Via SayAunt, nice! But kind of dumb.

Strange. If squeamish about your man parts, stop reading now:

At least six men came to western North Carolina, some from as far away as South America, to have their genitals mutilated in what police described Friday as a sadomasochistic “dungeon.”

Three men have been charged with illegal castration in the case, Haywood County Sheriff Tom Alexander and District Attorney Michael Bonfoey said. The sheriff and prosecutor said the victims were willing participants in the procedures.

Illegal castration is a crime? Of course it is, since illegal is in the title.

And, for the record, those fuckers are weird.

Update: Got my case of the willies under control and read further. Actual crimes:

castration without malice, maiming without malice and practicing medicine without a license

I doubt that was a medical procedure.

I use some old glass jars with bail wires or old olive oil bottles with wider mouths on them but a clean sterile mason jar or mayo jar should work fine

Slice and dice up nicely a green or red bell pepper and an onion(yellow is best). Until they are about the size of the side of an individual die(dice). I made a mistake once of slicing thin french fry size cuts of bell once and getting them out of the dang jar was a major pain, so make sure the cut pieces will slide out when aged.

Then hand mix equal parts and pack into your jars. After adding two good tablespoons full of pickling salt(non-iodized) fill with hot cider vinegar(standard white vinegar will work). Cap and then let them set for two months or more.

After draining most of the vinegar add the seasoning according to taste to the dried beans in your crockpot or bean pot. I normally add about one full cup of this type of seasoning to 2 pounds of brown beans or a package of 15 bean soup bean mix. It is all to taste here people.

The aged/pickled aromatic add a nice kick to the pot of beans and is easily noticeable. You can get a good pot of beans with fresh onions and peppers but I find that this quick pickling of them adds a whole new realm of flavor in the finished product.

I use three variants.

1 the standard as mentioned above
2 one good banana or Jalopeno diced and added per two pint is also good
3 Minced Garlic according to taste

I have four bottles aging as I write this. It makes a pot of dried beans have a nice flavor when you might be tired of just adding the standard ham flavor or ham hock.

Bob Krumm:

we’ve traced the idiocy; it’s coming from inside the house (and senate)

Heh.

WSMV reports:

Drivers could immediately respond with deadly force to a forced attempt to enter their cars under a bill passed unanimously by the Senate on Thursday.

Via John Cole, comes news of proposed accounting changes:

The board that writes accounting rules for American business is proposing a new method of reporting pension obligations that is likely to show that many companies have a lot more debt than was obvious before.

In some cases, particularly at old industrial companies like automakers, the newly disclosed obligations are likely to be so large that they will wipe out the net worth of the company.

If the changes are that huge, I’d say a lot of companies will stop offering pensions. More:

The new method proposed by the accounting board would require companies to take certain pension values they now report deep in the footnotes of their financial statements and move the information onto their balance sheets — where all their assets and liabilities are reflected. The pension values that now appear on corporate balance sheets are almost universally derided as of little use in understanding the status of a company’s retirement plan.

That last sentence is particularly true. Bear in mind, these changes would just be on paper.

They’re launching their latest anti-gun program:

As part of its new program, the organization plans to assemble a nationwide coalition of mayors to engage in sustained public education and media outreach, mobilize the support of law enforcement and ensure that the issue of illegal guns becomes a key political issue at the local, state and federal levels.

The group is also launching a “Gun Industry Watch” to systematically monitor the gun industry and expose the practices of gun manufacturers and sellers that ensure the continued and profitable supply of guns to the illegal market.

Michael Bane has info on the ATF’s crackdown on gunsmiths. He notes:

It appears that apparently to thumb their noses at the current Congressional inquiry into BATF abuses, BATF have launched and initiative aimed custom gunsmithing in America.

The weapon they’re using is a really fine point…what is the definition of “manufacturing a firearm”? That phrase is NOT defined in any legislation and, since it’s not a legally defined term, it’s open to interpretation. Since the late 1990s, when the then ATF hit gunsmith Jim Clark Senior for “manufacturing a firearm” (which cost Jim more than $100,000 but alledgedly clarified the question) was “making or providing the controlled, or serial-numbered, part.”

The new BATF definition of “manufacturing a firearm” is “making any substantive changes to a firearm.”

He has much more and a case where it has happened. To me, I think this is consistent with their recent crackdown on folks that roll their own. I’ve read of other cases of people making their own lawful firearms and the ATF involvement. And why would they do that? To begin regulation of the build your own market. Also, there’s a federal excise tax on firearms (11%, I think) but that tax is not applied to parts. So, you can save money building your own. And it’s fun.

I also recall that in the last year, Congress passed a law exempting small time gunsmiths from taxes.

Aunt B. has moved. Her site is now here.

Via Counter, here’s a Q&A with Jim and Sarah Brady. Wow, they just lie through their teeth:

In the first place, lets make it clear we don’t want restrictions on law abiding citizens beyond making sure that all gun purchasers undergo a complete and comprehensive background check. Our purpose is to keep guns out of the wrong hands. Since the Brady Law passed 1.3 million illegal purchasers have been stopped by the background checks. We must now be sure ALL sales undergo background checks.

Wow. So, the Brady Bunch didn’t support the assault weapons ban or the DC gun ban?

Heh.

They may not have CCW yet, but they do have a bill aimed at curbing eminent domain abuse:

Wisconsin governments can’t seize private property that isn’t blighted and hand it over to companies for redevelopment under a bill Gov. Jim Doyle signed into law Thursday.

The Republican-authored measure comes in response to a U.S. Supreme Court decision last June that held eminent domain laws allow the federal government to seize property for economic development.

The court ruled that cities may raze people’s homes to make way for shopping malls or other private development. The 5-4 decision gave local governments the power to seize private property in the name of increased tax revenue.

The Wisconsin bill prohibits governments – ranging from counties to state agencies to the University of Wisconsin System – from condemning property that isn’t blighted if the governments plan to convey or lease the property to a private entity.

Property can’t be considered blighted unless it has been abandoned or converted from a single dwelling into multiple units and the crime rate in or around the property is three times higher than in the rest of the city, according to the bill.

Good.

The latest member of Gun Blogs is Ride Fast and Shoot Straight.

Via Bob, there’s a site that parodies mine. Meet SayAunt. Meet Mr. Squirty. That’s funny!

Update: The blogroll is pretty funny too.

There’s a quiz at the Brady Campaign:

http://www.bradynetwork.org/site/PageServer?pagename=BRO_survey

Link is cold so they don’t see where you’re coming from (shhhh). Copy and paste. My answers:

Which is personally of most concern to you or you believe is the biggest problem in regards to guns (select one).

I put Other: None of the above

Which best describes why you are involved in this issue (check one):

I want to actively influence decision-makers to do the right thing

How did you learn about the Brady Campaign?

I put hysterical press release about about how we’re all going to die at the hands of evil Saturday night special 50 caliber assault sniper weapon rifle handgun automatic semi-automatic bullet hose designed for spray firing from the hip at targets four miles away^tm

Via ar15.com

Another CCW victory this year! The NRA reports:

Nebraska Approves Right-to-Carry; Governor Heineman Pledges Signature

Fairfax, VA-Today, the Nebraska legislature gave final approval to a measure granting law-abiding Nebraska citizens the right to carry a firearm for personal protection. Legislative Bill 454 now heads to Governor Dave Heineman’s desk, where he is expected to sign it into law. Last week, legislators in Kansas overrode Governor Sebelius’ veto of the Right-to-Carry measure in that state.

Soon, there will be only two states without CCW provisions (Illinois and Wisconsin). Wisconsin is possible and Illinois likely a lost cause. After Wisconsin, getting the 9 may issue states converted to shall issue is a worthy goal.

