Gun lobby should compromise:

Why is the NRA aggressively trying to repeal the Brady Law (background checks)

The NRA is doing no such thing and Diane Barde is a liar. She continues:

It’s time for the gun lobby to come to the table and meet us at least halfway in passing common-sense gun laws

They met you all the way on background checks and you still lie about them. The NRA opposed the waiting period portion of the Brady Law.

Congrats to Pete at DrugWarRant for making the Washington Post.

Philly Burbs:

Proposals to limit handgun purchases to one per month may finally see some legislative debate in the state House of Representatives.

Whether support for the idea will gather any momentum is another question, considering that hunters and other gun owners have a vast number of allies in the Legislature.

The House will attempt to gauge support for a variety of crime-fighting measures – including new handgun regulations – by meeting as a “committee of the whole” on Sept. 26 and taking informal votes. Those votes will determine which bills merit further consideration in regular session.

Limiting handgun purchases to one a month is not a crime-fighting measure. Such a measure has no impact on crime and only affects the law-abiding.

1/3 of people will believe anything.

BTW, with no title, it’s hard to link to that post.

Heh:

500 jobs at $7.50 an hour are better than 0 jobs at $10 an hour, but it’s hard to explain that to a union worker.

So, what would these guys be doing with 600 phones? Rich wonders if they’re making money off of illegal immigrants.

Luke (AKA: Politically Correct Dog)
1998ish to August 11, 2006

Godspeed, old friend.

Bredesen at it again:

Gov. Bredesen repeated his request to the Judicial Selection Commission to select a new panel of three candidates to fill a vacancy on the state Supreme Court.

Bredesen rejected a panel of finalists in July, saying it was unacceptable to have to choose between two white candidates following the withdrawal of the only black finalist.

So, where’s the Asian, Indian, Hispanic, and Jew? To bad no one nominated a Hispanic, Hindu, French-speaking, physically-handicapped, communist, gay black woman*.

*Bonus for the reference.

So, what kind of person wipes their own feces* on the stall of a public restroom? Sick bastard.

* I assume it was their own. I mean, they could have wiped someone else’s feces on the wall, which would only make it slightly more disgusting.

The AP:

A judge ruled Friday that Gov. Ernie Fletcher, under fire for a hiring scandal, is protected by executive immunity and cannot be prosecuted while in office.

Special Judge David E. Melcher essentially stayed the case until Fletcher’s term expires, or unless he is removed through impeachment by the legislature.

Fletcher, Kentucky’s first Republican governor in three decades, was indicted in May on charges alleging his administration rewarded political supporters with protected state jobs. He has accused the Democratic attorney general of conducting a politically motivated investigation in the case.

Screw that. Elected officials should be held to high standards. This is the kind of stuff that should cause people to grab their torches and pitchforks to storm the castle.

Abysmal.

Thanks to MKS, our pledge to be a McCain-Feingold free zone is getting some local press coverage on the local newspaper’s web page. See past posts here.

Doh:

While I’m impressed by the police work of the Brits and the rapid response of our own Transportation Security Administration, there is one troubling impact on fliers this morning:

Planes full of cranky people with no deodorant and no toothpaste.

See background on Sandy Abrams loss of his FFL here. Via PGP, comes this bit by John Lott in the other biased Washington Paper:

The Washington Post’s front page on Sunday illustrated the problems with both the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives abuses as well as the media’s out-of-control attacks. The article examined the supposed abuses by Sandy Abrams’ gun shop in Baltimore, a shop he took over from his father in 1996. The second paragraph points out that “there were 422 firearms missing — more than a quarter of his inventory.” The count listed guns as missing if there were simple paperwork mistakes (e.g., two digits in a number transposed).

Taking all these mistakes since Sandy Abrams took over the store in 1996 and comparing them to his current inventory, not the 25,000 guns that he has sold over the last decade, borders on journalistic malpractice. It surely doesn’t provide readers with an accurate understanding of what is happening.

