August 2011 – Page 16 – Shall Not Be Questioned

Illinois Carry Case Being Heard Today

Could be a big day for gun rights in the Land of Lincoln:

â€œWe have a very strong case,â€ Todd Vandermyde, a NRA lobbyist, said. â€œWhen you look at some of the briefs that have been filed by the state and attorney general and some of the arguments they are trying to make, I think it is clear they are very, very nervous.â€

Vandermyde specifically pointed to an argument made Madiganâ€™s office that since the state doesnâ€™t outlaw openly carrying a loaded gun outside of cities, towns and other incorporated parts of counties, there is not full scale prohibition.

Madigan’s argument would appear to be very weak here, as I don’t think it’s ever been considered that Illinois law allows carry outside the home under any circumstances. Even if it did, it seems odd to argue there’s a right to carry outside of cities and towns, but no concurrent right to carry in them. What other constitutional right is interpreted to work that way?

Does Canada’s Long Gun Registry Save Lives?

That’s the question being asked by the Vancouver Sun. I don’t really get how the answer is yes. If you’re using the registry to trace a gun, doesn’t that imply someone was already shot with it? Looks like advocates of the registry in Canada are now pointing out that if the registry is lifted, guns like the Ruger Mini-14, that horrific killing machine used in Norway, wouldn’t have to be registered.

Umm…. wasn’t Breivik’s Mini-14 registered, with all the proper paperwork? Hate to tell you folks, but pieces of paper don’t stop bullets.

Moving Quickly on Long Gun Requirement

NRA filed suit today in the long gun reporting requirement for border state FFLs. The lawsuit is filed on behalf of Arizona FFLs, in District Court in the DC circuit. My understanding is that if you are going to file suit against the federal government, you can either sue in the state, circuit and district where the plaintiff’s reside, or you can sue the federal government where it resides.

There is some precedent that would apparently seem to give a lot of leeway to demand letters. Pretty clearly the Administration wants to see how far this hobby horse can be ridden, even to the point of implementing something clearly illegal.

30 Rounds of PSH

The Washington Post is busy lamenting freedom in the US, and apparently Sweden.

These magazines too often find their way into the hands of deranged individuals, transforming them into efficient killing machines.

Do they also transform our police into efficient killing machines? If their only purpose is predation, why do the police need them? The media never wants to answer this question. I’ll make them a deal, write up a ban that applies to the police too, and get all major police groups behind it, I’ll get behind it too. I’m waiting, but not holding my breath.

To New York, and Back, and Back

Went up to New York yesterday to visit with a friend who is working at a place I’m going through the interview process with. Nice visit. There are things about the environment I’d find stimulating, and things I would find annoying. Space costs a premium in Manhattan, so folks are crammed together like sardines, with not much in the way of peace and quiet. Coming from the suburban office park to a boisterous, bohemian feeling work environment where I don’t have much personal space would be quite and adjustment. It’s also a very young workplace. That’s either going to make me feel very young, or very old. I’m still in the very preliminary stages with this job, so we’ll see how things progress. First round interview, after having survived the HR phone screen, is scheduled for next week.

Today I had a first round interview with another outfit in New York, and I think I nailed it. The job is right up my alley and doing the same kind of work I was doing for the previous company, in the same kind of research environment. Tomorrow I have a second round interview with the academic institution I’m seeking a job with. It would be very nice to have two offers to choose from, and I hope the timing can work out.

Free ice cream is going to be sparse for the next few days, unfortunately. Gotta pay the mortgage first.

2012: This Could Be Fun

If you’ve never volunteered for a campaign before, I strongly suggest 2012 as the year to start. Why?

Because when Rick Santorum is polling within 2 points of Barack in a state like Pennsylvania, you know that knocking on doors and making calls is going to result in awesome rants against the administration. If anything, you’ll be assured good laughs.

