Doctor: [Explaining the procedure known as an episiotomy to me and the Mrs.]

Me: That don’t sound like it’s appeasing any damn body.

The Mrs.: Just keep your mouth shut.

I’m curious where other people do most of their recreational shooting. I live in the Big City, so I mainly go to an indoor range, which costs about $10 – $15 a session. There are a couple of other indoor facilities, but the only outdoor ones I’m aware of belong to clubs which are kind of pricey to join.

The last place I lived, I went with some guys who knew a guy who had a place in the country where we could blaze away. My parents also live out in the boonies, so when we go there we can pretty much just shoot out in the backyard.

So how about you readers out there? And if you want, feel free to give a plug to your favorite range.

All the stuff Dr. Phil told my wife is a bunch of crap. You don’t introduce the baby to your life, the baby shows up and turns yours upside down. It’s been a hectic week here at casa de SayUncle. Feedings every 3 to 4 hours, interrupted sleep, diaper changes, household chores, ad infinitum make for a tired yours truly and his wife.

Right now, the Mrs. and baby are snoozing, I’m blogging having just finished a glass of bourbon on the back porch with my new ever-present friend: the baby monitor. Things seem normal again and quiet. It won’t last.

It’s worth every minute of it.

The Comedian alerts us to the Matrix:

Thousands of law enforcement bodies now use them; five states have linked their own records with a huge commercial database in a federally funded program known as Matrix.

[snip]

The next minute, he knows who your relatives are, who lives in your house, who your neighbors are, the kind of car you drive or boat you own, whether you’ve been sued and various other tidbits about your life.
Science fiction? Hardly.

A growing number of police departments now have instant access via handheld wireless devices to vast commercial databases that contain details on just about anyone officers encounter on the beat.

I saw something like this in action about 3 years ago. A cop friend of mine showed me how it worked. He entered my name and it listed my relatives, address, other info, and some friends of mine (I didn’t realize one of my friends had a record until then). I was pretty shocked by it and explained to him that crap like that is why people blow up federal buildings. Well, that and craziness.

The Comedian concludes with:

How can anyone now argue against the fact that giving your name is self-incriminatory?

And isn’t tracking crap like this a violation of privacy rights protected by the fourth amendment?

As much as I talk about dogs, no one ever once told me there was a Carnival of the Dogs. Shame on you all!

Regarding this:

It’s probably the only time of the year you can shop for a Rolex watch, a Tommy Hilfiger outfit and a used car all under one rooftop — and it’s happening this Saturday in the parking lot of the Public Safety Center.

Some 700 items — ranging from cars, costume jewelry, designer urban wear, furniture and stereo equipment — will go to the highest bidder at the annual forfeiture auction by area law enforcement. The merchandise, collected from court seizures by the Columbus Police Department, the Columbus Vice and Narcotics Unit and the Metro Narcotics Task Force, will be on hand for viewing from 8 to 10 a.m.

Chuck says:

There used to be a Fourth Amendment

I think the only amendment in the Bill of Rights that hasn’t been perverted is number three. But then, we’ve not had a war on our own turf in a while.

Via Tom, comes this story that involves stuff I post about a lot: guns, dogs, and Canada.

A Canadian man, driving a car packed with weapons and ammunition, was intent on killing as many people as possible in a Toronto neighborhood but gave up the plan at the last minute when he encountered a friendly dog, police said on Thursday.

The middle-aged man, who police said was mentally disturbed, had planned to carry out the shooting spree on Wednesday to ensure he would be put in jail permanently, Toronto police said.

He had set himself up in an east-end park to load his weapons and then planned to drive around shooting. He later told police that a dog then approached and started playing with him.

The encounter melted the man’s heart, and he then went in search of police to give himself up, police said.

“He happens to be a pet lover, and decided that since there was such a nice dog in the area, that people were too nice and he wasn’t going to carry out his plan,” Detective Nick Ashley told reporters.

Police found 6,000 rounds of ammunition, two rifles, a shotgun, a semi-automatic pistol, a revolver and an air rifle in the man’s car, along with a machete and a hunting knife. The car also contained a throwing knife, a camouflage mask and netting.

