These ...

.
... are my final words about the Martin/Zimmerman kerfluffle.

Whether or not justice prevails remains to be seen, but this case is now not about whether Zimmerman was justified in shooting Trayvon Martin.

It is about race ... and that is the real tragedy.

Legal Insurrection has a chart from the FBI, detailing which racial demographic kills what other racial demographic the most. Ironically, whites killing blacks and vice versa is surprisingly rare (compared to black-on-black and white-on-white murder).

So the racial instances involved in the Martin shooting are the exception rather than the norm. And yet, that's the thrust of the uproar.

It's the progressive Left's Easy Button.

Because it's hard, if you're a parent, to realize that your son actually did attack his killer. And it's hard to contemplate what your role (if any) might have played in that. So you minimize everything that could have been prevented: it's irrelevant that your son is doing poorly in school; it's irrelevant that your son is involved with burglary and drugs; it's irrelevant that your son is living in the gangster culture; it's irrelevant that your son is growing up in a broken home

Nope ... can't be any of that ... has to be racism. The Easy Button.

You see, claiming racism is not only easy, it absolves the one who claims it from any responsibility for whatever happened.

You didn't get a job for which you were woefully unqualified? Racism.

You didn't get into a college when your grades were objectively too low? Racism.

Neighborhood Watch volunteer shoots you when you attack him? It's not you ... it's racism.

I really hope that Zimmerman and his family can get through this mostly intact. I hope that the investigation shows that Zimmerman was legally blameless (I think it will).

And I hope that Trayvon Martin's family can get closure and get over this tragic event.

pm

This ...

.
... is my shocked face:

"Mich. militia members cleared of charges that accused them of plotting war against government."

Some folks will learn that anything you hear in the MBM is false, especially when it comes to things about what citizens think about government over-reach.

pm

AGW cultists ...

.
... so full of fail:

Thus, with an asterisk and a footnote reading Because we said so, the Medieval Warm Period was written out of the records. Not until the late 80s-90s had it ever been suggested that the Medieval Warm Period was anything less than positively balmy, much warmer than today, but suddenly with no evidence, upon the mere assertion of the Global Warming Cultists, it was asserted it had never happened. Not really. Not the world over, at least.

Via Poor Richard's News, a new study asserts "No, it was warmer then, and the world over besides, just like we had always thought before the hockey stick graph."

Will they ever learn?

pm

This one ...

.
... causes serious head-scratching:

Police can shoot people, tase people, pepper spray people, harass people, steal from people, lie to people and arrest people on unlawful charges and they still get to keep their jobs.

But then you get a law enforcement officer in Tennessee who mows his lawn in his boxer briefs and he is quickly dismissed.

Those look like UDT trunks to me ... go figure!

pm

A rifleman ...

.
... is born:

Appleseed is a lot of work. You’re going to spend a lot of time on the firing line, shooting at some pretty small targets. The concentration necessary to do well is pretty wearing, but in the end, it will be worth it.

The descriptions I've heard about Appleseed sound like it's very much like when I was at Parris Island in '86. Roughly a week of snapping-in (dry fire in positions), then a week of live fire, with pre-qual day on Thursday (in case we get rained out on Fri) and qualification on Friday.

Ah, those were the days ...

Bob got his rifleman's badge as well.

pm

Massad Ayoob ...

.
... brings the common sense:

There is conflicting evidence/testimony as to whether Martin approached Zimmerman or vice versa in the penultimate moments before the physical fight that led to the fatal shot. There is, in short, not yet enough information for any of us outside the investigation to formulate a solid opinion.

Yep, none of us really know ...

pm

I came across this ...

.
... while looking for a link:

There is no shame to a cop in not beating every person who doesn't immediately obey your command. The same can't be said for beating a mentally challenged young man like Jesse.

Wouldn't it be nice if the police wanted to command respect, instead of demanding respect?

pm

Remember ...

.
... arguments start today before SCOTUS over ObamaCare.

Look for the audio on SCOTUS Blog.

pm

This is really ...

.
... getting ridiculous.

