|
|
Pragmatism is as Pragmatism Does.
Submitted by:
Bruce W. Krafft
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"The 'brillianter' Mostly Genius has responded to my reply here. I, being a gentleman, have responded to his response. You will find below his missive, dissected with my rejoinders ad seriatim. To paraphrase Mrs. Gump, pragmatism is as pragmatism does. Enjoy."
"Ad seriatim, Mr. Prag:"
"Allow me to proceed directly to the first stated aims above: 'to defend ourselves and our liberty and property at our front door steps.' This is sophistry. If these 'front door steps' were an actual physical threshold then all of the talk about organizing into fire teams and the like becomes nonsensical."
"MBV: The only sophistry going on here is in the attribution of it to me. My front door step is an 'actual physical threshold' to me. ..." ... |
The Aim of Mayors
Submitted by:
David Codrea
Website: http://waronguns.blogspot.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"It would almost be funny if it wasn't so tragic. Wonderful. The men and women who preside over the most violent areas of the Republic are going to tell us what needs to be done. The politicians who keep you and me defenseless before armed criminals while relying exclusively on the "only ones" to react after the violence has happened, are going to share their expertise in making us safer." |
The Life-and-Death Cost of Gun Control
Submitted by:
jac
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"Banning guns is in the news. India practically bans guns, but that didn't stop the horrific Muslim terrorist attacks this last week. A football player concerned for his safety violates New York City's tough gun control regulations by carrying a concealed handgun, and people call for everything from banning NFL players from carrying guns to demanding that the athlete serve many years in jail.""When police can’t promise to protect law-abiding citizens such Plaxico Burress or the victims in India, why don’t we allow people the right to protect themselves?" ...
"In India, victims watched as armed police cowered and didn't fire back at the terrorists. ..." ... |
Mumbai and Buddy Teams
Submitted by:
Bruce W. Krafft
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"This is a long post from another blog, including discussion, but it is important and pertinent to Absolved ..."
"... The blog entry 'A Marine Officer on the Mumbai tactics' first appeared on 29 November at The Belmont Club. I reproduce it below, as well as some of the more pertinent replies. ..." ...
"It appears the attackers were organized into buddy pairs, allowing one to shoot while the other moved, and so forth. Interestingly, the buddy pair has is a later innovation in small unit tactics and has only been slow to trickle through regular infantry formations. ..." ... |
Mumbai and the Horror of Gun Control
Submitted by:
Bruce W. Krafft
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"In the wake of the terrorist attack in Mumbai, I can already hear the U.S. gun-control crowd calling for new gun-control measures here in the United States. There will be several big problems with their pleas."
"One ... India has strict gun-control laws. Those laws did not prevent the terrorist attack at the Oberoi and Taj Mahal Palace and Tower hotel. As libertarians have long been pointing out, terrorists and murderers have no reservations about disobeying gun-control laws ..."
"Two, another long-held assumption of the gun-controllers is that gun control will keep guns out of the hands of murderers and terrorists. Not so in Mumbai. The attackers simply brought their weapons with them when they landed on shore." ... |
20,000 More U.S. Troops To Be Deployed For 'Domestic Security'
Submitted by:
Barry Bright
Website: http://willowtown.com/
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"The Washington Post today reports on plans to station 20,000 more U.S. troops inside America for purposes of 'domestic security' from September 2011, an expansion of Northcom’s militarization of the country in preparation for potential civil unrest following a total economic collapse or a mass terror attack."
"For troops to be deployed, a condition has to exist that, '(1) So hinders the execution of the laws ... that any part or class of its people is deprived of a right, privilege, immunity, or protection named in the Constitution and secured by law, and the constituted authorities of that State are unable, fail, or refuse to protect that right, privilege, or immunity, or to give that protection ..." ...
-------
Submitter's Note: Any excuse will do. |
Guns An Age-Old Part Of Family Culture In Appalachia
Submitted by:
Bruce W. Krafft
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"The first thing Karla Schmutzler did after shooting her first deer was text message her friend, Todd Sutherland, who was in his Kingsport gun store with a customer at the time."
"'I got hooked. Big time,' Schmutzler said. 'You know, all the guys would go hunting, and it never really occurred to me to ask to go along. Because, you know, it’s a guy thing.'"
"But then she went with them."
"In Appalachia, guns are an age-old part of family culture. 'Down here, we're mostly pro-gun. It's part of who we are,' said Sutherland, who owns the Gunslingers store ..."
