gun divide, said idiot pulls out all the typical gun owner stereotypes including what I’d consider an accusation of racism; the implication that gun owners would be happy to pop a cap in someone and are eager to; and (my personal favorite) the small penis. And in the comments to my original post Tom says:

You sound eager to do it, is all I’m sayin’

There’s no eagerness just willingness. I concluded long ago what my reactions would be in such a situation. It’s something I need to be willing to do because it has to be done and not because I’m huge fan of it. It’s the same way I view exercise and taking out the garbage. And how my wife views sex, apparently. As reader RonW said:

When someone breaks in your house isn’t the time to begin the philosophical thought process of whether or not you will use deadly force.

I also, apparently, creeped out said idiot when I stated that if officers investigating such a scene were to attempt to confiscate my weapons (other than the one used for evidence, of course), they’d need to be prepared to deal with two shootings. I stand by that. The reason is simple: I have lines in the sand. Actually, I have several. I call it my cold dead hands list. I firmly believe that there comes a time when we all must draw a line in the sand on issues that are important. One of those is gun ownership. Another is my politically incorrect dog. Another is this blog. Another is my lawfully owned property. And there are probably more. I don’t expect this person to understand that because either there aren’t things that are that important to him or he’s British. But enough of that. On to more house gun stuff:

South Park Pundit, sporting new blog digs, has more thoughts on (and pics of his) house guns:

Uncle breaks the three camps of defensive weaponry up into Handgun, Shotgun and Carbine.

I have one of each dedicated to the task.

Porta’s Cat has a two parter on home defense firearms. Here’s part one and here’s part two.

And one other thing from Tam’s post:

Shotgun spread at in-home ranges is not enough to endanger the Rembrandt over the fireplace. Similarly, it is also not enough to overcome sloppy marksmanship.

I’m not much of a shotgun guy (I don’t even own one) so I’ll take her word for it.

More: Jay talks about them too:

What matters is that no matter what you choose to have as a home defense weapon, you train with it. Often.

Werd! And he has pics as well.

And T3rrible adds a new twist:

After reading a comment thread at uncles I have a few comments/thought of my own. I did not see anyone mention the fact that they can’t be home at all times and what does the wife/family do then? I cannot picture my small wife handling my 20 inch Mossberg 500.

Well, I also have a 75 pound bull dog. But excellent point. When I leave The Mrs., I usually leave her the Glock and I take the Sig with me. I leave to Glock because it’s a 45ACP and has better stopping power and, also, because the Glock has a lighter trigger pull. The Mrs. cannot comfortably pull the heavy double action trigger on the Sig.

AC, in an otherwise insightful post on marriage domesticating men, deduces I mean:

his wife keeps decent house and his shirts ironed, but I have to think that somewhere in his remark is an admission that his wife makes him a better man.

For the record, I do the ironing in this family. It’s not because of some hippie, tree-hugging sexual equality thing either. It’s because the Mrs. really sucks at ironing. But, yeah, she makes me a better man.

The latest is up at Jen’s. The Haiku edition.

The house gun is merely the gun you keep accessible at your home in case something goes bump in the night. I think there are generally three schools of thought on the house gun: handgun, carbine and shotgun.

My personal preference is for a handgun because it’s much easier to navigate narrow hallways with a smaller weapon. And since the likelihood is almost infinitely greater that the thug going bump in the night is of the tennis-shoed variety and not the jackbooted kind, stopping power is more important than penetration. Additionally, over-penetration can be bad in terms of accidentally shooting through your walls and into an occupied bedroom or, even, your neighbor’s house. My house guns are a Sigarms P229 in 9mm and a Glock 30 in 45ACP.

I suppose a short barreled rifle would function adequately as well but there is a danger of over-penetration of the walls (though 40 grain 5.56 Nato has been shown to penetrate less than a 40S&W). But a cop (and probably a jury) is likely to be more sympathetic to someone shooting an intruder with a handgun than with their ninjaed out, uber-tactical, M4 style AR-15. While an appropriate carbine may work well, I still prefer the handgun for these reasons. A carbine in a handgun caliber may work very well also.

