CATO is going after ATF abuses:

When the Republicans took control of the Congress in 1995, there was talk of abolishing the ATF for its appalling role in the Waco incident. (For background, read this and/or watch this). But the GOP “grew in office” as they say, and steadily expanded the budget of the ATF and then approved the construction of a fancy new headquarters. There is still oversight, mind you. The ATF director wanted a $65,000 conference table and the Bush administration put a stop to that. Bush’s people cracked down and said “You guys have to make do with a $33,000 table!”

It’s about time someone did. Via Bitter.

Bane on hunters v. shooters:

I believe the hunting and shooting markets, long considered a single entity, have been diverging, which would be no big deal except that the firearms industry has 100% allied itself with the hunting side of the market to the exclusion of the shooters. As the markets have diverged, so have the things in our best interest split. In some cases, those interests are in direct conflict; for example increasing hunting access versus building shooting ranges. More troubling is the fact that the hunting side of the industry focuses on traditional hunting arm, rifles and shotguns, while the shooting side of the industry is overwhelming interested in self-defense handguns, “black” rifles and competition firearms.

Or, as I like to call it, Me v. The Fudds.

Some stuff since the Republicans decided that we can’t spend our own money on entertainment by banning banks from engaging in transactions with illegal gambling sites. Illegal gambling being undefined.

Up For Poker has an FAQ on the new bill.

Neteller, the last hope for online transactions, pusses out.

David Post says outlines the stupidity of the bill.

The NYT says it could cost the Republicans some seats. I hope so.

Really:

Robert Redford has added a celebrity touch to those urging California voters to reject a sweeping eminent domain initiative.

…

Put on the November ballot by property rights activists, Proposition 90 would amend the state Constitution to make it harder and more costly for governments to condemn property or pass regulations that affect land values.

Well, they don’t take property from the rich and famous.

Lt. Tom Bryski said:

To be honest it’s fairly rare, but occasionally it does pay off to own a gun

Actually, it pays off every day.

Here, I said:

if there’s one sure fire way to make anything worse, it’s to have the government either 1) regulate it or 2) ban it. Guaranteed.

I wrote that in haste and, well, obviously didn’t necessarily mean anything. Tom called me on it and said:

Yes, because lead-based paints are a far more pervasive problem than they ever were before the meddling government got involved…

There are, indeed, some things that the .gov ought to regulate. I think the more correct way to have phrased that would be:

If there’s one sure fire way to make any complex social issue worse, it’s to have the government either 1) regulate it or 2) ban it. Guaranteed.

I present as evidence: The war on civil liberties err drugs and prohibition. Discuss.

Oh, for that:

Senators With Highest and Lowest Reliance on Special Interest Money

Highest: Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Sen. Bill Frist (R-Tenn.)

States with Highest and Lowest Senatorial Dependence on Special Interest Money:

Highest: Tennessee

Looks like Corker’s lead in the Tennessee Senate race has pulled out of the margin of error:

A new Wall Street Journal/ Zogby Poll released today shows Republican Senate candidate Bob Corker with a 7 point lead over Washington Congressman Harold Ford. The independent poll has a margin of error of 3.3%.

I was to the point where I could taste all that free beer I was bound to get. But AC:

So what do you think this means? Is this poll proof that the Ford campaign has reached its ceiling and that the retooled Corker campaign has reclaimed it’s rightful place atop the heap?

Or is this just one more poll among many others that will swing back and forth right up until election day?

Gonna be down to the wire.

So, I’m pissed at Delta and American. Who else has pissed me off? Well, paypal has. I got a nasty letter from them placing my account on review. If I don’t react in some deadline, they’ll close it. The reason is that, per their dozens of pages long Acceptable Use Policy, it’s forbidden to use their service to buy weapons and other stuff.

Like every other Acceptable Use Policy out there, I hadn’t read it. So, oops. Bad on me. I was going to reply and say oops, sorry and inquire about remedying the situation. Their message stated:

In order to comply with PayPal’s Acceptable Use Policy and bring your account into good standing, you will need to:

1. Provide a detailed explanation about what the payment received on XXXXXXX was for. Please explain the good or service sold, and how you came in contact with the buyer.

Please also provide any documentation or websites to substantiate your claim.

