|
"Why Are You So Obsessed with the 'Gun Culture'?"
Submitted by:
The Liberty Sphere
Website: http://www.thelibertysphere.blogspot.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"Once in a while a reader will respond critically to my passionate advocacy for gun ownership with the following question, or one similar to it: 'Why are you so obsessed with the gun culture when there are far more important problems the world faces?'"
"The overarching response to this question is that there are no problems in the world any more critical or dangerous than the attempts to limit human liberty."
"Today as perhaps never before citizens all over the world are being confronted with tyranny, terrorism, the growth of government intrusion and surveillance, and the outright oppressive acts of governments toward their citizens in the form of policing free speech and prosecuting those who dare speak their minds." ... |
Touching the "Third Rail" of Race and Guns
Submitted by:
David Codrea
Website: http://www.examiner.com/x-1417-Gun-Rights-Examiner
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"[We] also can't forget to look at race--not as a cause of violent crime, but as an indicator of populations most directly affected by and responsive to a continuing history of destructive government policies.
"If we're afraid to even address this, we're never going to be able to make things right. And those hurt the most by this self-imposed blindness will continue to be the least prosperous and protected among us." |
The Militia: In History and Today
Submitted by:
Bruce Krafft
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"... Throughout history power-hungry rulers have used armies to conquer and oppress other lands, and to impose tyranny on their own people. But armies have also been used to defend country and freedom — particularly when the government is restrained from abusing the power of the sword ..."
"The Founding Fathers had mixed feelings about military forces. At least 19 ... of the 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention had served in the armed forces ... They knew they owed a debt of gratitude to the continental army and the colonial militias for securing their independence from England."
"But they also knew that a standing army could be, in the words of Gov. Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts, 'the bane of liberty.'" ... |
What Stimulated the Gun and Ammo Market?
Submitted by:
motoboy
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"Since Obama’s victory in November, Smith and Wesson and Ruger, the only two publically traded US gun makers, have experienced major increases in their stock prices. Ammo manufacturers are running 24/7 attempting to keep up with demand. Military-pattern semi-automatic rifles, including AR-15's and AK-clones are expensive, stocked-out, or both. ..." ...
"... [I]n 1994, gun ownership was very different than in 2009. In 1994, it was MUCH easier for the politicians to split the gun owners down the middle into 'hunters and sportsmen,' who owned bolt-action rifles and skeet guns, and 'gun nuts' who owned 'crazy assault weapons.' ..." ... |
What is your state's Freedom Index?
Submitted by:
Bruce Krafft
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"Some say we live in a 'free society.' Others say we are marching toward communism. How free are you really? In a study from the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, political science professors William P. Ruger and Jason Sorens decided to find out."
"'Freedom In The 50 States: An Index of Personal and Economic Freedom' measures a number of variables beyond the usual economic measures, including, 'measures of social and personal freedoms such as peaceable citizens' rights to educate their own children, own and carry firearms, and be free from unreasonable search and seizure.' And why did the authors decide to study personal freedom?" ... |
Brady Campaign Says Americans Less Safe Since Assault Weapon Ban Ended
Submitted by:
Opposing Views
Website: http://www.opposingviews.com
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"In the four years since the federal assault weapons ban expired on September 15, 2004, at least 163 people have been killed and 185 wounded with military-style semiautomatic assault weapons, including at least 38 police officers killed or wounded, according to a report issued by the Brady Center ... "
KABA Note: And in 2005 alone almost 7 times that number of children and teens (1,120) accidentally drowned.
"The report outlines how the availability of assault weapons has altered the balance of power on urban streets ... causing a growing number of police departments to use assault weapons to match the firepower they face. The report also explores the ties between terrorism and assault weapons." ...
KABA Note: And since it is so hard for terrorists to get their hands on full auto weapons they need to buy semi-auto rifles at gun shows? |
TN: Public documents should remain open records
Submitted by:
Bruce Krafft
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
... "... State legislators are about to slide down one such slippery slope in Nashville by closing what has been an open record in Tennessee. Last week, a bill to forbid Tennesseans access to records of those who hold a conceal carry gun permit was passed out of a House subcommittee. This bill also would make publication of information on permit holders a misdemeanor that could be punished with a maximum fine of $2,500."
