The recent situation in Japan has me pondering my bug out bag again. Hit me with resources and ideas.

When dealing with the US fiscal mess, it’s hard to wrap your head around around it because the numbers are astronomically huge. Joe breaks it down with an example closer to home.

Robb Allen:

Do you think the Brady’s or the VPC got three hundred and eighty four women to give up guns this weekend? Do you think any of the gun control groups were able to put that many smiles on faces in one day?

It’s good to see someone in the Senate grill a nanny state busybody.

Police officer shoots self in thigh during weapons inspection. Result of inspection: Yeah, it’s loaded.

Update: She did not shoot herself. Was shot by another officer.

Masterpiece arms 380

Some Sigs, to be replaced with Glocks.

Awesome birthday gift

Singer .45 Caliber Automatic Pistol

In MI:

Michigan lawmakers are on the verge of approving a bill that would enable the governor to appoint “emergency managers” — officials with unilateral power to make sweeping changes to cities facing financial troubles.

Under the legislation, the Michigan Messenger reports, the governor could declare a “financial emergency” in towns or school districts. He could then appoint a manager to fire local elected officials, break contracts, seize and sell assets, eliminate services – and even eliminate whole cities or school districts without any public input.

The measure passed in the state Senate this week; the House passed its own version earlier. The two versions of the bill are expected to be reconciled next week, and Republican Gov. Rick Snyder has said he will sign the bill the bill into law.

Seems to me the state can’t manage its money. Why would anyone think it could manage a city’s?

A man strips to his boxer shorts with the fourth amendment (abbreviated) on his chest to pass through a TSA checkpoint. He was detained and handcuffed for 90 minutes for, you know, being protesting and exercising his first amendment rights. He’s now suing TSA. Good.

Heh: Ninjit.

In Illinois, only the police should have access to safety equipment:

A bill being pushed by a local state lawmaker would allow law enforcement officials to tone the sound down on their guns. 91st District State Representative Mike Unes is the chief sponsor of House Bill 1708. It passed out of the House Judiciary II- Criminal Law Committee 7-0 Thursday.

Unes says the use of the suppressor will help the long term health of the officers. He says the equipment officers use now could cause permanent hearing damage.

Bartonville Police Chief Brian Fengel and his officers brought the initiative forward.

I agree. Suppressors are great safety tools and they are the polite thing to do. Unfortunately, mufflers in this country are strictly regulated and, in some places, banned. If we treated car mufflers like that, there’d be an outrage.

I think this bill is actually a good start. It gets put into law that suppressors are actually great safety equipment.

None of the Obama proposals would have stopped the Tucson shooting. Gun control: what you do instead of something.

The NYT says that NRA declines to meet with Obama on gun policy. I can’t say I blame them. This meeting will consist of the administration pushing more gun control items. The NRA’s stance should be “What are you going to do for us?” For instance, reign in the ATF; fix some NFA laws; look at the proposed national carry bills. And on and on. If I were NRA, I’d push for ground. Obama seems to only want them to give up ground. No.

NRA writes a letter to Obama saying to focus on the current law. You guys should try to fix current deficiencies in the law. NRA also notes the guns being walked into Mexico. I think putting an end to shenanigans like that should definitely at the forefront of any gun law discussion. And this should be an NRA focus. Now.

The anti-gunners and the press (but I repeat myself) are butthurt because Obama didn’t call for gun bans.

The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Ownership issues a feeble, pitiful response to Obama. It’s really sad.

Mentioned the lawsuit before. And that legislators were pushing a bill to correct the problem. That bill has been signed into law.

Bills in Florida and Texas.

Robert:

If fire dept inspectors and every other LEO in civilian clothes can go armed to the terror of the public, why not citizens?

NSSF says background checks in February are up.

TSA body scanners/pervert machines emit 10 times more radiation than initially thought.

A how to from CTD.

A review from Jay

Made from old smartphones.

Before and after photos of Japan.

A bill to allow persons who have had firearms training to carry in court houses has passed.

Knives.

Sig’s SG553

Beretta ARX160

Interesting guide, at the ATF site. I note that there’s not pretty little picture of a handgun with vertical grip.

Special laws for special people:

Some California lawmakers want easier access to carry concealed guns

They say their job has become dangerous, citing the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in Tucson and threats from constituents. Baca objects to singling out elected officials.

Actually, not too bad coming from a guy who was anti-gun before becoming president:

The fact is, almost all gun owners in America are highly responsible. They’re our friends and neighbors. They buy their guns legally and use them safely, whether for hunting or target shooting, collection or protection. And that’s something that gun-safety advocates need to accept. Likewise, advocates for gun owners should accept the awful reality that gun violence affects Americans everywhere, whether on the streets of Chicago or at a supermarket in Tucson.

That doesn’t fit the dehumanization of gun owners prevalent by the anti-gun side.

Heh: The forces of gun control must be weeping in the bathroom right now, because their BFF just broke up with them by Facebook.

Admit, you want one.

Authorities say they were not told about guns being walked into their country. Of course not.

Having stamped out all terrorism on earth, the Department of Homeland Security turns its focus to guys who link to other stuff:

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Bryan McCarthy, 32, earlier this month and charged him with one count of copyright infringement.

Since December 2005, McCarthy operated channelsurfing.net out of his home in Texas until federal authorities seized it last month as part of an ongoing investigation into websites that illegally streamed copyrighted sporting telecasts and pay-per-view events.

Heh: This must be the semi-auto equivalent of the Chiappa Rhino.

An interesting product from Taser. That thing is a bit frightening.

The hype can be dangerous.