In an effort to improve the Pit Bull’s image, someone in New York wants to rename the breed the New Yorkie. I somehow think pit owners around the country will not be inclined to do so.

While I agree with the sentiment of this article, I wish the author would link to his sources.

which you weren’t. But it has been 47 days since Politically Correct Dog’s encounter with the skunk and his head still has the faint smell of it. Periodically, we’ll catch a little whiff but if you smell right between his eyes, it’s definitely still there. 47 days, skunk cure treatment, at least 4 baths and it’s still there.

Since Smijer’s anti-boortz blog, I have been reading Boortz off and on.

Boortz identifies and eminent domain abuse:

Today on the Boortz show another story of eminent domain abuse. This one is from St. Louis where the Richmond Heights city council has decided that the “public good” demands that it seize the property of a catering company, a company that has been at that location for 58 years, and hand that property over to a private group to build a hotel.

This is pretty awful. It’s one thing to do so for the public good as that is understandable (such as to build a road) but to take property and give it to another is absolutely abysmal. Both are stealing, mind you, but at least the latter has the guise of being for the public good.

More gun guys:

Boots and Sabers: A couple of former military men who blog.

MadOgre: Another gun nut but he needs moveable type or something.

Last night, I caught an episode of King of the Hill that was about the parents going out of their way to keep their financial information from their child. They wouldn’t let Bobby know how much they made or what bills they paid.

I noticed this type of behavior from my parents. They never talked about money (their finances anyway, they taught me budgeting and stuff) with anyone. I wonder why that is? It seems the baby boomers don’t like to discuss how much they make or what they spend.

This is markedly different from us Generation Xers. See, I know how much all my friends make. They all know what I make and we discuss it pretty openly. I must confess that I don’t know much about Mrs. Uncle’s parents either.

I wonder why my generation doesn’t mind discussing it while older generations seem sworn to secrecy? Just an observation.

Smijer’s got some nice new MT digs. Check him out. I wonder if he’ll move the antiboortz there too. Nevermind, he did.

Al Qaeda videos found in Iraqi weapons raid. But there’s no link here. Keep it moving.

The AP:

Doctors should be aware of the dangers and lobby for restrictions in paintball equipment sales to minors, Listman said.

Of course, they’ll go after automatic paint guns first. Then hand paint guns and assault paint guns.

In the event you need reminding about why I will not support Dubya this go around, go here:

When President Bush travels around the United States, the Secret Service visits the location ahead of time and orders local police to set up “free speech zones” or “protest zones,” where people opposed to Bush policies (and sometimes sign-carrying supporters) are quarantined. These zones routinely succeed in keeping protesters out of presidential sight and outside the view of media covering the event.

When Bush went to the Pittsburgh area on Labor Day 2002, 65-year-old retired steel worker Bill Neel was there to greet him with a sign proclaiming, “The Bush family must surely love the poor, they made so many of us.”

The local police, at the Secret Service’s behest, set up a “designated free-speech zone” on a baseball field surrounded by a chain-link fence a third of a mile from the location of Bush’s speech.

The police cleared the path of the motorcade of all critical signs, but folks with pro-Bush signs were permitted to line the president’s path. Neel refused to go to the designated area and was arrested for disorderly conduct; the police also confiscated his sign.

Tennessee’s Attorney General has opined that the second amendment does not impose restrictions on the State’s power to infringe on the right to arms.

Also, the sixth circuit court of appeals (Tennessee is a part of the sixth) holds there is no individual right to arms.

First up, an unsigned editorial screed that lacks almost any substance:

The Bush administration even has failed to do its part to deliver justice to the victims in the Washington, D.C., sniper case. Yes, John Allen Muhammad is awaiting the death penalty and his young sidekick, Lee Boyd Malvo, will spend life in prison for the murderous spree that claimed 10 lives.

Yet federal prosecutors so far have brought no charges against the Tacoma, Wash., gun dealer who “lost” the Bushmaster XM-15 assault rifle used in the sniper killings. Federal investigators allege that the gun dealer willfully disregarded federal gun laws by failing to keep required records on hundreds of weapons, including the Bushmaster.

The Seattle Times reported that Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents asked the U.S. attorney’s office to file federal charges against the gun dealer. Still, no charges have been filed. Apparently, in Attorney General John Ashcroft’s Justice Department, pursuing charges against a gun dealer who loses track of hundreds of weapons — including an assault rifle used to kill 10 people and terrorize an entire region — is not a priority.

Uhm because the gun was stolen. And the Bushmaster XM-15 is not an assault weapon, as defined by the Assault Weapons Ban.