"This information includes the names ... of individuals who have been issued a gun carry permit by Tennessee. For more than 12 years now, this has been open to inspection by the people of this state." ... -------
KABA Note: So go with Vermont carry. No records, no problem. |
IL: Debunking concealed carry myths
Submitted by:
Bruce Krafft
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
... "Nothing illustrates the errors in reasoning that concealed carry supporters have better than the name of legislation: The Family and Personal Protection Act. The huge myth that this title attempts to spread is that carrying concealed weapons leads to the protection of anyone when it in fact does the opposite. In total, 48 states have passed concealed carry laws all in the name of protection. And what sort of protection have these laws brought? According to the FBI Uniform Crime Report, 34 of the 35 states with the highest crime rates have concealed carry laws on their books. ..." ... -------
Submitter's Note: And how many of those crimes have been committed by permit holders? |
WI: Gun shop employee shoots robbery suspect
Submitted by:
Adam Peterson
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"Five suspects were in custody after a shooting incident Wednesday afternoon at Schrank's Smoke 'N Gun where police said robbery was the apparent motive." ...
"According to witness accounts, a subject went behind the counter at the store ... and was engaged with a store clerk in a verbal altercation that turned physical ..."
"At one point, the store clerk produced a pistol and fired at the subject, striking him in the chest twice and once in the leg." ...
"The store clerk inadvertently shot himself in the hand during the struggle, police said." ... -------
Submitter's Note: Talk about a dumb criminal! WOW! |
Armed visitors help make national parks safer
Submitted by:
Bruce Krafft
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"The Dec. 18 OpEd by Stephanie Clement, 'New firearms rule will make national parks less safe,' misses on several important points."
"The argument that allowing concealed carrying of firearms for self-defense will render parks unsafe is the same smoke blown by anti-gun organizations to deter the passage of 'right to carry' laws in various states. Presently, 40 out of 50 states have laws that allow 'concealed carry' ... Passage of these laws was not accompanied by increases in gun violence, as projected by anti-gun organizations. ..."
"Recently, the National Park Service took the step of arming rangers because of increases in violence and drug activity in national parks. ..." ... |
Mexico’s gun laws responsible for violent holocaust?
Submitted by:
Bruce Krafft
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"Research from the United Nations (UN) indicates that it may be Mexico's own restrictive gun control laws which contribute to the country’s rising murder rates."
"In Mexico, possession of firearms above .22 caliber is practically prohibited, though there is a second set of rules for the wealthy. Mexico also requires registration for all civilian gun owners, and federal and state governments actively discourage firearms ownership."
"Nevertheless, over 6,000 Mexicans have been murdered in the last year––700 in the past month––due to the battle over the drug trade. ..." ... |
MA: DA appeals court rulings in weapons case
Submitted by:
Bruce Krafft
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone is seeking to preserve gun safety laws by fighting two court rulings that could loosen gun storage regulations."
"Leone's office filed an appeal in the state appeals court, disputing a ... decision to dismiss gun charges against a Billerica man for improperly storing a firearm and possessing a firearm without a valid firearm identification card.
"Richard Runyan's lawyers argued the charges against him were unconstitutional based on ... D.C. versus Heller ..."
"But Leone said requiring gun owners to keep their firearms disassembled or locked keeps people safe." ... -------
Submitter's Note: So let him show evidence of that 'fact'. The CDC couldn't, but maybe a DA has better resources. |
Shoot First, Ask Questions Later
Submitted by:
Bruce Krafft
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"Of all the groups to disturb, one might leave the Arkansas gun crowd to themselves. ... Still, Max Brantley, the editor of the Arkansas Times decided he was up for the challenge a few weeks ago ..."
"Immediately following Valentine's Day, ... Brantley published the entire list of those in Arkansas who carry a gun under the Concealed Carry Permit, in an Xcel file on the papers' blog."
