Does this bother anyone else?

.



I can't even begin ... h/t Uncle

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Added to my wish list

A few of these.

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Not many details

Hostage situation in WI:

"All of the students were safely removed from the school,” Marinette Police Chief Jeffrey Skorik told reporters Monday night.

It was the news everybody waited to hear. After a five hour standoff all 24 hostages were released unharmed.

It all started just after 3 p.m. central time when a 15-year-old male Marinette student took 23 students and his female teacher hostage.

The male suspect was armed with two semi-automatic hand guns.

Handguns which he is legally prohibited from possessing according to federal law, btw.

So how are gun laws protecting us again?

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All I want for Christmas ...

... is one of these!



The price is right, too!

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Hmmm ...

... I guess I need to read this guy.



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Sometimes ...

... it just doesn't pay to get up early!



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JPFO alert

Obama's Nazism comes to your America.

Seen on the 'tubez

And they say the terrorists won't win ...

I've got a better idea

Though this isn't bad:

As if a bell tolled a neighbor's trouble, folks came running.

The first showed up before the sun Tuesday, huddling and shivering in the cold and the dark. Others soon came, and before long their numbers stretched a block on both sides of Mechanic Street in front of Harrisonville's Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church.

People drove from three or four counties away. Buses arrived, bellowing exhaust into the cold, bringing loads of schoolkids and senior citizens. People took off work. Some brought dogs. Farmers parked pickups nearby.

It wasn't a fire, but a burning sense of what was the decent thing to do for one of their own who had given his all.

By 9 a.m., an hour before the funeral of Army Cpl. Jacob R. Carver, an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 people, many of them waving American flags, lined nearly a half-mile of the street in front of the church, making sure Fred Phelps and his Westboro Baptist Church/family congregation were crowded out, peacefully kept far from shouting distance of the funeral.

I think Rev Phelps' days are numbered. It won't be long before a group of everyday folks decide that enough is enough, and beat the ever-living fuck out of Phelps and his family.

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Outrage

Just in case you had a really good time for Thansgiving, here's something to bring you back to earth:

A soldier returning from Afghanistan had his nail clippers confiscated even though he was traveling with more than 200 other soldiers who were allowed to board with assault rifles, pistols and machine guns.

Now, I'm not sure how they do things these days, but every time I went through an airport as a member of a military unit, I always bypassed the normal security checkpoints (of course, this was before 9/11).

But what I want to know is why the commanding officer of the unit allowed personal property of his men to be confiscated? It's my opinion that the CO and the two most senior enlisted men should have been at the checkpoint. The BtryGy (or Army equivalent) should have been there anyway, and as soon as anything was getting confiscated, he should have stopped the line, gotten the CO, and then they should have continued to deplane unmolested.

Because I'm sure that the CO's chain of command to the CinC is a bit shorter than a rent-a-security-guard's.

And if the TSA dumbass doesn't think you can take over a plane with an unloaded M16, he's obviously never had a horizontal butt-stroke enthusiastically applied to his head.

And to get a bit off-topic, let's just assume that one of the soldiers on board did decide to try to take over the plane. He'd have trouble because of the 200 other similarly-armed folks aboard (or at least from the ammo techs). Just another reason to carry everywhere.

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More about Brian Aitken

Radley Balko on NRA news:



Shootin Buddy, you need to pay attention.

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Happy Thanksgiving!

If you're traveling, be safe.

If not, then have one more thing to be thankful for.

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80% kerfluffle

There's been some activity on the interwebz about 80% receivers, firearm receivers that have enough of the machining not done to qualify as a non-firearm (wow, that was confusing!). This after Mike V at Sipsey St alerts us to a shot across the bow. David Codrea analyses further, and other bloggers are getting into the act.

Some of the comments I've seen say that if the product doesn't meet the criteria of 80% receiver, then it's a firearm.

Tactical Machining might beg to differ. Seems the ATF revised their ruling about TM's 80% receivers because their competitors had complained about an unfair advantage.

This is the real point about the situation. The ATF has no rules; they make them up as they go. And that's the way Congress allows them to operate, how most government letter agencies work. Congress authorizes the agency to regulate something, and then allows the secretary to coime up with the regulations to make that happen.

