We the people...

Gun News

2012-01-31T09:18:00.001-06:00

An Arizona lawmaker is renewing his fight to allow students and professors to carry guns on higher education campuses, raising a controversial issue that resulted in a veto by Gov. Jan Brewer last year. A bill that state Sen. Ron Gould introduced Monday with support from the National Rifle Association would allow people with necessary permits to carry concealed guns on campus grounds and prevent public universities and community colleges from restricting that privilege.

Read the article: The Associated Press

South Dakotans would be allowed to keep guns locked in their private vehicles at work if a House bill is passed and signed into law. The House Judiciary Committee on Monday voted to send the bill to the House floor.

Red the article: The Associated Press

Lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow state employees to bring guns to their workplace as long as they have a concealed weapons permit and keep the firearm locked in their vehicle and out of sight.

Read the article: The Bangor Daily News (Maine)

Newly-released documents show that last February, on an official visit to Mexico, Justice Department official Lanny Breuer suggested fighting arms trafficking by using the tactic of intentionally letting guns flow into Mexico via criminals.

Read the article: CBS News

NRA Will Appeal Texas Concealed Handgun Case

2012-01-30T13:58:00.000-06:00

http://www.ammoland.com/2012/01/21/nra-will-appeal-texas-concealed-handgun-case/

FAIRFAX, Va. --(Ammoland.com)- NRA will appeal yesterday’s decision by a federal court in Texas, which held that the Second Amendment doesn’t protect any right to keep or bear arms outside the home.

The decision, handed down by U.S. District Judge Sam Cummings of the Northern District of Texas, came in the case of Jennings v. McCraw, in which a group of law-abiding 18- to 20-year old adults challenged the state law prohibiting issuance of concealed handgun licenses to persons under 21, who are treated as adults for virtually every other purpose under the law.

(NRA is also a party on behalf of its members in this age group.) Judge Cummings ruled that it was unnecessary to address the state’s discrimination against young adults because “the right to carry a handgun outside of the home … seems to be beyond the scope of the core Second Amendment concern articulated in Heller [v. District of Columbia].”

Unfortunately, this is only the most recent of several court decisions that have misread Heller in that way. Heller, of course, only directly addressed gun possession in the home, for a very simple reason: The plaintiffs in that case only challenged Washington, D.C.’s limits on possession in the home, rather than its restrictions on carrying firearms outside the home.

More importantly, the Supreme Court in Heller never said the Second Amendment doesn’t apply outside the home. Rather, it said that the home is the place “where the need for defense of self, family, and property is most acute”—implying that there are other places where the need may be less acute, but still exists.

Likewise, the Court suggested that it would uphold bans on carrying guns in “sensitive places”—which implies that carrying in places that are not “sensitive” would be protected under the Second Amendment.

The NRA will appeal the Jennings decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and to the Supreme Court if necessary. Although the Supreme Court recently declined to hear two cases addressing the right to bear arms outside the home, several others are working their way through the courts. These include the NRA-supported cases of Peruta v. County of San Diego, which challenges discriminatory permit issuance under California law and Shepard v. Madigan, challenging Illinois’ complete denial of any lawful way to carry firearms for self-defense outside one’s home or place of business. Peruta is pending in the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals and Shepard is awaiting action in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois.

For the latest news on these and other NRA-supported cases and to subscribe to our online Legal Update newsletter, go to www.nraila.org/legalupdate.

Video of the Day- "Bueller, Bueller" Edition

2012-01-30T10:20:00.002-06:00

Gun News

2012-01-30T09:57:00.000-06:00

Law-abiding Mexicans take up illegal guns

In Mexico, where criminals are armed to the teeth with high-powered weapons smuggled from the United States, it may come as a surprise that the country has some of the most restrictive gun laws in the world.

Law-abiding Mexicans who want a gun to defend themselves have no good options. Either they fight government red tape to get a legal permit, or they buy one on the black market.

After an outbreak of violence, one embattled community in northern Mexico called Colonia LeBaron has begun to ask if it's time for the country to address its gun laws.

Read the article: NPR

Tennessee: Record check an ineffective nuisance

Tennessee is one of the large majority of states -- 34 out of 50 -- that doesn't require a background check when one private individual sells a gun to another. Mayors Against Illegal Guns, founded by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, thinks that Tennessee should join the minority.

But the call for stricter gun laws seems like one whose time has passed, and if anyone is going to reform gun rules it should probably be Bloomberg's New York, which has been the scene of one gun law horror story after another, with honest citizens facing years of jail time for unwitting violations.

Read the article: The Tennessean (Nashville, Tenn.)

Right-to-Carry laws fuel surge in female gun ownership

American women saying they personally own a firearm is nearly one in four, according to an October Gallup poll.

That survey indicated the highest gun ownership since the 1990s, with 43 percent of women reporting at least one in their home and 23 percent saying it's theirs. (Half of American men own a firearm, the poll showed.)

Read the article: The Kansas City Star (Mo.)

Iowa: Right-to-Carry permits increase by 154 percent

For reasons ranging from personal security to "because I can," the number of Iowans with permits to carry concealed weapons increased 154 percent during the first year of relaxed laws governing their issuance.

Read the article: The Cedar Rapids Gazette (Iowa)

Oklahoma: Lawmakers look to expand self-defense law

Following a series of high profile shootings deemed justified under the state's "Make My Day" law, some lawmakers are looking to expand the state's gun laws to allow citizens to defend themselves beyond just their homes.

Read the article: The Associated Press

DOJ dodges, won't say when Holder knew of border guard's death

A document the Department of Justice sent to Congress Friday shows that Eric Holder's deputy chief of staff was made aware on the day of U.S. border Patrol Agent Brian Terry's murder that a weapon traced back to Operation Fast and Furious killed him. But when asked Sunday, a Justice spokesperson would not would not answer The Daily Caller's question about whether Attorney General Eric Holder himself was informed of the connection on that day.

Read the article: The Daily Caller

Can hunting endangered animals save the species?

The scimitar horned oryx . . . the addax . . . the dama gazelle three elegant desert antelope that you'd hope to see on a journey through Africa, except that their numbers are dwindling there. Which is why Lara Logan went to Texas yes, Texas. There, on large grassland ranches, some exotic species that are endangered in the wild have been brought back in large numbers. But there's a catch: a percentage of the herd is hunted every year by hunters who pay big money for a big catch. The ranchers say this limited "culling" gives them the money they need to care for the animals and conserve the species.

Read the article: CBS 60 Minutes

A Message from the Pope

2012-01-30T09:50:00.002-06:00

Dear Brother Bishops,

I greet all of you with fraternal affection and I pray that this pilgrimage of spiritual renewal and deepened communion will confirm you in faith and commitment to your task as Pastors of the Church in the United States of America. As you know, it is my intention in the course of this year to reflect with you on some of the spiritual and cultural challenges of the new evangelization.

One of the most memorable aspects of my Pastoral Visit to the United States was the opportunity it afforded me to reflect on America’s historical experience of religious freedom, and specifically the relationship between religion and culture.

At the heart of every culture, whether perceived or not, is a consensus about the nature of reality and the moral good, and thus about the conditions for human flourishing. In America, that consensus, as enshrined in your nation’s founding documents, was grounded in a worldview shaped not only by faith but a commitment to certain ethical principles deriving from nature and nature’s God. Today that consensus has eroded significantly in the face of powerful new cultural currents which are not only directly opposed to core moral teachings of the Judeo-Christian tradition, but increasingly hostile to Christianity as such.

For her part, the Church in the United States is called, in season and out of season, to proclaim a Gospel which not only proposes unchanging moral truths but proposes them precisely as the key to human happiness and social prospering (cf. Gaudium et Spes, 10). To the extent that some current cultural trends contain elements that would curtail the proclamation of these truths, whether constricting it within the limits of a merely scientific rationality, or suppressing it in the name of political power or majority rule, they represent a threat not just to Christian faith, but also to humanity itself and to the deepest truth about our being and ultimate vocation, our relationship to God. When a culture attempts to suppress the dimension of ultimate mystery, and to close the doors to transcendent truth, it inevitably becomes impoverished and falls prey, as the late Pope John Paul II so clearly saw, to reductionist and totalitarian readings of the human person and the nature of society.