No point to make. Just thought it was strange.

It’s from Foxnews so it must be a lie:

Al Qaeda-connected terror chief Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and other terrorists are apparently trying to recruit Iraqi weapons of mass destruction experts and resources for possible future attacks against the U.S.-led coalition, the head of the Iraq Survey Group told FOX News Thursday.

In an exclusive interview with FOX News’ Brit Hume, Charles Duelfer — whose ISG is leading the hunt for weapons of mass destruction — said terrorists in Iraq are “trying to tap into the Iraqi WMD intellectual capital.”

And, of course, we know that there are no terrorists operating in Iraq; errr that there is no relationship between terrorists and Iraq; Err, I mean, uhm no, there is no relationship between Saddam and Al Q; err that no significant operational relationship exists between Al Q and Saddam. Yeah, that’s it – that’s the ticket.

Cheney told Leahy to Fuck off! Who wouldn’t want to do that?

This news item from the Brady Campaign:

Since Congress Has Fewer Than 20 Working Days Before Assault Weapons Ban Expires, President Needs to Stop Playing Games.

I think Bush is playing politics on this one. He has said one thing but is not acting on it. He does, after all, have to appeal to Texans too.

Mike Adams:

There has been plenty of talk about the fact that the killer had a gun. There has been little talk about the fact that the victim did not.

Les has his weekly gun links up.

I never thought I’d say that but Spoons reports that the ads for Moore’s new film may violate the incumbent protection act err campaign finance reform:

Michael Moore may be prevented from advertising his controversial new movie, “Fahrenheit 9/11,” on television or radio after July 30 if the Federal Election Commission (FEC) today accepts the legal advice of its general counsel.

I’m no fan of Michael Moore and his looseness with the truth but that is inexcusable.

Update: Mike has moore.

The other biased Washington paper reports:

Lawmakers in Massachusetts have passed a ban on the sale of assault weapons in the state and also made it easier to own legal firearms.

The bill makes it illegal to sell semiautomatic assault weapons and shotguns with certain accessories, the Boston Globe reported Thursday. To win the support of gun-ownership-rights activists, the measure increases the gun license period from four years to six and allows for a grace period for expired firearm identification cards.

The Massachusetts House passed the measure on a voice vote Wednesday and the Senate has also approved the bill, which should be on the governor’s desk within a week, the Boston Globe reported.

Gov. Mitt Romney has not taken a stance on the legislation, but said he supported the federal ban when he ran for the U.S. Senate in 1994, the Globe reported.

Just how important are these certain accessories? They have no effect on the lethality of the weapons.

After a small dog was mauled, the Boston City Council fast-tracked a dangerous dog law:

Under the new ordinance passed 7-4, owners of dangerous dogs must spay or neuter the animals, muzzle them in public and post signs outside their homes warning that there are pit bulls inside. Violation of the restrictions will result in a $100 fine, and the dogs could be impounded.

During the debate, supporters of the ordinance presented statistics showing that pit bulls bit Boston residents 144 times over the past three years – nearly three times more than the next worst culprit, German shepherds.

Animal rights advocates immediately denounced the measure, and said the law would be unenforceable. They also say the law will not stand up in court because it discriminates against a particular breed.

Using breed as the criteria for dangerous doesn’t work. Any breed can be dangerous if not appropriately socialized. The appearance of doing something is more important than doing the right thing, apparently.

Based on a recommendation at Stop the Bleating, I went to the library and got a copy of Goodbye, Darkness by William Manchester. The book describes his experience as a Marine in the Pacific Theater during WWII, intermingled with his present-day (well, late ’70s, when it was written) visits to various battle sites.

I enjoyed the book, and I also enjoyed Manchester’s biographies of Gen. Douglas MacArthur and Winston Churchill. I highly recommend them, although you must remember that I have strange tastes.

it paid off:

Apologies for light blogging and for not responding to people who leave comments but this baby stuff is time consuming. Changing diapers, feeding, swaddling, cleaning, and other chores coupled with a very irregular sleeping pattern makes devoting significant time to anything else difficult.