Look, let’s just get this out there: as of now, no one can say with certainty what happened, save that early reports spread by a complicit media and some cynical, race-baiting politicians were completely misleading and erroneous, and in many cases, probably intentionally so. Progressives and the media accomplices and enablers wanted to present a particular narrative, and they weren’t about to let facts — or a lack of them — get in the way of how this particular narrative was presented and disseminated. Make no mistake: the reaction they got from this story was the reaction they wanted. This was a political gambit. And it is despicable.

And members of the "gun culture", who are constantly bemoaning the unfair treatment that they are given by the Media, are falling right in line with the conclusions the Media makes.

But it's even more insidious than that. Gunnies are looking at the issue and saying "I wouldn't do that, so the thing that was done is bad and wrong and probably should be illegal so the guy who did that thing is wrong."

I will freely say that Zimmerman made some poor choices that night in Sanford, but nothing that he did was illegal. Other gunnies should note that there are a lot of things that are legal but are, none the less, a bad idea.

For example (and this one is a pet peeve) - 'The dispatcher told Zimmerman not to follow him.' Not true. In a FAQ on the Sanford, FL website, the police chief plainly states that " The [telecommunications] call taker’s suggestion is not a lawful order that Mr. Zimmerman would be required to follow. " That call taker may not have even been a law enforcement officer.

Now I know a lot of folks believe that every word that falls out of the mouths of LEO's is the gospel truth and is a lawful order; those folks simply don't know what they're talking about. While it's true that you may beat the rap but you won't beat the ride, the police are only interested in the 1st Rule of Policing, and will say whatever achieves that end, even if it means lying to you.

I hear you say 'But Zimmerman initiated the confrontation'; again, there is no evidence to suggest this, and evidence to the contrary is supplied by Trayvon Martin's girlfriend. She recollects that it was Martin who first spoke (Why are you follwing me?) and Zimmerman answered with a question of his own (What are you doing around here?) Why, then, can the situation not happen just like Zimmerman claims (and the evidence supports), that he was attacked by Martin?

'Because I, the ultimate Gunnie, wouldn't have done it that way.'

What a crock of shit.

pm

Ace explains ...

.
... exactly why the firearms community needs to stand down about the Trayvon Martin shooting, and then expands on his thoughts.

Of course, he comes to exactly the wrong conclusions precisely because of the same media malfeasance he decries, but you can't win 'em all. Read both of the posts ... they're worth your time.

pm

He just ...

.
... doesn't ... get it:

But abolishing ObamaCare will only be half the battle. Just as important is the question of what to put in its place.

How about ... stay the fuck out of the health care business?

pm

JPFO alert

.
The Battle of Athens, TN.

EPA loses ...

.
... good:

The Environmental Protection Agency cannot issue a “drive-by” decision that a parcel of land is a protected wetlands and prohibit the owner from using it, and then refuse to hear any challenges to such decisions.

So says the U.S. Supreme Court.

It's about time. Of course, it will ultimately be a hollow victory when the EPA affords the Sackett's the opportunity to challenge the decision, and then the EPA decides they were right all along ...

pm

Robb Allen ...

.
... wins:

Even if [Zimmerman] gets away with this from shitty police work, as immoral as it is for him to walk free *if* he truly is guilty of murder, it’s still better for society that we play by the rules and not convict him based on “well, the public believes he’s guilty”.

In fact, assuming the facts as presented are correct, criminal charges might not apply (due to crappy police work), but civil penalties should be enough to ensure he can’t afford gas for his truck to patrol ever again.

It’s a terrible situation and Zimmerman is borderline indefensible, however like my ACLU / KKK example, it behooves us to not throw him under the bus for expediency but rather to ensure the laws are followed to a T to protect those of us who may find ourselves in similar situations.

'Nuff said.

pm

Fancy this ...

.
... coming from HotAir:

Still, FreedomWorks and grassroots resistance to Romney continues to have its place in this election. It serves as a vital reminder that Romney still has to earn the votes of grassroots conservatives by proving that he will be a real alternative to Obama — not just a watered-down, slightly-less-liberal version of him who carries the added risk of setting the conservative project back if he proves to be as liberal a Republican president as the grassroots fear.

