On the Schumer/Feinstein CCWs

Jim Kouri of the National Association of Chiefs of Police writes:

At the same time, there are outspoken opponents of gun ownership, such as Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Diane Feinstein (D-CA), who are carrying concealed weapons, according to WABC Radio's Mark Levin.

Naturally, I'm trying to track down as much information as I can about these claims, including who the permit-issuing authorities are.

I called Landmark Legal Foundation, which Mr. Levin heads, and spoke with Eric Christensen. Mr. Christensen called Mr. Levin and then called me back, telling me the information for Sen. Feinstein came from Wikipedia/Answers.com, and the Schumer information "was from a cop from New Jersey who called in to Mark's show."

I let Mr. Christensen know that any further information that becomes known on this will be appreciated, and will keep my eyes and ears open. I'll try to track down that Wikipedia link later today. If somebody gets to it sooner, please let me know.

UPDATE:

The Feinstein Wikipedia link, which doesn't appear to address this, is here, and the Answers.com link, which does, is here. The Feinstein information has been around for some time--I don't know if it is still current--I've also read claims that she now has a US Marshal's badge allowing her to carry anywhere, but only bring it up because it's on topic, not because I can prove it.

Bottom line--if these claims are true, there's not much specificity to them, and the tracks have been covered well, at least beyond my limited ability to investigate.

Well THIS Would Explain Quite a Bit

The NOPD may have padded the payroll.

[via SayUncle]

What the Hell is Wrong With People?

Some northwest Louisiana gun shops saw an increase in sales in the weeks following Hurricane Katrina and owners attribute it to New Orleans area residents planning to return home.

I just don't get it. Talk about making a bad situation worse! Don't they know that guns cause violence? Only the police are professional enough to carry guns, and they will give you all the protection you need.

No?

"We Want Your Visit to be Safe and Positive"

The propaganda the Bradys are disseminating at Florida airports to scare off tourists really does show how sick these people are.

Here's their main handout, urging visitors to "take sensible precautions" while promulgating their deranged fantasy that life's setbacks prompt normal people to respond with lethal force.

Another handout, "The Brady Backgrounder," says Florida is "LICENSING AND IMMUNIZING PARANOID VIOLENCE."

To prove their point, the following scenario is posited:

Imagine, if you will, the times in your life when you’ve been afraid of another human being: A motorist who threatened you on the highway, a group of teenagers who threatened you on a street corner, a homeless man who harassed you and called you names for refusing to give him spare change, a drunk in a bar who tries to pick a fight.

Now imagine that you killed all those people. Imagine that everyone killed all the people that ever gave them a nervous adrenalin rush.

Good Lord. That has to be one of the sicker fantasies I've seen. Whoever came up with it could use a mental health professional to get to the root of their neurotic distrust. And they call us paranoid?

Perhaps it would be helpful to remind visitors that being armed really does deter crime--as evidenced by all those tourists targeted a few years back because Florida citizens were--which influenced the predators to seek out easier prey.

Debatable -- Should You Have the Right to Carry a Gun?

It's not debatable at all. I have that right. No one else has any legitimate say in the matter.

But this is the kind of nonsense we've come to expect from Racine's Green Party Alderman Pete Karas, who is organizing a demonstration demanding his constituents be disarmed under force of arms--and he no doubt will have a gaggle of ninnies with him bleating in agreement.

Karas is the same anti-defense fanatic who doesn't want the cops handing out Eddie Eagle coloring books to kids because "by making kids aware of guns ... they may, in essence, be harming children, especially those who are contemplating juvenile suicide or juvenile homicide."

Rational guy, eh? What must that say of his constituents? Maybe anyone who voted for him is too dumb to be trusted with weapons.

Inmate Found Carrying Gun in Courthouse

[T]he county jail inmate and convicted felon hid a .38-caliber snub-nosed revolver with hollow-point bullets, the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office said...

"We're still investigating how he got the gun," Sheriff's Office spokesman Lt. Chuck Lesaltato said. "We're looking at the whole thing from the time he was arrested to the time he was arrested at the courthouse."

