February 2010 – Page 8 – Shall Not Be Questioned

Retention

Not usually important for civilians who carry guns, unless you open carry. This article over at LawOfficer.com is an insightful treatment of the topic.

When someone puts their hands on your gun during a contact, [a fight to the death] is exactly what you must be prepared for. I testified to the fact that a suspect who touches your gun during a street contact has already demonstrated his intent. Weapon retention and ground fighting tactics do not include a measure of politeness. You must consider any disarming attempt a life-or-death situation. If you honestly feel your weapon retention and/or ground fighting training adequately prepares you for such an encounter, great. But if you have any doubts about your skills or abilities to maintain control of your duty weapon during an attempted disarming, resolve them before you next hit the street.

Not everything is applicable to civilian carrying, but at the least good holster selection and at least some basic retention training are a must if a civilian chooses to carry openly.

More Justice

One of the Sea Shepherd crew was captured by the Japanese after illegally boarding one of the whaling vessels. Apparently he was the guy who lent the crew the three million dollar boat that sank in the Antarctic seas.

I hope the Japanese whalers take him back to Japan and try him for piracy.

This Umass student committed a federal crime, namely buying a long gun out of state in a private sale. While you may buy long guns out of state in from a federally licensed dealer, any transfer between non-licenees has to happen through an FFL if the residents are of a different state.

If I did this, and bragged about it here, I’d get busted. Let’s see some justice. Ironically, the person who sold him the gun did not commit a felony, since he did not know he sold a gun to someone who wasn’t a New Hampshire resident. But the student here most definitely did commit a felony.

So what was that again about weak gun laws?

UPDATE: I should note this is a bit of “trying to make a point.” Â I actually don’t think this kid’s life ought to be ruined because he violated an unjust law. What I’d like him to do is recognize the law is unjust. I do not think the US Attorney for Massachusetts should treat him any differently than he would any other gun owner in Massachusetts, but I think offering a plea deal to avoid jail time would be fair. He’ll have a federal gun felony on his record, but hey, I don’t make the laws, you know.

UPDATE: Also notice in the video he freely admits that no one would sell him a handgun. The best he managed is a break action double barrel bird gun.

UPDATE: Maybe not a crime. Some more confusion over our federal gun laws that ordinary people with no legal training are expected to follow or face multi-year prison sentences from the felony rap. Still want to argue that guns aren’t regulated enough Mr. Daniel Entrinkin?

Update on Microstamping in California

The public comment period is apparently closed on the matter, but implementation of the microstamping law requires certification that the technology is available. Apparently the California DOJ are proceeding with that process:

The lack of available microstamping technology has not deterred the Department of Justice from proceeding with promulgating regulations for the lawâ€™s implementation. In other words, these proposed regulations are completely unnecessary at this time. It is on this basis, among others, that the NRA is objecting to the DOJ commencing with the rulemaking process on this matter. The NRA Letter to the DOJ is available to read in its entiretyÂ here.

Proceeding despite the fact that the technology isn’t available. This is about fighting crime right? Not a backdoor gun ban?

Biathletes Who Can’t Shoot?

Apparently if you’re fast enough on your skis it doesn’t really matter as much, but man, spend some time shooting and you’ll be unbeatable.

Handgun Hourly Blog Moving

Looks like it’s going to become the Firing Pin Journal.

“Bloomberg Bill” in West Virginia

West Virginia is floating a bill to make Bloomberg’s gun show stings illegal, citing that they could interfere with ongoing law enforcement investigations. It will do this by making it a crime for anyone to persuade, encourage or entice a dealer or person into making an unlawful sale.

Irish Equivalent of NRA Suing Over Gun Ban

Looks like the NARGC, which his the Irish equivalent of the NRA, is doing its level best to fight the state’s new restrictive handgun licensing policy, which basically only recognizing Olympic shooting sports as legitimate reason to own a pistol, and then only pistols suitable for that purpose.

Down But Not Out

It’s looking like Seattle’s Mayor, having had his city’s gun ban tossed out by the courts for violating preemption, is advocating the state legislature repeal preemption. Pennsylvania isn’t the only state where anti-gun activists are working hard to erase one of our bedrock victories in the last several decades. Without preemption, pretty much every gain we’ve made in the protection of our rights becomes meaningless. It becomes impossible to transport, carry, or even own firearms without worrying about a patchwork of local ordinances and regulation.

Brandishing in Kansas

Eugene Volokh reports on an unusual law in Kansas that actually can make the punishment for brandishing a gun higher than if you actually shot someone, under certain circumstances. I agree with Professor Volokh that this is something Kansas groups should get the legislature to fix, pronto.

Month: February 2010