If American immigration policy had any brains at all, which it does not, we’d find this guy and offer him a green card. Anyone who builds a helicopter out of spare parts and flies it to 2600 feet based on a middle school physics education and what he managed to find on his cell phone browser is OK in my book.
Month: August 2009
It’s a Shame They Can’t Make a Jet …
… that runs on hypocrisy. If they did, I think Congress really could solve our energy problems.
Reloads and Backup Guns
Brillianter looks at the subject. I’ve generally only carried an extra magazine in Winter, when they can be easily concealed. I carry a Glock 19, which has 15 rounds, and figure that should be enough to get through most self-defense scenarios. In summer, when I carry the Kel-Tec much more than the Glock, I do usually carry one extra magazine in the pocket. Ideally you’d carry all the same equipment as a police officer, but for civilians that’s not usually possible to do, and remain comfortable, and discreet. Go have a read. You can’t possibly carrying everything, but I like Brillianter’s strategy of thinking about what expands your options and capability, and to what degree, and using that information to decide what tradeoffs to make.
Good News on the Raffle Front
Kevin reports that he and Soldiers Angels have come up with a PayPal free way to continue their raffling of a Para GI Export to raise money for the organization. This is good both from the standpoint of Soldiers Angels continuing to raise money, and from the standpoint of sticking it to PayPal.
Look to the Cookie
Bitter reports that Wal-Mart is making virtual clones of the famous Girl Scout Cookies. Not really believing this, we went out to Wal-Mart to seek out their versions of Thin Mints and Tagalongs. I have to admit, it’s an accurate and yummy facsimile. Needless to say, Girl Scout moms are furious, as they believe Wal-Mart is stealing from that organization. Personally, I just like the cookies, and if the Girl Scouts want me to have sympathy for them, they can start by coming into the 1990s with women’s rights, and letting the girls earn marksmanship badges like the Boy Scouts. Hey, I’m all about equality. In the meantime, I’m going to enjoy the cheap and yummy knockoff cookies.
A Failure to Discuss?
This is the pot calling the kettle black. Bryan Miller says we fail to discuss issues. This is the pot calling the kettle black. I will prove him wrong by attempting to engage in reasoned discourse. I’m sure it will be quickly followed by Reasoned DiscourseTM:
All can agree it is the responsibility of the legislature and administration to mediate between individual privilege and the common good. In this case, the common good is public safety and mediation has resulted in a moderate limit on handgun purchases, to diminish handgun trafficking.
Yes, but we’re not talking about individual privilege. We’re speaking of a constitutional right. A right Bryan. Get used to saying it, because it’s law now. A right. Now that we are speaking about the right terms, can you explain to me what other constitutional rights we ration? If I want to pick up three pistols, one for home, and one for me to carry and for my wife to carry, can you explain why I have to wait three months to do this?  Or have one gun for my primary residence, and one for my beach house, why I have to wait two months to make the purchase? Remember, it’s a right. You don’t get to argue I don’t need a gun to defend myself. The Supreme Court already ruled that out.
The law regulates purchases of handguns only. It in no way affects purchases of long guns, such as hunting rifles and shotguns. Since it is illegal to hunt with handguns in NJ, the law does not affect hunting at all.
It’s illegal to hunt with a handgun in New Jersey, but it is not illegal to hunt with handguns in many other states, and New Jersey hunters may want to avail themselves of hunting opportunities in other states. But that aside, this isn’t, and never has been about hunting.
While it is true a majority of crime guns recovered in NJ are traced back to states with weaker gun laws, ATF data shows that more than a quarter of recovered crime guns were originally purchased from in-state gun dealers. This is a substantial portion of guns used in crime, which this law is intended to reduce.
Originally purchased how long ago on average? How many were stolen, rather than purchased? How many were purchased through multiple purchases? You don’t know this.
ATF data has also shown that several NJ gun dealers have had both “frequent multiple sales to individuals” and “multiple crime guns traced” to them, indicators of likely trafficking originating at gun stores, according to ATF.
