Bitter’s report from the people coming out seem to indicate that some folks are optimistic about the outcome, while others are more guarded. I will update with more information as I can get it.
Month: March 2008
Confrontation Outside Heller Arguments
According to Bitter there was a verbal scuffle between the two sides of the debate, that ended up involving Peter Hamm. Her take on this is negative since it will likely get all the media attention, diverting attention away from the actual debate.
More AHSA Press
In the Washington Post. This is a concerted effort on the part of the gun control groups to neutralize NRA’s electoral power in 2008.  Of course, the Republicans already gave them a head start by nominating John McCain.
Overall, I think the WaPo did a reasonable job of keeping the article balanced and objective. Andrew bringing up Schoenke’s $5000 donation to Handgun Control Inc is a great thing to get in there. The real killer is Paul Helmke saying nice things about AHSA:
“I see our issues as complementary to theirs,” Paul Helmke, president of the Brady Campaign, says about Schoenke’s association. “They’re a positive group.”
That’s all anyone needs to know right there. AHSA is an organization for gun owners who hate the second amendment.
Plan ‘B’ From Outer Space
Well, it could be the title of a really atrocious movie, or Plan ‘B’ could be a new contraceptive pill, or it could be DC’s plans if they lose.
SCOTUSBlog LiveBlogging Up
Tyrrany of Resonable Gun Control
A pro-Heller editorial by Ellis Washington of the Christian Science Monitor.
Heller Quote of the Day
To shrink from enforcing a clear mandate of the Constitution — as, sadly, the Supreme Court has often done in the past — would create a new precedent that would be far more dangerous to liberty than any weapon in the hands of a citizen.
This case is about a lot more than guns. If the federal courts are unwilling to give an honest reading of a very clear portion of the Bill of Rights that the majority of Americans and their elected representatives say means exactly what it says, then they can no longer be depended up for ensuring the United States remains a Constitutional Republic. The meaning of the document will have been reduced to a fad, and we’ll all be the losers.
Anti-Gun People Got Their Media On
According to Bitter the anti-gun folks outside are passing law professors around to the media [Apparently I misinterpreted what Bitter told me. She said our activists were passing law professors around, changing the entire premise of the post]. NRA is apparently nowhere to be found.
UPDATE: Apparently Ginny Simone of NRANews has arrived on the scene. But she’s media, really. They need people there talking to the media and getting our point of view across.
UPDATE: Bitter says the media frenzy and crowd is fairly large, so it’s possible there’s activity going on that she’s not seeing.
UPDATE: NRA is reporting they have people both inside and outside. Quite possible Bitter just hasn’t run into them yet.
UPDATE: Wayne LaPierre, Chris Cox, and Steve Halbrook are among the people inside. Â Bitter is outside with Bob Cottrol and Clayton Cramer.
UPDATE: For those of you who don’t know Bob Cottrol, he’s a law professor at GW. So we at least have one law professor of our own on the scene!
UPDATE: Bitter is pitching Clayton and Bob to the media. This is what Bitter does for a living, and she’s good at it. She says she’s gotten a few bites, so hopefully we’ll get some eyeballs on some folks who can intelligently advocate for our side.
The Big Day
SCOTUSBlog will live blog the results. Talked to Bitter who is outside. She said pro-gun representation is pretty low outside, but that’s not too surprising considering that no one asked anyone to show up. The line, I’m told, consisted mostly of law students. A few people we know would appear to have gotten in, including Countertop, from what I’m hearing. So that is good news.
Paul Helmke and Peter Hamm were there from what Bitter said. They went in. I told Bitter if she sees them coming out to get a picture of herself with them. I want the look on their faces as they come out to be forever preserved. According to Bitter, their talking points this morning have been very down; they are already acting as if they’ve lost this one.
To Mr. Gura and Mr. Levy
I just wanted to wish you both good luck.
We’re all counting on you.