R. Neal rounds up more press coverage of the Tennessee Supreme Court decision.

Talked to him yesterday. He’s back at work and getting on with his life. Thanks to readers, I have a ton of legal info to give to him. The ATF said he was a flight risk and should be held. The judge was unconvinced. On the felony charges, I have no information on the incident other than the names of the charges per the TN database (they were felony contempt, felony reckless endangerment and aggravated assault). However, he said to me that when it happened (he was 18 years old), he plead down and served 30 days. He said it was his understanding that charges were misdemeanor. And based on what I read, felonies often carry more than a one year sentence. Additionally, the database said he was sentenced to three years. So, Scoot is convinced he was not a felon and said when he was thinking about enlisting, a background check showed him clean. And there is a discrepancy in the sentence based on what the database says and what he said he served. Possibilities:

Scoot’s wrong or stretching the truth (the latter I find unlikely but obviously can’t prove)
The database is wrong
When he plead, he was told one thing but another was recorded

Anyway, I’ll be curious to see how it goes.

it’s understandable that you’d get frustrated at the lack of progress. ABC News notes that Jim Brady is frustrated by gun control progress:

That undaunted spirit has served them well, especially in their high-profile battle for gun control. They are frustrated that in the 13 years since the Brady Bill was signed, gun control efforts have largely stalled, and they single out the party they once proudly served.

Good.

The Tennessee Supreme Court:

Furthermore, we note that Article I, section 1, of Tennessee’s constitution provides that the people have an “unalienable and indefeasible right to alter, reform, or abolish the government in such manner as they may think proper.”

Our court upheld term limits. This is proving to have some serious consequences on local governments. R. Neal has much more, noting 12 local politicos can’t be re-elected. He adds:

The KNS is now reporting that the Knox County Election Commission plans to meet with the affected county commission candidates to make sure it is OK with them to remove their names from the ballots as per the law and today’s Tennessee Supreme Court ruling upholding it.

Unbelievable. It no longer appears there is government in Knox County by the people, for the people. It’s government by the powers that be, for the powers that be.

Michael has much more too.

Ben has spent a lot of time updating the info.

You can mix this stuff together to make a reactive target that goes boom. The site says it’s perfectly legal but Joe advises If you use Tannerite please get a legal opinion you can trust before using it in your political jurisdiction.

Here are some accounts of more issues with the ATF. Now, I don’t necessarily share the views of some gunnies that the ATF should be completely disbanded. However, I think their actions should be under more scrutiny. Someone should enforce the law but the zeal they use is a bit much. Also, since I recently read that over 75% of their arrests were for technical violations, it seems some of the usefulness of that type of stuff is questionable.

In the post below the story of Tucson Police Lt. Michael Lara was told. What I found so interesting in the article was a quote by the rep from VPC.

The ATF representative present at the hearing did not address Lara’s case, but Kristen Rand, legislative director for the anti-gun Violence Policy Center, did.

“Mr. [sic] Lara’s situation sounds extremely unpleasant,” Rand said, “but we should be careful not to just legislate based on one anecdote.”

This from a group who regularly uses single “anecdote”s to push their views and to attempt to legislate all the time.

CNSNews has more, including the tale of a man who was ruined by the ATF for no good reason:

After he was processed as a federal prisoner, Lara was released on his own recognizance, but now was unemployed and the recipient of intense media scrutiny, awaiting his day in court.

“I lost over $216,000 in saving and earnings. I had to refinance my home to help pay the bills and the attorney’s fees,” Lara recalled. “Three months after my arrest, my case went to trial. At the end of the trial, the jury deliberated less than one hour before finding me innocent of the charges.”

Lara would wait two more months for his badge to be returned to him. But the ATF prosecution did not end when he resumed his police career.

“On my first day back to work I was given a 40-hour suspension without pay for ‘criminal activity’ because I had been indicted,” Lara continued. “My professional career is shot. It’s now been three years after the event and I am still a patrol lieutenant. It was made clear to me when I returned to work that I would never see any advancement.”

There’s no excuse for that. And one more:

Richard Gardiner, a Virginia attorney and an expert in federal firearms laws who often represents FFLs and gun owners under ATF scrutiny, argued that Lara’s case is actually closer to being the rule than the exception.

“The ATF tends to focus or has a significant focus on trivial, immaterial violations which are unrelated to public safety,” Gardiner said. “And they impose unreasonable standards of perfection which are simply not humanly achievable.”

As an example, Gardiner recalled an ATF review of 880 “Firearms Transaction Record Part I – Over-The-Counter” forms collected by one of his gun dealer clients. Of the 34,320 blocks of information collected on those documents, ATF found 19 clerical errors.

“That is a 99.96 percent perfect completion record,” Gardiner noted. “Yet ATF took the position that, because the dealer was aware — based on the fact that he had completed 99.96 percent of the forms accurately — that he committed a ‘willful violation’ with regard to the other four one-hundredths of a percent because he knew what his legal obligations were.”

The bureau revoked that gun dealer’s license and closed his business.

Update: OK, my new favorite:

Federal courts have often sided with ATF’s interpretation that the term “willful” means only that the gun dealer had prior knowledge of a requirement and, subsequent to gaining that knowledge, violated it, with or without intent. Gardiner told of cases where ATF identified customer responses of “Y” or “N” rather than “yes” or “no” in written responses to questions as “willful violations” on the part of gun dealers under investigation. Other dealers lost their licenses, Gardiner said, because customers had accurately listed their street address, city, state and zip code, but failed to include their county of residence.

Odd story in MA/RI:

A health official said that authorities have ruled out terrorism in a break-in discovered Tuesday at water supply tanks that serve two bordering communities in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Dr. David Gifford, the director of the Rhode Island Health Department, said at a press conference Tuesday afternoon in North Smithfield, R.I., that the FBI has decided to not pursue the case.

A water ban remains in effect for the towns as officials try to determine if anything was dumped into the water. The water system serves nearly 9,000 residents in Blackstone, and about four dozen residences in North Smithfield.

While there have been no reports of illness, officials in both states are still testing the water for any biological or chemical contaminants, Gifford said.

As a precaution, officials have ordered residents not to use the water for any purposes.

On Monday night someone snipped barbed wire to enter the water storage facility in Blackstone, cut the phone lines to the alarm and damaged an electrical panel and vent at the top of the storage tank. Officials said that they have pinpointed the time the burglar entered the building because when the intruder cut the electricity the clocks stopped at 6 p.m.

Could be some kids farting around but it does show how vulnerable water supplies are.

Update: Bruce notes it was actually some kids farting around. They’ve been arrested.

It’s interesting what causes people get behind. Some of us get behind guns or property rights. Others try to tackle litter. Seen at the RTB page, comes the Tennessee Bottle Bill. Took some surfing to get to what they’re trying to do but apparently it’s to pass this bill (bottom right side of page) to combat litter. What the bill does:

* Allocates $10 million of the unclaimed deposits to the County Litter Grants, thus ensuring continued funding (actually doubled funding) for Tennessee’s existing “comprehensive litter program” as well as continued funding for Keep Amerca Beautiful affiliates across the state.

* Sets a container handling fee (paid by the beverage distributors) of 3¢. This fee not only pays all costs of operating the program; it also creates sufficient incentive for small business owners to open independent redemption centers, thus minimizing the impact on grocery stores.

* Increases the maximum container size to 2 liters, assuring maximum redemptions without including hard-to-handle gallon- size jugs.

* Authorizes the use of satellite drop-off sites in conjunction with a centralized processing facility. Such systems use electronic “customer courtesy cards,” handheld scanners, bar-coded labels, computerized processing machines and electronic funds transfers to make the redemption process as quick and convenient as possible.