So, what is the right number of missing guns? Mr. Abrams claims it is 19. Nineteen out of 25,000 isn’t perfect, but .076 percent is a lot less scary than 25 percent — a difference of 329 fold. More importantly, the government has apparently never connected any of those guns to crimes committed. As Mr. Abrams notes, “we have had the paperwork and successfully traced every gun whenever [the government] asked.”

Is this the type of gun dealer who should lose his license? The BATFE thinks he is a prime candidate. Nine hundred rules violations over 10 years certainly sounds impressive — that is until you realize that violations include writing “Balt.” instead of “Baltimore” or that his government-approved ledger was apparently missing a column. Of course, the information the column was supposed to record was redundant anyway.

He has some other background info on how tough it is to be a dealer:

It is tough operating a gun shop with harassment from the federal government and unjustified media attacks. But the harassment could get a little better with legislation by Reps. Howard Coble and Bobby Scott which may fix some of the problems.

Since 1992, when Bill Clinton was elected president, the number of federally licensed firearms dealers in the United States has plummeted by 80 percent. Kmart no longer sells guns, Wal-Mart just recently stopped selling guns at one-third of its stores and tens of thousands of other gun shops have gone out of business. With all the talk of recent legislative success by the National Rifle Association, it is winning some battles but may be losing the war. The gun-control movement may ultimately be winning where it really counts.

Part of the drop in licensees was simply due to fees imposed by the federal government. Many licensees used the licenses only for their own personal purchases or only for selling a small number of guns, and the fees made that unprofitable.

The constant breakdowns of “instant” background-check systems during the Clinton administration halted gun sales for hours or even days at a time, costing stores untold sales and causing them to raise their costs. Even by the end of the Clinton administration, from September 1999 to December 2000, the system was down about one hour for every 16.7 hours of operation. The breakdowns often came in big blocks of time, the worst during a period covering 60 hours during two weeks in the middle of May 2000. Try running a business where neither customers nor sellers are ever informed of how long outages are expected to last.

It’s tough to be a dealer. It’s tough to design guns and stuff too. I, for example, have an idea for a rimfire suppressor that I honestly figure I can make for about $20. And sell it for $50. That means a buyer could add the $200 tax stamp and transfer fees and get in a suppressor for less than three bills. But for me to do that, I have to:

waive my fourth amendment rights
spend $500 for a special occupational tax
spend $150 for federal firearms license
I’d have to actually rent a location to have my ‘store’ because FFLs aren’t given unless you comply with zoning requirements
Notify the local police

When, honestly, this is something I could do in my garage. But, gotta stay legal or risk 10 years in federal pound me in the ass prison.

Many more bloggers have signed up to stick it to the incumbent protection act:

Misha:

The First Amendment means what it says, and if the Federal Gummint wishes to sue us for exercising our rights, then go right ahead. The Second Amendment means what it says too, in case you’ve forgotten.

Chris:

The McCain Feingold campaign finance law is unconstitutional, and another step on the road to tyranny. It is, in present form, just able to be born; If the congress should attempt to extend it’s powers even further, it is our duty as free men to disobey.

Oscar Poppa:

The McCain-Feingold Incumbent Protection Act, aka Campaign Finance Reform which suspends those First Amendment rights. If you’ve been under a rock for a while, the bill effectively puts a ban on ads that mention federal candidates’ names in the window 60 days before the general election. In other words, the Holier-Than Thou’s have made a law that abridges the freedom of speech and press.

DirtCrashr is in too.

Make a pledge for free speech:

Any organization* that wants to run a political ad criticizing any politician in that window can do so here. Not only will I run the ad free, I’ll do a post on the ad on the front page.

Update: And a thirty aught six is in too.

We must ban shopping carts.

VV notes Harold Ford, Jr.:

… believes the U.S. should consider dividing Iraq into three separate states by its sectarian divisions: the Kurdish population to the north, and splitting Shiite and Sunni Muslims to the south.

