The NSSF reports:

Today, a Manhattan-based federal appeals court ordered the dismissal of a lawsuit filed against firearms manufacturers by the City of New York that sought to hold the manufacturers responsible for the criminal misuse of firearms.

Judge Robert J. Miner, writing for the U.S. Court of Appeals, held the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, enacted in 2005, is constitutional and that Brooklyn, NY, federal court judge Jack B. Weinstein misinterpreted the law by not dismissing the case.

Good. Judge Weinstein was originally chosen because he’s an anti-gun judge. And I think it’s the same case started by 9iu11ani. Say, speaking of Rudy, he doing much these days?

Update: David links the opinion.

Tam joked yesterday about the race as electing a priest-king what with all the healing the sick and other promises being made. I thought it was a good gag and some quality snark. But people really think we are electing a lord and savior.

URL that is.

WBIR has a new series of forums. One deals with guns and gun rights.

Lautenberg wants to increase the length of time that the feds keep gun records from 24 hours to six months. Ten years, if you’re on the terror watch list (which is the same list that Ted Kennedy was on). Says armed and safe:

The name of this charming bit of tyranny? Preserving Records of Terrorist and Criminal Transactions (PROTeCT) Act of 2008. So . . . we’re keeping records of all gun sales through licensed dealers, and calling all such sales “Terrorist and Criminal Transactions,” eh? Does anyone have any doubts about what the senator thinks of gun owners?

The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Ownership is all for it.

WBIR notes that Corker supports the changes and says this of Lamar Alexander:

Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander says he sees no need to change the current rule.

Rich notes HR 2610, the Skill Game Protection Act, which would classify poker as a game of skill and exempt it from Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. Currently, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act doesn’t even define the illegal gambling it regulates so it could come up as someone’s defense that poker is not gambling and is a game of skill. But that’s gonna be a tough sell. Sure, a skilled player will, on average, make money. But there is an ever present element of luck. If there wasn’t, then there would be no fish.

Overall, the game involves skill but luck is the difference between someone winning a big tournament and not. Don’t believe me? Then let’s play a fun game. It’s a tournament and, lucky you, you will be dealt pocket aces every time. Great! Sign me up! But pocket aces against a random hand still only wins about 85 percent of the time. If you play ten hands in a row, you will lose 1.5 of those hands on average. To win, you’ve probably got to not lose some of that 15 percent of the time. And that involves some luck.

More realistically, though, is that you’ll often be getting all your chips in when you’re about a 70 percent favorite and your hand will have to hold up more often than odds dictate to win a big tournament.

For the record, I think poker is a game of skill but whether or not a court of law would buy it is questionable. So, defining it in the law wouldn’t hurt.

Update and bump: Seems that typing percent signs in wordpress breaks my comment function. Hence, the bump.

Joe Huffman hosts his annual Boomershoot in which participants shoot long range at explosive targets. I need to go one of these years.

This year, they blew up a toilet for Dave Barry. Pics and video here.

A few bloggers attended and have reports.

Matthew has posts here and here.

Phil has posts with lots of pics here and here (lots of gun porn at that last link).

More pics and an injury report from Ry Jones.

Assuming Heller goes our way, at some point that argument will have to be made as to what arms the second amendment protects. Sebastian looks at the issue.

Soon, the long tradition of passing the beer may come to an end. Seems the senate wants to make it illegal for automobile passengers to drink while being driven around. Notable in the bill is that there is an exception for rich people driving around in their limousines.

Phil Bredesen: Pony up for the state!

Barack Ernest P. Worrell Obama gets one right noting that a temporary gas tax break won’t amount to much. So, I’m all for eliminating the tax permanently.

And why they’re crap.

Turns out, you can’t mail a brick.

I concur. I don’t see how it prevents anything.

A demographic that is 2.96% of the population accounts for 49.6% of victims. Also, they have a higher rate of being the shooter. And more here.

But we can’t talk about this like grown-ups lest we offend the delicate sensibilities of someone. Clearly, guns must be to blame instead.

Anti-gunners often think that we gun owners view guns as having these magical powers that make us indestructible. Like the guy mentioned here who also threw in a wild west reference. It’s a load of crap. Gun owners stress training and practice as well.

This whole accusing us of worshiping totems thing, in which one ascribes magical powers to inanimate objects, is kinda funny since they keep telling us that guns cause crime all by themselves.