"The list included names, addresses and phone numbers of everyone who has the permit and was left up for several days. ..."
"... Brantley told a local radio station his motive was pure and simple. 'I think we need to know who among us is walking around with a gun.' ..." ... |
Intellectual Freedom a Farce on Many Campuses
Submitted by:
Bruce Krafft
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"Fox News, WorldNetDaily and several other media outlets are reporting the disturbing incident at Central Connecticut State University where a professor called the police on a student who merely gave an oral presentation in class arguing in favor of Second Amendment rights on campus." ...
"Yes, speaking in favor of our Second Amendment right is a horrible threat to the 'well-being of our students,' isn’t it?"
"Could America's Founders ever have envisioned a generation so bereft of historical knowledge, wisdom and common sense that, as WorldNetDaily quoted Sara Adler of the on-campus marksmanship club:""'If you can’t talk about the Second Amendment, what happened to the First Amendment?'" ...
|
Obama, Get Real on 'Assault Weapons,' Put a Cork in Holder
Submitted by:
Bruce Krafft
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"I went to my first gun show a couple of weeks ago, but when I wrote about it, I left out the buzz concerning the proposed reauthorization of the so-called 'Assault Weapon Ban (AWB).' I have a lot to say about it, so I saved it for this column."
"For starters, with all the massive messes the Obama administration has to unravel, why is our new president allowing his attorney general to embark on a meaningless mission to nowhere? And in conflict with his campaign commitments and his party’s plans to stay in power?" ... |
Proposed assault weapons ban threatens a fundamental right
Submitted by:
Bruce Krafft
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"Gun owners across America weren't surprised last week when the new U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder stated the intent of the Obama administration to renew the expired ban on sales of "assault weapons." The proposed ban was part of the agenda announced during Obama's campaign, and now the head of the Department of Justice appears to be making it a priority. Whether or not a ban renewal will pass in Congress is questionable, as similar bills in 2007 and 2008 never made it out of subcommittee. Nevertheless, Americans must recognize the ban as a significant infringement of the Second Amendment." ... |
Mexican violence no cause to disarm
Submitted by:
Bruce Krafft
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"I can't believe the editors would advocate limiting American citizens' Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms to help stop the murderous wars in northern Mexico ('North of the border,' editorial, March 1)."
"The editorial states that federal agents have traced hundreds of weapons to gun dealers in the United States. But it does not say how many of these guns were stolen or obtained through other nefarious means."
"And, besides, a few hundred guns out of the hundreds of thousands of guns in Mexico isn't a big deal." ...
"The editors also state that "It's too easy to buy AK-47's and other gangland-style guns here."
"Nothing could be further from the truth." ... |
From One Assault On The Constitution To Another
Submitted by:
Anonymous
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"The US Constitution has few friends on the right or the left."
"During the first eight years of the 21st century, the Republicans mercilessly assaulted civil liberties. ..." ...
"Now we have the Democrats, and the assault on civil liberty continues. President Obama ... wants to retain the powers that Bush asserted. ... "
"The civil liberties that Bush stole from us are now in Obama's pocket."
"Will it turn out that we enjoyed more liberty under Bush than we will under Obama? At least the Republicans left us the Second Amendment. The Obama Democrats are not going to return our other purloined civil liberties, and they are already attacking the Second Amendment." ... |
TX: Concealed carry on college campuses is on Texas lawmakers’ agenda
Submitted by:
RPA-PAC
Website: http://www.rpa-pac.org
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"Jason Bowman would feel safer walking to his night classes at Tarrant County College if he had his concealed handgun. But he leaves it behind because state law doesn’t let him carry it on campus."
"The 23-year-old Benbrook man is among those hoping that will change soon, as state lawmakers consider the issue."
"'I applaud campus police, but there is absolutely no way they can be all places at all times,' said Bowman, a paramedic and firefighter. 'Please don’t make me prove that I will stand up and fight an armed man without my weapon if (there is) danger. At least give me my gun, too.'"