And the Establishment wants you to give Romney your vote in advance of him actually having earned it?

No thanks.

pm

Phillips head screws ...

.
... should be illegal on anything but stainless steel screws.

I'm in the process of putting vinyl on the house, and in the partial-dismantling of some of the deck railing, I've stripped ALL of the cheap-ass drywall screws that were used.

Nothing but square or star-drive for me!

pm

George Zimmerman ...

.
... will not win this.

There is now too much white noise about racism and mall ninja-ry for there to be a just decision.

Yes, he probably over-stepped his bounds, but consider this; he was a volunteer in an organization that his neighbors wanted, but didn't want to be bothered with, so Zimmerman at least had the tacit approval of the gated community.

And now, with no evidence that his actions weren't self-defense, the gunnie community is ready to throw him under the bus.

Sad.

pm

I really like ...

.
... the cut of this man's jib:

We are watching — in slow motion and with with decidedly more pushback from many in the conservative base — a surreal re-run of 2008: the party establishment thinks “vetting” Obama publicly is untoward, that he’s a good guy who’s just in a bit over his head, and that the way to beat him is, well, to run a youngish white guy against him, I guess.

Jeff is single-handedly waging a war for the language used in current political debate, and notes that conservatives/classical liberals are losing it.

But he does so with a biting snark that just warms my heart.

pm

More ...

.
... security theatre:

A vacation in the Magic Kingdom should be enough to make a child giddy with excitement, but one young boy was left trembling with fear after he was subjected to an invasive TSA pat-down.

The three-year-old, confined to a wheelchair due to a recently broken leg, was with his family at O'Hare Airport in Chicago, on their way to board a flight to Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

Despite constant assurances from his father that 'everything is OK', he physically trembles with fear and asks his parents to hold his hand

pm

Joe ...

.
... points us to a quiz:

After decades of inactivity, the US Supreme Court in 2008 began a major reexamination of the scope of the right to keep and bear arms, an issue that has long ignited passionate debate and prompted powerful political lobbying.

How well do you understand this constitutional evolution? Take our quiz to test your knowledge.

I didn't do too badly (11 of 12), but I'll take exception to the 'correct' answer to question 10.

pm

This is so incredibly ...

.
... fucked up:

Scott, a West Point grad and Duke graduate student, was shot and killed outside of a Las Vegas Costco after he got into an argument with a Costco employee. The employee apparently saw that Scott was (legally) carrying a weapon, panicked, and called the police. In their testimony at the coroner’s inquest, police said that as Scott was leaving the Costco, they simultaneously told him to drop his weapon and put his hands in the air. When he didn’t comply with both, which of course was impossible, they killed him.

The fucked up part? The family is dropping it's lawsuit against the city, the Sheriff and the two officers who killed him.

Because the 9th Circuit recently ruled that even though excessive force is used, the cops still get qualified immunity.

So sad.

pm

And this ...

.
... is how little the GOP thinks about you:

The Athens-Clarke County GOP met on Saturday, March 10, to vote – among other things – on delegates to represent the county at district convention, from there to attend the state and national conventions.

But shocking video shows the meeting’s chair pushing through a list of pre-selected delegates over the objections of the convention and promptly declaring the meeting closed, a startling turn of events that took exactly 21 seconds.

21 seconds to thwart the will of the very folks who followed the "rules".

The GOP will not save us ... why vote for them?

pm

This one ...

.
... is a must read!

We can argue any or all of the points above for hours, but there’s one thing that, on a philosophical level, you will never be able to make me concede:

That intentionally making yourself weaker in the face of danger and aggression is somehow more civilized, moral, intelligent, or enlightened.

Well said, Marko!

pm

JPFO alert

.
Monthly video special plus David Olofson interview.

rdbrewer over at Ace's ...

.
... nails it:

You know that old building you thought you'd rehab, maybe start a little business in with your shoestring budget? Forget it. Think about that the next time you find yourself wondering about an empty, older property that seems like it ought to be a prime location for a business. That's why it's vacant.

Yep, the ADA strikes again. Say goodbye to your public pool.

pm

Liberal atheists are cowards ...

