Despicable Me

Yes it's for kids, but Despicable Me is easily the funniest movie I've seen this year.

Preemption wins...

...in both Ohio and New York.

More wins for the good guys.

Oh @*#!

We're screwed.

Journey into Mystery #29

Another Joe Maneely cover.

Journey into Unknown Worlds #47 (1955)

A very nice cover by Bill Everett.

Wham!

Well if that didn't damn near knock me off my seat. The Fourth Circuit is going to receive whether the Federal statues barring possession of weapons by anyone convicted of a domestic violence charge is constitutional. I can hear the screams in Bradyland already.

H/T to Glenn.

Mattel M16 Marauder

This ad came from the back of Hawkman #21 published 1967. I was six years old at the time. Damn, wish I'd had one.

Do you have to reach a certain level of stupid to be a school administrator?

I’m not sure this is a zero tolerance moment since by the Principal’s own admission he can determine discipline based on the circumstances. This smells of engaging stupid and going full bore. A High School student accidentally mistakes her father’s lunchbox for hers and brings a paring knife to school. The knife was found during a search of student belongings. She was suspended for 10 days then the rest of the year. The story doesn’t say she was charged but implies it. She has never been in trouble before. Anyone engaged in this little farce deserves to find themselves unemployed and out on their butts.

Update: She was charged.

Update: Appears the schools administrators dispute the facts as reported in the news and are holding a hearing on the matter. I'm curious to see the outcome, but I think I understand why they went to the press rather than use your appeals process. You had their daughter arrested rather than dealing with the matter administratively.

Primeval

I wasn't even aware there was a third series of Primeval until today. Each episode you get a creature of the day terrorizing London. Actually it's better than it sounds. During the first episode a prehistoric Croc eats a British cop putting a ticket on a car. My thought was that if he'd had a gun he could have fired at the thing and...missed.

NJ Governor Christie may have commuted...

...Brian Aitkens' sentence, but that doesn't make him a friend of gun owners in New Jersey or anywhere else. Bob Owens tells the tale here. Too bad. I liked the way he was standing up to the left in New Jersey.

WAPO Jumps on the Bandwagon

The Washington Post is supporting the ATF in their push to require reporting of multiple sales of long guns along the border even thought hey admit it’s probably illegal. They also repeat the bogus claim that it guns bought in the United States being used by the cartels. No one denies that some firearms are finding their way across the border. The truth is that the numbers are only a small fraction of the weapons seized by the Mexican government and being used by the cartels. The numbers don’t justify attacks on our Second Amendment rights. Our rights come before Mexico’s problems, but this isn’t about helping the Mexicans. It’s a gun control in the United States. The WAPO certainly supports that.

H/T to Sebastian.

Joel Rosenberg

If you wish to donate to the Joel Rosenberg defense fund you can go here to do so. The donate button is to the right.

A poll on the FCC regulation of the Internet.

American voters believe free market competition will protect Internet users more than government regulation and fear that regulation will be used to push a political agenda.

H/T to Glenn.

I like this...

...if only because I can't help but wonder if my oldest daughter, who was labeled ADD in 1st Grade, became the self fulfilling prophecy of her teachers, school administrators, doctors and their drugs. Maybe not, but I don't see that the drugs ever did her a damn bit of good. In any event, this is a cool video.



H/T to Claire.

This is getting old...

The New York Times has an editorial in support of a crackdown on the border. Not a crackdown on illegal immigration but a crackdown on all those evil guns shops selling their wares to the drug cartels south of the border. They want the long gun reporting requirement being pushed by the ATF put into effect. I truly don’t believe they think for a minute it will make a damn bit of difference in the all out warfare going on between the corrupt Mexican military/police and the drug cartels. They aren’t that stupid. Well, yeah they are but this strikes me as more of a push for gun control through the Federal bureaucracy. Mexico is just the excuse. It's the same old shit.

H/T to Sebastian.

A new Repairman Jack novel is out.

Fatal Error, the new Repairman Jack novel by F. Paul Wilson, is out. Actually it came out in October and I just noticed it. Some fan I am. I just finished reading it. If you liked the others, you will like this one. Nothing really new here just more of the same. I happen to like "the same" and highly recommend it.

Clear skies.

The Sun is shining. The only snow falling is from the trees. It's a start.

Does this joker have a sense of entitlement...

...or not? Public office is not your livelihood Mr. Driehaus. Your livelihood is the job you return to once you get kicked out of office. Lying during a campaign is SOP for politicians and the PACs that campaign for and against them and not grounds for a lawsuit. Mr. Driehaus, how many promises did you make during your first run for office and how many did you keep once elected? The ones you did not keep are called lies. You've lost your seat now maybe you'll lose your shirt.

H/T to Radley.

No Doubt

H/T to Firehand.

Kill Off The FCC

Works for me.

NC: State of Emergency

I see on the news that Governor Perdue has declared a state of emergency in North Carolina because of the snow. Which means you can't carry a firearm off your property without fear of arrest. This one of the many firearms related laws that need changing with the new legislature come January. Here's a wish list at An NC Gun Blog. I can't argue with a one of them.

Screw the Daisy Red Ryder...

H/T to New Jovian Thunderbolt.

What I woke up to this morning...

...and it's still falling.

Update: Stopped for now. Thanks for the link Tam.

I have no problems with it

"I understand her side of it, and their side as well, but it is for our protection so I have no problems with it," said Gwen Washington, who lives in Killeen.

This was the response when a woman refused an enhanced pat down/grope at a Texas airport. In the end, it’s the sheep that will bring about the end our liberty as we've known it.

Christmas Day

Merry Christmas to you and yours where ever you may be, and if you're celebrating something else, well, merry whatever to you as well.

Shake your head in utter WTF.