Government "authorities" are at it again, with the same non-proprietary competence we've all come to expect.

How does the cliché go? When guns are outlawed...

And it's not like finding someone in custody with a firearm hasn't happened before [warning--graphic video].

And before.

And before...

Desperate Bradys Resort to Insults

The Brady Center will be protesting Florida's new self defense law.

In a flier the group plans to pass out at Miami International Airport and possibly Orlando International Airport, tourists will be admonished to take precautions that include: "Do not argue unnecessarily with local people."

Can you believe the nerve? Trying to make people think Floridians are violent hotheads who will shoot people over disagreements?

These liars have been waving red flags at gun owners for years. Yet the instances of violence and criminality we see all seem to come from the anti-defense zealots--not from armed Bill of Rights advocates.

I can think of a few creative and funny ways to (peaceably) monkeywrench these dolts--but I have a feeling they're going to make fools of themselves just fine without any outside help at all.

Miers to Replace O'Connor?

Will Harriet Miers be Bush's pick for the Supreme Court?

God, I hope not.

She's a big proponent of "Project Safe Neighborhoods", so we know where she stands on "shall not be infringed."

Shoulder-to-shoulder with other supporters of the federal gun control program.

A Temporary Delay

House Majority Leader Tom Delay has temporarily stepped down from the leadership position following his indictment by a Texas grand jury on campaign finance conspiracy charges.

Rep. Roy Blunt of Missouri, the current Republican whip, will temporarily fill the leadership position.

This should not change much for gun owners. Delay has an A rating and Blunt has an A- rating from GOA.

Government Gun Control

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is joining the investigation of a state-run gun museum in Claremore... three cannons and about six-thousand guns are missing from the museum. Officials have said one gun from the museum was found at a crime scene in New York and another was found in Maine.

Sometimes I think if we just let the incompetent boobs run everything without opposition, we might actually end up with more freedom.

Homeowner Buys Gun After His Home Was Robbed In Montgomery

I guess it's better late than never.

Can you imagine watching intruders break into your home--and being helpless to protect your family?

I wonder if he's been sufficiently awakened to start helping in the fight to preserve rkba that's been going on while he slumbered?

The Braindead Tree

To some, who played cops and robbers and cowboys and Indians by the hour in their youth, this zero tolerance could seem like overreacting, but times are different now. An aggressive approach against weapons in school, real or toy, is a necessity in this age of violence.

More manipulated nonsense from those in charge. What are the chances inmates raised under this level of hysteria will grow into free citizens--jealous of their heritage of liberty and prepared to defend it?

What, the IRA HASN'T Disarmed?

"The more spotlight is put on this, the more we discover there is a cover-up.

"Part of the weapons that should have been decommissioned have disappeared and security forces admit they are probably in the hands of dissidents."

What a surprise.

Who could have imagined this might happen?

New Direction for Faulty Compass

P. Edwin Compass III has resigned.

Wonder if he'll be allowed to keep his guns?

Hessian Continues War on Guns/Reuters Continues War on Truth

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said on Friday that citizen patrols of his state's border with Mexico must be unarmed to avoid violence... Schwarzenegger had expressed support in April for the vigilantes, who began patrolling the U.S.-Mexican border in Arizona to draw attention to illegal immigration...

Arnhole's move doesn't surprise me--I would expect no less from a foreign national (he never gave up his Austrian citizenship--even though he swore an oath to renounce it when he "became" an American) who was the first governor to ban, among other things, politically incorrect caliber bolt action and semiauto rifles. I also expect California gun owners will roll over in fear and vote for him again because of the Democrats--again giving the Republicans carte blanche to continue their betrayals under the can't-prove it-by-me "lesser of two evils" doctrine. And I expect the major gun groups to continue giving the Hessian a pass--just like they did last time--and to withhold the truth from their members about their involvement with Arnold, as evidenced by this deleted page.

