Breaking news:

A D.C. television station is reporting that Mayor Adrian Fenty will appeal the Parker case to the Supreme Court.  The appeal hasn’t been filed yet, from what it looks like. 

Prior coverage of Parker here.

Update: More at scotusblog.

*Ahem* they’re magazines not clips. In other news, S&W offers free magazines with their M&P pistols.

When I was last at Coal Creek Armory, I saw one of these odd weapons. It’s a bullpup Kalashnikov.

The Gazette:

A quick check of the NRA Web site, admittedly a player with an agenda, tells a different story. For one thing, it provides more information about the two amendments the committee killed. The first would have done away with the Tiahrt language altogether and made BATFE data public record for anyone to see. The second, a so-called compromise, would have allowed access to the data to anyone who filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the feds. The NRA also points out that many police agencies support the Tiahrt language as a way of protecting officers. Those agencies don’t seem to believe opening the database is a good idea.

And this is beautiful:

If Bloomberg has information that dealers are illegally selling guns that end up in his city, he should stop grandstanding, share that information with the BATFE and allow the feds to do their jobs.

We’re not accusing the AP of bias*, but we did want to use the story to illustrate the importance of getting information from various sources. Maybe if Mayor Bloomberg had done that, he would know about the federal government’s role in closing gun shops that don’t follow the law.

* I, however, am.

Saiga Shorty Shotguns.

Keep your booger-hook off the bang-switch.

Seems the passage of the Tiahrt amendment (which always passes) has the gun control folks and editorial boards (but I repeat myself) up in arms.

Times Union:

Gun lobby wins again

It hardly matters that it’s the Democrats who now ostensibly control Congress. On the critical matter of fighting gun crime, it’s still the gun lobby that prevails. The National Rifle Association in particular still controls enough votes, on both sides of the aisle, to stop local governments from making even modest progress in their quest to reduce gun violence.

Really, now, what sensible person would resist legislation that would give local governments and police agencies access to data tracking gun sales? Why can’t they know where guns used in the commission of crimes came from?

You’re a liar. There is no prevention of access to data on tracking gun sales so long as said trace is related to a particular gun crime. The bill prohibits snooping through the data. Don’t take my word for it, though. Take the word of those sensible people at the Fraternal Order of Police and those sensible people at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives who think restricting the access to the data is a good idea.

Courier-Journal:

Guns first, police second

The U.S. House Appropriations Committee has voted to renew the Tiahrt Amendment, which limits local police access to a federal database of gun purchases.

That’s how the cookie crumbles for anyone cheeky enough to challenge the gun lobby.

Note the evil gun lobby theme continues.

Yet, gun traces still work:

The shell casings had barely cooled on a Brooklyn street when federal agents began trying to unwrap a mystery: How did three pistols get in the hands of the men who gunned down two police officers?

At the time, the agents had little to go on. The shooters were still on the loose.

Yet within hours, agents learned that the guns were originally sold by three shops in southern states. Powerful computer databases told them more. Two of the guns were several years old, meaning they had probably changed hands several times. Another was nearly new.

How could that be? Editorial boards are telling me that can’t happen. I. Am. Shocked.

The AP:

The country’s largest gun lobby is no longer offering free tickets to get to Sesame Street.

The National Rifle Association had been giving away free tickets to Sesame Place, an amusement park that caters to children, and other theme parks in return for online donations to its political arm, the Institute for Legislative Action.

Parent company Anheuser-Busch Cos. (nyse: BUD – news – people ) said Sesame Place should not have been included in the promotion, which had drawn the ire of gun-control advocates.

“This was an inadvertent error by Busch Entertainment Corp. and we apologize for any confusion,” the St. Louis-based company said in a statement Friday.

Both the NRA and Anheuser-Busch had initially defended the inclusion of Sesame Place, which is located just northeast of Philadelphia and is based on the children’s TV show “Sesame Street.”

Bryan Miller, executive director of Ceasefire New Jersey, told the Philadelphia Daily News for Friday’s editions that it was “just wrong” for the NRA to raise money by using the name of a theme park catering to small children.

You guys will cave to these losers? Sorry, you’ve lost a customer. No more Bud-lite at my house or Michelob.

