May 2013 – Page 9 – Shall Not Be Questioned

Starbucks Fight Round 3?

The gun control groups are already all over this story out of St. Petersburg Florida, where someone ND’d inside a local Starbucks. The anti-gun groups have twice tried to push Starbucks to change their policy, but Starbucks has maintained their policy of following state law on the matter. Regardless of that, however, I believe the mall is a gun free zone. I can find other evidence online that other malls owned by the same company are posted. I’m not sure what Florida law is on this matter, but it is not abundantly clear the gun was being carried legally yet.

UPDATE: Firearm not carried legally:

Beck does not have a concealed weapons permit, but says she never intended to carry the gun in the first place.

Of course, I agree with the reader who pasted this URL into the comments that it won’t matter to those who will try to get on this hobby horse and see how far it can be ridden.

Sorry About That

Apparently my “profile” at Verizon for my FiOS magically disappeared. I don’t know what they mean by “profile,” but I’m pretty sure, based on how this played out and on my end, and through my own troubleshooting, their routing protocols didn’t know where to direct my IP addresses. I’ve had that happen once before, about four years ago, when they upgraded my service speed and wiped all my static addresses. This time it just seemed to happen out of nowhere. At 14 hours, this was the longest outage I’ve ever had from Verizon FiOS in the eight years I’ve had it.

We will now return to our normally scheduled blogging.

Media Coverage of the Rally

All it takes is one ill-considered moment to ruin everything. (The picture itself is worth 1000 words) The woman who is being shouted at we’re pretty sure is an activist we’ve seen before at the Doylestown counter-rally, who was moving among the pro-gun people attempting to antagonize them. One guy on the pro-gun side got tired enough by it to call the cops over, who promptly told the woman to chill, and please return to her side of the rally.

But here the bait was taken, and they got what they wanted. Objectively, it is an excellent photo. As soon as I saw it online late last night, I figured that was front page worthy, and would be there the next morning. Both the Courier Times and the Intelligencer did as predicted. Our side has to be supremely careful, especially in hostile media environments, which this area undeniably is.

The Mother’s Day Rally & Counter Rally

Well, it’s been talked about, hashed over, and rehashed over, in the local media for days now. The Bux-Mont Peace Coalition finally had its rally on Mother’s Day, at Williamson Park in Morrisville. Here are some photos and some videos:

Mom's Demand AR-15s — Well, it is mother’s day. Get mom something special.

Stop Illegal Mayors! — Something Bloomberg might want to consider, given the abundance of illegal mayors.

Bringing the whole family — Bring the whole family out!

Second Amendment Rally at the Base of the Lower Trenton Bridge

Lower Trenton Bridge — Bridge to Mordor on the Delaware

Mounted PA State Troopers — Mounted Pennsylvania State Troopers on their spiffy horses.

Former Governor Rendell and his bodyguard — Guess who guns are good enough to protect at a peace rally? If you answered Former Governor Rendell, you’d be correct.

I’m particularly proud of catching Rendell’s bodyguard’s poorly concealed sidearm. Good enough for the former Governor, but not good enough for your family? And at a peace rally too? Tsk tsk. I did manage to get some video, despite the pouring rain. First, the invasion of Pennsylvania by the gun control crowd:

If you’re going to invade my state, you need more cowbell! And also a brief video of the mixed rally/counter-rally in Williamson Park. I could only film for a little bit because my iPhone we getting soaked in the rain. I had just missed Rendell’s rather short speech.

The gun control people outnumbered us, but not by a whole lot, especially once the rain started. That’s dedication for you. I’d estimate we had about 100 people, and they had maybe 200. They seem to have lost a lot of the marchers between the bridge and the park. It’s always hard to tell because a crowd marching will always look bigger than when you compress it. Despite all the folks walking around with openly carried and concealed firearms at a peace protest, somehow it managed to remain peaceful. Hardly a surprise to me, but as one women who spoke to the rally said “She was kind of scared, but not too scared to speak out.” She really had nothing to be fearful of.