Also deleted for some (CYA) reason is Reuters' explanation for why they no longer use the word "terrorist" when describing head-sawing, civilian-bombing savages. I bring this up because "reporter" Jim Christie isn't shy about branding peaceable Americans who simply observe and report crimes to the authorities as "vigilantes." So much for Reuters' vaunted editorial pledge:

We do not take sides and attempt to reflect in our stories, pictures and video the views of all sides. We are not in the business of glorifying one side or another or of disseminating propaganda. Reuters journalists do not offer their own opinions or views.

Right.

[Liberty Belles]

Who Could Be Kookier Than Wendy?

Wendy Cukier, that is.

Cukier, president of the Toronto-based Coalition for Gun Control, says the long hours she's put in lobbying the government to bring in tougher gun laws have been therapeutic.

The Ryerson University professor says the 1989 Montreal massacre, in which 14 young female students were gunned down, prompted her to take up the cause.

Therapeutic for whom?

Seems to me if people are helpless and being slaughtered, the answer is to make them not helpless. And how will forcing those who don't engage in massacres into telling you what guns they own gonna help?

The Canadian government has spent [visualize Dr. Evil here] $2 BILLION Dollars on a gun registration boondoggle that most Canadians just ignore.

But apparently it's "therapeutic" for Wendy to know she's an apologist for coercing, criminalizing and destroying her countrymen if they don't bend to her sick will.

I guess the question is, how long are Canadians going to allow kooky broads like this any say at all when it comes to their rights?

Disasters, Unease Draw New Customers to Firearms

I suppose it's better late than never. And such trends--especially in "liberal" places like Oahu--gotta show the Bradys how irrelvant they are when TSHTF, which is a good thing.

But sometimes I feel like an alien in my own culture:

What is this permit you speak of?

Irish Republican Army Officially Disarms

I didn't believe it when the media first started making noises about it and I don't believe it now.

Bill St. Clair on Handgun Club of America

I wrote a letter last Thursday to HCA about their membership requirement that you promise to "observe all firearm laws." Josh Manheimer wrote back to me the same day saying that his editor agreed with me and that they would remove it from the pledge. They removed it. I joined.

Video: Only Following Orders

That excuse didn't work at Nuremberg.

It shouldn't work in America.

So much for taking an oath to defend the Constitution.

I love the way the "watchdog press" covers up for these stormtroopers--saying they're not using force when they clearly show them using force. And I love the way New Orleans officials are now saying they never issued any orders to confiscate firearms. If that's the case, this news clip is evidence of crimes being committed under color of authority.

But it is a new twist: I was only following orders that were never given.

The Eye of Sauron

Internet users hoping to protect their privacy by using anti-virus software, Web anonymizers, false identities and disabled cookies on their computer's Web browser have something new to worry about – a patent filed by the National Security Agency (NSA) for technology that will identify the physical location of any Web surfer.

But, hey, if you aren't doing anything wrong...

HCA Update Request

One of the frequent commenters to my original Handgun Club of America post recommends calling attention to the 35 comments it has generated to date. Because it is now buried by newer posts, he doesn't want to see the debate end because visitors don't know it's there.

I've done a few updates to this, including reporting that HCA has now added Second Amendment-related information to their site, but then regretfully relaying that in order to join, you must pledge to "observe all firearm laws."

Anyway, the comments range from spirited defenses of HCA by its officers and supporters, to spirited negative comments. Check them out and decide for yourself, and feel free to leave your own comments, criticisms and testimonials.

"Compliance With Gun Registry 'Virtually Nil'"

Canadian patriots are ingoring the edict to register their firearms.

The government is demonstrably unable to enforce a law defied by so many. It comes out looking like a bunch of impotent fools.

American gun owners could learn a lesson from our northern brothers.

American "gun rights leaders" could learn a lesson from "Jim Turnbull, president of the 5,000 member Canadian Unregistered Firearms Owners Association."

Lead us. Demand repeal of existing gun laws, not enforcement. Encourage defiance, not obedience.

GUNS EFAD Thread at THR

Author Matthew Bracken has started a thread over at The High Road about my review of "Enemies Foreign and Domestic" in the November issue of GUNS Magazine (on sale now, hint, hint).