"'There is nothing more fun than going to the range on a Saturday morning and plinking away with your kids,' he said. 'It's good clean fun.'" ... |
Gun Nut Makes Real GoW Lancer Rifle (with video)
Submitted by:
Bruce W. Krafft
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
What I always loved about the Lancer rifle, the assault rifle with a mounted chainsaw from Gears of War, was how over-the-top and ridiculous it was. It turns out it's completely possible to create your own functioning Lancer rifle, though, as one man who really loves his Second Amendment rights has proven.
Yes, the AR-15 assault rifle and the chainsaw attached to it both actually work. The proud owner of the Lancer has posted several pictures and videos on the AR15 forums of the weapon in action. Shooting pumpkins and then running up to slice them apart isn't quite as glamorous as fighting Locusts but it does look fun.
Plus uh, it makes him better able to protect his family. Yeah, that's the ticket. |
What a blast! Holiday fun at the gun show
Submitted by:
New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
Website: http://www.nysrpa.org
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"Viagra would be cheaper."
"But an extravagant Christmas shopper at the Fort Lauderdale Gun and Knife Show could spend $6,000 on a Dragunov Tiger and restore an old codger's manliness."
"Of course, the Tiger is only a civilian variation ... Still, it's accurate enough to pick off eight tiny reindeer from your neighbor's roof."
"Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus, or at least plenty of Santa-sized men who came to the holiday gun show over the weekend ..."
"The gun-obsessed like to point out that these nasty-looking guns are not technically 'assault weapons,' but they sure as hell look like assault weapons. The sheenless black metal semi-automatic rifles were clearly designed to exterminate human beings by the truckload." ...
-------
KABA Note: Then why does Cloquet MN (pop. 16,000) PD equip their patrol cars with them? |
Karl Malone Speaks Out on Athletes Carrying Guns
Submitted by:
New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
Website: http://www.nysrpa.org
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"Two years ago, ESPN released an article about gun use among professional athletes."
"Karl Malone, an All-Star basketball player for the Utah Jazz and future Hall of Famer, spoke out against athletes carrying guns."
"With all the talk surrounding Plaxico Burress and athletes carrying guns as a source of protection, it is time to look back to Malone's words of wisdom."
"I can understand that athletes of all professional sports are targets, some more than others, but the walking around with a gun is not the solution. Many people point to the tragedy of Sean Taylor and the stabbing of Paul Pierce as evidence that professional athletes are targets for criminals." ... |
SC: Gun-tax holiday 'stunningly idiotic'
Submitted by:
Bruce W. Krafft
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"I just learned from reading The Post and Courier that our Legislature — the one that allows the lowest cigarette tax in the country, the one that spends the least on anti-smoking programs, the one that won't adequately fund our schools, the one that allows us to be first when we should be last and last when we should be first — has, in its incredible stupidity, enacted a law that authorizes tax-free gun purchase days. This is the most preposterous piece of legislation that could possibly be enacted — legislative endorsement encouraging our citizens to go out and purchase guns." ... |
NY: New York City Bus Driver Stabbed and Killed by Rider Over Fare, Suspect in Custody
Submitted by:
jac
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"A New York City bus driver was stabbed to death in front of horrified passengers by a rider who skipped out on paying the fare, and a suspect was in custody early Tuesday."
"Edwin Thomas, 46, the father of two teenagers, was behind the wheel of the B-46 bus in Brooklyn when the attacker got on shortly after noon on Monday, according to police." ...
-------
Submitters Note: This is what happens when you make the entire city a victim disarmament zone.
KABA Note: See? Gun control works! Otherwise the perp would have used a gun, right? /sarcasm |
Judge upholds domestic violence gun ban
Submitted by:
Bruce W. Krafft
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"The federal statute making it a crime for a person subject to a domestic violence injunction to possess a firearm does not violate the right to bear arms."
"U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman distinguished the ban from the Washington D.C. gun control law, struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in D.C. v. Heller, 128 S.Ct. 2783 (2008)."
"'Heller held only that the federal government may not forbid possession of handguns for self-defense in the home,' Adelman wrote in a recent decision." ... |
NSSF Issues Bullet Serialization Update
Submitted by:
Bruce W. Krafft
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"During the past week the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) ... has received inquires concerning state legislation that would require the serialization of ammunition on a mass production basis."
Bullet serialization ... is not feasible from a practical standpoint and any legislation mandating such action could rightfully be considered a de facto ban on ammunition."
