My position is that the formation of the Libertarian Party did more to destroy freedom in the United States (and therefore, the world) than any event since. The Libertarian Party acts as a magnet for liberty-minded individuals and has allowed both major parties to drift further from liberty, as the potential Ron Pauls of the world move into a world of endless bickering. The two major parties, freed of liberty-minded voices, move faster towards the ultimate goal.
I can’t disagree.
Cause 911 is a fake life saver:
Throughout the history of 911, problems with 911 have been belligerence of operators, operator skepticism of reporting parties and repeat pranksters, unclear calls without precise locations, various policies on 911 hang-ups, an over-burdening and overwhelming of the system, and general burn-out of operators remaining on the job. As I mentioned in my last piece, some 911 operators have even been found asleep at the console. For many citizens, a placed 911 call simply goes unanswered or is met with a busy signal.
911 is merely a backup, as far as I’m concerned. One should be prepared to deal with things without them but should also be secure in the knowledge that help is on the way. Be prepared because 5 or 10 or 15 minutes of waiting for the cavalry is a lifetime if you happen to be fighting for your life. As evidenced by the examples above, don’t rely on them but use them.
My personal opinion is that the purpose of 911 is to send over some guys to do paperwork and recommend a good carpet cleaner.
They are not of one race, one gender, or one generation.
They are of one mind.
It’s time.
It’s time if they live in a gated community in East Memphis or a poor neighborhood in South Memphis.
It’s time if they’re postal workers or preachers, and it’s time if they’re retirees or entrepreneurs.
It’s time if they’ve had guns pointed in their faces while working in a neighbor’s yard during broad daylight, or while working behind the counter of a convenience store in the middle of the night.
For all of them, it’s time.
“I hate to say it,” says Scott Carroll, owner of the Bullzeye Shooting Range on Lamar Avenue, “but business is good.”
So crime pays. Or at least it does for businesses dedicated to helping people protect themselves in a place rated the second-most violent in America, according to the FBI’s national report for 2005. That report showed the Memphis metro area recorded 1,197 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, trailing only Florence, S.C.
Bullzeye is one of several shooting ranges in the metro area that offer the eight-hour training course required by state law to obtain a handgun carry permit. Classes are typically full, and at Range Master on South Mendenhall classes are booked weeks in advance.
“We’re here because of the increase in crime in the city, and for the safety of our family,” says Sheree Hester, a 29-year-old pharmacist taking the course at Range Master with her husband, Ernest.
Good to see more law-abiding folks arming themselves. There was no discussion of penis size as far as I could tell.
Geez, what is with this country lately? Anyway:
Pit bull owners more likely to be criminals
Uh, no. Criminals are more likely to own pit bulls for a variety of reasons.
After quitting smoking, I took up Hot Tamales. Like two packs a day. I’ve now gone over a week without them. Withdrawals include no more sugary film over my teeth and people stop coming by the office to steal a handful.
and men with small brains have blogs:
So, watch out if you’re out shopping tomorrow, they may be lots of men out compensating for their own inadequacies at the local gun shop. No doubt they will have travelled there in their big V8.
Yes, the big cars and guns are a sure sign of a man with a tiny pecker. Such original thought. I mean, it hadn’t occurred to me that so much of who I am is due to having a small penis. That explains the gun safe full of evil black rifles and the truck! It’s so obvious now. I clearly want to have weapons so I can kill everyone. And I like big ass cars so I can contribute to global warming thereby furthering my goal of killing everyone. Because I got a have a small nubbin and everyone must have a bigger member than I. If only I had a massive wang, I’d be a pacifist who drives a hybrid, content with the knowledge that I was adequate. Yes, large cocks make you a pussy. Makes perfect sense. Anyhoo:
My thoughts are that gun ownership might actually teach many that they can be far more anti-social with a gun.
Good ol’ hoplophobia. Ok, sparky, inanimate objects don’t teach much of anything. Well, other than through their misuse. Misuse being the key term there for the obviously well-endowed, small-brained guy.
Update: Oh yeah. Google news now does news alerts for blog entries. That’s how I found this thought-non-provoking bit of stupid. It’s amusing to read anti-gun blogs for the sheer nincompoopery.
Another installment of vomit from my mind.
No, Mr. Spam Man, the number one rule of investing is Don’t buy stocks based on tips you get from spammers via email.
Fucking windows. No, not that kind but same to them. New house has a lot of windows. Blinds and window treatments cost a small fortune.
The wife wants to put up Christmas decorations this weekend. God help me. She’s cool with the rule and I told her any decorations not going out will go to the trash.