And the ATF is the absolute worst. They rule favorably about one group of firearms until they see more folks requesting rulings about similar firearms and so they change their mind. And there's no recourse for citizens. Calling your elected representatives? You really think that'll help? Maybe if you were fantastically wealthy, and made up a good portion of an elected officials' campaign funds.

It doesn't matter if your 80% receiver is 80% or not; if the ATF doesn't want you to make them, they'll find a way to make you stop.

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Heh

From the HotAir QotD:

Conan: Donald Trump wants to know if people think he should run for president. So his folks launched a website called shouldtrumprun.com. Americans have responded with their own website, no.com

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Truth ...

... Radley brings it.

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I'd like to reiterate

Since there's been some talk on the boards about the Hughes amendment and such.

My most effective crime prevention measures:

• repeal the Hughes amendment
• Develop national carry ($500 for life, nation-wide concealed or open carry, concealed carry on all domestic transportation)
• Develop the NFA weapons permit ($1000 for life, includes national carry and concealed carry on domestic airline flights)

Getting rid of the Hughes amendment is a no-brainer; there have been no crimes stopped by it. I continually hear (and incorrectly so) about full-auto assault weapons being confiscated from criminals. It's obvious that no one who desires full-auto weaponry is deterred by the federal prohibition.

Having a national carry permit is the next logical step for firearms carry, given that most states are shall-issue anyway. The national carry permit would get around the current mish-mash of reciprocities floating around. Reasonable (and I mean, reasonable to firearms owners) training requirements can be put in place, with NRA offering classes and certification.

What would really set the hoplophobes on fire would be the trasnsportation benefits, namely, concealed-carry on domestic modes, including air travel (unless property owners prohibit*). It's my opinion that this one facet of the issue would do more to ensure air security than 10 times the yearly budget of the TSA.

Finally, just as the Israelis don't look for bad things (but rather look for bad people), we need to (if we can't repeal the NFA) start licensing people for NFA weapons, rather than the weapon itself. I believe that if we had the right heads working on this (Alan Gura, ya listening?!) we could make a very strong case that the taxation of an enumerated right is unconstitutional, but that we're willing to undergo the anal exam in exchange for a lifetime permit to purchase NFA weapons with no tax stamp, no further checks, nor a registry of any kind.

Ambitious? Yes, but otherwise unremarkable. We have the momentum. We need to keep pushing'

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*Since a lot of corporations are getting benefits by virtue of being incorporated, there's an argument that they should be required to follow carry laws as part of the bargain with the devil.

Put your clothes back on ...

... so we can pat you down?

A TSA supervisor and San Diego Harbor Police asked Wolynak to put his clothes back on "so he could be properly patted down," says his attorney.

Wolynak is also an open-carry activist.

I'm not sure he TSA realize just how foolish they look when they do stuff like this.

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Your friendly TSA

They just don't get it:

A retired special education teacher on his way to a wedding in Orlando, Fla., said he was left humiliated, crying and covered with his own urine after an enhanced pat-down by TSA officers recently at Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

“I was absolutely humiliated, I couldn’t even speak,” said Thomas D. “Tom” Sawyer, 61, of Lansing, Mich.

Sawyer is a bladder cancer survivor who now wears a urostomy bag, which collects his urine from a stoma, or opening in his stomach. “I have to wear special clothes and in order to mount the bag I have to seal a wafer to my stomach and then attach the bag. If the seal is broken, urine can leak all over my body and clothes.”

Yeah, they broke the seal while patting him down.

Just my opinion, until people start getting violent when TSA oversteps, they're not gonna change.

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So that's how she'll do it ...

It finally clicked:

On the flight home from the European Summit today, Barack Obama stopped in the press cabin of Air Force 1 and joked that he was stopping the plane in South America to see Hugo Chavez.

That according to CNN's Ed Henry, who Tweeted the message to anyone who might be paying attention, editorializing that the president appeared to be "a little punchy."

Obama's going to be declared unfit via the 25th amendment, and Biden takes over. That's when Sarah Palin steps in.

And who couldn't beat Joe Biden?

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Stealing again ...

... this one from Radley:



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Ok ...

... this is pretty good:



From a thread about this.

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Constructive possession

Yeah, we've all heard about the horror stories regarding the ATF and 'constructive possession'. I think it's time we did something about it.