When your EBR costs about as much as a Hyundai. And that post is useless without pics.

Bitter is not happy.

Not an issue I get really worked up about either way. After all, my car is my property and if your lot is open to the public . . .

The Department of Interior has proposed new rules for carrying in parks:

This move will restore the rights of law-abiding gun owners who wish to transport and carry firearms for lawful purposes on most DOI lands, and will make federal law consistent with the state law in which these lands are located. Fifty-one U.S. Senators sent a bipartisan letter to the Department of Interior (late last year) supporting the move to make state firearms laws applicable to National Park lands and refuges.

You’re scaring the white people.

Translation: Get me a Democrat that appeals to dumb, bitter, cousin-humping gun owners!

Most folks think we’re electing a priest-king.

Update: Or Priestess-Queen, lest I be thought sexist

Some guy in a meeting breaking bad news:

This is gonna go over like a fart in church.

I don’t think suicide prevention involves killing someone before they kill themselves. No, really.

Update: Yes, I know he had a gun but still . . .

Throw those red light camera tickets in the trash?

People like Xrlqy Wrlqy in comments say to me that my definition of a loophole would pretty much render the term meaningless. I think that’s bullshit. The term loophole usually implies some attempt to circumvent a law. The non-existent gun show loophole does not. Therefore, the argument made by some (i.e., changed) is that the loophole must be that a flea market style venue where people could walk around with guns around their shoulders just waiting for someone to walk up and say ‘how much’? As such, exploitation of said market is a loophole. And because Sean is a good liberal, a market must equal exploitation of some kind. But, no. It’s still breaking the law if you unlawfully purchase a weapon whether it occurs at a gun show or somewhere else. A guy who buys illegal drugs from kid on a street corner where drug dealers are known to hang out is not using the street corner loophole. He’s breaking the law.

The other issue that I have with the non-existent gun show loophole is that now it’s called the gun show loophole and activists seek to close it. And by close it, they mean regulate private party transactions that occur at gun shows. This opens up the door to regulating all private party transfers. Because if such a law is passed, we will next have to close the gun show parking lot loophole (which would actually be a real loophole as people would simply step outside to avoid a background check or avoid paying a $10 background check fee – I would do the latter since $10 is $10). Shortly after that, they’ll want to close the in the sanctity of your own home loophole And I recently used this non-existent loophole to buy an Enfield from Les Jones.

That said, it’s not really a hot button issue for me. I do not like seeing it misrepresented as it often is in the press that gun shows are these mysterious places where all kinds of law-breaking occurs and criminals load up on guns. Neither is correct. Less than 1% of crime guns are obtained at gun shows and less than 1% of convicts report getting their weapons at gun shows.

The Op-Ed!

Bryan Miller lying? That never doesn’t happen!

against guns:

The anti-gun bias that exists in the Daily Herald, as well as most major news sources, is despicable. You will go to any lengths to promote gun control, and lying and deception are not below your standards.

The April 15 front page large print headline read, “Crowd split on gun laws.” That in reference to a forum in Naperville the day before sponsored by California-based Legal Community Against Violence (LCAV). Moderating the forum was gun control movement veteran Steve Young.

Of the 175 or so attendees, all but a handful were gun-rights supporters. And I mean a handful … maybe five. You call that “Crowd split on gun laws”? That’s a split? I’m glad you’re not my partner. I thought split meant roughly 50/50.

At least they printed the letter.

In defense of Pizza Hut.

The Christian Science Monitor (who is usually full of anti-gun PSH) proposes that the gun industry take a cue from the SCUBA industry and create its own licensing and registration system. No thanks. The firearm industry does plenty to promote safety and protect the rights of gun owners.

No need to hack into a media outlet to distribute propaganda when the media willingly put experts on who are shills.

If you’re in Indiana’s fifth district, Ahab has some news for you on your local congressional primary:

According NRA-ILA, Dr. Goff has/is a member of Indiana Partnership to Prevent Firearm Violence, which is a local anti-gun group with ties to the Brady Campaign. This doesn’t exactly square well with Dr. Goff’s stated position of “protecting” the 2nd Amendment.

Rebecca Aguilar, the reporter who was fired for ambushing a guy who had killed two burglars, speaks out on a radio show.

Hmmm, what’s missing in the description? Well, go see.