But I love every minute of it.

An article at The Hill says:

Some Democrats in tight re-election races are opposing a renewal of the assault-weapons ban, despite its overwhelming support from Democratic Party leaders.

The ban, which was enacted in 1994, prohibits the sale of certain assault weapons. With the ban’s expiration looming in September, several lawmakers are rallying to extend it for another 10 years.

However, the often contentious and polarizing issue has pinned some Democrats into an awkward political position of deciding whether to support their leaders or echo what their constituents want.

Emphasis added for those who need to be told that sort of thing. Why is that a tough decision? Your constituents are who you serve.

Regardless, it is good news for opponents of the assault weapons ban.

Via XRLQ, we learn that the Saddam/Osama connection was established a couple of years before Bush took office.

CNN said Saddam offered asylum to Bin Laden. The Guardian says the same thing.

Heh! Nope, no bias there.

A victim of a no-knock warrant has been somewhat vindicated (somewhat because he’s still dead):

A state appeals court threw out search and arrest warrant affidavits used in a December 1999 drug raid that left the son of true-crime writer Barbara Davis dead.

The ruling, released Thursday, states that the no-knock warrants failed to show an informant was reliable, and it states that North Richland Hills police Sgt. Andy Wallace did not corroborate many of the facts passed along by the informant.

The ruling was the result of an appeal by Davis, who pleaded guilty to possession of GHB, a designer drug, found after the raid. Her plea agreement included the right to appeal.

The case could be retried or dismissed, or prosecutors could appeal.

The ruling by the three-judge Court of Appeals 2nd Judicial District of Texas in Fort Worth could also affect a wrongful-death lawsuit filed by the Davis family.

The city has maintained that police had probable cause to burst into the house without knocking to search for marijuana plants because Troy Davis, the author’s son, was considered armed and dangerous. Barbara Davis was also in the house at the time.

Read the last paragraph again. They thought it was OK to plan on killing someone because they may have marijuana plants.

The Fraternal Order of Police announced that President Bush has taken a strong stand in supporting the Law Enforcement Officers’ Safety Act. This bill exempts off duty police and retired police from local and state ordinances prohibiting carrying firearms.

I have no issue with not restricting the right of off duty police and retired police to carry firearms. However, all citizens should be allowed to exercise their rights. Special privileges like this one (and the firearm exemptions for politicians) are an affront to liberty. It’s OK for me but not for thee.

The IRS is offering rewards for ratting people out:

Suspect your company is cheating the IRS out of millions in taxes?

Pass along the inside information to the Internal Revenue Service and you stand to collect up to 30 percent of taxes and penalties recovered under whistle-blower legislation aimed at snaring high-dollar tax cheats.

The proposed IRS Whistleblower Office is designed to give tax agents an inside advantage when fighting complicated, often invisible tax shelters developed for and used by wealthy taxpayers and corporations.

It would go after individuals and corporations with more than $200,000 in income who use shelters that hide $20,000 or more.

Informants who blow the whistle on tax evasion stand to win 15 percent to 30 percent of the recovered taxes and penalties if they contribute substantially to the case. Those who make less substantial contributions can win up to 10 percent of recovered money.

Continuing the meme of If you tell the lies often enough, they become true, JoinTogether issued a press release regarding the three police officers killed that I discussed here. At least they waited a couple of days before dancing on their graves. The release says (in part):

CeaseFire Maryland, Along with over 800 Local Police Chiefs and Sheriffs around the Country, Calls on Congress and President Bush to Renew and Strengthen the Federal Assault Weapons Ban that Sunsets Sept. 13th, 2004

Baltimore, MD – Three police officers were shot to death yesterday when they approached a house in Birmingham Alabama to serve warrants. The bullet proof vests the officers were issued were no match for the SKS assault rifle, named by officials as the weapon used in the killing. The SKS rifle is a copycat of the AK 47 assault rifle. It is cited by the ATF as the rifle most frequently used to kill law enforcement officers and is readily available in the US despite the current federal assault weapons ban.