Bloomberg a Snoop?

Apparently the nation’s most insufferable Mayor is also the nation’s most insufferable snoop.

Blame the Governor!

Here in Pennsylvania, our governor is just terrible. I mean terrible. His administration directed publicly funded colleges to review their rules and regulations and–gasp–make sure they are all constitutional! Oh, the horror of making sure that government agencies/departments/institutions aren’t violating the state constitution!

The directive that prompted Kutztown University to allow people to carry guns on campus came from Gov. Tom Corbett’s administration.

Corbett’s office of General Counsel directed all 14 state-owned universities to review their policies restricting guns on campus to determine whether the policies would withstand constitutional muster, said Kutztown University spokesman Matt Santos.

If I see an attack ad on this issue next year, I’m going to probably hit my head against a desk. I don’t care what side of the aisle you’re on, you should support a directive to make sure that the government isn’t violating rights. If anything, from a liberal perspective, it makes it less likely that these institutions will be sued.

“Confiscate, Confiscate, Confiscate”

From ANJRPC. I’m forced to swipe their whole release because they don’t provide links:

NJ SENATORSâ€™ TRUE VIEW OF GUN OWNERS REVEALED BY HOT MICROPHONE FOLLOWING YESTERDAYâ€™S HEARINGÂ

Call the Senate Majority Office Immediately to Express Your Outrage

And Demand That Mondayâ€™s Bill Package be Held Â Â

An astute person listening to the official audio recording of yesterdayâ€™s Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee hearing noticed that the official recording continued following conclusion of the hearing.Â The discussion that was caught, apparently among several senators and staff, is outrageous, and reveals legislatorsâ€™ true view of gun owners.

A YouTube video with an excerpt of that recording has beenÂ posted here.Â The following lines can be heard in the recording:

“We needed a bill that was going to confiscate, confiscate, confiscate.â€

“They [gun owners] want to keep the guns out of the hands of the bad guys, but they donâ€™t have any regulations to do it.â€

“They donâ€™t care about the bad guys.Â All they want to do is have their little guns and do whatever they want with them.â€

“Thatâ€™s the line theyâ€™ve developed.â€Â

The discussion appears to be amongÂ Senator Loretta WeinbergÂ (D37),Â Senator Sandra CunninghamÂ (D31),Â Senator Linda Greenstein(D14), and at least one member of Senate Democratic staff.

This discussion can also clearly be heard at the end of the official audio recording, beginning at 1:52:30,Â currentlyÂ available hereÂ (find Thursday, May 9 from the menu, then click “listenâ€). It is possible that the official recording will be sanitized following release of this alert, and the official YouTube video could be deleted, so be sure to listen to it promptly.

The discussion reveals absolute contempt for the Second Amendment and those who exercise it, as well as complete ignorance of the fact that gun rights organizations like ANJRPC have long advocated for clear and specific legislation punishing criminals who misuse firearms, instead of misguided legislation (like the bills currently being pushed by Senate Democrats) that demonizes hardware.Â Senator Loretta Weinberg is the chief proponent of the anti-gun legislation being moved through the Senate.

In advance of Mondayâ€™s full Senate floor vote, please immediately call AND fax the Senate Majority Office, tell them you are outraged by the misguided, disparaging, and clueless comments of those pushing the anti-gun bill package, and demand that Senate Democratic leadership hold the entire package of anti-gun bills currently scheduled for consideration by the full Senate on Monday, May 13.

SENATE MAJORITY OFFICE

Phone: 609-847-3700

Fax: 609-633-7254

You know what would help prevent gun owners from always being paranoid that gun control activists and politicians were after their guns? Not actually being after our guns. Just because your paranoid doesn’t mean they aren’t out to get you.

Local Permits to Carry in Pennsylvania

This is a great example of why states need preemption laws. Morrisville, PA has an ordinance that bans possession of firearms in their public parks unless a distinct permit has been issued.