Update: In comments, bitter writes:

I don’t think there’s a story here. A-B has always been very, very good with supporting our issues. Sebastian and I were talking about this issue during the weekend as we drove past Sesame Place, and we think it’s likely a licensing issue. We believe that A-B licenses the Sesame Street characters/name/etc. and that PBS may have thrown a small fit.

Is it stupid? Yes. And I really doubt that the vouchers say they aren’t good at Sesame Place, just that NRA has to stop advertising Sesame Place in their emails and materials promoting the donation gift.

From a licensing perspective, whoever ultimate owns the Sesame Street name and rights may have be concerned about it’s name being attached to explicitly political donations. These weren’t gifts for donating to education programs or even general operations, but directly to the lobby outfit.

Point being, I don’t think it’s fair to go after A-B without some serious research into legal issues. They do enough to support us the rest of the time, that I find it hard to believe it was due to some minor complaints from a NJ gun control activist.

Could be.

Update 2: AB does a lot for NRA:

How does continuing to offer passes to seven theme parks in exchange for donations to ILA make A-B anti-gun? How does the continued sponsorship and financial support of pro-gun and pro-hunting organizations make A-B part of the gun control crowd? It doesn’t.

So, continuing the fine tradition in the fight against gun ownership, the proud foot soldiers continue their protests in areas that already have the stringent gun control laws they’re pushing for:

Community and religious leaders marched on a west suburban gun shop Saturday in an effort to stop the violence.

Reverend Jesse Jackson helped organized a rally outside Suburban Sporting Goods Guns and Ammo in Melrose Park. It was the second rally at the shop this month.

More from Jesse:

“They could buy 500 guns and sell them from the back of their car to kids to teenagers.

Yes, they could. But that would be illegal.

So, we want to change the gun culture by convincing people not to buy them, but more on that, to make it more difficult to sell them without accountability,” said Rev. Jackson.

You’re going to change the gun culture. In fact, you’ll probably do quite a bit to increase its numbers.

Sure, these bans have no impact on crime and only affect weapons based on appearance. But they do lead to creativity on the part of gun makers & hobbyists.

Well, I don’t. But it seems to be a good line to use on hippies.

Well, no one should be surprised that a Democrat from Illinois wants to ban guns:

Standing before a church congregation that has witnessed inner-city violence firsthand, Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama said Sunday that more must be done to end a social ill that is “sickening the soul of this nation.”

Obama told churchgoers at the Vernon Park Church of God on Chicago’s South Side that too many young lives are being claimed by violence and more must be done to combat the problem.

“From South Central L.A. to Newark, New Jersey, there’s an epidemic of violence that’s sickening the soul of this nation,” the Illinois senator told the crowd. “The violence is unacceptable and it’s got to stop.”

Nearly three dozen Chicago students have been killed this year, according to Chicago Public Schools. Obama said that figure is higher than the number of Illinois serviceman who’ve died in Iraq in 2007.“We need to express our collective anger through collective action,” Obama said.

He said the government needs to permanently reinstate an assault weapons ban and close regulatory loopholes that protect unscrupulous gun dealers.

The ban on weapons that look like assault weapons did nothing to prevent crime.

Cash game, third position and look down to: J♦J♣.

Woohoo. Raise it up to five times the blind. Guy one off the button minimum raises. I call. Then

Flop: J♥, 3♣ A♥

I bet about the size of the pot. He goes all in. I call:

Turn: 8♦

River: 8♥

He had aces. Blech.

The field behind my house has some. They now have one less.

Brittney emails this link focusing on clothes and mannerisms.

I find I play this game out in public, particularly at gun shops and gun shows, where I guess who’s packing. And I have to state that my rather, err, unconventional methods of carry (i.e., ClipDraw on a Glock or Kel-Tec in the front pocket) make me difficult to make. That’s probably why I’ve never been body slammed by the coppers. That and I don’t wear a shoot me first vest.

How did the ATF trace these weapons? I mean, since you’re telling people they can’t, it must be *cough* true. So, it never happened, right?

And while we’re at it, who are these police against the Tiahrt amendment? After all, the largest police organization in the country is firmly for it.

But let Paul grasp at straws. It’s all he’s got. Been a tough few months for The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Ownership. Say, up for some reasoned discourse?