With her long tradition of respect for the right relationship between faith and reason, the Church has a critical role to play in countering cultural currents which, on the basis of an extreme individualism, seek to promote notions of freedom detached from moral truth. Our tradition does not speak from blind faith, but from a rational perspective which links our commitment to building an authentically just, humane and prosperous society to our ultimate assurance that the cosmos is possessed of an inner logic accessible to human reasoning.

The Church’s defense of a moral reasoning based on the natural law is grounded on her conviction that this law is not a threat to our freedom, but rather a “language” which enables us to understand ourselves and the truth of our being, and so to shape a more just and humane world. She thus proposes her moral teaching as a message not of constraint but of liberation, and as the basis for building a secure future.

The Church’s witness, then, is of its nature public: she seeks to convince by proposing rational arguments in the public square. The legitimate separation of Church and State cannot be taken to mean that the Church must be silent on certain issues, nor that the State may choose not to engage, or be engaged by, the voices of committed believers in determining the values which will shape the future of the nation.

In the light of these considerations, it is imperative that the entire Catholic community in the United States come to realize the grave threats to the Church’s public moral witness presented by a radical secularism which finds increasing expression in the political and cultural spheres.

The seriousness of these threats needs to be clearly appreciated at every level of ecclesial life. Of particular concern are certain attempts being made to limit that most cherished of American freedoms, the freedom of religion.

Many of you have pointed out that concerted efforts have been made to deny the right of conscientious objection on the part of Catholic individuals and institutions with regard to cooperation in intrinsically evil practices. Others have spoken to me of a worrying tendency to reduce religious freedom to mere freedom of worship without guarantees of respect for freedom of conscience.

Here once more we see the need for an engaged, articulate and well-formed Catholic laity endowed with a strong critical sense vis-à-vis the dominant culture and with the courage to counter a reductive secularism which would delegitimize the Church’s participation in public debate about the issues which are determining the future of American society. The preparation of committed lay leaders and the presentation of a convincing articulation of the Christian vision of man and society remain a primary task of the Church in your country; as essential components of the new evangelization, these concerns must shape the vision and goals of catechetical programs at every level.

In this regard, I would mention with appreciation your efforts to maintain contacts with Catholics involved in political life and to help them understand their personal responsibility to offer public witness to their faith, especially with regard to the great moral issues of our time: respect for God’s gift of life, the protection of human dignity and the promotion of authentic human rights. As the Council noted, and I wished to reiterate during my Pastoral Visit, respect for the just autonomy of the secular sphere must also take into consideration the truth that there is no realm of worldly affairs which can be withdrawn from the Creator and his dominion (cf. Gaudium et Spes, 36). There can be no doubt that a more consistent witness on the part of America’s Catholics to their deepest convictions would make a major contribution to the renewal of society as a whole.

Dear Brother Bishops, in these brief remarks I have wished to touch upon some of the pressing issues which you face in your service to the Gospel and their significance for the evangelization of American culture. No one who looks at these issues realistically can ignore the genuine difficulties which the Church encounters at the present moment. Yet in faith we can take heart from the growing awareness of the need to preserve a civil order clearly rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition, as well as from the promise offered by a new generation of Catholics whose experience and convictions will have a decisive role in renewing the Church’s presence and witness in American society. The hope which these “signs of the times” give us is itself a reason to renew our efforts to mobilize the intellectual and moral resources of the entire Catholic community in the service of the evangelization of American culture and the building of the civilization of love. With great affection I commend all of you, and the flock entrusted to your care, to the prayers of Mary, Mother of Hope, and cordially impart my Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of grace and peace in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Pope Benedict XVI

Gun of the Day- "Zoe and Josh" Edition

2012-01-29T11:32:00.002-06:00

The Rossi Ranch Hand

Growing up I loved watching Wanted: Dead or Alive. As an adult I loved watching Firefly. When Rossi released this little baby, I bought one. Mine is the .38spl/.357 version and it is a joy to shoot. And yes, I do know the difference between a Mare's Leg and a Ranch Hand... You just try finding a Mare's Leg.

Pistol cartridge lever-actions have had attention of the American public since the days of the Old West when having a rifle and pistol that shoot the same caliber just made sense.

There are numerous variations-rifles, carbines, standard loop, oversized loop-including Rossi s Model 92 hybrid-the Ranch Hand. The Ranch Hand is available in three popular pistol rounds- .38 Spl./.357 Mag., .44 Mag. and .45 Colt.

The Ranch Hand s 12-inch barrel complies with federal regulations, and features a gold-bead front sight with an adjustable buckhorn rear sight and an oversized loop lever.

Toon of the Day- "Day by Day" Edition

2012-01-29T11:06:00.002-06:00

Valentines Day is Support Your Local Starbucks Day

2012-01-29T10:42:00.002-06:00

Stolen from our friends at Libertas and Latte...

"A nationwide boycott of Starbucks stores and its products will be launched on Valentine's Day 2012. Its goal is to eliminate the risk of guns in public places and ultimately to bring sane gun laws to the U.S."

I plan to visit my local Starbucks while carrying, especially on Valentine's Day.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/starbucks-pro-gun-policy-prompts-gun-victims-advocate-group-to-launch-nationwide-boycott-on-valentines-day-2012-137890863.html

Just follow the money and the logic!

2012-01-28T21:24:00.002-06:00

It's a slow day in the small town of "Pumphandle," and the streets are
deserted. Times are tough, everybody is in debt, and everybody is living on
credit.

A tourist visiting the area drives through town, stops at the hotel, and
lays a $100 bill on the desk saying he wants to inspect the rooms upstairs
to pick one for the night.

As soon as he walks upstairs, the hotel owner grabs the bill and runs next
door to pay his debt to the butcher.
(Stay with this... and pay attention)

The butcher takes the $100 and runs down the street to retire his debt to
the pig farmer.

The pig farmer takes the $100 and heads off to pay his bill to his supplier,
the Co-op.

The guy at the Co-op takes the $100 and runs to pay his debt to the local
prostitute, who has also been facing hard times and has had to offer her
"services" on credit.

The hooker rushes to the hotel and pays off her room bill with the hotel
owner.

(Almost done...keep reading)

The hotel proprietor then places the $100 back on the counter so the
traveler will not suspect anything. At that moment the traveler comes down
the stairs, states that the rooms are not satisfactory, picks up the $100
bill and leaves.

No one produced anything. No one earned anything. However, the whole town
now thinks that they are out of debt and there is a false atmosphere of
optimism and glee.

And that, my friends, is how a "stimulus package" works!

Link of the Day II- "Holder's Going Down" Edition

2012-01-28T10:45:00.000-06:00

Documents say DOJ knew of Fast and Furious connection day after Terry murder

Link of the Day- "Sipsey Street" Edition II

2012-01-28T10:40:00.000-06:00

Sipsey Street Exclusive: BREAKING. White House dumps 500 plus pages of documents tonight! Emails from Burke to Holder's office regarding Terry murder and Fast & Furious weapons?

R.I.P. Robert Hegyes

2012-01-27T19:00:00.000-06:00

Dear Lord,
Please excuse Epstein from Heaven today. There is need of him on Earth to make people laugh again.

Thank You,
Epstein's Mother

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/nationnow/2012/01/welcome-back-kotter-how-robert-hegyes-epstein-changed-tv.html

Link of the Day- "Sipsey Street" Edition

2012-01-27T09:57:00.000-06:00

http://sipseystreetirregulars.blogspot.com/2012/01/autopsy-of-injustice-let-dead-teach.html

Autopsy of Injustice. Let the dead teach the living in the Gunwalker Scandal.

Everyone Needs to Read This.

Video of the Day- "A Brief History" Edition

2012-01-27T09:12:00.000-06:00

Picture of the Day- "PETA and BBQ" Edition

2012-01-26T10:26:00.000-06:00

Gun News

2012-01-26T09:15:00.000-06:00

Virginia: Senate panel backs repeal of gun rationing law

The Senate Courts of Justice Committee on Wednesday approved a measure that would eliminate Virginia's one-gun-a-month restriction on handgun purchases, setting up what could be the most significant change to Virginia's gun laws in years.

Read About It: The Richmond Times-Dispatch (Va.)

Kansas: House triggers debate on concealed gun reform

The House Federal and State Affairs Committee gathered testimony Wednesday on a bill allowing concealed-carry permit holders to bring firearms onto college campuses and into publicly owned buildings in Kansas.

Read About It: The Topeka Capital-Journal (Kans.)