Nashville Mayor Karl Dean may join an anti-gun group:

A national movement among urban mayors against illegal guns and the so-called “gun show loophole” has made its way to Knoxville and Memphis. Nashville Mayor Karl Dean said he is exploring joining that cause.

Mayor Haslam and other Tennessee mayors have signed up with this anti-gun group.

Update: The Nashville City Paper gets the non-existent gun show loophole wrong. Sales at gun shows are subject to the same federal regulations as sales not at gun shows.

Update 2: In comments, Clint takes me to task for stating the paper gets it wrong. I took issue with the fact they called it a loophole when it is not. However, their description of the sales process is mostly accurate (a few nits aside).

Firearms and Freedom looks at the study that asserts that work places that do not prohibit employees from keeping guns in their cars are 5-7 times more likely to experience a work place homicide.

Via Sebastian who has more here.

and getting your feelings hurt.

Richard Daley has said that supposed assault weapons aren’t needed for protection. Why then is he buying some for the Chicago PD? Sebastian seems to think these are the full auto variety but I’m not so certain.

Obama Campaign Calls Racists Republican

So far, most of the racism I’ve seen comes from folks associated with Barack Where’s the Beef Obama.

Chicago Tribune Staff Report (and by that, probably Eric Zorn):

Gun-control advocates are weak. Whether they’re badly outnumbered by gun-rights advocates, lazier than gun-rights advocates or simply don’t have the statistical or philosophical ammunition to keep up with gun-rights advocates I’m not totally sure.

But the undeniable truth is that, whenever this subject bobs to the surface of the news pond, as it has lately, those who favor tough new laws to restrict access to guns prove to be no match for their passionate foes in the rumble-tumble of online debate.

Yeah, we know. Someone tell them how often the anti-gunners shut down comments on their own website.

Mike Adams:

But the same thing cannot be said of the UNCW political science professor who ultimately changed my views on gun control. He had really strong feelings and a willingness to face people who disagreed with his views. That’s why he came to visit our “Empty Holster Day” table last Tuesday.

But, unfortunately, the political science professor let his feelings get the better of him, which led directly to my change of heart on gun control. He began hurling epithets like “stupid, ignorant, and crazy” to the nineteen year old Millage. He so badly disrupted the event that the College Republican President called me in my office asking that I come over to try and calm him down.

I gladly complied with her request – largely because I know that these events generate intelligent debate until the first professor shows up.

It’s a recurring theme. Almost enough to warrant it’s own category!

NRA is encouraging folks to call their congress critters and tell them to support HR 4900 (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Reform and Firearms Modernization Act).

Ruger Single 6

Countertop ponders what to get.

Bruce got a new Kel-Tec err Ruger LCP.

Crayons.

Heh.

I may have to start doing that to junk mailers too.

So, tonight we got some friends over and we’re doing a beer butt chicken (more here). But that’s all preliminary as me and said male friend will get up at 0 early thirty and smoke about 55 pounds of Boston butts. And we’ll drink beer from about 0 early thirty until said butts are done.

Mmmm. I do like butts of all kinds.

Update: BTW, all this butt talk has Junior confused. We’ve told her that butt is a bad word. So, whenever I reference a butt she reminds me we don’t say that because it’s a bad word.

Barack The Outlaw Josey Wales Obama finally decided he’d stop pandering to gun owners since calling them bitter and went ahead and started advocating more gun laws. Actually, you wouldn’t know that from the headline that reads Laws alone can’t stop violence: Obama. But if you read the article, you’ll note he says:

We’ve got to tighten up our gun laws. I’ve said before we should have a much tougher background check system, one that’s much more effective and make sure there aren’t loopholes out there like the gun show loophole. [Or] The Tiahart (sic) Amendment [requiring destruction of gun-purchase records.] Here’s an example of something common-sense: The ATF [federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms] should be able to share info with local communities about where guns are coming from, tracing guns that are used in criminal activity. It’s been blocked consistently in Congress. As president, I’m gong to make sure we know if guns are being sold by unscrupulous gun dealers not abiding by existing laws. We should know about that.

So, he misrepresents the gun show loophole (McCain has too, btw). And he and the Sun Times lie about what the Tiahrt Amendment does.

bizgrrl notes the local religious fundies exercising their constitutional rights and scaring people (see here and here). I’m kinda curious who these ads are targeting too. They don’t seem very effective to me. I remember the ads a bit back that said:

Don’t make me come down there.