A teacher has her student arrested…no, let me get this right. A teacher conducts a citizen’s arrest for the crime of writing on his desk and possessing an permanent marker. Clearly a WTF moment, surpassed only by the police officer not telling the teacher to pound sand and taking the 13 year old into custody. Whatever happened to send a kid to the principal’s office? What the hell is wrong with these people. It’s moments like this that make you wish you were an ambulance chaser just so you could stick it to them. Lawsuit anyone?

Christmas Eve

My son and I went to the Christmas Eve service at his church. I'm not so much a church goer, but he is and it made him happy I joined him. He had to nudge me a few times, but that's to be expected. I don't know what it is. I can be wide awake and rested but the moment I sit down in church I start nodding. Must be genetic. My Dad had the same problem.

Merry Christmas

H/T to Firehand.

UPDATE: I meant for this to pop up tomorrow but apparently made a mistake on the date. So Merry Christmas a day early.

If you can help...

The jewelry store owner in Houston who was wounded in a gunfight with three robbers needs help with medical bills. Sounds like a worthy cause to me. You can donate here.

H/T to Uncle.

How dare you offend your betters,

Sacramento-area pilot punished for YouTube video

I want...

...one.

H/T to Firehand.

More on the ATF's Two A Day...

...reporting requirement here.

So what's their excuse going to be when this doesn't have any impact on the violence in Mexico?

I'd buy a t-shirt with this on it.

BATFEIEIO

That's funny.

The results are in...

New York lost two seats in the House. Illinois, Massachusetts, and New Jersey lost one each. Many of the seats are moving south and west but not so far a California. People are voting with their feet. These census results are a good thing and, in my mind, unexpected. I was afraid the White House was gonna fiddle with the Census for their own gain. Maybe they did and this is the result.

Another power grab.

The ATF has it’s own power grab in progress. They have a new regulation that would require dealers to report multiple long gun sales even though said regulation is in violation of existing law. Time to call your Congresscritter.

The FCC is pushing to...

...regulate the Internet. The market seems to be handling that just fine. Congress and the courts agree. The FCC apparently doesn't. Maybe the Congress can disabuse them of that notion in the new year by, say, cutting their budget.

Good News

Brian Aitken’s sentence has been commuted.

Just say no.

Over at Popehat, Patrick has a few words to share on the lawsuit against McDonald's and their Happy Meal toys. My suggestion to Monet Parham-Lee,who is suing Micky D's, is that she shut the fuck up until she develops the ability to tell her daughter "no". Until she manages that essential parental skill she has nothing to offer to the rest of us, and what problems she has with her children are the result of her own failure and lack of the essential backbone required of good parents. Not McDonald's or anyone else. Her's alone. Just saying...

TX: Store Owner Kills Three Robbers.

The handgun is intended to get to a long gun with which you then take care of business or so they say. Personally if my life is on the line, it’s whatever tool works. A jewelry store owner in Houston seems to have put the rule successfully to the test when three bad guys entered his store the other day. Two entered as customers but when the third entered with weapon drawn the first two got into the act was well. Two took his wife into a backroom. The store owner pulled his pistol and shot one robber. He then took a shotgun and finished off the other two. The store owner’s wife was unharmed, but he was wounded. Here’s to his recovery.

H/T to the Duck.

145 years ago today...

...the 13th Amendment was ratified and slavery in the United States abolished.

Snowing Again

I was on the roof trying to put up lights when the snow began. Every time I find time to put them up weather gets in the way. At this rate I'll be putting them up Christmas Eve.

...and since I'm noting special dates in history...

...here's another.

1997 – The United Kingdom commences its Firearms (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1997, which extends the state's gun ban to include all handguns -- with the exception of antique and show weapons.

That's the wish of every gun banner in the United States and where we end up, despite the Second Amendment, despite Heller, despite McDonald, despite every gain we've made in the last few years unless we keep fighting the fight. It's their dream. It's our nightmare.

107 years ago today...

...the Wright Brothers made their first powered and heavier-than-air flight in their Wright Flyer at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

Want!

A Kindle. The big attraction to me is the number of file formats it will take and also lack of DRM requirement. The others seem limited to ePub and PDFs. Oh well, another item on the wish list.

To the New York Times

What is it with these twits. The Mexico canard is continually debunked but the WAPO, Times, and other liberal rags keep bringing it back up like we'll forget they're full of bushwa. I guess they expect most people wasting their hard earned shekels on those rags to have the attention span and memory of a spider monkey on speed. So guys, pound sand.

Mad Mike's new blog

Michael "Mad Mike" Z. Williamson has his new blog up at Speaker to Morons. Go take a look. If you're interested in his books you can find them here. It's the good stuff.

237 years ago today...

...members of the Sons of Liberty, in a protest against the Tea Act, disguised themselves as Mohawks and dumped crates of tea into Boston harbor. This was the original Tea Party.

Reduce Spending.

It's one of the simple messages the electorate sent to Washington in November. They didn't get the message. It stinks of one last great act of defiance.

The Washington Post on the...

...big bad NRA.

More here, here, and here.

219 years ago today...

Today is the 219th anniversary of the ratification of the Bill of Rights.

Hagan needs to go.

Hagan announced Monday that she would not vote in favor of a bill that would give tax cuts to people making over $1 million a year and add $858 billion to the national debt.

Of course if you don't plan to spend money before you actually have it then it won't add to the deficit will it, and God forbid you actually vote to cut spending. One more reason to kick this piece of work to the curb come 2014.

Think things are bad in your hometown?

It could be worse. It could be Detroit.

H/T to Claire.

A State Gun?

A politician in Utah wants to honor John Moses Browning by naming the 1911 as the State gun. I kinda like the idea. Of course, others have a problem with it.