Nebraska: Castle Doctrine gets hearing

With the bill, introduced by Omaha Sen. Scott Lautenbaugh, the use of force, including deadly force, is presumed to be necessary for defense against a person unlawfully entering or present in a home or vehicle. Lautenbaugh said the bill clarifies the rights of people to protect themselves in their homes and cars, and that it is not criminal conduct if the factors apply. It also offers immunity from civil liability.

Read About It: The Journal Star (Lincoln, Neb.)

Issa says Holder should apologize to Mexico: ‘Justice has blood on their hands’

House oversight committee chairman Rep. Darrell Issa told The Daily Caller that Attorney General Eric Holder owes an apology to the Mexican government and to the families of Operation Fast and Furious victims south of the border. “Justice has blood on their hands,” Issa said Wednesday during an exclusive interview with The DC, referring to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Read About It: The Daily Caller

2-year, 16% rise in Chicagoans with firearm cards

Chicago has seen a 16 percent spike in the number of people holding state firearm owner’s identification cards in the past two years, state officials said Wednesday. About 122,000 people had FOID cards at the beginning of this year compared to 105,000 at the beginning of 2010, said Monique Bond, Illinois State Police spokeswoman.

Read About It: The Chicago Sun-Times

I Met Chris Kyle Yesterday

2012-01-26T08:48:00.000-06:00

I met Chris Kyle yesterday at a book signing in Killeen. You may remember a few weeks ago when I posted this. Chris is a pretty cool guy. We didn't have a lot of time for chit chat but I got the impression he'd be a blast to hang out with. While standing in line I read the first two chapters of the book... Wow.

Soon as I finish the one I'm reading now, that one gets bumped up to "next."

Chris also has his own business called Craft International. That company also happens to be hiring right now (if you've got the pedigree).

Across the 'Sphere'...

2012-01-25T14:14:00.000-06:00

http://wakeupblackamerica.blogspot.com/2012/01/i-didnt-watch-sotu-address-last-night.html

http://www.gormogons.com/2012/01/dark-lord-of-sith.html

http://waronguns.blogspot.com/2012/01/what-have-been-effects-of-politics-and.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheWarOnGuns+%28The+War+on+Guns%29

http://912member.blogspot.com/2012/01/herman-cains-tea-party-response-to.html

http://commentarama.blogspot.com/2012/01/lost-in-shuffle-of-saving-middle-class.html

http://sipseystreetirregulars.blogspot.com/2012/01/praxis-on-necessity-of-training-copy.html

http://randysroundtable.blogspot.com/2012/01/allen-west-is-ticket.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+RandysRoundtable+%28Randy%27s+Roundtable%29

http://americanpowerblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/sarah-palin-chris-christies-panties-in.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AmericanPower+%28American+Power%29

http://dailygunpictures.blogspot.com/2012/01/chiappa-model-92-puma-bounty-hunter.html

http://airmanmom.blogspot.com/2012/01/wednesday-hero-01252012.html

http://randomthoughtsandguns.blogspot.com/2012/01/new-garand-owner.html

http://legalinsurrection.com/2012/01/sotu-in-one-sentence/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+LegalInsurrection+%28Le%C2%B7gal+In%C2%B7sur%C2%B7rec%C2%B7tion%29

http://iaimtomisbehave.blogspot.com/2012/01/nsfw.html

Gun News

2012-01-25T10:04:00.000-06:00

New term for gun prohibitionists doesn’t change their agenda

Remember that behind every call for arms confiscation lies the deadly threat -- "We will take your firearms if we have to get the government to kill you to do it."

Transferring a gun into D.C.

I bought my new 9mm Sig Sauer from a dealer in Virginia and needed to get it to into the District. When it comes to firearms, a distance of 70 miles might as well be thousands of miles across international borders.

Read About It: The Washington Times

Issa cries foul after key player in Fast and Furious scandal refuses to testify

As Arizona state officials open their own probe into Operation Fast and Furious, the head of the House panel investigating the gunrunning scandal is crying foul over a key player's move Tuesday to assert his Fifth Amendment right to refuse to answer questions.

Read About It: Fox News

Illinois: Jump in license to own guns possibly fueled by concealed carry hopes

The number of people licensed to own guns in Illinois jumped by more than 78,500 last year, possibly fueled by a belief the state was poised to legalize the concealed carry of weapons. According to figures provided by the Illinois State Police, nearly 1.4 million people had firearm owner’s identification cards as of Jan. 1, compared to slightly more than 1.3 million the year before.

Read About It: The Bloomington Pantagraph (Ill.)

S.C.: Councilman seeks to muzzle Right-to-Carry advocate Sheriff

Spartanburg County Council's lone Democrat wants Sheriff Chuck Wright to stop encouraging residents to obtain concealed weapons permits. Councilman Michael Brown says his constituents believe the statements promote an environment of lawlessness in the community.

Read About It: The Spartanburg Herald-Journal (S.C.)

'Put up or shut up...bring it on'

2012-01-25T09:49:00.000-06:00

PICKET: (audio) Newt to Pelosi - 'Put up or shut up...bring it on'

U.S. National Debt Clock

2012-01-24T15:27:00.000-06:00

U.S. National Debt Clock : Real Time

Joke of the Day- "Coffee Hurts" Edition

2012-01-24T10:18:00.001-06:00

I was eating lunch on the 20th of February with my 6-year-old
granddaughter and I asked her, "What day is tomorrow?"
She said "It's President's Day!"
She is a smart kid. So, I asked "What does President's Day mean?" I
was waiting for something about Washington or Lincoln etc.
She replied, "President's Day is when President Obama steps out of the
White House, and if he sees his shadow we have one more year of
unemployment."
You know, it hurts when hot coffee spurts out your nose ….

Gun News

2012-01-24T09:51:00.000-06:00

‘Gun for Hire’ radio host takes NJ anti-gun laws personally--as we all should

Santorum gives insight on Romney judicial nominees

I bought a gun in D.C., but...

After days of calls, emails, tweets, comments and posts, I finally bought the exact gun I wanted, the two-tone version of the Sig Sauer P229 9mm. I’m so excited to shoot my new purchase, but in the nation’s capital, it's not that simple. Buying a gun doesn’t mean you get to have the gun.

Read About It: The Washington Times

Arizona House to review Fast and Furious operation

Arizona legislators said Monday they’re jumping into the review of a flawed federal gun-smuggling sting operation because it took place within their state.

Read About It: The Associated Press

Armed mother received help 14 minutes after home invasion call

Records released almost three weeks after Sarah McKinley shot and killed an intruder as he broke into her Blanchard home support police estimates that it took lawmen 14 minutes to reach the 18-year-old mom after she called 911.

Read About It: The Oklahoman

Illinois: Oak Park gun meeting piques interest of Illinois State Rifle Association

Oak Park is looking at possible new firearm regulations, and that has piqued the interest of the Illinois State Rifle Association. Oak Park's Board of Health on Tuesday night will hold a forum that will focus on the future sale and possession of firearms. The forum will "ultimately lead to a recommendation to the Village Board for possible action," a notice from the village said.

Read About It: The Chicago Tribune

Ohio: Right-to-Carry bills on the move

Lawmakers voted last year to allow guns in bars and restaurants, but the Republican-controlled legislature might not be done with bills that loosen restrictions on carrying guns in Ohio. Rep. Ron Maag, R-Lebanon, is expected this week to add two gun bills to the mix, and both are drawing opposition from law enforcement. One would allow people to bring a gun to the Statehouse parking garage, and the other no longer would require people to tell law officers during a traffic stop that they are carrying a gun.

Read About It: The Columbus Dispatch

California lawmaker targets open carrying of long guns

Having won approval of a ban on the open carrying of handguns in public, state Assemblyman Anthony Portantino (D-La Canada-Flintridge) proposed Monday to extend the prohibition to long guns.

Read About It: The L.A. Times

The Sun is Getting Pissy

2012-01-23T23:02:00.003-06:00

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/23/us-sun-storm-idUSTRE80M25Q20120123

SOPA

2012-01-23T19:29:00.000-06:00

http://larrycorreia.wordpress.com/2012/01/18/sopa/

by Larry Correia

I’ve had several people ask me what I think about this and how they’ve been surprised that I haven’t had a post about it, mostly because I always have an opinion on political nonsense, and second, because as a fiction writer I get pirated a lot, so I have skin in the game. I haven’t posted much because I’ve been running behind. Correia 2.4 should be here anytime now, but is taking his sweet time. (Mrs. Correia has started calling this pregnancy Occupy Womb Street)

As for SOPA, piracy sucks, but I’d much rather have some loser rip me off than give an already out of control government one more Orwellian power. Screw Sopa.