.
... so says Vox:

It's hard to illustrate their cowardice more precisely than the NYT's rejection of an anti-Islamic ad copied directly from an anti-Catholic ad previously run in the newspaper

Of course, it's the 'copied directly' part that is telling. RTWT

pm

I'm not sure they understand ...

.
... that we only want comity:

Local Tea Party activists are pressing House Republican leaders to pursue their investigation into the Operation Fast and Furious gun-tracking effort more aggressively.

The top three House Republicans have been slow to lead the charge of the GOP’s criticism of the botched operation.

As a result, local Tea Party groups in the home districts of H

Local Tea Party activists are pressing House Republican leaders to pursue their investigation into the Operation Fast and Furious gun-tracking effort more aggressively.

The top three House Republicans have been slow to lead the charge of the GOP’s criticism of the botched operation.

As a result, local Tea Party groups in the home districts of House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.), and Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) are turning up the heat on the lawmakers.ouse Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.), and Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) are turning up the heat on the lawmakers.

It's not going to do any good.

pm

Yes, Virginia ...

.
... there is hope:



I think there's something in my eye ...

pm

Tyrants ...

.
... never sleep:

Police say they see three main problems with the existing law, which took effect in November and made Wisconsin the 49th state to allow concealed carry:

First, straw purchases - buying a firearm for someone who is prohibited from possessing a firearm - are a misdemeanor on a state level, not a felony as they are on a federal level.

Second, the requirements for a gun permit ignore the reality of plea bargains. Many habitual criminals legally qualify for, and could obtain, a concealed-carry permit because they were never convicted of a felony for which they were charged.

[...]

The third problem, police say, is that regardless of how many times people carry concealed without a permit - illegally - the offense never rises above a misdemeanor.

So why is the fact that Wisconsin won't punish criminals as they ought the problem for law-abiding citizens?

Talk about wanting their cake and eating it, too ...

pm

His name should forever be ...

.
... "noted tax cheat Warren Buffet" :

Once again Warren Buffet is revealed to be nothing but a hypocrite. On one hand he is a proponent of higher government taxes on successful people, on the other hand companies under his control are refusing to pay their fair share of taxes. Berkshire Hathaway, the investment company which he runs and owns a major share of, owes close to a billion dollars to the IRS.

Of course, the MBM will continue to blindly repeat his bleatings about the rich not paying their fair share, all the while he and his continues to welsh.

pm

I've got to admit ...

.
... I just don't get it.

The AR-15 platform is a good design (just like the AK is); it's reasonably accurate, it's reasonably light and it lends itself to customization well.

And as good a weapon system as it is, I just don't understand the fascination with AR builds.

The latest is a Home-defense AR build, by Shooting Illustrated. I'm not sure what the difference between a home-defense build and a tactical build is, but it looks like a standard build to me.

Now I can see putting different parts into an AR for a special use rifle; better triggers for a match or tactical gun, or better barrels and such. But I just can't see that the AR is magical.

pm

JPFO alert

.
Gangster government and your guns.

That'll teach 'em ...

.
... it goes both ways:

“Thank you for your requests last week and this week to restart your voiced endorsement in local markets of The Rush Limbaugh Show,” the email begins. “Rush received your requests personally.”

“Unfortunately, your public comments were not well received by our audience, and did not accurately portray either Rush Limbaugh’s character or the intent of his remarks. Thus, we regret to inform you that Rush will be unable to endorse Sleep Train in the future.[emphasis added]

Serves them right.

You'd think that after 25 years, they'd at least have an inkling of an idea of what Limbaugh's about.

pm

What kind of sense ...

.
... does this make?

"What the law tries to do is create the best ratio possible between legitimate use of guns and illegitimate use."

So says Mark Graber, a professor at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law in Baltimore and admitted anti-gunner.

It seems that the best ratio between legitimate vs illegitimate would be Many:None. How does the "good and substantial reason" requirement help?

It doesn't.

pm

This ...

