So, my little snippet about the phone records set off some nerves in comments. Not sure why readers would consider my response to it a surprise. Heck, I’ve even got folks threatening to not read me. Why do I oppose such a measure? Simple. It’s none of the .gov’s business who everyone calls. Period. It’s also unreasonable to maintain such data on anyone who is not suspected of a crime, much less on everyone. And it just wreaks of big brother nannyism. It’s just one of those things I oppose.

Chris details why this stuff is legal (but legal and constitutional aren’t the same):

These records are legally semi-public information, not private. It is legal to collect these records without a warrant, so long as they are not used to SPECIFICALLY TARGET an individual without a warrant (there is a specific pen register warrant for that purpose), or used beyond basic identifying characteristics. Once a trace of interest is found, a warrant can then be applied for for further surveliance.

Does that mean I can call up the phone company and tell them I want all their data from forever? No. It means the .gov can and nothing more. He also writes:

Under the third party exemption, if a third party is allowed to setup or witness what is otherwise a private communication between two parties, the expectation of privacy of the existence of the communication is breached (if it existed at all which in many cases it does not), and the existence and external characteristics of that communication can then be compelled and used as evidence without a warrant.

So, there’s the why they can do it. Also, given that this info was made public months ago and is now resurfacing in light of a new CIA appointee, I find the story to be politically expedient. But what surprised me most was the defense (or passing blame) of the .gov on this issue (such as Blaming Clinton: I don’t care if the guys maintaining databases on me have Ds or Rs after their names. I’m pissed because I’m in their database). The one that takes the cake for the stink of big .gov defense is this from one of my favorite bloggers Kim du Toit. Essentially, he tells us not to worry for a variety of reasons. A sum of those reasons and my responses to them are as follows:

The NSA is collecting only a couple of pieces of information: So? That’s like saying you’ll only stick it in a little bit.

The info isn’t really a privacy violation because it’s just numbers called from and to: So, why do they need to know that I call my mom? They don’t. Period.

If you don’t collect all the data, you can’t narrow the search at all: Or you could just investigate those suspected of terrorists activities and crimes. You know, police work. After all, if you don’t collect all the data on who buys guns . . .

You’re not that interesting: I find this one the most difficult to not laugh about. It doesn’t take much for them to become interested. After all, I’m an otherwise non-interesting person yet I had agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives show up at my house and quote my website to me. But, hey, you got nothing to worry about.

And my personal fave of evoking 9/11: Trouble is, this was going on prior to 9/11. Didn’t help much, did it?

It’s another step toward the nanny state and I don’t like it. May not be that big of a deal in terms of violations of privacy but it is significant. Another canary just died.

Update: Glad I’m not the only one. Seems Jeff and Tam concur.

Michael is recovering and has his work cut out for him. He can do it and I wish him the best.

PGP takes them to task over it. It’s amusing how they still think the ban actually banned anything.

Seen at Terry Frank’s:

When Artie was four, five years old I’d try to get him to play with dolls. He’d play with them, sure, just not the way I meant. He’d take the biggest one, make it into a gun, and blast away at the others!”

Well, here’s hoping.

Welcome Indian Cowboy to the gun blog community. He has a nice bit (complete with pictures) about the NAA Black Widow and other NAA weapons. Read it here.

Looks like the civic arts center is moving forward without the county.

Looks like the .gov is compiling phone records on a colossal scale. Dude, this crap has to stop.

And it looks like things are going well at the Gun Blogs, so head over there for your gun blog fix.

The Second Child is considerably larger than Junior was. He’s pretty big. Whats’ more is he’s rather large and was 11 days early. He has all his fingers and toes and is in good health. Mom’s doing OK as well. He’s a very content baby.

Now, I knew that certain things would be filled with fluid when he was born but I didn’t realize exactly how large his, err, package would be (I’m sure his boys account for more than the three ounces). Good thing the swelling will go down because it’d be difficult to go through life with your dudes knocking your knees.

Any way, we’re doing well. Thanks for the comments and emails. I’m heading back to the hospital. More later (like tomorrow later).

I have some nice Chicks with Guns for your viewing.

PGP continues his fight against the anti-gun loons at Kos. Seems to be a lot lefties championing gun rights these days. I wonder if gun activism is consistent with which party is in or out of power?

Over at The Gun Blogs, Nylarhotep brings our attention to more shady ATF goings on:

The U.S. District Attorney’s Office in Cheyenne is reviewing a lawsuit filed Monday against the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives by the state of Wyoming.

“We need to evaluate what the case is and what we’re going to do with it,” said spokesman John Powell.

The lawsuit essentially centers on who has the authority to restore gun rights to people convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence offenses. But a bigger issue could be the BATF’s threat to deem Wyoming-issued concealed weapon permits invalid at federally licensed firearms dealers.

Oleg has a pic of a nice looking Ultimak and a nice looking lady. BTW, I highly recommend Ultimak products for your AK mounting system needs.

Looks like I owe Chris a beer. Color me surprised.