It had a link. I clicked the link to reply and it asks me what sort of business I run. Well, I don’t run one but that wasn’t an option. So, I sent an email to their service department that said:

I don’t understand what you’re asking me to do here. I don’t run a business. I use paypal for private purchases/sales only.

Their response:

Your appeal to lift the limitation on your account has been denied.

In order to comply with PayPal’s Acceptable Use Policy and bring your account into good standing, you will need to:

1. Provide a detailed explanation about what the payment received on XXXXXXX was for. Please explain the good or service sold, and how you came in contact with the buyer.

Please also provide any documentation or websites to substantiate your claim.

Notice, it’s the same email only it references a non-existent appeal. I reply:

I didn’t appeal any thing. I asked a question:

I don’t understand what you want me to do. I don’t run a business. What do you need from me to rectify this?

Their reply:

In order to comply with PayPal’s Acceptable Use Policy and bring your account into good standing, you will need to:

1. Provide a detailed explanation about what the payment received on XXXXXXX was for. Please explain the good or service sold, and how you came in contact with the buyer.

Please also provide any documentation or websites to substantiate your claim.

Err, same thing. A bit frustrating. So, again, I state again:

I don’t understand what you want me to do. I don’t run a business. What do you need from me to rectify this?

Their response (again):

In order to comply with PayPal’s Acceptable Use Policy and bring your account into good standing, you will need to:

1. Provide a detailed explanation about what the payment received on XXXXXXX was for. Please explain the good or service sold, and how you came in contact with the buyer.

Please also provide any documentation or websites to substantiate your claim.

This time, it’s no longer frustrating but amusing. So I reply:

Unbelievable. I’ve asked the same question three times. And got the same non-answer three times. Do
people answer emails or monkeys with typewriters?

Seriously, I’ll ask again:

I don’t run a business. So, what do you need me to do here? Your site asks me about my business, which I
don’t have.

Their response is the same. I try a few more times because it’s funny:

Say Uncle: So, what’s the point of a reply form/email address if no one’s going to read it?

PayPal Monkey With Typewriter: Same exact response

Say Uncle: Whatcha wearing, sexy?

PayPal Monkey With Typewriter: Same exact response

Say Uncle: Are you retarded?

PayPal Monkey With Typewriter: Same exact response

Say Uncle: Booga, booga, booga.

PayPal Monkey With Typewriter: Same exact response

Say Uncle: I like big butts and I cannot lie.

PayPal Monkey With Typewriter: Same exact response

SayUncle: Yea, and God said to Abraham, “you will kill your son, Issak”, and Abraham said, I can’t hear you, you’ll have to speak into the microphone.” “Oh I’m sorry, Is this better? Check, check, check… Jerry, pull the high end out, I’m still getting some hiss back here

PayPal Monkey With Typewriter: Same exact response

SayUncle: Dookie.

PayPal Monkey With Typewriter: Same exact response

I mean, I figure some combination of words (perhaps eventually typed by a monkey with a typewriter) will clue them in that a person needs to review my case? But, I was wrong.

So, I call their 800 number while driving. Their phone system says (paraphrased) Due to unusually high call volume, you’ll have to wait. When a business phone says this, what they really mean is Due to our usual under-staffing of phone lines, you’ll have to wait your turn, bitch. Anyway, the guy answering the phone couldn’t help me but he knew who could. So, transferred again. I reached the nice lady at paypal and she (and I) had a good chuckle about the situation (she thought I was funny). And she, of course, can’t help me either. So, she forwarded my info on to their Acceptable Use Policy people as a work order, which apparently involves a person reviewing my case instead of a monkey with a typewriter.

We’ll see.

Update: I guess in the future, it’s best not to put any details of any transaction in the paypal submit form. They probably have monkeys with typewriters who look for terms like FFL, arms, etc. Corporate big brother is watching.

You may recall they were stupid and took my ammo, despite assurances from their customer service team and the Knoxville agents that it was OK. Well, they basically told me tough tittie. Between this and Delta Airlines being stupid, I’m running out of airlines to fly on.

It’s a voting guide.The volume is so low, I can’t hear it on the laptop.

This morning I caught the debate between Schree Pettigrew and Stacey Campfield for the 18th district in Knoxvegas. Actually, I caught about 20 minutes of commercials and 5 minutes of their debate. Here’s my summary of the debate:

You took money from Hitler.

