Category: Anti-Gun Folks

Mark Kelly, who proudly brags of (usually) buying guns at Wal-Mart, may find that going on tv to call for the renewal of a ban on so-called “assault weapons” gets him unwanted attention when he walks into a traditional gun store, buys a 1911–and an AR-15. He was recognized by witnesses, photographed by another customer filling out his 4473, and then questioned about why he would buy something he says he doesn’t want other people to have.

As his new Democratic PAC, Americans for Responsible Solutions, was questioned by media, Kelly suddenly issued a statement saying that he doesn’t plan to shoot or even keep the firearm. Instead, he claims to have bought it just so he could waste his money and turn it in to the police. Sssuuurrreee, he did.

I think that Kelly is going to find that his very public campaign to restrict our rights isn’t going to bode well if he plans on shopping anywhere other than big box stores where gun owners are unlikely to gather.

UPDATE: This morning I just remembered that I thought Arizona had some kind of law requiring guns taken by or given to police actually have to be sold back on the open market. Here’s a January article on that very issue, so Mark Kelly may have just bought a gun that will end up right back in the gun shop.

I gauge how we’re doing by the Joan Peterson hysterics meter, and we’re doing a bit better. I actually don’t support ordinances requiring people to purchase guns, but if it drives the right people nuts, I’ll take that application of heat to our opponents at this critical time. I’m really not sure what the Brady folks expected, though. You’ve taken a large community, attacked it and insulted it, and now that its dander’s up, you’re surprised at what’s coming out. We’re actually making quite serious gains in the gun friendly states while they are busy trying to get anything through in the few states they have any real influence in.

Joan notes finally: “Let’s have some real discussion about whether guns in the home are a good idea or not. Let’s talk about whether using a gun for self defense actually is necessary or actually works.” How? This is laughable from a blog that repeatedly censors pro-gun viewpoints and makes discussion impossible. Whether everyone should have guns in their home is a discussion I’m willing to have. I believe in choice, and I actually don’t think gun ownership is for everyone. But that’s vastly different than suggesting the government needs to step in and make those choices.

According to a tweet from Dave Kopel, the anti-gun groups are paying for services to call any supporter they can find and connect those people to the Colorado Senate while debate is in progress on the anti-gun bills.

Antigun lobby is autodialing voters and offering to connect them to StateSen offices to voice support for antigun bills in #coleg

— Dave Kopel (@davekopel) March 8, 2013

Fortunately for us in the pro-rights movement, we have the networks that exist for us to make these request of other gun owners in person. The other side has to pay for it. Of course, by relying on those call center professionals instead of actual grassroots, they are able to more easily target and time their phone calls exactly when they need them.

We all know that the shooting sports are fun. It turns out that the lobbyists MAIG hires to promote gun bans know they are, too.

One of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s top gun-control lobbyists in Colorado appears to enjoy firing the very guns he is working to restrict.

Denver-based Headwaters Strategies lobbyist Adam Eichberg participated at a “watermelon shoot” in September 2012 at the farm of Colorado state Sen. Greg Brophy (R.) where he fired a semi-automatic rifle with a high-capacity magazine.

A picture obtained by the Washington Free Beacon shows Eichberg smiling broadly as he shoulders a DPMS .308 rifle with a 20-round magazine.

Specifically, the lobbyist who appears absolutely overjoyed to be shooting off his 20 shots is calling for a ban on those same magazines. In fact, to top it off, the host of the shoot claims that Gov. John Hickenlooper begged for an invitation to come out and shoot “assault weapons” with those “high capacity” magazines he’s so eager to ban now that Bloomberg & Obama have promised political support.

The lawmaker who released the information about the shoot said he’s doing it because he has a problem with the way that they are calling for bans on mere citizens, while enjoying the same benefits of using these firearms in shooting sports:

Brophy said he is a friend of Eichberg, but could not let him or Hickenlooper slide.

“You wonder if they’ve had a change of heart, or if they’re being hypocritical like we see in so many politicians where they don’t want to live under the laws they’re pushing,” Brophy said.

Good for Sen. Brophy. I get that there’s business and there’s politics. But when you’re talking about restricting the right of average people who don’t benefit from police protection or Bloomberg’s billions making their way into your wallet, the typical divide between politics and personal goes out the window. These people are talking about abusing fundamental rights and putting lives at risk.

Interesting article in Politico on how Obama silenced the gun control movement:

The White House knew its post-Newtown effort would require bringing key gun control groups into the fold. So the White House offered a simple arrangement: the groups could have access and involvement, but they’d have to offer silence and support in exchange.

The implied rules, according to conversations with many of those involved: No infighting. No second-guessing in the press. Support whatever the president and Vice President Joe Biden propose. And most of all, don’t make waves or get ahead of the White House.

Bloomberg has been quite vocal in all this, but I’m going to guess he’s likely working very closely with the White House, and the other groups are pretty much not in a position to do anything other than shut up and get in line.

Losing Coburn from the background checks talks increases the likelihood that the only gun control measure that can pass the Senate is on gun trafficking, a far less sweeping proposal than background checks or the doomed bans on assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines. Schumer, Manchin and Kirk will try to attract other Republicans to replace Coburn in their coalition.

That’s the asset forfeiture bill I spoke of earlier. I still would not count the ban on private transfers out. The votes might be there. Also interesting is that VPC has been relegated to the “kids table.” VPC outlived its usefulness quite a while ago, and it’s been rather surprising to me that the big foundations continue to fund that charade.

Especially when they are members of the Democratic delegation in the Colorado legislature. No wonder they think we aren’t capable of self-control. It would seem many of them aren’t themselves. Project much?

A Florida lawmaker, Audrey Gibson (D), is proposing no one be permitted to buy ammunition unless they can prove they have gone through an anger management course. Somehow I don’t think we’re the ones who need that. How about requiring that before holding public office. Hey, it’s common sense.

He doesn’t want to talk about it. You know, Joe, we don’t have to vote on this stuff. I’m sure Harry Reid would prefer not to as well. Why not just tell the White House to piss off? There was a time, before the 2010 cycle, when no Democrat wanted to be seen with him. It kind of makes you wonder what the Administration is threatening these Dems with if they don’t toe the line.

Compare this rally in Eugene Oregon, put on by CeaseFire Oregon, to the one in Doylestown this weekend. No one outside the media and the Democratic Party leadership are clamoring for gun control right now. This is a deep blue state in a highly liberal city, and this is the best they could come up with? I see larger gatherings of gun owners on a regular basis around here.

UPDATE More from that rally in Oregon. They don’t even have any idea what they are supporting:

UPDATE: Also, what’s with the dressing all in white and going by the name Baldr Odinson in real life? I mean, I get pen names, since I use one and all, but any of my activities in real life happen under my real name. Does he think he’s some kind of superhero? I’m probably the last person who should be calling anyone a nerd, but, dude, you take the cake.