* Authorizes the use of mobile redemption centers, making it possible for the elderly and house-bound to get their containers recycled, as well as providing regular or one-time serivce to businesses, schools and special events.

I think subsidizing an industry (and that’s what this does) can’t be good for the industry. And, of course, littering is illegal.

Man, that’s a lot of Glocks.

Michael Silence emails a presser from Coalition to Stop Gun Ownership err Violence on the recent ATF hearings:

These hearings were supposed to get to the bottom of claims that BATFE agents and local police violated the civil rights of law-abiding gun purchasers, particularly at a series of gun shows in Richmond, Virginia, over the past two years. They have failed to do so, although they appear to have unintentionally shed light of a wide variety of serious crimes uncovered by BATFE in the course of their investigative work at these events.

When Richmond-area law enforcement agencies learned that local gun shows were an important source of guns sold to gang members and other criminals – including the guns used to commit four homicides in the city since May 2004 – they developed a plan to try to stop these sales. After earlier investigations revealed that people who buy firearms illegally at gun shows often provide false residence information on background check forms, BATFE decided to verify address information on suspicious purchases.

BATFE has said 19 defendants arrested during the investigations have been convicted or pleaded guilty to crimes ranging from illegal “straw purchases” of firearms to drug possession. But instead of encouraging BATFE to probe further, this subcommittee has allowed itself to be used by the National Rifle Association and its allies in the firearm industry to pressure BATFE to stop scrutinizing illegal activity at gun shows.

I guess if I apply some turd polish, I can see the good that come from this. However, that does not excuse the ATF and others from conducting illegal residency checks, which is what they’re accused of. Some other news from the piece:

‘ATF Washington Field Division, will not routinely be present at the Richmond Gun Shows.’ BATFE has requested that we not post the letter. Our attorney worked for ’suitable’ wording but however we have decided to remove that posting. We also told verbally in front of four lawyers the BATFE is out of the ‘residency check’ business.”

Looks like they got a little slap on the wrist, mostly from press coverage. The ATF should be out of the residency check business since they are illegal.

Despite promised release, I’ve not seen the transcripts from the first hearings and I have no info on the second hearings from yesterday. Anyone have any idea what else transpired?

Most gunnies are familiar with Seegars v Ashcroft, a lawsuit filed in the District of Columbia by several plaintiffs seeking to overturn both the general handgun ban and the general ban on possession of firearms in a condition useful for self-defense. The SCOTUS denied cert. Well, meet Seegars:

Crumbling rowhouses, liquor stores, and pockmarked streets highlight the neighborhood where D.C. city official Sandra Seegars lives—but a hand-painted sign near her home boasts, “There have been no murders on this block.”

[snip]

Even though no one has ever been murdered while on Miss Seegars’ block, she speaks of burglaries in terms of “the last time someone broke into my house.” Several years ago someone set her car on fire. A prostitute standing on the corner described seeing a man in an orange, hooded shirt set the blaze.

“I think we should have guns at least in our homes and be allowed to have them loaded,” Miss Seegars says—but such comments anger her boss, D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams, a pro-gun-control Democrat like almost every other members of the D.C. city council.

And her activism has cost her her job:

The controversy about gun laws is one that top city officials do not want. Late last year Miss Seegars learned that she will not be reappointed for another term. That very day a cabdriver was killed during a robbery. She says, “I really wasn’t too concerned about guns until I was appointed to the taxicab commission. City officials get mad at me for not touting the government line. But just that someone would think about [drivers] enough to say that they should be allowed to arm themselves to defend themselves. That means a lot to them.”

Via David.

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

The local paper has a bit about Scoot by Jamie Satterfield. The article seems a bit sensationalist in my opinion. Also, seems he had a third felony from 1997 as well. Also, it looks as though he’s been accused of manufacturing for resale, which he has denied.

Check out the newest member of the Gun Bloggers Community, Entrenched Meanders. He has pics from behind enemy lines here.

Check out Property Rights Knoxville, a blog focusing on eminent domain and other property issus in K-Town.

Is it wrong to laugh at this?

Just got word he’s been released on bond. Story should be in the paper tomorrow.

In comments to a post on the Holiday Inn getting sued for not protecting its customers in a high-crime area, bob says:

What a novel concept. The courts rule that the government has no duty to protect individuals and now we get a court that rules that private businesses do have a duty to protect individuals.

Infuckingdeed.

Update: Xrlqy Wrlqy disagrees, in comments.

Gun Law News has the skinny:

In the short term, the bill allows the importation of ANY firearm parts (including barrels, frames and recievers) so long as they will be used for repair or replacement. This includes firearm parts for firearms that are no longer importable. The BATFE would no longer be able to decide unilaterally that would not allow importation of certain parts.

I’m don’t think that used for repair or replacement would apply to, say, AK or FAL kits that one builds themselves, which is a pity. But it’s a start.

Over at Glen’s, there’s a debate in comments on what well-regulated means in the second amendment. Well, when I read the second amendment, the phrase ‘well-regulated’ modifies the word ‘militia’ and not the phrase ‘right of the people to keep and bear arms.’ But I’m no English teacher.

Via Drug War Rant, comes news that Angel Raich is continuing her fight:

A lawyer for an ill California woman whose doctor says marijuana is the only medicine keeping her alive asked an appeals court to prevent federal drug agents from ever arresting her.

The case, focusing on whether the gravely ill have a right to marijuana to keep them alive when legal drugs fail, is likely to reach the U.S. Supreme Court soon. Yet each time the high court has ruled on medical marijuana it has come down against allowing the sick and dying to use the drug to ease their symptoms and possibly prolong life. [...]

“Medical cannabis is necessary for the preservation of Angel Raich’s life,” said Randy Barnett, the Oakland woman’s lawyer. He later told the three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that, “If she obeys the law, she will die.”

Ravenwood is back, somewhat but not exactly.

A San Diego man, whose son went on a shooting rampage with a gun he stole from his father, has had his guns returned:

Two students were killed and 13 were wounded by then-15-year-old Andy Williams, who took a revolver out of his father’s locked gun cabinet.

The 4th District Court of Appeal ruled the weapons owned by Charles Jeffrey Williams were not a nuisance, as a trial judge had ruled, because they were not used in the school shooting. Weapons seized at the home included a .22-caliber rifle, a .20-gauge shotgun and an M-16 military bayonet.

Now, I can understand taking the gun used in a crime for evidence. But taking the other guns, which were otherwise lawful to own, seems a bit of an overreach on the part of those investigating. Additionally, the judge who ruled the uninvolved weapons were a nuisance should have his head examined.

At first, this seemed a bit, err, silly:

A guest who was shot eight times in the parking lot of a Roanoke Holiday Inn Express should be allowed to sue the motel for not protecting its customers in a high-crime area, the Virginia Supreme Court has ruled.

Ryan Taboada had filed a $3 million lawsuit against the owners of the Holiday Inn Express after being shot and carjacked in the motel’s parking lot on Gainsboro Road Northwest in March 2003.

But there’s more to it:

According to police reports cited in the lawsuit, the motel’s staff or guests had been the target of at least 12 robberies or attempted robberies over a three-year period prior to the shooting.

The lawsuit also claims that police officials warned the business, owned by Danville company Daly Seven, that the property’s location posed certain dangers to its customers.

Despite those risks, the Holiday Inn Express decided to terminate its security force sometime before Taboada was shot, and failed to install surveillance cameras outside the motel, limit access to its parking lot and take other steps to ensure its guests’ safety, the lawsuit states.

And that makes it slightly less silly.

Manish, blogging for the first time in a long time, looks at illegal immigration. He addresses what he considers myths about immigration.