.
... is truly rich:

To borrow a phrase from The Donald, it’s time for Romney to get tough, to develop a spine of adamantium. He can’t be just the pragmatic businessman; he’s got to be the passionate free market alternative to Obama’s crony capitalistic central planner. He needs to make the economic case against the contraception mandate by making a broader case against the socialism of Obamacare. It’s time for Romney to hammer Obamacare so hard that folks no longer think he’s attached to any part of it. He needs to make the case that Obama is largely to blame for high gas prices — again, thanks to central planning tendencies that favor certain products over others. He needs to make the case that the economy has crept back slowly no thanks to Obama at all — and to illustrate how his tax, regulatory and entitlement reform plans are far superior to the president’s nonexistent plans for reform in those areas.

Romney cannot advocate free markets, nor can he blame Obama for higher gas prices, not to mention that he absolutely cannot say a word about Obamacare ... because he doesn't believe these things in his heart.

End if he does, he hasn't convinced anyone.

pm

Teach ...

.
... your children well:



Or the authoritah's will ...

pm

The prices ...

.
... that are paid:

Less attention has been paid to the fate of the woman who helped expose Mr. Alvarez and who brought him to the attention of the FBI. Ms. Campbell, the event planner serving Mr. Alvarez snacks on June 27, 2007, was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served her country for 10 years.

But after exposing Mr. Alvarez’s medal claim as a hoax — later reporting to the FBI what she viewed as a crime in progress — Ms. Campbell said she wasn’t thanked by her employer. Instead, she said, she was fired.

Ms Campbell is a former Marine who had the job of having to kowtow to this piece of lying shit until she could stand it no more, and said something about it.

If you read the whole story (and I hope you do), you'll note that initially, Ms Campbell was ecstatic to meet a MOH winner. He wasn't. h/t Hot Air

pm

I have a question ...

.
... what other kinds of NFA items can be legally had besides full-auto firearms?

Artillery pieces? Grenade launchers? What types of things does "destructive device" encompass?

pm

I have a quick question ...

.
... what would you rather have as a home defense weapon; handgun (any caliber), shotgun (again, any caliber and load) or H&K MP5SD?

I really want to know.

pm

Have you ever noticed ...

.
... how Robert De Niro's use of the word 'motherfucker' is natural, but Al Pacino's sounds strained?!

pm

Why is it ...

.
... that members of the Progressive Left aren't afraid to disrupt gatherings of the Right?



I imagine that there would be some blood spilled if conservatives tried to disrupt an Obama speech.

The MBM is going to portray the Right as violent; might as well start giving them something real to report.

pm

Aaron's monthly opportunity ...

.
... found here.

This ...

.
... is most definately worth the read:

"If I was President, I would make a speech before a joint session of Congress, demanding that Bin Laden be delivered within 48 hours to the steps of the White "If I was President, I would make a speech before a joint session of Congress, demanding that Bin Laden be delivered within 48 hours to the steps of the White House--alive, dead or just his fucking head in a burlap bag, I don't care. If not, then I suggest that all you assholes in Kabul lather up with some SPF 5,000, strap on some welding goggles and take a gander to the East, because we're gonna fire a little 400 kiloton shot over the bow, so to speak. And that's where the sun's gonna rise--out there just East of your capitol, in a relatively uninhabited patch of shit you call a country. Let's call that a preview of coming attractions, shall we? Because if another 24 hours passes after the deployment of our first missile, and I'm not trading bon-mots with your boy's head here in the Oval Office, we will fire another, and this time it will be targeted to explode, oh, about 200 meters above the center of the rat-hole you call a capitol. Which is why I'm really, really glad that I'm not the President, because I'm pissed-off crazy as Hell."House--alive, dead or just his fucking head in a burlap bag, I don't care. If not, then I suggest that all you assholes in Kabul lather up with some SPF 5,000, strap on some welding goggles and take a gander to the East, because we're gonna fire a little 400 kiloton shot over the bow, so to speak. And that's where the sun's gonna rise--out there just East of your capitol, in a relatively uninhabited patch of shit you call a country. Let's call that a preview of coming attractions, shall we? Because if another 24 hours passes after the deployment of our first missile, and I'm not trading bon-mots with your boy's head here in the Oval Office, we will fire another, and this time it will be targeted to explode, oh, about 200 meters above the center of the rat-hole you call a capitol. Which is why I'm really, really glad that I'm not the President, because I'm pissed-off crazy as Hell."