-God

They were at least funny. These are too preachy.

Mayor Bloomberg’s crony says more guns make us safer. Well, when you give them to anti-terror teams. I hope that team gets an armorer who can put their weapon sights on correctly.

Josh Sugarmann notes the NRA lost one million members. So did the Million Mom March, but who’s counting? Ok, the moms didn’t lose them they never had them.

In other news, The Violence Policy Center criticizing someone’s numbers? That’s awesome. They must have googled this up.

A lot of interesting stuff over at War on Guns regarding our old pals at the American Hunters and Shooters Association.

Says David:

Bottom line for the foundation: gross receipts just under $250K, and all the principles (Rosenthal, Vince, Shoenke, Hickok) say they work 5 hours or less per week for no compensation. But bear in mind this is the foundation, because Part VI, “Other Information,” asks if they are related to any other organization, to which they check “Yes,” and type in “See Statement 2.”

The name of that organization is American Hunters and Shooters Association, Inc., and they, too, are “exempt,” but to date no 990 has been posted (unless, as with the foundation, it is listed under another name?).

Also, the Freedom States Alliance (the shill group funded by the Joyce Foundation and runs Gun Guys) doesn’t seem to spend much of the $650K they get from Joyce. I wonder why? Like I said, I hope the Joyce Foundation kept a receipt since they’re not getting their money’s worth.

Some lame-ass alternative paper in Kansas City called The Pitch stole an image seen here. They used the image in a scare piece even though the law they’re shitting their pants over has nothing to do with the arbitrary construct known as assault weapons.

The owner of the image left them a comment them the image was not public domain and informing they did not have permission to use the image.

As of now, they are still showing the image.

Their contact info can be found here.

Update: Offending image is gone now.

In Chicago, they’ve gone from advocating things shown not to work to praying for thing that do not work:

Ministers To Fast, Pray For Gun Control, Hope Lawmakers Pay Attention

A group of inner-city ministers is calling for fasting and prayer the next three days — to dramatize the violence that targets Chicago schoolchildren.

WBBM’s Bob Roberts has the story.

Their goals are to try to protect children and move lawmakers to act on gun control legislation that is stalled in Springfield.

“It’s out of control. It’s terrorism on the streets of Chicago,” said Bishop Larry Trotter, pastor of the Sweet Holy Spirit Church.

Meanwhile, Mayor Daley blames his city’s shortcomings on everyone else.

Obviously, we need to make handguns and murder more illegaler.

Boy, you shoot one red light camera and everyone thinks you’re nuts.

A guy is selling Glocks and offering a discount to students. ABC news smears the guy.

Righteous indignation from the antis! Too bad some of them were cashing in on the blood of the dead.

Too bad he’s looking at it through a camera and not a rifle scope.

Kevin’s newest.

Gentlemen’s Top Cuts made the newspaper.

Update: over 250 comments.

Lying then or lying now?

It’s already here. Or should be. I don’t see that they collect it.

Robb has some here and here.

You’re doing it wrong.

After doing an article on Blogs, I noticed just now that our local newspaper now has an RSS feed. And this time, it works! From that RSS feed, we learn that:

The Daily Times has a space for community conversation. BlountCountyVoice.com puts you in the editor’s chair; you write about what’s important in your world and participate in discussions about topics of all shapes and sizes.

Daily Times reporters and editors are blogging at BlountCountyVoice.com along with many from around the community.

We’ve also begun relationships with several local bloggers to syndicate their content on our site. We include snippets from their blogs and provide a link to their sites from ours to help provide the bloggers in our community with additional exposure.

Excellent! Welcome to it. The still need to figure out this whole hyper linking thing, though.

I like to keep tabs on them so:

Tio Hardiman, director of mediation services for CeaseFire, said the group, which is operating on a skeleton staff after it lost more than $6 million in state funding, will attempt to train residents to peacefully resolve potentially violent conflicts, and will ask adult men in high-risk neighborhoods to agree to mentor one child on their block.

State-funded gun control groups?

There’s a shotgun club at the base of the Smoky Mountains for trap shooters. Seems the local busy-body contingent thinks that the lead from the range is bad for the local watershed and, of course, the noise is a problem. Another reason to remove the onerous regulations regarding sound suppressors and ammunition. After all, suppressors and some more environmentally friendly ammo would make everyone happy.