H/T to Claire.

Nightmares

Found it over at Political Math.

Backdoor Gun Control

Those of who strongly support the Second Amendment know President Obama is not our friend. The antis will loudly lament that he's soft on gun control. While he may avoid in your face gun control like a renewal of the Assault Weapons Ban, he has still pushed the gun control agenda. David Kopel tells the tale here.

H/T to Jeff.

I know what gonna be in their stockings...

H/T to the Cajun.

Robert "BooBoo" Ford

Damn funny.



While it lasts.

H/T to Radley.

Obamacare Unconstitutional...

...in at least one Federal Court. At least one Federal judge isn't drunk on the Commerce Clause.

Tis the season...

Thunk…thunk…thunk. That’s the sound of my forehead against the wall. My wife and kids decorated the Christmas tree this afternoon while I was at work. She sent me this picture of the tree with a complaint that they had only put 5,000 lights on it. 5,000 lights! That doesn’t even take into account what we’ll end up with outside the house. Guess I better expect a spike in the electric usage, but hey, just doin’ our bit for climate change. Bite me you Commie, Marxist environmental greenie weenies.

What’s The Point Of Concealable Guns?

They give me comfort and don't bother the sheep.

Riley, you're a twit.

H/T to the Duck.

Sweden: Suicide Bomber Prematurely Detonates

This guy's bomb went off before he reached his intended destination, and he was the only person killed. This is a good thing.

In honor of that accomplishment...


Then again, maybe the Swedish version of the FBI should have given him better parts.

Thanks to Alan.

American Exceptionalism

The Small Arms Survey estimates that there are 270 million privately owned firearms in the United States, which equals approximately .9 firearms for every American. To my mind, that’s a good start.

That number represents a large percentage of the approximately 650 million firearms in private hands across the globe. This is why Americans enjoy much more freedom, peace, and prosperity than so many of our brothers in other lands.

The figures cited are from a 2007 survey and are the mid-range estimates. These figures don't even take into account the rise in gun sales here in the U. S. when President Obama came into office and people who had never considered buying a firearm suddenly entered the market. So do I hear an AMEN from the audience?

H/T to Uncle.

Lèse Majesté

I was wondering what the MPD's response would be to this. No need to wonder any longer. They arrested Rosenberg for carrying a weapon into a Courthouse Complex even though he had permission, as required by law, from the local sheriff to do so. Methinks the unstated charge against Rosenberg is lèse majesté.

Close Call

H/T to DavidH.

NC: Home Invasion goes bad for Invaders

In Durham County, North Carolina three thugs attempted to break into a residence and found the owner home. The owner was armed and shot two of the three. One of the wounded was apprehended by deputies. The other two were taken into custody at a local hospital while seeking treatment. It's my castle. Enter uninvited with ill intent at your own risk.

It ain't the gun...

Police departments around the country are finding that the .40 calibers aren't as effective if an unfortunate incident occurs and they're forced to have to use their weapons," Rutherford said. "[The larger caliber] is safer for the deputies and for the public if the unthinkable happens and we have to do what no one wants to have to do.

I'd argue it's not the .40 caliber that's not effective, but the shooters. My experience is with North Carolina Law Enforcement Officers. North Carolina requires that an officer qualify with whatever firearm that officer carries on duty. With a duty handgun that's thirty to a fifty rounds each for a day and night qualification once a year. The minimum score to qualify is 70%. There may be tactical firearms training included in the mandated yearly in-service but that's not guaranteed. I suspect this is probably the case in other states as well. Sheriff Ruthterford, I suggest the money you're going to spend on new gats for your officers might be better spent on training.

H/T to the Duck and Uncle.

I came home down and watched a couple of movies...

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. Honestly, I'm not sure what the hell that was, but I enjoyed it.

Hot Tub Time Machine. I usually get about ten minutes into a movies like this and turn it off because I'm embarrassed for the characters and the actors. I made it all the way through. Not great but not a waste of 101 minutes of my life.

...and not so down no more.

Long time comin'

SpaceX launched it's Falcon rocket carrying an unmanned spacecraft called Dragon. Two orbits later the capsule returned safely to earth. The first private spacecraft to do so. Maybe the beginning of the end of space travel being a government only monopoly? I hope.

Thanks Roberta.

A zero tolerance moment

A Montana high school student who is a varsity cheerleader, honor student, and member of the student council faces expulsion for having a cased rifle in the trunk of her car. She'd been hunting over the break and forgot to remove the cased weapon from the trunk of her car. Zero tolerance is what you get when school officials are too cowardly to base decisions on the circumstances.

H/T to Uncle.

This day in history

USS Virginia, December 7, 1941.

Looks like more newspapers just joined...

...the Righthaven ignore the worthless gits list. I'm sure we bloggers can find enough blogfodder without giving these guys any attention at all.

H/T to Sebastian.

Heh.

Here we have a funny. Courtesy of Simon Jester.

When running, it is best to keep you finger...

...off the fracking trigger, otherwise bad things happen.

In Ohio the police responded to a report of shots fired. When they arrived a “gentleman” decided to run from the scene. The police, being who they are, gave chase. It's a kind of Pavlovian response. During the chase the runner shot himself in the leg. He was taken to the hospital where he died. must of clipped an artery. Finger on the trigger while you’re running: borderline suicidal. The end result’s the same.

H/T to the Duck.

Wow!

H/T to the pistolero.

So much on my mind...

...right now I'd forgotten that November 25th was my blog's second anniversary. Seeing Borepatch's congrats to Bluesun reminded me.

On tactical pens...

The Duck has a few observations on the utility of the tactical pen. A plain old BIC will serve you better as a writing implement and just might make a better weapon.

