In comments on whether or not driving is a right, Phelps says:

Saying that travelling is a right but driving isn’t is like saying that we have freedom of the press but you have to buy all your ink from the state.

Seen here:

COMMONWEALTH of VIRGINIA
April 13, 2007
Office of the Attorney General
The Honorable Michael Bloomberg
Mayor, City of New York
Municipal Building, One Centre Street
Tenth Floor North
New York, NY 10007

Robert F. McDonnell
Attorney General
900 East Main Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
804-786-2071
FAX 804-786-1991
Virginia Relay Services
800-828-1120
7-1-1

RE: Unauthorized Undercover Firearm Transactions in the Commonwealth of Virginia

Dear Mayor Bloomberg:

I write you regarding Chapter 509 of the 2007 Virginia Acts of Assembly, introduced at my request, addressing “simulated straw purchases” of firearms in the Commonwealth. A copy of the new law is enclosed herein for your reference. The intent of this legislation is to prevent unauthorized activity by non-law enforcement personnel to conduct otherwise illegal firearms purchases. The recent activities by agents of the City of New York in Virginia brought this issue to my attention.

As you know, the U.S. Department of Justice recently wrote to you that such activity is counterproductive to legitimate law enforcement efforts to police illegal firearm trafficking, and has potential legal liabilities. Representatives of your Office have apparently suggested publicly that they may continue such simulated firearm transactions in Virginia perhaps with a view towards further litigation.

The new legislation passed this year at my insistence and signed by Governor Kaine, makes clear that such non-law enforcement activities related to undercover illegal firearm purchases will be punishable as a felony in Virginia. While I understand that you are attempting to take steps that you believe may enhance the public safety of the citizens of New York City, such laws are Virginia’s duty to enforce, and our outstanding state police take that duty seriously. Virginia police and prosecutors now have the tools necessary to stop such unwarranted firearms purchase activity by unauthorized outside agents, and will faithfully enforce the law when violations are discovered.

This new Virginia law strikes the proper balance between ensuring effective law enforcement and protecting the rights of law abiding firearms dealers and those of Virginia citizens under the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution. If in the future you have specific concerns about criminal justice matters in the Commonwealth, please contact me, the Governor, or the proper law-enforcement agency responsible for investigating and prosecuting such conduct. We will be pleased to address any legitimate public safety concerns that you might raise.

Thanks for your future cooperation.
Robert F. McDonnell
RFM/pdw

Emphasis added because I wanted to. Good.

There were reports of it. Doesn’t seem that nefarious to me:

Apparently, as they dig through rubble and come across guns, they are tagging them and marking the location where they are found and taking them for storage.

Seems to me a good way to make sure they’re not stolen.

Well, all those guns the manufacturers are making have to go somewhere.

Tennessee’s legislature is pretty darn pro-gun. Unless those guns are super-soakers:

Won’t the Tennessee State University be a safer place now that toy guns are banned? Next on the list–extending your index finger forward while holding your thumb up.

On yesterday’s radio program, we interviewed State Rep. Stacey Campfield regarding a change to TSU’s campus laws that appeared before a government committee in Nashville. Campfield said that the vote to ban toy guns passed on a party line vote. According to Campfield, Republicans voted against banning toy guns…Democrats voted for.

The Rep:

We just voted in joint gov opps committee to allow Tennessee State University to ban water guns, cap guns or any other weapons that simulate a firearm. It passed on a party line vote.

This is what we pay you guys for?

Volokh: Chances of the Supreme Court’s Hearing the Case: High, I’d say well over 50%. He has a lot more.

Countertop:

They could either appeal to the Supreme against odds that might eventually make their job much more difficult and result in a decision that would likely undermine much of what they worked for over the last 4 decades OR they could accept the decision and return to DC and pass draconian gun laws, nearly as restrictive but ultimately allowing some right (however negligible) to register new guns while at the same time imposing tremendous regulatory hurdles to any gun shop actually opening up in DC (and therefore undermining that right) and developing a permit approval system that combined with the usual level of D.C. incompetence, effectively accomplishes the same thing as the current ban.

Sebastian:

I also wonder what they really have to lose by going to the Supreme Court.