I generally favor open immigration because it’s one of the things that made this country what it is. But it does seem that some sort of reform is needed that makes immigrating here legally a bit easier for those who legitimately want to enter while keeping those with nefarious intent out. Of course, with miles and miles of borders and coastlines, that’s probably a pipe dream.

Update: Alphie has more:

My daughter-in-law, a Brazilian, was not able to get permanent status so she was given “temporary permanent status” (no kidding — only a government agency could coin such a phrase and use it as though it were the most natural thing in the world). A Ukrainian friend and his wife went through the long process of becoming a citizen. They turned in the green card for their daughter so she could get documentation saying that she too is a citizen (which is automatic, given that both her parents are). Over three years later they are still waiting, in spite of letters, visits to the INS, and the involvement of our senator’s office.

Chris has a detailed post on ballistics entitled Lies, Damned Lies, and Ballistics. That should get an award for the title alone.

Joe has an update of sorts regarding the question for his readers mentioned a bit back.

Terry Frank notes some polling info related to eminent domain. Most striking:

Should local governments be able to seize homes for private economic development that will produce jobs and tax revenue?

Yes: 4.63%

No: 93.57%

Sounds like near total opposition to me.

ROBERT L. JAMIESON Jr. on blame:

Don’t blame the rave scene for the Seattle’s worst mass murder in more than two decades.

Blame the guns — and a culture that celebrates firepower.

Blame the murdering madness on a country that has seen Columbine, Kip Kinkel and bullets at the Tacoma Mall, but lacks the common sense to clamp down on weapons of mass carnage.

Blame the gun lobby on the other Capitol Hill — not the rave crowd on Seattle’s Capitol Hill.

Or, crazy as it sounds, blame the guy who shot people. He then implies that the assault weapons ban would have helped. So would cracking down on gun shows. In short, he runs down the gun control wishlist even though none of those items would have prevented this tragedy.

Via Brittney, congrats to A. C. Kleinheider on his new gig:

I couldn’t be more thrilled to announce that News 2 will be adding a new, strictly political blog to our line-up. WKRN management has hired popular political blogger A.C. Kleinheider of Hard Right to write VolunteerVoters.com. He begins at the station next week on Monday, April 3rd.

Kleinheider will, like me, write Volunteer Voters full-time from within the newsroom. Tennessee has such a rich and extensive number of political blogs–and a super hot Senate race on its hands–that we thought there should be a blog devoted strictly to them. There will be an aggegator at Volunteer Voters as well, I think. Like NIT, Kleinheider will pick up blog posts from area writers for his site, and add his own commentary and opinion.

Congrats A.C.!

In light of recent events, I have some more thoughts and information on Scoot. Nine years ago, he was convicted of two felonies. Those were felony contempt and felony reckless endangerment. All I know is the names of the charges and have no other details of the crimes. My wild-ass guess is he violated some sort of court order (restraining, child support, etc.) and fled when confronted. I have no factual information pertaining to that and it’s just speculation.

In the past, Scoot was an EMT, an occupation that requires a license that you’re apparently excluded from if you have a criminal record. I Googled his name and discovered that he appeared before the Tennessee Department of Health for an appeal hearing, and they approved his license despite his conviction noting that he does not endanger the general public. Additionally, I’m fairly certain he, at some point, had passed a TICS. And, according to him, he also had custody of his kids.

In my mind, something doesn’t add up here. Something is missing and I don’t know what it is. Those are three things that you would not associate with someone who is a felon. Also, not all felonies are equal. A person who murders a child is a felon. But so is a person who imports orchids into the United States. You can lose your right to arms, right to vote and others whether you’re an axe murderer or you import lobster tails in plastic bags instead of cardboard boxes. Obviously, some crimes warrant stripping access to guns.

In other words, when it comes to determining the severity of a person’s crime, the term felon is about as useless as a cock-flavored lollipop.

The latest is up at Cold Hearted Truth.

I’ve touched on this before. To carry a gun in New York City, you have to be rich and connected. Regular Joes can forget about it. Look who’s packing:

Billionaires are going ballistic.

Ronald Lauder has joined trigger-happy tycoons Donald Trump and Seagrams scion Edgar Bronfman Sr. as the richest men in the city packing heat, according to the NYPD’s gun-permit list.

Lauder, the cosmetics heir, and multimillionaire Marvel Comics CEO Isaac Perlmutter are the newest gun-club members licensed to carry a weapon – topping a list that already included “Mean Streets” actors Harvey Keitel and Robert De Niro, “Scarface” producer Martin Bregman and shock jocks Don Imus and Howard Stern.

These boldfaced names are among more than 38,000 licensed gun owners in the city; the number has steadily declined in recent years as fewer people apply for permits – and fewer are approved.

That’s just the folks who can own them. Those that can carry is a bit more exclusive:

Other gun-toting notables – who have a license to carry as opposed to a permit to keep their weapon only at a home or business – include anti-gun activist Fernando Mateo and Giuliani Partners execs Richard Sheirer and Anthony Carbonetti – an in-law of the notorious booze-peddling Dorrian clan.

Republican Senate majority leader Joe Bruno and music czar Tommy Mottola remain licensed carriers, according to NYPD records through March 17.

Millionaire Winthrop Rockefeller and former TV Anchor John Roland are no longer on the list; the NYPD wouldn’t say why not.

Former Manhattan Judge Leslie Crocker Snyder is also licensed to carry a firearm.

“You will see a lot of judges with [gun] permits, and I’ve also noticed over the years more women applying,” said NYPD License Division Capt. Mike Endall.

Queens DA Richard Brown is the only elected prosecutor in the city with a gun license, but “he has his own security, so he doesn’t walk around carrying a gun,” said spokeswoman Nicole Navas.

Celebrity divorce lawyer Raoul Felder said he has carried a gun since 1961 during his days as a prosecutor.

“A man threatened to kill me, and since he was a murderer I thought it was time to get a gun,” he said. “We live in a very disturbed age. There’s all kinds of sickness.”

Subway vigilante Bernie Goetz’s lawyer, Barry Slotnick, is also strapped.

It looks as though this is the precursor for a ban on 50 caliber rifles:

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., is raising concerns that high-powered rifles could be used against Border Patrol agents near the U.S.-Mexico divide.

In a letter to Deborah Spero, acting commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Feinstein asked the department to look into whether .50-caliber rifles pose a threat to officers.

The gun, which has been banned for sale in numerous U.S. cities, is a high-powered rifle that can fire accurately at targets up to a mile away and penetrate steel armor.

“The threat posed the easy availability of the .50-caliber sniper rifle could endanger our Border Patrol agents and hinder our ability to control our borders,” Feinstein wrote.

Border Patrol officials have testified about officers coming under sniper fire in Texas and other areas near the border.

The senator asked Spero to conduct an assessment of the threat posed the rifle and come up with ways to deal with their possible use along the border.

I’ve no doubt that they’re coming under fire. But it makes little difference if that fire is from a 50 cal or from a 30-06.

Seen at Jed’s place, it looks like Al Gore’s Internets will be subject to election laws:

The Internet’s freewheeling days as a place exempt from the heavy hand of federal election laws are about to end.

Late Friday, the Federal Election Commission released a 96-page volume of Internet regulations that have been anticipated for more than a year and represent the government’s most extensive foray yet into describing how bloggers and Web sites must abide by election law restrictions.

The rules (click here for PDF) say that paid Web advertising, including banner ads and sponsored links on search engines, will be regulated like political advertising in other types of media. They also say bloggers can enjoy the freedoms of traditional news organizations when endorsing a candidate or engaging in political speech.

Looks to me as though it’s not as bad as everyone first thought. In other words, the early hysteria over subjecting blogs to campaign rules was of the they’re trying to shut us down variety. Now, it looks as though they’re just regulating ads similarly to the way they do in other media. That said, I still don’t like it. Restricting speech is restricting speech.