A particular company that processes data with whom I deal with regularly sends me so much mail that I cannot possibly read all of it. They charge fees per task. Each particular task results in a bill. They send me a bill, for example, for $4. They’re called statements, guys. Get with the 1990s.
To the annoyed lady in the Buick at the 4 way stop: Yes, I know it was my turn to go. You were impatient and angry with me as I did not go but instead motioned you go go. You see, you’re driving a Buick, which is nature’s way of warning other drivers that you’re a danger to them. That and the blue hair. So, I did realize it was my turn. I did not let you go first because I was nice; rather, I let you because I assumed you couldn’t drive.
Speaking of 4 way stops, let’s just dispatch with the real legal rule about right of way and incorporate the way it really is into law: shittiest car goes first.
Plasma TeeVees: Despite being thinner than regular TeeVees, they sure do seem to weigh a lot more. And, despite being thinner, the manufacturers put them in boxes about four times the size of the TeeVee.
Never, ever pull someone’s finger. No good can come of it.
I am no longer amazed by statistical improbability in poker games. You’ll recall my bad beat here. I had two more at the GBR in Reno that cost me about $600. But, last week, I was dealt pocket kings three hands in a row (won one, lost two but still came out ahead). Tuesday night, I was dealt 7/4 three times in a row. Each is probably as likely (though, I’d say two kings is slightly less likely due the fact that up to 8 cards make 7/4 but only four make KK – I could calculate it but that’s no fun) but only one amazed me.
It’s sad that people actually need to be told this. But I guess it beats tattooing Do Not Shake on their butts.
Joe has more on the lawsuit against libraries that block access to gun websites, including a link to the complaint.
BTW, I have never really noticed anyone banning SayUncle, except China.
So, in the 1990s, it appeared that the SUV replaced the station wagon as the family ride. Now, with cars like the Freestyle, Pacifica and XC90, the station wagon is coming back. They still call it an SUV but it’s a wagon.
Regarding my boycott of Pilot Oil due to Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam’s membership in an anti-gun group, I received this comment:
As an employee of the Haslam administration I encourage sayuncle to contact me via email as I may be able to offer a communication venue if he is having trouble connecting with the mayor.
I responded via email and offered to re-print anything the mayor had to say without edit. I also asked if he’d answer question about the group. We’ll see how it goes.
Update: BTW, I applaud the mayor’s office for contacting a blogger.
Update 2: He has responded via email and assures me that, after another matter is addressed, he will be in contact with me. Looks promising.
how pro-gun folks are willing to debate their position any time and any where (often, when we’re not even asked); Yet, the anti-gunners only set up shill blogs without comments, issue press releases, and largely stick to venues in which they will not be challenged and avoid those that will? Yeah, me too.
By the way, if Mr. Haslam’s people are still reading, that first link to a shill blog (which is totally hysterical drivel) is funded by the Joyce Foundation too. They also happen to fund the Alliance of Mayors Against Guns.
Senator George Allen, keeping his word to gun owners, has introduced S 4057, the National Park Second Amendment Restoration and Personal Protection Act of 2006, which will allow gun owners to carry in a National Park as long as the state where the National Park is located allows carry in parks!
Senator Allen needs to get the bill a Floor vote in the Senate and get it off to the House for passage that must happen before the end of the current session of Congress.
We need to do the following things ASAP to help Senator Allen MAKE THIS HAPPEN!:
1. Contact Senator John Warner and ask him to support S. 4057
Phone: 202-224-2023
Fax: 202-224-6295
Regarding whether or not it’s OK to take photos of violations of gun safety, Bitter says:
There are no exceptions when it’s a functional firearm. Even before I became an instructor, I refused to break those rules, even for photographers. When I would come across one that would even make a request for me to break a rule, I would immediately ask them to leave the range and refuse permission to use my image in any way.
If we did that, we wouldn’t have any Bruce Willis movies. I was going to list the ways I personally have violated the four rules of gun safety but Standard Mischief did the work for me in comments:
Who here has not checked the condition of a barrel’s lands and grooves by first verifying that the firearm is unloaded, locking open the action, inserting a finger or a white piece of paper such that light is reflected inside, and sighting down the barrel from the muzzle? Are you not violating rule #2?
How about pointing a gun at your living room floor? I’m pretty sure that’s something that most people are not willing to destroy, although frequently it’s voted as the safest surface to discharge a round into. Usually the floor beats out the TV, the computer, your domestic partner, or that Ming vase on the table over there. It even usually beats out the ceiling, because with a hole in the floor, you don’t have to rush and patch it.