The activities listed below shall not be permitted in any park or playground unless a permit has been secured for such activity from the Borough Council, or its agent, the Borough Manager. No permit shall be issued unless an application therefor shall have been made at least 24 hours before the time of the activity. In the case of seasonal activities, a permit may be issued for the entire season.

(a) Groups or parties in excess of 12 persons.

(b) Placements of placards, advertisements or public notices.

(c) Fires, other than in a fireplace or other equipment provided for cooking purposes, or for a bonfire or campfire as part of an authorized event.

(d) Firearms or the discharge of firearms or other weapons.

(e) Soliciting of alms or subscriptions.

(f) Selling or exposing for sale any articles.

The language that “firearms” “shall not be permitted” “unless a permit has been secured for such activity from the Borough Council, or its agent, the Borough Manager” that must be submitted “at least 24 hours before the time of the activity” seems to make it pretty clear that they issue their own permits to possess firearms in parks at least 24 hours in advance of your planned time to be in the park. I wanted to know more about this little gem of an ordinance.

In trying to find out more about that permit, I called the borough, found myself transferred to three different people in Borough Hall in my first call, put on hold for nearly 10 minutes, and still couldn’t tell you anything about the process. I was then told to contact the Police Department for the permit information, including cost, but the Police Department said that any and all permitting in regards to parks happens through Borough Hall and sent me back to the third woman with whom I spoke. She eventually transfered me to a gentleman who said that the Borough doesn’t actually issue permits, but they require that state licenses to carry in order to possess firearms in any way in public parks. I very specifically asked if that applied to open carry as well, and he said that all carry in parks required the state license to carry. (This is illegal for them to demand.)

What’s interesting is that this borough has already been warned off of violating Pennsylvania’s preemption law in a letter sent by firearms attorney Joshua Prince just four days ago. It would appear that instead of requiring you to notify them at least 24 hours in advance of any trips to the park and securing a permit at an unknown price with, what I was told, an application that apparently never existed, they are continuing to violate state law by demanding licenses to carry concealed for any possession at all – concealed or not.

This why we need preemption with some teeth. A good start is Sen. Rich Alloway’s SB 876. It does at least makes local governments pay for the cost of challenging their abuses of power. It would certainly improve the situation in Morrisville since, in all likelihood, the problem ordinance never would have been passed in the first place. Even if it was on the books, the borough itself would be on the financial hook for their illegal ordinance and certainly wouldn’t feel like it is acceptable for their leaders to give out illegal advice without consequence.

Unexpected Shaming of Anti-Gun Groups

There’s a fine line between being seen or heard and shoving your politics so much in someone’s face that they get utterly turned off and it works against you. Make your voice heard doesn’t mean piss off everyone around you. That doesn’t help a cause.

So imagine my surprise that the local media has actually been reporting honestly that it was an anti-gun group that decided to go shove their politics in people’s faces at a bunch of little league games. To add to the mix, the very anti-gun media are even editorializing against the decision by the anti-gun groups to disrupt the atmosphere of the games and not blaming gun owners. (Though they admit they aren’t a fan of individuals who plan to open carry in opposition, they don’t lay the blame at their feet.)

This editorial doesn’t just condemn a rinky-dink anti-gun group. The speakers at the event they say should have been canceled are a former governor and a current state lawmaker. Good for the media for calling out the appropriate party for their desire to get up in everyone’s faces where it is rather inappropriate.

Another Substantial Financial Loss for Reed

We already know that the Eastern Sports & Outdoor Show was a multi-million dollar event for Reed Exhibitions, and they lost it because of poor execution and dismal communication with their vendors and customers. Today, they lost another show with NSSF announcing that Reed will no longer manage SHOT.

What surprises me the most is that the contract is terminated immediately. I figured they would at least ride out the issue until 2014 is wrapped up since events of this scale are not something you pull together in a day.

We certainly wish NSSF luck in pulling together a successful SHOT Show in 2014, and we take a little joy is knowing that while this is ultimately no big deal to Reed’s overall bottom line, losing a millions over their anti-gun positions is still a bit of a victory.