Alphie as the skinny on some local concealed carry laws that may be important to Tennessee permit holders.

Carnival of Cordite is up.

A presidential teleconference with troops was staged:

It was billed as a conversation with U.S. troops, but the questions President Bush asked on a teleconference call Thursday were choreographed to match his goals for the war in Iraq and Saturday’s vote on a new Iraqi constitution.

Complete with a rehearsal! Why is this surprising or newsworthy? We live in a country where the presidential debates are essentially staged.

Cam Edwards notes that CBS Public Eye, whose fundamental mission is to bring transparency to the editorial operations of CBS News — transparency that is unprecedented for broadcast and online journalism was initially unconcerned about 60 Minutes anti-gun bias and that its journalists were speaking at anti-gun fundraisers while they have been known to bloviate about gun control. They have now responded thusly:

“We allow CBS correspondents to speak at various functions and occasionally show video. We have strict regulations that if a CBS correspondent becomes identifiable with one side of a controversial issue, they will not be allowed to cover that issue in the future.”

They are looking into the issue to see Wallace’s appearance qualifies as identifiable. I guess hidden is OK? Vaughn says:

Here’s my take: It never looks good when a correspondent (or any member of a journalistic enterprise) appears at events connected with a controversial cause. Speaking at an event to raise money for breast cancer, heart disease or AIDS, fine. Speaking at one for either side of the gun control, abortion or Iraq debate is only asking for trouble. You can debate this issue all day but the bottom line is that it creates a perception problem at the very least. CBS News and all news organizations are right to be sensitive to the point of pettiness about this.

So is the apparent mocking of Charlton Heston identifiable? Or how about the time 60 Minutes glorified a gun runner who was providing arms to terrorists, while the man lied on TV about gun laws in the US to advocate a ban on guns?

Loophole. It conjures up nefarious attempts to thwart a law via technicalities. Unfortunately, what it usually means is shit happens we didn’t think of. And the media swallow it. Like this case where a local sex offender lives within some random number of feet from a school:

So why can McGill live so close to young kids? It’s a legal loophole.

McGill was convicted of a sex crime in 2000, four years before Tennessee put restrictions on where a sex offender can live or have a job.

I’m not defending the guy at all. But it’s not a loophole. Someone didn’t think of it when they wrote the law (or maybe they did but made it effective at that date so they didn’t have to forcibly relocate people). It’s inaccurate and misleading to imply this is a loophole. Like the gun show and campaign finance reform loopholes, it’s a scare word. The solution was to write the law correctly the first time but people aren’t perfect and don’t always get it right the first time.

Gunner notes that in Hawaii (a place I used to call home) that used car buyers are being forced to assume responsibility for parking tickets that were given to the previous owner. The crime, it seems, is attached to the vehicle and not the owner. As someone else once said:

Tree, noose, some assembly required.

Out of town on business so blogging will be sporadic or nonexistent. Why is it every time I travel, I get the little TSA tag informing me my fourth amendment rights have been violated err that my checked bag has been searched? [Maybe it’s the gun? – Ed. or the razor]

Commentator anoymous said:

Please, more articles on building rifles, fewer articles on what’s happening in the “blogosphere” (yeech!).

Well, I would. But I only blog about those things when I’m engaged in them. Since I’m waiting patiently on one guy to help me finish my four 0% AR-15 lower receivers and another guy to help me finish my AK parts kit, I’m out of gun projects. So, gun porn has been light. But no worries as Tam can hook you up with some of that.

Hey, this qualifies as a major announcement!

AnalogKid on Democrats getting his vote:

I’m a full on supporter of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, although I would like less pussyfooting around and more dead terrorists. It is great to have a President that doesn’t treat the murder and assault of our armed forces and our citizens as a crime. I am also happy at the tax cuts that I and 10 million of the working poor received. But other than those, I’m having to grasp at straws for other reasons to be happy with this administration and this Congress.

Ayup.

Never seen one of those on a camel either.