All of my state’s congressmen and sentators are now against it, including Hatch (who was one of the original sponsors). Good. Kill this piece of garbage.

As for all of the people out there on the internet having a massive freak out about the government potentially damaging something they love… WELCOME TO THE PARTY.

You think this is something new or unusual? Nope. This is just about a topic that you happen to be familiar with. If you fall into that camp, I want you to take a deep breath, step back, and examine all of the other issues in the past that you didn’t know jack squat about, but your knee jerk reaction was to say “there’s a problem, the governement has to do something!” Well guess what? The crap the federal government usually comes up with to fix these problems is similar to SOPA. In other words, the legislation addresses a perceived problem by instituting a bunch of stupid overregulation and taking away someone’s freedom.

You think people need access to affordable medical care and shouldn’t be denied coverage? Well, you got used and we got the bloated ridiculous mess that is Obamacare. You saw a news report about how big business defrauded people and said congress should do something? Well, everyone in the business world got screwed because of Enron by completely useless new arbitrary crap laws, and a few years later we got into an even bigger financial crisis which the arbitrary crap laws we spent billions conforming to did nothing to prevent. No, because that financial crisis was caused by people saying that there was this huge problem that needed to be fixed, so more people who couldn’t afford to pay mortgages could still buy houses, and the government simply had to do something to fix this problem!

Any crisis… Any problem… You ask the feds to fix it, you get this kind of answer. Almost never do the laws fix the actual problem. Instead the government gets bigger and gains a few more powers and it doesn’t fix the issue. When the problem gets bigger, then the government gets bigger and gains a few more powers that actually make the problem worse. Oh look! Despite all of these laws the problem has gotten even bigger? Whatever should we do? Why, I know! Let’s pass an even bigger law that takes away more individual freedom and gives the government more control!

Repeat, repeat, repeat. Any topic, any situation, any problem. They address it, you lose freedom and they gain more control. Some of you are only offended today because this particular law hurts something you enjoy. The rest of the time? Screw it. You can’t be bothered to pay attention. Or worse, people like me who are up in arms over an issue are just cranks or anti-government crackpots.

I was going to close this blog post with a quote I read about freedom versus control, but Wikipedia was down protesting SOPA.

EDIT: Right after I posted this, friend and co-author Mike Kupari posted this. So I stole it from him. (surely a SOPA violation!) He’s on the same wavelength:

You didn’t care when the government decided it could spy on you without a warrant. You didn’t care when they started telling you what you could eat. You didn’t care when your kids’ education was turned into indoctrination. You didn’t care when they were more worried about military veterans than Islamic terrorists. You didn’t care when they spent so much money that our entire economic system may co…llapse. You didn’t care when they gave billions of your money to unions and corporations that were their political contributors. You didn’t care when inert cosmetic features on guns were felonies. You didn’t care when they made it a fucking crime to not have government approved health insurance.

All of these things were done in your name. On your behalf. To help you, protect you, take care of you. Each time you gave them more power and gave away more of your freedom. Each time you believed them when they said they were protecting you, or helping the less fortunate, or sticking it to “the rich” who “aren’t paying their fair share”.

Each time you applauded their efforts. Mocked those that were concerned. Called them uncaring or racist or alarmist or stupid. Each time you asked for more. You begged them to take care of you, protect you, right wrongs, enforce equality.

But now that your Internet porn and bit torrents are threatened, NOW you care?

It’s too late for all that, kids. Turning off Wikipedia for a couple days isn’t going to win back the freedoms we’ve pissed away. It isn’t going to undo decades of expanding government power. They’ve already decided there’s nothing they can’t do, no law they can’t pass.

We watched it happen. We let it happen. We have the country we deserve.

So go ahead, post a rant about SOPA on your blog. Link to Ron Paul’s web page. Pretend you’re doing something. It’ll make you feel better. Then you will go back to business as usual and so will they.

Democracy in action. Isn’t it beautiful?

Gun Firms Fear Army Carbine Fait Accompli | Military.com

2012-01-23T10:52:00.000-06:00

Gun Firms Fear Army Carbine Fait Accompli | Military.com

News of the Day

2012-01-23T10:11:00.001-06:00

President Obama's job-killing environmental extremism

GOP Strategist: Republican Establishment Fears Down-Ballot Disaster If Newt Wins Nomination

Newt’s S.C. Secret Weapon: Taking the Fight to the Left

Why So Little Press On The Gun Toting Drifter For Whom Occupy Voted To Pay Bail?

What Congress Must Do to Fix the Damage of NDAA, and Deny the U.S. Government the Power to Wage War on Americans

Fla. School District to Decide on School Prayer Policy

A Fling With Federalism

Obama Defends Roe v. Wade As Way for ‘Our Daughters’ to Have Same Chance As Sons to ‘Fulfill Their Dreams’

The electoral train wreck scenario

Cape Girardeau Boy Scout receives Heroism Award

El Paso Boy Scout who saved teacher featured in magazine comic

Tuskegee Airman laid to rest at Arlington

PAPER SORRY FOR ‘ASSASSINATE OBAMA’ COMMENT

New Charges Against GI in Fort Hood Bomb Plot

Over 10,800,000 Guns Sold in the USA in 2011

Gun News

2012-01-23T09:42:00.000-06:00

New York City gun law triggers confusion, arrests for visitors

An online campaign in support of a former U.S. Marine arrested for attempting to security check his pistol while visiting the Empire State Building is bringing new attention and a fair amount of scrutiny to one of the nation's toughest gun control laws. Ryan Jerome, 28, was charged with criminal possession of his .45 caliber Ruger while visiting the famous New York landmark during a September vacation with his girlfriend. Jerome has a license to carry the weapon from his home state of Indiana, but New Yorks state gun laws do not recognize out of state permits.

Read About It: CNN News Wire

Illinois only state without concealed carry

In Illinois, the Family and Personal Protection Act that would allow gun owners to carry loaded firearms -- either openly or concealed -- in a vehicle and into certain public places came up six votes shy in the Illinois House last year. Anti gun lawmakers from the Chicago area provided most of the opposition. But the debate is not over: State Rep. Brandon Phelps, D Harrisburg, expects to bring the bill back for another vote this year.

Read About It: The Bloomington Pantagraph (Ill.)

Illinois: State gun group organizes members for Oak Park forum

The Illinois State Rifle Association appears to be trying to stir up a firestorm ahead of an Oak Park gun forum next week. The gun group emailed, tweeted and posted on its Facebook page an "urgent alert," asking supporters to show up for the Jan. 24 focus group at village hall. In it, the rifle association says the "gun grabbers" in Oak Park are trying to "launch a whole new attack on your right to keep and bear arms," starting next week.

Read About It: Wednesday Journal (Oak Park, Ill.)

Ariz. House to probe gun trafficking investigation

Arizona legislators plan to review a controversial federal law enforcement investigation into weapons trafficking in Arizona. State House Speaker Andy Tobin is creating a special House committee to investigate the Fast and Furious operation.

Read About It: The Associated Press

Colorado Republicans aim to respect gun rights

A proposal running simultaneously in the House and Senate would allow concealed weapons on school grounds and college campuses if a person has a permit and another bill would let business owners and employees use deadly force against intruders. Both proposals have previously failed, including last year when Senate Democrats rejected the concealed weapons bill.

Read About It: The Associated Press

North Carolina: Action put off Forsyth County guns in parks issue

Forsyth County commissioners remain sharply divided over whether to allow people with concealed weapon permits to take their guns into county parks, but they decided last week to postpone action for at least a couple of weeks.

Read About It: The Winston Salem Journal (N.C.)

Gun of the Day- The "I Love it When a Plan Comes Together" Edition

2012-01-19T10:04:00.001-06:00

The Ruger Mini-14

Production history

Designer L. James Sullivan, William B. Ruger

Designed 1967–1973

Manufacturer Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc.

