Remote controlled helicopter with a 45 attached to it.

Personally, I prefer the one with the shotgun.

A few years back, some juveniles killed some students and a teacher at a school. One of the shooters applied for a concealed carry permit in Arkansas. He was denied. Good.

The shooter was 11 at the time. At first, from what I know of the law, juveniles tend to have their records expunged when they turn 18. So, I wondered how this denial would have occurred. The article states:

Sadler says the state police denied the permit within the last week over concerns about the accuracy of Grant’s list of places where he had lived.

Sadler says Golden has 10 days to appeal the decision, after receiving the denial sent by certified mail. Sadler says state police are investigating whether to file criminal charges over the accuracy of the rejected application.

Interesting. Even after expungement, fingerprints are forever.

I guess teaching them to be sitting ducks would not be controversial?

Foxnews:

A proposal to teach children as young as 10 years old to fight back against a classroom gunman is causing quite a stir in a small town in Massachusetts.

The Georgetown Public Schools in Georgetown, Mass., are considering a proposal to teach kids to fend off a gunman with backpacks or textbooks as part of a proposal to revamp their “Code Blue” safety policy.

Those who support the idea say it may seem extreme, but it could save a child’s life.

This idea seems to come up every so often (see past coverage of similar news stories here and here). And I think it’s a good idea.

Update: More from Jay.

I used to do a meme on anti-gunners being so violent. Now, it seems like they’re corrupt too. Thirdpower looks at their track record:

Blago is the second Brady Campaign endorsed state governor to take a fall for corruption this year.

[…]

Almost half-a-dozen MAIG (Mayors Against Guns) Mayors have fallen

And more.

In SC, a bill has been drafted to allow residents to carry concealed weapons without a permit. Like Alaska and Vermont.

The NYT is crapping its pants over the new ruling. Denise addresses their general condescension. Also, says the NYT:

“Anticipating what Barack Obama has called “common-sense gun safety laws,” the Bush administration has rushed through a last-minute gun rule that is the antithesis of common sense.”

Actually, the grassroots of this movement have been going on for well over a year. It’s not exactly a last minute sort of deal. You know, the Department of Interior solicited feedback. Got some. Extended the deadline because they didn’t like the pro-gun feedback they were getting. Pro-gun feedback continued.

Looks like some states are cracking down on the asshats who drive slow in the passing lane. Get out of the way.

Rustmeister on conspiracy theories:

Bottom line? Don’t take these posts seriously, because I don’t.

I’m a fan of conspiracy theories myself because they are entertaining. I’ve written about that before, here and here. I think taking some of the greatest conspiracy theories of our time and making movies out of them would be a huge seller. Assuming they’re not really unbelievable ones and Oliver Stone is not involved.

David:

Defense shouldn’t be that hard of a concept for a football coach to grasp.

Aunt B. on gun rights:

But it seems to me to kind of show a fundimental (sic) problem with where the Gun Rights movement is at the moment–in that depending on where you live, you might have a whole lot more rights than someone in another part of the country. So, the risks for someone in California calling out are a lot greater than the risks for someone in Tennessee.

Oh wait. I may have changed that quote.

Seen at Fark: Atlanta police push for end of Citizen’s Review Board. Board pushes for end of the police shooting old ladies and lying about it.

Story here.

Tom points out that Xrlq is spreading liberalism.

Those magical places where you’re not going to run into criminals or large animals.

Local columnist has some issues with the new ruling allowing those with concealed carry permits to carry their weapons in parks. Seems he recalls an incident where someone had a gun and was shooting it in the park, thereby disturbing the serenity of that magical place where every thing is fluffy bunnies. If only, at the time, there was a law or, maybe, a federal regulation that prohibited that . . . oh, what? There was?

I’d also venture a guess those folks were not carry permit holders.

To the chagrin of my fellow gun nuts, I’ve long stated, based on various readings, that the second amendment does not guarantee a right to concealed carry of weapons. To which my fellow gun nuts reply with something to the effect of what part of bear arms don’t you understand? Then I point out, due to various sources including state constitutions, that the wearing of arms was considered, at the time, to be separate from keeping and bearing.

Eugene Volokh offers an interesting bit on this subject.

Update: Greg says it must be Helmke’s great grand dad. Heh.

UK police accidentally mail a machine gun to grandmother. It’s OK, though. From the pic, it looks like it had a safety lock.

Seen at AR-15.com, it looks like Gunny’s is having a match:

GUNNY’S FIRST ANNUAL
GET OUT OF THE SNOW INDOOR MATCH
31 JANUARY 2009

Format: This is a one day tactical pistol match with 6 stages, with typically 12-24 rounds per stage. IDPA targets and scoring is used, though typically, no cover, concealment, or magazine retention requirements. No extreme physical stuff, but your skills will be tested and you will have a good time.

When: Saturday, 31 January 2009
On-site registration begins at 8:00 AM. Shooters meeting at 9:00 AM
First shots fired at 9:30 AM

Where: Gunny’s Indoor Range
2208 East Broadway
Maryville, TN
865-233-3471

Guns: If your gun is legal in IDPA, or in USPSA Limited/Limited-10/Single Stack/Production, then it’s fine for this match. . No optics or compensators. Magazine wells, long heavy dust shrouds, bull barrels and oversize magazine releases are permitted, however the gun must fit into the IDPA test box

Magazines: Extended magazines are permitted, however “All pistols are limited to 10 rounds maximum in the magazine, regardless of magazine capacity.” You may carry as many magazines as you wish.