S&W 640 .357 revolver

Beautiful.

You've got to wonder...

...how many times our representatives in Congress have pulled this gig before, then again shouldn't those same congresscritters have noticed their vote was tallied wrong and called Rangel on it? Curious isn't it?

H/T to JohnR.

It's snowing...

...in Durham, North Carolina.

Seriously?

Disconnect brain. Connect explosives and detonator. Boom.

Via DavidC.

Heh.

The small penis rule.

H/T to Radley.

An escapee from the People's Republic of MA...

...just bought his first firearm. Borepatch got himself a Winchester 190. May it be the first of many.

This would be neat...

...but I figure the operative words here are snowball in hell.

H/T to Simon Jester.

The Commerce Clause

It's the governments in to regulate anything damn thing they want according to a Federal Judge in Virginia. Fortunately, the question, involving Obamacare, is still open before other courts. Maybe those judges hold a little more give a damn for the Constitution.

H/T to Uncle.

Hell NO!

Let China bail 'em out. We got enough on our plate already.

Our future?

This was released a couple of months back but I never saw it then. I'm sure most of you have already seen it. I'm posting it anyway. Scary stuff.

That's frickin' funny

2011 TSA Pin-Up Calender.

H/T to MikeH.

Talk about politicians not getting the...

...freaking message. What's not surprising is the vote against the ban had bipartisan support. God knows how many years we have until we can kick these greedy gits to the curb.

Here's a post on The Cost of Rejecting an Earmark Ban.

H/T to Firehand.

Pardon Brian Aitken

A New Jersey court gave Brian Aitken seven years for having two unloaded handguns stored in his car trunk while moving. There is an exemption in New Jersey for people transporting legal arms while moving but the judge refused to let the jury consider it. Now there is a drive to get the New Jersey Governor to pardon him. I don't have a clue where Christie's sympathies lie on the Second Amendment so I'd be interested to see what happens. Seems like a win win to me, but I'm not ruling in the People's Republic.

H/T to Sebastian.

What we hope is coming mid-January...

...BUT are the Republicans gonna be any different this time around than last. In any event, I'll believe it when I see it.

















H/T to Fits.

Speed Carter, Spaceman #2

I was scanning some of a friend's comics for sale online when I came across this in the pile. The title is really not so important to me as the artist, Joe Maneely. I've posted his work before. I like the composition and detail in the art.

Who needs due process?

Not DHS.

H/T to Radley.

Ditto

Go piss on an electric fence, hippie. - Tam

Sorry for not posting today.

Up to my ass in alligators.

No man's life, liberty, or property are safe while the legislature is in session. - Mark Twain

Today's Republicans, imbued with a sense that Washington's priorities have become muddled, contend that most commemorations are a waste of floor time needed for more pressing matters.

And I contend that anything that prevents you fuckwits [that’s a bipartisan fuckwits by the by] from attending to those pressing matters is all and good for the rest of us. A day where Congress accomplishes absolutely nothing is a damn good day and saves us from the intended and unintended consequences of their actions.

H/T to Glenn.

Make My Day...

I knew this,

...but it's nice that somebody has provided the details.

Thanks Og.

Something to keep an eye on.

New ATF Regs on Ammo?

Sounds like the ATF was trying to get them in under the radar and got caught.

H/T to Uncle.

19 Senators who voted to censor the internet...

...are listed here.

Censorship is a bipartisan activity.

H/T to Mike V.

Another bright idea...

There is a remake of the original Buffy movie in the works...without the involvement of Joss Whedon. I've always thought it would be neat to let Whedon remake the movie as he originally invisioned it. The twits who first brought his script to the screen FUBARed it big time. The movie sucked. Buffy without Whedon? That's brass without bullet or powder.

Why does this not suprise me?

Apparently if you disagree with the Obama Administration, DHS, or the TSA on the gate rape protocols you're a domestic extremist. The knee jerk reaction was to go on a rant against liberals and how dissent is ok as long as it's for them and them alone, but this isn't a liberal/conservative issue. It's about the attitude in government that they are the masters and we the people better just do what we're told. It's about Stateism. So, drive to your family get together. If you must fly, opt out. Make the screeners pat you down. Make an ass of yourself. Make the screeners uncomfortable in their work. They should be uncomfortable when they're violating your 4th Amendment rights. Do nothing illegal but make your displeasure known. Write your representatives. Vote the bastards out in 2012. If that makes you a domestic extremist, you're in good company.

Happy Thanksgiving

'nuff said.

Yes.

Better to go out standing than on your knees begging.

H/T to The Duck

Seriously?

NPR Discovers Social Security is a Scam.

So Bernie Madoff is doing Federal time for running his Ponzi scheme. What's going to happen to the guys who've been pushing this one for the last severty-some years?

H/T to Radley.

Smith & Wesson's .410 Double Trouble Autoloader

Here.

It comes with a duck call. Ummmmm... Believe it when I see it. Until then I go with it being about four months early.

H/T to Uncle.

Gas Prices by County

Local prices are about mid-range. Could be worse. I could live in California and that would make things worse in so many other ways.

Thanks Roberta

Apology Apology

Go look at the videos linked in the previous post then look at this.



Next?

Hah!

These are a hoot, and PETA gets the finger as well. If I ever need to buy a bottle of rum it'll be theirs.

Thanks to Kevin, Firehand and Skippy's List.

To the TSA

Maybe there is a better way than the virtual strip tease and/or sexual battery?

NYC: Cop shoots cop

I’m not sure what constitutes firearm’s training for NYC's Transit Police, but I’m pretty sure keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot and muzzle in a safe direction are in the curriculum. Since shooting a pistol requires a finger on a trigger and the conscious decision to press the trigger I’d say this wasn’t accidental in any sense of how most of us define the word. Methinks the word you’re looking for is negligent.