Produced 1973–present

Variants:

Ranch Rifle

Mini Thirty

Mini-6.8

Bolt-Action Only (BOA)

AC-556

Target

Tactical

NRA Edition

Specifications

Weight: 6 lb 6oz (2.90 kg)

Length: 37.25 in (946 mm)

Barrel length: 22.00 in (559 mm) (Target Rifle), 18.50 in (470 mm) (Ranch Rifle, Mini-30)

16.12 in (409 mm) (Tactical, Mini-30, NRA Edition)

13 in (330 mm) (AC-556)

Cartridge: .223 Remington/5.56x45mm (Mini-14/AC-556)

7.62×39mm (Mini-30)

6.8 mm Remington SPC

.222 Remington

Action: Gas-operated, rotating bolt

Rate of fire: Semi-automatic (Mini-14)

750rpm Selective fire (AC-556)

Muzzle velocity: 3100 ft/s (945 m/s)

Feed system: 5, 10, 20, or 30 round factory box magazine. Numerous aftermarket magazines and drums.

Sights: Iron sights

If it was good enough for Hannibal, then it's good enough for me.

Gun News

2012-01-19T09:48:00.000-06:00

D.C. cleans up its gun ban

The nation's capital is home to some of the most restrictive gun laws in the country. Washington city leaders intentionally crafted convoluted regulations to make it difficult for citizens to own firearms legally. Now that these obstructionist rules are in the spotlight, the D.C. Council realizes it needs to clean up its act.

Read About It: The Washington Times

Why U.S. gun sales are shooting for the moon

If James Anthony Bailey and P.T. Barnum had seen the Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade Show (SHOT Show) they just might have conceded their "Greatest Show on Earth" needed more guns, sideshows and characters. Because come one, come all, the SHOT Show has no comparison on Earth and, in fact, is especially interesting this year because gun sales are breaking records.

Read About It: Forbes

Lott: Should New York tourists have their lives destroyed because of concealed carry laws?

Just a few days before Christmas, Meredith Graves made a mistake that could end her medical career and send her to prison for at least 3 years. The 39 year old fourth year medical student was carrying a permitted concealed handgun when she saw the sign at the 9/11 Memorial saying "No guns allowed." She did the responsible thing and asked a security guard where she could check her weapon. Unfortunately, while her Tennessee concealed carry license is recognized in 40 states, New York isn't one of them. Meredith was arrested.

Read About It: Fox News

New York City: Police device aims to take guesswork Out of detecting guns

In a speech on Tuesday morning to the New York City Police Foundation, Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly said the department was working with the Defense Department to develop gun scan technology "capable of detecting concealed firearms." The tool would operate as a sort of reverse infrared mapping tool by reading the energy people emit and pinpointing where that flow is blocked by some object, like a gun.

Read About It: The New York Times

Oklahoma: Will open carry finally pass?

43 states have some sort of open carry law, but Oklahoma isn't one of them; until, perhaps, maybe, later this year. "I think the state is ready to address this issue," said Oklahoma state senator Steve Russell's bill would require people to be 21 years of age or older, to properly holster and display the weapon, and to abide by restrictions at private establishments.

Read About It: KTUL (Tulsa, Okla.)

Virginia: Hearing on Castle Doctrine Self-Defense Bills Postponed!

Although scheduled for today, the Criminal Law Subcommittee of the House Courts of Justice Committee was forced to postpone the hearing for four “Castle Doctrine” bills. At this time these bills are expected to be considered next week. However, please continue to monitor www.NRAILA.org and your email for updates on these, as well as other important bills as they progress in Richmond.
“Castle Doctrine” establishes the presumption that an individual who forcibly enters one’s home, business or occupied motor vehicle is there to cause death or great bodily harm, and allows force, including deadly force, against that person. This legislation would guarantee a right thirty states have already recognized and one that needs to be realized in Virginia.
House Bill 14, sponsored by Delegate Greg Habeeb (R-8), would provide civil immunity to an occupant of a dwelling who uses any degree of physical force to defend the dwelling or another person in the dwelling.
House Bill 47, sponsored by Delegate Dickie Bell (R-20), would provide similar protections as HB 14.
House Bill 48, also sponsored by Delegate Dickie Bell (R-20), seeks to codify the "Castle Doctrine" by providing both criminal and civil liability immunity to someone who uses any degree of physical force against another person when the other person has unlawfully entered the dwelling and committed an overt act.
House Bill 925, introduced by Delegate Scott Lingamfelter (R-31), would codify a version of "Castle Doctrine” to allow the use of physical force, including deadly force, by a person in his dwelling against an intruder who has committed an overt act against him or another person in the dwelling.

Mitt Romney or More to the Point...

2012-01-18T10:29:00.000-06:00

Why You Shouldn't Vote For Him.

http://cdn2.dailycaller.com/2012/01/McCain-2008-Oppo-File-on-Romney.pdf

Video of the Day- "Ameritopia" Edition

2012-01-18T10:05:00.000-06:00

Gun News

2012-01-18T10:02:00.000-06:00

Media Matters’ desperation to smear NRA comes out in election hit piece

http://www.examiner.com/gun-rights-in-national/media-matters-desperation-to-smear-nra-comes-out-election-hit-piece

Holder position on voter ID exposes racial discrimination against gun ownership

http://www.examiner.com/gun-rights-in-national/holder-s-position-on-voter-id-exposes-racial-discrimination-against-gun-ownershi

Remington makes M24 available to soldiers

2012-01-17T09:17:00.001-06:00

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2012/01/army-remington-makes-m24-rifle-available-011512w/

by Lance Bacon

Many soldiers have drooled at the idea of spending a day behind the M24 sniper rifle. Now you have a chance to own one.
Manufacturer Remington made a unique deal with the Army that will make nearly 2,000 M24s available for purchase.
As the Army upgrades 2,500 M24 sniper rifle chassis to XM2010s, replaced parts are normally destroyed. In return for a reduced price on its XM2010, the Army is letting Remington use those operational parts to build a complete M24 system, said Trevor Shaw, Remington spokesman.
This is not a cheap knockoff, mind you. It is the same rifle that snipers have carried for nearly 25 years. Each rifle has 800-yard accuracy and will include:
• A new M700 long-action receiver.
• A new 40X trigger assembly externally adjustable from 2 to 8 pounds of pull.
• A new 24-inch 416R Stainless Barrel with 5R rifling with 1-11.25-inch twist.
• The H-S Precision Kevlar Graphite composite stock with a full-length aluminum bedding block, adjustable length of pull, ambidextrous palm swell on grip, and a beavertail-type fore-end.
• The venerable Leupold-Stevens M3 Ultra fixed scope at 10X with a range-finding mil-dot reticle and bullet drop compensator.
• Matte-black “Rem-Tuff” powder coat external finish.
• Harris short bipod.
• Detachable Redfield Palma Match rear sight with a Redfield Olympic big-bore open front sight.
• Hard carrying case.
The rifle will run you $3,500. That may seem like a big chunk of change, especially when you can buy Remington’s Model 700 XCR Tactical Long Range for $1,500. But the M24 is in a whole different league, and its asking price is about half the original cost, Shaw said.
“The barrel is unique, the rifle is drill-tapped for the open sights. … There is just no other gun like this that we make,” he said. “Just the stock and scope would cost you $2,000. You can build or buy something that will match this capability, but it will cost you $6,000. And it won’t be an M24.”
Remington will take orders beginning in mid-January. Details will be available on the company’s website, www.remington.com. Current and former U.S. military snipers have first shot. Active-duty service members, National Guardsmen and reservists are next in line, followed by retired military personnel. If rifles remain, federal agents and law enforcement officers can get in on the action.
The gun maker has 250 systems on hand now and expects another 400 in the coming months, Shaw said. The bulk of repatriated parts will come in October. Remington expects to pump out roughly 100 weapons a month through the end of 2013. Delivery time may take up to nine months. The M24s will be built on the same production line as XM2010s and foreign-sold M24s.

Video of the Day- "Let's Go T-Rex Hunting" Edition

2012-01-16T14:11:00.002-06:00

Toon of the Day

2012-01-16T13:40:00.002-06:00

Ohio Peace Officer Drafts NDAA Letter For Police And Sheriffs

2012-01-11T07:23:00.000-06:00

Oath Keepers » Blog Archive » Ohio Peace Officer Drafts NDAA Letter For Police And Sheriffs

Oath Keepers » Blog Archive

2012-01-10T18:58:00.000-06:00

Oath Keepers » Blog Archive » Michael LeMieux: NDAA FOLLOW-UP AND FURTHER TREASONOUS ACTS

Video of the Day- "Veteran of the Year" Edition

2012-01-10T15:48:00.000-06:00

Bear With Me...

