Heh.

A video.

Time:

The paper, published by Cato in April, found that in the five years after personal possession was decriminalized, illegal drug use among teens in Portugal declined and rates of new HIV infections caused by sharing of dirty needles dropped, while the number of people seeking treatment for drug addiction more than doubled.

“Judging by every metric, decriminalization in Portugal has been a resounding success,” says Glenn Greenwald, an attorney, author and fluent Portuguese speaker, who conducted the research. “It has enabled the Portuguese government to manage and control the drug problem far better than virtually every other Western country does.”

Compared to the European Union and the U.S., Portugal’s drug use numbers are impressive. Following decriminalization, Portugal had the lowest rate of lifetime marijuana use in people over 15 in the E.U.: 10%. The most comparable figure in America is in people over 12: 39.8%. Proportionally, more Americans have used cocaine than Portuguese have used marijuana.

And probably fewer instances of police killing old ladies and planting drugs on them too.

Countertop looks at how Obama and Chrysler can impact the gun industry:

Well, Cerberus Capital Management, L.P. stands to receive Billions with a B from the forced sale of Chrysler (not to mention that they own 51% of GMAC . . . . low and behold, right now all new Chrysler financing will be handled through GMAC). They also own, amongst other firms Bushmaster Firearms, Inc., Remington Arms, Cobb Manufacturing, DPMS Panther Arms, and Marlin Firearms.

SLR-15

Sarah Palin’s custom AR-15 in 50 Beowulf.

Beretta ARX / GLX 160

Next week. Claims it’s a test for Gillibrand, who, despite an NRA A rating, has been a disappointment to gun owners.

So, those that can find ammo are gloating?

So, let me get this straight. You shelled out $25 to drink weasel shit?

A report from reader WizardPC:

This is really long because I was taking notes as they were going. Didn’t think it was going to take 2 hours over 2 days

This one is Mae Beavers’ bill that removes the prohibition in state parks. It also makes the default case for local parks that carry would be legal, so cities would have to pass ordinances to prohibit carry. The cities would then need to pay for signage at all points of entry. Sen Beavers said that she didn’t like the local provision but felt it wouldn’t pass without it.

Some highlights from yesterday’s debate:

Mr. Carlton of the State Parks Administration (in uniform, yo!) testified that it’s “not needed” and he’s more than satisfied that the 200 park officers provide adequate security. In fact, he mostly talked about how good the park rangers are. He dismissed any notion that people might, you know, need to protect themselves.

Sen Beavers then asked him if he thought the woman that was raped in Bicentennial Mall was better off unarmed, and he responded that she wasn’t a carry permit holder. Then he told a story about a couple of carry permit holders setting up a makeshift firing range in a state park.

Sen Faulk then displayed a list of “hundreds” of crimes from the TBI in response to Mr. Carlton’s assertion that only 22 crimes against persons committed in state parks. Apparently, domestic violence doesn’t count as a crime against a person.

Then Sen Marrero (in a lovely hat) suggested giving permit holders special baseball caps so that law enforcement could identify them to prevent LEOs from accidentally killing HCPers. Apparently she thinks that LEOs are idiots that shoot at anything that moves.

Sen Doug Jackson a bit later said something along the lines of “your argument is ‘we don’t see the need, so you don’t have a right’.”

Senator Kyle responded with an assertion that Memphis would love to trade their violent crime rate with the park system.

The committee adjourned for the day, which brings us to today:

Sen Beavers started off with a report from US Department of Interior regarding Federal Park Carry. Quotes some stats from there, and says the report states specifically that park rangers cannot possibly be expected to provide adequate personal security

Sen Jackson argues that “we shouldn’t be asking why we should allow park carry, we should be asking why we should restrict it” and no one has provided any evidence.

Sen Kyle responds that the reason that argument exists is because people are saying parks aren’t safe. He then proposed an amendment that would make state parks with more than 50% within urban areas be treated as local parks for purposes of municipalities’ ability to restrict park carry.

Sen Marrero (in another lovely hat) suggests that someone may shoot at a robber and hit someone else. She then talks about in Florida “latin americans fire their guns in the air in celebration, and people get killed.” Then she suggests that HCPers will start “firing in anger” or somesuch.

Kyle’s amendment was tabled, but then he proposed another amendment that would exclude park employees, even if they are HCPers. Someone from the park service then gave the ludicrous example that they wouldn’t be able to prevent waiters at restaurants in state parks from open-carrying while waiting tables. John Harris, Executive Director of the Tennessee Firearms Association, pointed out that this would allow the state to criminally prosecute something that should be merely a condition of employment. Kyle said that if the amendment failed he would propose it again when it got to the Senate floor. Senator Beavers stated that it was not her intent to change current employment policy. Debate went on for about a half an hour, then the amendment was tabled.

PARK CARRY PASSES OUT OF COMMITTEE, goes to Finance committee

Seriously, a hat? Like a scarlet letter?

Quick check to see if Jeff Woods is pooping his panties. Yup. First:

Her bill also would open state parks to licensed gunmen, who as we all know are highly trained individuals and would never do anything irresponsible, like discharge their weapons while standing on a bicycle path in a military uniform with a fake police badge.

