Category: Guns

From Dave Hardy:

Sylvester Stallone, a Brady Campaign stalwart, who’s said “”until America, door to door, takes every handgun, this is what you’re gonna have… It really is pathetic… We’re livin’ in the Dark Ages over there,” turns out to have a CCW permit, issued by the celebrity-loving LA County Sheriff.

Oh, and listing four handguns that he will be packing.

California has a discretionary permit system that the Brady Campaign upholds as a model for the nation. It’s always been the case that in these types of systems, the powerful and connected can get licenses to protect themselves, while the ordinary folk are left hung out to dry. As much as I might agree with the no issue systems of Chicago and Wisconsin, they are at least honest; no one gets a license, period. In the states, such as New Jersey, California, New York, and Massachusetts, the gun permits have become political patronage.

Anyone who takes Sly Stallone’s views on the gun issue seriously at this point is a fool.

UPDATE: Sigvald made the point that these statements were years ago. This is true, but this was a year ago. It’s a 2006 Brady event where Sly was in attendance. This would have been after he was issued a concealed weapons permit, so you have to wonder if he was packing to the event.

Ryan Horsely thinks it’s a strong possibility.  I looked at this:

TF stated its requirements for the planned system: “The Web portal shall support law enforcement activities, a collaborative work environment, remote access to databases and software, surveillance and streaming video applications over an integrated wireless infrastructure encompassing a broad spectrum of wireless devices and a secure e-mail system using iPass Mobile Systems software and products.”

I’m an IT professional, and to me that’s complete nonsense.  I have no idea what they are talking about, and I doubt they do either.  Does this mean there’s no reason to worry?  I would worry.

A group of gun dealers and a few state lawmakers are filing suit to keep PICS from shutting down for four days in September.  Rendell’s office had this to say:

“Although we understand that there is no perfect time to upgrade the system the simple fact remains that the system must be upgraded,” Rendell spokesman Chuck Ardo said.

Rendell is looking at possibly delaying the upgrade.  As an IT professional, I can tell you there’s no reason for a multi-day outage.  Any upgrade should be able to be completed in a few overnight hours, at worst.  At best, things like this can be done with no downtime at all.   Banks manage to do it, online retailers manage to do it.  I’m not suggesting this is a deliberate attempt to screw gun owners, but the PA State Police might want to consider hiring more competent IT help.

Hat tip to Rightwingprof 

Go read Countertop’s great post on the decline of hunting in Virginia. He places the blame on the NRA and Christian Coalition:

You see, the NRA has so far refused to engage in the fight. I blame some of their internal staff, one of whom apparently used to run the lobby shop for the Christian Coalition. I have it on good word that he (and others inside the organization) are often more aligned with Pat Robertson on issues than with the NRA’s actual membership (which would go a long way towards explaining the organizations recent trend away from being Non Partisan and instead becoming an arm of the Republican Party).

…

So what gives NRA? Why aren’t you pressing to save Virginia hunting?? Cam, can we get you to ask this question? Michael? Dave?

Whether people want to admit it or not, with all the terms like “fudd” and the like thrown around, hunters are a critical component for the right to keep and bear arms, both in terms of a positive public image of the shooting sports, and in political advocacy.

While it’s true that a lot of hunters couldn’t be bothered to get involved, in my experience with grass roots politics in this issue, at least in Pennsylvania, when the chips are down it’s hunters who show up. When I attended the Committee of the Whole in Harrisburg last year, most of the other pro-gun types I ran into, who weren’t the activists from ACSL, were affiliated with the state’s hunting communities and sportsmens groups. Pro-gun folks numbered all of about 400, compared to the thousands the city bussed in. The more hunting loses, the more we all lose, so it’s something those of us who identify more as shooters need to be concerned about.

UPDATE: Countertop has more here and here.