Considering how few dealers are left in New Jersey, I wouldn’t be surprised of many New Jersey gun dealers have frequent multiple gun sales, and frequent trace requests. That doesn’t mean that the multiple sales are ending on the black market, and I doubt you have any proof of this.
This law contravenes no one’s Constitutional rights. The US Supreme Court stated, in last year’s Heller ruling, that individuals have a Second Amendment right to possess handguns in homes for self-protection, but that said ruling “should not be taken to cast doubt on…laws imposing conditions and qualifications on the commercial sale of arms,” a clear endorsement of NJ’s ability to regulate handgun purchases.
It’s simplistic to argue that any condition or qualification on a commercial sale is constitutional. If that is the case, what’s to prevent a state from creating a qualification that only people who have incomes above 80,000 a year and good credit ratings may purchase a firearm? If you want to argue it’s constitutional, that’s one thing, but you’ll find nothing in Heller that states that rationing this right is among the types of “conditions and qualifications” the court is speaking to. Someone that has two residences, and suddenly find themselves under a credible threat might feel different about not being able to buy more than one firearm a month. Did Heller not speak for them?
Sorry Bryan, but we’re willing to have a coversation. You’re just not willing to listen to what we have to say. There was a time when you didn’t have to. Very soon that’s going to change, when your buddy Corzine is sent packing. You better get used to addressing us as fellow citizens with a reasonable point of view. The times are a changin’.
New Ballistics App
Winchester has developed a new external ballistics web app. You can find it here. First impression is that it’s written in Microsoft Silverlight, which is essentially Microsoft’s answer to Flash. This means I needed to download a plug-in in order to see it. Flash is the standard for this kind of thing. Why did they choose Silverlight?
Once I got the plugin issue squared away, looks like this one only does ballsitics for Winchester cartridges, and is very simple. Far from sophisticated enough to use for reloading or serious shooting, which Winchester also makes components for. Basically it would appear to be a marketing gimmick, rather than something genuinely useful for serious shooters. If you’re looking for something that does useful ballistics, I’d suggest Joe Huffman’s Modern Ballistics. I’ve also had luck with the iPhone app Ballistic.
So What?
The gunman who killed three women in an aerobics class at a Pittsburgh-area gym bought accessories for his weapons from the same dealer that sold a gun to the Virginia Tech shooter.
George Sodini, 48, purchased the items from TGSCOM Inc. of Green Bay, Wis., before committing the Aug. 4 massacre that left three women dead and nine wounded. He then killed himself.
They are a leading supplier. I’ve been a customer too. One of my Glock 15 round magazines was purchased from them, during the height of the Assault Weapons Ban, I might add. Cost me more back then, but the cost wasn’t prohibitive. My Glock came with two 10 round Clinton magazines. For carry, I decided to spring for the standard fifteen round mag. The day after the ban expired, I went out and bought two more stamped “Restricted – For Military and Law Enforcement Use Only” just because I could. But my point is that they are a leading supplier. I’m sure there are many many gun owners who have done business with them. I’d hate to have their name dragged through the mud, as if they are seeking out pscyhos and nutjobs to do business with.
Animal Rights Crusaders Taking Philadelphia Pets?
This is a very troubling account of a Philadelphia animal rights group swiping pets and refusing to work with breed experts who want to adopt them. In a very quick search, I didn’t find any media accounts to back it up, but I’m sure that’s because on its face, a story about a woman with a few too many dogs doesn’t sound that interesting. So instead I received verification from Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Then it gets interesting…
The local SPCA raided Wendy’s Willard’s kennel where she keeps her Murder Hollow Bassets on Monday night. They arrived with seven trucks and two police cars & informed her that one of her neighbours had complained about noise.Neither the neighbour nor the SPCA had previously complained to her, yet she has been there for 22 years.
As it turns out, Philadelphia County had recently passed an ordinance where no more than 12 animals may be kept on any property. The Murder Hollow kennels contained 23 bassets, less than the requirement to obtain a (US) Department of Agriculture kennel licence, but the kennel is just inside the city limits.
