In Chicago, some animals think they are more equal than others, and Thirdpower throws out the idea that Jesse Jackson may be no different. Apparently Jackson Jr. is known by gun activists in Illinois to hold an FOID card and frequent a suburban Chicago gun store. He’s also in for mental health treatment. Thirdpower goes over the implications of this.
Year: 2012
They’re Worried About a New Generation
Miguel points to some gun control advocate’s hysteria about the new Red Dawn movie. I watched the trailer, and I don’t think I’d be a fan. I put this in the same “messing with my childhood” boat that George Lucas is the happy captain of these days. It’s not a movie that needed remaking.
But Red Dawn was pretty unambiguously a movie targeted at teenagers. When the movie came out, in theaters in 1984, I was ten. I probably first saw it in my early teens, when it came out on HBO. This idea that Red Dawn “is seen as pretty much a documentary by the far right,” is only true in the minds of those who think they are better than us, and have this whole right-wing gun nut thing figured out. For the rest of us, it was just another one of the many memorable and influential movies that dotted the childhoods of Gen Xers. Did it have an effect on my young, pliable mind as to the importance of an armed populace? I’d say it did, yes, and maybe that’s the concern.
Just to return the favor of a little dime store psychoanalysis for the other side, I think some part of them might be worried about a remake influencing a new generation of kids with similar sentiment as to the benefits of an armed society. I don’t think they should worry. Movies are not as influential on the younger generations as they were on us. I’d suggest that video games that feature gun play will probably have far more influence on the minds of the young than any remake of Red Dawn will, and there have already been at least one generation raised with first person shoot-em-ups.
But I find it interesting they think enough of the movie to turn their noses up and frown on a remake. As our self-appointed betters, I’m not surprised at this behavior, but it really does make you wonder who are the real “squares” in this debate.
Scam Targeting Shooting Instructors
Joshua Wander, NRA Election Volunteer Coordinator in Pittsburgh, recently posted a story on Facebook about how he was a target of a scam targeting shooting instructors. He says that he was contacted by a person claiming to be from Japan who was looking for a firearms class during an upcoming family trip to the United States. They agreed at a price of $450 for the entire family. That is not what Wander received…
He received four money orders for $875.21 each that comes to more than $3,5000. He immediately recognized what was going on.
This is an old scam, when I call to tell them that they sent too much, they will ask me to deposit the checks and send them back the difference. It will take the bank a couple of weeks to figure out that the money orders are fake!
Turns out he’s not the only shooting instructor to be targeted by this classic scam lately. I did a quick search for the topic and found another report.
A few months ago, NSCA (National Sporting Clay Association) informed instructors and clubs of fraudulent activities targeting NSCA Certified Instructors around the country. This week, we have learned of other instructors and clubs who have been targeted with similar schemes.
The instructors and clubs tell us they are being contacted through email by someone who is supposedly setting up a shooting event for a corporate group. Some of the reports say the person claims to be from England.
The person inquires about booking instruction for the group, including guns, ammunition, and other equipment, adding up to thousands of dollars. Some of the emails ask for the instructor’s bank account information so he can wire the payment to the bank, while others ask the instructor to handle some US payments on behalf of the group, with a promise to send a money order.
So, if you’re a shooting instructor with your name and contact information published, be aware of this scam. While it’s a pretty classic case of fraud that most people have heard of, it usually takes other forms like roommate or rental ads, or even purchasing a products. Even if it doesn’t cheat you out of cash, it could cheat you out of your time by having to respond to these criminals in their initial inquiries.
Paul Who?
Ilya Somin has another excellent post illustrating the rational ignorance of most voters, most of whom seem to have no idea who Paul Ryan is:
Public ignorance about federal spending is widespread. One of the challenges that Ryan faces in selling his entitlement reform proposals is that most Americans don’t realize how large a proportion of federal spending is devoted to these programs, and therefore don’t understand that it is impossible to get the budget crisis under control without cutting back in this area.
One of the reasons I often feel we’re doomed is that the only place many of these low-information voters get their information from is the traditional media, which is so far in the tank for this Administration, it’s highly unlikely they’ll learn anything about Ryan’s ideas, other than they are bad and will destroy America.
I continue to be relatively un-optimistic about this coming election, and think Obama has a better than even chance of being re-elected.
It’s Ryan
All I can say is this is going to make the Vice Presidential debates a thing to watch. Paul Ryan v. Joe Biden? That’s almost worth getting cable again for. But here I am, I once again, as I have for every race since 1996, wishing the ticket were reversed. GOP candidates seem to do a better job picking leaders than GOP primary voters.
UPDATE: Ryan on guns.
Spitzer’s Gun Control Plan
Lots of people are commenting on Elliot Spitzer’s plan for gun control, which makes about as much economic sense as being a john worried about the catching the clap, and trying to tell a high priced hooker that you won’t pay her for sex anymore unless she agrees to sleep with no other clients. Think she’s going to agree to that? Maybe that can put this into economic terms the former Governor can understand.
Scurrying from the Light
Congrats to All Nine Yards. Sean Caranna really seems to be upsetting the right people. The funny thing is the counterstrategy to their strategy of putting these folks on the public payroll should have been obvious to them. If I had been in their shoes, given that many of these positions are partially grant funded, I would have just kept them on the payroll of MAIG or their foundation. By putting them on the public payroll, their activities become public information under various state Freedom of Information laws. I’m wondering whether they just didn’t think about that, or didn’t think we’d realize a counterstrategy. A bigger question is whether MAIG is now adjusting its tactics to make use of private e-mails that can’t be reached by FOIA-like requests. I don’t know enough about various state laws on this matter to know whether this would amount to any kind of official misconduct or not, but it’s something to consider.
Serial Killers Agree: Gun Control Works
David Berkowitz, the Son of Sam killer says “Young people have no business carrying a gun,” and endorses more gun control. Berkowitz was also known as the .44 caliber killer. So there you have it. The CSGV and Brady agenda endorsed by a serial killer.
Speaking of Paid Shills
Frank Luntz, who specializes in “testing language and finding words that will help his clients sell their product or turn public opinion on an issue or a candidate,” speaks frankly about his association with Mayors Against Illegal Guns. Gun control advocates have used these polling tactics time and time again, trying to convince politicians there will be no price to pay for voting their agenda, and time and time again, we’ve proved them wrong. Why? Because most of these people don’t really get the consequences of many of these policies until they are enacted, and when they find out, they get angry, and if there’s one thing we’re good at, it’s channeling that anger towards politicians on election day.
Paid Shill
Those of you on Twitter have probably seen some nasty invectives from this guy. Someone took a look at his PR Firm’s web site, and it looks like he’s on the anti-gun payroll. Clients include the Joyce Foundation and MAIG. Paid shills are not a substitute for real grass roots, and I’d say if they are paying that guy, they are flushing money down the toilet.