January 2014 – Page 6 – Shall Not Be Questioned

Skimming the MAIG E-Mails

You can see the full list of e-mails obtained by Judicial Watch between MAIG leadership.Â Bitter linked to earlier today. It’s rather long, but 90% of it is uninteresting. But it does offer a view into the world of our opponents in the first few weeks after Sandy Hook. Some takeaways, some of which are different than the Blaze article:

They still don’t really know who their enemy is. Reading their e-mails, they are a very much top-down movement. They coordinate to a much much greater degree than we do. While they were coordinating our opposition from the top, we were all watching a grassroots movement self-mobilize, and just trying to help spread the word and contribute any way we could.
They really do believe their own BS about the NRA representing the gun industry. A lot of them wisely realized that assault weapons were a bridge too far, but assumed it was because it threatened industry profits rather than the fact that gun and magazine bans really really piss off our grassroots. Colorado’s recalls I think helped drive that message home.
Mark Glaze was smart for being skeptical of former Senator “Monkeybusiness” Gary Hart wanting to start a new false flag group. That would have been laughable.
Someone formerly in the gun control movement approached MAIG looking for a job back in the gun control movement around page 420. Feinblatt asked Glaze if they should hire him. Glaze responded with “I don’t think so – but part of me wants to. XXXXXX really screwed him.” They did a good job of blacking out that person’s info, but I’d really love to see under who XXXXXX was, because I have some speculations.
From the balance sheets included, MAIG is bankrolling a lot of the movement. They’ve given money to CSGV, among others. My guess is this is to keep them in line and compliant with MAIG’s leadership. Brady, as the Blaze article mentioned, stepped on their toes and got knocked for it by MAIG.
PA Attorney General Kathleen Kane’s office takes recommendations from MAIG on page 429. That’s about 3/4 of the way down. Someone should file a PA equivalent of a FOIA request for documents relating to that. I’d do it myself, but I lack tim and familiarity with the process. If someone is more familiar with the process, it would be worth knowing exactly in what manner MAIG is/was coordinating with AG Kane’s office.
See page 442 and note some of those recommendations. Know what their end goals are. It’s right there.
The NFL and most of the sports teams are our enemies.
The media coordinates with the anti-gunners. For instance, on page 518, it’s mentioned that certain cartoonists are onboard with gun control.
This is a movement of political elites and celebrities, and not of ordinary people. We knew that, of course, but it’s always good to see that confirmed behind the scenes. From the looks of it, MAIG only really writes checks to consultants, media groups, lobbyists, PR flacks and polling firms.

I would encourage other people to take a look at the documents. I can read very fast, but at that speed I miss an awful lot, and I don’t really have time to read through everything carefully. The e-mails stop at January 22, 2013. I think the best stuff would be after that date, when the real political fight heats up.

Upping the Ante in Colorado for 2014

The anti-gun folks are trying to get a measure on the 2014 ballot to ban firearms on college campuses in Colorado. They need to collect 86,105 signatures in the next six months in order for the measure to go forward. I think that’s a tall order, but certainly not impossible if they have enough money behind them or enough volunteers. I think we stand a good chance of defeating this measure if it makes it onto the ballot, but I look at this as a mechanism for spreading us as thin as they can get away with. Ballot fights are hella expensive for both sides, and if Bloomberg throws his wallet into the fight, we really can’t compete. If we have to spend money fending off a ballot measure, it’ll take some of the heat off the politicians who voted for the magazine ban, and also some of the Colorado federal representatives who also voted for gun control.

If this goes through, the most important focus will need to be getting our voters to the polls, and to make sure they vote “no” on the campus carry ban. It’ll all come down to mobilizing our people.

Wading into the Next Controversy

Papa Delta Bravo wades into the next controversy over gender and guns that’s been making its way around the blogosphere:

This picture manages to be more insulting and condescending than the usual â€œbooth bunniesâ€ holding and displaying firearms. Itâ€™s arranged to be an â€œactionâ€ picture, yet itâ€™s obviously and ridiculously artificial. The layout of the photo is supposed to make her look like an expert, but the details make her look like she has no idea what sheâ€™s doing (although she is a competitive shooter when sheâ€™s not posing for pictures). Weâ€™ve crossed the line from â€œsex sellsâ€ window dressing into â€œmen will only listen to female industry reps if theyâ€™re flawless 10sâ€.