You took money from Satan.

You return Hitler’s money.

You return Satan’s money.

You return Hitler’s money.

You return Satan’s money.

You return Hitler’s money.

You return Satan’s money.

Ravenwood lists them. Well, here’s their plan:

Ban expensive weapons.

Ban cheap weapons.

Ban the ones in the middle.

And what’s left?

Not the people who left it where a three year old can get it:

WE WERE SHOCKED to learn how little pressure it takes to squeeze the trigger of a Glock .45. The gun’s firing mechanism is so light, even a 3-year-old can shoot it.

And accidentally kill himself.

Tylib Bailey-Henderson’s death this week is tragic and frustrating because it could have been so easily avoided.

A simple, properly attached gun-trigger lock, and Tylib would still be alive -smiling, laughing, playing.

Actually, he’d be alive if he didn’t have access to the gun. The Glock’s trigger pull is about 5.5 pounds. I think a 1911s is about 5. More:

Legislators in Congress and in Harrisburg have so far refused to require that when a gun is sold or transferred to a buyer, it would also have a trigger lock with it.

Really? The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms act requires handguns to be sold with trigger locks. See here. I don’t think the law has been funded, though.

Heh:

An NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll taken last July found that while most Americans have positive feelings about the NRA, only 30 percent have “positive feelings” about The New York Times.

But don’t count on The Times to tell you that.

Nor will The Times tell you that in another poll conducted this past summer, the NRA’s favorable rating was higher than the Republican or Democratic parties, even higher than that of the United States Congress.

Anthony Diotaiuto was a 23 year-old with a handgun carry permit (past posts here). Police busted his door in early one morning because he was allegedly dealing drugs. The put 10 rounds of 9mm in his chest and he died. They found less than an ounce of marijuana. Now, the latest:

Seconds after a SWAT team stormed his home, a suspected drug dealer ran to his bedroom closet and emerged pointing a gun at a detective, according to a grand jury report released Tuesday.

Police opened fire, and the man fell back into the closet. But when officers moved closer, they found him still breathing — his finger still on the trigger. Then, the suspect raised his gun again.

This time, he died in a hail of police bullets.

I think this is about the 5th time the story has changed. More:

Based on police testimony, the grand jury found police were right to worry Diotaiuto would fight back using a semiautomatic handgun he had a concealed weapons permit for and justified in shooting him as many as 13 times when faced with the barrel of his gun.

The number of rounds is now 13. He was killed, basically, for having a concealed carry permit. His neighbors have repeatedly testified that the police did not announce themselves when serving the warrant. If they had, he may well be alive.

The officers involved have been exonerated.

If so, does the sidebar on the right stop where my ads should be? If so, that explains why I’ve not sold any blogads in a couple of weeks.

And the dip in traffic, since the sitemeter isn’t loading.

Any ideas how to fix that? I hate technical issues.

An AP wire I received:

NEW YORK (AP) — One of Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s personal employees was beaten by thieves who then stole the billionaire’s car Wednesday morning in New Jersey, authorities said.

The employee was driving the 2001 Lexus in Hackensack on an errand for the mayor shortly before 9 a.m. when he was approached by a woman asking for money, police said. As he declined and began to roll up the window, a man got into the passenger seat and punched him in the face.

“They force him out and take off,” said Capt. Frank Lomia of the Hackensack Police Dept. The employee, whose name was not released, was not seriously injured.

The car was found about two hours later, abandoned on the side of the road in Fairlawn. Police were looking for the suspects.

It’s no secret that conservatives and Republicans have been pulling their support for Corker. He’s a subpar candidate with a very not good record. But this surprised me:

After much thought, I have decided that I cannot in good conscience vote for a man [Harold Ford, Jr.] who supports the notion of detaining American citizens without the writ of habeas corpus.

The Democrats have been pretty united over Ford, even though he’s running as, well, a Republican. With all his Jesus-loving, pro-gunning, illegal-immigrant-hating, gay-marriage-hating, rhetoric, he’s speaking like he should have an R after his name.

Via AC.

Bush and the rest of the Republicans have suspended habeas corpus. Are you outraged? You should be.