We need to submit to arrest, en masse, to constructive possession of destructive devices.

Why?

Because I have, here at my house, glass jars ... fabric ... matches ... and gasoline. Therefore I am in constructive possession of a Molotov Cocktail.

Come and get me.

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ATF ruling 82-8

Some folks get-out-of-jail free card:

With respect to the machine gun classification of the SM10 and SM11A1 pistols and SAC carbines, under the National Firearms Act, pursuant to 26 U.S.C. 7805(b), this ruling will not be applied to SM10 and SM11A1 pistols and SAC carbines manufactured or assembled before June, 21, 1982.

Huh? You mean to tell me that if I have a particular machinegun manufactured before June 21, 1982, that it's ok?

No $200 tax?

No ATF/FBI background check?

No registry?

Wow ... it's almost like I just made one in my basement or something. Read David's post!

David hits all of the relevant points. If these weapons are machineguns, then why are they not treated like machineguns under the pretty clear laws? Are they not extra-dangerous, requiring the extra controls that machineguns are under? If that's not the case, then why have the '34 NFA?

Seems like the ATF isn't all that concerned with un-registered machineguns out on the street. And if the ATF isn't that concerned with non-registered machinguns, then why can't I have one? Trust me, if I had the disposable income to force a court action about this, I would ... make a Form 1 application to make a machinegun, and then when it's denied, start the ball rolling.

Wonder if I could get Alan Gura in that?!

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This brings up an interesing question

Hot Air has a daily quotes post, and one of the quotes this morning made me think:

“Last Thursday I was flying to LA on the Midnight flight. I went through security my usual sour stuff. I beeped, of course, and was shuttled to the ‘toss-em’ line. A security guy came over. I assumed the position. I had a button up shirt on that was untucked. He reached around while he was behind me and grabbed around my front pocket. I guess he was going for my flashlight, but the area could have loosely been called ‘crotch.’ I said, ‘You have to ask me before you touch me or it’s assault.’

“He said, ‘Once you cross that line, I can do whatever I want.’…

“I tell the cop the story, in a very funny way. The cop, the voice of sanity says, ‘What’s wrong with you people? You can’t just grab a guy’s crank without his permission.’ I tell him that my genitals weren’t grabbed and the cop says, ‘I don’t care, you can’t do that to people. That’s assault and battery in my book.’”

So, what if you get one of those pesky TSA 'agents' who is so full of himself that the thinks he can do anything he wants. But instead of taking it, as soon as he starts into his 'authorized' sexual assault, you defend yourself? Violently?

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Oh, your naked pics are safe with me ...

Wonder how many college girls have heard that one before:

At the heart of the controversy over "body scanners" is a promise: The images of our naked bodies will never be public. U.S. Marshals in a Florida Federal courthouse saved 35,000 images on their scanner. These are those images.

Gizmodo has a video put together with some of those images. Yeah, they're not that clear (not sure if they've been pixelated or something) but that's not really the point, is it.

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Schadenfeude!

Westboro Baptist gets a comeuppance:

Shortly after finishing their protest at the funeral of Army Sgt. Jason James McCluskey of McAlester, a half-dozen protesters from Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan., headed to their minivan, only to discover that its front and rear passenger-side tires had been slashed.

To make matters worse, as their minivan slowly hobbled away on two flat tires, with a McAlester police car following behind, the protesters were unable to find anyone in town who would repair their vehicle, according to police.

h/t Ace of Spades

One of these days, Westboro Baptist Church members will face a coordinated, well-planned counter-protest that's going to end with some of them going to the hospital.

And I'll bet that none of the instigators will ever be caught .....

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If you're a GA gun owner ...

.
... and you believe in firearm liberty, you need to go here and sign the petition.

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What about when they think you're part of the problem?

Sebastian links to a Reason piece by Radley Balko:

Putting Brian Aitken in prison isn't going to make New Jersey any safer. It might, however, make some of the state's residents think twice before calling the police, particularly if they own guns. It might even make some New Jersey gun owners wonder if they have more to fear from the state's ridiculous laws and overly aggressive cops and prosecutors than they do from criminals. Given what happened to Aitken, those fears wouldn't be unfounded.

