MountsPlus is photoblogging the Shot Show.

Moth turned in a critique of the study for her Master’s level class in scientific methodology:

In sum, I give them a D-. I would fail them, except they had a lot of statistics and made some interesting general observations. But their methodology, conclusions, and impartiality are all flawed.

Not a good year for the ATF. An agent testified in court that the NFRTR (registry of NFA weapons) was deficient; they are currently experiencing significant budget troubles, attributable to bad management; now, they’re about to be investigated for breaking the law at Richmond, VA gun shows:

On February 15, at 4:00 p.m., the U.S. House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security will hold an oversight hearing to investigate apparent wrongdoing by BATFE at a Richmond, VA gun show last August.

In 2004-05, a troubling pattern emerged at a number of Richmond, VA-area gun shows, where hundreds of BATFE agents and state and local police staked out local shows. Immediately upon learning of these incidents, NRA began investigating and working to ensure congressional oversight hearings would be held to determine any wrongdoing and ensure BATFE was not overstepping its bounds or violating the law.

BATFE agents copied lawful gun purchase transaction records and provided this information to local police officers, who in turn conducted “residency checks.” Federal law prohibits the release of this information except to state and local police to identify prohibited purchasers or recipients of guns.

I covered their alleged wrongdoing at gun shows several times before.

In other news, water is wet.

Another article on the Illinois troopers charged with illegal machine gun possession says:

Under federal rules, anyone who can pass a background check, pay $200 and file the proper forms can legally purchase one or convert one to automatic fire. Even a ban on “military style” assault weapons lapsed in 2004.

Err, no. There has been a ban on civilian possession of new machine guns since 1986. And there is no such thing as a ‘military style’ assault weapon and that ban had nothing to with machine guns.

So it’s no surprise that some are puzzled by the charges – and the possibility of prison time – for three Illinois State Police troopers accused in federal court of illegally possessing machine guns. Since police officers should easily pass background checks, the crime looks like a mere oversight.

The only people that would be puzzled are the retarded. Anyone familiar with the laws knows full well these guys willfully broke them. They should stand trial like everyone else or the law should not apply to anyone. Additionally, these are police officers who are exempt from the aforementioned 1986 ban if they have departmental approval for the weapons (though the officers can’t retain possession of them).

Update: Saved before I finished. It’s not a mere oversight since possession has been banned. Also, I would think that those who are sworn in and paid to uphold the law would know the law. For that, they should be held to a higher standard, if anything. This was not an oversight. This was a willful violation of the law.

Update 2: Even the Brady bunch defends this willful violation:

“If that’s what happened, it’s a lapse in judgment,” said John Shanks, director of law enforcement relations for the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, of the registration process.

That’s not what happened and they would know that too.

Looks like David Codrea is having an effect with his picture campaign against controlarms.org’s million faces campaign. This one is pretty good too.

Update: Heh. They bought the Geek’s submission.

Bruce reprints an awesome letter to the editor:

No offense, but …

I FIND all of your editorial cartoons deeply offensive, morally, religiously, philosophically, and spiritually. In fact, I don’t like your editorials, either. And the editorializing in your news coverage is annoying as well.

In keeping with your cowardly policy not to offend anyone, kindly cease publication at once.

Michael Silence reports the Knox County God resolution has been withdrawn.

Update: More from Michael, this time at his other job:

A resolution recognizing God as the foundation of “our national heritage” was mysteriously added to this month’s Knox County Commission agenda.

It has now been withdrawn and will not be considered after the listed sponsor said he did not request that it be added.

On Tuesday when commission’s agenda was released, the matter was listed as being sponsored by Commissioner Ivan Harmon.

On Wednesday Harmon said he did not ask that the resolution that he pushed two years ago be brought back. He said he didn’t even know it was on the agenda until contacted for comment.

In Maryland:

Delegates in the Maryland House will hold a hearing at 1:00 this afternoon to discuss one of the most egregious pieces of proposed legislation one likely could imagine. HB 140 is a bill that would require all boaters on Maryland waters – regardless of an individual’s age or size of the boat – to wear a personal flotation device at all times while underway.

Groan.

