Monday, May 18, 2009
CS Monitor Chronicles the Rise of the Gun Blog
No matter where you look on the Internet these days, bloggers are mucking it up, taking on the big bad “mainstream media” with a mad mix of polarization, cheerleading, and snark. But just as lefty bloggers got the word out about the promise of Barack Obama during last year’s election, the rightosphere is pulling out its big guns, too. And in few places is the keyboard jockey scene as fast-growing or as influential as the world of firearms and Second Amendment rights.
You're Darn Tootin'!
Circling the Drain: UK's Orwellian State
BRITAIN appears to be evolving into the first modern soft totalitarian state. As a sometime teacher of political science and international law, I do not use the term totalitarian loosely.
There are no concentration camps or gulags but there are thought police with unprecedented powers to dictate ways of thinking and sniff out heresy, and there can be harsh punishments for dissent.
Nikolai Bukharin claimed one of the Bolshevik Revolution's principal tasks was "to alter people's actual psychology". Britain is not Bolshevik, but a campaign to alter people's psychology and create a new Homo britannicus is under way without even a fig leaf of disguise.
The Government is pushing ahead with legislation that will criminalise politically incorrect jokes, with a maximum punishment of up to seven years' prison. The House of Lords tried to insert a free-speech amendment, but Justice Secretary Jack Straw knocked it out. [continues]
But they are working on it.
The Truth Escapes: Toledo Mayor Admits Police NEVER Prevent Crime
"Violent crimes, shootings, are not ever prevented by the presence of a police officer, no matter how many thousands of police officers you have."
- Toledo City Mayor Carty Finkbeiner
Good Lord! We can't have people just running around stating the truth as fact! Especially politicians! What's next? Term limits?
For those not up on the goings on: Toledo is facing budget shortfalls and one consequence was the 'downsizing' of the police force by 75 officers. Of course crime is skyrocketing.
One senior officer, speaking anonymously, offered some investment advice:
"Tell people to buy guns. Invest in precious metals - lead, gun powder and brass."
Well, most of the country is way ahead of you brother. Way ahead.
read more here
Friday, May 8, 2009
DHS: Domestic Extremist Lexicon
Link to document
From the top of page 7:
(U) patriot movement (U//FOUO)
(also: Christian patriots, patriot group, Constitutionalists)
(U) rightwing extremism
(also known as far right, extreme right)
It's a shame those darned extremist founding fathers aren't around to be told what a threat they pose.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Gun Show Loophole? There's No Such Thing.
Carolyn McCarthy just announced her campaign to close-the-(so-called)-gunshow-loophole.
For those who have only heard the nightly news version, the real story on the gun show loophole is:
- There is no 'gunshow loophole'
- Currently ALL firearm transactions at ALL gun shows (and in gun stores) by federally licensed dealers MUST be first approved by the FBI via the NICS (National Instant Check System). Meaning ALL purchasers have to pass the background check before taking possession of a purchased firearm
- Currently, firearms transfers between two legal (non-dealer) individuals [residing in the same state] does not require federal involvement. If Bob want to sell his rifle to John, they agree on a price and the deal is done. If Grandpa wants to give his grandson (on granddaughter) their first .22 on their 18th birthday, he can buy it ahead of time and just give it to them. If someone receives an inheritance from Dad that includes his deer rifle, shotgun or even a whole collection of firearms - he can take possession of them legally without federal involvement.
- As long as both involved parties are not prohibited from owning firearms (not felons) the transfer of ownership is legal (just like selling any other privately owned property).
The reasons why this is bad:
- It can easily be abused by creating a de facto registration of firearms. Registration is ALWAYS a precursor of confiscation (you only have to look as far as California to see it's already happened here - and in Canada, England, Australia and...]
- It can easily be abused by criminalizing simple loans of firearms: If a buddy loans a rifle to a friend to hunt with, if a father loans a pistol to his daughter for protection from a stalker, if (depending on how 'transfer' is defined) you let a friend shoot your gun at a range just to 'try it out', or a wife, using her husband's shotgun, defends herself in the home while he's away -- all of these would result in being charged with a federal felony.
Suppose the same government approval is applied to the First Amendment. Should the purchase of a Bible or even a newspaper require a background check? Should the gift or sale of a book require that transaction be approved and kept on record? If by decree, a certain type or class of books become illegal and subject to confiscation, what would keep the next decree from banning another class of books?
For more, check out Paul Valone's GRE article here
Update: For a touch of irony look at the Webster's Definition of 'Loophole'
loophole
To All You Hunters...
To all you hunters:
Words fail me.
I think I'll just go pick some chips off the Doritos tree in the backyard to go with the stiff drink I think I need right now.
They walk among us & they are allowed to vote !!!
Good Gravy.