You can suppress shotguns, right?

Seems politicos always want to appear to be tough on crime. And the first thing they actually get tough on are your rights. If you’re caught with a prostitute, the local authorities want to seize your car.

Thoughts from Bob Benz.

AC takes a newbie to the range.

Unpossible:

Gun violence that swept through swaths of Chicago over the weekend pressed into midweek Wednesday when five people were found slain in a South Side home.

Via Insty, comes this:

When a rash of gun murders takes place, it makes sense for the police to do one of two things: renew tactics that have been effective in the past at curbing homicides, or embrace ideas that have not been tried before. But those options don’t appeal to Chicago Police Supt. Jody Weis. What he proposes instead is a crackdown on assault weapons.

Most likely, Chicago’s murders are committed with handguns (which are banned there). And not weapons that look like assault weapons. A rather pointless gesture and as I like to say:

gun control: what politicians do instead of something.

And range pics.

Bruce:

I have a news flash for anyone who’s ever uttered the words “Guns have no place in a civil society,”

I don’t have a newsflash so much as the standard response that: without guns, there’d be no civil society.

14 ladies who love guns.

I have to say that it was Erin Gray as Wilma on Buck Rogers who first caused me to notice women. In other news, there’s a Chickipedia?

Kahr with Clipdraw.

Pizza Hut waited for the controversy to die down then fired A pizza delivery driver, who police said defended himself by shooting a robber who attacked him

No more Pizza Hut for me.

Update: Tom says don’t eat their pizza because it’s crappy pizza.

I’m told by a few that I may be misreading Zorn’s piece that I criticize here. Seems that he has been fairly critical of gun control in the past.

I can see that. So noted.

As far as I’m concerned, the most annoying thing on Al Gore’s Internets since pop-up ads is Snap. And, increasingly, for some reason that I cannot fathom, it’s use is on the rise. I hate it. It’s clutter. I accidentally mouse over some bit of text and now I can’t read a 1.5×1.5 area of a website. It sucks.

I want to never see it again. I use Firefox. Is there a way to make sure I never see it again?

Update: See here. I think I did that once and it came back. But it is working now. Cool. Thanks to Aubrey Turner in comments.

A few kids in my neighborhood have a case of teh st00pid. It’s true. Case one is that I and about three other cars are pulling into the neighborhood. Standing in the middle of the street are two boys who I’d put at between the ages of 11 and 13. Upon seeing the cars backing up, the two geniuses continued to stand in the middle of the street. For a good 20 seconds before I honked, shot them a stern look, and mouthed the word idiots. Not a good place to stand since the grass at the entrance to the subdivision is a bit tall and someone who was going too fast could fail to see you in time and it’s off to the ER with your dumb ass.

The second instance and I am not making this up. Again, driving home in my subdivision. There’s a kid on a bike in the middle of the street. I’m going slow enough to not be a threat. He’s not paying attention. He finally sees me and gets over. So far so good. I look over and see that he has a bow strung over his shoulder. And, I shit you not, in his left hand he’s carrying two arrows. That’s right. A kid on a bike is carrying arrows. Holy crap.

Early intervention is key at preventing teh st00pid. I don’t know how far gone these two are but someone (like say, the parents) should step up.

Update: Note that I am neither anti-bow nor anti-arrow. I just think if you’re carrying around arrows, they should be properly sheathed. Particularly, if you’re on a bike and run the risk of impaling yourself at slightly higher speeds than, say, walking.

ABC was busted before lying about the impact of the assault weapons ban. ABC news even moderating blog comments that corrected the errors. Well, they’re lying again and the video is here.

Confederate Yankee has a lot more:

Today, Ross and accomplice Richard Esposito continue that fine ABC News tradition of making up the news, in a story claiming that the U.S. Second Amendment is to blame for Mexico’s drug cartel problems.

The deception starts with the picture at the beginning of the article.

Yes, according to ABC news you can walk into a gun show and buy all kinds of weapons that are heavily regulated (i.e., no one will sell them to you without the extensive NFA process) and walk those machine guns and short barreled rifles right across the border.

Update: And a suggestion for Mexico: Maybe seal your northern border? Like you did your southern one. That’d keep your drugs out and our guns in.

In other news, Les started using unpossible before I did.