Some folks swear by the shotgun for a house gun for a variety of good reasons. However, when I look at it, those reasons aren’t enough to sway me. One of the reasons they propose is that, awakened at 2:30 in the morning, you’re likely not going to be at your best in terms of aiming a weapon. Hence, the spray pattern of the shotgun is quite forgiving in terms of hitting something. Yes, it probably is. However, said pattern may not be forgiving to passers-by and other non-hostile targets, like furniture and pets. Also, one of the things people who favor shotguns say is that the distinctive kachink sound made when pumping the gun is intimidating and will scare people off as part of the Holy Shit! factor. My thoughts on this are that, simply, I will not warn invaders to my home. If you’re in my home uninvited rummaging through my belongings, I will lawfully assume that you mean me and my loved ones harm. You will be considered a hostile target. The only warning you will receive will be the 230 grain, jacketed hollow point piercing your flesh.

An important factor for a house gun is a light. There are a variety of flashlight mounts for shotguns, rifles and pistols. I prefer the handgun because you don’t really need a mount if you use the Rogers/SureFire technique. I’d recommend a Surefire flashlight (a Nitrolon can be had for about $30) because a blind goblin is better than a sighted one. I would even consider a laser sight on your house gun merely for the rapid target acquisition capability and the Holy Shit! factor.

Your thoughts?

Update: Sure it may violate the don’t use uber-tactical gizmos rule but I’m thinking a sound suppressor would be ideal on a house gun. After all, firing a weapon without hearing protection (particularly in close quarters) can cause temporary loss of hearing function and impact communication with your family. Conversely, the loud bang may scare off other varmints, assuming there is more than one going bump in the night.

Update 2: Bear in mind also that the gun you use in a self defense situation will likely be confiscated by the police as evidence. The gun’s return may take a while or may not even happen given police red tape. So, don’t use Dick Cheney’s $13,000 shotgun and have a second house gun.

I’m such a bad gun blogger. I’m unfamiliar with the lingo. Can someone tell me what the Hell BATFU is supposed to mean?

Zendo Deb has a must read on the subject.

Pro-Gun Progressive had a chat with an ATF agent. Interesting what they say.

Over at the arfcom Virginias board, they’re posting some of the statements made at the hearings.

V for Vendetta’s movie tagline is:

People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people.

Based on that, I’ll go see it.

Some good news:

In a rare display of unanimity that cuts across partisan and geographic lines, lawmakers in virtually every statehouse across the country are advancing bills and constitutional amendments to limit use of the government’s power of eminent domain to seize private property for economic development purposes.

The measures are in direct response to the United States Supreme Court’s 5-to-4 decision last June in a landmark property rights case from Connecticut, upholding the authority of the City of New London to condemn homes in an aging neighborhood to make way for a private development of offices, condominiums and a hotel. It was a decision that one justice, who had written for the majority, later all but apologized for.

The reaction from the states was swift and heated. Within weeks of the court’s decision, Texas, Alabama and Delaware passed bills by overwhelming bipartisan margins limiting the right of local governments to seize property and turn it over to private developers. Since then, lawmakers in three dozen other states have proposed similar restrictions and more are on the way, according to experts who track the issue.

Two bloggers walk into a bar

Last night, I met Xrlq. He came into town as part of his road trip and to settle an old debt. He owed me a beer based on a bet we made wherein I said I was willing to bet one beer that Bush would win re-election. Upon first meeting him, I asked Are you oddly spelled Jeff? After a while, I was satisfied that the Mrs.’ theory that Xrlq may have been an axe murderer was false. It also turns out, I got more than one beer. In fact, he not only bought me one beer, but bought me four beers, a bourbon and coke and a decent meal. Thanks!

While his online persona (like mine) is rather smug and condescending, in person (unlike me) he’s actually agreeable and down to earth. It’s always interesting to meet bloggers that I’ve read for a while to put a face with the name. We spent a lot of time talking about (gasp!) guns and gun laws.

Xrlq was a helluva guy. Good to meet him.

Bust Off at Subguns is looking for people with knowledge of sound suppressors to contact the Attorney General there.

Junior likes to play on the book shelf. For some reason, she always grabs this book. I’m in trouble.

Some time today, Spam Karma 2 will stop its 100,000th spam message to this site since I installed back in August 2005. For some reference on how much spam attempts to hit this site (yet to date only 2 have gotten through), check this out:

Total posts on this blog: 7,667
Total comments: 21,469
It’s an average of 513 spam messages per day.

Thanks to Dr. Dave for such an awesome program. And a big piss off to those spammers out there.

Tennesee bloggers: Michael Silence is giving you a chance to pimp your blog:

I am regularly asked by elected officials about blogs, where they are going and what kind of impact they are having. I usually tell them ignore them at your own peril. I would like to do a reader-driven post, or posts, on what blogs TN officials should keep up with, and why. I’d prefer to focus on TN-related blogs but that’s not a requirement. Post your thoughts in comments or e-mail me at silence(at)knews.com.