Over at the Christian Science Monitor

Andrew Traver: Is Obama’s choice for ATF chief an ‘antigun zealot’?

Not by the standards of an anti-gun zealot. As a pro-gun zealot, I'd say hell yes!

Cris Cox gives 'em the money quote.

"You might as well put an arsonist in charge of the fire department,"

Via Glenn and MikeV.

COICA would allow the federal government to censor the internet without due process.

...and it passed through committee unanimously.

H/T to Mike V.

And these are the guys in charge...

...of our airport security.

The TSA has published a "redacted" version of their s00per s33kr1t screening procedure guidelines (Want to know whether to frisk a CIA operative at the checkpoint? Now you can!). Unfortunately, the security geniuses at the DHS don't know that drawing black blocks over the words you want to eliminate from your PDF doesn't actually make the words go away, and can be defeated by nefarious al Qaeda operatives through a complex technique known as ctrl-a/ctrl-c/ctrl-v. Thankfully, only the most elite terrorists would be capable of matching wits with the technology brilliance on display at the agency charged with defending our nation's skies by ensuring that imaginary hair-gel bombs are kept off of airplanes.

Do you feel safer?

This a test

It's only a test to see how big a pain in the butt blogging from the phone is. Pretty much a last resort, i think.

Want

Browning 1911-22 .22 Pistol

I'd really like the details...

...on this. Somebody FUBAR'd big time.

H/T to The Duck.

The “stupid” is strong in the TSA

I’m not even sure why the TSA even need to check a military charter but this just boggles the mind. At what point do the adults take charge again?

Opposition to the Traver nomination...

...by the NRA and CCRKBA. It's those nagging associations with the Joyce Foundation and other prohibitionist organizations.

H/T to John R and David H.

Hah!

Tomorrow’s news Headline…”Westboro pickets mosque in Dearborn with ‘God Hates Muslims signs”"

Friday’s news Headline…”Mysterious bombing in Kansas annihilates controversial church”

H/T to Glenn.

Oh Joy...

Obama has nominated a new Director for the BATFE and he seems to meet all the requirements the Brady Bunch would have for said nominee. He's anti self-defense, anti ownership of so-called assault rifles, and pro illegal gun registry. Anyone surprised? Write your Senator.

H/T to David H.

Enough

Even if it is "shopped" this sets the mood perfectly. Then there is this and this. Here's Borepatch's solution. Mine would be a bit more direct. As Tam put it...

Are they trying to start a fight?

H/T to Tam

Kansas City Cops...

...shoot backfiring van.

Sleepwalker Shoots Self

That or he was too embarrassed to admit he was wide awake and did the deed. I would be.

H/T to Robb A.

The Top Ten Most Gerrymandered Congressional Districts in the United States

Let’s simplify this post and call it the 30 most fracked-up/gerrymandered Congressional Districts in the United States. North Carolina has four of ‘em and that’s without counting NC-4 which has managed to provide David Price with [dis]honest work for the last 22 years.

It'll be interesting to see how the North Carolina House redraws the lines off the 2010 Census with the Republicans in charge?

Thanks Bubba.

Quote of the day

As to liberty, the heroes who signed the great document pledged themselves to buy liberty with their lives. Liberty is never unalienable; it must be redeemed regularly with the blood of patriots or it always vanishes. Of all the so-called natural human rights that have ever been invented, liberty is the least likely to be cheap and is never free of cost. Robert A. Heinlein, Starship Troopers

It's from the class discussion in History and Moral Philosophy. Kevin excerpted it here. I got there after reading this post. I think it's time to pull out my copy of the novel for another reading.

Pound Sand

The Mexican Ambassador to the U. S. thinks the NRA should help educate our citizens on how illegal trafficking of firearms effects Mexican security.

Let me help. The majority of gun seized in Mexico come not from the United States but from Mexico and other sources. While it’s sad that the shit has hit the fan in Mexico, that is not the responsibility of the NRA but of the corrupt Mexican Government. The rights of United States Citizens are not subject to the whim of said Mexican Government or, for that matter, that of the United States. In other words, pound sand.

More Firefly

We got fourteen episodes of Firefly and the movie Serenity. There’s little likelihood that we’ll more movies, but the series lives on in comics. The latest additions are Serenity: The Shepard’s Tale and Serenity: Downtime. I’d always wanted to learn how Shepherd Book became the man he was. The questions are answered here. The other is essentially a day in the life of story. Both are written by by Joss and Zach Whedon. Both are nice additions to the canon.

That's funny

I can't help it if my sense of humor is kinda childish...sometimes.

I'm back.

My friend and I stooped on the way back at Big Gums Pawn in Clinton North Carolina. They really like their guns and price them accordingly. I saw a Smith & Wesson 686 with a six inch barrel priced at $999 and a Ruger LCP .380 priced at $450. It's been a while since I've purchased a handgun So maybe I'm out of the loop but those prices seemed high. I think they call it chutzpah.

A Maintenance Issue

I was working with a guy the other day shooting a Smith & Wesson M&P40. several times the last round in the magazine failed to feed. The magazine was fully seated and when the shooter smacked the bottom of the magazine the slide snapped forward feeding the round. This took place with all his magazines. I broke it down and examined the weapon. I compared it to another M&P40 and the only difference between the two was that the trigger spring was bottom side up. I corrected that and test fired the gun with three magazines loaed with five rounds each. No problem. I then put three full magazines through it witht he same result. No problems. Any ideas, and yes I've considered the problem may be the shooter not the gun.

A Heinlein Quote

The universe never did make sense; I suspect it was built on government contract. - Robert A. Heinlein

Heh!

I want one of those.