One comment from "Sharps Shooter" made my day:

Quite the coincidence - I just read the review, not 5 minutes ago. I picked up the November issue of "GUNS" while in town earlier today. After reading the review, I decided "ENEMIES, FOREIGN and DOMESTIC" is going to be my next book purchase. I think the review is very positive and I'm looking forward to reading the book.

That kind of feedback really makes a difference, because the odds are, it's not a random isolated sentiment.

I remember after my GUNS review of "The Black Arrow" came out, Vin Suprynowicz wrote this to me:

I'm not sure how to deal with one $24 check that arrived here in the handwriting of an apparently very old fellow from Tennessee, made payable to "David Codrea" and itemized "for the Black Book."

Like "The Black Arrow," I can't recommend "Enemies Foreign and Domestic" highly enough. And while I'm not at liberty to post the entire review here due to copyright ownership, I can give an excerpt that I think summarizes the book's central thesis:

But back a man into a corner with other men—all proficient in modern weaponry, and all unbending believers in liberty—make it clear that you mean to destroy them, and a most dangerous type of resistance is born: a competent one.

Buy this book.

Check Out "The Gun Guy"

Ooops--wrong one!

This is the sheet-soaker who honored GunTruths.com with a "despicable five bullet rating" (5 out of 5 rounds!) a few years back. He accused us of "trivializing the holocaust, and equating gun control to the Nazi's extermination of the Jews, gypsies, gays, and political dissidents."

Don't tell him about JPFO or "Innocents Betrayed" or "'Gun Control': Gateway to Tyranny.". Don't tell him about "Registration: The Nazi Paradigm," or "The Darker Side of Gun Control." We mustn't upset his genocide-enabling ignorance.

Besides--who are you really inclined to believe--the leader of a Jewish civil rights group and an attorney/scholar who has argued cases before the Supreme Court, or some smarmy punk who anonymously belittles your right, and the right of those you love, to the means of self defense?

Anyway, sorry for the detour. I meant to link you to a real "Gun Guy."

Here he is.

Another Question About the NOLA Restraining Order

Anybody seen the text of the complaint or the ruling?

I keep seeing it billed as a "Second Amendment victory."

Anybody know if the Second Amendment is even mentioned?

Be nice to get another individual rights ruling. Did we?

Turns Out What Yale Women Want...

...is a man.

Sorry, Jeff Mankoff.

Although editorialist Karen Stabiner might make a good match for you--that is, if she can ever stop seething with resentment against women who choose to be nurturing wives and mothers instead of indignant leftist harridans.

Whatever happened to a woman's right to choose? Or tolerance? Or diversity?

The truth is, and Stabiner's bitter words prove it, any deviation from the radical feminist agenda is viewed as a personal affront. Women are to be celebrated for their minds--paradoxically unless and until they disagree with the zealot orthodoxy, at which point they become deluded victims of patriarchal exploitation.

It's the same reason the left hates gun ownership: We've worked so hard to create a nanny state. How dare you ingrates reject it and pursue selfish individualism?

It's heartening to see this--perhaps the movement to suppress individuality will prove as effective as other efforts of the collective. Perhaps a critical mass of free-thinking individuals will always slip through the cracks--just enough to keep the embers of freedom glowing. That means there's still a chance for a genuine blaze to break out, maybe some day a genuine bonfire.

But for the short terms, it's nice to see a good portion of Yale women deciding that what they want is a man. I hope they also realize that real men don't need nannies.

The Responsibilities of Gun Ownership

Sailor Curt thinks one of them is activism. He just added a detailed comment to my original Handgun Club of America article that I think bears special consideration.

Incidentally, he has his own blog, Captain of a Crew of One (I'm the Captain of my ship, but I'm the only crew. All hands on deck!), recently added to the WoG blogroll.

Help Cure Hoplophobia

Another ally of those who fear armed citizens:

Stephen M. Ressa, 27, also told police he saw people with their hands in their pockets and thought they might be armed with guns...

