In light of the killings in California ...

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... I'm only going to link to a post by David Codrea.

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Happy Memorial Day

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Remember.

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I'm going to say something ...

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.. that will put me firmly in the minority.

I'm glad we have people who will openly carry a long gun into a restaurant. There ... I said it.

If you agree with me, you can move along now; you could probably write this post for me.

If you don't, I have a few things to say.

The overwhelming truth that we live under constantly is that the media is not our friend.

Not. Our. Friend.

Ever.

There is nothing, nothing that we do that will be portrayed in a favorable light. How much, again?

Nothing.

So is it any surprise that the media attention on the Chipotle incident has been negative? It doesn't surprise me.

But would it surprise you to know that Open Carry TX asked for, and received permission to meet at the restaurant a week prior to the open carry event? Would it surprise you that on the day of the event, OCT gathered and were welcomed into the restaurant by an enthusiastic staff? Would it surprise you that, except for a few curious customers, no one gave the demonstrators a second look?

It wouldn't surprise me.

And would it surprise you that on a warm Saturday in TX, most people going about their business would be dressed in casual clothes? Would it surprise you that the membership of a group would represent people from all walks of life and all body types? Would it surprise you that most of the members of a group had (or had not) been in the military? Would it surprise you that even in a gun group, most of the members hadn't worked in a gun shop, or dabbled in collectible firearms, or had taken the latest high-speed low-drag training?

It wouldn't surprise me.

And would it surprise you that these activists don't carry handguns openly because it's illegal?

It wouldn't surprise me.

But instead, from our side, I hear all sorts of things that I usually hear from gun grabbers ...

'You're too fat ... stay off my side.'

'You're a wannabe tough guy ... stay off my side.'

'Your fake operator's beard tells me you're a poseur ... stay off my side.'

'You're just an attention whore ... stay off my side.'

You're a douchenozzle/peckerhead/internet commando/numbnuts ... stay off my side.'

'I'd like to put these two in the front-lean position until I get tired.'

Wow. I'd wonder what these guys did if I didn't already know.

H.L. Mencken said  "The trouble with fighting for human freedom is that one spends most of one's time defending scoundrels. For it is against scoundrels that oppressive laws are first aimed, and oppression must be stopped at the beginning if it is to be stopped at all."

Ronald Reagan had the 11th Commandment - Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican.

Democrats have never talked bad about one of their own, defending to the death everyone from Bill Clinton to Bob Filner and everyone in between.

But as soon as one of us crosses some imaginary line, the arrows start flying.

I have a suggestion. If you think you have a better idea about how to win hearts and minds and are willing to put that idea into action, by all means, pass your idea on to those who are willing to do the heavy lifting.

But if all you're going to do is bitch, and moan, and complain, and spew invective, may I humbly ask you to kindly Shut. The. Fuck. Up!

You can quote me.

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So, have you heard the latest ...

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... in NFA land?!

So, we have a prohibition on any “person” transferring or possessing a machinegun which was not lawfully registered before May 19, 1986. BUT, an unincorporated trust is not a “person” under the GCA, so this provision cannot apply to it.

In turning to the National Firearms Act, as amended, 26 U.S.C. 5801, et seq., we find that a “person” is defined as including a trust, pursuant to 26 U.S.C. 7701. Yet, there exists no 922(o)esque provision in Section 5801, et seq.

Therefore, pursuant to 26 U.S.C. 5812 and 5822, an unincorporated trust may lawfully transfer and make machineguns, as it is not a “person” for purposes of the GCA and Section 922 only applies to “persons” as defined by the GCA. And yes, this opens up a lot more issues for ATF in relation to the purchase of firearms by trusts under the GCA. Someone isn’t likely to be employed much longer…

This is what happens when you let lawyers make laws ... you always end up with a bureaucrat interpreting them.

But have no fear; any decision that bolsters freedom and common sense will surely be reversed!

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I"m proud to say ...

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... that Georgia was one of the first:

The legislature in the Show Me state has loaded up the agenda with a new proposal which, if passed, would give potential eveil-doers something to think about before they attempt an attack on a public school. If signed into law, the new bill would see some of the teachers in Missouri schools fully firearms trained and packing in the classroom.