"While legislation has been introduced in more than 20 states, NSSF has successfully defeated all of these bills. NSSF will continue to closely monitor state or federal legislation to require bullet serialization and will continue to issue Legislative Alerts to industry members and Second Amendment advocates ..." ... |
OR: Oregon Gun Owners Closer To Another Victory
Submitted by:
Bruce W. Krafft
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"For a lot longer than we would have liked, Oregon Firearms Federation has been battling to force government agencies to obey Oregon law."
"Oregon's Department of Administrative Services has long had policies that violated Oregon's preemption statute dealing with firearms possession ... nothing is as slippery or slow as a bureaucrat."
"Now after several years of efforts by us, and some tireless pro-gun legislators (like Senator elect Brian Boquist) and their staffs, it looks like we may have made some real headway."
"We have now received this proposed change of rules by DAS. As you can see, they have eliminated the illegal prohibitions on firearms they once had in buildings they controlled." ... |
AZ: History teaches us gun lesson
Submitted by:
Bruce W. Krafft
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"Charlene Fernandez, chairwoman of the Yuma County Democrat Party, stated in a front page article ('Gun Sales On Rise,' Nov. 18) that she doesn't understand why people have always associated the Democratic Party with the loss of gun rights."
"The answer to that is very simple: The Democratic Party has always been at the forefront in attempting to disarm the American populace since the late 1960s."
"A perfect example of this is the Gun Control Act of 1968. It accomplished the following: Congress set up a massive new bureaucratic scheme run by the U.S. Department of the Treasury ..." |
OH: Boston Mayor Brings Gun Trafficing Fear Talk To Cleveland
Submitted by:
Bruce W. Krafft
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"Boston Mayor Thomas Menino came to Cleveland today to address local officials and state legislators to discuss 'gun trafficking and violence'"
"The Cleveland Plain Dealer's coverage quoted Menino as 'respecting' the Second Amendment, but 'too many youths have access to guns' according to the article." ...
"We all know that Gun Shows simply don't cater to the illegal gun buyer, but the main stream media continues to portray the idea that gun shows are full of unregulated firearms sales. Anyone familiar with the facts and the law would know that dealers who conduct sales at gun shows are required by law to conduct the same exact NICS background check that would take place at a gun store counter top." ... |
NY: Mayor Bloomberg signs legislation requiring quarterly police department reports on crimes involving illegally obtained firearms
Submitted by:
New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
Website: http://www.nysrpa.org
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"'The fourth bill before me today is Introductory Number 492-A, sponsored by Council Members Yassky, Brewer, Fidler, James, Koppell, Liu, Nelson, Recchia, Sanders, Stewart, Martinez, Mark-Viverito, Gerson, Garodnick, Jackson, White, Dickens, Felder, Gennaro, Katz, Sears and Weprin. Introductory Number 492-A requires the Police Department to submit to the Council reports on crime involving illegally obtained firearms.'"
"'The quarterly report required by this legislation will contain precinct specific data regarding the number and type of firearms that have been seized by police, the number of arrests made, and the type of crime charged involving firearms.'" ... |
MO: St. Louis Alderman Quincy Troupe calls on residents to carry handguns for safety
Submitted by:
motoboy
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"Alderman Charles Quincy Troupe's neighborhood has seen nine homicides in 10 months this year, more than all but one other section of the city."
"With gunplay wreaking havoc on his ward, Troupe thinks he has found an answer: citizens arming themselves."
"The alderman is pleading with constituents to get guns of their own — and learn how to use them. Troupe, who represents a swatch of north St. Louis, is encouraging residents to apply for concealed weapons permits so they can start carrying a firearm."
"The city's new police chief, among others, worries that introducing even more guns into high-crime areas is a recipe for greater turmoil, not less." ...
-------
Submitter's Note: The chief's fears can be alleviated if he does just a little research. |
AZ: Ex-officer arrested in computer tampering case
Submitted by:
Bruce W. Krafft
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"A former Tempe police officer has pleaded guilty to attempted computer tampering."
"Curtis Baumgarth, 40, was arrested while at work Feb. 5 after police said Baumgarth's ex-girlfriend reported that he was sending her threatening text messages."
"According to court documents, the 14-year veteran of the department threatened to post sexually explicit pictures of the woman and sell them on eBay if she 'did not immediately respond to his communications, answer his questions about her contacts with other people or agree to resume sexual relations with him.'" ... |
NY: Brooklyn Officer Charged In Road Rage Incident
Submitted by:
Bruce W. Krafft
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"An NYPD officer has been charged with beating a pedestrian in an act of road rage."