I don’t really have a problem with the gun industry using sex to move product, but it has to be done in a way that’s not going to put off other women. In the pharmaceutical industry, which are selling to the predominately male medical profession, sales reps tend to be unusually attractive women. Why? Because men are suckers for pretty ladies trying to sell them shit. But you’d never see a pharma rep dress like Melissa Gilliland in these photos. Why? Because it would violate the professional standards of the community they are selling into, for one, and for two, there are women in the medical profession that drug companies don’t want to alienate.

I agree with PDB that there’s a fine line. This picture here illustrates it for me. Which one do you think you could get away with posting on your office wall? The firearms community cannot afford to be off-putting to women. Other industries have adopted professional standards that still recognize that they are selling into a male dominated community, but avoid over the top nonsense like this. The Firearms business has gotten better in recent years, but there’s still a lot of vendors out there advertising that guns and shooting are a boys club.

Gun Control Movement Details & Spats

The Blaze is pulling highlights out of the emails sent between MAIG staff and city hall, noting just how dependent the organization really was in relying on taxpayer-funded staff to do their work.

One of the interesting sections is on how pissed off MAIG staff got when the Brady Campaign started reaching out to celebrities. Bloomberg clearly thought he should be the only gun control group allowed to “benefit” from the Newtown shooting, and it’s clear that they were absolutely pissed off that the Brady Campaign tried to do anything at all that might compete with MAIG.

There’s also talk of starting another new gun owner group to promote gun control, though MAIG actually dismisses the idea. However, the only reason they did is because of the man who wanted to lead the effort.

The Derp… It Burns!

Thanks to Tam for this video highlighting the latest bad idea to come out of the firearms industry:

Best comment from over at Tam’s: “Well, that’s one way to teach folks not to teacup a gun.”

First Victim in CT: Ignorance of the Law is no Excuse

SayUncle and Bob Owens are both reporting on the first victim of Daniel Malloy’s new gun control laws. He was carrying a firearm lawfully when a police officer pulled him over saw his concealed carry permit. The officer then asked him if he had a weapon on him. Our victim was carrying a 15 round magazine with 11 rounds in it. He was issued a summons for the misdemeanor. Our victim will have a lot of luck, I’m sure, landing employment with a gun offense on his record. To someone who is not a member of the criminal class, even a misdemeanor conviction can be devastating. If the anti-gun folks can’t put us in prison, ruining our lives is the next best thing!

As a side note, the guy got caught when the officer caught a flash of his concealed weapons license while he was fishing for his drivers license. Connecticut is not a “must inform” state. A lot of people will give you advice that you should always inform the officer. I think that’s foolish and unwise. I store my LTC separate from my license. I would never inform an officer I’m armed if I’m not legally required to. Many suggest it is a courtesy. You don’t owe the authorities anything. The less you reveal or say in an encounter, the better off you’re going to be. This demonstrates that.

Breaking News: New Jersey Court Ruling & Carolyn McCarthy

We have two breaking news items. One, a New Jersey Superior Court has ruled that local police departments can’t add their own forms and requirements above and beyond what is required by state law in order to issue FID cards and Purchase Permits. New Jersey courts used to routinely allow departments to disregard clear legal requirements, so if this indicates a shift in the attitudes towards guns by New Jersey state courts, it’s a welcome one.

The second breaking news items it that a prime leader of the Gun Control movement in the House, Carolyn McCarthy, is retiring. If Democrats become once again convinced that gun control is a losing issue, we might be able to earn ourselves a bit of peace. The leaders of the anti-gun movement have been getting old, and they may not be replaced by folks who are as zealous about it.

Wednesday News Links

I hope everyone is thawing nicely. I notice my thermometer is now up to 18 degrees, on its way to 23. It’s a heat wave! Here’s some news for this Wednesday:

Eugene Volokh takes on the “spray firing from the hip,” nonsense spread by our opponents. I’d note that the District Court in NYSRPA v. Cuomo bought this line, and included it in the opinion upholding the SAFE Act.