I don’t disagree.

BK says Oh yeah:

Those who are readers of this site know that I’m a bit ahead of the curve on this issue, as I have archived every candidate questionnaire, all financial information, and many other records. I believe that the voters have the right to know my positions on the issues that I would most likely face on their behalf in the Tennessee Senate.

Good for Bob.

Heh.

Well, I’m personally offended that he would make threats about being told not to be offended. Or something.

No offense, of course.

MKS reports the committee has determined term limits apply to Knoxville.

Knoxnews:

Term limits stand as they were passed in 1994, and they apply to all elected officials with the exception of judges.

That’s the conclusion today of a committee established to fix deficiencies that a Knox County chancellor found in the county charter.

After a three-hour meeting, the committee voted to adhere to the term limits provision passed overwhelmingly by voters in 1994.

Giggle. Bad week for incumbents.

Yeah, there’s the plane thing in England but a potential small scale item happened in Ohio. Via R. Neal, comes this:

Two men were charged Wednesday with money laundering in support of terrorism after authorities said they found airplane passenger lists and information on airport security checkpoints in their car.

Deputies stopped Osama Sabhi Abulhassan, 20, and Ali Houssaiky, 20, both of Dearborn, Mich., on a traffic violation Tuesday. They found the flight documents along with $11,000 cash and 12 phones in the car, said Washington County Sheriff Larry Mincks.

…
Investigators going through the car after the pair were pulled over in Marietta, about 90 miles southeast of Columbus, also found a map that showed locations of Wal-Mart stores from Ohio through Kentucky, Tennessee and into North and South Carolina, Vessels said.

Well, I said something three years ago that this reminded me of:

But Al Qaeda has not engaged in small attacks on US soil. It would not be difficult for a terrorist nut job to waltz into a Wal-Mart with an AK47 and a bomb strapped to his chest. Kill a few people and detonate the bomb when the cops arrive. If that occurred, people wouldn’t shop at Wal-Mart for months. It’d hurt us.

R. Neal’s take:

I’m wondering, though, if they were mapping out their resupply points. Or maybe Wal*Mart carries large volumes of the types of cell phones they were trading in. Or maybe they were buying up ammo or something, and spreading it around to not draw attention. No telling.

There is no telling but don’t dismiss this completely.

Update: Could be nothing to it. TVA comments that:

I would point out that I also own a map showing Wal-Mart locations. I bought it, of course, at Wal-Mart. I think they have some sort of publishing deal with Rand McNally and road atlases sold at Wal-Mart (at least the large bound ones I like to keep in the car) all come with Wal-Mart locations highlighted. I didn’t particularly care where the Wal-Marts were. I just needed to know how to navigate the interstates and backroads en route to my destination.

Ok, then.

In an update to this idiotic piece by Maureen Downey, readers at AJC respond with the obvious:

Blaming the crime rate in New York and other gun-restrictive cities, such as Washington, D.C., on legal gun laws in other areas is the anti-gun lobby’s stock argument. They never suggest that the super-strict banning of weapons in these cities leads to higher crime rates in these cities.

Military men aren’t happy with the Beretta 9mm. But some marines are getting 45ACPs.

I’ve been thinking of getting into three gun. Any locals into that who want to take a newbie along? Actually, I wish they had two gun. I’ve got little use for shotguns.

First, Kim. Then me. Then xrlq and Jolie Rouge. Now, two more of joined the pledge that the McCain-Feingold incumbent protection act err Campaign Finance Reform doesn’t apply to them:

Countertop is in.

As is Traction Control.

And Citizen’s Arrest is up for it too.

Bitter would but she has no ads. I hope to remedy that soon. You can also just do posts about ads.

And I hear another guy is thinking about it.