Being a Parent vs. Being a Crazy Lady

It’s always fun when moms write advice columns about kids and guns – you know, the kind without any actual knowledge of guns. Take this one I came across today. Her initial suggestion is along the lines of Eddie Eagle training & focusing on how guns aren’t like toys. That’s reasonable, but it may not be something that sticks well without a more thought-out lesson like Eddie Eagle.

Then she turns to a parenting coach who she doesn’t cite as having any knowledge of firearms. I’ll say this, at least the coach admits that her advice is embracing the crazy.

Susan Epstein, a psychotherapist in New London who has coached parents for more than 20 years, believes it is our duty to tackle the tough questions.

“I would say it in a self-deprecating way, ‘I’m over the top, but I just want to know if there are guns in your house,'” she suggests saying. She thinks this humble, nonjudgmental “you might think I’m crazy” approach can defuse many difficult situations.

Because, let’s face it, if you tell me that you’re crazy and then want to know about my guns, I’m just going to line up to tell you! Even better, the columnist suggests not just asking about guns in the home, but asking detailed questions about where they are stored and how they are accessed. The questions she suggests seem more like casing a joint rather than actual concern about your child’s access. I guess that’s just part of embracing her crazy.

Of course, said advice columnist then cites a shooting incident that has absolutely nothing to do with the issue being discussed in the column other than there was a gun and a kid. I think that’s what pisses me off about these kinds of columns. It is reasonable if you’re sending your kid over to a new house to talk to parents about what’s going to happen during said visit and what kinds of concerns you might have for your child’s safety while they are in the other parent’s care. But throwing out sob stories that are off topic and citing people who have zero knowledge about actual risks kids might face doesn’t help others to be anything other than scared and crazy.

Raw Talent

I can’t even fathom being able to go to the range with nearly zero practice and put up perfect scores in competition. Yet, apparently this chick can do that.

In the Dewar Course Metallic Sight match, she captured runner-up honors with a score of 400 (out of 400 possible) with 35 x-ring shots. She also took High Woman and High Collegiate honors in the match.

She then shot another 400 (with 29 x-ring shots) to win the High Expert Civilian Category in the 100-yard Metallic Sight Match. In the next match â€” the 50-meter Metallic Sight competition â€” she shot a 397 with 26 x-rings to take second in the Expert Civilian Category.

Her three-match 1,197 aggregate on the competitionâ€™s second day earned her top honors in the Expert Civilian Category, one point ahead of runner-up Ben Haney. Her four-day total was good for a second-place overall finish in the category.

The story includes more examples of Catherine Kauffelt’s ass-kicking range scores in other competitions. Then it notes that her coach thinks she could wipe out the competition if she only practiced. Unfortunately, as a pre-law/economics major, she doesn’t really have time to do it while she’s at school in California.

Busy Week

I have two interviews this week. I feel like I need to hit both out of the park, as something needs to progress to an offer soon. Today I’m headed to New York City to see a former colleague, who works at one of the places I’m trying to get into. This is just a social call, but I’m also scoping the place out. I’m also meeting with another researcher I used to work with at my former company. I’m a lot more worried about some of them than I am about myself, given the state of the industry right now.

Until I return later this evening, I leave you in Bitter’s capable hands. Blogging may be a bit light as I prep for some of these interviews.

ATF Not Alone in Gun Scandals

Looks like the Philadelphia Police have their own little scandal involving firearms:

Officer Anthony Magsam was in a world of trouble. It was August 2009, police sources said, and the young cop with high-ranking relatives in the Police Department had just tearfully confessed to stealing parts from two automatic weapons from the department’s Firearms Identification Unit.

You can probably tell from the part I highlighted where this is going. Rather than reporting the crime, they transferred him to another unit and swept it under the rug. He was apparently (badly) swapping the automatic parts out of guns and replacing them with semi-auto parts, presumably to take them home and convert his personal firearms to automatic weapons. I’m guessing no one told this guy the receivers are different.

Police officers are permitted to have automatic weapons, but only those issued under the authority of a state or local agency. If the Philadelphia Police didn’t issue it to him, it’s a crime to possess otherwise. Police can’t convert their personal weapons to fully-automatic anymore than we can.