This really points out the inceasingly apparent reality that we are two, conflicting countries, because where I live, authorities wouldn't make it long doing this shit.

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So now we know why ...

Uncle lets us in on the reason:

If you are yourself of an unusually violent disposition, and if you yourself sometimes believe that, had a gun been handy for you, you might have been tempted to kill your wife with it during a domestic disagreement, and you simply add in that one crucial extra assumption so often added, so wrongly, in so many situations, to the effect that most others are just like you, then it would make sense to say that you and your fellow men-on-the-verge-of-a-murderous-tantrum ought to be denied the means of committing murder. Arming the majority, in your eyes, is no answer, because the majority shares your own tendencies. That would only make things far worse.

And he only reversed the terms in the question.

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Didn't hear about this one

Mostly since it happened last year.

Seems a Kansas University student, Tutu Lee, decided to run for the student body senate, "to get his girlfriend back".

Bad news was, his announcement video showed him and his friend going through some practical pistol drills (which I've never done myself, but I hear it's a blast). Obviously, this caused all the hoplophobes around to freak. In an article in the university paper, Lee posted the contents of the search warrant for his apartment (scroll down to the comments). What he posted is truly puzzling as to how these particular items show cause "to believe that a crime has been or is being committed". Like this item, #5:

Any rectangle shaped cardboard, white paper plates, gray duct tape, white PVC pipe, wood and cedar blocks.

This sounds like the police are looking for home-made targets. Home-made targets? Srsly?!

I believe it's the judges who need to be reigned in .... the po-po will fall into line soon enough. After all, when the police present bull shit evidence to a judge, the proper thing for him to do is laugh at them.

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That's one way to do it ...

Man threatens TSA!



He has a point about the difference in flying and walking down the street. One requires probable cause, the other apparently doesn't. So now certain activities are being treated differently (gun owners know this is hardly new!) than others, which is wrong, right? But you can't single people out unless you suspect them of terrorism, but if you do that, you're profiling. What's the government to do?

This, maybe?

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OC activism

Robb Allen has a good post up about the mechanics of OC. He does a really good job of splitting the issue up between legality and activism. But it was comments by Jay G that piqued my interest.

It's my opinion that we as the firearms community, need to be even more proactive than we've been in the past as far as taking our rights back. Let me explain.

I hold a valid GA Firearms License (yeah, I know they changed the name), living in NW GA. I admittedly have no problems carrying concealed. But as my MS gets worse*, if I am to continue to carry, I'll need to OC (and that's more comfortable anyway).

But before I do OC, I'm going to cover all my bases, to prevent unwanted attention. I plan to first join Georgia Carry (as soon as I get some disposable income) and avail myself of the efforts of those who've gone before me. Then I plan to take this information to the district attorney, and make sure that he's aware that OC is legal in GA (and that he won't be taking any OC cases to court). Armed with that, I'll then have a sit-down with the sheriff and the chief of police, just to let them know that I plan to OC, and that the DA has already acknowledged that it's legal, and that he won't prosecute those cases.

My biggest challenge is going to be my daughter's school. The GA statute provides for GFL holders to carry while dropping off or picking up children, though I'm sure the legislature never thought about someone openly carrying. But if the DA says it's legal, then I'll talk to the school superintendant, as well as the principal at school.

Plan your work, and then work your plan.

So why is this not happening elsewhere?

I will not claim to know what the conditions are in MA (just that they're pretty bad for gun owners), but maybe they need to start poking the bear, just a little. Here's how.

Surely, somewhere in MA, there's a county with a sympathetic district attorney. Let the state gun organizations meet with him and get him to agree that OC is legal in the state. See if he'll help you (this may have political repercussions for him ). Then have him write an opinion attesting to that fact, and take it to the local sheriff. Ask him what he thinks. Will he follow the law?

This is the hard part: someone has to carry openly and risk getting arrested. It needs to be someone old enough to garner sympathy, yet in good enough shape not to risk serious injury. Maybe a retired LEO? This needs to be video recorded, if possible. Have the applicable laws handy, particularly if there's a statute that says carrying openly is legal. You might also have to check with some LE friends to find out what else police might charge you with (terror, breach of peace, etc) and get the standards regarding the charge. Be ready to challenge police about their version of things.