Via Nathan, I have met the retard queen, err, gender non-specific term to denote a ruler of people because such gender-specific language is sexist, you misogynistic rethuglican. Get out of my uterus.

Update: Sorry about that, off my meds.

The Mrs. will be induced tomorrow morning and our son should arrive later later in the day. So, blogging will be, err, light.

Kinda funny the difference from the first kid to the next. With the first one, you run out and spend tons of money on books, gizmos, strollers, bottles, and doodads; then you dedicate yourself to learning about babies; then you childproof the house; then you build a nursery; then you get some affairs in order; then you stock up on diapers; then the wife has baby showers; then all your friends are gaga and congratulatory; etc., etc. With the second one, you just put a post-it note on the fridge that says baby thursday.

WFAA headline:

61-year-old vigilante speaks out

From the article:

Police released the mug shots of four suspects after authorities said they attempted an armed robbery on a 61-year-old man who turned vigilante.

Three of the suspects were put in jail and the fourth was hospitalized with a gunshot wound he received after Ken said he fought back.

A person who defends themselves is not a vigilante.

Update: Well that was fast, they changed it to armed robbery victim.

Not much of that here today. But there’s quite a bit here, including me with some practical advice on avoiding unneccessary litigation in case of a defensive gun use.

In a post called bullying, I noted that kids today aren’t treated like kids were treated in my day. Here are couple more examples of how folks treat kids today and why it’s, well, stupid. Firsts up is this AP story:

A high school student was suspended for five days after singing a spoof of “On Top of Ol’ Smokey” that includes lyrics about shooting a teacher.

Beth Ann Cox, 16, a junior at Peachtree Ridge High School, said she had been humming the song during German class but denied singing loudly or directing the lyrics at her teacher, Phil Carroll.

OMG! Cue hysteria. Gangsta rap? Death Metal? Nope:

The song includes the lyrics: “On top of Ol’ Smokey, all covered with blood, I shot my poor teacher with a .44 slug.”

When I was a pup, I recall singing that very song with other kids. We were told to knock it off if we were being disruptive but no one ever got suspended for it. Oh, and when we sang it, we were 6 not 16. I’m trying to figure out why the press felt the need to tell us that she had been humming the song during German class but denied singing loudly or directing the lyrics at her teacher. That seems unimportant. What’s important is that for singing a stupid kid’s song that has been around forever Administrators pulled Cox out of class later Friday and asked why she had threatened her teacher. She was suspended Monday. Have we lost our minds? And here’s a better one:

Climbing, swinging and sliding was once a rite of passage during recess, a time for adventure, to see how high, how far and how fast we could go as a kid.

Today, kids find themselves grounded, victims of a culture of fear and injury litigation.

A growing number of school districts are going so far as to ban the game of tag and are even posting signs that read “no running on the playground.”

Is there real danger on the modern playground?

Safety advocates say yes and want to eliminate it.

Their first target: swing sets.

They’ve convinced Portland Public Schools to remove all swings from elementary schools playgrounds.

That’s right, boys and girls, the world can be a dangerous place. So, it is better to shield kids from any possible danger to themselves. So, at recess, do the kids just stand around? I fear for the future. I fear we’re raising a nation of pansies.

The NYT:

Handling a gun stirs a hormonal reaction in men that primes them for aggression, new research suggests.

Psychologists at Knox College in Galesburg, Ill., enrolled 30 male students in what they described as a taste study. The researchers took saliva samples from the students and measured testosterone levels.

They then seated the young men, one at a time, at a table in a bare room; on the table were pieces of paper and either the board game Mouse Trap or a large handgun.

Their instructions: take apart the game or the gun and write directions for assembly and disassembly.

Fifteen minutes later, the psychologists measured saliva testosterone again and found that the levels had spiked in men who had handled the gun but had stayed steady in those working with the board game.

First, I do not buy that testosterone = aggression. Second, a gun v. the game Mousetrap? Gimme a break. For a real test, do a gun v. a power tool. I’d say the power tool would probably trigger more manly thoughts than a gun and, therefore, more evil testosterone.

The most convincing thing I’ve ever read on why 1911s are so great:

See, the 1911 was designed as a combat pistol in an era when one-handed shooting was the norm. After all, when handgun marksmanship started, your left hand was busy with the reins. And so for decades afterward, guys still shot one-handed, their perfectly good south paw hooked around the rear of their belt.

There’s more at gun blogging goodness at The Gun Blogs.

Via AC, comes The Hammer of Truth:

The Tennessee Senate just unanamously passed an eminent domain bill. The measure is almost as effective in protecting the rights of property owners as a masturbating sterile man is effective in producing children.

Heh.

Pics of a savage dog attack.

Bitter sums up the problem with press coverage of the NRA.

Rich says:

Now, if somebody can explain to me how a cut in spending can result in an increase in revenue collections, then I’ll be happy to give Bredesen the credit.

Ayup.

