Capitol Ideas is reporting on the rally, along with some video. Looks like a much smaller crowd this year, which I expected. Having the rally in May one week after NRA Annual Meeting probably wasn’t the best timing.
Category: Gun Rights
Global Gun Control
Interesting article about exactly what the UN is planning with regards to small arms and light weapons. It’s scary stuff. They basically want global tracking of guns, parts and accessories. Global tracking, of course, means a global UN database.
Campus Carry Passes Texas Senate
Just in from Students for Concealed Carry on Campus:
On Monday, May 9, following months of parliamentary challenges, backroom negotiations, and public accusations, the Texas Senate finally passed legislation that would legalize licensed concealed carry (of handguns) at Texas public colleges. By a vote of 21 to 10, the Texas Senate agreed to add Senator Jeff Wentorth’s (R- San Antonio) “campus carry†amendment to SB 1581, a higher education finance bill authored by Senator Steve Ogden (R-Bryan). The bill itself passed by a vote of 19-12 and will now go to the Texas House. Texas Governor Rick Perry has repeatedly voiced his support for campus carry and promised to sign the legislation if it’s passed by the legislature.
Now watch as our opponents go stark raving mad. Once again, we win, they lose. I didn’t think this would get through the end-of-session log jam, but I’m happy to be wrong.
Annual 2A Rally in Harrisburg
It’s tomorrow. Normally I make a point to attend this, but not this year. With the current job situation, any vacation I spend between now and when we close in a few months causes me to forfeit cash when my employment terminates. Not something I want to do right now.
Suppressors on Mythbusters
Airing this Wednesday. I’m wondering what myth they are busting, exactly? Maybe that silencers actually make a gun silent, rather than just quieter? If you need any more evidence to believe that suppressors are going mainstream, this is it.
Update on Texas Campus Carry
I’m very eager to see this bill move, if only because this issue drives our opponents into raving madness. I don’t blame them. When your defensive action is guns in schools, if not yet completely politically irrelevant, you’re certainly on your way. Looks like they are trying to attach it to various other bills before the end of the session.
If I had to bet money, I don’t think it’ll pass this year.
New York Times and Due Process
Here is a chilling and potentially lethal fact of life: A person on the F.B.I.’s terrorist watch list is barred from boarding an airplane yet is quite free to buy high-power firearms and ammunition at any American gun shop.
How about this:
Here is a chilling and potentially lethal fact of life: A person on the F.B.I.’s terrorist watch list is barred from boarding an airplane yet is quite free to buy books on military tactics and infiltration techniques at any American book store.
Or this:
Here is a chilling and potentially lethal fact of life: A person on the F.B.I.’s terrorist watch list is barred from boarding an airplane yet are not being detained in military brigs, and are free to walk any American street.
Or finally this:
Here is a chilling and potentially lethal fact of life: A person on the F.B.I.’s terrorist watch list is barred from boarding an airplane yet is still entitled to continue practicing Islam in any American mosque.
No. All those other things I mentioned are fundamental rights the New York Times agrees with and would defend viciously. Clearly the editorial staff at the Times has not yet accepted the full implications of Heller and McDonald, which is that you can’t deny someone the right to buy a gun because of their presence on a secret government list.
Only to The Brady Campaign
Showing up at a press conference is now considered spying. They are claiming NRA misrepresented themselves, claiming to be CBS News. Personally, I think this is brilliant if that’s the case. We have to be willing to do whatever it takes to ruin their credibility, and demoralize them.
Here’s the coverage NRA News got. You will notice the Brady video is filmed as such an angle you can’t tell Paul Helmke is speaking to an empty room.
UPDATE: I understand that this is apparently a mistake on the part of NRA News, and Cam apologized to the Brady Campaign tonight on the air. Apparently their contractor they used failed to properly represent himself. I believe this, since I remember retweeting something from Cam this regard a few days ago. So Cam is either being honest here, or very bad at subterfuge. I would say the former, but I would bet Brady won’t update to correct the spying allegations.
Keeping Busy
I have been planning to work on the NRA convention protest video, but yesterday I was tied up with Friends in an hours-long meeting. Not friends as in shooting the breeze friends, but Friends as in Friends of NRA. I got word that they were looking to restart a committee locally, and now I’m co-chair. It’s kind of amazing how that happens.
Anyway, Jason from NUGUN happened to accompany the Eastern Pennsylvania Field Representative out to the NRA Youth Education Summit here in Pennsylvania, and captured a few action shots to illustrate just what the Friends of NRA program supports.
If you happen to read this blog and live in Southeastern Pennsylvania, I’d like to invite you to attend our dinner in September. To get an idea of the gear we’re going to give away in raffles, games, and auctions, follow us on Facebook. We’ll be posting updates on prizes and programs running in the area that benefit from the generosity of gun owners who want to recruit more to our ranks. (Example: Know a woman who wants to learn more about shooting? We have a Women on Target clinic coming up on May 14 in Green Lane that will cover handguns, rifles, shotgun, and archery.)
You can buy a regular banquet ticket here. Or, if you have a little more money burning a hole in your pocket and you want some extra goodies such as a knife and a chance at some special gun raffles, we can send you information about our higher end ticket packages that give you a tax deduction & some good gear. (Sorry, I can’t tell you about the exact gun in the special raffle because, well, we haven’t picked it yet. That should be done at our next meeting.) Just email the committee at BucksNRAtickets@pagunrights.com with the request, and I’ll make sure someone gets back to you as soon as possible.
If you happen to own a business in Southeastern PA or want customers from the area, email the same address above for sponsorship & ad opportunities in our program. We’ve got bargain rates for our first year, and we’re working on a possible incentive program for our attendees to visit our advertisers.
So if you’re reading anywhere near the Bucks County, PA area, just remember that I’m asking you to come out because it’s for the children. And for the women. And for the gun clubs that host events supported by NRA Foundation grants. And for the Boy Scouts who earn their shooting merit badges. And for the 4-H kids who benefit from the programs. You get the idea. If you want our shooting & hunting cultures to grow, supporting the Friends of NRA program is a great way to have a good time while ensuring those legacies are passed on.
As a side note, if you’re in the Lansdale area, the Montgomery County Friends of NRA banquet is on May 19, and they still have tickets available. Their upgraded ticket packages include entries into a special raffle for a Remington Model 700 SPS. Just email or call the contact on the linked page and ask about their Gold & Silver packages.
Concealed Carry Comes Up Short in Illinois
We came very close, with a 65-32 vote. In Illinois, a supermajority is required to be able to overcome home rule and make a state wide law. So we came up six votes short of what was needed. That’s not a bad showing. It’s amazing to me that Chicago has stacked things so much in their favor that they can effectively control the politics of a state with this strange supermajority requirement.