Likewise, waiting to shoot at clays, have you ever seen anyone rest a double shotgun, action broken open, over their shoulder? Aren’t they being a bit careless? I mean they’re not even watching where the muzzle is pointing at, they’ve got their back turned. Another violation of rule #2?
Does dry fire practice violate #3?
Am I being careless when I have the bolt out of the action of my Mauser, and I’ve verified that I can see the follower, and I have the gun clamped down and I’m swabbing out the barrel and just for one brief moment I assume that the gun is not loaded, contrary to rule #1?
I like to hope I’m a safe gun handler. I make sure everyone is following the rules when I’m the range safety officer. I don’t let the nieces or nephews handle firearms until they correctly answer the question “what is the first thing you do when you pick up a firearm?”. I teach them to keep their finger off the trigger and keep the gun unloaded and pointed down range until it’s their turn to shoot.
I teach the four rules. But I realize I violate the rules all the time. And I realize that it would be impossible to rewrite the four rules such that I never violate them, yet still retain their simplicity.
And while practicing the Wile E. Coyote school of gunsmithing, you simply can’t follow all the rules while working on a weapon or bore-sighting or installing a scope or hitting it with a really big hammer or using a Dremel to widen the magazine well of an AK variant. There are exceptions out there but they are necessary exceptions.
Now, shotguns. Smith and Wesson is pushing into the long gun market. I handled one of their ARs a while back, and it felt like a quality weapon.
I mentioned yesterday that some unexpected folks were advocating it. Well, in Australia:
A shooters’ rights group has called for Saturday to be a national ‘buy a gun’ day, drawing strong opposition from gun control lobbyists.
The Coalition of Law Abiding Sporting Shooters (CLASS) is promoting the idea of a special day for shooters, arguing that gun ownership teaches individual responsibility and important life skills.
“Participation in Buy a Gun day is simple,” Peter Whelan, president of CLASS said.
“For those who already own a gun, visit your local gun shop and buy another one,” he said in a statement.
“If you have never owned a gun, visit your local shooting club, talk with the members and join up. If you want the full details on getting your firearms licence and purchasing your first gun, just contact the Firearms Registry.”
Cool.
How silly of me. Those anti-gay marriage folks were so right that gay-marriage would lead to all sorts of things.
The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) and three Washington State residents have filed a federal lawsuit against a north-central Washington regional library system for denying them access to websites that include information on firearms and publications dealing with guns.
How much money would you think it would cost to select a site for the new Transit Center in downtown Knoxville? Write that number down on a piece of paper. Got it? Good.
According to WATE "news" that price is $3.1 million for the planning and selection process.
That’s right, you read it correctly. Did either WATE or any or the other usual suspects in journalism give a break out of that 3.1 million dollars?
So did this selection site allow for future development of light rail? Of course not.
Great job everybody. It’s just OPM. Other peoples money.
Carry on.
Not sure why but I’m getting press releases now. Here’s one that you’ll see tomorrow from the National Shooting Sports Foundation:
Handpicked by Mayor Bloomberg; Federal Court Appoints Lawyer With Ties to Gun Control Group to Monitor Gun Dealers
11/16/2006
To: National Desk
Contact: Lawrence G. Keane of National Shooting Sports Foundation, 203-426-1320 or 203-526-6773
NEWTOWN, CT, Nov. 16th/U.S. Newswire/ — The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the firearms industry’s trade association, said today it was outraged but not surprised to learn that Brooklyn, NY-based federal court judge Jack B. Weinstein had appointed a lawyer handpicked by New York City Mayor Bloomberg to monitor several small out-of-state “mom and pop” gun stores that had been sued by Bloomberg earlier this year.
The lawyer, Andrew Weissman, is a partner with the Chicago-based law firm of Jenner and Block. The firm represents the Violence Policy Center (VPC), a Washington, D.C.-based gun control group known for its extremist positions, which include advocating a ban on civilian ownership of handguns. Jenner & Block filed a brief for VPC supporting the City of Chicago’s attempt to obtain highly sensitive law enforcement data on guns traced by law enforcement during criminal investigations. Jenner and Block’s brief for VPC argued the data should be released to the public despite opposition from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) that it would endanger ongoing criminal investigations and a federal law that specifically bars public disclosure. A federal appeals court rejected Jenner and Block’s arguments. Chicago had sought the data for use in its lawsuit against gun makers, which was ultimately dismissed by a state appeals court.