There could be more to this but, on the surface, it looks pretty damning:

On March 14, [Common Cause President Chellie] Pingree participated on a panel on open government sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Berrien and Cass Counties, Michigan that received news coverage in the local newspaper on March 17.

A week after the panel, an FBI agent contacted the local League president, Susan Gilbert, to raise questions about Pingree’s published remarks at the panel. In her brief comments addressing the law, Pingree raised some privacy and secrecy concerns about the USA PATRIOT Act, and praised Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) for their leadership on Freedom of Information issue.

Remember when the Minutemen kicked off their campaign? A bunch of folks were calling them potentially violent, right-wing extremists and even the President called them vigilantes. Well, turns out a few members of the Minutemen were protesting and were attacked by counter-protesters.

I went out to the back 40 yesterday and did some shooting with my brother and some friends as posted about on my blog. Near the end I received a rather nasty burn due to a hot barrel and inexperience.

Thus I have decided to purchase a pair of shooting gloves to keep this from happening again. I have seen some online but they are so big they look like they should be sold with a parka. Anyone have suggestions or warnings on the type to buy or avoid?

David Hardy notes that Mohammed Taheri-Aza, the terrorist who drove his car into a crowd, left a note reading:

I would instead use a handgun to murder the citizens and residents of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, but the process of receiving a permit for a handgun in this city is highly restricted and out of my reach at present, most likely due to my foreign nationality

Clearly, he didn’t get the memo from the VPC and The Brady Campaign that he could just do a straw purchase or go to the evil gun show loophole where he could have gotten an evil Saturday night special 50 caliber assault sniper weapon rifle handgun automatic semi-automatic bullet hose designed for spray firing from the hip at targets four miles away^tm without any checks or legal obstacles.

Or maybe not:

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Thousands of calls to Chattanooga’s 911 call center have been going unanswered, according to records examined after a caller was unable to report a kitchen fire because three of four dispatchers were taking breaks at the same time.

Stacey Hunter and her family members called 911 from her home phone and cellular phones Monday afternoon when the fire broke out, but the calls went unanswered. Finally, Artterius Bonds, and 14-year-old nephew, Quayshaune Fountain, ended up running a half mile to get help from the fire station. No one was hurt.

“If they hadn’t gone running, my house would have completely burned up,” Hunter, 34, said as she stood in her scorched kitchen.

Chattanooga Police Chief Steve Parks, who oversees employees of the Hamilton County Emergency Communications District, said the department was responsible for the unanswered calls.

One dispatcher was taking calls and three others working the shift were taking a break, the chief said. He described the situation as an unacceptable failure of the 911 system.

But records indicate the problem is more widespread.

Yes, guns six times because it’s the double edition of the Carnival of Cordite here and here.

While this website is the currently running with the ball on the ATF action against a local man. I thought I would expose you to the softer and more gentle side of the ATF.

Last year the ATF sponsored a children’s art contest and they have announced the winners in each catagory.

While many are good I found a few that stood far above the rest.

A possible Waco scene is done crayon by Dixon

A possible Ruby Ridge scene done in colored pencil by Cheyenne

A possible scene of the ATF perjuring themselves about the NFRTR in Ink and crayon by Katie

So go and view the soft cuddly side of the ATF.

Redacted for now. Info coming.

Update: See Update here

Update: Hold off on any contributions for now. Info deleted intentionally. I have stuff to confirm

Update: See Update here

I lied, this is the last update: Just so we’re clear, the update below is not to say that what happened to Scoot is right (I don’t think it is) but that the felony thing really isn’t good in terms of a victory for gun rights or reigning in ATF problems. I’m not mad at Scoot. I still support him and will do what I can to help. A felony at 18 does not make one any less of a person and reform is possible. Not all felonies are equal and conviction of a crime stripping the right to defense forever for sometimes minor incidents isn’t good.

In this case, his only crime is that he committed a crime 9 years ago.

Last Update:

In comments, KNS reporter Jamie Satterfield writes:

I cover the courts for the News Sentinel. I have checked out this case after being notified by Mike Silence of blog interest. Although I will be reporting on it next week, court records show the person at issue was charged with being a convicted felon in possession of firearms that included two rifles, a shotgun and a loaded .45-caliber pistol. He was not charged with the “assorted gun parts” the ATF agent wrote in his affidavit that he found in the gentleman’s basement. Stay tuned to the Sentinel next week when I will write about his court appearance.

I’ve had some private correspondence with her regarding the situation and she basically read to me right from the database the felony info. Convicted felons can’t own guns and thems the rules. That said, I think the ATF went for the MG. Then manufacturing. Then, finally, the felon thing would stick. It was a fishing expedition and, unfortunately, they dug deep enough. That’s all assuming the other info that was being given to me was correct. But something don’t seem right as most felons don’t have custody of their kids.

I tried to help a friend by getting the word out. It didn’t work because the ATF dug deep enough and because it was there to find. Felony possession is a big no-no.

Any way, I feel like a bag of dicks for bringing all this up, though I did so based how it was presented to me. I wasted everyone’s time. In short, I blew it due to information I did not have.

Sorry, all.

Everyone who donated money, it has been returned. If you have problems, let me know and I’ll make it right. This is not a case where donations will help much.
_____________________________________________________
Programming note: Instead of multiple posts, I’ll put any of today’s updates here. Check back.

Very likely today’s last update: Thanks to a reader, I have put Scoot’s family into contact with gun rights attorney of some reputation (no names for now, apologies). They’ve been in contact and the attorney is calling some local muscle. Will let you know more when I have it.
_____________________________________________________
9: Major update:

They’re holding him until a hearing on 3/28, which oddly coincides with ATF abuse hearings. They seem to have dropped the machine gun angle and are going for the manufacturing without a license angle. No mention of MGs on the paperwork, according to his girlfriend. They took: drawings, guns, parts, gun magazines, magazines that you read, books, his computers, his Wal-Mart WWB ammo, tools, digital camera, his pull along trailer, and his address book. Some of those don’t seem consistent with gun crimes, if you ask me. They stated he had drawings, precision milling machines, aluminum blocks, and was operating as a manufacturer.

Guess the good news is the MG charges are gone.
_____________________________________________________

Background here and here. Just talked to his girlfriend. And the updates are:

He has been arrested

A hearing is scheduled this afternoon

They took his guns, some books, and drawings he had

They’ve been there all night

They are currently taking his milling machine

They keep telling his girlfriend You know he was making machine guns, right? Which he was not. He was finishing up some 0% lower receiver castings for semi-auto AR-15s, which is a lawful activity.

When it comes to gun laws, gun enthusiasts do act at their own peril.

Update: My scientific wild ass guess is they’re going for the constructive possession angle. Their prosecution, if it gets that far, will go something like:

He has parts (none of which are full auto, by the way);

He has books;

He has a milling machine;

In a random number of hours, he could possibly assemble a machine gun.

Update 2: Thanks to a reader, I have been put in contact with a gun rights attorney who is interested in the case.

Update 3: Got an in with some gun rights activists. Looks promising, I’ll let you know. If the latter does not work out, I may set up a fund. I was also told there’s a small and pricey legal industry that specifically caters to addressing issues with the ATF. I will put Scoot into contact with some of these folks once I hear he has been released.

Update 4: And his local legal counsel is apparently on the scene, making calls and doing what they do. The folks mentioned in Update 3 told me that’s good but he’ll eventually need someone with firearms law expertise.

5: A gun rights attorney has told me there is particular interest in this case because Tennessee apparently has a high number of reported ATF abuses. I found that quite interesting. I think it may be the result of Tennessee being a fairly gun-friendly state.