The VPC is asking the Washington Redskins to Withdraw From Shooting Fundraiser With National Rifle Association as NRA Lobbies on Capitol Hill to Overturn D.C.’s Gun Laws . Their list of grievances:

The letter notes that the National Rifle Association is currently lobbying Congress to overturn Washington, D.C.’s gun laws.

That’s a good thing.

The bills to repeal the District of Columbia’s gun laws promoted by the NRA would: legalize handguns

Well, the murder capital of the world doesn’t seem to have a handgun shortage, currently. They’re just in the wrong hands.

as well as semiautomatic assault weapons

There is no such thing. That arbitrary illegal construct has disappeared at the federal level and only banned cosmetic features when in place.

and 50 caliber sniper rifles;

Which have been used exactly how many times in a crime?

allow any person to carry, openly or concealed, loaded handguns and other concealable firearms in houses, places of business, or other land “possessed by that person”;

Oh my God! People can have guns in their homes and on their property! Just like most other places in the country.

and, severely weaken the District’s ban on armor-piercing handgun ammunition.

There’s a federal ban on that stuff, folks.

David Codrea relates the story of a Texas politician named Juan Hinojosa who was busted with a gun in his bag while boarding a plane. A judge dropped the charges. Needless to say, if it were you or me, we’d be in jail. Mr. Hinojosa is also a gun control advocate who voted with Ann Richards against the Right to Carry in Texas. Wanted to add a $1.00 tax on each bullet sold in the state. He doesn’t want you packing but he can.

From Gunner:

Progressives cannot allow libertarians to lead the fight against the misuse of eminent domain

From Chris Kromm:

It’s time for all progressives to make Gulf Reconstruction a top priority.

So progressives should only take a stance when they’re trying to teach conservatives a lesson? Try doing stuff because, you know, you actually believe what you’re doing is the right thing to do.

In Nashville, they’ve apparently solved all problems because their Titty Council has enacted a law that says strippers must stay three feet from their customers. Blake, on the $100K per year it will take to enforce, notes:

Out of that $100,000 about $55,400 will be for salary for the inspector, more than 400 background checks per year for the pole professionals and around $2,600 for court reporter fees.

$55K to inspect titty bars? Sign me up.

Bill Frist now has a blog. Presidential bid? I wonder if he’ll answer the question about whether AIDS can be transmitted on a toilet seat?

Bill Hobbs is not not blogging. Just like Countertop continues not not blogging.

I’m glad they both continue blogging.

In an update to this, here’s the major announcement:

This blog will remain open for the foreseeable future, but I may be indisposed throughout the rest of the day, and Big Red is my favorite brand of gum.

I just thought I’d try that teaser nonsense out. Seriously. All four of these posts were written within five minutes of each other. Mostly because I thought this post was funny.

I’m guessing you’re not amused? Remember, I do this to entertain me . . . not you.

Some people don’t like permalinks being in the title (or at least couldn’t find them). So, permalinks are now in the title and at that handy little Permalink at the bottom of each post.

Update: No, this is not the major announcement.

R. Neal runs down the horrendous lack of accountability in tracking down Katrina money. Read it all.

Yeah, we know they have an anti-gun bias at 60 Minutes. But this is quite questionable. Mike Wallace appeared at a Brady Campaign fundraiser. Sure, he has a right to participate in whatever causes he chooses and he’s entitled to his opinion. But this alleged news show you work for may want to disclose that the next time CBS is scaremongering regarding the gun issue. Cam Edwards has more and this particularly pompous bit annoys me:

At the event, held at the French Embassy, Wallace played a clip of his “60 Minutes” interview with then-NRA president Charlton Heston, whom he described as the “self-righteous enemy of the Jim and Sarah Brady Bunch”. Afterwards, he mocked Heston by holding his hands above his head (as if holding a rifle), and said “in my dead hands… remember when he used to hold up…” while the crowd tittered. He told Buchwald he’d made his $250 contribution to the Brady Center. And I haven’t seen any mention of this at CBS.

Cam has sent a letter to CBS wanting to know:

Does CBS have a policy regarding on air talent appearing at special interest events like this, and does CBS have a policy regarding use of their broadcast material at events like this? Further, do you believe Mr. Wallace and “60 Minutes” have an ethical obligation to disclose Mr. Wallace’s support for the Brady Center the next time the program does a story on guns and/or gun control?