2012-01-08T23:06:00.000-06:00

Posts this week will be sporadic, at best. Ah, the life of a military contractor...

And Now, a Word from Chuck Norris

2012-01-07T16:42:00.002-06:00

Gun News

2012-01-06T09:19:00.000-06:00

Reuters reports on ATF 'Gunwalker' reassignments day after GRE, SSI

Continue reading on Examiner.com Reuters reports on ATF 'Gunwalker' reassignments day after GRE, SSI - National gun rights | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/gun-rights-in-national/reuters-report-on-atf-gunwalker-reassignments-day-after-gre-ssi#ixzz1igwejNnW

Cox: Obama to Congress: I'll decide what's constitutional

Election season is here, and you might think President Obama would be going out of his way to show voters that he can be trusted with the powers of the presidency. But you would be wrong. Just a few days before Christmas, Obama served notice to all Americans that he will continue to abuse executive privilege by seeking new ways to vilify gun owners and further his anti gun agenda.

Read About It: The Daily Caller

Guns create jobs

Campaigning in liberal San Francisco in 2008, then candidate Barack Obama was caught ridiculing those "who cling to their guns and religion." The president's cavalier attitude toward gun owners could undermine his re election effort, especially in New Hampshire, where guns mean jobs.

Read About It: The Daily Caller

New Hampshire: Gun bills passed

New Hampshire could become only the fifth state in the country to let people carry concealed guns without a permit. The House yesterday voted 193-122 to make gun permits optional. Members also voted 204-110 to allow loaded rifles and shotguns in motor vehicles, as long as there is not a round in the chamber.

Read About It: The Concord Monitor (N.H.)

Nebraska: Lawmaker wants people to be able to keep guns in cars at work

A Nebraska legislator wants to make it legal for people to keep guns and ammunition in their vehicles while they're at work, or in any parking lot as long as the vehicle is locked and gun is not in plain view.

Read About It: Missouri News Horizon

Video of the Day- "Chris Kyle" Edition

2012-01-06T09:16:00.000-06:00

Rated "R" for language.

You can order his book here.

Truth

2012-01-05T14:37:00.002-06:00

Gun of the Day- "Ordell Robbie" Edition

2012-01-05T08:30:00.000-06:00

The Steyr AUG

Specifications

Weight

3.6 kg (7.9 lb) (Standard)

3.3 kg (7.3 lb) (Carbine)

3.2 kg (7.1 lb) (Subcarbine)

3.9 kg (8.6 lb) (HBAR)

3.3 kg (7.3 lb) (Para)

Length

790 mm (31.1 in) (Standard)

690 mm (27.2 in) (Carbine)

630 mm (24.8 in) (Subcarbine)

900 mm (35.4 in) (HBAR)

665 mm (26.2 in) (Para)

Barrel length

508 mm (20.0 in) (Standard)

407 mm (16.0 in) (Carbine)

350 mm (13.8 in) (Subcarbine)

621 mm (24.4 in) (HBAR)

420 mm (16.5 in) (Para)

Cartridge

5.56x45mm NATO

9x19mm Parabellum

Action Gas-operated, rotating bolt

Rate of fire 680-750 rounds/min

Muzzle velocity Standard rifle: 970 m/s (3,182 ft/s)

Effective range 300 metres (980 ft)

Maximum range 2,700 metres (8,900 ft)

Feed system

5.56x45mm NATO: 30 or 42-round box magazine, Beta C-Mag

9x19mm Parabellum: 25 or 32-round MPi 69 box magazine

Sights Swarovski 1.5x telescopic sight, emergency battle sights

Gun News

2012-01-05T08:17:00.000-06:00

Breaking: ATF reportedly relieves Fast and Furious managers prior to OIG report

Continue reading on Examiner.com Breaking: ATF reportedly relieves Fast and Furious managers prior to OIG report - National gun rights | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/gun-rights-in-national/breaking-atf-reportedly-relieves-fast-and-furious-managers-prior-to-oig-report#ixzz1iaouoSso

Women need national Right-to-Carry reciprocity

Some states would like to remove the words "bear arms" from the right to "keep and bear arms," but the plain fact is that self defense and the right to have access to an effective means of self defense is protected by the Constitution, and that protection does not end at your front door. The good news is that the House recently passed a bill, H.R. 822, that would require the 49 states that issue concealed carry permits to honor all state permits. If this bill becomes law, it would be an important step in the right direction and would help women protect themselves against violence while traveling.

Read About It: The Washington Times

North Carolina: Women arming themselves

Many women these days are arming themselves so they can be prepared for the worst. On Jan. 14, women will receive free lessons on shotgun and pistol safety, proper use and firing. The women have signed up for different reasons, but they all have one thing in common; they want to be comfortable with a firearm. "I've never liked guns; I can't stand 'em," said Barbara Ingram, who signed up for Ladies' Day at DeWitt's Game Farm. "My husband had guns but we never kept them out. I'm by myself now." After Ingram's husband passed away, she realized she might need to protect herself one day. She has her husband's pistol and hopes to get acquainted with it.

Read About It: The Richmond County Daily Journal (Rockingham, N.C.)

Pro-Second Amendment Companion Bill Pre-Filed for New Mexico Legislature's Upcoming Thirty-Day Session!

Last week, state Senator Bill Payne (R-ABQ) pre-filed Senate Bill 26, the Senate companion measure toHouse Bill 32, which was introduced in December by state Representative Bill Rehm (R-ABQ) and previously reported here. This legislation would repeal Section 30-7-9 of the New Mexico Criminal Code, which limits the purchase of rifles and shotguns by New Mexico residents to their home state and contiguous states. Repeal of this state law would eliminate this restrictive language and enable residents of New Mexico to purchase long guns in non-contiguous states, and residents of non-contiguous states to purchase long guns in New Mexico.

Please contact your state legislators and urge them to support both SB 26 and HB 32 when the Legislature convenes in Santa Fe on January 17!

Contact information for your state Representative and Senator can be found by clicking here.

Nevada Sheriffs’ and Chiefs’ Association Hosting Fourth Annual CCW Forum

Nevada Sheriffs’ and Chiefs’ Association Hosting Fourth Annual CCW Forum

The Nevada Sheriffs’ and Chiefs’ Association will be hosting its annual Concealed Carry Weapons forum in Las Vegas on Tuesday, January 17 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the Grant Sawyer Government Building (room 4401) located on 555 East Washington Avenue in Las Vegas. This forum will be available via teleconference to participants in Carson City in the Legislative Building (room 1214) located at 401 South Carson Street in Carson City, and in Elko at Great Basin College, 1500 College Parkway, High Tech Center (room 137).
The purpose of the forum is to allow members of the pro-gun community to provide public input regarding the administration of the CCW permitting process, which is the responsibility of the county Sheriffs.
Your participation is key to the continued success of Nevada’s Right-to-Carry process, so please attend this important forum. If you are unable to attend, but would like to submit a question or comment, please e-mail rroshaknvsca@cox.net or mail to NVSCA, Attention: R. Roshak, P.O. Box 753601, Las Vegas, NV 89136.

Gun News

2012-01-03T09:43:00.000-06:00

Record gun checks, sales for Christmas

Along with millions of Kindles, Angry Birds and gift cards, Santa left a record number of guns under Americans' Christmas trees, especially in Kentucky, according to FBI statistics on background checks. In the six days before Christmas, gun dealers submitted nearly half a million names for checks on criminal records and mental health issues, with 20% coming Dec. 23, according to news reports. That was the second busiest gun buying day in history, topped only by firearm purchases on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving.

Read About It: USA Today

Gun makers baffled by BATFE criteria

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is in charge of determining whether a gun model is legal, but the agency won't say much about its criteria. Despite overseeing an industry that includes machine guns and other deadly weapons, ATF regulations for the manufacture of weapons are often unclear, leading to reliance on a secretive system by which firearms manufacturers can submit proposed weapons for testing and find out one at a time whether they comply with the law, critics say.