And this nonsense:

Do you remember how insane the gun nuts sounded when they fought the ban on automatic assault weapons because they were afraid that eventually we’d come for their pistols?

I sent a letter to Andrew Lisa (the author of the article):

Being one of those gun nuts, it is important to realize that the assault weapons ban does ban automatic weapons. Automatics have been regulated since the 1934 gun control act. The ban only bans aesthetic features that certain guns can.

As an example, see here.

Here’s a link to the law should you choose to actually do some research on the issue on a subject before opining on it.

Regards.

In most cases (I’ve sent countless letters to reporters and editors regarding the lies they perpetuate about the assault weapons ban), these reporters never respond. I suspect the same here. But you can send a letter as well, just send an email to alisa@vineland.gannett.com

And John Lott writes on why people fear guns and the misperceptions about the assault weapons ban (the misperceptions Andrew Lisa above has).

After the recent mauling death of a woman, reports of illegal pit bull ownership are up 50% in Denver.

Today in Maryville it was 72 degrees. 72 degrees in January! Took the dogs for a swim.

Geek with a 45:

The Bill of Rights is being killed by a chunk at a time by an Executive who asks for power, a Legislature who is happy to grant it, a Court who is happy to let them get away with it, and a snoozing populace who is happy to barely notice.

Also, as a former resident of Hell err New Jersey myself, I wish the geek well on his quest to leave that horrid place. And welcome to the blogroll.

I think Ravenwood nails exactly what’s wrong with the music industry:

The Big Easy Movie on DVD — $5.99
The Big Easy Soundtrack on CD — $15.99

Rich is looking for some guns. Specifically, he wants a handgun, a shotgun and a rifle. I recommend he buy them in that order. I have also extended an offer to Rich to go to the range with me. I’ll address some things here.

First, remember the basic rules of gun safety:

All guns are always loaded.
Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to pull it.
Never point the gun at anything you’re not willing to destroy.
Be sure of your target and what’s behind it.

In terms of training, I’d suggest Rich go to the firing range with a friend first (like me). Then, he may wish to take the Tennessee concealed carry course for additional information on the legalities of justifiable shootings. I’d even suggest he get a carry permit.

In terms of where to get one, WD’s Sporting Goods on Alcoa Highway and Guncraft are where I make most purchases. The next option is gun shows.

In terms of what to buy, do not buy a cheap gun. By cheap, I don’t necessarily mean they have to be expensive but rather they need to be of high quality. They need to be reliable. For instance, Maverick shotguns are inexpensive but are well made.

For starters, Rich may want to read this post and the links to other posts it contains for some good information.

So, all my gun owning readers should head over to Rich’s and give him some advice!

First, Insty has very good taste. He, like me, is a Sig man. There is no finer pistol, period. And once you’ve handled one, most other handguns do feel cheap. I have shot many Berettas (who didn’t after seeing Lethal Weapon?) and they are fine guns. This is assuming you buy a newer one, the old ones had an issue in which the slide rail cracked upon discharge causing the slide to fly back and hit people in the face. A number of police and military were injured and killed in the late 80s through early 90s if I recall. I also like Glocks. They’re not as good feeling as Sigs but are as reliable and arguably more durable.

Second, Donald Sensing addresses the Beretta (more to the point, he takes issue with the 9MM round, I believe) as the standard service weapon for the military. I must disagree with the reverend regarding the 9MM’s stopping power. If the army was allowed to issue hollow points, the rounds would be more effective. Hardball ammo in 9MM is the problem. I would say that hardball 45ACP is not particularly effective either when compared to 45ACP jacketed hollow points.

One other disagreement is that there are plenty of cartridges with knockdown power equal to or better than a 45ACP. Like 10MM, 44 Special, 44 Magnum, 50AE, 45GAP, etc. 357 Sig and 40S&W aren’t too shabby but do not compare to 45ACP.

I do agree that the military should be issued 45ACP handguns because the military is using these guns as combat weapons. They are not concealed handguns typically. As such, a Sig P220 would be a fine weapon. Even better would be a Glock 21, which is arguably more durable than the Sig and has a magazine capacity of thirteen vs. the Sigarms’ capacity of seven.

Back to my point about the 9MM: It is a fine round when loaded with various hollow point rounds (which the army can’t do) and there are many smaller guns that shoot 9MM that are ideal for concealed carry. For what it’s worth, the official 9MM load of SayUncle is Winchester Black Talons for my Sig P229; the official 45ACP load of SayUncle is the Remington 185g jacketed hollow point for my Glock 30.

Bill Hobbs has moved to, uhm, billhobbs.com.