Ah, those silly bigoted Republicans. They still hate the gays, but now they’re a little conflicted about it. I guess that’s progress.

Some Christians, who are pivotal to the GOP’s get-out-the-vote effort, are charging that gay Republican staffers in Congress may have thwarted their legislative agenda. There even are calls for what some have dubbed a “pink purge” of high-ranking gay Republicans on Capitol Hill and in the administration.

Uncle shoots and maybe scores.

The NRA has picked up my story about Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam being a member of the anti-gun Mayors Alliance that is funded by Joyce Foundation (See here, here, here, here, here, and here). Wayne LaPierre (yes, that Wayne LaPierre) asks What’s going on in Knoxville:

Here’s a suggestion for Mayor Haslam and the citizens of Knoxville.

Ask Mike Bloomberg to take your name off his website and list. Tell Bloomberg that you don’t want New York City style gun control laws in Tennessee!

In other news, Wayne LaPierre read SayUncle? Cool. Terry Frank asks: Did Haslam wake the NRA? I hope so. Since the local press isn’t covering the issue, perhaps the NRA will get word out to its local members.

Somebody tell me why I haven’t been reading Sarcastro (well, other than the fact his name is a rip off of a minor character from The Tick). To wit:

To the 300 millionth new American: We’d like some cheese-dip, a glass of sangria, a top-shelf margarita, the tacos carne asada, and the camarones mojo de aijo. Gracias. Me gustan las nueva bebe americana. P.S. Don’t answer any emails from a guy named Foley.

Heh.

Bono moved his business out of Ireland so as not to pay taxes on it. I don’t blame him.

Public service announcement (in slideshow form) on why it’s important to remove the boresighter before firing. Via Hardy.

Electricity Nazi meet Light Nazi.

Sorry Joe and Bob but, despite everything I try, my spam filter doesn’t like blogspot.com. If that is in your URI, it bans you. Unless I happen to be looking, your comment will get eaten.

Sorry.

WBIR reports that Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale has declared shenanigans as the reason he is being pursued by a renegade group of “troubled” Knox County Commissioners that used to be “young” a long time ago.

What do you think of Mayor Ragsdale’s letter to Knox County Commission?

From WBIR:

Ragsdale says he knows reasons behind Tyler Harber investigation

Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale says he will reveal the “real” reasons behind the push for an investigation of his office.

The Mayor’s office distributed a copy of a letter to all County Commissioners Monday in which he vehemently denies allegations that he had former employee Tyler Harber engage in improper activity.

He also says, “Commissioners Scott Moore, Lumpy Lambert and Ivan Harmon have shared with me and my staff the real reasons for calling for an investigation.”

The Mayor adds that, “My staff and I will be glad to share their comments with you individually or at the County Commission meeting.”

A spokesperson for the Mayor wouldn’t say what the reasons are, but did say “they aren’t honorable or ethical.”

The Mayor’s rebuttal comes after several commissioners requested an investigation into allegations of improper activity made by Harber in an article in the Halls Shopper.

It will take a two-thirds majority – or 13 commissioners voting in favor – for a full investigation to be launched.

Update:

Ace Internet reporter R. Neal posts the affidavits ordered from Knox County employees Mike Arms, Mark Jones, Todd Cook, and Richard Moran by Mayor Mike Ragsdale. In one of these affidavits Richard Moran confirms that caswalker.com was created by Tyler Harber.

I noticed the Brady Campaign is showing up in my Google ads. Thought it was ironic. They are outraged, ya know. But they’re buying me guns, $0.10 at a time.

The Memphis Rag asked Ford and Corker questions. The paper asked them both:

Do you believe the right to bear arms extends to ownership of assault rifles?

Now, yours truly thinks the Memphis rag fudged the question and that it was about the now meaningless arbitrary legal construct known as the assault weapons ban. Assault rifles are machine guns and are already regulated and banned from new transfer to civilians since 1986. First, Corker says:

I am a strong supporter of the second amendment and do not believe we should impose any new restrictions on law-abiding gun owners.

Well, that’s great. But you didn’t answer the question. Says Ford:

I believe in the Second Amendment’s constitutional guarantee to bear arms, and I believe we have enough gun laws on the books. We just need to enforce the ones we have.

And you didn’t answer the question either.