"The expansion of the concealed-carry law is just one of several firearm proposals ... drawing fire from gun safety[sic] advocates." ... |
SD: HB 1278 amended into anti-gun nightmare
Submitted by:
Bruce Krafft
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
... "As you may know, city officials are banning guns in South Dakota. Regardless of whether you possess a concealed pistol permit, these bureaucrats and politicians say you cannot carry a handgun to defend yourself on city property."
"SDGO introduced HB 1278 to end this outrageous denial of your right to self-defense." ...
"But now Sen. Abdallah and six left-leaning members of the Senate State Affairs committee voted to gut HB 1278 ..."
"If passed, the new HB 1278 would give cities the authority to ban guns on virtually all city property. This means that your concealed pistol permit would be useless in every city park ... on every city bus, at the library, the civic center and numerous other locations." ... -------
H/t to David Codrea. |
IL: More gun restrictions possible for Ill.
Submitted by:
Bruce Krafft
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"Since the presidential election, gun owners say ammunition prices have more than doubled."
"Now one lawmaker in Illinois wants to mandate gun owners in the Land of Lincoln purchase a million dollar liability insurance policy each year in order to keep their guns." ...
"He says the money collected would keep taxpayers from footing hospital or funeral expenses for people killed by gun violence."
"'There is a cost associated with loss of life through one's negligence,' said Dunkin. 'This is closing an economic gap so you the taxpayer won't have to continue to pay.'"
"Gun activists in Illinois say this is just another back door way to limit Second Amendment rights." ... |
AR: Arkansas House Committee Passes Concealed Carry Privacy Bill to The House
Submitted by:
ARCCA
Website: http://www.arkansascca.org/blog/index.php
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"With only one single 'no' vote, from Rep. Lindsley Smith."
"Most of the Committee seemed in favor of the bill, one or two legislators made mention that they had recieved multiple calls from constituents in support of HB 1623. ..."
"Rep. Dawn Creekmore mentioned that she was contacted by an undercover officer who was on the concealed carry list that was published and now was in jeapordy and feared for his life. Another relayed a call that a constituent's car was broken into immediately after it was known that the list was published and his handgun was stolen from his vehicle. Several other legislators thanked Rep. Stewart for bringing HB 1623 to the committee as a responsible measure to an undeniably irresponsible act." ... |
IL: The coming of Illinois' backdoor handgun ban?
Submitted by:
Bruce Krafft
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"It's that time of year again. Spring is the season in which my posts tend to become very parochially Illinois-centric. That's because the spring session is when the forces of citizen disarmament are most active in the Illinois Politburo . . . oops--I mean legislature. I've been hammering HB 48 (bans private handgun sales) pretty hard, because I'm convinced it's the biggest threat."
"Today, I want to look at another bill, and the potential nightmare nexus of it and HB 48. This time, the focus is on HB 180, the "Handgun Dealer Licensing Act' ..."
"HB 48 is essentially identical to last year's HB 796 ... which I discussed here. The 'highlights' from last year are the same ..." ... |
Fewer police on the street puts citizens at risk
Submitted by:
Daniel White
Website: http://www.OhioCCW.org
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"Difficult times can lead to an increase in crime as people become more desperate. Compounding the problem is when budget cuts force law enforcement agencies to reduce manpower. Recently, sheriffs in the counties of Clermont, Cuyahoga, Hamilton, Huron, Lorain, Mahoning, Medina, Richland, and Scioto as well as officials in Columbus, Elyria, Garfield Heights, North Olmsted, Pierce Township, Richmond Heights, Sheffield Village, Toledo, and Union Township were amongst those who have made or are facing reduced hours or layoffs of officers." ... -------
KABA Note: Not only these towns, but cities and towns across America. |
NE: Vet Denied Gun Permit Over PTSD Care
Submitted by:
G. Hughes
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"Tim Mechaley ... fought in the battle for Fallujah and received a combat medal with a 'V' for valor."
"Back home, he uses a rifle for target shooting."
"Yet, when Mechaley sought to buy a 9-mm Ruger pistol for protection at his midtown apartment, the Omaha Police Department rejected his application for a gun permit." ...