Turns out it’s not guns that cause road rage, but genetics and evolution:

Some scientists now think road rage and other personal space disputes — neighbor feuds over intrusive flora or spats with gym hogs who won’t let others work in — boil up from responses selected by evolution to protect resources and ensure survival of the species. Recent findings in the field of evolutionary psychology suggest that a mandate to defend turf is at the root of some of the species’ most irrational and violent behavior: jealousy, assaults, murder.

“Humans have developed adaptations to prevent people from encroaching on our stuff,” says David M. Buss, whose latest book, “The Murderer Next Door,” examines how these changes, such as territorial mate-guarding and jealousy, play a role in homicides. The impulses are part of a survival program designed to make us react first and think later, if at all.
[snip]

More than a bruised ego is at stake. People who are “exploitable” might be less likely to attract a mate and propagate — the mandate behind most territorial behavior, Buss says.

The problem is that territorial behaviors weren’t designed for the 21st century. Instead of leading to increased power, resources, food or mate prospects, they often result in conflict, court bills, injury and death.

Quick, someone tell Hemenway.

Speaking of Illinois, in order to attract Cabela’s to their area, Hoffman Estates is getting rid of an unnecessary gun law:

In an unusual rollback of gun regulations to attract a national outdoors store, Hoffman Estates trustees this week voted unanimously to repeal requirements that all firearms sales be checked by local police.

On Monday trustees eliminated a requirement that retailers submit information on any gun sale to police within 24 hours and stopped requiring customers to inform police if they buy a gun in the northwest suburb.

The conditions, part of a firearms dealer license ordinance, were “onerous,” in part to discourage large retailers in Hoffman Estates from selling guns, Corporation Counsel Richard Williams said. But there is no point in keeping the requirements when state regulations passed in recent years do a better job with background checks and tracking gun sales, Williams said.

I thought these gun regulations were usually passed in the guise of safety. But with the promise of a little extra tax money and jobs, this concern for safety goes away. That or they know it was bullshit anyway.

A while back, I mentioned the case of three Illinois police officers and a doctor who were busted for illegal possession of machine guns. Well, here’s the latest:

Ten years in prison would be excessive punishment for three state police officers accused on weapons charges, according to a letter issued Tuesday by top police officials and two state senators.

The letter was signed by 10 current police chiefs, two county sheriffs, the two senators and a retired police chief. The three troopers were charged last month with violating federal firearms regulations by having illegal submachine guns at their homes.

“We do not see how the citizens are made safer by placing these troopers in jail,” the letter states. “Discipline may absolutely be in order; however, to federally prosecute them and with a possible jail term is not the answer.”

If you break the law, you break the law. Even if it’s a law I don’t happen to like. That said, no special treatment should be given to them. Also, this article doesn’t mention the doctor. I wonder if he received a nice little letter like that?

The folks at the Sig Forums have the press release for the 556 rifle, which I mentioned here.

The bill made it out of subcommittee and is going to the senate. It made it to the Governor’s desk once a while back but she vetoed it.

Nah, just an excuse for Tam to post a pic of her 9mm AR.

Adam Groves has info on Bredesen’s state of the state and a round up from local media:

Another large intiative (sic) unveiled last night was a proposed plan to provide free health insurance to the state’s children. Bredesen said that thanks to the state’s success last year in bringing TennCare costs under control – which he said came with a great deal of pain – the state is now able to move on and begin constructing a “health care system for Tennessee that is fair to everyone, that is sustainable, and that offers help to all Tennesseans who need it and not just some.” All, of course, starting with approximately 150,000 children who are uninsured. Bredesen asked the state legislature to approve the plan quickly, saying federal matching dollars may help pay for it.

So, the plan is to get TennCare back into a financial crisis?

So, some folks decided to use Coretta Scott King’s funeral to make political statements. That’s to be expected, I think. Some folks took issue with using it as a platform for political posturing. And others took issue with others taking issue.

Personally, I think that (like the Wellstone funeral) such posturing for political gain is disrespectful to the deceased. But people can do what they want, I suppose. I think it lessens their message to do so at such an event. But TeeVee time is TeeVee time.

Amusing in all this is the side that decided to use racist caricatures to point out, well, I don’t know what:

Oh lawdy, lawdy, lawdy Miss Mellie, I do decleah these Democrats are so ungenteel! Why, they were talkin’ politics and singin’ and dancin’ and actin’ all Negro and everything!