Another report notes that post-Katrina gun sales are on the rise:

All the attention focused on home protection after hurricanes Katrina and Rita has increased sales of guns, earthquake insurance and home alarm systems locally.

People are looking for ways to protect themselves in the event of a disaster in the Victor Valley.

Lock Stock and Barrel manager Gabe Antravious said he attributes about 50 percent of their gun sales since Hurricane Katrina to customers worried about a disaster. A month and a half later, customers are still arming themselves.

“Most people buy one shotgun and a handgun,” Antravious said. “If someone breaks into the house, all most people need is to hear the cocking of a shotgun and they’re shaking out of there.”

I’d also recommend a good carbine.

Via Mike Hollihan, comes this:

From the descriptions of what happened at the coffee, Ford seems to be buckling under the pressure.

During the coffee, Ford took questions from the attendees. They asked very pointed questions about the bankruptcy bill, Schiavo, his failure to vote on the budget rather than miss the coon dinner, and other issues. Apparently during the questioning, something snapped in Ford’s head. Maybe he realized that these were democratic activists who, no matter what he would do, will not support him and he doesn’t have a chance of winning without them. Ford became agitated by the questions, snapping at the audience and dismissing their views. He raised his voice several times. Afterwards, attendees described Ford as coming “unglued.”

If you can’t address people who are inclined to vote for you, you’re doomed in the general.

That’s pretty cool looking.

The consensus seems to be that, while Michelob Ultra sucks ass, Miller High Life is pretty good. I concur. I switch from Sam Adams to The Champagne of Beers when the weather gets warm.

I linked to the nonsensical report about Miers owning a gun yesterday. I just assume the press gets gun stories wrong and don’t bother commenting on some of it. But not Phelps. He decided to fisk it. I think it’s a record when he says:

Oh, OK, four paragraphs into the story they tell you that everything up until then has been a complete waste of your time. Way to go, Fox.

I usually figure that out about the third sentence. Stupid media tricks.

Chris wonders if Kos is selling email addresses of subscribers to spammers. He has a convincing tale.

Update: In comments, Ravenwood notes that spambots are probably scanning the user profile pages.

I keep hearing these advertisements on the radio for Green Power. Apparently, TVA now offers people the alternative to switch from what is probably nasty coal-fired power to green power, which in the commercial they only list solar but I’d assume they have wind and others. The issue that I have with it is that they want to charge you more for it than regular old, nasty coal-fired power. I’m guessing not a whole lot of people have signed up for it.

Also, it seems to me that those green power sources are already in place. Why not use them? Or are they building windmills on request or something.

Jeff has the latest on anti-gun bias in the media.

Heh. No, tomorrow. I mean it this time.

From Brittney, CNN says so. Still, some dots may need connecting.

Tennessee blogs reacted to the news that Bill Hobbs was shutting down with disbelief and accolades. Except A.C.:

It has always amazed me how Hobbs has managed to hold the position he does in the Nashville Blogosphere — most specifically the conservative side of it. He is considered “The” conservative blog in Nashville. Why? His commentary is not especially incisive, he doesn’t really strike me as having any discernible sense of humour or wit, he doesn’t post that extensively or often (considering his traffic). I don’t get it.

That’s a bit harsh. I’ve read Hobbs for a while and have noticed that the quality of his posts deteriorated recently [like you’re one to talk there Mr. all linky – no thinky – ed.] into parroting the party line. I’ll miss the Hobbsy Wobbsy of old. A.C. speculates it’s a ploy to drive up traffic and the whole teaser bit was out of line. Teasers are out of line?

Update: Will Pinkston of Go4Truth in comments at Bill Hobbs:

This is crushing news. After giving billhobbs.com $80 for a three-month blog ad for go4truth.com, now I find out you’re quitting? It seems that you’ve misrepresented your product. It’s almost as bad as a political party raising money to elect candidates but instead spending it on scholarships and Katrina relief …

Ouch. Via Matthew White. Bill is offering a pro-rated refund on Blog Ads.