Regarding the ignore at your own peril part, I say it depends. After all, a small blog or two slamming some politico won’t result in much, no matter how insightful or truthful the site is. But if you get a big blog (like a Malkin, Instapundit or Kos) on you, you’re going to hear about it.

My note to Tennessee officials on which blogs to read: don’t read mine, you won’t like what I have to say. And I probably don’t like you.

With my own adjustments to the headline:

Bin Laden Vows Never to Be Captured [on video with any identifiable proof confirming that he is, in fact,] Alive

For a while, the anti-gunners were spreading misinformation about the FN FiveseveN then it went away. Well, now it’s back:

The department issued a safety alert to officers after two men were shot with the gun in Dorchester and Mattapan last week. The alert, obtained by the Globe, warned that the FN Five-Seven handgun fires the bullets at such a velocity that they ”will punch through your vest, PLATE included.”

Yesterday, officers of all ranks expressed concern that the weapon has surfaced in Boston.

”These aren’t recreational weapons,” Police Commissioner Kathleen M. O’Toole said in an interview. ”This is an example of a gun designed to kill people.”

Added one rank-and-file officer: ”The ability to go through a vest . . . it’s just way too dangerous. It’s real scary.”

Of course, the piece doesn’t mention that the FN’s armor piercing ammo is not available to the public.

David Porter notes the NRA’s silence on the Cheney shooting:

Yet I couldn’t find any official comment from the NRA on Cheney’s sloppy gun handling that led to the shooting. I called the NRA’s headquarters to ask if the organization issued a statement. The spokeswoman said no statement had been issued and didn’t know if the organization would have anything to say.

What Cheney did was embarrassing to himself and all responsible gun owners.

By avoiding criticism of Cheney, the NRA failed to meet one of its key missions: promoting hunter safety.

Tam says 2006 should be a pretty interesting year in the gun shop.

Sent by Mark. I hope it’s a photoshop.

If you can’t tell, hit more for the answer (and don’t buy a gun until you’ve had a class or two).
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In some backward-ass third world countries, it’s illegal to freely express yourself:

A right-wing British historian goes on trial Monday on charges of denying the Holocaust occurred — a crime punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment in this country once run by the Nazis.

No, I’m sorry. That’s Austria not the Middle East. Sure, he may be crazy or stupid or live in la-la land. But he should have a right to be crazy and say what he likes.

And shame on the media for equating Nazis as right leaning.

Policeman shoots self in leg. But not with a Glock:

Ted Arhangelsky was participating in a certification course when he shot himself with a .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun while at the Sheriff’s Office’s shooting range south of Hiwasse, according to Deputy Doug Gay, spokesman for the Sheriff’s Office.

There were several firearm instructors and two paramedics at the range when the accident happened, Gay said.

The firearm automatically cocks the hammer after each round is fired, and Arhangelsky started to holster the weapon after firing it, but without uncocking the hammer. Somehow, the trigger was pulled or the hammer was knocked down onto the round, causing it to fire, Gay said.

Not sure what kind it was but you can’t decock a Glock, without pulling the trigger.

Seen at AC’s:

But we don’t want to have any kind of debate about whether it’s constitutional or not constitutional.

~ Senator Mike DeWine on the NSA wiretapping program

Ya know, that might scare some folks.

Denise has a sharp looking Trailside!

Head looks at using alumahyde on AKMs. May have to get some of that stuff.

Good to see Knoxpatch updating again. Heh:

The talented Knoxville News Sentinel editorial cartoonist, Charlie Daniels, has upset residents of Hell with his February 15th cartoon showing a fictionalized discussion between two ‘devil’ creatures looking at a bill from TVA. One minion of Hell that wished to remain anonymous seemed exasperated and wished to stress to our readers the fact that Hell is NOT having difficulty paying utility bills. “That is simply misleading. We are not having trouble making payments, and heck, we hardly use any utilities anyway.

This poll was pleasantly surprising:

Does the U.S. need stricter gun control laws?

Yes 39%

No 52%

Update: 52 + 39 = 91. Does that mean 9% favor less strict laws?

Of course, I’d wager most Americans don’t know what current gun laws actually are. Also, this poll is interesting (but not as surprising):

A Gallup poll finds that Republicans are more likely to be gun owners and hunters than Democrats.

The poll found that 40 percent of U.S. residents say they live in a household with a gun in the home or on the property. Thirty percent say they own a gun personally while 12 percent say the weapon belongs to another member of the household.

