Bitter – Page 62 – Shall Not Be Questioned

Taking a Look at Bloomberg’s Mayors in 2013

It seems like we just put the presidential election behind us, and yet, there are already more elections to think about in terms of gun rights. Most political observers are already looking to 2014. However, Pennsylvania gun owners should be looking to this year’s municipal elections against mayors who have been lobbying Washington, DC officials in support of a ban on semi-automatic rifles and more via Bloomberg’s MAIG.

Many of the mayoral races are unchallenged, but others are closer than you would expect. Penndel’s 2009 mayoral race was decided by just 68 votes. Those in Pennsylvania might think that since Penndel is a pretty tiny borough, that seems like a pretty big margin. However, it doesn’t take into account significantly decreased turnouts in these off-year elections. Fewer than 26% of registered voters in the county actually cast a ballot in local races that year.

In the next county over, the contest for Pottstown mayor was decided by just 2 percentage points – even as write-in candidates took 5 points in the race. Somewhat farther north, the mayor of Roseto was elected by only 53 votes. Out in the western part of the state, Ingram’s anti-gun advocate mayor won his last election by just 9 votes.

If you want to help weaken Bloomberg’s anti-gun alliance, then this is a great way to start. Find out about your own races and get involved in the races around you if you can. Think about the race decided by 9 votes – you could help reach that many voters in one hour on a Saturday afternoon.

PA Attorney General Goes National on Gun Control

Not content to simply add new concealed carry restrictions, Attorney General Kathleen Kane has decided to promote bans on commonly owned firearms and accessories used by Pennsylvania residents in a national television appearance. She took to Chris Matthews’ show to say that Pennsylvanians would gladly accept new gun restrictions.

Pennsylvania Cities Get in on Gun Control Lobbying Game

I can’t tell you how very happy I am that Pennsylvania’s Governor, Tom Corbett, has made it pretty clear that gun control will not be on his agenda. Even though there are many anti-rights bills introduced, there’s no serious threat that any of them will move at the moment. That said, it’s not stopping local towns from weighing in on the fight.

On the pro-rights side, New Britain, PA is considering a resolution to reaffirm the Second Amendment is an individual right and that the town “strongly objects to the passage of any new law or regulation … that infringes upon Second Amendment rights.”

Explaining why she wanted the resolution, [Councilwoman Mary Pat] Holewinski said, â€œWhen I was elected and sworn in, I swore to uphold the U.S. Constitution and the Pennsylvania Constitution. I introduced it as a means for borough council to show support for the Constitution.â€

On the anti-rights side, we see a bit more action. First there was the effort by Lower Makefield to lobby for ending preemption, but they deserve credit for rescinding their resolution. Now, we have Upper Moreland using town resources to lobby for more gun control, seemingly for full registration in addition to semi-automatic rifle bans and more.

Ripping the Insurance Gun Control Proposals Apart

The Editorial Page Editor for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review rips apart various gun control proposals that violate not just Second Amendment rights, but also our Fourth Amendment rights. Whether it’s insurance, warrantless searches, or the terrible firearms advice from the Vice President, Colin McNickle holds nothing back. He even demonstrates how, if we applied the logic of many gun control advocates to the First Amendment, the modern media would not exist. This is a column that absolutely deserves some pro-rights clicks and praise.

A Little Happy, Feel Good Gun News

The Lancaster (Pa.) Sunday News features this 950+ word article on the success of area school rifle teams. The focus is on how these are well-balanced kids who compete in other activities more commonly associated with high school, such as cheerleading, soccer, drama club, swimming, and field hockey. Yet, they use firearms in a safe and lawful manner, and their sport doesn’t get the same kind of cheering and high five response from a crowd when they do well. But they keep doing it because they enjoy it. (h/t @patrickhenry2nd)

The Anti-Gun Rally

Great Satan, Inc. wanted to do a little compare and contrast between a pro-Second Amendment rally and a planned gun control rally. Only they couldn’t find the anti-gun rally. By the end of the trip, they thought they might have possibly found the rally. However, they then realized that it may have just been office workers on a smoke break.

Combating the New Big Anti-Gun Money

The president’s pet policy group is spending 6 figures on a Twitter campaign today to target Republicans they think they can cause problems for with Second Amendment issues. Gun owners need to step up and oppose this massive purchase of “grassroots” activity.

So, with a little click of your mouse, you can tweet to each of these lawmakers one of these messages. If you live in their district, make sure to say it. If you don’t tweet, the lawmaker names go to their Facebook pages.

Jim Gerlach (PA-6)

Kelly Ayotte (New Hampshire)

Susan Collins (Maine)

Dave Joyce (OH-14)

John Kline (MN-2)

David Valadao (CA-21)

Gary Miller (CA-31)

Mike Coffman (CO-6)

Buck McKeon (CA-25)

Daniel Webster (FL-10)

Jeff Denham (CA-10)

Robert Pittenger (NC-9)

These three were initially in the target group, but OFA dropped them because they think they may be able to work with them more easily:

Erik Paulsen (MN-3)

Pat Meehan (PA-7)

Mike Fitzpatrick (PA-8)

New Jersey Gun Control Heads to Senate

After getting a push from Obama’s activism wing to turn out more Democrats against gun rights in Trenton, the Assembly passed their gun control bill package.

According to some commentary by the Senate President, Sen. Steve Sweeney, the Senate does not plan to push these bills through quickly. Now, that doesn’t mean that they won’t pass. It just means that NJ residents have time to call and try to oppose the legislation – unlike New York residents.

ANJRPC is reporting that the likely possible dates for votes are in March or April, but nothing is actually planned at the moment.

“The petitionÂŒ is therefore DENIED.”

Thirdpower reports that the request for a rehearing en banc has been denied this morning in Illinois.

Contrary to the claims by Cook County officials, even the dissent from the decision is pretty damn clear that Illinois cannot continue to violate civil rights.

The panel majority opinion is now the law of the circuit, and Illinois has 180 days to decide how to amend its laws.

Be Seen, Don’t Just Be Heard

Watching this new Obama video for gun control, we learn that Obama is very, very willing to flex Bloomberg’s muscle for his cause. He’s also relying upon Bloomberg’s money by seeing to it that he had more than 100 gun control advocates flown in to DC and to state capitals to push for his gun control agenda.

They highlight the importance of being seen by lawmakers. This is a reminder that if you can get out to a lawmaker town hall meeting or even just stop in their local district office, do it. Put a normal, reasonable face on gun owners. Invite them to speak at your local gun club and get people to turn out.