"Mechaley, 32, has received counseling for post-traumatic stress disorder related to his service in Iraq. While completing an application for a gun permit, he responded 'yes' to a question that asked whether he was being treated for a mental disorder." ...
"As explanation, he wrote 'PTSD from Iraq Marine combat veteran' on the form."
"Mechaley's application ... was rejected, he was told, because of that answer." ... |
FL: Sunrise man cleared after elevator video shows he did not batter Fort Lauderdale officers
Submitted by:
Bruce Krafft
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"After a beat down in an elevator, Joshua Daniel Ortiz ended up with his nose broken and facing a charge of battering a Fort Lauderdale police officer."
"The 22-year-old Sunrise man was surprised and delighted to learn Wednesday that Broward prosecutors were dropping the case against him after reviewing an elevator surveillance video showing three officers aggressively rush and beat Ortiz to the ground."
"Once the Dec. 5 video surfaced, it altered the course of the case. It contradicted police reports that Ortiz provoked and attacked [the officers]." ...
"Fort Lauderdale police internal affairs investigators reviewed the incident more than a month ago and found no violations of policy or procedures ..." ... |
IL: Chicago's top cop found in contempt of court
Submitted by:
jgh
Website: http://secondamendmentfreedom.blogspot.com/
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"A federal judge on Wednesday found the city's top police official in contempt of court for refusing to turn over lists of officers who have repeated complaints filed against them by the public."
"U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman ordered Superintendent Jody Weis to produce the lists by Monday. Jennifer Hoyle, spokeswoman for the city's law department, said if Weis doesn't hand them over by then, sanctions might be imposed."
"Gettleman initially ordered Weis to turn over the information by Feb. 19. Instead, Weis sent a statement one day after the deadline saying the lists would diminish morale and harm some members of the police force by branding them as 'repeaters.'" ... -------
KABA Note: And this would be a problem, how? |
Canada: Canada judge: Man not responsible for beheading (follow-up)
Submitted by:
none
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
"A Canadian judge ruled Thursday that a man accused of beheading and cannibalizing a fellow Greyhound bus passenger is not criminally responsible due to mental illness. The decision means Chinese immigrant Vince Li will be treated in a mental institution instead of going to prison. The family of victim Tim McLean said Li got away with murder."
"'A crime was still committed here, a murder still occurred,' said Carol deDelley, McLean's mother. 'There was nobody else on that bus holding a knife, slicing up my child.'"
"Li stabbed McLean dozens of times and dismembered his body last July while horrified passengers fled."
"Justice John Scurfield said the attack was 'barbaric' but 'strongly suggestive of a mental disorder.'" ... |
Canada: Cops in Metro Vancouver struggle to end gun violence
Submitted by:
jgh
Website: http://secondamendmentfreedom.blogspot.com/
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
... "In recent weeks, nearly two dozen shootings have been reported in Greater Vancouver ..."
"Canadian and American police are linking the rise in violence to a crackdown on the drug trade by Mexican authorities." ...
"Earlier Tuesday, Vancouver Police Chief Jim Chu held a news conference to announce the arrest of the leader of the UN Gang ..." ...
"He said the public had told them they were sick of reading headlines about another gang shooting in their neighbourhood."
"'To them I say ... now you can get used to reading a different headline, one that shouts 'Police Arrest Another Gangster,' he said."
"Unfortunately, just hours later, that headline was overshadowed by reports about the Tuesday night shootings." ... |
Senators Oppose More Gun Control
Submitted by:
jgh
Website: http://secondamendmentfreedom.blogspot.com/
|
There
are no comments
on this story
Post Comments | Read Comments
|
Senators Tester and Baucus have a clear message for the Obama administration...they will strongly oppose any gun restrictions that the administration may be planning.
The senators sent a letter to the Justice Department stating that existing laws need to be enforced, rather than proposing additional laws that could infringe on second amendment rights. This letter came after mention of reinstating a federal ban on the sale of certain assault weapons.
A spokesman for Baucus says the letter was sent as a "pre-emptive strike"...to warn the Obama administration that any effort to push new gun control will be met with resistance.
Video |
|
|