Wednesday, January 07, 2009

How You Can Help Hold Holder

So far this week, we've explained why Obama attorney general nominee Eric Holder is a terrible choice for gun owners, and why we should oppose his confirmation. We then explored alternative objections should the senators we contact have a track record of hostility to the Second Amendment.

It's important for those of us who believe in the right to keep and bear arms to take two actions, and to do so immediately, as a hearing by the Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled for the 15th of this month. [More]
This is the wrap-up to the priority I've been focusing most of my energies on this week. I hope you decide to get involved and take the few simple actions requested.

As always, your assistance spreading the word on Gun Rights Examiner columns is appreciated.

A Second Amendment Expert

An expert on U.S. colonial law at Washington University in St. Louis who consulted on the recent Second Amendment case argued before the Supreme Court says that the right of the people to keep and bear arms most likely will not be an issue that Obama will address as president early in his term — if at all. [More]
See, an "Authorized Journalist" told us this guy's an expert, so we should just accept that along with what he says, right?

Not so fast.

John Richardson sent me a copy of his email to Susan Killenberg McGinn, and is allowing me to share it with you:
Dear Ms. McGinn,

I just read your interview with Prof. David Konig regarding future gun control legislation in the soon-to-be Obama administration.

http://news-info.wustl.edu/news/page/normal/13171.html

In it, you refer to Prof. Konig as "An expert on U.S. colonial law at Washington University in St. Louis who consulted on the recent Second Amendment case argued before the Supreme Court..."

Saying that Prof. Konig consulted is somewhat disingenuous for two reasons. First, he wasn't a "consultant" but rather was a signatory to an amicus curiae brief submitted to the Supreme Court. This goes well beyond being a mere consultant.

Secondly, and most importantly, Prof. Konig submitted his brief in support of the District of Columbia which was trying to say that the 2nd Amendment did NOT protect the right to keep and bear arms as an individual right. The Court rejected this interpretation and did find that the 2nd Amendment protected an individual right.

Finally, given the Prof. Konig is a Professor of Law and History and not a political scientist with an expertise in either modern legislative politics or Presidential politics, his opinion on what Pres.-Elect Obama will or will not do with regard to future gun control policy is the equivalent of mine. That is, it is opinion rendered on a subject in which he is interested but only as a gifted amateur in the field.

Sincerely,

John P. Richardson
Waynesville NC

"People Should Be Content"

Cagle was emphatic in his opposition Monday.

“Let me be clear,” he said, adding that the issue was dealt with last year. “People should be content with where we are.” [More]

That's us, a bunch of cud-chewing contented cows. I guess if a government official can define the limits to our pursuit of Happiness, he's also authorized to weigh in on other unalienable Rights like Life and Liberty...

You can contact this tyrannical dolt here.

You might begin with the words "Let me be clear..."


[Click to enlarge]

Pandering to Gun-Toting Conservatives

Hotline makes an excellent point in how pandering to gun-toting conservatives may not be the most salient skill for re-energizing the minority party that suffered bruising losses against a combo Democratic National Committee-Obama grass-roots/net-roots juggernaut... [More]
Wrong, and this more than anything shows how the soulless, principle-free "moderates" are bent on driving out a traditional core constituency--to the point I have to wonder how many of them are really this ignorant, vs. which ones are Fifth Columnists.

Get it straight, lady: they didn't pander. They dodged.

But there is a silver lining. You don't think they'd have brought it up at all unless we'd done what we did here on WarOnGuns, do you?

[Via Mack H]

We're the Only Ones Intelligently Monitoring Enough

The Maryland State Police surveillance of advocacy groups was far more extensive than previously acknowledged, with records showing that troopers monitored -- and labeled as terrorists -- activists devoted to such wide-ranging causes as promoting human rights and establishing bike lanes. [More]
Gee, I wonder if they also keep tabs on us "Homegrown Terrorists"?

And why would they call "Only Ones" who waste resources promulgating a police state "intelligence officers"?

[Via Mack H]

A Matter of Convenience

A good Samaritan shot and killed an armed man Monday night who was beating a woman with a bottle at an Ocoee gas station, police said. [More]
I wonder if the convenience store makes it inconvenient for its employees to defend themselves...?

Ya think?