Update: Still more at Stop the ACLU.

First, Linoge tagged me with a book meme. But the only book in my office is The Miller GAAP Guide and I am simply not typing up an income statement for some made up company.

Then Breda hits me up with the coffee mug meme:

I’d ask Unc to do it too but I’m not even sure if he drinks coffee or ever takes photos.

I drink too much coffee. I have about four of the mug below every day. I’m not big on taking pictures and am probably the only blogger who doesn’t carry around a camera. My wife is big on pictures. I am not. However, my phone will do in a pinch:

It’s a plain blue, insulated coffee mug. It used to have a logo on it but it has since worn off. And I have two of them (and I used to have three – lost one). And if you put them side by side, I couldn’t tell them apart. I’m a functional person more than a style person. These mugs were free, they hold coffee, they keep a cup hot for an hour or more, they’re indestructible and if I lose one then I won’t care. I think some salesman gave them to my wife or something. Maybe I should get a mug that’s a conversation starter, though.

David notes that the Joyce Foundation had been buying up law reviews for Heller.

This in addition to all the other Joyce Foundation shenanigans.

Over at some rag in Kansas City, they’re intimating that the bill recently passed to allow NFA transfers somehow relates to the made up term assault weapons.

Seems they bought the Violence Policy Center and Brady Campaign’s years of misrepresentation.

In other news, check out the gun in the pic accompanying the article.

If you’re a burglar and a blind man whips your ass then holds you until the police arrive, you should consider a career change.

The local press could only find one Empty Holster Protester at UT?

To Tam. I dunno what that means exactly as it’s written in some foreign language called Mac that nobody I know speaks. But it sounds like she’s got a paid writing gig.

A Sydney University study concludes Australia’s recent gun controls had no effect on anything.

So, the fake pro-gun rights group set up by the Democrat Leadership Council to make Democrats look pro-gun (when they could just be pro-gun) The American Hunters and Shooters Association didn’t deliver. Poor Bob Ricker. They spent $500K and all they got was a website. Oh, and McCaskill, who they’ll quickly remind you of and who you probably don’t care about.

Here’s a conversation between Bob Ricker and Barack biggity biggity bop Obama.

Related: I hereby announce the formation of the advocacy group “Thoughtful Liberals For Reasonable Gun Control,” and further announce that we are endorsing John McCain for President

Heh.

Taurus porn.

And some EBR stuff here.

Countertop has some here and here.

Over at The Daily Times, they do a piece on blogs.

I think this is the second time they’ve used the word blog. But someone should tell them how to use hyperlinks in their stories. I mean, I had to google up Red Necks and White Socks — It’s Murville. It’s a local blog mentioned in the piece that I’d never heard of. And it’s also, apparently, not even local.

And they mention Blountviews, R. Neal’s other joint.

Update: Say, two of the more popular blogs originate in Blount County and we weren’t contacted?

She won PA. And you know what this means? Six more weeks of pandering!

The gambling industry* is giving PA to Hillary by between 7-10 points. Probably more accurate than any poll you’ll read today.

Turns out, the people between Philly and Pittsburgh are not so fond of being called cousin-humping, bible-thumping, gun-toting, angry hangers on. Who knew?

And by the gambling industry I mean my bookie. And by my bookie, I don’t mean my bookie but rather a guy I know who is a bookie.

Say it ain’t so.

But wait, there’s more.

It’s a sad day when you cannot trust a religious man like Al.

Gentlemen’s Top Cuts is now officially open for business. Here’s their press release:

“Knoxville has several good salons to pick from, if you’re a woman. We felt that it was time for men to have a place of their own place to be pampered.” states Mike Huff, co-owner. “We’ve created a sexy and unique Vegas-influenced ambiance, hired some of the region’s best talent, and are making haircuts something men can look forward to.”

Aside from quality hair care, Gentlemen’s Top Cuts will provide full spa services. Massages, manicures, pedicures, facials, waxing and paraffin dips await those needing to relax and unwind. During the first few weeks after opening, the salon will offer all services except for massages. A decision has been made to stage the service offerings to guarantee exceptional customer satisfaction.

Here’s my review of my sneak peak of the place.

And here’s a list of past posts with some of the controversy about the place.

Angry Mouse over at DKos:

Liberals love the Constitution. They especially love the Bill of Rights. They love all the Amendments.