Author Assaulted by Police

Joel Rosenberg, author of the Guardians of the Flame fantasy series was assaulted by a Minneapolis Police Officer for the crime of exercising his legal right to carry a concealed firearm. Rosenberg is a CCW permit holder. Details here. Rosenberg filed a criminal complaint against the officer and it will interesting to see if the result is what it would have been had, say, Rosenberg assaulted the officer. I'm sure the Minneapolis Police Department will take the appropriate actions and hold the officer responsible for his actions. Seriously.

Bill Whittle on Gun Ownership

H/T to John R.

I'll be out of town...

...from Sunday through Wednesday at a training conference in Salemburg, North Carolina. I don't have a clue whether I'll be able to access the net to post. If not, I've scheduled a couple of things to post and I'll see you when I get back. This is probably the closest thing to vacation I'll get this year.

I've got David Weber's Out of the Dark and Eric Flint's 1635: The Eastern Front to keep me company while I'm gone.

And suddenly, Mr. President...

...you give a shit about paying for the current level of government spending? This didn't occur to you when you were shoving your multi-trillion dollar health care scheme down our throats, or is it simple self-delusion?

"At a time when we are going to ask folks across the board to make such difficult sacrifices, I don’t see how we can afford to borrow an additional $700 billion from other countries to make all the Bush tax cuts permanent, even for the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans," the president said. "We’d be digging ourselves into an even deeper fiscal hole and passing the burden on to our children."

Keep it up. It should make the Tea Party's job in 2012 even easier.

Tom Russell - Tonight We Ride

I'd never heard this before I saw it linked over at No Lawyers - Only Guns and Money. I like it.



I also agree with the sentiments expressed by John in his post. What happens in Mexico is the problem of the Mexican government until it starts to cross over the border. The solution isn't more gun control here. We need to send those south of the border a clear message to get their house in order before we have to do it for them. Not that I expect anything of the kind from the current Administration in Washington.

Heh!

Not Just California...

Gun Porn: Boberg XR9-S

A new company with a new pistol that is not quite on the market yet. It looks interesting. I'd like to test fire one but at a MSRP of around $850 that is probably the most I'll ever do. It do look interesting though.

H/T to The Duck.

NY: Thug indicted with manslaughter in girlfriend's death.

In Syracuse, New York a minivan left the scene of a shooting and one of the occupants then took a shot at another car forcing it off the road. The car’s driver ran. The occupant of the minivan took a handgun from the car. As the minivan fled the area it hit a speed bump. Dipshit had his finger on the trigger and muzzle pointed at his girlfriend and he pulled the trigger. Suddenly, the brains of the girfriend were decorating the interior of the van. The girlfriend died. The shooter is facing charges of manslaughter and illegal possession of a firearm. He’s facing 15 years in jail for each charge. He deserves whatever happens to him.

H/T to Rob Colling.

Vindictive...

A lame duck session of Congress. Just what we need. Imagine what opportunities the losers have to screw with us for kicking them to the curb. Hopefully all we'll get is the Congressional equivalent of pulling the "w" key off the White House keyboards, but I doubt it.

H/T to Tam.

Talk's cheap

His lips move. Words like "cooperation" and "compromise" spill out, but I just don't get a feeling that he defines those words the way Webster did. I think he's using a dictionary where those words mean he gets what he wants and the rest of us pound sand.

If they wrote in "Princess"...

...does that still count?

If Murkowski wins then Alaskans got who they deserve, but her tactics smell too much of entitlement. The Tea Party candidates played fair and backed Republicans when they lost primaries. I guess that's too much to expect of a RINO?

The Aftermath

The Republicans took the House and made gains in the Senate. I hope they don't misread this election. Most of us weren't voting for Republicans. We we voting against Democrats and that's not the same thing.

Unfortunately, Boxer and Reid escaped their deserved fate and we've got six more years before we get another shot at them.

A bit closer to home, I have no representation in the House for another two years. That prick David Price won again showing that a majority in District 4 are OK with extremism as long as its of the leftist variety.

At least Republicans took the North Carolina General Assembly and now, maybe, we can get a few things done starting with a Castle Doctrine and I hope a revamp of our concealed carry. Constitutional carry in North Carolina is probably a pipe dream.

Now lets start thinking of how to toss some more these worthless gits out of office in 2012.

So let's pass a law...

...that will most certainly be ignored and circumvented almost immediately. We know who's pockets you guys are in, but do you think you could at least talk to the people that have a clue what they're taking about before you pass laws that accomplish nothing but making more felons?

H/T to Tam.

Go Vote!

If you've done the deed already, sit back and enjoy the fireworks. I am.

Each party steals so many articles of faith from the other, and the candidates spend so much time making each other's speeches, that by the time election day is past there is nothing much to do save turn the sitting rascals out and let a new gang in. - H. L. Mencken

Jonah Hex [2010]

The comic book character then and now was just a ex-Confederate bounty hunter with a scared face. The stories were straight up westerns. There were three of mini-series written by Joe R. Lansdale with supernatural elements but they were the situation Hex was dealing with. Hex was still just a bounty hunter. The quality of the title varies but it’s mostly good stuff. I particularly like the recent issues drawn by Jodi Bernet.

In the movie Hex has the power to speak to the dead. That with the Wild Wild West plot is full of suck. Sometimes you just have to wonder what goes through the minds of these Hollywood types when they just have to improve on the original product. He wasn’t a superhero you dicks, and Hex was just a name. Do yourself a favor and avoid the movie Jonah Hex:

ARGGGGH!

I hate to call someone and have to listen to thirty seconds or more of music, scripture, or frack-all else when at that point all I want to do is leave a damn message on the voice mail.