Bitter: Damn, I’m nervous now.

A million dudes who call themselves “amateur gynecologists” don’t deserve $100K+ a year for that, either. I prefer Bikini Inspector.

Fight gun control. Take someone shooting. And you may get $1,000.

AC on the CCW list published by the Tennessean:

You see, whether the Tennessean publishes the names on the list is not the tragedy. The tragedy is that the list exists at all.

We know how I feel about the death penalty (short version: not a fan). Seems a man is scheduled to die in Tennessee tonight for a 1982 murder. I think there’s enough reasonable doubt to warrant further investigation into the case of Phillip Workman. He’s no boyscout, that’s for sure. But the death penalty is irreversible and all evidence needs to be looked at because death can’t be undone. Freedonian and I don’t see eye-to-eye on a lot of issues (because he’s a hoplophobe) but I think he’s right on this time.

Via AC.

Seems The Tennessean’s list of CCW holders is now gone. It was here earlier.

Update: Confirmed, it is gone. Thanks, blake!

Rehearing denied. Could be going to the supreme court. Here’s the denial. Here’s more analysis.

In an update to the Tennessean publishing a database of concealed carry permit holders, I see that Dillard’s advertises on nearly every page. Dillard’s contact info is here. I’ve sent them a note. You could too.

Meanwhile, Blake:

In reality, I can only come to two conclusions: 1) They didn’t think any of this through and are incompetent, or 2) they have it out for law-abiding gun owners. At this point, I’m not sure which it is. But I do know one thing…it wasn’t a smart move.

Can it be both?

Update: Anyone have a list of major advertisers in the print edition?

And commenter Jeff says:

Lets call the two men responsible for recently passing pro-CCW friendly legislation allowing CCW in State Parks:

Sen Tim Burchett 615 741 1766

Rep Frank Niceley 615 741 4419

Make a suggestion that they pass an emergency bill to restrict public access to CCW records, with exception of criminal acts i.e. if I commit a crime and have a CCW they can publish that. Otherwise, hands off.

While we’re asking, can we get a bill passed that treats your CCW permit like a drivers license endorsement? I’d like to thin my wallet.

Following in the footsteps of a mental midget like Christian Trejbal, The Tennessean has decided to publish a searchable database of Concealed Carry Weapons permit holders in Tennessee. It is here. So, now thieves and would be robbers can search, by city, and find places to go steal guns. When this happened in Virginia, the paper took the list down, apologized and the legislature proposed a bill making the info private. And the AG went ahead and made it private.

Other than sensational grandstanding, letting criminals know where to steal guns, knowing it will create a buzz, and the upcoming martyr shtick they’ll pull (we were just exercising our first amendment rights!), what is the purpose of doing such a thing?

If, like me, you’re not happy about it, let them know. Here’s their contact page.

Update: I will be contacting their advertisers (like Dillards).

Update 2: Maybe some enterprising blogger could start looking for DUIs, unpaid property taxes, legal proceedings, and other stuff having to do with Tennessean staffers? It’s all public info and, well by golly, we have a right to know.

Update 3: For fun, I searched the database for names of prominent political figures. In most cases, I got no results. However, I was in there multiple times.

Update 4: Some folks are saying that it is dumb to think that criminals would use a list like this to go steal guns. They don’t use lists? Why all the identity theft? And over 80% of crime guns are either stolen or come from the black market.

These folks say I should stick with privacy concerns. I thought that was pretty evident that this violated privacy. So, yeah, I don’t like having such info published in the paper. I think it serves no purpose. And, of course, any nefarious sorts can use the list to find out who does not have a carry permit as well.

Update 5: Here’s their article on CCW. You can leave a comment at the Tennessean here.

Update 6: Steve Gill says:

I bet they would freak out if we used the voter rolls and other public data to publish the home addresses of their reporters and editorial staff. After all, there are some nutcases who might try to do them harm if they knew where they lived and didn’t like what they wrote in their paper. But that would be irresponsible, wouldn’t it?????

And, you know, the info from the drivers license database is equally accessible.

Via insty.

Update 7: Seems The Tennessean’s list of CCW holders is now gone. It was here earlier. Could just be down, I suppose.

