You should pay attention ...

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... to this man:

 I’ll address some of the issues revolving around the first three days of trial, including the initial contribution of Witness 8, Rachel Jeantel, AKA Dee Dee, shortly, but first, a visit to a pre-trial motion that has the potential–by itself–to constitute reversible error should George Zimmerman be convicted.  I speak of the Defendant’s Third Motion to Continue of 06-8-13.

Mike has given his readers a well-reasoned look at the inner workings of how a criminal case should proceed ... this one doesn't.

Put Mike in your feed and watch Legal Insurrection for a live feed of the Zimmerman trial, as well as commentary and updates by Andrew Branca.

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If you're not watching the Zimmerman trial ...

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... you should be, because the prosecutions case is unravelling before their very eyes:

But Guy may have tripped himself up when he asked Noffke why he didn’t order Zimmerman not to follow Martin. As Noffke said, for liability reasons, the dispatcher could not give commands, only suggestions. This essentially put a lie to the myth Zimmerman “disobeyed” the dispatcher.

At the beginning of jury selection two weeks ago, the AP had written, “Zimmerman called 911, got out of his vehicle and followed Martin behind the townhomes despite being told not to by a police dispatcher.”

As Noffke’s testimony made clear, Zimmerman called the non-emergency number, not 911, exited the truck and started following Martin before the dispatcher suggested that he not follow Martin. In addition, the dispatcher is not a police officer. (emphasis added)

The trial is being streamed by NBC (and maybe others) on Legal Insurrection, where Andrew Branca is covering the trial for LI (and he's doing a fine job!). If you can't watch the trial live, wqatch Legal Insurrection in the evenings for Mr Branca's wrap-up of the days proceedings.

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This sounds like something ...

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... the Taliban would think of:

A 12-year-old girl has been kicked off her Christian school’s football team over the fear she might arouse “impure thoughts” among her male teammates.

Yeah, it's the girl's fault that the boy's minds are in the gutter. Heaven help us ...

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I have thoughts ...

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... about this:

You were right…shouldn’t have to show our permit but being courteous, which we are, you did the right thing.

Scroll up from the link to read the whole thing.

While I agree that you should be courteous while OC (at all times actually), whether or not you should comply with a request to see a permit depends on your particular jurisdiction. Because CT is a licensed open carry state (as is GA, where i live) law enforcement should have the ability to verify that you have a license and that's as far as it should go. Anything beyond that should require RAS.

Now, if CT were a constitutional carry state, then our friends at the rally might have had a bit more reason to resist unless the officers could give RAS.

All told, I believe that this was a win for OC ... especially as a political protest!

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The State ...

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... looks out for The State:

Per multiple reports, Wanetta Gibson, the woman who falsely accused linebacker Brian Banks of rape when they were both students at Long Beach (Calif.) Polytechnic High School, has been ordered to repay $2.6 million in damages related to the $1.5 million she received from the Long Beach School District in a 2007 lawsuit, claiming an unsafe environment. Gibson was sued for the money she received, as well as court costs and a possible $1 million in punitive damages. 

But not a penny to the man who spent 5 years in prison because of her false accusations.

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This is why ...

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... Republicans lose:

“If we don't pass immigration reform, if we don't get it off the table in a reasonable, practical way, it doesn't matter who we run in 2016,” he said. “We're in a demographic death spiral as a party." - Sen Lindsay Graham

No, the GOP is in a demographic death spiral because they continue to abandon conservative principles and pander to the Left.

Study after study shows that Hispanics, while one would seem to peg them as 'natural conservatives', are Democrats.

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So ... LEO's are so pathetic now ...

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... that talking can defeat them?

Marcum got into an argument with a teacher over his “Protect Your Rights” NRA shirt at Logan Middle School in April. He was arrested for disturbing the education process and for obstructing an officer — the latter, according to court documents obtained by WOWK, because Marcum refused to stop talking, thus hindering the arresting officer from doing his job.

This over an 8th-grader arguing with a teacher.

I understand that teachers are an authority figure and are to be given some respect, but if a teachers is wrong  ... he/she's wrong.

And good on Jared for wearing the same shirt upon his return to school (and his friends, too)!

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Aaron Spuler ...

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... gets into the fray about open carry vs concealed carry by linking an article weith the html title of 'open carry or use your head':

…because nothing says bad-ass like open carrying your Taurus in a Fobus holster wearing a t-shirt with the sleeves ripped off…

You can cut the condescension with ... well, whatever you would like to use it's so thick.

Of course, he gives us the usual platitudes about his article not being anti- 2nd amendment ... it's just anti-open carry.

I've noticed that when authors quote 'experts' in the field of firearms, they tend to be special ops or SWAT operators and I've got to tell you, these guys have very different threat parameters than an ordinary Joe on the street (and anyone who quotes Rob Pincus as the model of tactical decorum should be dismissed outright!). These experts are much more likely to have to interact with hardened criminals (gang members like MS13, etc). If you live in an area where you might have to negotiate gang turf regularly, I'd suggest moving.

My response to those who would limit how I carry to what they would do is a hearty STFU.

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I thought this was interesting ...

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... on the radio regarding designated drivers:

17 percent had a 0.02 percent to 0.049 percent BAC and 18 percent had a 0.05 percent BAC or higher.

Interesting, I thought, because .05% is only a recommendation as no state has a BAC limit under .08%.

Could it be that the media is trying to condition us?

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This is what happens ...

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... when you have no integrity:

How did a hijacked e-mail get into the hands of the head of the state Democratic Party? A federal investigation into the governor’s stolen e-mails has led to child pornography charges against a powerful Democratic operative. And we’ve learned that the person charged with child porn sent one of those hijacked e-mails, which had nothing to do with porn, to the state Democratic Party chairman.

The first thing Susan Martinez needs to do if Jamie Estrada is found to have stolen the email is wish out loud (to those who could make it happen) that Estrada would get his ass beaten in an alley somewhere.

But beyond that, if someone comes to you and tells you they have an incriminating email to your opponent (that they have illegally obtained) you should say 'Thanks but no thanks'. Those with no integrity ... won't.

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Aaron's monthly opportunity ...

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... go. enter. Maybe win!

Officer safety ...

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... hardest hit:

Additionally, the Government avers it would be "foolhardy" for the officers to "go about their business while allowing a stranger in their midst to possess a firearm." We are not persuaded.

Wow, a circuit court tells the cops that someone having a legally-carried firearm is not reason to be concerned.

More importantly, to me, is that the very next segment of that decision is that when an officer comes across a citizen carrying a firearm, his default position should not be that the person is carrying illegally.

The whole decision is pretty good and I encourage you to read it.

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Just another reason ...

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... Republicans won't save us:

During the debate, Watt introduced the following amendment to the bill:

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

That of course is the exact language of the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The House killed Watt's amendment by nearly a 3-1 margin. 

Yep, Republican majority with a 'limited government' agenda votes down one of the cornerstones of our limits on government.

I can't tell you how fucked we are ...

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At least there are some...

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... who understand how it's supposed to be:

Efforts at the national and state level to pass new gun-control laws have stirred up an unintended backlash – local officials who are not only rejecting the new legislation, but actively “nullifying” gun-control laws already in place.

I applaud those in power who are pushing back against an out-of-control federal government, though the nullification of current laws (NFA '34 and GCA '68) is largely symbolic. Still, the point is taken.

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