Gear: Gear must be basically IDPA or IPSC Production/Limited legal. No race rig holsters, etc. Holster and magazines to be behind the centerline of the body

Ammo Requirements: 80-120 rounds NOTE- round count is an estimate. Always bring extra.

Cost: $60

Lewis Scoring System: Prizes will be awarded to 1st and 2nd place in Gold, Silver, and Bronze Divisions (assuming a full field). Remaining prizes to be awarded based on order of finish. Awards presentation will take place within 45 minutes after the last shot is taken. Presuming there are 60 shooters, there will be a $3500 prize table with EVERYBODY going to the table at least once.

HR 6257, to reauthorize the ban on weapons that look like assault weapons, only has four cosponsors. All Republican.

Calling in gay. I would probably fire them. I mean, couldn’t you just let me know in advance that you’re going to be out on this day and take an appropriate vacation/sick day so I could plan accordingly? It’s nice to give notice when you know of an absence in advance. I support your cause but I got to manage too. Don’t be a dick for the cause.

Heh: Powered by spite.

In Florida, more folks getting carry permits.

In Oregon, number of permits may set a record.

Blue Ridge Arsenal Owner Voted Obama & Celebrates with Increased Sales. Video at the link. I’d shop elsewhere.

Tam has Volume 1 and Volume 2.

Gangbangers support gun buy backs.

F&F reads Josh Sugarmann’s Every Handgun Is Aimed At You, so you don’t have to. More here.

S&W M&P 60,000 rounds logged on a blog. Neat.

Ya know, reading through the list of shenanigans, it makes one wonder how often stuff like this happens and we don’t know about it. To root out political corruption, the feds tend to have to go undercover, use recording devices, and generally get all Spy v. Spy. Recall, the Tennessee Waltz took about three years. And look at some of the stuff noted:

[I]ntercepted phone conversations between ROD BLAGOJEVICH and others indicate that ROD BLAGOJEVICH is contemplating rescinding his commitment of state funds to benefit Children’s Memorial Hospital because Hospital Executive 1 has not made a recent campaign contribution to ROD BLAGOJEVICH.

Yup, withholding money from sick children over contributions. Gets better:

ROD BLAGOJEVICH said that the consultants (Advisor B and another consultant are believed to be on the call at that time) are telling him that he has to “suck it up” for two years and do nothing and give this “motherf**ker [the President-elect] his senator. F**k him. For nothing? F**k him.”

And:

ROD BLAGOJEVICH states that he will appoint “[Senate Candidate 1 [[Obama’s presumed favorite]]] . . . but if they feel like they can do this and not f**king give me anything . . . then I’ll f**king go [Senate Candidate 5].” (Senate Candidate 5 is publicly reported to be interested in the open Senate seat). ROD BLAGOJEVICH stated that if his wife could get on some corporate boards and “picks up another 150 grand a year or whatever” it would help ROD BLAGOJEVICH get through the next several years as Governor. . . .

All the creepiness of shady backroom deals you see in movies. And the guy tried to screw with Warren Buffett.

How much of this stuff happens in politics that we don’t know about? I’d rather they just banged hookers.

Xrlq:

Mathew Carmel learned the hard way that guns are only a medical issue when they hurt people, not when they help.

How to carry a gun onto a plane:

Wanna carry a gun onto an airplane? It’s easy — just get any government ID (the cards issued to part-time assistant harbor masters on Cape Cod will do) and then tell the TSA that you need a “flying while armed” form. Not only will they let you bring your gun onto the plane, they’ll helpfully bring you into the cockpit (with your gun) and tell who who the undercover Sky Marshals are.

Guy is being charged for impersonating a federal officer and for embarrassing the TSA. Ok, I made the latter charge up. But that’s probably more what it’s about.

Another pizza delivery guy uses a gun to defend himself. Guy appears to still have a job, unlike a Pizza Hut employee.

Hoochie momma, this is strong stuff.

DECEMBER 9–The criminal complaint filed today against Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich contains a remarkable section detailing the Democratic politician’s alleged attempt to cash in on his ability to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama.

Attached to the U.S. District Court complaint is an FBI affidavit, excerpted below, alleging that Blagojevich was caught on wiretaps noting that the Senate seat “is a fucking valuable thing, you just don’t give it away for nothing.” He was also recorded saying that unless “I get something real good,” he would appoint himself to the vacancy. “I’m going to keep this Senate option for me a real possibility, you know, and therefore I can drive a hard bargain. You hear what I’m saying. And if I don’t get what I want and I’m not satisfied with it, then I’ll just take the Senate seat myself.”

According to surreptitiously recorded conversations, Blagojevich spoke with associates about the possibility of trading the Senate post for either an ambassadorship or a Cabinet post. The politician, according to the affidavit sworn by FBI Agent Daniel Cain, “analogized his situation to that of a sports agent shopping a potential free agent to various teams.” During a wiretapped November 10 call, a frustrated and financially strapped Blagojevich referred to Obama as a “motherfucker” and said that he would not appoint an ally of the President-elect to the Senate vacancy if “I don’t get anything.” Referring to Obama, Blagojevich exclaimed, “Fuck him. For nothing? Fuck him.”

In a November 11 conversation, Blagojevich remarked that he knew Obama wanted Valerie Jarrett, a longtime confidante, to succeed him, “but they’re not willing to give me anything except appreciation. Fuck them.”