I agree that teachers should have the option to be armed in their classrooms but I disagree with the requirement to have law enforcement-level training. The reason is that the public approves of arming teachers as a last ditch measure for the safety of school children; they don't envision teachers being called out to muster in a manhunt.

As I've said many times before, I would have no problem with any of my daughters' teachers carrying a firearm in school.

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A REAL journalist ...

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... could make a Pulitzer-winning career out of this:

Renowned Swedish scientist Professor Lennart Bengtsson of Reading University was at the centre of an international row last week when his study was rejected by a leading science journal after it was said to be ‘harmful’ and have a ‘negative impact’.

The rejection sparked accusations that scientists had crossed an important line by censoring findings that were not helpful to their views.

They keep using that word, 'science'; I don't think it means what they think it means.

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Here, here ...

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... the best response:

 If I lived in Venezuela, I’d find out where the guardsmen lived, and shoot them when they walked out the door in the morning. That is, of course, the proper response to dictators and their minions of every stripe, even Hollywood-backed socialists.

Vox asks questions after Instapundit lays out his course of action.

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Mark Steyn ...

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... notices that somethings up:

Aside from doing my bit for the First Amendment (your continued support is much appreciated), I've lately been taking a much greater interest in the Fourth Amendment, particularly since a meek mild-mannered mumsy employee of mine was unlawfully seized by an angry small-town cop last year. So I've been chewing over yesterday's Supreme Court ruling. 

The ruling he's referring to is Tolan v Cotton, where SCOTUS remanded the case back to the trial level because they used the wrong standard the first time.

But beyond that case he notices that the 'book' that the police use needs a bit of updating.

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Good ...

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... It's about time:

“I can’t go to the grocery store without being recognized, pointed at, laughed at," said Dooley. "Can't pay my water bill without hearing my name, saying 'There's the sorry cop that killed the dog.’”

That is former Officer Jarrod Dooley, the TX deputy who shot a farm dog in the back of the head. Seems the grand jury doesn't like law enforcement shooting animals and then claiming they were attacked.

It's interesting that the article claims that after he shot the dog, and was being begged to administer the coup de grace, he left, leaving the owner to kill his own dog.

A waste of humanity, that one.

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“I can’t go to the grocery store without being recognized, pointed at, laughed at," said Dooley. "Can't pay my water bill without hearing my name, saying 'There's the sorry cop that killed the dog.’” - See more at: http://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/animal-rights/jerrod-dooley-former-cop-who-killed-dog-indicted-animal-cruelty-charges?fb_action_ids=10202710157893082&fb_action_types=og.comments#sthash.wOeXQRlV.dpuf

“I can’t go to the grocery store without being recognized, pointed at, laughed at," said Dooley. "Can't pay my water bill without hearing my name, saying 'There's the sorry cop that killed the dog.’” - See more at: http://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/animal-rights/jerrod-dooley-former-cop-who-killed-dog-indicted-animal-cruelty-charges?fb_action_ids=10202710157893082&fb_action_types=og.comments#sthash.wOeXQRlV.dpuf

“I can’t go to the grocery store without being recognized, pointed at, laughed at," said Dooley. "Can't pay my water bill without hearing my name, saying 'There's the sorry cop that killed the dog.’” - See more at: http://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/animal-rights/jerrod-dooley-former-cop-who-killed-dog-indicted-animal-cruelty-charges?fb_action_ids=10202710157893082&fb_action_types=og.comments#sthash.wOeXQRlV.dpuf

Don't bother calling your Chamber ...

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... it'll do no good:

“If the Republicans don’t do it, they shouldn’t bother to run a candidate in 2016,” Donohue joked at an event on infrastructure investment in D.C. “Think about that. Think about who the voters are. I just did that to get everybody’s attention.”…

He got my attention, all right.

He may allege he was joking, but I'm still going to get a list of local business who are members of the local Chamber and let them know what the president of the national organization is doing.

It still may do no good, but I'll feel better.

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Identifying voters is offending people?

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Boo fucking hoo:

Just sat down w @SenRandPaul after his meeting with black pastors. He says GOP needs to lay off voter ID. "It's offending people."

Is there NO ONE who will support and defend conservative principles and the rule of law?!

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Aaron's ...

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... monthly opportunity to win stuff.