Even if the Crown Prosecutors aren’t willing to recognize legitimate self-defense when they see it, it would appear that juries in England are still willing to acquit when it’s appropriate. The shame of it is the man had to go through the expense and emotional trauma of a jury trial for doing the right thing. Even in a jurisdiction like New York City, I don’t think this would have been prosecuted here.
Month: February 2010
We Used to Call them Counterstrike Kiddies
Caleb has something good to say about the Call of Duty Effect, and I have to agree:
But here’s the thing – yeah, those kids can be annoying at times. But instead of shunning them or casting them aside, I truly believe that we need to embrace the video game generation and their love of firearms. You see a kid that’s interested in learning about the Bushmaster ACR, or M4 Carbines or whatever because he’s been playing Modern Warfare? Talk to that kid. Educate him, don’t dismiss him. Someone come to your range with his freshly purchased semi-auto Thompson because it was awesome in a World War II game? That kid is the future of our shooting sports, right there. Take him to a USPSA match, because that kid needs the adrenaline from Run and Gun.
I have probably said this before, but I honestly believe that the video game generation is our future in the shooting sports. Think about it for a minute – kids growing up playing games that involve firearms are going to have fewer mystical beliefs than those that have never been exposed to any type of firearm, digital or otherwise, so there is the potential for great teaching and recruiting opportunities. It’s up to us to capitalize on that opportunity.
Video games are about the only way boys can play with guns these days. BB guns? Pretty much out. Cowboys and Indians at the playground at school? Hell no! No in the days of “zero tolerance.” Â I think Caleb is right. The future shooting sports participants are going to be the Counterstrike Kiddies, or whatever it is the kids are playing today.
Maine Looking to Prohibit Firearms in National Parks
Looks like some Maine legislators are crapping their pants about the new park rule. This would also prohibit carrying firearms on the Appalachian Trail through Maine as well. Who needs guns on the Appalachian Trail? I mean, it’s not like bears are anything to worry about either. It’s perfectly safe, really. Besides, you can always carry a whistle.
I note the Appalachian Trail Conservancy is supporting this, thus ensuring they will never see a dime of my money, and the next time I see them out on the trail heads recruiting or handing out literature I’m going to tell them why I want nothing to do with them:
“I believe allowing firearms on the Appalachian Trail is unnecessary, possibly dangerous and, simply put, a bad idea,†Proudman said. “Perhaps most important, we don’t want the culture to change.â€
Nice of you to impose your choice on me jackass by using the government to lock me up if I choose differently. Screw the Appalachian Trail Conservatory. Don’t give those turds any money.
We’re Back
Sorry about the outage folks, but we were without power for 14 hours due to the blizzard yesterday. As soon as the wind kicked up, it was pretty much over. I had to get creative to keep the house and pipes from freezing up overnight:
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Fortunately I have a backup sump pump that’s powered by a car battery, so I hooked that up to an old inverter I had laying about and punched its output into the junction box for the furnace. The furnace is gas, so you really only need power for the controller, the circulator pump, the flu check, zone valves, and gas valve. Fortunately all those seemed to come in under the 125W rating of the inverter.
Of course, we did manage to keep the most important piece of equipment in the house functioning as well:
Fortunately for me this piece of critical equipment requires only a CO2 bottle to operate. Sadly I can’t keep the blog going through a 14 hour power outage, so I apologize for the downtime. All this is making me think about a generator, but I know if I get one we won’t lose power for more than 20 minutes for the next 5 years.
Pro-Gun Bill on the Move in Virginia
Allows carrying of pistols in vehicles provided they are in a locked compartment. We could use this in Pennsylvania too, since, with limited exception, you need to have a License to Carry to transport firearms in vehicles.
Looks like they also moved along the repeal of the restaurant ban in Virginia.
Hatboro Voting on L&S On Feb 22nd
Ironically on the same day the new National Park regulations go into effect:
Hatboro Mayor Norm Hawkes proposed a lost or stolen handgun ordinance to borough council Monday night that he said would help keep firearms out of the hands of criminals.
If adopted, the ordinance would require citizens to report their lost or stolen handguns to the police up to 72 hours after discovery.
Anyone who violates the ordinance would be subject to a fine of no more than $1,000, or imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or both, reads the draft ordinance.
Council will vote at its meeting Feb. 22 if it will advertise the ordinance for a future vote.
They introduced it the same night as Radnor’s, which was no doubt intended to spread us thin. Since we had more activists to work with in Radnor, that was probably the smarter township to target, but now I’m wondering, since apparently the Solicitor for the Township in Hatboro can read plain law:
Hatboro Solicitor Christen Pionzio told council she did not feel comfortable recommending it adopt the ordinance.
Looks like Max Nachemann is intending to keep us very busy.
Arizona Grassroots Experience With Campus Carry
The Arizona Rifleman is getting some first hand experience with on-the-ground activism with the campus carry movement. You can see his first hand account here, and here. Get involved enough, and eventually you’ll get this feeling too:
At several points, I wanted to say to the pro-gun people, “Stop it. You’re not helping.†— we’re not talking about the Second Amendment, nor guns in parking lots, nor anything else. We’re talking about whether the ASUA, the University of Arizona student government, should support or oppose a state senate bill that would allow faculty with valid CCW permits to carry concealed firearms on campus. Your efforts basically confirm every negative stereotype, though most of the pro-gun females who spoke were clear, articulate, and made some good points. This is a matter of giving responsible adults — professors, specifically — the choice to carry a firearm on campus if they wish.
Of course, the other side of the coin, like we experienced in Radnor earlier this week, is when a lot of highly involved and motivated people show up, and nail point after point that needed to be made. Our grassroots are both our greatest asset, and a huge liability, but I’d rather have our grassroots than the other side’s astroturf. The one thing I wish I could have said to the Radnor Township Board of Commissioners is,
“These residents you see here represent thousands of other people in this township who feel just as passionately as they do, but maybe couldn’t make it, or just aren’t as young or energetic. But I will tell you, they will show up at the polling stations and vote this issue if angered, and the activists here will make sure they know about it. I can promise you that nearly everyone in your Township who’s willing to vote for you because of this issue is in this room tonight. You have nothing to gain by voting yes, and everything by voting no.”
That’s why they lose, and we win, when you boil it down.
Ice Building Up on Power Lines
Snowpocalypse II is hitting us as we speak, and we’ve had freezing rain for a bit here, and it’s starting to build up on power lines, and the FiOS lines. If the blog goes out for a bit, you’ll know why.
Shooting More Geese
Apparently we’re not shooting enough here in Pennsylvania. But they refer to snow geese. Why can’t we shoot more Canadian Geese?
Quote of the Day
From SayUncle, about the controversial Green Police Ad that aired during the Super Bowl:
The commercial should have ended with a guy in a big ass Ford Earthfuckertm that gets 5 miles per gallon with seats made from baby seals blowing past the roadblock billowing smoke. And, for effect, the driver flips them off. I’d buy that car. Not this little compliant pansy car. You appeal to Americans in an ad by showing rebellion and general orneriness. Not passiveness, compliance, or sheepishness.
Makes me wonder if they used people back home in Germany for this ad. I mean, the same country did bring the world the Playmobil Police Checkpoint.