Clearly we’re dealing with a bear who enjoys suburban living. I’m not going to be surprised if this bear swam across the Delaware from New Jersey and ended up downstream of where he put in. We’ll have to see if this bear exhibits the typical MO of Ursus americanus jerseyus and ends up mugging someone for a sandwich. These sightings are just about a mile from my house, by the way the crow flies, or perhaps the way the bear walks. He would seem to be living in the wooded parts along Neshaminy Creek. I’m thinking of doing some smoking this weekend, so I guess we’ll see whether Mr. Bear decides to come over for some ribs and beer later. I’m only half a mile up from the creek!
Month: May 2013
Gun Control in the House of Representatives
We have seen stories in the last few weeks that indicated gun control may be moving in the House.
Yet, VSSA’s Dave Adams shared an update from a pre-party for the Virginia GOP convention:
Just saw @RepGoodlatte in the @MarkObenshain party. Said no #guncontrol will get through his committee.
It really makes me wonder if all of these previous stories are really just an attempt to make gun owners distrustful of the GOP in hopes that they will stay home in 2014.
What About That Overwhelming Support Again?
This isn’t good news for gun control advocates:
President Barack Obama has vowed to keep pushing for new gun control measures and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said the failed gun vote in the Senate was “just the beginning.†However, the latest Reason-Rupe national poll finds just 33 percent of Americans feel the “Senate should debate and vote on gun control legislation again,†while 62 percent want the Senate to “move on to other issues.â€
Yet we keep being told the public want these measures. No they don’t. As I read recently, people answer the background check question the way they do as a means of expressing disapproval criminals having guns. If you ask the question differently, you get different results, and more than several polls have shown the public has no real appetite for gun control.
h/t Instapundit
Friday Evening News Dump
Well, it’s been a busy week for me, and I’m glad it’s over. I’ll end it on a news dump:
NY Sheriffs really do oppose the SAFE act. But I thought law enforcement was on their side? Also, an update on the SAFE lawsuit. SAFE has now been enforced on an otherwise honest citizen.
Why are anti-gun activists so violent? Really.
So much for pro-gun Democrats in North Carolina. In 2014, they all need to be reminded this is a losing issue.
Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley signs the state’s sweeping gun control package. Beretta USA, headquartered in Accokeek, MD, responds.
Do you yourself H&K G36? Well, not quite. The G36 is probably the only H&K rifle I’d like to own, but not at that price tag.
Shut up, peon! Apparently New Jersey legislators don’t like citizens speaking out.
3D printing is the technology of liberty. But guns aren’t really what should scare you when it comes to 3D printing. (h/t Instapundit)
Biden is looking to churches for support on gun control. Well, when it comes to the national bodies, most churches are pretty anti-gun already. Congregations? That’s another matter.
The Bradys know where their media bread is buttered.
What’s your definition of an AR?
Not all gun owners are fanatics.
Dates are set on the Gun Blogger Rendezvous VIII, 2013. It is the oldest continuously operating gun blogger gathering. It’s unlikely I’ll make it this year. I don’t have the disposable income I used to, and Reno is an expensive city to fly to from the east coast.
Tim at Gun Nuts latest post on Open Carry.
TGIF everybody! Hopefully next week won’t be as crazy.
California Freezes Handgun Roster?
A tweet from California attorney Jason Davis indicates that California’s microstamping law is now in effect:
Cal DOJ certifies microstampingpatents open and microstamping mandated for all new handguns. oag.ca.gov/sites/all/file…?
— Jason Davis (@calgunlawyers) May 17, 2013
Based on this release this afternoon by the California DOJ, they are certifying the microstamping law in full effect.
According to the document, this effectively means that handguns not currently on the roster must have microstamping in order to get on the roster. Since no manufacturer makes this available, it would seem that the market for handguns is currently frozen and limited to guns already approved.
Not being an attorney, much less one who specializes in California gun laws, I’m sure there will be more people much smarter than me talking about the impact of this announcement that was released on a Friday afternoon.
Colorado Lawsuit Against New Gun Control Laws
About 85% of Colorado’s county sheriffs are leading a lawsuit challenging Colorado’s recently passed gun control laws. The lawsuit was filed today by Dave Kopel, and includes some other names you might recognize such as NSSF and Magpul. The lawsuit is pretty easy to read and follow in outlining the specific objections to key bills.
Before it was filed, Dave Kopel did an interview on the lawsuit subject. (He also signed up more law enforcement between the time of this interview and the time of filing.)
UPDATE: Here is the video of the press conference announcing the lawsuit:
Giving Away Some Guns
My local Friends of NRA committee has five guns to give away this September. If you liked the odds last year, you’re going to love it this year since we’ve got more guns and better odds to win.
There are 300 tickets total, and 5 chances to win. Each ticket is $20. That means, should we sell out, the odds are 1 in 60 to win a gun.
We’re giving away a Colt LE6900, two Kahr 1911A1 WWII Parkerized models, a Kimber Custom II, and a Taurus Polished Stainless 1911. The drawing will be on or before September 30.
Unfortunately, we do not have online sales. If you’re interested in buying a ticket, email me at the email on the sidebar with the number of tickets you would like and I’ll send you the details for how to buy tickets.
Winners will be responsible for picking up the guns from the local FFL or arranging transfer to their own FFL. Winners must pass appropriate background checks and will be responsible for any fees regarding the transfer.
All money raised goes to support the NRA Foundation programs – the shooting stuff, not the political stuff. So if you want to help us reach more junior shooters, train more women, or help out clubs that need some help with improvements for shooters, then take a chance and buy a ticket.
Suing D.C. to Get the Digs on David Gregory
Looks like Legal Insurrection (a legal blog) and Judicial Watch think there might be gold in them thar documents. If David Gregory hadn’t been a celebrity, he’d be in jail already. It’ll be interesting to see if the DC OC marchers will see such displays of prosecutorial discretion in their favor. Yeah, I don’t think so either.
Ten!
Kevin Baker’s blog turns 10. Kevin has been at this game longer than most of us, and he was one of the blogs I was reading before I blogged. How hard is it to blog ten years? Hard. There’s always dry patches, and times when you just aren’t feeling it, or times like this week, where you’re busy, and even if you weren’t, the news cycle is on some other topic that you don’t write about. So getting to 10, and still producing good material is quite an achievement.
I’d Like a Phaser Too
A Massachusetts Democrat introduces a bill in the House that would mandate smart guns, because he says the technology totally exists. I think what we really need is a Smart Congress Law… a technology that would automatically recognize the Constitution and only allow lawmaking duly authorized.