Except for one: the Second Amendment.

When it comes to discussing the Second Amendment, liberals check at the door their ability to think rationally. In discussing the importance of any other portion of the Bill of Rights, liberals can quote legal precedent, news reports, and exhaustive studies. They can talk about the intentions of the Founding Fathers.

And they will, almost without exception, conclude the necessity of respecting, and not restricting, civil liberties.

So why do liberals have such a problem with the Second Amendment? Why do they lump all gun owners in the category of “gun nuts”? Why do they complain about the “radical extremist agenda of the NRA”? Why do they argue for greater restrictions?

Why do they start performing mental gymnastics worthy of a position in Bush’s Department of Justice to rationalize what they consider “reasonable” infringement of one of our most basic, fundamental, and revolutionary — that’s right, revolutionary — civil liberties?

Why do they pursue these policies at the risk of alienating voters who might otherwise vote Democrat? Why are they so dismissive of approximately 40% of American households that own one or more guns?

And why is their approach to the Second Amendment so different from their approach to all the others?

Well, if conversations on this blog about the issue of guns are in any way indicative of the way other liberals feel, maybe this stems from a basic misunderstanding.

So, allow me to attempt to explain the Second Amendment in a way that liberals should be able to endorse.

He’s getting a ribbing in comments there from the Tolerant Left. The Tolerant Left: Turning liberals into libertarians one gun owner at a time! Ask this guy.

Via Jay.

Congressional Research Service report on Heller is here.

I thought it was illegal for them to possess weapons: Under pressure to meet combat needs, the Army and Marine Corps brought in significantly more recruits with felony convictions last year than in 2006, including some with manslaughter and sex crime convictions.

Someone call Eric Zorn a Waaahmbulance:

I’ve written several posts and column items recently on the issue of gun control — the most recent one asking for ideas from both sides about compromises that gun-rights people and gun-ban people might be able to live with.

And each time it has struck me how tiny, uninspired and vague the response has been from those who favor new laws to try to keep guns out of the hand of evildoers.

While the gun-rights folks weigh in quickly and forcefully with links to studies and detailed arguments, the gun-ban folks are mostly quiet. The suggestions seem to be mostly on the order of Police Supt. Jody Weis’ call in today’s paper to ban AK-47 rifles, which, as I have argued before, is beside the point, at best.

If gun-control advocates don’t want to or can’t join the conversation here, I’m prepared to shut it down as the futile exercise it may well be.

Oh my god, you mean we calmly refute your talking points with facts, figures, cites and logic? And take issue when you guys just parrot what an anti-gun group tells you? Another Chicago columnist learned this lesson a bit back. And see here. Mr. Zorn, meet the internet graveyard of anti-gun activists.

We’re passionate and ready. And, at the click of a button, I can send you all the Reasoned Discourse^tm you can handle.

This is why we win. Sure, it’s like whack-a-mole in that we can’t stop or we lose. But there’s no shortage of us to counter your emotion-laden, feel good nonsense. That and, outside a few locations of which Chicago is one, gun control is just not very popular.

The anti-gun side even uses the wealth of the Joyce Foundation to pay people to appear as though there is a grassroots gun control movement when there is not. The pro-gun side does not pay me. I do it because I believe in it. Compared to your side which has to shell out $650K to an ad agency to set up a fake network of fake anti-gun activists.

Rusty points out you answered your own question.

Sebastian says we should thank Al Gore for his internets.

Update: May be reading the piece wrong. See update here.

Andy notes his personal experience with thieves. Some developers I know had several tens of thousands of dollars of copper stolen from a one of their sites. And it was in the ground. I guess it’s good money to warrant people getting that creative to steal it.

Sebastian says gun owners should come out of the closet.

In England:

A “why bother?” economy has been created in Britain which has left thousands with no motivation to work, a report published today concludes.

Successive governments have encouraged a welfare culture that has left every family facing a £1,300 bill because the poor stay poor, it claims.

The findings by the public services think tank Reform suggest that increased welfare dependency has made it more difficult for those on the lowest incomes to do better.

Kim du Toit:

my favorites are the “agony” columns, in which (usually-female) journalists attempt to answer people’s questions and provide answers to personal problems, in the same manner, I suppose, in which celibate Catholic priests are supposed to solve marital and sexual problems or politicians cure us of corruption.

Ouchie.