A majority of Republicans, 55 percent, report living in a household with a gun, while only 32 percent of Democrats do.

Overall, equal numbers of gun owners use the weapons for protection, hunting and target shooting. But these numbers also have a partisan tinge, with Republicans more likely to give hunting and target shooting as reasons for owning a weapon.

The poll says that gun ownership has gone up and down over the years. In October, when the Gallup Organization conducted its most recent crime poll, it found that a smaller percentage of people own guns now than from 1959 to 1968 and 1989 to 1993. In 1999, only one in three households had a gun.

Does that mean there was an increase from 1968 to 1988 and an increase after 1999? David Hardy says yes. I recall reading where gun ownership rose quite a bit after 9/11, after the London bombing, and after Katrina. And, also at David Hardy’s, a commentator says:

I wonder how honest gun owners are when someone calls them up and says “do you own any guns?” If I got a call like that I’d hang up.

CNSnews has a lot more. Read it all and be amazed. Some tidbits:

Agents of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), allegedly acting without warrants or legislative authority to do so, seized firearms from at least 50 gun show patrons in Virginia according to congressional testimony and an agency document made public Wednesday. Witnesses also testified that African-American and female gun buyers in Richmond, Va., and Pittsburgh, Pa., were profiled based on their race or sex and some in Pittsburgh were threatened with arrest by ATF agents for alleged actions that are not violations of law.

More:

“There’s a way to have a sting operation that’s legal. This dragnet, apparent dragnet, however, is not the way it ought to be done,” Scott said. “You have to show probable cause and it can be done. But you ought not just stop people without probable cause and without any indication of guilt.”

John White, a former law enforcement officer who is now an FFL operating under the business name “The Gunsmith,” said female customers who approached his sales area at the Richmond shows were immediately targeted by the “undercover” officers.

“If a woman showed up at my table, she was surrounded by law enforcement,” White recalled. “If the lady walked off and suddenly stopped, they would have bumped into each other. Their surveillance methods were pitiful.

“Every woman that makes a purchase, every woman who comes to my table to buy a gun was automatically [treated as] a straw purchaser,” White said. (A “straw purchaser” is a person who can otherwise legally purchase a firearm, but who does so with the intent to illegally provide it to an ineligible buyer such as a convicted felon or an illegal alien. “Straw purchases” are illegal.)

More:

“Did anybody mention that it is a federal crime to deny women or minorities their civil rights?” Feeney asked. “Did anybody mention to the ATF that denying civil rights, including the right to bear arms, is a federal crime?”

Feeney suggested that, since ATF had refused to comply with the Freedom of Information Act requests from the gun show promoters, the subcommittee should request the information they were seeking. Coble noted that such a letter had already been sent.

Something to hide, eh?

And, again, there has been no mainstream media coverage of this story. None, that I’ve seen. Completely silent. Where are you guys? Oh, still crying because Cheney didn’t call you. Feh.

Dave Bane at subguns.com reports:

Have several Michigan transfers pending and just received formal notification from the ATF signed by Nickie Dudash, that their office is not processing transfers for Michigan at this time until a final opinion from the MI Attorney General is received…

Heh.

Law enforcement officials match names of those who buy stuff that may be used to make meth:

Narcotics Officers with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Knox County man Wednesday night and charged him in connection with a meth lab in his mobile home. Fifty year old William Randall Vittatoe is charged with initiation of process to manufacture methamphetamine and promotion of methamphetamine manufacture. His total bond is $100,000.

Vittatoe came to the attention of officers after pseudoephedrine logs were pulled from several area pharmacies and it was noted that he had purchased several boxes of the pills from many different pharmacies within a thirty day period which totaled over 24 grams. It is illegal to purchase more than 9 grams in thirty days. A warrant was issued for Vittatoe and officers went to his mobile home at 2713 Byington Ball Camp Road. He wasn’t at home and as officers searched around the trailer looking for him, they found four home-made generators used to manufacture anhydrous ammonia.

Publicola has more on the ATF’s house judicial committee hearings.

but I did. Others are posting their dirty magazine pics too.

It continues to be one of the best shows on TeeVee. And is definitely one of the more thought provoking. Friday’s abortion episode was a good bit of television, addressing rights and complex social issues. Good stuff.

Update: Yeah, this post is intentionally spoiler free. But I was rather shocked at the non-PC theme.

The Muhammad emoticon:

(((:~{>

Seen here.

Check out this quick draw video.

To Mr. Completely for winning the gun blog awards.