Update: Teehee, I have a fan. So much for reasoned discourse:

Robb Allen — I’ve read your stupid posts, both here & on “SayUncle’s” nutty blogsite that he tries to link readers to, from the Brady blogs. I sincerely hope that readers are smart enough (which I’m sure they are!) to take what you both say with a grain of salt ~ and also, to realize that neither of you are concerned about other’s safety, when it comes to gun crimes & violence. All you care about are your access to guns ~ and such selfishness comes through loud & clear buddy.

You are sickening,

Kelli

First, Gonzo err young missy, I’ll bet a box of ammo that I send more readers to the brady blog than they send here. Second, I’m gonna guess the most readers of the brady blog play for the other team. Third, I am concerned about violence but gun control is what you do instead of something. Fourth, I wouldn’t be concerned about access to guns if people like you weren’t trying your damnedest to, uh, restrict that right.

The only thing sickening to you is the truth.

Local farmer and stormwater champion James McMillan has used technology to prove a point he has tried to make for years. That Knox County Commission has failed the people of Knox County with ineffective stormwater codes and enforcement. The solution, bring EPA to Knox County.

By using YouTube James McMillan has done just that. You can see the twenty three YouTube videos of stormwater flooding here.

WBIR has more:

Anyone can see muddy water running off the Rushland Park Subdivision on Millertown Pike in East Knox County. Why? Because a nearby farmer discovered the power of the Internet site, “YouTube.”

James McMillan has posted video on the Web of the runoff from the Saddlebrook Development site that’s caused problems for surrounding property owners.

“This creates flooding problems and damage to other people’s property,” James McMillan explained. “Reasonable and responsible development doesn’t damage others.”

McMillan is happy to hear his video also helped the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) come down on Rushland Park and two other developments for violating the Clean Water Act.

Like Les, only I make them up. Today’s word is Perpetual-Wiki-Loop: The process whereby you look something up on Wikipedia and thirty minutes later find yourself reading something else on Wikipedia completely unrelated to the initial thing you looked up and wondering where that thirty minutes just went.

I found myself reading about The Census of Quirinius thirty minutes after I was reading about The Violent Femmes.

I don’t know how it happened.

The Ragsdale comedy express keeps giving. The latest victim to be thrown under the Ragsdale bus is Knox County Finance Director John Werner. At latest count that makes at least three victims under that bus. Tyler Harber, Requitta Bone, and now John Werner.

Mr. Werner has already repaid Knox County $2,256.86. Supposedly many of the charges going toward work-related meals that included the purchase of alcoholic beverages at official events and conferences. As the County Finance Director John Werner was responsible for auditing work related expenses. The buck has to stop somewhere.

But were there outrageous charges to Knox County for food items at local restaurants that had no foundation?

You could say that. In today’s Knoxville News Sentinel Scott Barker reports that Mayor Ragsdale’s executive administrative assistant Margie Loyd, former Knox County Commissioner Diane Jordan and a friend of Diane Jordan’s dined at Regas Restaurant and rang up bill for lunch of $227.56 including a 14.6% tip. The only thing this group was frugal on. One of the three ordered roast turkey and dressing for a relatively modest $10.95 but the other two ordered the lobster. But wait there is more, they also ordered two more lobster tails to go at $37.98 apiece.

Yes, to go.

On Thursday Mayor Ragsdale transferred Margie Loyd to the Community Services Department.

Scott Barker reports on the Werner resignation, “Ragsdale wouldn’t say whether he asked Werner to resign. “I accepted his resignation,” the mayor said twice when directly asked if he demanded that Werner quit.”

It is not known why Werner resigned or was ask to resign. This all happened after Mayor Ragsdale appeared on the Hallerin Hill radio program on WNOX in Knoxville Thursday morning. Mayor Ragsdale seemed especially concerned with a caller who asked pointed questions about whether Knox County performed adequate audits of travel expenses.

More discussion at KnoxViews and WBIR. If you work on the sixth floor of the City County building keep an eye out for that bus.

In case you missed it from the post below:

But Obey lashed out at both the NRA, which failed to endorse him in his most recent race despite his pro-gun rights record, and Bloomberg. He said the mayor’s representatives came to his office and threatened to run television ads attacking him.”

Nice. But what we expect from anti-gun zealots. The mayor denies it:

Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s aides threatened to run negative ads against House Appropriations Committee chairman David Obey if pro-gun legislation opposed by the mayor was passed in that committee, Obey claimed yesterday. The mayor’s office denied the charge.