The 1994 Assault Weapons Ban prohibited the manufacture, transfer, and possession of 19 specific semi-automatic assault weapons, such as AK-47s, AR15s, and UZIs. However, the gun industry immediately began to evade the law by making minor cosmetic changes to assault weapons, renaming them, and marketing them as “copycat” models. “Copycat” assault weapons are functionally identical to those banned by the 1994 law, which is why the assault weapons ban must also be strengthened.

Emphasis added. The SKS is not a copycat of the AK47. It is a completely separate Chinese design that takes fixed magazines (i.e., the magazine is not detached from the gun but is loaded by inserting round into the gun itself). Since it doesn’t accept detachable magazines, the SKS is not affected by the ban.

And just to repeat this pearl of wisdom: [the SKS] is cited by the ATF as the rifle most frequently used to kill law enforcement officers and is readily available in the US despite the current federal assault weapons ban. The SKS is popular because it is cheap and plentiful. It is unaffected by the ban. This is akin to saying more people are killed by Hondas because there are a lot Hondas out there.

Update: The SKS is actually a Russian design. It was used in China and in Vietnam.

Via Bubba comes this:

A motorist’s decision to stop a deputy for speeding escalated into a series of incidents than ended with his entire family joining him in jail.

Last week, Lance E. Champion, 23, reportedly pulled in behind Deputy Lt. Stan Hillis across from the local jail and told Hillis he had violated the speed limit. By the end of their conversation, Champion was in custody charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and evading arrest.

Champion called his mother, Janice K. Champion, 48, who arrived with her 17-year-old son. The teen allegedly slapped the hand of a deputy who was gesturing for them to leave the area as Lance Champion’s vehicle was about to be towed.

“If you strike an officer, you’re going to jail 100 percent of the time,” said Sheriff Jackie Matheny.

Mrs. Champion was then taken into custody, charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Officers say she was loud and refused to obey orders.

Her husband Hal Champion, 47, then arrived from church, was shot with a deputy’s Taser and taken into custody on similar charges.

All were later freed on bond.

The whole family is in jail because a policeman violated the law. My cop friends tell me that unless they have lights/sirens on or are headed to an emergency situation, they aren’t allowed to speed. I think the cop should have just apologized.

This year’s incumbent protection act, misnamed campaign finance reform, was a blow to first amendment freedoms by the supreme court. That wasn’t enough because now they have shat upon the fourth and fifth amendments. You have no right to remain silent, no freedom from unwarranted searches, and no right to not incriminate yourself. Ravenwood writes:

By a vote of 5-4, the Supreme Court disagreed. I think Justice Kennedy’s remark pretty much sums it up. (emphasis mine)

“Obtaining a suspect’s name in the course of a Terry stop serves important government interests,” Kennedy wrote.

AUGH! Far be it for a citizen’s Constitutionally protected civil rights to get in the way of “important government interests”.

It used to be that the Constitution protected the rights of individuals. Now it’s seen as an obstacle (albeit a minor one) to “important government interests”.

Government interests should never be placed before individual rights. That is, after all, why we have a Constitution to begin with.

Heh!

Oh, yeah. Jeff has the latest on media gun bias.

Via Publicola comes the tragic event of three police officers being killed with an SKS. The SKS is not an assault weapon in the traditional sense of the word nor is it an assault weapon under the standards of the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban. Regardless, this will be used as one of the sad tales to push for the Ban’s renewal.

Kim du Toit posted a list of “25 People, Places Or Things That Are Popular, For No Apparent Reason”, one of which is Unintended Consequences, by John Ross, and several of his commenters chimed in with “Never read it, never will.”

Now, I happened to enjoy reading that book, quite a bit. I also like Atlas Shrugged, Battlefield Earth, and Tales from Topographic Oceans by Yes.

And I don’t care what you think of me!

UPDATE: Here’s a bloated, self-indulgent work filled with “cardboard charactes” and “kinky sex” that I will NOT be reading…