One Republican lawmaker is upset about the growing lack of full service stations, so he’s introducing a bill to mandate stations maintain at least one full service pump. I’m not in favor of such a mandate, but thinking about the problem, it probably wouldn’t be all that difficult to build a robot that could pump gas.
Month: August 2010
Delaware Housing Authority Breaks under Lawsuit
Looks like they are relenting on the policy of banning firearms in public housing, but it’s not clear yet whether their new policy is going to be acceptable.
Among the things Pileggi said were objectionable in the draft regulations is a proposed ban on carrying weapons in “common areas” of WHA buildings. He said the rule appears aimed at preventing “someone from just hanging out” with a firearm and is an improper restriction of Second Amendment rights.
He also objected to a proposed requirement that anyone who has a gun in a WHA building be prepared to produce a permit showing he is allowed to carry it.
The solution would be to defer to state law on common areas. If you have a CDWL from the State of Delaware, or are otherwise carrying the firearm in compliance with state law (e.g. openly), you should be fine.
NYC Pulling Licenses of Disabled Cops
The suspensions were ordered, sources say, because the ex-cops had applied for or had received Social Security benefits involving a mental illness — a circumstance that would contradict what they told the NYPD to get their gun permits.
It looks like the cops are suffering from such things as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, an issue that in no other state that I can think of is reason to bar someone their right to keep and bear arms, and certainly not federally. The issue of whether the claims are fraudulent aside, NYC should not be able to revoke someone’s rights at a whim.
And these are the kinds of reasonable gun laws that Mayor Mike and his merry band of Illegal Mayors want to bring to the rest of America.
LTC Price Issue Fixed (For Now)
Looks like all the area sheriffs who were overcharging for licenses have agreed to stop, and will issue the state mandated 25 dollar license. They will also keep issuing the plastic ones for a higher price, but it looks like that might change when the uniform standards are announced.
I’m asking the Snowflakes in Hell research division to find out for me any information we can report about the new standards that might be put in place, to see what changes it may portend for your average LTC holder. I will report when there’s more information.
Harry Must Really Not Want that Endorsement
It would have been nearly impossible politically for Harry Reid to have voted “no” on Kagan, but come on Harry, we’re not this stupid. You can put a bow on the turd, but that doesn’t make it smell any better.
Carry Allowed
New Shooting Show on Versus
3-Gun Nation. Looks interesting. Sponsored by SureFire. Since I live in Comcast Hell, I don’t get the Outdoor Channel that has all Michael Bane’s stuff (warning, stuff will auto play) unless I buy the super-duper premium arm and leg package.
If You’re Going to Get Fired …
… you might as well go out in style:
A JetBlue flight attendant apparently upset with an uncooperative passenger on a just-landed flight unleashed a profanity-laden tirade on the public-address system, pulled the emergency-exit chute, slid off the plane and fled Kennedy International Airport, a law enforcement official said.
I’d say that qualifies. Apparently the guy stole a few beers from the plane to take with him on his slide to the unemployment line too. Icing for the cake.
San Francisco Transit Authority Bans Depictions of Guns?
I’m not sure how the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency can ban depictions of guns in movie posters isn’t a violation of the First Amendment. Generally speaking, the restrictions allowed on commercial speech are greater than that on non-commercial speech, but I don’t believe this kind of restriction is permissible, in addition to being thoroughly ridiculous in terms of public policy. The Supreme Court created a test for commercial speech restrictions in the case of Central Hudson Gas & Electric v. Public Service Commission. Subsequent cases have not been so friendly toward restrictions on commercial speech, and given the expressive content in movie posters, it’s difficult to see how the SFMTA, which is a governmental agency, can justify their restriction. There have been other cases of this happening that have resulted in federal injunctions. The promotion company should really file suit and get an injunction against the SFMTA, rather than taking a poster like this, and turning into a mockery like this.
UPDATE: Bitter e-mailed Eugene Volokh, the real expert on these matters, because I wasn’t very sure about my position because of the fact that this is a transportation authority. His opinion is that is it unconstitutional, but for different reasons than I laid out.
UPDATE: After reading more closely, not really that different from what I thought. But I’m not that informed on the matter of public/non-public venues as Professor Volokh is.
Joyce Grants
John Richardson takes a close look at the Joyce Foundation’s giving this year. It seems to be pretty highly focused on shaping the media environment. I suspect Joyce realizes the loss of media interest in gun control over the past decade has been a real problem for the movement. Notice the 400,000 dollar grant to Media Matters, which will no doubt begin covering the gun issue. The other prong of their giving seems to be in the public health realm.
Joyce would seem to believe they are in “hearts and minds” territory, which is where we would like them to be.