6: A few more thoughts:

Regarding the fact this was initiated by his ex (whom he has confided in me in the past that she has threatened to call the police on him for his guns), why is the word of an estrange ex considered probable cause or reasonable?

And Rob Huddleston opines:

Guys like Scoot and SayUncle have knowingly raised their profile through their Internet presence. They know they are subject to increased scrutiny, and they tend to act cautiously because of that.

Indeed we do. But that doesn’t seem to matter when someone with an axe to grind lies about you to the authorities. I get regular visits to this site from hosts whose names end in .gov. That is why I particularly note things about complying with the law, such as when I posted a primer on the now defunct assault weapons ban and 922 compliance.

7: Redacted

8: Michael Silence has a round up for one stop shopping on this incident.

Bob Krumm notes:

Senator Mark Norris’ bill to deny government the authority to use an emergency as justification for confiscating lawfully-owned weapons passed the State Senate 28-2 on Monday.

Overall, I like the idea of the bill. But said confiscation was already illegal in New Orleans when it happened and that didn’t stop the confiscations. I guess this sort of bill would give something else to charge violators with.

From another of their yes it is, no it isn’t files, the ATF recently issued a position letter that stated Thompson machine guns were C&R eligible. Now, they’ve announced the letter will be rescinded. Seems they’re afraid that all machine guns will be classified as C&R items due to rarity.

You may recall a bit back where they said that engraving rifle converted to an SBR was OK then quickly changed their minds.

Looks like the House judiciary committee is having more hearings on ATF abuses in Richmond.

In an update to my friend and his visit from the ATF, the ATF just called him as I was on the phone with him, they stated they had a warrant now, and asked him to come open the house or they’d bust his door down.

It does beg the question: why did they not show up with a warrant in the first place?

Terry Frank on the Metropulse’s recent love affair with the hideous practice of eminent domain:

Recently I asked of Bill Lyons, Director of Policy Development for the Mayor Haslam and the City of Knoxville, or if his Metro Pulse staffer wife, Gay, had written, influenced, or contributed to an editorial hit-piece in the Metro Pulse which slammed legislators who are working to protect private property rights.

It remains a possibility. But then again, maybe the editorial was written or influenced by Senior Pulse editor Barry Henderson. After all, Henderson’s wife used to hold the same position Bill Lyons does now and I could see him being sympathetic to the eminent domain argument.

Or then again, maybe the article was ordered, written, or influenced by Metro Pulse publisher and real estate developer Brian Conley.

Does Conley have an interest in any possible eminent domain seizures? I’m looking.

I’d be interested in knowing.

Joe says:

The person in question sent me an email on Tuesday asking that I remove her name from the post. Basically saying she lost her job almost immediately (a year ago) at the college newspaper over her “mistake” and has now paid a sufficient price. She is about to graduate, is looking for a job, and when Googling for her name my blog shows up. She doesn’t want her mistake to haunt her for the rest of her life.

Question: Should I remove her name from my posting? Elaborate on your answer.

Read the background info too. He wants your advice.

At least that’s what Ryan Donohue says. Which is more likely to incite violence? An inanimate object or glorifying violence to impressionable kids? Now, I’m not one for banning music or, well, lots of things but it seems a bit disingenuous to me. After all, other countries have fewer guns and more crime than the US. Some have more guns and less crime than the US.

And Mr. Donohue is either a liar or ignorant:

Las Vegas Police Sgt. Henry Prendes might still be alive today if the Republican Congress, working with President Bush and the NRA, had not allowed the Assault Weapons Ban to expire. The law that made it illegal for gun manufactures to make and sell automatic weapons could have stopped Amir “Trajik” Krump from even obtaining the AK-47 that he used to shoot and kill the first officer to die in the line of duty in Las Vegas in 18 years.

As about 2 seconds of Googling would have made clear, the assault weapons ban did not affect automatic weapons. Automatic weapons have been regulated since 1934 and banned from new production since 1986. And more:

Before I continue, let me point out that I am not “anti-guns.”As a matter of fact, I have no problems with handguns, which I have fired, nor do I have a problem with shotguns or hunting rifles. But an AK-47, MAC-10, M-16 or even an Uzi, are not hunting weapons.

No, but you are an ignorant fool. New AK-47s, MAC-10s, M-16s and Uzis are also illegal to own in this country. Their semi-automatic variants (which function identically to most hunting rifles) merely look like AK-47s, MAC-10s, M-16s and Uzis. And that is all the ban affected.

This will probably be in the paper tomorrow.

Reader, commenter, arfcommer, and friend Shoot-N-Scoot just called to tell me that:

*The ATF is at his house

*They’re asking if he has any machine guns

*They have seized his house pending approval of a search warrant

*Told him he was free to go but they were going to search his house

He did the smart thing and left. He also called his lawyer. He (like me) is one of those gun owners who meticulously follows the law to avoid trouble. In that situation, I, myself, would be wondering if I had all my I’s dotted and T’s crossed as there are a lot of technicalities out there. His only crime is apparently marrying his ex-wife, who has supposedly called the ATF and said he has machine guns. He does not have machine guns and is one of my friends who I discuss AR-15s with.

He asked that I spread the word. More details as I get them.

Update: Oh, and when he called, the first words out of his mouth were:

The ATF is here.

And the next words out of his mouth were:

They have some nice AR-15s with EOTech 552s

Only a true gun nut takes the time to admire the equipment being used in a situation like that.

With a house override, Kansas now joins the clear majority of states by having a shall-issue handgun permit. We’re winning.

Kansas is now the 47th state to allow citizens to carry firearms. On July 1, 40 states will be shall-issue.

Update: Next stop, Nebraska.

Take it here. The emergency supplies listed do not mention guns. Coincidentally, the ready.gov site still shows no search results for gun.

I … have no remorse now for killing a man:

Before the men arrived at his home, someone called Harvey to ask if he had any shipping boxes. Though an unusual request on a Saturday, Harvey told the caller he had some at his home.

Four Spanish-speaking men seeking boxes arrived outside Harvey’s home about 15 minutes later. While showing the men boxes in his garage, they pulled out guns and ordered Harvey and his wife to give them money. Inside, the men rounded up the couple’s five children in the living room and stood guard over them.

The men repeatedly pointed their weapons at the heads of family members as they demanded money. One man vaguely threatened Harvey by telling him not to worry because he would be sleeping after they left.

“I knew he was going to kill me,” Harvey said.

As one man stood guard over Harvey in the kitchen, another took his wife into another room to seek her jewelry.

“After they took my wife I knew I had to do something,” he said. “I felt I had to react.”

He wrestled the gun out of his captor’s hands then shot him dead before the other three men ran back toward the kitchen. A shootout followed as the men fired their weapons at Harvey. He was struck three times as he returned fire until emptying the gun in his hand. His wife and children were unharmed.

“They came out spraying bullets at me,” he said. “I wasn’t trying to dodge the bullets. I was walking right up to the men to shoot them because I thought I was gonna be killed.“

Wow, that dude has some balls. Glad it ended without the deaths of this guy or his family. Though the sensationalist headline doesn’t really clue you in to what happened.

R. Neal at Knoxviews points to this ruling by the Supreme Court:

The Supreme Court narrowed police search powers yesterday, ruling that officers must have a warrant to look for evidence in a couple’s home unless both partners present agree to let them in.

The 5 to 3 decision sparked a sharp exchange among the justices. The majority portrayed the decision as striking a blow for privacy rights and gender equality; dissenters said it could undermine police efforts against domestic violence, the victims of which are often women.

The ruling upholds a 2004 decision of the Georgia Supreme Court but still makes a significant change in the law nationwide, because most other lower federal and state courts had previously said that police could search with the consent of one of two adults living together.

