2009 – Page 155 – Shall Not Be Questioned

National Parks Carry Bill as Proposed

It’s actually considerably better than the rule promulgated by the Bush Administration:

(b) Protecting the Right of Individuals To Bear Arms in Units of the National Park System and the National Wildlife Refuge System.–The Secretary of the Interior shall not promulgate or enforce any regulation that prohibits an individual from possessing a firearm including an assembled or functional firearm in any unit of the National Park System or the National Wildlife Refuge System if–

(1) the individual is not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing the firearm; and

(2) the possession of the firearm is in compliance with the law of the State in which the unit of the National Park System or the National Wildlife Refuge System is located.

That’s the right law.Â It would also protect lawful open carrying of firearms in states which allow it.Â There are some states, however, like Florida (Florida either fixed its law or I’m wrong about it), that prohibit possession of firearms in National Parks as part of state law, so you’re still screwed there until you can fix the state law.Â But for the rest of us, this is probably the best we could have asked for.Â Thank you Tom Coburn!

New Line of Air Rifles

With ammuniution supplies almost non-existant, it’s a good time to think about getting some air guns.Â The Firearm Blog takes a look at some new offerings by Crossman.

More from Germany

Aside from the fact that Germany is looking to ban Laser Tag and Paintball games, they are also looking to do this:

The draft law would also bar youths under the age of 18 from shooting high-caliber firearms at target practice.

Particularly controversial is the plan to conduct random checks on gun-owners’ properties to make sure weapons and ammunition are stored and locked properly. Even in cases where no wrongdoing is suspected gun owners who refuse police access face the prospect of having their licenses revoked.

An electronic firearms registry would also be introduced, as well as biometric security systems to help ensure weapons are only used by their rightful owners.

If they ever succeed in reducing us down to low enough numbers, this is the kind of thing you can expect.Â The only thing “reasonable gun control” is meant to accomplish is the destruction of our political power, so that we may be finally killed off at a time and place when public hysteria over something creates the right opportunity.

Not Doing Enough

Obama could really do more, they say, to pass sensible gun laws, says the Washington Post.

New Bison 6.8SPC AR Uppers

I have a 6.8 upper made by the company formerly known as Ko-Tonics, and now very nearly formerly known as Cardinal Armory.Â Fortunatly, there’s a new kid in town making 6.8 SPC gear known as Bison Armory.Â Steve from the Firearm Blog shows off some of their stuff.Â I enjoy shooting mine when I can get it out, and I’m still using the brass I collected from GBR II back in 2007.Â Fits on any standard AR lower.

Cheerios an Untested New Drug

From the Food and Drug Administration:

Based on claims made on your product’s label, we have determined that your CheeriosÂ® Toasted Whole Grain Oat Cereal is promoted for conditions that cause it to be a drug because the product is intended for use in the prevention, mitigation, and treatment of disease. Specifically, your CheeriosÂ® product bears the following claims ort its label: “you can Lower Your Cholesterol 4% in 6 weeks” […]

Working in the industry, I know a fair amount about these regulations, and the FDA is technically correct in its ruling.Â But if this isn’t an example of the government being out of control, I don’t know what is.

Senate Passes National Park Carry Amendment

Senator Tom Coburn proposed an amendment to the credit card bill to restore concealed carry rights in national parks. The amendment needed 60 votes, according to C-SPAN and passed with 67 votes. Interesting observations:

Claire McCaskill, AHSA’s pet Senator, changed her vote after initially supporting gun rights to oppose the right to carry in federal parks.
Arlen Specter stuck with us on gun rights and voted yes.
Michael Bennett from Colorado, in what may be his first vote on the issue, voted with us.Â I’ll see if it was in fact his first later.
Kirsten Gillibrand voted no, but that wasn’t enough to stop the senior Senator from New York ranting like a madman on the Senate floor to other Senators.
Mark Warner of Virginia voted for it, maintaining his reasonable record on the issue.
Patrick Leahy, in a bit of a surprise, voted for our rights as well.Â He must be trying to improve his grade, not a bad move to help start that process.

UPDATE: What the hell is Lamar Alexander doing voting against this?Â He was A-rated and endorsed last election in 2008?Â Â Did he gets his “yes” confused with “no?”Â Did Tom Coburn piss in his cornflakes?Â We’ll see if we can find out.

Test of Federal Felon-in-Possession of Body Armor

The 9th Circuit has decided that because body armor once moved in interstate commerce, the federal government can regulate possession of it.Â This theory of the commerce clause is, in my opinion, quite properly referred to as “the herpes theory” of the commerce clause.Â It is also this theory under which felon-in-possession of firearms is regulated at the federal level, and also by which national concealed carry is based.Â This issue actually came up a few years ago in the 10th circuit, and that circuit came to the same decision as the 9th.Â A circuit split would make the Supreme Court more likely to hear the case, but perhaps they will want a chance to refine their commerce clause juris purdence further.Â Now would be the time, given that The Court is only going to get more progressive in makeup as the Obama Administration drags on.

Above His Pay Grade

Joe Biden has some humerous discussion with some fifth graders.

Brady Joins Pittsburgh Lawsuit

The Brady Campaign is joining the NRA lawsuit against Lost and Stolen in Pittsburgh on the side of the City of Pittsburgh.

“When the NRA sued Pittsburgh, it made the national press,” Mr. Shields said. “I was contacted by a representative of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, which offered pro bono services to the city.

“I spoke with the city solicitor, and he was more than pleased that help was on the way. He and two other attorneys were working on it, and our Law Department is stretched already.”

I don’t know Mr. Shields, the Brady Campaign’s track record in court lately hasn’t exactly been stellar, and the law in this case is not exactly on the city’s side.

“The only people that would have a problem with this reasonable ordinance are people who are trafficking or otherwise supplying the criminal gun market and then want to get away with it by later claiming that their gun was lost or stolen,” he said.

Or people who recognize that supplying guns to criminals is already unlawful, and is a felony.Â And they might even recognize that the state should be forced to meet its burden in proving the crime.Â It should not get to bring a charge under an easier crime to prosecute because it can’t meet its burden, and believes the party to be guilty as charged.Â That’s not what a just society does.Â Innocident people will end up criminals because of these laws.