NRA v. GRNC

The organizations are at odds and have been over a variety of issues over the years. Here are two opinions in the matter here and here. My opinion? Maybe the people on the ground, ya know, the locals, have a better sense of the ground than those at the national level and that maybe the NRA should listen once in a while. NC House Majority Leader Hugh Holliman has allowed NC Rep. Deborah Ross to block passage of a Castle Doctrine by holding it up in committee. Holliman says he can’t control her. I’ve seen no evidence he’s even tried. The NRA still likes him. GRNC doesn’t. In my opinion GRNC is right.

H/T to Uncle.

Happy Halloween

Jack-o-Lantern by Ruthie.

DE: Woman Shoots Ex-Husband

In Delaware a woman shot her ex-husband after he broke into her home and beat her. The protective order apparently didn't get the message of "leave me the fuck alone" across. The bullet did.

H/T to John Lott.

If the people of California have a sudden...

...attack of sanity, we might be this lucky, but I'm not putting any money on it.

There's a reason they're called "The Stupid Party"

Friendly Fire: Republicans Fume at NRA's Endorsement of Democrats

I believe the NRA has been short sighted in many of their endorsements. Many Democrats vote "no" on gun bills but "yes" on, say, Supreme Court nominations and other legislation that have the potential to do gun owners great harm in the long run. The NRA endorses them anyway. I don't like it. I do understand it and the new members of Congress had best understand that as well. People aren't giving you their vote because you are a Republican. They are giving you their vote because you're not a Democrat. I believe most gun owners understand why the NRA does what it does and vote for the best candidate anyway. Taking those endorsements out on gun owners by refusing to vote for legislation supported by the NRA and gun owners would be a mistake. It's a mistake for which your party might pay in, say, 2012.

H/T to Sebastian .

New Link...

...on the sidebar. It strikes me that the Second Amendment Foundation is doing quite a bit of the heavy lifting in the fight to restore and protect the Second Amendment. Give them your support.

H/T to Borepatch.

NC: Constitutional Amendment

The amendment would prevent a felon from holding the office of Sheriff. It struck me as common sense. Maybe not. Some other opinions here and here.

ATF Agent on trial for murder in the Virgin Islands.

Sorry dude but I don’t think Federal Law Enforcement should be exempt from criminal liability when they violate local laws under color of badge or otherwise. Those that enforce the law aren’t above it. In this case, it looks to me like legitimate self-defense. I hope the jury see it that way as well.

H/T to Firehand

The Whiteboard

Added to the side bar. Neat stuff.

Bastards!

The AARP just sent me a application.

Attack Ads...

...an American tradition.



Another example of this fine tradition.

H/T to Sebastian on the video.

On the North Carolina Ballot...

...is a constitutional amendment providing that no one convicted of a felony may serve as Sheriff. Actually, words kinda fail me on this one. You would think, well...duh.

Early Voting

Done. Now the wait and see.

Wherer Zombies Shop.

Sears?

Heh.

Home Invasion by men dressed as ATF Agents.

Men dressed in black posing as ATF Agents broke into a house in Alabama, shot and killed a resident, then held the rest at gun point while they stole money and electronics.

So what do you do if black clad thugs kick in your door claiming to be Federal Agents or local police? If you shoot them and they're bad guys you're a hero. If you shoot them and they're cops you're screwed. If you take no action you may be screwed. Hell of a dilemma. A solution may be for the cops to stop wearing tactical/military wear that anyone with a credit card can buy and go back to being the police.

H/T to David H.

I hope.

This baby snapper was...

...found wandering downrange today.

CIFTA Stalled.

I prefer dead, but that'll work for now. I don't care to be obligated to a treaty even if it only mirrors current U. S. law. We might want to change that law one day and the antis would love to say we can't because of a treaty.

The best thing the United States can probably do to help Mexico with their gun problem isn't a treaty but to end sales to their government. Just saying.

H/T to The Duck

Fox and the terror loophole.

I was watching Fox and Friends this morning and they aired a story on a new report about the terror gap and how terrorists and suspected terrorists on the watchlist can easily buy guns and how NICS doesn't pick them up or bar the sale. The story cited a report that says we're going to have a Mumbai-style terror event unless this is changed. This terror watch list Senator Frank Lautenberg is the person behind the report cited.

Fox aired this story with out any rebuttal or opposing opinion. I guess they believe it's common sense that United States Citizens should be stripped of a fundamental right to keep and bear arms without recourse, or more importantly simple due process, by a faceless government bureaucrat. They imply this is a National Security issue and so should be taken out of the hands of those legislators helpless before the power of the gun lobby.

Fox provides no opportunity for supporters of RKBA to point out that Lautenberg is a notoriuos pimp for the anti-gun movement and will tell whatever lie and distort any fact to achieve his goal. They fail to note that this terror loophole is the latest bogyman in a long line intended to scare people into giving up their rights in exchange for non-existent security. India had and has stringent gun control. Mumbai still took place. In this case Fox has demonstrated it's either clueless or intentionally deceptive and no different from the other national media outlets.

Sue the sons of...

At work I occasionally have to respond to email from Administrators and I'll have a co-worker read over it to make sure some of my opinion for the person I'm sending it to hasn't slipped into the missive. We call that bit of job preservation our "sarcasm check". Maybe the City of Phoenix should have someone to review actions that might get them sued because the action is unconstitutional or something. That would be someone other than the city's current attorney since that attorney let this one slip by.

The city of Phoenix, in an apparently arbitrary move and without formal legal process, has forced CBS Outdoors to tear down 50 illuminated bus-shelter billboards under contract to promote gun safety training for children and their parents.

H/T to Uncle.

I worked so hard...

...to screw us over for the last twenty years. David Zucker puts one right between Barbara Boxer's eyes. Ha!



H/T to John R.