Now, officers must first ask a judicial officer for a warrant in such cases. Quarrels between husbands and wives, or boyfriends and girlfriends, keep police busy around the country; in the District, almost half of the 39,000 violent crime calls officers answered in 2000 involved alleged domestic violence.

I find it odd that the wife stating that her husband had cocaine wasn’t enough probable cause. In some cases, this ruling may limit police involvement in domestic violence issues and that has the potential to be bad for victims of such violence. However, there’s also the issue that, in domestic disputes, people will lie their asses off to get leverage for custody of kids and assets; or just to be dicks. I’ve seen it happen and you probably have a friend who went through some nasty separation and was lied about by their former significant other. And I don’t mean white lies, I mean full-fledged he threw me down the stairs kind of lies. I’ve seen it happen.

In my opinion, this ruling is one of those damned if you do, damned if you don’t scenarios.

Update: S. Carpenter in comments at Knoxviews says:

I agree Souter, who wrote the majority opinion, that Roberts’ argument concerning domestic abuse situations is a red herring.

In Tennessee, officers may arrest persons for domestic assault without a warrant if they have observations (red marks, broken household items, etc.) to go along with the accusation of assault. In all other misdemeanors, officers must see the offense to arrest without a warrant.

Where the circumstances warrant the arrest for domestic assault, whether officers can enter the home to search seems irrelevant. Alleged assaulter goes to jail whether he/she consents to a search or not. Absent some other circumstances, there is no need to search the house.

If officers need to search the home to further the investigation and the arrested spouse/co-inhabitant has objected, officers can get a search warrant. Presumably the alleged victim will supply sufficient information to support the probable cause needed to get a warrant. The alleged offender is in custody alleviating concerns for destroyed evidence. Two hours or so later, a lawful search occurs in the home.

I really can’t think of a circumstance where this decision would create a problem. I don’t think Roberts’ and the minority have a clue as to how arrests occur in domestic assault cases.

Makes it seem reasonable to me.

Nashville is Talking seems to always be broken. The main page seems to work but comments are often screwed up and permalinks to individual posts are often broken. Anyway, if this link works, Brittney’s asking what do you want done with your body when you die.

I figure, I could care less. Told the wife she could just put me in a Hefty Cinch Sack and put me on the curb. I figure I’ll either be busy not existing, trying to figure out how they made a road out of gold, or tagging virgin number 12 by the time my funeral comes around. In short, not real concerned.

But, at my funeral, I’d rather have a party. No crying, no sobbing. Heck, get a keg. Better yet, have a life size cardboard cut out of me holding an ice cold beer so people can have their picture taken with the dead guy.

Via Michael, the KNS has set up some blogs for Knoxville candidates.

Apparently, California wants to outlaw dogs acting like, well, dogs.

Chris talks about the differences in short barreled rifles and any other weapons (AOWs) to avoid getting into hot water with the ATF. Of note is that the AOW classification may depend on where you live. There was a case in SC where the court told the ATF that their classification of AOW was too broad. Not too surprising since they basically use the equation that if it’s not a handgun, rifle, or shotgun, it must be an AOW. Still, not worth the risk as the ATF will still try to prosecute you no matter how many times the courts slap them around.

A good first step:

A bill that advanced this week would limit the power of cities and counties to seize private property, such as farmland, to develop industrial parks, but is less restrictive than other eminent domain legislation.

The bill would require local governments to certify the “public purpose and necessity” of seizing land. It is one of three dozen measures lawmakers have proposed on eminent domain following last year’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling to give a Connecticut city the authority to seize property for private development.

[snip]

Fowlkes’ bill specifies that public use “does not include private use or benefit or the indirect public benefits resulting from private economic development and private commercial enterprise.”

In Kansas, who may also pass CCW today:

If you are stopped by police in Kansas, don’t be surprised if the officer pulls out a little black box and takes your fingerprints.

The gadget allows officers to identify people by fingerprints without hauling them to the police station.

Over the next year the Kansas Bureau of Investigation will test 60 of the devices with law enforcement agencies around the state. State officials said similar tests are being planned for New York, Milwaukee and Hawaii.

“This is definitely new,” said Gary Page, Overland Park Police Department crime lab. “It’s been talked about, but as far as I know they are not in use anywhere in the metro.”

The tests in Kansas are part of a bigger $3.6 million upgrade to the KBI’s statewide fingerprint database, unveiled Tuesday by the KBI and Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline.

Now, if you’re suspected of something and are going to get printed anyway, I’d take no issue with it. However, if they just start printing everyone, I think that is a serious concern for civil liberties.

He needs a DIY Toilet Paper Cannon.

J.D. tells us the Kansas Senate has voted to override the governor’s veto of a concealed carry law. On to the house.

Well, those were the headlines coming across the wire. Turns out, just some guy with a BB gun shooting flying rats.

Update: Quick to scrub the record. Not a single story with a hysterical headline is on the Google News page now.

I never really cared for the show in prior seasons other than to watch the initial try-outs to see the people who suck and the inevitable shot of a 300+ pound black woman going ballistic on national TeeVee. It was all sterile and overly formulaic. But this year that changed. I actually like Taylor Hicks and Chris Daughtry (sp?). Those dudes can sing. More importantly, they’re different for American Idol. I think it may have to do with the fact they upped the age ceiling.

I generally share this sentiment seen at LeanLeft:

Generally speaking, I think it is fair to say that I am a friend to the creatures of the earth when I am not busy eating them or wearing them.

Though I would add that I also like when they warm my ass on the heated leather seats in the truck and when I get cozy on my leather couch, love seat and recliner. I am otherwise animal friendly. But there’s not a day that goes by where I don’t contemplate taking out one of my neighbor’s dogs. Not that I would ever act on that, of course. They have three dogs and two of them are not very well-behaved. Those two are a couple of large Labradors. They have dug holes under my fence, which is adjacent to their fence. They have destroyed several pickets on my fence. One day, the got in our yard when I wasn’t home and made their merry way through our dog door. Our neighbor, being the mindful person he is, took care of those issues by putting a small electric fence at the base of his wooden fence. No problems since.

But the latest is the constant barking. All day long. They’re not barking at anything in particular, rather they just sit in the yard staring at each other and barking. And when I go into my backyard to let Junior play on the swing set, slide, monkey bars, sand box, rock wall contraption, they bark at us constantly. I’ve taken to leaving the hose in the backyard on and, when they commence barking, I give them a good soak. They even bark at Politically Incorrect Dog, who has the sense to ignore them.

They’re also quite nefarious about it. See, when my neighbor is home, they don’t bark because they know he (being the mindful sort he is) will stop them. But when he leaves for work, they start. I’m at a loss. I figure the hose beats calling animal control. Sure, the hose may annoy my neighbor if he sees me do it but calling animal control would really strain the neighbor relationship. He’s a good guy and I wouldn’t do that, just like I wouldn’t actually take his dogs out no matter how much they interfere with my enjoyment of my property.

Looks like soon to be former Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius has once again vetoed shall issue CCW legislation. Looks like the override may be tough but:

Overriding the veto would take two-thirds of both the House and Senate: 84 House members and 27 senators. Last week, the House approved the bill 90-33. The Senate passed the bill last month 29-11.

It passed with enough to override but there’s question about whether or not those that voted for it would support an override.

Update: Her veto statement:

I support the Second Amendment and the right of our citizens to keep and bear arms. It’s an important part of our heritage and way of life in Kansas, and I’ve upheld that right as Gov.. All law-abiding Kansans have the right to own a weapon to provide for their protection and the protection of their families.

I do not think that means what you think it means.

Last year, I signed a bill to allow retired law enforcement officers, who have unique experience and special training, to carry concealed weapons.

Like you and me, only better. There’s more.

