The only debate summary you need comes from The American Conservative‘s Daniel Larison. A taste:

Obama repeats his claim that he supports net spending cut. Eliminate programs that don’t work–bold move! These programs are always nameless, which is probably one of the reasons they don’t work. Ethic of responsibility? What? That’s dangerously close to calling on people to accept austerity. McCain is stuttering, and reverts to his litany about energy independence. In the mythical world where we have energy independence, life will be beautiful. Perhaps Aeolus will power the entire grid. Spending freeze! (Obama says that’s a hatchet.) Ethanol is bad; eliminate tariff on Brazilian sugar-based ethanol. Fight the earmarks! What does McCain have against planetariums? McCain wants to use hatchets and scalpels.

Hatchets and scalpels and katanas, oh my!

…snip…

Weird question about the VP candidates from Schieffer. He’s basically asking each candidate to explain why it would be better if he died. Obama: Biden is awesome. Blather, blather, talking points. McCain: Palin is even more awesome. Rehashing the myth of Palin. “A reformer through and through.” McCain wants to get rid of the old boy network in Washington–I have a suggestion how he might help reach that goal. He hasn’t answered the question.

Obama: You can’t help Sarah Palin’s baby with your spending freeze! McCain: Biden was wrong on many foreign policy issues. (That’s true–he has agreed with McCain most of the time.) “Why do we have to spend more?” spake the mortgage bailout king. McCain: Middle Eastern and Venezuelan oil will not be imported when I’m President, because I don’t understand how the oil market works. Apparently Russian oil is okay! Nuclear waste storage is a piece of cake. The litany on energy again. Obama: I agree with John’s crazy 10-year plan. China and Saudi Arabia make their usual guest appearances as foreign villains of the evening.

Read the whole thing for giggles.

People say Hey Uncle! Why not comment on the debate.

And I say Well, the only real observation I had was that these guys had like all these various proposals to save the world. And, like, none of them seemed to be things that fell under the President’s jurisdiction since he doesn’t, you know, make laws. I mean, if these guys were senators they could propose these laws and . . . what? . . . oh.

John Murtha: There is no question that western Pennsylvania is a racist area.

Joe Biden tells NBC I don’t “have any Joe the Plumbers in my neighborhood”.

Wow:

Well, I don’t know much about this terrorist group Barack used to be in with that Weather guy but I’m sick of paying for health insurance at work and that’s why I’m supporting Barack.

Amazing. First, Barack was not in a terrorist group. And saying so is just stupid. Next, that doesn’t matter because she can be bought and paid for even if she thinks he was a terrorist. Wow.

As Kat noted:

Let me tell you that the people I get to talk to every day want that government spending and government health care more than we do not.

So spread the wealth around.

It doesn’t treat agents that go after real gun crime very well. Sebastian notes, as I have said before, that this is why ATF spends so much time going after gun dealers who make clerical errors. Going up against real bad guys is dangerous.

Barack Obama is actually complaining about media bias:

If I were watching Fox News, I wouldn’t vote for me, right? Because the way I’m portrayed 24/7 is as a freak! I am the latte-sipping, New York Times-reading, Volvo-driving, no-gun-owning, effete, politically correct, arrogant liberal. Who wants somebody like that?

So, are you denying being non-gun owning?

Update: Heh: If there was no New York Times, how much would he be losing by?

Let’s have the Glock v. 1911 debate again

Kim asks: if the Glock really is so good, then why does no other army want them?

Actually, a few armies have them. There are a number of reasons why some don’t. In the 1980s when armies started switching to Wonder Nines, the Glock wasn’t particularly popular. And most countries like to use firearms made in their own country. Rumor is also that Glock performed well in some .gov tests. But Glock refused to turn over some patented info to the government and didn’t get a contract. Probably for the best since the US Army damn near ruined the AR-15.

Also, military folks tend to rely more on their rifles than handguns. Handgun is not viewed as the primary firearm. Contrast that to police who tend to use their sidearm as their primary weapons and the Glock is the most commonly used sidearm out there. Part of the reason for that is that a Glock, essentially, functions identically to a revolver. No manual safeties or decockers.

ETA: Also, the Glock did not meet the specs for the Joint Combat Pistol. As such, Glock developed the Glock 21SF.

Flame bait: I know of no police force that issues the 1911. If they’re so good, why does no police force (whose sidearms are their primary weapon) carry 1911s?

Note: I like and own both Glocks and a 1911. It really is preference and each works well. There are trade offs with each. And I’ll summarize my SWOT analysis of each:

Glock pros: Less expensive; higher capacity; highly reliable; accessories galore; accessories are less expensive; cleaning is generally optional (seriously, I think I clean mine once per year); I don’t really mind if I scratch and it’s not uncommon for me to just throw it in the truck; simplest semi-auto to operate; come in lots of caliber and sizes.

Glock cons: ergonomics are not the greatest; trigger pull frankly is bad (it’s not H&K bad but it’s not real pleasant); they’re not friendly to unjacketed ammo; comes with a legion of fan boys; lighter frame means more felt recoil.

1911 pros: ergonomics are fantastic; trigger pull is great; lots of accessories; several caliber options; heavier weight makes shooting 45ACP out of it much more pleasant; no limp wrist ejection issues like a glock has; generally easier to work on yourself than a Glock.

1911 cons: Spendy; lower capacity; can be finicky and require adjustments; they’re so pretty you don’t want to scratch them; more complex to operate; comes in limited sizes.

That said, if you want a rugged gun to shoot and not spend a lot of time maintaining it and for carry, the Glock works.

If you’re an enthusiast who wants a gun to tinker with, customize, and play around with and can also be carried, the 1911 works.