So he plowed his car into them.

Thank goodness he was licensed and his deadly assault weapon was registered.

Wonder if the Million Moms will give him an Apple Pie Award?

Restraining Order Stops NO Gun Confiscations

The United States District Court for the Eastern District in Louisiana today sided with the National Rifle Association (NRA) and issued a restraining order to bar further gun confiscations from peaceable and law-abiding victims of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.

I do my share of letting people know when I disagree with NRA management. It wouldn't be fair to ignore when they do something good that deserves our support.

At the risk of appearing an ungrateful snot, I do have one question: How come the ILA press release doesn't mention SAF, which is claiming joint credit?

Yeah, Roberts Will Be a Strict Constructionist...

...maybe for the UN Charter.

For anyone who thinks this global government enthusiast will rule "the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed," well, I've got a broken levee in New Orleans I'd like to sell you.

Shameless Plug: Are You Connected?

The fact is, if you're a gun owner and you're not on the Internet, you are not informed, no matter how strong your opinions. You simply can't be.

I don't need to tell you that, because obviously you're reading this on your monitor. But not all subscribers to gun magazines have made the transition.

"Are You Connected" is my Rights Watch column for the November issue of GUNS Magazine, on sale now at well-connected newsstands throughout the Republic.

Also in this issue: My review of Matthew Bracken's thrilling liberty page-turner, "Enemies Foreign and Domestic." It's a good one and you should order your own copy.

BONUS: See page 68 of this issue to find out how you can win the ADCO Diamond Double 12-Gauge, 2 3/4" Side-by-Side, exposed hammer coach gun.

Sentry Gun

Texican Tattler links us to a Sentry Gun project.

The video had me laughing.

Another Editorial Sheet-Soaker

If concealed gun permit holders can't deal with this scrutiny, they should turn in their weapons

The way the Ohio law is written, Al-Jazeera reporters qualify as people who can demand CHL lists.

Oh well--submit for public licensure, expect public records. That collar isn't starting to chafe, is it?

As for the rhetorical question: Why should concealed gun permit holders fear the bad guys at all?

That assumes we're in agreement as to just who "the bad guys" are. The ones I fear are those who presume authority to issue licenses for sovereign individuals to exercise unalienable rights.

Pontificating Intellectual Moron Alert

Meet Jeff Mankoff, "a sixth-year Ph.D. student in the [Yale]History Department."

Jeff uses hyperbole to disinform and subvert.

Yes, Jefferson was against "sanctimonious" expressions of reverence for the Constitution. Who isn't against hypocrisy and false piety, at least among people who should be taken seriously?

But the prescription Mankoff implies is nothing short of unchecked legislative tyranny.

I guess he doesn't realize that when that happens, academics who aren't among the power-seizing revolutionaries are often among the first groups rounded up.

You'd think a history major would know that.

[KABA]

Liar, Liar

BRAIN-SCANNING techniques that test whether people are telling the truth could soon be sufficiently reliable to be used to interrogate criminals...The technique works by monitoring activity in the frontal lobes of the brain, which have to work harder than normal when giving answers that are not truthful. Rugen Gur, a colleague of Dr Langleben, said: “A lie is always more complicated than the truth. You think a bit more and fMRI picks that up.”

Well, I certainly see no potential for abuse here.

Wonder what would happen to the results if on every answer--even those you were telling the truth on--you'd do a math problem in your head before speaking?

Just When They Were Doing So Well...

Bill St. Clair tells us a condition of joining Handgun Club of America is pledging that you will "observe all firearm laws."

Heaven Forbid! More Trouble in Paradise

In "Trouble in Paradise," I wrote about how R-Ranch in the Sequoias is developing a set of "gun safety" rules. I posted an update in "A Gathering Storm."

