December 2012 – Page 17 – Shall Not Be Questioned

Another Case of “Depression” for Another Illinois Politician?

We’ve seen one Illinois lawmaker on the verge of being busted by law enforcement seek treatment for rumored depression from coming to terms with the consequences of his actions. Will we see another follow in this new tradition?

An Illinois State Senator running to replace Jesse Jackson Jr. in Congress was arrested Wednesday morning after he allegedly tried to bring a gun onto a plane at Oâ€™Hare International Airport.

Sen. Donne Trotter (D-Chicago) was charged with a felony count of attempting to board an aircraft with a weapon, according to the Cook County Stateâ€™s Attorneyâ€™s office. The charge carries a penalty of 1 to 3 years in jail.

The article notes that he just announced his campaign for the seat of Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. last week. I’m rather shocked that a sitting State Senator is being held in jail, and that he’s actually being charged.

Interestingly, the guy has a C- from NRA from the last election. That’s hardly pro-gun, but then again, he represents Chicago. I don’t know if that makes him not a complete foe of the Second Amendment or just not a complete foe by the already terrible Chicago standard of recognizing the rights of citizens. (h/t @GunFreeZone)

A Case to Watch Regarding the Florida Doctor Speech Restrictions

Eugene Volokh details a pair of cases making their way through the 9th Circuit courts challenging California’s prohibition banning mental health care providers from trying to change sexual orientation for minors. If the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ends up hearing this case, and upholding the law, you can bet that this decision will be brought up in the appeals for the challenges to the Florida law which bans doctors from asking patients about gun ownership (already held unconstitutional in District Court). My personal opinion is that both laws are unconstitutional, but it does illustrate the notion that there are many on the right and left that aren’t particularly dedicated to the notion of free speech, and completely willing to use government to suppress speech they find repugnant.

More Politicians Using Coffins as Soapboxes

Diana DeGette (D-CO) is busy joining Bob Costas, because clearly what House Democrats need in the middle of fiscal cliff negotiations is to refocus the Costas firestorm on them. She’s joined here by Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) who goes farther and notes:

â€œUnfortunately, itâ€™s tragedies like [the Kansas City shooting] that brings peopleâ€™s attention back to the issue,â€ she said.

Perlmutterâ€™s primary concerns center on renewing an assault weapons ban and keeping guns out of the hands of the mentally ill. There is some speculation that Belcher may have been suffering from head injuries incurred while playing football, as well as abusing painkillers and alcohol.

So how is it not using coffins as soapboxes to have people like DeGette and Perlmutter advocating for laws, like an assault weapons ban, that have exactly nothing at all to do with this recent murder-suicide? Belcher didn’t use an assault weapon, and in this country, where owning a gun is a fundamental constitutional right, under what grounds can we remove someone’s rights based on “some speculation?” Maybe I’m crazy here, but I’m pretty sure the Constitution that both Representatives DeGette and Perlmutter swore to uphold says that “due process of law” is what is required to deny someone fundamental constitutional rights.

Tall Tales

The shooting community seems to have a lot of people who spin them. I’m wondering if this is something unique about our community, or whether it happens in other communities. If it is unique, why? I mean, I suppose there are car buff yarn spinners who talk about the time they got into a stoplight confrontation with Richard Petty and totally smoked him, but are they so numerous?

Tab Clearing: Library of Law & Liberty Edition

This is a new blog (to me) I’ve been watching since I discovered Professor Johnson had joined the blog. It’s good reading, but definitely not light reading, so here are some highlights from the various authors.

Nicholas Johnson:Â Bob Costas’ Supply-Side Gun Control Fallacy,Â Is Gun Regulation Maturing?

Mike Rappaport:Â What Libertarians Think About the U.S. Constitution Part III: Shayâ€™s Rebellion, Liberty, and a Stronger National Government

Jeremy Bailey:Â Energy in the Executive: Thomas Jeffersonâ€™s Transformative Presidency

James Stoner:Â Why You Canâ€™t Understand the Constitution Without the Common Law

Hadley Arkes:Â Peeling Back the Common Law: Reflections Stirred by James Stoner on the Common Law

Microstamping in New York

Jacob notes that the so-called Independent Democratic Conference left microstamping out of their agenda, and notes some hand wringing among Democrats. Maybe there’s a chance to stop this.

UPDATE: A bill has been introduced. I guess we’ll see if it goes anywhere.

Latest Costas Roundup

This is truth:

Bob Costas Truth

Note that Bob Costas is high enough profile to elicit outrage from people. The fact is that every tragedy is exploited in this manner by the leaders of the gun control movement. Every time. You can count on it like you can count on the sun coming up. They, of course, take great exception when this is pointed out, because they don’t view their advocacy as being inherently political. They are trying to save lives, and who can argue with that except some evil person?

In other news, it looks like none of the other players on the K.S. Chiefs are blaming guns for this. It’s worth noting that NFL players, as wealthy, high-profile celebrities, have a need for protection that is, in the words of New York’s Sullivan law,Â â€œa special needÂ for self-protection distinguishable from that of the general community or of persons engaged in the same profession.â€ These are people who generally qualify for permits even under standards as strict as those of New York’s.

But remember, it’s the evil gun culture that’s responsible.

Turning Things Around in Illinois

Governor Quinn’s veto of a bill that would allow mail order ammo shipments to FOID holders in the Land of Lincoln has been soundly overridden by the legislator. Remember that he issued an “Amendatory Veto,” which turned the pro-gun bill around to be an assault weapons ban. This represents an utter repudiation of that.

Let me just say that rumors of our demise has been greatly exaggerated.

New Zimmerman Evidence

The more I hear about the prosecutor in the Zimmerman case, the more I think she has no business wielding state power. It looks like the prosecution was withholding key evidence, that has now only come to light due to supplemental discovery in the case. TalkLeft, run by a defense attorney, also notes some deception on the part of Benjamin Crump as to the age of one of the witnesses, who it may seem is not a juvenile, as was claimed.

Wasting Money

Anderson Cooper does some investigating reporting showing the great wastage in Chicago programs intended to fight crime, but which may, in fact, be giant scams. Dave Hardy also notes a 5.9 million dollar federal grant to several Ohio cities to “fight gun violence” which seems to have just up and disappeared. Imagine what could have been achieved if instead of spending the money on BS programs like this, the money had gone to help keep criminals in prison longer?