Speaking during a committee session, Obey (D-Wis.) said Bloomberg aides told his staff that TV ads painting him as anti-law enforcement would be run in his district if the provision, known as the Tiahrt Amendment, restricting police use of federal gun checks, was passed.

“The Mayor’s staff came into my office, and rather than discuss the merits, they simply did what so many bullies do … they threatened to run ads in my district if I didn’t bow to their wishes,” Obey said according to a transcript provided by his staff.

The Fraternal Order of Police supports the Tiahrt amendment. Per Bloomie, for that they are a fringe group.

Someone tell Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam that this is the type of man he has chosen to associate with.

Looks like David is posting, at least semi-regularly again.

Robb:

There is no better source for pro-gun information

Than the Brady Blog itself.

Amen.

Remember those heat seeking, incendiary 50 calibers? Probably not, because that’s made up. But Tam snarks:

Makes you wonder why the U.S. military wastes so much money on big, heavy surface-to-air missiles, doesn’t it?

It does.

The NRA:

The U.S. House Appropriations Committee voted to protect language commonly known as the Tiahrt Amendment, rejecting two separate amendments designed to strike and gut the language, in the Commerce, Justice, and Science appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2008. This language maintains firearm trace information within the law enforcement community and out of the hands of politicians, trial lawyers and special interest groups.

Greg says:

Congress didn’t ignore the Mayors Against Illegal Guns. They (Democrats and Republicans alike) paid close attention to Bloomberg’s ranting and incoherent raving, then told him in no uncertain terms to go to hell.

David Hardy notes that pro-gun Democrats are why:

“The committee chairman, Rep. David Obey _ a liberal Democrat representing a rural Wisconsin district _ said the issue was only marginally related to gun rights. He opposed the efforts to ease the data restrictions.

But Obey lashed out at both the NRA, which failed to endorse him in his most recent race despite his pro-gun rights record, and Bloomberg. He said the mayor’s representatives came to his office and threatened to run television ads attacking him.”

So, to get someone out of Cali and in TN, Tam has offered a lower. I offered an LPK and stock. ParatrooperJJ has offered up an upper. And emdfl has offered up a couple of magazines.

So, what are you waiting on?

The AP:

When criminals need guns, they have plenty of options in a country with nearly 100,000 licensed gun stores. But drug dealers and other crooks don’t shop just anywhere. They have their favorites.

In Compton, Calif., gangsters preferred Boulevard Sales & Service, a shop police said was so felon-friendly, some salesmen offered tips on how to buy a gun despite a criminal record.

In Philadelphia, shady gun buyers sent girlfriends to a suburban pawn shop, Lou’s Loan, where the staff wouldn’t raise a fuss if a young woman came by a few times a month to purchase cheap handguns. [because women don’t buy guns, right? – ed]

And on the outskirts of New Orleans, killers-to-be armed themselves at Elliot’s Gun Shop. Over the past five years, the store was the source of 2,300 weapons later linked to crime, including an astonishing 125 homicides, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

In fact, government figures show that an extremely small number of gun shops account for a spectacularly large number of weapons used in crimes.

Is that because those dealers live in high crime areas? But:

“I’ve never run into a situation where a dealer has intentionally violated the law,” said Richard Gardiner, a Virginia lawyer who represents gun dealers. If guns are being bought at these stores by criminals, “it is because they are being exploited by people who know how to beat the system.”

Indeed. Why would a dealer be alarmed if a young lady came in and bought a gun? Is she prohibited and does she have the cash are the only questions that need answering before the dealer sells to them. Gun dealers are not the gun police. That is the ATF’s job. And if a salesman is offering tips on skirting the law, that is a problem.

RangerUp (an advertiser here on the left) wants to get one of their models in Maxim magazine. They need your help. So, go here and read.

It starts. I want this:

To look more like this (note: crappy photoshop):

So, it’s time to begin the NFA process. I stopped by Coal Creek Armory yesterday to figure out where to start. And that start is go get fingerprinted on some government form at a police station (you know, like a criminal). And to also get two 2X2 passport photos of my noggin. I’ll do that next week.

It’s a pity this guy didn’t try this with his, err, dudes. At least then, he’d be out of the gene pool.

Looks like it needs another wheel.