Because I had not heard back, I wrote the entire Board. Responses from two (and unverified information I have says three are for a total ban) confirm my worst fears:

From one director:

This year (as part of the contention on the Ranch) one of the members had a 'concealed' automatic weapon (which he did not have a permit to carry). This disturbed some of our employees and they reported it to Management. This member was very vocal and noted that he has always carried a gun on the trail rides. Furthermore, it was his right and privilege to carry his weapon(s) at all times, anywhere on the Ranch and his interpretation of the law is that anyone over 18 has that right as well. You can imagine the can of worms that this opened. We've had people suggest that anyone over 18 should be able to wear holstered guns around the ranch. Heaven forbid!

[I've learned he was wearing a semiauto tucked into his belt because he didn't have his holster with him--the sheriff's deputy told him that was considered legally concealed but declined to make an arrest.]

From the president:

The mission as it started out was to prevent the open and unrestrained carrying of weapons on the ranch especially where children or others are frequently present. I do not believe it will benefit any of us at this point, to jump to any premature conclusions. The main point is everyone that comes to the ranch needs to be secure that they are safe and that no set of people can either intentionally or by accident compromise the safety of others.

Well, it's not my mission. And talk about intentionally compromising the safety of others...

Here's the ownership setup at R-Ranch. It's similar to joint ownership of common areas in a condominium:

This is not a time share. At R-Ranch no one person or family owns an individual lot. By subdividing ownership rather than land, owners enjoy the entire ranch whenever they wish and as often as they wish, without the constraints of timesharing. There are 2,500 shares, with undivided interest, buyers receive a grant deed at close of escrow.

The Ranch is surrounded by millions of acres of Sequoia National Forest, where open carry is legal--basically, the restrictions are you can't discharge a firearm "within 150 yards of a campground, trail, road, recreation area or across a body of water.}

Exempt from CA edicts against carrying loaded weapons in a public place are persons "carrying a firearm while at home or at his place of business, including temporary residences and campsites."

The bottom line: If the Board can enact a ban against carrying on Ranch property--complete with legal penalties, i.e., calling in the law to arrest violaters and/or via legally enforceable fines/property use restrictions, they are in effect implementing gun control backed by the force of law.

If they get away with it, every homeowner's association in the state of California will have a blueprint for enacting Wilmette-style gun bans and ignoring California's state preemption of firearms laws.

HCA Update

I caused a bit of discussion when I urged people to check out the Handgun Club of America.

Their website now addresses some of the concerns raised in that thread. They have added a page addressing their stand on the Second Amendment, a page of related quotes, and a thoughtful analysis on why rights aren't subject to licensing.

It appears these folks get it.

"The Only Reason You Have a Handgun is to Shoot Someone"

More anti-defense lunacy from north of the border.

No, it's not the only reason. But it certainly is one of them.

Toronto Mayor David Miller's solution?

"We know what works but we need the money to support it. We need the federal government to commit much more strongly to job training and funding actual employment for young people. That will require significant resources."

Spend money on government programs! What else would you expect from a bureaucrat and tyrant who wants to rule people and ensure that they're disarmed?

Is this where I launch into "Gee, Officer Krupke"?

I also like how the vacuous reporterette helps perpetuate hysteria using "straight news" catchphrases like "killings caused by firearms..."

And here I thought killings were caused by killers.

Excuse Me While I Whip This Out

I want my Twinkie.

What Would YOU Use on a T-Rex?

Comment poster Sean reminded me of something when, in response to The 2005 Hardyville Freedom Festival, he nominated "Jurassic Park 2 as the most asinine, corrupt, and contradictory movie [he's] ever seen."

In his musings about how totally ineffectual armed men were portrayed as being, he reminded me of a discussion that took place over a couple issues of my favorite gun magazine.

Andy Breglia shared his thoughts on which ammunition would be most effective against a T-Rex.

His conclusion: "[T]he .30-06 is a true do-all cartridge and, when loaded with the appropriate bullets, will take anything that walks on, or used to walk on, this planet."

The editor was skeptical, and countered "I believe the minimum T-Rex blaster would be an M2 .50 Browning Machine Gun mounted on something faster than a rex. Something with so little brain would take a lot of bleeding out or would need to have its pelvis shot to doll rags and fall before sinking his teeth or weight on you."