Under this law, the local SPCA have managed to acquire the power to seize people’s dogs without warning, by force and by night, and then to take them away to an unknown destination without any accountability.
The police took 12 hounds and delivered them to an SPCA animal rescue “shelter†in Philadelphia. From there the hounds were dispersed amongst other “sheltersâ€.
When I contacted the SPCA, they claimed that other blog coverage (and this is the only other blog coverage I’ve found) is inaccurate. I didn’t dive into exact raid details with their spokeswoman, but I’m curious about what exactly is inaccurate. She did not challenge or attempt to correct my understanding that the dogs were seized in response to a relatively new Philadelphia ordinance without warning or an effort to cooperate with the owner. (A quick search for information on this seems to verify that there was little or no media coverage of this change, prompting reasonable concerns that a full on raid may not have been the best way to address a concern of too many dogs.)
According to the blog post, basset owners from around the area have stepped up to care for the dogs, but have so far been refused. Why would a shelter that has an “urgent appeal” out for adoption homes ignore offers of assistance from breed specialists? So, I inquired about this rather odd development. Again, it was confirmed that these other owners have been contacting the PSPCA, but to no avail. The PSPCA claims that they have already sent the dogs out to a rescue shelter, and the operators of the rescue shelter maintain full discretion over who may see or adopt the dogs.
At this point, I’m more than a curious writer, but a concerned citizen. Why can a private organization come on to your property to enforce an ordinance, take your property, and then not be held accountable for the property? How can a rescue organization hold full determination over adoption rights for pets when even PSPCA admits they have not fully investigated the situation and alleged violations? Continue reading “Animal Rights Crusaders Taking Philadelphia Pets?”
Right on Cue With the Sotomayor Confirmation
The Brady’s are touting their latest victory over the big bad National Rifle Association because she was confirmed 68-31. Even the Washington Post is saying not so fast. NRA has been pushing pretty hard, and exploring the edge of the envelope. Defeating a Presidents nominee is extraordinarily difficult, and this result should not be surprising. But you will see many in the media attempt to play up NRA’s weakness here, and try to make the case for the gun control movement.
You had nine Republican Senators defect and vote for her. The nine were Vionovich (OH), Graham (SC), Alexander (TN), Gregg (NH), Bond (MO), Snowe (ME), Collins (ME), Lugar (IN), and Martinez (FL).
Here’s the situation as I see it. Previously we had a choice between lousy not lousy when it came to gun rights. The Democrats were lousy, and the Republicans were just enough not lousy to keep us voting for them. After suffering defeat after defeat, and at risk of becoming a regional party, the Democrats decided to run pro-gun candidates in conservative districts in order to rebuild their majority. The gambit worked! Now Republicans have to be very concerned that Democrats are threatning the loyalty of what has been a very significant voting bloc for them. NRA has 4 million members, and some 13 million, I believe, who have been members and are sympathetic. Additionally, I think I recall there being 33 million people who think they are members of the NRA. That’s nothing to sneeze at in politics.
So what we have before us in an opportunity to whip the Republicans a bit, and let them show us that they can out pro-gun the Democrats. I think the Thune amendment was part of that. I also think the Sotomayor vote is too. Nine defections certainly sucks, but 31 Republicans still voted against her confirmation. That’s 31 Republicans who just showed us they can out pro-gun the Democrats. Despite the loss, this puts us in a very good position. A lot of those pro-gun Dems will know they need to work to make it up to us for their vote on Sotomayor. Guys like Tester, Webb, Pryor, Begich, and the other pro-gun Dems know they are not going to win re-election or easily win re-election without NRA support. In essence, we may be in a position now where the pro-gun elements of each party, which are a majority of both houses of Congress, try to out do the other. It’s far from the reality the Brady’s are touting, and far from what you’ll see in media outlets. I honestly don’t think NRA’s power has ever been stronger, and we’re very very lucky that’s the case.