Read About It: The Washington Times

Tennessee woman shouldn't be punished for doing right thing with gun

Free Meredith Graves! Just about everyone in the country now knows about the Louisville, Tenn., woman who was arrested when she tried to check her gun at the 9/11 Memorial in New York City. The nurse and medical student had driven to New York with her husband to interview for a residency at Brookhaven Memorial Hospital in Long Island. While in the Big Apple, they decided to do a little sightseeing. Graves has a Tennessee handgun carry permit and had a loaded .32 caliber Kel-Tec in her purse. When she saw the no guns symbol at the memorial, she asked a guard where to check her weapon and abruptly found herself under arrest and facing a 3-year minimum sentence for violating New York's strict gun laws.

Read About It: The News Sentinel (Knoxville, Tenn.)

Marine faces fifteen years behind bars for unknowingly violating gun law

Ryan Jerome was enjoying his first trip to New York City on business when the former Marine Corps gunner walked up to a security officer at the Empire State Building and asked where he should check his gun. That was when Jerome's nightmare began. The security officer called police and Jerome spent the next two days in jail. The 28 year old with no criminal history now faces a mandatory minimum sentence of three and a half years in prison. If convicted, his sentence could be as high as fifteen years.

Read About It: The Daily Caller

Wisconsin Justice Department warns it won't meet carry permit deadlines this month

Wisconsin residents have overwhelmed the state Justice Department with so many concealed weapon permit applications agency officials say they probably won't meet deadlines for issuing approvals this month despite pulling dozens of employees from other tasks to help.

Read About It: The Associated Press

Rep. Cicilline (D-R.I.) misses the bull's-eye on weapons bill

U.S. Rep. David Cicilline, a Democrat from Rhode Island and former mayor of Providence, has joined current mayors of cities around the country to fight a gun-permit bill pending in Congress. The National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act (H.R. 822), sponsored by U.S. Rep. Clifford Stearns, R-Fla., would require all states to recognize out-of-state permits for carrying concealed weapons.

Read About It: The Providence Journal (R.I.)

New Text Books!?!

2012-01-03T08:53:00.000-06:00

http://www.wnd.com/2011/12/382645/

The Jewish Temple in Jerusalem contained “symbolically, the throne of their invisible God.”

Jesus was a “Palestinian Jew” who grew up in Galilee amidst “militant Zealots.”

It was “a few followers” of Jesus who “spread the story” about his resurrection.

While Islamic Arab warriors “rarely imposed their religion by force,” Christian monks “by contrast,” were busy converting “peoples of Central and Eastern Europe.”

Israel is to blame for terrorist attacks by Palestinians because they were “angered over the loss of their territory.”

When the Jewish state of Israel was born in 1948, the nation and its neighbors “went to war.”

It was because of the “loss of their territory to Israel” that “militant Palestinians responded with a policy of terrorist attacks.”

“The Quran permitted fair, defensive warfare as jihad, or ‘struggle in the way of God’” and this was how Muhammad and his successors expanded their territory.

And while Jesus is “believed” by followers to be the messiah, it’s a fact that “Gabriel continued to send revelations to Muhammad over 22 years.”

21 issues taking shape for the Army

2012-01-03T08:48:00.000-06:00

21 issues taking shape for the Army in 2012 - Army News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Army Times

"So, where've you been?"

2012-01-02T23:48:00.000-06:00

It's the last weekend of deer season here in Texas; that's where I've been.

Got two does. Had chicken-fried backstrap last night and grilled backstrap tonight. Now if we can just get a few Aoudad later this month...

Gun News

2011-12-28T09:00:00.001-06:00

Obama tries to support gun control with signing statements

The 2012 omnibus bill funding the government contained a couple limits on gun control. But these restrictions were too much for Obama.

Read About It: John Lott's Website

Rules eased on gun sales to noncitizens

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is relaxing restrictions on the sale of guns to noncitizens because Justice Department lawyers have concluded that the rules had no legal basis, officials said on Thursday. In a letter to firearms dealers on Thursday, the bureau said it would soon drop a regulation that bars the sale of guns to noncitizens until they can document that they have lived in a state for at least 90 days, such as by producing three months of utility bills in their name at a local address. While citizens, too, must generally be residents of a state in order to buy weapons there, the 90 day rule does not apply to them. The letter said the Justice Department had concluded that the Gun Control Act does not empower the A.T.F. to impose a stricter requirement on noncitizen gun buyers.

Read About It: The New York Times

Firing back at gun control

The Obama administration's anti gun agenda, which has been sneaking into the federal bureaucracy in recent years, was blasted by Congress last week. Republicans used the $1 trillion omnibus bill for 2012 to shoot back at the sneaky use of federal funds for gun control.

Read About It: The Washington Times

Obama says he won't be bound by gun control ban in omnibus

The Obama administration won't be bound by a gun control ban in the $1 trillion spending bill for 2012, the president said Friday. The funding provision for the federal health agency says that "none of the funds made available in this title may be used, in whole or in part, to advocate or promote gun control." The language aims to ban taxpayer dollars from supporting gun safety research. "I have advised the Congress that I will not construe these provisions as preventing me from fulfilling my constitutional responsibility to recommend to the Congress's consideration such measures as I shall judge necessary and expedient," Obama said in a statement as he signed the bill into law.

Read About It: The Hill

More and more women embracing gun ownership

The face of the American gun owner is changing. More women than ever are picking up rifles, shotguns, and handguns. And target shooting is one of the fastest growing female sports.

Read About It: CBS News

Gun sales at record levels

December holiday shoppers were not just interested in buying the hottest electronics and toys they also were purchasing record numbers of guns, according to the latest FBI figures on background checks required to buy firearms.

Read About It: CNN

Gun of the Day- "Prepared for the 'Zombie Apocalypse'" Edition

2011-12-28T08:53:00.001-06:00

The Kel-Tec KSG

The size, shape and design are similar to the currently available Kel-Tec RFB rifle, but the KSG ejects downward, instead of forward. The KSG weighs 6.9lbs and is as compact as legally possible with a 26.1" overall length and an 18.5" cylinder bore barrel. Even with this compact size, the internal dual tube magazines hold an impressive 6 rounds of 12 gage 3" shells each, for a total capacity of 6+6+1 (7 per tube if using 2-3/4" shells). The simple and reliable pump action feeds from either the left or right tube. The feed side is manually selected by a lever located behind the trigger guard. The lever can be positioned in the center detent in order to easily clear the chamber without feeding another round from either magazine. A cross bolt style safety blocks the sear, and the pump release lever is located in front of the trigger guard.

The pump includes an under Picatinny rail for the mounting of a forward grip, or a light or laser. The included top Picatinny sight rail will accept many types of optics or iron sights. Forward and rear sling loops are built in, and a basic sling is included. The soft rubber butt pad helps to tame recoil.

"We're Americans."

2011-12-23T11:25:00.000-06:00

And For My Jewish Friends and Family...

2011-12-23T10:43:00.002-06:00

Picture of the Day- "Merry Christmas" Edition

2011-12-23T09:41:00.002-06:00

Merry Christmas

2011-12-23T09:37:00.000-06:00

My present to all of you, four of the greatest Christmas songs ever. I would have included Christmas in Heaven but this a mostly-suitable-for-work blog. If you want to see it, it's on YouTube.

Christmas in Hollis

I Am Santa Claus

12 Pains of Christmas

Toy Sack

Gun News

2011-12-22T09:24:00.000-06:00

Furious' failure

The American people deserve an explanation of how "Operation Fast & Furious" went from a bad idea to a law enforcement disaster. But Attorney General Eric Holder seems more interested in shielding his underlings from prying congressional questions than in providing answers. Holder needs to find out who signed off on this "gunwalking" experiment and fire those responsible.

Read About It: The Press Enterprise (Riverside, Calif.)

RNC chairman promises to make Fast and Furious a 2012 election theme

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus reiterated his call for Attorney General Eric Holder's resignation on Wednesday, and promised Operation Fast and Furious will be an election issue in 2012.

Read About It: The Daily Caller

Gun sales shoot higher for the holidays

That general manager is Frank Tybush, of B & J Guns, who said, "We have new shooters who say, 'what gun should I have?'" More people than ever may be filling their holsters for the holidays. There are no stats for New York yet, but gun shops will tell you it's like nothing they've seen before. Tybush said, "We have been incredibly busy. It's going to be a record fall for us. Our Black Friday, our Thanksgiving push will end up being what our Christmas push is, but it's followed through."

Read About It: Your News Now (Albany, N.Y.)