My handicap is that I can no longer adequately articulate my thoughts well, or I'd be more engaged on Facebook and other places. A couple of dear friends are solid Progressives and when I see them post their latest Republicans-are-Eeeeevil screed, I can't really do anything. And that's why I was shocked to hear of Andrew Breitbart's death.

He was one of the good guys.

pm

Oh Noez!

.
They're trying everything they can:

General Motors will suspend Chevrolet Volt production from March 19th to April 23rd in order to bring supply of the plug-in hybrid car in line with demand, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Chevrolet sold 1,023 Volts in February, which up from 603 in January, but far from the 60,000-unit annual output originally planned for when the car was launched in December, 2010. Less than 8,000 Volts were sold in all of 2011.

I don't understand ... Obama is upping the amount of money he'll give you of you buy one. What the hell?!

pm

If you're in Georgia ...

.
... know that Mitt Romney (via his campaign manager for the state) refuses to answer the questions on David Codrea's firearm rights questionaire,porefering to rely on his policy statement on his web site (which answers nothing).

Vote accordingly.

pm

JPFO alert

.
Is the NRA's Wayne La Pierre crying wolf?

Is is time ...

.
... to start shooting yet?

“Many of my constituents discovered this firsthand this past fall, as those familiar blue uniforms and badges appeared on Tennessee highways,” writes Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., in a Forbes editorial titled “The TSA Is Coming to a Highway Near You.”

“In October,” she continued, “Tennessee became the first state to conduct a statewide Department of Homeland Security Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response (VIPR) team operation [that] randomly inspected Tennessee truck drivers and cars.”

TSA representative Nico Melendez confirmed to the Los Angeles Times that these VIPR teams have also branched out to conduct security checks at subways, trains and cruise ship ports.

I asked my wife what she would do when she gets searched at a TSA checkpoint while in her car.

"That's a good question."

pm

Another one ...

.
... asks a legitimate question:

“We are not going to fix Afghanistan. It is not possible,” he told a large group of Republicans at an afternoon luncheon here. “These are people who have spent several thousand years hating foreigners. And what we have done by staying is become the new foreigners.

“This is a real problem. And there are some problems where you have to say, ‘You know, you are going to have to figure out how to live your own miserable life… because you clearly don’t want to learn from me how to be unmiserable. And that is what you are going to see happen.”

It's time for the US to leave Afghanastan. Quickly. And let that fool Karzaid know that if any of his countrymen get froggy, we'll respond with nukes.

pm

Help ...

.
... if you can:

His family, which is using the website helpmatthewstewart.org to gain support for Stewart’s defense, has been asked to stop raising money for the effort.

I weep for this country ...

pm

The only acceptable response ...

.
... would be 'Fuck you':

David Jones, 67, commented on the ease with which a woman with her face covered by a hijab had walked through security controls, the Daily Mail reports.

"If I was wearing this scarf over my face, I wonder what would happen,'' he said to an official as he went to pass through an X-ray scanner at Gatwick Airport.

To his surprise he was met on the other side of the barrier by officials who detained him for an hour in an attempt to force him to apologise for making an offensive remark.

I'm afraid that I'd be in jail.

pm

RIP

.
Andrew Breitbart

I am in shock.

I have a question ...

.
... why is Shane not dead?

pm

This ...

.
... is what governments do:

The EPA digs itself into a deeper hole.

Last Wednesday we broke the news that EPA had ‘Stalinized’ (i.e., deleted from for political reasons) its Grant Awards Database of at least $468,000 in grants that went to Peter Gleick’s Pacific Institute.

Caught red-handed, the agency had undeleted Gleick’s grants by last Friday evening.

Why the agency tried to delete grants made to Gleick is anybody’s guess

.

Don't worry ... nothing to see here.

It's tragic that enough itizens will pass this by and let a government agency delete the fact that they gave someone else's money to a charlatan.