[snip]

Typically, his supporters’ knee jerk response is to rhetorically lynch African Americans.

Emphasis added for those that need to be told that sort of thing. Digby ends with For shame. That’s an appropriate response to his own post, which consists of unfounded accusations of racism presented in a nice little racially divisive package.

Heh:

Politics is universal. It doesn’t matter what’s right, only that you’re wrong.

Though the XM-8 is reportedly done for, HL reports that:

TACOM is soliciting for a new carbine and LMG, presumably to replace the M4 and M249. The bad news? Both call for 5.56mm weapons. Of note is that the LMG is now a standalone, belt-fed system, unlike with the XM-8 family of weapons. I also wonder, since apparently there was no solicitation issued for a rifle, if the Marines will be forgoing their long-barrel rifles for the new carbines.

He also has a look at some of the contenders. Murdoc has more.

Some think so:

There is controversy surrounding a government agency and what it wants to know about you.

The agency is the U.S. Census Bureau.

Each year it sends out its American Community Survey. One in every 40 American households will receive it, but some say the Census Bureau is going too far in what it asks, while using heavy handed tactics to get you to fill it out.

The survey asks who lives in your home, how much you earn, the amount of your mortgage or rent, even what time you leave for work.

Cindy Baldwin said she filled out the survey, fearing the government would come after her if she didn’t. And she was right. There is a legal obligation to respond. Anyone who refuses could be fined up to $100 and the Census Bureau will follow up with a phone call to their home. There could even be a knock at the door to get the answers. Those giving false information could be fined up to $500.

The only purpose of the census should be to determine population for voting districts. Nothing more. Besides, what about that right to privacy? If it protects abortion, it should protect me from not telling the .gov what time I leave for work.

Update: Apparently, the census folks are pushy too.

Interesting observation:

I noticed that they [anti-gun people – ed.] have pulled back some and moved into small pockets where they still have a chance. They have taken a page out of the environmental movement’s play book and zip coded their agenda to win small battles here and there. For example look at California and the cities in that state. San Francisco, for one, has attempted to pass laws banning handguns. New York City has reacted in the same manner. Both cities have stepped up measures to make their unconstitutional laws have more strength and go after those who have, or bring into the city, handguns.

The same is going on in Illinois. Of course, the pro-gun side is compartmentalizing as well by going after the various ‘duty to retreat’ laws. Both sides fight where they can win.

Les asks:

What tips do you use to keep organized, on time, and decluttered?

Well, I got married.

In political posturing at its finest, Ivan Harmon is trying to put a resolution before the Knox County Commission urging all American citizens to proclaim to every level of government its responsibility to publicly recognize God as the Foundation of our National Heritage. First amendment? Never heard of it.

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

Mr. Completely rounds up bloggers talking about rimfire weapons.

From some college paper I’ve never heard of:

There likely isn’t a scarier indication of the direction of gun laws than President Bush’s failure last fall to renew the Assault Weapons Ban — a ban won at great personal expense to many legislators. To the pragmatist, it would seem legal assault weapons are the last thing government should be providing to a country plagued by gun violence.

Err, Congress passes laws there, sparky. And the government provides weapons? Where do I get one? Man, they teach these reporters fact checking early!

Seen at subguns.com:

The news media love video, which is why 1 guy evading police on a California highway is national news, but 1,000 Africans slaughtered by machetes over a weekend is not.

Ouch.

The mayor has proposed one:

Under a plan presented to the City Council Monday night, four people whose homes were seized for a private development would be allowed to stay. The city would own their properties and the residents would have to pay the city to live there.

Doesn’t this sort of prove that the home owners and the development can, in fact, each get what they want? And, of course, the home owners already pay the city to live there through property taxes. Looks to me like they know they did wrong and are trying to make up for it while saving a bit of face and still exerting unnecessary power.

Let the homeowners stay. And let them keep their homes.

In an update to this post on SigArms getting into the EBR market, my sources tell me to expect an announcement from Sig on Thursday.

Adam Groves has a summary of the results of ethics dog and pony show Tennessee recently endured.

Via Gun Law News, Boehner gets an A from the NRA and a David notes he gets a B from GOA.