Sebastian – Page 723 – Shall Not Be Questioned

Protesters?

One disappointment about the NRA Annual Meeting for the past few years has been the lack of protesters. Nothing draws a community together like beingÂ vilifiedÂ and protested.Â The Brady folk have been touting a few events that make me think we might just have some this year. Neither looks protest oriented. The Federalist Society Debate will be with Alan Gura, and the second event doesn’t look much like a protest, but I’m sure if the turnout is big enough it could turn into one.

But even if the other side is more content talking among themselves, there’s also the possibility we’ll be having a protest form our own side, over the carry nonsense. Just imagine if those people would show up in Raleigh where their protest might actually make a difference in changing the law. But why direct yourÂ righteousÂ indignation at the proper targets when you can get a little NRA hating going?

It’s going to be fun, that’s for sure!

Wilson Becomes Number 33

Max Nacheman, paid representative of MAIG sent by New York City Mayor Bloomberg to screw with your gun rights in Pennsylvania, is at it again, but at least we got one guy up there to complain about it. That’s thirty three towns they’ve passed this crap in now. How long before they start bringing this crap to Harrisburg? Gun owners in Pennsylvania need to wake up. We need more than just one guy showing up when Bloomberg’s paid stooge comes to town.

New Case Involving Carry

NRA and CRPA are suing the San Diego Sheriff over their arbitrary carry license issuance policy.

The case challenges the application of California Penal Code section 12050, which allows a sheriff or police chief to issue a permit where â€œthe person applying is of good moral character, that good cause exists for the issuance,â€ and that the person is a resident of that county.Â Under this law, sheriffs and chiefs of police often implement subjective standards for â€œgood cause,â€ as well as residency requirements that are not constitutionally permissible.Â Â The Complaint was originally filed in October 2009 by a local activist. It survived a motion brought by the County to dismiss the case.Â In the Order denying that motion, the Judge confirmed that the constitutional claims were valid, and that the Countyâ€™s arbitrary permit issuance policy may very well be unconstitutional.Â The amended Complaint adds both more plaintiffs and more legal claims for relief. Documents relating to the case are posted at www.calgunlaws.com.

This would be another case, in addition to Palmer in the DC Circuit, being argued by Alan Gura, that involves the right to “bear” arms, rather than just to keep arms. The cases are a bit different due to the different type of law that they are challenging. The CRPA/NRA case would seem to hinge on the arbitrary and capricious nature of issuance, while the Palmer case in DC hinges on their now allowing a non-resident of DC any means at all for carrying a firearm.

Roll the Dice!

Dave Hardy points out that Elena Kagan, Obama’s nominee to replace Justice Stevens, doesn’t have much in the way of distinction. I think given this President, a blank slate might be the best we could ask for. We’ll see what comes out in the confirmation hearings, but if we don’t dig up anything damning, I’d say lets roll the dice.

My guess is Obama is picking a nominee without much of a record in an attempt to avoid a nasty confirmation fight leading into the election. The advantage to picking a Justice who has not much of a prior record is there isn’t as much for opponents to attack. The disadvantage is, for Obama, he can’t be as sure she’ll stay solidly liberal. I would suspect she will, and would be surprised if she turned conservative, but let’s not forget that Justice Souter was another such blank slate, and look how that turned out for the GOP.

We’re Winning

An article in the Boston Herald speaking positively about machine gun ownership.

Still Largely a Philly Issue

CeaseFire PA is happy to have more candidates this year return theirÂ questionnaireÂ than in previous years:

Overall, the large number of General Assembly candidates responding to the questionnaire represents a significant increase over the number who responded to a similar survey from CeaseFirePA in 2008 â€“ yet another indication that increasingly, candidates for elections in Pennsylvania are aware of the growing groundswell by voters for candidates who support more rational policies on gun violence prevention issues.

This could be anÂ indicationÂ the issue is building momentum from the other side. But I noticed their non-endorsement endorsements, at the bottom of their press release, show that this issue is still very much a Philadelphia thing. What should be of concern to us is the issue penetrating into the suburban collar counties that ring Philadelphia. Especially Montgomery County, which is becoming particularly problematic for our issue. Â Also of concern is some penetration into Chester County, some into Delaware and Bucks.

The danger here is, if we lose the suburbs on this issue, we lose the state. The rest of Pennsylvania can outvote Philadelphia, but it can’t outvote Philadelphia if its suburbs vote with the city.

Philadelphia Democrats on Guns

As you can imagine, it’s not good. These are the Democratic candidates for Governor, including our current Governor, who I think has convinced the Democratic panel that being in favor of gun control in Pennsylvania doesn’t hurt you.

Bitter is getting pretty good at using iMovie to splice together someÂ propagandaÂ of our own:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2Y04Yc2g60[/youtube]

Governor Wary of Open Carry Bill

It looks like Governor Brad Henry of Oklahoma is having second thoughts about the open carry bill there. Will he sign? The big problem for him would seem to be opposition from the Oklahoma State Troopers Association. Keep in mind this is coming from a state where gun rights generally are not really controversial.

Grenades!

You know those insert grenades you sometimes see at militaria collector tables at gun shows? Well, it looks like the Chicago politicians are willing to pay handsomely for them:

In announcing the early results and encouraging others to take part in the day-long event,Â Chicago Police Supt. Jody Weis announced that 1,335 guns were turned in during the first half hour, including what looked like two hand grenades.

“What are we doing with hand grenades inÂ Chicago?” Weis asked, incredulous.

Bomb and arson investigators determined the two real-looking grenades were inert, said Officer Daniel O’Brien of Police News Affairs. “They’re not capable of exploding,” O’Brien said.

I’m pretty sure the profit margin was pretty hefty on those. Something to keep in mind next time there’s a buyback.

Gun Crime in New Jersey

Cemetery reviews a gun control special put together by News 12 on Long Island. I could tell his expectations where very high when he said of the Mayor of Newark, “Bonus points for Cory Booker for not looking like a fat drunken slob.” That would be an allusion to the mayor of his city, who is.