Update: see comments. There are some police forces that use 1911s. And Missouri uses the Para LDA, as does Kansas and a PD in MA.

Here’s a long list of what some departments carry. Interesting.

From someone who has gone toe-to-toe with him in Illinois:

I lobbied Barack Obama extensively while he was an Illinois State Senator. As a result of that experience, I know Obama’s attitudes toward guns and gun owners better than anyone. The truth be told, in all my years in the Capitol I have never met a legislator who harbors more contempt for the law-abiding firearm owner than does Barack Obama.

That’s the headline. Seems steady should be steadily increasing.

Mr. C. has it.

Brady Camp jumps on the disposable AK scare tactic. I personally buy the 24 pack at Wal Mart.

AG says Seattle handgun ban is illegal.

The High Road has moved to a new server and new location here.

Or something:

The number of justifiable homicides committed by police and private citizens has been rising in the past two years to their highest levels in more than a decade, reflecting a shoot-first philosophy in dealing with crime, say law enforcement analysts.

Yes. Next they’ll blame castle doctrine. More:

Northeastern University criminal justice professor James Alan Fox describes an emerging “shoot-first” mentality by police and private citizens. For several years, police departments have armed their officers with higher-powered weapons to keep pace with criminal gangs.

More powerful weapons for the police? Perhaps. Quite a few officers are now issues rifles. And some folks don’t like the idea of you defending yourself.

“Clearly there is a message out there that citizens may be able to defend themselves” as well, he says.

And some folks hate that.

Alfred Blumstein, a Carnegie Mellon University criminologist, says the gun “legalization movement” also may have helped create a “greater willingness” among citizens to act in self-defense.

Forty-eight states provide various rights to carry firearms.

Via David who notes the increase also correlates to overall violent crime.

Earlier today, Uncle wrote:

I can’t find where taxes are lower for anyone under Obama’s plan.

If that’s true, then he’s not looking or not paying attention. See the non-partisan Tax Policy Center’s report (PDF) on the two candidates tax plans. In particular, note Figure 1 on page 41 — for the bottom four quintiles, both candidates cut taxes, but the average increase in after-tax income as compared to current law is much larger under Obama’s plan than it is under McCain’s:

Read the rest of this entry »

Conversation from a couple of weekends ago:

Me: You want to call Poppa and Honey and tell them Happy Anniversary?

Junior: No.

Me: Why not?

Junior: ‘Cause that’s hard to say.

Unless you’re a conservative.

John Lott:

Barack Obama claims he is a friend of gun owners. He certainly has convinced the media.

That’s how much Gura and his team want from Washington DC in legal fees for the Heller case. Gura explains. Gura notes that the DC team mounted a defense that ran well into the millions. I hope he gets every penny. Plus interest. And a medal.

14 Illinois Counties looking at passing CCW referendums? Yeah, that Illinois. The one with Chicago in it.

I’m sure the Brady Bunch will be on the scene holding people accountable.

My Fox Philly:

A Pennsylvania soccer mom who packs a pistol is getting her concealed weapon permit back.

Meleanie Hain on Tuesday persuaded a Lebanon County judge to rescind the sheriff’s revocation of her permit.

She had lost the permit after other parents complained last month that she was carrying her loaded handgun in a holster at her daughter’s soccer game.

Judge Robert Eby said even though the law required him to give her the permit back, he questioned whether Hain showed good judgment by ignoring other parents’ safety concerns.

Their safety concerns were unfounded. Unless they believe in totemism and think inanimate objects are capable of acting of their on volition.

Over at The Gun Shots, Derek A. Reeves asks Are Gun Owners the Second Amendment’s Worst Enemy? To wit

Working within the gun industry I am dismayed by the divisional attitudes among people who own firearms for whatever purpose that suits them. I have repeatedly heard gun owners disparage other aspects of gun possession. Some hunters feel that people should not own military style weapons, some target shooters feel that civilians should not have .50 BMG rifles, some who own guns for self defense feel that people should not hunt. So when one element comes under fire the solidarity needed to defeat it is not there. Whether you agree or disagree with my observation we, as gun owners, need to start realizing the stark, naked truth. We are all in the same boat and that boat is taking on water.

One issue I have is that some folks who engage in this division are given prominent columns in sporting magazines.

From NRA’s Ed Friedman called Tell Me Why. He has advice: Don’t be that guy.

Greg is looking to upgrade.

Sean Braisted is all butt-hurt because Obama’s handlers didn’t have a tight hold on the lead and he said From each according to his ability, to each according to his need. No, that’s not cool. Cool is I think when you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody. Sean then spins it as a tax policy that benefits the middle class. That, of course, is bullshit. I can’t find where taxes are lower for anyone under Obama’s plan.

Of course, some just steal it.

Looks like a lot of political capital is being spent trying to pull the wool over the eyes of gun owners about Barack Obama and guns:

Jim Webb, who I actually like, says you can trust Obama on guns. That is patently false.

Instead of making sure Democrats nominate pro-gun guys, the AFL-CIO opts to lie and tell everyone that Obama will protect gun rights. With bonus unicorns.

Looks like the Brady Campaign is fighting to maintain and not advance:

They are targeting races in the Chicago suburbs. This is where the Brady’s are probably the strongest. If we have them only really fighting on their home turf, that’s a good development. Watch these races closely. If they can’t turn over any races even in the Chicago Suburbs, it’s probably over for them.

Wasting their limited dollars.

I feel safe:

How the hell can a TSA agent walk off the job with a $47,000 camera under his arm, and nobody even raises an eyebrow?

NRA presser report with pics.

Range day or bust.

Mr. C. has a report.

1911

GSG 5PK

NRA has hit Obama for his stance on the second amendment. Now, they’re hitting him on his stance for the first amendment.