Breglia came back with "More Rex Whacks" in a later issue, leading the editor to speculate that "[a] brain shot would have that thing doin' the dead chicken dance all over you."

In fact, as evidenced by Mike the Headless Chicken, it might not even kill the thing.

I think it's an interesting discussion and would like to hear more opinions on this.

Which gun/ammo would be the best to use to effect a quick T-Rex kill, and why?

And we should probably eliminate long-range sniping, as that assumes the thing doesn't know you're there and is stationary. For the purposes of this exercise, let's assume it's a dynamic situation where you and the Rex are both aware of each other and facing off to kill or be killed.

They Never EVER Stop

Kevin gives a gungrabbing bedwetter electroshock therapy.

It won't cure the guy, but it sure is fun to watch it being administered.

Denver Argues to Become Constitution-Free Zone

[T]he Colorado Supreme Court...[will]hear arguments on the city of Denver's right to adopt stricter gun laws than the rest of the state. Assistant City Attorney David Broadwell will base his argument on the city's home-rule authority.

So Broadwell's arguing they can overturn the entire Bill of Rights if they want to?

Lord of War: "Anti-Gun Diatribe"

"War" is a film in which the story takes a backseat to the subject, the characters on-screen serving primarily as agents by which to deliver an anti-gun diatribe.

And of course the solution is to sign the UN small arms treaty.

Guns in the Workplace: An Enuretic's View

Someone who didn't know the basics of gun safety accidentally kills himself.

The conclusion? Obviously, guns don't belong in the workplace, and are more of a danger than a defense.

So why not ban guns in police stations?

Oh, because it's been well established that LEOs are better trained than us mere mortals.

So it's not like the answer just might be providing workplace defense training, is it?

Isn't Running From Predators What PREY Does?

"The scariest part is that you're removing the duty to retreat. That's really there to preserve life."

Unless by retreating instead of acting, you give the advantage to your attacker.

That's the problem with these dolts--they think one size fits all. They don't want people to consider that, just perhaps, the person on scene has a better grasp of what they neeed to do to preserve their safety than the MMM herd of inane cud-chewers. Not a one is qualified to offer tactical defense instruction, but the media presents them as authorities.

Freedom Films

Go vote in The 2005 Hardyville Freedom Film Festival.

I do have one beef--"The Iron Giant" is blatantly anti-hunting. Oh, shoot, I have other beefs--I don't see "The Scarlet Pimpernel." I don't see "Brazil."

I know what I don't see: I don't see the ability to cast write-in votes.

I also respectfully suggest one more category: Made for TV films. We shouldn't overlook this all-pervasive and important medium. After all, it probably has more daily influence on most Americans' lives than any other.

With that in mind, I nominate "Vanishing Point."

Oh, and I don't see a category for documentaries...Oh well, if it gets people thinking about liberty and maybe going out and renting something they haven't seen before...

I'll shut up now. This is still worthwhile and fun, despite my grousing.

[Via End the War on Freedom]

OK, You Can Stay

Just days since they were being urged, sometimes at gunpoint, to leave their homes, the hardy band of residents who sat tight in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina are now being encouraged to stay put and help to restart the city.

In a remarkable U-turn, the authorities - who had previously reviled, goaded and even threatened force against the few hundred remaining "holdouts" - are hailing them as examples of the indomitable spirit needed to rebuild the "Big Easy".

What the "authorities" won't tell us is what part citizens being armed played in this decision.

To Build a Fire

Apparently, you can start a fire with a soda can and a chocolate bar. I couldn't find anything debunking this on urban legends sites, and Tracker Trail seems pretty authoritative and credible.

Maybe I'll have a race with the boys this afternoon--although more than an hour polishing some damn can seems a bit of an investment--especially with the undone chores around this joint.

I'm not sure how useful this info will turn out to be. I can't recall ever being in a situation where I had a Coke and a candy bar (why does that remind me of a priest joke?) but not the means to make a fire--at least not in the wilderness.

[Thanks to Jim Peel.]