February 2008 – Page 20 – Shall Not Be Questioned

Too Lax

Maureen Downey, who is the queen of PSH for the Atlanta Journal and Constipation, isn’t happy with Georgia’s permitting process, or the new bill to ease carry restrictions:

Supporters defend the expansion by pointing out that it applies only to Georgians with permits to carry concealed weapons. That would be more reassuring if acquiring a permit involved a careful screening process, but it does not.

Under Georgia law, police chiefs and sheriffs are all but forced to grant concealed carry permits to anyone who can buy a handgun; there is no requirement that permit holders undergo safety training.

In contrast, California gives police far more discretion to deny concealed weapon permits. In a state of 37 million people, about 50,000 Californians are licensed to carry concealed weapons. Compare that to Georgia, a state of 9 million people where an estimated 300,000 people have permits.

Of course, what she’s hoping you don’t notice is what the criteria for issuing a license in Georgia actually are, and that applicants are indeed subject to background checks.

In addition to that, it’s worthwhile to note that Georgia has a lower violent crime rate than California. She also brings up the VPC’s debunked study showing Texas license holders are particularly prone to criminal behavior. Keep drinking the kool aid Ms. Downey. Tastes good doesn’t it?

LCB Privitization Bill

State Senator Rob Wonderling thinks Pennsylvania should get out of the retail liquor business.Â I couldn’t agree more.

A bill to privatize retail liquor sales in Pennsylvania was introduced yesterday by a Montgomery County senator who wants the proceeds earmarked to meet the state’s Medicare obligations and to fund a “wholesale structural reform of our state’s health care system.”

Republican Sen. Rob Wonderling said Pennsylvania should get out of the retail liquor business because it is not a core government function.

Under his bill, 30-year franchises for about two-thirds of the 623 state stores would immediately be sold to the highest bidder, while the remaining stores would be offered to a private equity firm. The equity firm would have a 51 percent share, while the state retained a 49 percent share.

The intent for the “hybrid” approach, according to Mr. Wonderling, is to have the equity firm get the stores that are running efficiently, then sell them for the highest possible price.

The state would retain control of the wholesale liquor operation, and there would be no change in how beer is sold.

Of course, I think this bill is a good first step.Â I would like to see further privitization, and relaxing the regulations on beer and wine sales to be more in line with other states.

Even More SHOT

Looks like there are some fun 22LR firearms coming out, including a .22LR target pistol from Walther. There’s also the Ruger Charger, which looks like it would be a great pistol to use for handgun silhouette. Anyone has to love a revolver that can fire a .410 shotgun shell. I agree with Uncle that this little folder is way cool.

This Kalashnikov looks like an NFA item, but would be an excellent home defense rifle if you don’t live in a crowded area where over penetration is a concern. Even more pictures of TDI’s Kriss Vector CRB/SO. The more I’m thinking about it, the more I think I’d pay the NFA tax to get an SBR version of this. The SCAR-L would appear to be another SBR. One thing I haven’t liked about the SCAR is that the folding stock look like it’s attached to a door hinge, but ugly is OK if it’s functional.

UPDATE: There’s also SHOT Business.

Attention Super Tuesday Voters

A bit of advice from Snowflakes in Hell: Go out and vote your conscience.Â Mitt, John, Ron, even Fred is on the ballot still some places; it’s all going to end up smelling just as bad come time to vote in November anyway.

Making it Big Time?

When people are coming up for words to describe the linking experience.Â Â I am happy just to be able to drive traffic someone’s way.Â It’s satisfying after a while of people sending it my way.Â I’m not sure how I feel about “Flake-a-launch” though.Â Maybe “Seb-a-launch” or perhaps “Snow-a-launch.”Â Â Though perhaps flake is appropriate ;)

Going Into Super Tuesday

It’s also Fat Tuesday, by the way, which is just fine, because the results of this election, so far, are enough to drive anyone to drink.Â I think we’re quite likely to have a Republican front runner after tomorrow, and I strongly suspect that’s going to be McCain.Â I have a feeling tomorrow is going to be a good day for Obama too, but we shall see.

McCain seems to be doing well among the conservative law professor crowd.Â Even though I’m not voting until April 22nd in Pennsylvania’s irrelevant primary, I would feel a lot better about voting for McCain myself if he would promise to put some Volokh Conspirators on the high court.

Ordered 15 More Ounces of Gunzilla

I just received another three five ounce bottles of Gunzilla. It took me a while to go through the 1.9 ounce bottle I got at the NRA convention, just to try out. My original review of their product was here. The stuff works so well I ordered myself what will probably be a two year supply. One of the 5 ounce bottles will be for Bitter, to go with her new present which is on its way here thanks to Traction Control.

I can’t say enough good things about this cleaner. It works just as well as petroleum based cleaners, has virtually no odor, and isn’t a hazardous material.

Scary Riot Gear

The Peruvian Police have some very menacing looking riot gear.Â I’m not sure I’m comfortable with how they appear to be marching either.

Confused on Clinton’s Gun Position

For once I share Bryan Miller’s sentiment on something.Â I also think Clinton’s assault on Obama’s stance on guns is laughable on its face.

So, we must turn our attention to the Democrats. Democrats like Clinton should know by now that pandering to the pro-gun community will not work. How many Dems have to be ostentatiously photographed in duck blinds or loudly claim fealty to the Second Amendment – and then lose – for the rest to realize that such pro-gun nonsense fools no one on either side? To pro-gunners, these are amusing missteps by candidates who would never get their votes anyway, and it makes the rest of us yearn for a candidate who is genuine and principled.

I agree, it’s not going to help her win that vote.Â Pretty much everyone knows what Hillary’s position was on the issue, and no amount of kowtowing to the pro-gun vote is really going to help her much.

That said, it has to be frustrating for gun control activists to see candidates on both parties running away from their issue like a panicking crowd in a bad Godzilla movie.

Another View on National Park Carry

From Andrew McKean of Outdoor Life’s “The Gun Shots” blog:

On the other side, some of the most passionate gun-rights advocates claim their Second Amendment rights allow them to carry guns anywhere, forgetting that the American landscape is dotted with areas where private guns are prohibited. These include prisons, military installations and most public buildings.

The sensible middle is where this proposal should be debated. The Interior Department should relax firearms restrictions in national parks and refuges because it keeps honest people honest. And because it would prevent otherwise law-abiding gun owners from inadvertently becoming felons simply because they cross a jurisdictional boundary.

I am not at all opposed to the proposal for allowing unconcealed or cased firearms to be transported through National Parks. If that all the DOI is willing to give us, I’ll take it, and will advocate strongly for it. But I wouldn’t discount so readily how inconvenient the ban on concealed carry is for people who have state licenses to do so. The perspective of someone out west might be a bit different than mine.

Out West, the parks are big, and boundaries more apparent. Here the parks are small, and often not readily apparent. I routinely drive through property owned by the Department of Interior, namely Valley Forge National Park, sometimes Hopewell National Historic Site, and on the grounds of Independence National Historical Park. In the last case the street outside these places is technically under authority of DOI, but it also a Philadelphia city street. Am I to cross the street? Or drive around Valley Forge constantly? Going miles out of my way?

Most people who drive through these state rights-of-way are often unaware they are in a National Park. While DOI says they enforce state law on state rights-of-way, there’s always the problem of hitting a deer (a real possibility in Valley Forge), and suddenly finding yourself in violation of federal law because you stopped.

The National Park restrictions on concealed carry a major impediment to those who choose to carry. I would hope sportsmen will get behind the most recent efforts to force DOI compliance with state laws on this matter, and won’t merely support a “middle ground” which will only really benefit them.