Gun sales up this Christmas season

Forget the mall. Some people are shopping for Christmas gifts at gun shops. Nationwide gun sales are up. Last month background checks were done for 1.5 million people according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Most of those translate into gun sales.

Read About It: WDBJ (Roanoke, Va.)

Florida: Lawmaker's bill looks to ban guns in more places

Lawmakers earlier this year passed HB 45, which prevents counties and municipalities from enacting gun ordinances stricter than the state. The bill prompted many cities to repeal a host of laws or face fines.

Read About It: The Ledger (Lakeland, Fla.)

It's time for Michigan to OK stun guns

Michigan remains one of a handful of states that doesn't allow its citizens to own or carry stun guns for self defense. It has a chance to remedy that in the near future, by passing legislation that would allow citizens to buy stun guns, if they follow the process in place for people who are licensed to carry concealed firearms.

Read About It: The Lansing State Journal (Mich.)

News Busted

2011-12-21T09:45:00.002-06:00

Toon of the Day

2011-12-21T09:43:00.002-06:00

Gun News

2011-12-21T09:26:00.000-06:00

Florida: Orange County lifts gun ban in parks

Orange County commissioners made the decision Tuesday, voting to change an ordinance that banned concealed weapons on public lands.

Read About It: WESH (Orlando, Fla.)

Kansas: Wichita eases limits on Right-to-Carry

KAKE TV reports the council voted 4 3 on party lines Tuesday for a city ordinance allowing citizens to carry concealed guns in 111 buildings, mostly parks and recreation facilities. The ordinance also applies to 19 fire stations, four public works facilities and six garages.

Read About It: The Associated Press

Now, 90 congressmen have 'no confidence' in Holder or believe he should quit

Attorney General Eric Holder's list of Operation Fast and Furious critics has grown over the past several days, as four more have signed on to a resolution of "no confidence" in him. Republican Reps. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Kevin Brady of Texas, Tim Griffin of Arkansas and Tim Walberg of Michigan have all now signed on as co sponsors of Arizona Republican Rep. Paul Gosar's "no confidence" resolution.

Read About It: The Daily Caller

Pro-Second Amendment Measure Pre-Filed in New Mexico Legislature!

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

State Representative Bill Rehm (R-ABQ) has pre-filed House Bill 32, legislation that would repeal Section 30-7-9 of the New Mexico Criminal Code, for the upcoming 2012 thirty-day legislative session. This section of state law limits the purchase of rifles and shotguns by New Mexico residents to their home state and contiguous states. Repeal of this law would eliminate this restrictive language and would enable residents of New Mexico to purchase long guns in non-contiguous states, and residents of non-contiguous states to purchase long guns in New Mexico.

Please contact your state Representative and Senator and urge them to support HB 32 when the Legislature convenes in Santa Fe next month!

Contact information for your state Representatives and Senators can be found by clicking here.

Cox: Obama Administration endangered lives to justify gun control

In all of my years fighting on behalf of the National Rifle Association to defend the Second Amendment, I never thought I would see a White House so vehemently opposed to gun ownership that it would be willing to arm violent criminals and endanger American lives in pursuit of a gun control agenda. Readers will recall that a little over two months ago, in this same space, I wrote: "I would like to believe that President Barack Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder -- no matter how much they oppose our Second Amendment rights -- would never break the law and endanger human lives in their mission to score political points against gun owners .... "However, to believe all of this, I would have to ignore a lot of facts."

Read About It: Town Hall

States loosen Right-to-Carry laws

A Mississippi resident who receives a concealed carry permit and takes an eight hour course can now carry a gun on college campuses, in bars and in courthouses. As of this summer, Wyoming residents need no permits for concealed weapons. And in Indiana, private businesses must allow employees to keep firearms in their vehicles on company property. Those and other recent changes on the state level represent a growing shift toward loosening state gun regulations, according to University of Chicago professor Jens Ludwig. "When you look across the states, they are definitely moving in the direction of allowing concealed weapons in more locations," Ludwig says. Supporters of the trend see it as a boost for gun rights. The National Rifle Association tracks the legislation online and has praised the new state laws.

Read About It: USA Today

Congressman: Holder's race card play 'orchestrated' by Obama

Illinois Republican Rep. Joe Walsh, one of the first members of Congress to demand Attorney General Eric Holder resign over the ill fated Operation Fast and Furious gun walking program, told The Daily Caller that Holder's recent use of racial politics to attack his critics appears to be something President Barack Obama "orchestrated."

Read About It: The Daily Caller

Happy Birthday, Dave!

2011-12-21T09:08:00.001-06:00

Freakin' Old, Retired Navy Guys and their freakin' birthdays...

Operation Fast and Furious LXXXVIII

2011-12-20T09:08:00.001-06:00

Again, I would like to stress that Sipsey Street and The War on Guns are your sure-fire means to good info on Fast and Furious. However, I found this to be an interesting read and thought I would pass it along. It's been said before but it bears repeating.

Dems Blame Bush For Operation Fast and Furious With Lies

by Jim Kouri

http://www.postchronicle.com/commentary/article_212393821.shtml

"The Big Lie is that the Obama Administration simply continued a Bush Administration ATF operation. Fast and Furious is all Obama and Holder. Period."

When U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder was questioned by Congress about Operation Fast and Furious, an ATF operation that ended up a political fiasco, the Democrat Party sent out its operatives armed with talking points that accused the Bush Administration of masterminding the operation.

Appearing before the House Judiciary Committee, Holder defended the department's actions and blasted Republicans for trying to " score political points" in the investigation of the program. GOP lawmakers have called for Holder's impeachment.

Meanwhile several Democrat Party talking heads stressed that the ATF snafu was actually a President George W. Bush sanctioned operation.

Holder called the tactics used in Fast and Furious "flawed" and " unacceptable," but said the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) has made changes in training and oversight measures to ensure such things never happens again.

Operation Fast and Furious involved agents from ATF allowing illegal sales of guns, believed to be destined for Mexican drug cartels, to slip into Mexico, so that they can track sellers and purchasers. But after weapons found at Mexican and U.S. murders were traced back to the program, it was denounced as a failure.

Meanwhile, a small army of Democrat Party talking heads appeared on TV and radio news programs armed with statements stressing that the ATF snafu was actually a President George W. Bush sanctioned operation.

"It is just another bite at the "blame-Bush" apple for these people," said political strategist Mike Baker.

Baker, a former police officer and attorney, notes that the ATF implemented an operation known as Project Gunrunner during the Bush Administration in 2006 as a comprehensive strategy to reduce firearms and explosives related violent crime associated with Mexican criminal organizations operating in the U.S. and Mexico by preventing these organizations from unlawfully acquiring and trafficking firearms and explosives.

Through Project Gunrunner, ATF worked in conjunction with its domestic and international law enforcement partners to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the firearms and explosives trafficking infrastructure of criminal organizations operating in Mexico, along the border, and other areas of the U.S.

Project Gunrunner's objective was to deny Mexican drug cartels the tools of the trade, which they employ to murder rival drug traffickers, civilians, as well as political, military, and law enforcement figures in order to strengthen their grip on the lucrative drug and firearms routes into and out of the United States.

Intelligence was gathered, analyzed and appropriate leads were disseminated to ATF field offices for investigative action. The information was also shared with Federal, State, local and tribal partners, as well as Mexican law enforcement counterparts, each contributing their unique capabilities and resources, forming a multi-layered, comprehensive approach to disrupting firearms trafficking and drug-related violence.

Project Gunrunner investigations resulted in the identification and prosecution of firearms trafficking organizations in all parts of the United States, from Minnesota to Florida to all our border states, where ATF criminal intelligence and tracing data has provided valuable leads used in identifying individuals and organizations providing firearms to Mexican criminal enterprises.

The Obama-Holder version of the operation did not involve informing the Mexican authorities nor did it have the "controls" in place to prevent a snafu from occurring, according to Baker.

"The Big Lie is that the Obama Administration simply continued a Bush Administration ATF operation. Fast and Furious is all Obama and Holder. Period."

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police and a staff writer for the New Media Alliance

Video of the Day- "The Toughest Vehicle in the World" Edition

2011-12-20T08:10:00.000-06:00

Now I am no game player so, I don't even know what Call of Duty is all about. But I am a Jeep guy (I own 4 of them). So this video appeals to me. I dig it.