Or Google named my cat.
So, I came home night before last and, despite my earlier concerns, that cat is still there. I say the Mrs.: Cat have a name yet?
She says it’s Abby.
I said: You Googled up cat names and that was first wasn’t it?
She said yes.
From Congressman Zack Space:
Citing the vital need to protect Americans from overzealous federal agents, Congressman Zack Space (OH-18) today issued a challenge to those Members of Congress who supported his Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE) reform legislation, but have yet to sign on this Congress.
“This legislation is far too important to languish due to cold feet,” Space said. “Well-intentioned, law-abiding citizens are being unfairly targeted by federal agents who should be more concerned about the Second Amendment than their next promotion.”
A city councilman who headed an effort to get pit bulls banned because they are so dangerous is now trying to keep his dog from being euthanized after it bit someone. It’s a Labrador. Perhaps this will illustrate to this bonehead that it’s the owners of the dogs that determine if they’re dangerous or not. Bad owners = bad dogs. And Aaron Rochester is a bad owner. Keep your dog restrained, moron.
In light of the recent court ruling, folks are discussing the legal theories and practicality of things that go boom. Joe chimes in in comments here. Sebastian runs down the classification of such gizmos. He also discusses a legal theory on destructive devices.
I, generally, have no interest in blowing things up. But since most folks seem to agree that some sort of line should be drawn with respect to what the second amendment protects (somewhere between machine guns and nukes, apparently), it’s a good mental exercise.
Interesting which gun you choose when you need one. The other night, the family was asleep and I was downstairs. The screen door on the back door came open and slammed shut. I had the Glock 30, the ParaUSA, AR-15, and a Kel-Tec handy. Guess what I went with?
I will note that, hindsight being what it is, I made a tactical error. You see, I went to investigate when the best choice would have been to go upstairs, get the family into a single room, and call the police. But that would have awakened everyone. But, from a safety standpoint, it would have been the best option.
Oh and no worries as to the thing that went bump in the night. Seems the dog has figured out how to open the screen door.
Playboy Cyber Girl of the Year, Sharae Spears, hits the gun range with the head of Playboy security.
US Citizen finds an interesting ranking of gun blogs. Interesting to me that the two anti-gun blogs (Gun Guys and Brady) seem to get all their web-fu from various social sites.
Where Great Britain used to be has the highest violent crime rate in Europe. Even more violent crime than the US. Unpossible, since we have all the guns.
WizardPC links up the actual complaint and notes some problems with it. My faves:
They state that no other state allows carry in “bars,” then in the footnotes list 23 states that do.
They falsely state that Carry Permit Holders can carry while drunk
Alrighty.
ACK lets us know that the lawsuit has been filed. Also, Nate Rau continues to publish complete bullshit:
“I would not file a lawsuit that I did not think had merit,” said Smith, whose legal research showed proponents of the new state law quoted faulty statistics regarding guns in bars policies nationwide.
Nate Rau continues lying about the supposed extensive legal research (see here, here, and here). Odd, though. Claims that the stats are bogus probably won’t be an issue in a court case. I think it’s just another opportunity to parrot their made up research.
And this lawsuit having merit will come as a shock to anyone I’ve talked who is remotely knowledgeable of Tennessee law. Still, I’m glad they’re doing this instead of something.
We had heard rumors of this before on gun boards. And also a mention in the press a bit back. Now, the Houston Chronicle is in on it:
Success on the front lines of a government blitz on gunrunners supplying Mexican drug cartels with Houston weaponry hinges on logging heavy miles and knocking on countless doors. Dozens of agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives — sent here from around the country — are needed to follow what ATF acting director Kenneth Melson described as a “massive number of investigative leads.”
All told, Mexican officials in 2008 asked federal agents to trace the origins of more than 7,500 firearms recovered at crime scenes in Mexico. Most of them were traced back to Texas, California and Arizona.
Among other things, the agents are combing neighborhoods and asking people about suspicious purchases as well as seeking explanations as to how their guns ended up used in murders, kidnappings and other crimes in Mexico.
I note that the Chronicle’s example is one designed to make you sympathetic to the authorities. Note that it doesn’t lead with the reports from many, many law-abiding people who have also had to endure such questioning.
ACK notes there’s some question as to whether an email actually came from Bill Haslam’s blackberry. It’s not unheard of. Zach Wamp actually emailed me once from his blackberry. He then responded quickly to me and also asked that I not give out his personal email address.
Via email from NRA: SB1113 AZ Restaurant Carry passed the Senate 19-8 at approximately 6AM Phoenix time and will be transmitted to the governor. She has 10 days (not counting Sundays) to sign or veto it.
The Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association has told the city of Murfreesboro If guns are allowed in Murfreesboro’s parks, the city can expect to lose the Spring Fling. This event apparently brings Murfreesboro about $3.4M. Says Bernard Childress, head of the TSSAA:
“This is a zero-tolerance issue — period,” Childress said. “We don’t have a written policy. But if anyone had a gun where our kids are, we wouldn’t be there. There is no way possible that we’d allow a gun in one of our events.
Oh teh noes. Kids will be around lawful gun owners. It’s so important we didn’t even write it down.
Here’s a link to TSSAA’s sponsors.
Later this month, Beale Street will break out the hand-held metal detectors at the entrance points and use other security measures to keep guns out of the three-block area day and night.
The new measures are a reaction to the Tennessee Legislature’s passage of a law permitting those who legally own handguns to carry them concealed in places that serve alcohol as long as they aren’t drinking.
“When this street is closed it actually becomes a private street under our control. Most people don’t understand that,”
A privately owned street? Interesting.
Nashville Attorney David Randolph Smith officially will file a lawsuit Wednesday challenging the guns in bars legislation passed by state Legislators a few weeks ago.
[…]
The plaintiffs will allege that the bill is illegal on eight counts. Among them being, that the law is an unlawful public nuisance that threatens the life, health and safety of the public, as well as violating due process and increasing civil liability for the restaurants.
Plaintiffs claim it also violates Tennessee’s Occupational Safety and Health Act that expressively requires as a matter of federal and state law that employers provide a safe work place for employees. While a permit holder cannot drink alcohol while carrying a loaded weapon in a bar or restaurant, the new law doesn’t stop that person from having previously consumed alcohol.
You’ll recall that the lawyer in this case was the one who did the extensive legal research that Nate Rau claimed debunked the statement that 40 states allowed carry where alcohol was served. And you’ll also recall that it’s bullshit (see here, here, and here). Anyway, this lawsuit’s chance of success is about zero. State has broad discretion in regulating guns and restaurant owners can put up signs prohibiting carry.
I’m glad they’re doing this instead of something.
Eugene Volokh has a look. The justices cannot conceive of any non-violent or lawful uses for a pipe bomb. It’s not like we have a whole holiday that is celebrated by blowing stuff up, now is it.
Pipe bombs from an ATF standpoint are bombs because the pipe becomes shrapnel when it explodes. Fireworks aren’t bombs because they’re made of paper. Joe could probably chime in if my understanding is incorrect.
Update: Looks like Sebastian has similar thoughts.
In response to yesterday’s post of a guy shooting clays with a bow and arrow, here’s a video Lyle and company shooting clays with an AK.
Tennessee has a whole host of new laws that go into effect today. Some stupid. Some real stupid. And some inoffensive.
First up, is the no texting while driving law:
Rachel Nichol says reading or sending cell phone text messages while driving isn’t such a good idea — she’s had five fender benders, including one in a fast food drive-thru.
“I was texting and I rear-ended someone each time,” said Nichol, a 20-year-old Nashville bartender. “You’re not looking at the road. You’re only using one hand to drive and it’s really dangerous.”
That’s why she supports a law prohibiting the behavior. It’s among new Tennessee laws that take effect on Wednesday.
You see, because Rachel is an idiot, you must be one too. It only makes sense. For the children. I mean, if only it was illegal, then she wouldn’t do it. The law was unnecessary as our AG already said that it could be viewed as endangering others. It’s also going to be hard to enforce because your phone does other things too, like make phone calls. Ya know, my phone is also an MP3 player so if I’m changing the song by hitting the forward button and a cop sees me, he might think I’m texting.
Up next is a law designed to expand no-pedophile zones. You see, yesterday, pedophiles and sex offenders were required to stay 500 feet away from schools, parks, daycares, and playgrounds. Today, they must stay 1,000 feet away. That’ll help.
Also, a few more that aren’t bad.
We can now order wine and have it delivered. My wife already signed up for some wine club deal.
No more thumbprints for gun sales.
And it’s illegal to aim a laser pointer at firefighters and emergency medical technicians. Seems to me that, like the texting law, that would already be illegal.
5 years ago, I owned no guns and really felt like guns were an anachronism. I felt we’d progressed beyond a world where people needed guns to solve problems. Thinking with your head and not with your fist, as it were.
I was appalled at the disparity of gun violence in other developed countries.
I felt like having a gun was ridiculous because the odds were someone in my house would be hurt with them rather than use them to defend myself.
I had not touched a gun in 15 years, I’d grown out of them and was, frankly, scared of them.
I remember seeing a woman packing a pistol on a backpack trip with some boy scouts a few years back and was furious that she was doing so (open carry on public lands is mostly OK here in WA state).
Then Hurricane Katrina happened.
Evan Nappen on NJ’s gun rationing scheme: VIRTUALLY ENDS RETAIL HANDGUN SALES IN NJ
Remember, I do this to entertain me, not you.
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