And:

Of course, as the state parks people have repeatedly told gun nuts, crimes are virtually nonexistent. Over the last four years about 100 million people have visited state parks. In that time, there have been fewer than two dozen violent crimes against people.

As gun nuts have repeatedly shown Jeff Woods, violent crimes committed by handgun carry permit holders are virtually non-existent. Jeff Woods has done his level best to paint holders of handgun carry permits as violent criminals base on a few incidents. I think to date, he’s noted three incidents. And I do question the number of less than two dozen based on Faulk’s list:

Sen Faulk then displayed a list of “hundreds” of crimes from the TBI in response to Mr. Carlton’s assertion that only 22 crimes against persons committed in state parks.

But let’s look at some numbers (though Faulk’s list wouldn’t change the minuscule percentages much):

Percentage of violent crime per park visitor (24/100M): 0.000024%
Percentage of violent crime committed by carry permit holders as reported by ace reporter Jeff Woods (3/339,000): 0.000885%

I guess that 0.000861% difference is enough to cause the soiling of undies.

I’m Mark LaRue and this is my 1st Calguns.net post. Followed by a $12K donation to calguns to fight California’s onerous gun laws.

I suggest you head to LaRue Tactical and maybe purchase one of their Tactical Beverage Entry Tools.

The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Ownership’s Brian Malte on college kids with guns:

It’s ridiculous to say someone with a gun could have saved the day

Good thing people don’t listen to the Brady Campaign.

Judge dismisses suit: A judge has dismissed a lawsuit that sought to overturn a ban against carrying concealed weapons on University of Colorado campuses.

A reader emails:

HB1796 passed to Calendar & rules committee. HB1796 is the Tennessee version of the law recently passed in other states that says federal regulations don’t apply to firearms wholly created and used inside TN borders. I’d like to point out that Barrett and Sabre Defence are based in Tennessee 😀

HB2249, as amended, will allow (require?) the state to report mental adjudications to NICS. This is to prevent VA Tech-style gaps in information. Voluntary commitments are not included, as that might discourage some people from getting the help they need. Passed out of Committee.

From the 2AB website:

Get up on Sunday morning for a great chance to get an inside look at the great gear Crimson Trace offers for shooters with their Internet Marketing Specialist, Patrick Harlan.

There will also be a drawing and you can win a set of their laser grips. I’m a big fan of their products.

NSSF reports: Firearms and Ammunition Excise Taxes Up 31 Percent in 4th Quarter

New Jersey comes in last place for amount of NICS checks reported. It’s like they make it hard to get a gun or something. Despite that, gun sales in the garden state are up 30%.

From the Glock Shooting Sports Foundation event I attended in Knoxville. A table of Glocks:

From Gun Porn

The new Fourth Generation Rough Textured Frame:

From Gun Porn

And another:

From Gun Porn

Mr. C. at the steel challenge.

Sebastian has an analysis of the Olofson case.

Speaking of Nordyke, it’s the catalyst for this suit in California challenging their arbitrary safe guns provision.

Brian Doherty looks at life after Heller:

In a peculiar but not unprecedented turn of events, an anti-gun control plaintiff lost his case, last month’s Nordyke v. King, but nonetheless managed to elicit a groundbreaking pro-gun rights declaration from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Embarrassingly Bad Amicus Brief in the Chicago Case

So high, that the anti-gun SF Bay Area is having a run on ammo.

I’m guessing they got that airsoft gun at a gun show? And ATF probably can’t trace it.

The firearm blog:

CMMG are taking pre-orders for their new stripped lower reliever that is compatible with DPMS Panther Arms .308 AR-10 style upper receivers. The lower uses H&K G3 magazine which can be bought for under $5!

Seen at Bruce’s:

A group of college students said they are lucky to be alive and they’re thanking the quick-thinking of one of their own. Police said a fellow student shot and killed one of two masked me who burst into an apartment.

Also:

Bailey said he thought it was the end of his life and the lives of the 10 people inside his apartment for a birthday party after two masked men with guns burst in through a patio door.

“They just came in and separated the men from the women and said, ‘Give me your wallets and cell phones,’” said George Williams of the College Park Police Department.

Bailey said the gunmen started counting bullets. “The other guy asked how many (bullets) he had. He said he had enough,” said Bailey.

That’s when one student grabbed a gun out of a backpack and shot at the invader who was watching the men. The gunman ran out of the apartment.

But, remember, college students are just too irresponsible to be trusted with guns on campus.

Pure brilliance:

Gun nuts love to say that if guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns. I actually don’t see why that’s a problem. It would certainly make it a lot easier to determine who the criminals are. If someone is walking around with a gun, and they aren’t a policeman, then they’re a criminal. Lock ‘em up.

Next, people with dangerous ideas will be banned. Like in England.

Clenched fist salute to ACK.

No, that’s not it. He was really celebrating Star Wars Day. May the Fourth Be With You.

In his defense, it doesn’t work in Spanish.

MKS weighs in:

How ironic coming from an MSMer. When you can’t deal with the message, shoot the messenger.

Err, the scene is MSM? I thought it was a dog training aid? Who knew?

Important news about firearm-related intimates.

The Tactical Wire reports that DoubleStar will introduce their 1911 at the NRA convention. Cool. I’ve used DoubleStar lowers. I’ve also used their sister company J&T Distributing for parts for years.