Update 8: Confirmed . The Tennessean has pulled it. Good for them. Good job, Blake!

I’d advise taking a gun:

Bears have killed two family dogs in mountain residential areas, and wildlife officials warn more attacks could be coming.

They say recent cold weather has hurt the bears’ food supply, and that development is creeping into undeveloped land where bears live.

In Asheville this past Sunday night, a mother black bear killed a dog that had been let out in the back yard around 11:00 p.m. The bear had cubs nearby.

Developers are starting to build on mountain land about a mile away, so bears are looking for food from different sources.

Hungry bears are not to be trifled with. Of course, packing in parks is illegal but that’s looking to change.

Bears seem awful ornery lately.

Sebastian:

the difference between owning a firearm and driving a car. One is a right, and one is a privilege.

I’m gonna disagree and say driving (i.e., traveling) is definitely a right (see here for the short version). It’s one of those rights (like abortion err privacy) that is not specifically enumerated in the constitution but exists nonetheless. But it, like any other right, is subject to reasonable regulation.

What say you?

After the VT Shooting, that’s what a couple of states are doing.

RANDY SALZMAN:

What I haven’t read, or heard on television either, is anything about the 2002 Appalachian Law School shootings– also in Virginia– where two students used their personal firearms to disarm a demented man who murdered three and wounded three.

Tracy Bridges and Mikhel Gross– who, oddly, given our violence-crazed “entertainment” media, would be faux heroes– have apparently not been approached by any mainstream news organization for their take on the murder of 32 innocents. Since it’s possible that their actions may have prevented a Virginia Tech scenario, it seems a newsworthy decision to interview these men.

Strangely, the press will interview murderous bastards for their opinion.

Robb says, though he’s a handgunner, he wants a rifle:

But honestly, when it comes time for the poop to hit the air spinner, I’d like to have a little bit better firepower and range. Reach out and touch someone, you know.

So, here’s the parameters I have to work with.

I’d recommend an SKS based on his criteria. It’s inexpensive, reliable, ammo is plentiful and cheap. Go offer some advice.

They always bring out the best in people. And, sadly, the best in those who have authority. And they also lead to disaster preparedness blogging.

In Florida:

Here in Central Florida, shooting ranges are reporting a marked increase in the number of women taking aim, signing up for concealed-weapons courses and making purchases. On a recent Saturday, more than 200 women attended a six-hour introductory firearms workshop — an event that keeps growing each year.

Nationwide, the National Rifle Association’s “Women on Target” program has grown from 500 participants in 2000 to 6,000 this year.

“Women are the largest-growing demographic in the gun industry,” NRA spokeswoman Ashley Varner said.

Well, you can’t beat a woman who shoots.

They oppose a bill allowing the attorney general to prohibit the sale of arms to those on terror watch lists. Those fanatical zealots will stop at nothing . . . oh, that’s the ACLU that might oppose that? Well, never mind:

As we’ve discovered often during the past few years, a suspect does not necessarily a terrorist make. And as we’ve discovered recently from the FBI’s overzealous issuance of “national security letters,” such powers have a natural tendency to be abused. Literally anyone could end up on such a secret list.

Yeah, novel concept of due process and all of that.

Puttin’ on my tinfoil beanie: Ya know, this site is critical of government bloat and its increasing infringement on civil liberties. And the feds have been to my house. I wonder if I’m on any sort of list?

Update: insty asks if the ACLU has opposed this? Anyone know?

One of my favorite shows, The Sopranos, is about to end. How will it end? Beats me. What do you think?

Update: In other news, not a lot of readers are fans of The Sopranos.

No, really.

Light blogging. Not feeling it today. Maybe later.

7.5″ Saiga Shotgun. Ordinarily, that is nothing spectacular since these are quite popular. But this one has a suppressor.

Lawdog reports that Zumbo is getting his terrorist rifle err AR-15 on.

Here. Via Tam. A placeholder for me to watch later.

In the NYT. Via, well, everybody. I was going to comment on a lot of it but Kevin already did. Randy Barnett has a lot more too.

I will note that it has taken a couple of decades to get people to realize that the collective rights mythology is a load of horse shit.

Stossel on guns.