Sorry, Chris, but you’re wrong. It will be between Taylor and Chris. Elliot’s a goner because he’s kinda nerdy and tried to do a song about being a badass. Katharine is good but she’s good like Whitney Houston is good and no one really listens to that much these days. Taylor’s in because hes’ talented and he’s likable. Chris is in because he’s talented and sings what the kids want to hear. I’ll bet a beer on that.

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

The Gun Blogs is owned and operated by me. It is an open format blog and anyone can post there, add links, and add polls. If you’ve ever wanted your own blog but didn’t want to use blogger service or pay for hosting; or you didn’t know if you’d like it or stick with it; or if you didn’t think you’d post with any regularity; then this site is for you. Head on over, it’s free. Here’s the welcome and how-to section.

Head on over, sign up and try it out.

Let me know if you have any problems.

Update: Cool, already some gun porn there.

Bullies serve a purpose. Sure, they’re a pain in the ass but they teach valuable life lessons. One of those is that some folks will use their size or physical prowess to intimidate others to bend to their will. It’s good that kids learn that there are folks like that in the world. It can also be a bad experience for kids, of course, but it’s something we all have to go through. Take comfort in the fact that someday you’ll be at your high school reunion and you’ll realize the high school bully is still driving the same car, living at home, and working at the same job he had in high school. Or you’ll be like me and start making fun of the bully to other people at the reunion and they’ll tell you he died in a tragic car accident a few years ago. Awkward.

When I was about seven, there was this other second grader named Neddie (no, it’s not the guy from high school I was talking about). He was kind of a prick and he was the class bully. I guess he was angry his parents named him Neddie because I would have been.

For the longest time, I never had a problem with Neddie but that ended and I became the target Neddie’s dorky-name-induced aggression. One day after school (I walked home), for no good reason I could fathom, he started calling me names. I didn’t really react to it then he hit me in the stomach and I went home crying. It was tough being a seven year old and having been beaten up. And tough to go home to your drill sergeant dad and tell him you’d gotten punked but that’s only because in 1978, we didn’t really use the word punked. When I got home, my dad asked me what was wrong. I told him about Neddie and me getting picked on, that I had been hit and that I wasn’t going back to school, which is a perfectly reasonable solution when you’re 7 years old. He asked me what I did and I said that I just sort of took it as I was unsure what to do. That’s when dad got on the phone and called the school principal to yell at him; and the called the school administrators and told them it was all their fault that I was getting picked on. He demanded something be done and the school established guidelines to eliminate bullying. And the teachers were given anti-bullying courses. It worked and we all smoked dope and sang Kumbaya my Lord the next day. They even passed a law banning bullying.

Nah, I’m fuckin’ with ya. Dad took my little hand in his big hand and said This is how you make a fist. No, don’t put your thumb in your hand or you’ll break your thumb when you hit someone. I looked up and made a swinging motion like I was going to hit someone. He corrected my form and told me when I hit someone, to aim at some place that hurts such as the face, nose, stomach, or head. He also told me that once you’re swinging, you’re committed to that fight so don’t swing unless you mean it or someone will call your bluff. He also said that once you hit someone to keep hitting them until they give up. He then held out his hands to let me practice punching on his palms. He said that if Neddie came up and threatened me that I should just haul off and knock the living shit out of the little bastard and not to stop hitting him until he gave up or ran off. Then my mom (oh how I love her) chimed in with: And if you get your ass whipped again, expect to get another ass-whippin’ when you get home.

The next day, I did just as dad said. Neddie started shit and I punched him square in his stomach. Apparently, Neddie wasn’t used to kids fighting back. When I punched him in his gut, he fell down and I jumped on him and kept hitting him. Then Neddie started to cry and I got up. He ran off crying. I expected more of a fight. Neddie never bothered me again and I learned that you should stand up for yourself.

I told dad about it. He laughed and told me I did right. And no one called any school administrator. In that time, judging from the stories my parents and their friends talk about, every kid got that exact same lesson. Kids were told to stand up to bullies and to fight back. We were also told not to start fights but to damn-sure stick up for ourselves. In today’s world, I don’t know of any parents that would offer that advice to kids. But in today’s world, you see kids on bikes who look like they’re wearing armor. When I was a kid only the goofy kid up the street who was kinda slow had to wear a helmet. Of course, kids don’t walk home from school these days either.

Via Gun Law News, blogomonicon points to some info on gun trace data:

If one accepts this argument, then one policy conclusion becomes inescapable: one-handgun-per-month laws are a failure and should be repealed. The laws specifying that citizens may purchase only one handgun per month are based on the premise that purchases of multiple handguns from gun stores are a major source of supply for interstate gun-runners. According to the Schumer study, two of the three states that supplied the most guns to New York were Virginia and South Carolina, the only states in the nation with one-gun-a-month laws at the time of the study.

Well, not a gun for now:

Apparently the CCW bill in Delaware is getting the daylights “Christmas tree’ed” out of it. Opponents are tacking on as many amendments as they can hoping to forestall the inevitable. DE is already essentially “will issue”, wherein citizens who can articulate a good reason can usually get a permit. It seems that they have the votes to make the shall issue hopes materialize, but some unfortunate additions might get tacked on.