Let's see what happens.

Or maybe Alan Gura can advise us. Wouldn't it be nice if we were engineering the test cases, about the issues we wanted corrected, in the jurisdictions favorable to us? For a change.

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*I am under no illusions that I may, indeed, one day be unable to safely handle a firearm.

This has really gotten my goat

A buddy of mine recently asked me if I'd seen a Bushmaster ACR rifle yet; I replied that I hadn't, and wasn't likely to expend a lot of energy looking one up.

I just can't get into the whole, 'Gee, I really wish I could change calibers 'cuz .223 just won't do the job that a .458 SOCOM will.'

I know, there's a great hue and cry coming from all members of the military wanting to be able to change calibers. Oh, wait .....

And having been saddled with an M-16 for a lot of years (and one war), I can't say it's the absolute most user-friendly platform that's ever come along. Is it easy to shoot? Yes ... lots of people who have never shot a weapon before (including lots of military folk) do well with it. Is it easy to shoot well? Absolutely ... an equal # of military folks can achieve functional competence with it with minimal training.

But is it the best platform, one so fine as for all owners to want an AR lower with interchangable uppers chambered in .223, 300 Whisper/300BLK, 7.62x39, and .458 SOCOM? Since you never know what you might have to shoot?

I just don't get it.

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JPFO alert

A modest proposal for Veteran's Day.

This guy ...

... is an educated idiot.

Ballistic missiles go where they're pointed, dumbass!

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Bleg ...

Why the fuck is everyone so gosh-darn enamored with the AR platform? Because it's not that great, if you ask me.

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I've been thinking ...

... always dangerous!

Uncle has been thinking, too. How do we stop the TSA. Only 3 comments do far, and not many ideas on how to do it.

Allow me.

This will be a comprehensive approach, that will address quite a few issues that I think many of you can agree with.

Goal: To enhance air travel safety, while at the same time, allow more liberty regarding the 2nd Amendment.

1. Create a national carry permit. Currently, the FBI have one, and I can't see that they're that much more highly-trained than the average gun enthusiast. This permit should allow nation-wide concealed or open carry, and it should allow for concealed carry aboard domestic airline flights. It should not automatically allow carry while consuming alcohol, but should follow local or state laws. The permit can allow for some training requirements, but the training shouldn't require a trip to FLETC or Quantico (think NRA-sponsored). Cost - $500 for life.

2. Restructure NFA requirements. Change the per-transaction fee to an NFA permit. This permit, once issued, would allow the holder to own any NFA weapon, without paying a transfer fee. This permit should be shall-issue, with no reason for ownership needed. This permit should also not require a LEO sign-off. Cost - $1000 for life.

3. Concurrent with the above, the Hughes amendment should be repealed, as well as the importation restrictions on foreign weapons, as well as any reference to 'sporting purpose' in firearms regulations.

4. If you meet the training requirements for #1 while applying for #2, you will get the national carry permit with your NFA permit.

5. Holders of a national carry permit or NFA permit shall be exempt from 4473 requirements when purchasing non-NFA firearms.

That's just a start, but I think it'll do for now!

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She makes sense ...

And she's hot:

As we have learned from Obamacare, young people are not considered adults until age 26, at which point they are finally forced to get off their parents' health-care plans. The old motto was: "Old enough to fight, old enough to vote." The new motto is: "Not old enough to buy your own health insurance, not old enough to vote."

Write this down - there is no constitutional right to vote.

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I approve

Americans lining up to opt-out:

The Air Transport Association of America says it expects 24 million people to fly during the Thanksgiving holiday period, and an online campaign is urging everyone who flies the day before Thanksgiving – usually one of the busiest air travel days of the year – to opt out of the new full-body, nude-image scanners.

"The goal of National Opt-Out Day is to send a message to our lawmakers that we demand change," states the website. "No naked body scanners, no government-approved groping. We have a right to privacy and buying a plane ticket should not mean that we're guilty until proven innocent.

I say start letting citizens start carrying weapons on flights ... that'll keep the terrorists at bay.

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Trying to have her cake ...

... and eat it, too:

The Murkowski campaign reacted to Tuesday's lawsuit by accusing Miller of trying to toss out legitimate votes for the eight-year incumbent. "They're trying to discount as many votes as possible from Alaskans," Murkowski campaign manager Kevin Sweeney said.