Via Brittney, comes this from Smoke Free Tennessee:

The House Agriculture Committee voted 13-1 to kill a bill sponsored by the House’s only physician, Rep. Joey Hensley, to ban smoking in restaurants that employ people under 18.

Personally, I don’t care if a restaurant doesn’t allow smoking. Or if a restaurant does allow smoking. But the key to that is that the decision lies with the restaurant. I don’t want the government making that decision on behalf of those who own restaurant. If you smoke, go to a place that allows it. If you don’t, go to places that forbid it. Reward your side with your dollars. Simple, really. If this bill had passed, there would be a lot of out of work teenagers.

They have a poll on the issue too.

The BBC has a bit on the militarisation (what, Brits don’t like the letter Z?) of the US police:

Professor Peter Kraska, an expert on police militarisation from Eastern Kentucky University, says that in the 1980s there were about 3,000 Swat team deployments annually across the US, but says now there are at least 40,000 per year.

[snip]

Dr Kraska believes there has been an explosion of units in smaller towns and cities, where training and operational standards may not be as high as large cities – a growth he attributes to “the hysteria” of the country’s war on drugs.

[snip]

An NTOA study of 759 Swat team deployments across the US, found half were for warrant service and a third for incidents where suspects had barricaded themselves in a building – 50 were for hostage situations.

When criminology professor David Klinger looked at 12 years of data on Swat teams in 1998, he also found the most common reason for calling out teams was serving warrants, but that the units used deadly force during warrant service only 0.4% of the time.

There was a time in this country where, when faced with arresting someone, police would cowboy-up and head over to the suspect’s door. They would then knock and announce themselves. Now, thanks to the advent of indoor plumbing and the fact you may flush your stash, the police often send in their SWAT teams, complete with GI Joe gear and ninja masks. And it’s not a matter of a low percentage of deadly force, it’s about whether or not deaths of have increased. Ask Anthony Diotaiuto or these folks. Well, you can’t. They’re all dead.

And this quote from the piece struck a chord:

The problem is that when you talk about the war on this and the war on that, and police officers see themselves as soldiers, then the civilian becomes the enemy.

Ayup.

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

Bob Krumm:

Vampires have their stakes and werewolves have their silver bullets, but there is nothing man has yet devised that can kill a government program.

Heh.

Reader Pete emails:

Since you brought up the topic of women and guns……..we – “we” being Central Florida Rifle and Pistol Club, Inc. in Orlando – are hosting our third Ladies’ Day at the Range this April 8th. As an NRA-affiliated club, last year we did NRA’s Women on Target program, this year we’re going on our own; the WOT program doesn’t allow minors, and we want to reach those below age 18 (accompanied by parent or guardian). Last year we had 76 participants, this year we’re hoping to break 100.

Here’s a link to their flier too.

More women are packing:

More women, from soccer moms to professionals like the ones at the Blue Ridge Arsenal gun range in Chantilly, Va., are packing heat for sport, self-empowerment and protection.

“I am a short, chubby housewife,” said Jaque Blundell of Arlington, Va. “I’m not as scared of the bad guys, because the guns are my great equalizer.”

The gun industry is catering to women with everything from more girly guns and apparel to all-female hunting trips and free ladies nights at the range. It’s clear the feminine touch is adding up to big business.

“A quarter to a third of all our customers here are women shooters,” said Keith Weaver, who works at the Blue Ridge Arsenal.

Five years ago, the National Rifle Association offered just 13 firearms training classes for women. Today, there are more than 200 nationwide.

Don’t tell egalia.

Now, I know that for most, Enron encompasses all that is evil in the corporate world. But this is misleading:

Enron tried to do an end-run around accounting rules by dropping a plan to sell assets in a failed water business for a $1 billion growth strategy, instead, a former accountant who handled the company’s books said on Monday.

An end-run around accounting rules? Those evil, evil folks. What they did:

An accounting rule that took effect in January 2002 would have required Enron to book losses of $700 million or more.

That was the difference between the inflated value of Wessex, Enron’s British water utility, and its true value. Had Enron maintained its plan to sell Wessex and other Azurix assets, the new accounting rule would have forced the energy company to reconcile the book values with true fair market values.

Management realized that by selling the entity, they would have realized a huge loss. However, if they kept it, no loss would be incurred. There was nothing nefarious that I could see in this particular case.

Also interesting to me were these two tidbits:

The charges against Lay, Enron’s founder, include an allegation that he lied to outside auditors in October 2001 by claiming Enron planned to invest in Wessex rather than sell it so the energy company could avoid the writedown. Lay told analysts in a late October 2003 conference call — a few weeks before the company sought bankruptcy protection — that Andersen had examined the issue and determined no writedown was necessary.

Both men say there was no fraud at Enron and negative publicity coupled with diminished market confidence fueled the company’s swift descent into bankruptcy protection in December 2001.

It looks increasingly like Andersen was not as involved in this as folks thought. In fact, I’d say they were lied to and if you lie to your auditors about some complex transactions, they’ll never know otherwise unless they find stuff by sheer luck. Does make it appear that Andersen was sort of a victim here. And they fell hard because of this.

Junior has recently discovered that she can come and go as she pleases. We have two dog doors, one from the kitchen to the screened in porch and one from said porch to our yard. Sitting in the den, I heard the distinctive flap and, sure enough, she was outside. No big deal since the yard is fenced in but we’ve had to start shutting the door. This has politically incorrect dog a bit distraught now that he can’t come and go as he pleases.

Seen here:

Senate Bill 2672, the Tennessee Castle Doctrine Bill sponsored by Senator Don McLeary (R-Jackson), seeks to expand the right of self-defense. The bill would extend that right to permit a person to use the same deadly force now allowed in a person’s residence to the immediate area and buildings around the residence and to other dwellings and vehicles. The bill, also known as the Stand Your Ground Bill, is scheduled for a hearing in Senate Judiciary Committee this week. “All law-abiding citizens have an innate right to self-defense, whether they are in their home, their barn, or their car,” stated Senator McLeary. A person’s home is that person’s castle is a long-recognized principle that has been eroded away over the years. This bill will help restore our self-defense zone. “Individuals have a right to stand their ground. There should never be a duty to retreat when you are confronted by someone who is threatening your life or a loved one just because you are in an outbuilding or in your vehicle instead of being inside your home at that particular moment. If enacted into law, this will reverse the pendulum swing that for far too long has swung in the direction of protecting the rights of criminals over the rights of victims,” concluded Senator McLeary. Senator McLeary’s bill would expand the Castle Doctrine to include the buildings and curtilage around a dwelling – including a temporary dwelling, such as a mobile home or tent – and to vehicles which would allow a person the use of self-defense against carjackers. His bill also expands the use of self-defense when protecting a third party, such as a relative or an invited guest who is staying in someone else’s home. It would also require an aggressor who is injured by someone who exercises the right of self-defense and who sues in civil court to pay all legal costs.

I thought the majority of states, including Tennessee, already had such a law on the books. I’m not sure if the recent increase in the number of these being passed is for clarification or if the pro-gun sources that said that weren’t correct. And I like how an aggressor would be forced to pay all legal costs.

The NFA Owners Association is looking to hit the big time:

The site has been a little slow, I have been very busy, and “our” issues have gotten far too little attention in congress of late.

This post is about changing that.

We now have a core group who are volunteering to take on the burdens associated with taking NFAOA to the next level, leading up to eventual incorporation!

Once we are incorporated we will be a much more formal organization, and hopefully more effective on the legislative front, with a funding mechanism to support our own professional lobbyist.

To move in this direction and be “fair” to the members, we need to have an election.

So I am calling for nominations and additional volunteers!

We will need a President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

The NFA community does need a political voice since the NRA cringes whenever you talk about machine guns.

One of these. Nifty.