"Jamel Dennis, 32, a member of the Brooklyn North Narcotics District, was arraigned last night on charges of second-degree assault."
"Dennis was off-duty on November 17th, when ... he nearly hit Geoffrey Hollinden ... Hollinden hit the back of Dennis' car in anger, and that's when the officer got out of his car, grabbed him and slammed him to the pavement."
"Hollinden was hospitalized with cranial bleeding and a herniated disc, and received five staples in his head."
"Dennis faces seven years in prison if convicted."
"The NYPD says Dennis has been suspended without pay for 30 days and has been stripped of his gun and badge." |
IL: Official: Cop stole money from drug dealers
Submitted by:
Bruce W. Krafft
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"A former Chicago police officer stole money from drug dealers as part of an agreement with his partner to make quick money, a federal prosecutor said Monday."
"Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Morrissey told jurors, in closing arguments in the case of former officer Mahmoud 'Mike' Shamah, that the cop abused his badge time and again."
"'(Shamah) sought all those privileges as a police office as just an easy path to easy money,' Morrissey said."
"But Shamah's lawyer said his client wasn't part of any conspiracy to routinely steal from drug dealers. Instead, Shamah was 'in the jungle ... on the ground ... on the streets,' in the very midst of the war on drugs, lawyer Anthony Pinelli said." ... |
NC: Squirrels, You May Want to Take Cover
Submitted by:
Bruce W. Krafft
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"Residents within town limits can't shoot squirrels in their yards, but soon they may be able to ask the police to do it for them." ...
"Bobby Webster ... lost $600 worth of pecans early this fall ..."
"In previous years, he'd been able to shoot the squirrels, but in March, the town repealed an ordinance that allowed the police chief to grant permits to residents to shoot squirrels."
"Woznick had asked the board to repeal the rule because it contradicts a state wildlife statute as well as a town law banning the discharge of weapons in town."
"'It's purely an issue of safety,' Woznick said. He said he isn't able to test residents 'to make sure that their aim is straight and true.'" ... |
IL: FBI: Police officers, jail guards were muscle for 'drug deals'
Submitted by:
Bruce W. Krafft
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"Four Harvey police officers, 10 Cook County jail guards and a Chicago police officer have been charged with providing muscle for what they thought were major drug deals - but were really fake transactions that were part of an FBI sting."
"In one of the largest crackdowns on law enforcement officers in recent years, the FBI is accusing the officers of accepting between $400 and $4,000 each on one or more occasions to serve as lookouts and intervene if police or rival drug dealers attempted to interfere with shipments of cocaine and heroin." ... |
IN: Former Benton Harbor officer arrested on drug trafficking charges
Submitted by:
Bruce W. Krafft
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"A former Benton Harbor officer was arrested Monday morning on drug trafficking charges, according to the U.S. attorney’s office in Grand Rapids."
"The arrest of Andrew Thomas Collins, 26, comes with his indictment, which claims he used his position as an officer to keep the drugs. He is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute more than five grams of crack cocaine, according to a news release from Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian K. Delaney, who will be prosecuting the case."
"The charges stem from a case on Feb. 18 in which crack cocaine and other controlled substances allegedly were seized from Collins while he was serving as a narcotics officer for the Benton Harbor Police Department." ... |
MN: Chatfield officer 'shocked' that her gun was used in shooting
Submitted by:
Bruce W. Krafft
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"Nicole Sperry said she was 'shocked' and 'upset' Rochester police told her that her duty weapon had been used in what has been described as a gunfight ..."
"Sperry, 26, a part-time Chatfield police officer, was among the witnesses who testified Monday in the continuing trial of Carlton Fogan."
"... The charges stem from a shooting Aug. 15 in a residential neighborhood ... numerous shots were fired, with shell casings and bullet fragments found from three guns. Two handguns were recovered."
"One of them belonged to Sperry. Her car ... was found at the scene, damaged by bullets fired from her own gun."
"Sperry was not present when the gunfire erupted but arrived soon after. Fogan is her boyfriend." ...
|
MN: Belle Plaine officer charged re-charged with DUI
Submitted by:
Bruce W. Krafft
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"Carver County Attorney Office re-filed charges against a Belle Plaine Police officer Tuesday for driving under the influence in July."