Interesting

Elizabeth Moon on Citizenship.

Some people apparently have a problem with others voicing opinions contary to theirs'. Moon writes excellent science fiction and fantasy novels. If you haven't read anything by her I highly recommend them. If you think she has a right to her opinion and like good books vote with your pocketbook/wallet.

H/T to Glenn.

Dafydd ab Hugh on why NPR...

...canned Juan Williams.

Juan Williams was fired for giving aid and comfort to "the enemy"... because NPR and other liberal bastions have always considered themselves at war with the Right. He violated the cardinal epistemic closure demanded by the Left: Williams treated the Right as human beings, and worse, as people.

Speaking your mind and getting fired should always be this profitable . Screw you NPR.

A Day at the Fair

My son dances with the Little River Cloggers. I spent the day with him at the Folk Art Festival at the North Carolina State Fair. We just got home. No blogging today.

The Four Rules

The two that matter.

The answer's always "yes".

Dallas teenager shoots self at party.

One of the teen’s friends said he asked if the gun was loaded then turned the weapon in his own direction and fired, according to the 911 call.

H/T to The Duck.

Update on the Korean Garands

Daniel Gallington writes that the Garands being held in Korean are already the property of the United States Government having been loaned, not sold, to them. Getting them back is as simple as the U. S. Army making a request that the Koreans return them. So the U. S. Army so they can then be given to the Civilian Marksmanship Program for grading and distribution to gun clubs and collectors. So why is the State Department characterizing this as a “sale” or “import”? Doing so put the State Department and the ATF into a position to regulate the transfer and plant roadblocks.

How many of you guys and gals are getting tired of this backdoor bureaucratic bullshit?

H/T to Uncle.

I just finished reading...

...Weber's Mission of Honor and I'm slowly making my way through the Heinlein bio. Next up is David Drake's latest Lt. Leary novel. Larry Correia's latest Monster Hunter International book is on the shelf waiting but only because the other books are library books and I actually paid for the MHI: Vendetta. I also noticed that Larry's next release, Hard Magic, has been posted over at Baen for release in May 2011. So many good books, so little time.

NC: Son Defends Mother in Robbery Attempt.

In Weldon, North Carolina, a mother and her son were sitting in a car under their carport when two thugs approached with a handgun and demanded money. The son managed to get into his house and get a gun. He returned to the carport and fired on the robbers hitting one in the leg. The robbers fled and were later found and arrested. Self-Defense: it's breaking out everywhere.

NC: Robber Shot in Hold-Up.

In Johnston County, North Carolina, an armed robber walked into a store where the owner, his 13 year old son, and two female employees were working. He pointed a gun at the 13 year old. Th e owner came out of the back of the store with his weapon and exchanged gun fire with the robber hitting him. The robber fled. The owner followed him into the parking lot and then exchanged fire with the robber's companion. The companion fled. The robber was found dead in a nearby van. The companion was later found and arrested. In a perfect world this wouldn't have happened but we don't live in such a world so this ending works for me. Four good people come through unharmed and the bad guys end up dead or in jail. That a good enough ending.

The way things outta be

In Georgia, a homeowner caught two thugs breaking into his house. They exchanged gunfire. The end result: one thug wounded and in the hospital, one thug on the loose, and the homeowner safe in his home. Yes the two thugs are still breathing and one is one the loose but on the whole an acceptable resolution. Bad guys break into a house and get shot. The way things outta be.

H/T to Zendo Deb .

More Mexican meme BS from Clinton

Americans have demonstrated an "insatiable demand" for illegal drugs, and the U.S. has failed to crack down on the thousands and thousands of weapons trafficked into Mexico - Hillary Clinton, October15, 2010.

Madam Secretary, I wager that if the United States stopped selling military arms to the Mexican government you'd damn well crack down "the thousands and thousands of weapons trafficked into Mexico" and that if you did so if wouldn't change a damn thing down south.

OH: Robber Shot by Victim

In Cleveland, Ohio a man was robbed at gunpoint outside his apartment by four thugs. They then forced him to take them to his apartment where his fiancée and three children waited. At the door the victim decided not to be one anymore and to place his life at risk to protect his family. He jumped the robber holding the gun and managed to shoot the robber in the chest with the robber's own gun. The others fled. The shot robber died. At least one of the surviving robbers is facing a charge of murder in the death of his companion. What makes me angry is how many times this thug has been arrested for this kind of crap in the past, and he was still walking the street. To the Cleveland authorities: do you think you can get it right this time? Probably not.

Bill O’Reilly could have told them the...

...sky was blue and they would have walked off the set. Debate? Polite discourse? No surprise here.

H/T to Firehand.

There have been sightings of the Frogman.

Damn. I was afraid someone had gigged him. Glad to see [relatively] new postings.

Restraint.

These police officers showed it when they probably didn't have to. They're not from Las Vegas. Good work guys.

H/T to The Duck.

B. J. Lawson V. David Price

B. J. Lawson has the best chance of unseating Price since 1994. The last time David Price was kicked to the curb was 1994. He was returned to office in 1996. Of course, the problem may be keeping him out. Price is not a friend to gun owners. His wife Lisa Price ran North Carolinians Against Gun Violence for years. It's time for him to go.

Via Randy.

More Neat

Lightning and Lady Liberty

H/T to Radley.

Neat

Bullet spinning in ice.

H/T to Uncle

NC: Pipe Wielder Shot

In Cherryville, North Carolina a man was shot in the arm when he tried to club a guy and his girlfriend with a metal pipe. When he tried to club the couple the guy pulled a .22 and shot him. The pipe wielder was arrested after treatment.

Where's Muhammad?

Not here. But you can find it here [for now] and here. The story is here.

H/T to Uncle.