The women behind Moms Demand Action don’t believe that you’re allowed to have a voice at all. See, they are encouraged to lobby and engage in activism. But, if a pro-gun person does it, it’s classified as a case of bullying. There is no disagreement allowed in their world. Everyone must always agree, or they must be treated and punished as bullies for daring to express an alternative view.
Year: 2013
Making Sure Your Holidays are Miserable
If your spunky little niece comes home from college for the holiday and sits down at the table to lecture the family on the benefits of Obamacare and gun control, cut her a little slack. She’s just obeying orders from her president and a billionaire businessman who wants to run her life.
Seriously, have these people ever heard of keeping politics and religion away from the dinner table at the holidays? Why are they trying to convince young people that a great way to sell their message is to annoy the hell out of everyone who just wants to celebrate Thanksgiving?
On second thought, I hope many of them will do it. Go on little lemmings and annoy your family members during this holiday season. Be a representative of overly obnoxious government intrusion into all aspects of our personal lives! It will do wonders for your cause.
More on the Anti-Hunting Rage
I want to highlight this article by Papa Delta Bravo, both because it is excellent, and because it brings up some issues that have been bothering me a lot lately:
In this age of the series of tubes, Inman’s asshole rage is sadly what passes for debate. Where there are no people except for those on your side, and those you don’t like or understand are reduced to an undesirable, collective other who embody all the things you say you stand against.
I seem to recall there was a time when people could discuss politics, even if they disagreed, without ending up resorting to childish nonsense like this. When I think about it, I first noticed it during the Bush Administration. In fact, I think the desire to have substantive discussions is what, in large part, gave birth to blogging.
Official State Firearm of Pennsylvania
There’s a move afoot to designate an official state firearm for Pennsylvania. What would it be? The Pennsylvania rifle, of course. From Sen. Richard Alloway:
I plan on introducing legislation that would designate the Pennsylvania Rifle as the official firearm of the Commonwealth.
The Pennsylvania Rifle played a vital role in the development of firearms in the 18th century and is considered the first truly American firearm.
Developed by gunsmiths in Northampton and Lancaster counties, the Pennsylvania Rifle was a long-barreled rifle that differed from any other type of firearm in existence. It was lauded not only for its exceptional accuracy and range, but also for its unique beauty and craftsmanship.
Upon its development, the Pennsylvania Rifle was widely used by frontiersman during the American fur trade and was an important tool of survival as our ancestors traveled west and south to discovered new lands.
Given the appreciation for firearms among many Pennsylvanians, I believe that it is time for the Commonwealth to acknowledge the significant heritage of the Pennsylvania Rifle.
It is my hope that designating the Pennsylvania Rifle as the Commonwealth’s official firearm will help our citizens to be aware of the substantial role that this rifle has played in the Commonwealth’s gun making traditions and in the development of America.
The Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission features a write-up on the history of the Pennsylvania rifle.
If your state doesn’t already have an official state firearm, what firearm would you pick for your state and why is that your top choice?
Federal Gun Control Legislation
The Brady Campaign is claiming that they are right on the cusp of getting a win on federal gun control legislation:
The president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence claimed momentum Tuesday in a renewed push for more stringent federal gun control regulations.
The article notes that conventional wisdom says that, um, gun control is dead for this Congress, and very likely for the next session, assuming the GOP doesn’t screw up just about every Senate race to the same degree they did 2012.
It could be argued that conventional wisdom is correct, especially with Joe Biden using the gun control group’s efforts as an example of what not to do for immigration policies.
On the other hand, Gross’s claim is that they focused on chipping away just a few of the folks who supported the Second Amendment to reach 60 votes. This is likely just a claim since he refused to name any names, but it is a reminder that gun owners in those purple, blue or just barely red states who had either Democrats or Republicans voting with us need to remind those lawmakers that they are still watching any moves they make on the gun control issue.
Less Than Sober Police Can Arrest You For Being More Sober
Did you know that in Ohio, some police officers are allowed to be on their way to legal intoxication, get in a car, drive to pull over other motorists, and arrest people who have lower BACs than the officer making the arrest? This special protection is offered through union contracts, and chiefs who have been disturbed by the double standard can’t get it removed.
This is just a reminder that it’s not just on gun issues that we see special protections for police officers who may have the authority to arrest a citizen for engaging in the same kind of behavior that isn’t hurting anyone else.
Personal Defense at a Price
Mike Bloomberg believes in guns for personal defense. Of course, he means hired guns that few can actually afford unless you’re one of the elite.
According to the NY Daily News, Bloomberg has offered his ~15 member security team who are all current NYC officers $100k salaries to retire from the force and keep working for him.
If you can’t afford $1.5 million+ every year in security detail expenses, well, then that’s just too bad.
Elections Have Consequences
From the Virginia Shooting Sports Association:
Gun control activist Lori Haas has been appointed to the McAuliffe transition team.
This woman is not a general political leader who just happened to stick her toe into the gun control waters. Her entire mission is gun control, and she now works for CSGV. Obama doesn’t even recognize them as a mainstream enough gun control group to invite them to the weekly White House meetings, according to the press.
And, yet, this is what Virginians voted for in regards to gun laws. Good luck, folks.
Hunting is Actually in Far Deeper Trouble Than Shooting
For all the talk from “Fudds” and of “Fudds,” I think hunting is in far greater danger, both politically and culturally, than target shooting is. I offer you exhibit A in making that case. And for those of you who think people will always be OK with killing Bambi, all it takes is a new series on Animal Planet and you guys are screwed too. At least one person in the comments seems to get it:
By the way, one of my guides in Zimbabwe said this: “Well, now Botswana has made all hunting illegal. That means that there will be no one hunting the poachers. They will get in and decimate the animals in the National Parks. There will be so little wildlife left that the eco-tourism will completely bottom out — and they won’t have any money to try to combat poachers.”
Hunting in Africa is what pays for conservation in Africa, but there’s real passion in “saving” the animals. It’s a religion for them, and people will go to great lengths over religion.
UPDATE: Fate of the Western Black Rhino, driven not to extinction my managed and legal hunting, but driven to extinction by poachers whose demand was fed by maoist policy in Communist China.
Another MAIG Mayor in Trouble – Again
Mike Bloomberg knows how to find the very best representatives to help him in his effort to promote gun control for the little people. Men like Monticello, NY Mayor Gordon Jenkins support his efforts, and Bloomberg proudly boasts of their support.
Let’s look at the man who wants to help Bloomberg take the most popular firearms today off the market through gun bans:
In 2011, according to news accounts, Jenkins admitted to “selling knockoff Nike sneakers and bogus DVDs” out of his store. He was convicted and paid a fine.
In 2012, Jenkins was arrested for hitting and injuring a local police officer in an altercation outside of his beauty supply store. That case against him is actually coming up next month in court.
This weekend, Jenkins was arrested for drunk driving, refusing to take the sobriety test, then resisting arrest, and punching police department property once they finally got him down to the station.
This mayor who, based on his arrest record, seemingly likes to punch law enforcement-related things – officers and property – is the kind of guy that Bloomberg is proud to promote as his ally today. (h/t to NYSRPA)