"Richard Dennis Olsen, 40, is charged with three counts of gross misdemeanor criminal vehicular operation and two counts of misdemeanor DUI."
"According to the criminal complaint, Olsen was driving on County Road 40 when he lost control of his motorcycle and landed in the ditch on the side of the road. Olsen had a blood alcohol content of 0.11 within two hours of the accident. Olsen’s un-helmeted passenger was thrown from the motorcycle in the accident and injured." ... |
MD: Pa. official is charged in Baltimore abduction, rape
Submitted by:
Bruce W. Krafft
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"The president of a Pennsylvania township's board of commissioners — and a former police officer — was charged by Baltimore police with rape ..."
"Michael L. Johnson Jr ... is accused of posing as a police officer and picking up a 21-year-old woman in Southeast Baltimore on Nov. 2. Police said he drove her to the rear of the 4400 block of E. Monument St., where he handcuffed her to the back seat of his minivan and sexually assaulted her."
"Police said he drove her around for a time and then put her out of the vehicle. Agent Donny Moses, a spokesman for the Baltimore police department, said investigators were led to Johnson because the woman remembered details about his license plate and described the van." ... |
Election prompts run on firearms at retail stores, trade shows
Submitted by:
Donnie
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"Like many places across the country, gun sales in Billings have been spurred by the election of Democratic President-elect Barack Obama, who many firearms enthusiasts believe has a gun-control agenda."
"'Right after the election - that weekend - we probably doubled our gun sales from what we usually would do on a weekend,' said Justin Pearle, sporting-goods manager at Big Bear Sports Center."
"Local gun stores and pawn shops also are selling more guns than usual, and sales of ammunition and high-capacity magazines like those outlawed during the 1994 federal assault weapons ban are also up. Prices are following suit, rising with consumer demand." ... |
VT: Do you own a gun?
Submitted by:
Bruce W. Krafft
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"The recent armed robbery at FUDA, which at least one UVM student was present, got us thinking about the second amendment."
"We get the general impression that most people at UVM who are opposed to guns have never fired or even seen a real gun other than on television/movies or in a video game."
"After shooting with friends and getting into marksmanship, we feel fully comfortable around guns and the serious responsibility involved in owning a firearm."
"As with any niche hobby, shooting is not something that people who are unfamiliar with it really understand."
"Guns are not inherently bad. They are inanimate objects imbued with purpose and meaning by people." ... |
MO: Deer gets revenge after hunter shoots him
Submitted by:
none
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"A hunter bagged a big buck on the second day of firearms season, but the kill caused him a lot of pain. Randy Goodman, 49, said he thought two well-placed shots with his .270-caliber rifle had killed the buck on Nov. 19. Goodman said the deer looked dead to him, but seconds later the nine-point, 240-pound animal came to life."
"The buck rose up, knocked Goodman down and attacked him with his antlers ... The deer ran a short distance and went down, and died after Goodman fired two more shots."
"Soon Goodman started feeling dizzy and noticed his vest was soaked in blood."
"So he reached his truck and drove to a hospital, where he received seven staples in his scalp and was treated for a slight concussion and bruises." |
OH: Handguns are for deer
Submitted by:
Bruce W. Krafft
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"I recently enjoyed an opportunity to film several segments for the ODNR Division of Wildlife “Wild Ohio” television show. The show appears on PBS stations across Ohio. The segments were filmed at the Spring Valley Wildlife Area Range in southern Greene County. Division of Wildlife District 5 Manager Todd Haines was the host for the segments. The topic was handgun hunting for deer in Ohio."
"I was invited because Haines knew that I am an enthusiastic promoter of handgun hunting for deer. I switched to using a handgun during the deer gun week several years ago. I’ve been fortunate to take a couple of bucks, including one 10-point, and several doe with the handgun." ... |
OH: Ohio's Young Hunters Enjoy Special Two-Day Deer Hunt
Submitted by:
Bruce W. Krafft
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"Young hunters across Ohio again enjoyed success during the sixth annual Youth Deer-Gun Season, held Saturday and Sunday, November 22-23."
"Hunters age 17 and under killed 9,852 deer during the special two-day season, aimed at providing a high-quality hunting experience for younger Ohioans. Last year's youth hunt saw a deer harvest of 10,515."
"The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife estimated 40,000 young hunters took to the state's fields and forests during the two-day season. ..."
"The youth deer-gun season was open in all 88 counties. Young hunters could take one deer of either sex, in accordance with existing bag and deer-zone limits. ..." ... |
|
|