Nope, he's just trying to make sure you're held to the rules you put into place ... especially after you raised hell to get poll workers to provide lists of write-in candidates to preclude someone misspelling your name.

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Happy Birthday!

May you live at least 235 more years!

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Is this what they call 'Blowback'?

It begins ... :

The largest independent union of airline pilots in the world is urging its members to boycott body imaging machines currently being rolled out in airports all over the globe, citing dangers of excessive exposure to harmful levels of radiation during the screening process.

The president of the Allied Pilots Association, which represents 11,500 pilots, many of whom work for American Airlines, has urged members of the union to revolt against the devices.

And it all started in Memphis, with one man who said 'No'.

About time.

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Good on ya, Sylvia

For taking charge of your own protection:

Sylvia Hall had never used her handgun for protection until the morning four strange men appeared at her doorstep impersonating evangelicals.“We want to read the Bible to you,” they said when she answered the door.

Hall said no. They insisted, and one of them began to push on the screen door and force himself in.

That's when Hall pulled out her Smith & Wesson, which scared them off.

I want to read you something, too .... how I see your obituary.

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Wow ...

...only 1 in 50?

So chew on this. In a control group of patients who were not suffering from pain or disability, Fishbain reported that “only” 1 in 50 admitted to having murderous tendencies toward their PCPs.

I gotta admit ... I've never wanted to kill my doctor.

Must all be leftists.

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Oh noes

Say it ain't so!

European plans to promote biofuels will drive farmers to convert 69,000 square km of wild land into fields and plantations, depriving the poor of food and accelerating climate change, a report warned on Monday.

The impact equates to an area the size of the Republic of Ireland.

As a result, the extra biofuels that Europe will use over the next decade will generate between 81 and 167 percent more carbon dioxide than fossil fuels, says the report.

New science has emerged this year casting doubt on the sustainability of the 10 percent goal, but EU energy officials have argued that only around two thirds of that target will be met through biofuels, with the balance being vehicles powered by renewable electricity.

The free market could have predicted all of this, not to mention quickly correcting for mal-investment.

But the government knows best ... just ask them.

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Heh heh

What could possibly go wrong:

Congressman-elect Allen West (R-Fla.) said he plans to join the Congressional Black Caucus next year.

"I plan on joining, I'm not gonna ask for permission or whatever, I'm gonna find out when they meet and I will be a member of the Congressional Black Caucus and I think I meet all of the criteria and it's so important that we break down this 'monolithic voice' that continues to talk about victimization and dependency in the black community," West said on WOR radio.

I'm gonna make some popcorn.

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Futility?

I think now it's become insanity:

A soldier from the U.S.-trained Afghan army apparently turned his weapon on American troops in volatile southern Afghanistan, killing at least two U.S. soldiers, NATO officials said Saturday.

The incident is the latest that calls into question the allegiances of at least some members of the Afghan security forces, which the Obama administration hopes will be the key to an eventual withdrawal of roughly 100,000 U.S. troops from Afghanistan.

Time to get out .... and let the fucking ragheads fend for themselves.

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I'm back

Missed you guys!

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Just so you know ...

... may be offline for a while. Some things I need to take care of.

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Did you vote?

I did.

My reply to MLB

For blocking the You tube video of President Bush:

You communistic fucking bastards for blocking the Youtube content of the president throwing out the first pitch for game 4 of your precious World Series.

It is actions such as this that I will never watch another baseball game as long as I live.

Come and get me, motherfuckers!

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Good Job, MP

One of the members of GeorgiaCarry had an incident the other day:



The discussion is here.

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Two speeches .....

One by Mike, one by Alvie.

Go, read.

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Awesome ... Updated

I have nothing further to add ...

Try here.



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Update: Fucking bastards at Major League Baseball blocking this content. It's shit like this that I will never watch another baseball game as long as I live.

Vox brings it

Why the tea party will be be betrayed:

The reason we can be sure that the Republicans are going to betray the tea party once they come to congressional power is that we know that they are not going to even attempt to solve any of the four most pressing problems facing the nation at the moment. In some cases, Republicans are almost certainly going to try to make them worse.

Indeed.

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