[Via Mama Liberty]

The Safety of His Business

Two suspected robbers picked the wrong shop to mess with on Monday.

They are both in the hospital after a jewelry store owner took the safety of his business into his own hands. [More]
"Authorized Journalists."

The animals initiated an assault. He was defending his life.

"Took [it] in his hands..."

Where the hell does it belong?

I'm just surprised they didn't end up calling the guy a "vigilante."

[Via Chris K]

Another Look...

...at the BART murder... [More]

[Via Joe G]

Gun Nuts Radio: Open Carry

Tonight on Gun Nuts radio, we're going to be discussing Open Carry, and it's value (or lack thereof) to the pro-gun shooting and activism community. Joining us on tonight's show will be Meleanie Hain, the PA open carry advocate who had her LTC revoked (and then restored) after OC'ing at her child's soccer game. [More]
Well, it's actually last night, but this will let you listen to the archived program.

Per Ahab, via email:
It's amazing how much better she comes across when she's not being filtered by the MSM.
What have we been saying about "Authorized Journalists"...?

UPDATE: I've been listening to this as I post. There is one statement she makes I take strong exception to:
Open carry is a right. Concealed carry is a privilege.
Why?

We're the Only Ones Pushy Enough

Chattanooga Police Det. Kenneth Freeman will not face charges in an incident in which he shoved a 71-year-old greeter at the Wal-Mart in Collegedale to the floor after he tried to stop him while doing a receipts check.

Collegedale Police declined to bring charges... [More]
Could I be more surprised?

Y'know, assaulting old people and shoving customers through glass sounds like grand fun. I wonder if that sport is available to all of us, or reserved exclusively for the "Only Ones"?

We could ask Collegedale PD Chief Cramer: dcramer@collegedaletn.gov

And we could ask Chatanooga PD Chief Cooper: WebPoliceDept@mail.chattanooga.gov

Think they'd tell us to shove it? Let's find out:



[Via RCB]

Meanwhile, Over in Sarah Brady Paradiso

Soaring on cocaine, guns smoking, the Camorra hit squad sped down the Via Domitiana, the road built along the Bay of Naples during the Roman Empire.

The gangsters had just killed an arcade owner. Now they were hunting an African drug dealer. [More]
Mama Mia! It'sa good thing they gotta such strong "gun control" over there!

Meanwhile, Across the Pond in Sarah Brady Paradise...

A disabled woman was slashed repeatedly with a knife after confronting a gang who had stabbed her dog to death in her garden. [More]
Sounds like she could have used one of these...

[Via Zachary G]

Congress' Plan Would Let AG 'Ban Guns at Will'

A perfect storm is developing for Second Amendment opponents that could allow President-elect Barack Obama's choice for attorney general – Eric Holder – to "ban guns at will" despite the 2008 affirmation from the U.S. Supreme Court that U.S. citizens have a right to bear arms. [More]
WorldNetDaily's Bob Unruh sheds more light on why it's important to block Eric Holder, and gives a nod to one of my Gun Rights Examiner columns.

The article he cites by Alan Korwin is posted here.

[Via MP]

Stop Treating CHL Holders as Potential Criminals

As I've noted in several columns on the OFCC website (listed below), gun control advocates have been screeching about last months rule change by the Department of the Interior that lifted the total ban on firearms in National Parks and Wildlife Refuges and instead specified that they follow the laws of the state in which it is located. [More]
Daniel White reacts to a bit of Feinsteinian hysteria in today's Cleveland Gun Rights Examiner column.

Thanks, JR!

He's made it easy for us to contact the Senate Judiciary Committee and our senators to object to the Holder nomination. [More]

The Los Angeles Gun Rights Examiner

Join me in welcoming John Longenecker as the new Los Angeles Gun Rights Examiner. [More]
This is exciting for me, because in under three months since I approached Examiner.com, my column has gone national, we have a new Examiner in Cleveland, and now a columnist on the West Coast.

I love it when a plan comes together.

You can find out more about John in my post today (scroll down to second topic).

This Day in History: January 7

Royal Governor to East Florida, Patrick Tonyn, wrote to Lord Germain that the estates of Sir James Wright (Royal Governor of Georgia and South Carolina) and others had been seized in Georgia. A Battery was also being built at Tybee Island, GA. [More]