“Judge Weinstein’s Halloween Day order appointing a lawyer handpicked by Mayor Bloomberg for whose firm has strong ties to a radical anti-gun group gives new meaning to the phrase, ‘Trick-or-Treat,'” said Lawrence G. Keane, chief spokesperson for the firearms industry. “We fear it will be a nightmare for these small businesses.”
In a series of earlier rulings in a related case, Judge Weinstein ruled the City of New York could have and use privileged gun trace data in its civil suit against gun makers. The case, originally filed in June 2000 by then-mayor Rudy Giuliani and continued by Bloomberg, is now before a federal appeals court in New York.
Gun makers have long been concerned with Judge Weinstein’s bias and have even asked Judge Weinstein to recuse himself in the city’s suit against the manufacturers. Weinstein refused to step aside.
Bloomberg’s suit against 15 out-of-state “mom-and-pop” gun dealers claims they participated in “simulated straw-purchases.” Bloomberg, despite promises made at a press conference announcing the suit, has failed to make available evidence of the alleged illegal conduct to the ATF, whom he had described as “asleep at the switch.” The actions of Bloomberg’s private investigators, done without the knowledge of either ATF or the New York City police department, interfered with as many as 18 ongoing criminal investigations and are now being investigated by ATF.
As part of the dealer settlement agreements, Weissman as “special master” will oversee and monitor three of the five settling dealers’ business practices – and though the remaining two settling dealers will have their special master appointed by a Georgia Court, Bloomberg will request that Weissman be appointed to oversee them as well.
In settling the dealers did not admit to any wrongdoing. The monitor’s oversight will be largely redundant to that of the ATF but includes new powers, including videotaping firearm purchasers without their permission. The monitor will also be able to fine the dealers for violations of the settlement agreement. “Ironically, Bloomberg strongly opposes pending legislation (H.R. 5092) that would grant similar powers to ATF,” Keane said.
“I doubt these small business owners had any knowledge of Weissman and his firm’s ties to the radically anti-gun Violence Policy Center. They clearly have a basis to go back to court and demand that a truly neutral party be appointed as a special master,” said Keane.
So, the token appointees as part of the settlement are anti-gun. Who’d have thunk it.
Gene:
Seems State Senator Burchett broke the law when he threatened lethal force against four teenagers because those teenagers were unarmed and the incident occurred at a place of business. Well, according to WATE (link):
Still no corrections issued regarding the irresponsible info they gave.
Update: For those just joining us, I am not of the opinion that Senator Burchett broke the law. However, if the aforementioned WATE article were factually accurate, then the law would have been broken.
Same as the old boss only she can’t move her eyes or furrow her brow. Rich on the Democrat leadership:
The American People Have Spoken, and They Want Change
Which is why we’re hearing the same old names coming to the front for leadership positions in congress on both sides of the aisle.
Ayup. See, election time is over. So, all that talk about reform and new directions and ethics and rainbows and kittens and lollipops was just that. Talk.
Roger continues his Conservative Persons and Accomplishments Appreciation Week with The War On Terror. Funny, biting stuff. Past issues:
Last night, I was playing cards with some friends. One of those friends’ wife is a professional photographer. She does some damn good work too. My friend told me that his wife was hired to be in the delivery room to photograph the arrival of a baby who was going to die after birth. According to him, there is simply no saving the child and the child will die within hours of birth. The couple wants to capture their brief time with the child on film.
It’s a heartbreaking tale. My eyes teared up and I’ve thought about it all morning. So, to a couple I’ve never met and a child I never will meet, you’re in my thoughts and prayers.
1 – come up with product and process.
2 – pay government to pass laws eliminating competition from people who do it better than you.
First, Lumpy, now state senator Burchett:
State Sen. Tim Burchett says he caught a group of youngsters during a break-in Wednesday, held them at gunpoint and fed them chocolate-chip cookies until Knox County sheriff’s deputies arrived.
That’s Southern hospitality, offering you food at gun point.
The 52-47 vote in 2004 was before the elections. You didnt state that. After the elections the vote would have reveresed to 47-52. The additions of pro gun seats in north and south carolina, florida,south dakota and louisiana gave the US senate 5 more votes to stop the awb. With the current of loss of Jim talent being the only pro gun vote to leave the senate the new vote would be 51 to 48. This is all assuming webb, tester, and casey all vote pro gun.
Well, they seem to be pro-gun.
Update: The NRA, however, says The Fight Begins. Is it like pledge week at PBS or something?
There is no better barometer for government involvement and ignoring citizens’ rights than on gun issues.
From a college paper too. Maybe there is hope for the future.
Remember, I do this to entertain me, not you.
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