Miguel notes that MDA seems to be in favor of complete bans on sales or transfer of firearms. Shannon Watts is a radical anti-gun extremists. I’m still quite surprised Bloomberg has chosen to back the crazy.

Are New Jerseyans starting to question the anti-gun dogma? Stranger things have happened.

The Bundeswehr is upgrading their venerable MG3, which is essentially the MG42 from WWII chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO.

An assault bat.

Gun control groups in Colorado are taking a fresh look at banning carry on college campuses.

The Weapons Blog has a look at gun giveaway contests.

Dave Hardy takes a look at a new book on jury nullification.

“New York’s Face-Free Gun Ruling”

The Democrats would really like Mike Bloomberg’s money without all that gun control claptrap. I’m not sure he’s really given up. Even if Shannon Watts is a whack job, his money is still a threat.

Dead AK-47 Inventor To Be Buried In Mud For A Week, Cleaned Off, Then Put Back To Work.

Notice of Rulemaking on Background Checks

It’s been published in the federal register. This is the first step an agency takes when it wants to change a rule, according to the Administrative Procedure Act. This is a proposal. There will be a public comment period, where the public can provide feedback. The docket number for this proposed change is ATF 51P. Reader Chris sent me some analysis which I agree with, so I will reproduce it here:

Big changes I saw:

– People who are not-guilty by means of insanity will be prohibited.

Comment: Â Sen Begich proposed a federal law that would have done the same thing, S480. Â S480 served as a sort of “RINO and DINO 2A Liferaft,” offering a refuge for lawmakers who need to look pro-2A but also need to Do Something For the Children. Â ATF’s ruling will take S480 off the table in the future. Â It basically closes off a safety valve that allowed lawmakers to duck a tough vote.

– ATF is considering clarifying whether the term â€˜â€˜committed to a mental institutionâ€™â€™ includes a commitment that occurred when the person was under the age of 18.

Comment: Â I wonder if people under age 18 receive the same due process rights as adults when being committed to treatment.

– In addition, the Department proposes amending the definition of â€˜â€˜committedÂ

to a mental institutionâ€™â€™ to clarify that involuntary commitment to a mentalÂ

institution includes both inpatient and outpatient treatment.

Comment: Â The final text of the ruling here will be critical. Â Does mandatory court-ordered substance abuse or anger management or marital counseling qualify as “involuntary outpatient treatment?” Â S480 used different, more specific language: Â “required involuntary outpatient treatment by a psychiatric hospital based on a finding that the person is an imminent danger to himself or to others; or”

– Persons are not considered to have been â€˜â€˜committed to a mental institutionâ€™â€™ as a result of a voluntary admission to a mental institution or a temporary admission for observation unless the temporary admission for observation turns into a qualifyingÂ

commitment as a result of a formal commitment by a court, board, commission, or other lawful authority.

Comment: Â “Other lawful authority” gives me pause… Â Does a nurse and cop authorizing a 72 hour hold qualify? Â Hopefully no. Â S480 used different, more precise language to rule out this possibility. Â S480 also read that it would NOT include, “a person who is in a psychiatric hospital for observation;”

Finally, S480 included relief for individuals who were no longer a danger to themselves or others.

Really, the ATF rule looks like a way to take S480 off the table, and to run with the most restrictive aspects of S480 without any of the protections Begich/Graham had written in.

Gun Magazines Booming

In the wake of the Dick Metcalfe pity piece in the New York Times, Ad Age was struck by the claims about the editorial policies at gun magazines and decided to take a look at trends in the outdoor magazines. Not surprisingly, they are outperforming the rest of the industry.

According to their report, the Alliance for Audited Media says that InterMedia Outdoor’s Handguns saw a 16% boost in circulation while sales at the newsstand increased 34%. Circulation for Guns & Ammo increased 7%, even though newsstand sales declined slightly. (However, they still only declined a fraction of the industry average declines.) They also note that American Rifleman increased its circulation 14% and America’s 1st Freedom saw an 8% boost in circulation. All of these circulation increases happened as the numbers were falling for the magazine industry as a whole.