Will you take a pledge for free speech:

Any organization* that wants to run a political ad criticizing any politician in that window can do so here. Not only will I run the ad free, I’ll do a post on the ad on the front page.

Update: I guess fug has deleted the post. It’s not there any more.

Fug says:

I personally do not trust gun nuts who do not hunt.

** Fugger – pissing off 95% of the firearms enthusiast world in one single post. **

I have heard lots of blah blah blah from gun nuts dogging on hunters, and some is justified. Most hunters do not do much to fight for 2nd amendment rights.

That is not the point of this post though. My point is that, frankly, if you are a gun nut who doesn’t hunt I equate you to a self proclaimed car nut who has never drove on the highway (“I am just into the backroads”, with the snobby nose turned up).

First of all, I don’t hunt. Haven’t since I was a teen. I, the big bad gun nut, just don’t much care for killing. I know how. I am capable of killing, cleaning and cooking nearly anything that crawls, walks or swims. Just don’t like it. I’m a pacifist of sorts. Heck, I’ve even admitted that:

I don’t even kill spiders; I escort them outside. This annoys the wife, who thinks all things with more than four legs should be eradicated from the planet.

Killing just ain’t my thang. I’m more a paper puncher. It’s relaxing and is kind of a Zen thing (yeah, there I go being a pacifist again).

Sorry, I don’t trust three types of lawful gun owners. 1) I don’t trust hunters who are otherwise unconcerned with gun rights (the Fudds). They don’t do much for gun rights. Just give them free, government land to hunt on and as long as no one wants to take their hunting rifles, they don’t care. John Kerry is a hunter. Remember guys, if they come for your hunting rifles, I can’t help you because it means they already have my evil black rifle. Actually, it means I’m dead.

2) I don’t trust machine gunners. Most are on the right side of gun rights. But they have an investment to protect. These guys have, for example, dropped up to $20,000 on a rifle that goes brand new for $600. If we try to push for repeal of the Hughes amendment, these guys may choose their investment over their rights. And they’re kind of snooty.

3) I don’t trust the die-hard NRA types. The NRA seems more concerned about retaining power and passing pro-gun laws when their goal ought to be repealing some of the bad laws already on the books.

Update: Of course, all gunnies should work together and I am not suggesting otherwise.

Via Kevin, comes this atrocious tale of NYC gun laws:

And so Mr. M is out his two guns, which he will never see again, $340 for the money order, and $550 for the lawyer. If he is inclined to spend a lot more money and waste a lot more time, he can indeed pursue an Article 78. But what would you say his odds are of getting his license?

And this guy went out of his way to be legal. Read the whole thing but not near any breakable objects.

Bitter asks:

Why Does NRA Purposely Try to Make Itself Impossible to Defend During Election Years?

Good question. Are they ever gonna get on that sporting purpose thing?

While I hope to never see the word fauxtography ever again, this is pretty damn funny.

Seen at NSH:

Project Vote Smart has just formally contacted each state legislative, congressional, and gubernatorial candidate in Tennessee with the National Political Awareness Test (NPAT). The test presses candidates to answer one simple question: “Are you willing to tell citizens your positions on the issues you will most likely face on their behalf?” The results of the test reveal to voters a key aspect of their candidates’ campaign tactics. When candidates prove they are willing to respond to citizens, the by product is a valuable set of candidate issue positions.

Since 2000, Project Vote Smart has found that party leaders and consultants from both major parties are advising candidates not to respond to the NPAT for two primary reasons: it will limit the candidates’ ability to control their campaign messages, and it will expose them to opposition research.

Please join us in encouraging Tennessee candidates to respond to the test and provide voters with this crucial information before the deadline of September 20th. Senator John McCain, former Congresspersons Geraldine Ferraro and Bill Frenzel, and former Governor Michael Dukakis have already written Tennessee candidates asking them the same key question. We can provide you with a copy of their letter if you would like to use it in your coverage.

It takes balls to lay your positions out on the table. Politicos usually lack those.