Category: Gun Rights

I’m always amused by the lack of knowledge of reporters:

But the semi-automatic ammunition used in one of the weapons would have been illegal under an assault weapons ban that expired in 2004

Semi-automatic ammunition?  What’s that?

That question, debated for almost 200 years, was first directly addressed by the Supreme Court in June 2008, when the court ruled in a 5-4 decision that the Second Amendment refers to gun ownership as an “individual right,” affirming in the District of Columbia v. Heller case that a citywide ban on handguns was unconstitutional.

Except it hasn’t been debated for 200 years.  Not even really 100 years.  You won’t find any piece of writing from the 18th or 19th century that speaks to the Second Amendment as a collective right.  That notion didn’t come about until the 20th Century.

The proposals put forward by Obama, on the other hand, indicate a preference toward government restrictions intended to curb crime. During a debate on the eve of the Pennsylvania primary, Obama described the right to bear arms as parallel to the right to own private property. In both cases, he said, local governments can regulate how the right is used, as with zoning laws in the case of property.

A preference to control crime, or control guns?  Controlling guns doesn’t control crime.  Didn’t you just admit in a previous paragraph that DC was the Murder Capital of the U.S. despite the ban?

But I’m mostly nitpicking.  Overall, it presents both sides of the issue well.  I just wish reporters would speak to experts more often to try to clear up facts.

You have to admit, it takes a lot of guts to get up in front of a whole country, and admit that you’re a fool.

UPDATE: This guy isn’t fooled:

You know, I’d love to believe that Obama is cool with guns and hunting, but when the nation’s largest and most radical group that wants to ban hunting thinks he’s peachy, it makes this middle-aged redneck think that maybe Barack is full of B’crap and his “pro gun/hunting” spiel is just another con job spun by the King of Obfuscation. But that’s just me.

Any hunters who trusts a Chicago politician from Hyde Park to look after his interests is nuts, to say the least.

UPDATE: Of course, that’s not stopping Ray Schoenke from trying to convince hunters that cuddling up with the environmental lobby that wants to ban their ammunition is the way to go.  Let’s not also forget that AHSA has endorsed Obama, who is also endorsed by HSUS, who want to ban hunting.  Some hunting group eh?

Day two of the Keystone Eastern Gun Show in Allentown.  Ran into one reader already.  It’s always one of these things, that I can’t believe people show up here to read my babblings.  Just ran into a rare sighting of the endangered camouflage breasted New York City gun owner.  The big goal for today is not spending more money, in addition to campaigning.  I do need to get more jerky though.

We’re trying to let as many people as we can know about the Sportsmen for McCain rally in Oley, PA next Sunday at the Pike Township Sportsmen’s Assocation.  McCain and Palin are also appearing at a Road to Victory Rally at Lehigh University‘s Stabler Hall this Wednesday October 8th, at 10:30AM.  They are handing out tickets at Westgate Mall in Bethlehem.

We literally can’t get enough McCain/Palin yard signs.  We’ve handed out several dozen already.  Technically speaking, the ticket is not yet endorsed by NRA yet, but we’ve made the decision to put out his stuff, because that’s what people are asking for.

One candidate we’re also working hard to spread the word about is Tom Corbett.  Our Attorney General does not have the name recognition among sportsmen that other candidates do, but we’re trying to get his name and record out there.  His opponent wants to use the Office of the Attorney General here in Pennsylvania to pick fights with gun owners in the commonwealth.  After this show ends, Bitter and I are going to get out and put our remaining Manion and Corbett signs up on public roads so his name gets out there.

Bitter and I are at the show working our table on behalf of pro-gun candidates in Bucks County and also here in Lehigh County since PA-15 doesn’t have an EVC.  I already ran into two readers!  Check out our table spread:

It’s actually fairly dangerous for me to be in a gun show for an entire day with Bitter available to hold down the table while I wander. The haul, so far:

1. Two packages of beef jerky. Hot and Spicy, and Sweet.
2. One 1lb bottle of Unique powder, and one 1lb bottle of Varget
3. One box of Corbon .380 ACP.
4. One Kel-Tec P3AT to shoot the .380 ACP ammunition.
5. One leather pocket holster for Kel-Tec P3AT.
6. And I’m thinking I need a GI sling for the M1.

It’s a good thing this is our last gun show before the election, because I’m going to go broke otherwise. And there’s still tomorrow to get through!  The outreach is going well, though.  We’ve talked to a lot of people, and have a few more volunteers for our list.  I didn’t get the O-Match thing working due to touch screen issues, and the need to sleep, but we have the screen looping the NRA videos with stills of endorsed candidates to vote for.  It has helped grab a few people so we can reel them in.

NRA Grades and Endorsements for 2008 are out.  Conspicuously absent is the presidential race.  Three possibilities here:

1. NRA has decided to endorse and is waiting for a better press cycle where the endorsement will make a bigger splash.
2. NRA is still not decided on endorsement and is wavering based on McCain’s record.
3. NRA is still not decided on endorsement and is worried McCain won’t win.

I’m really hoping it’s number one.  The base is on board.  I’ve yet to show up to an event and not had a rush on McCain/Palin items.  Even if NRA is not yet on board the McCain train, gun owners most certainly are.  Palin is that good, and Barack Obama is that bad.  I’ve made clear to people that he’s not endorsed yet, but I give the people what they want, and what they want is McCain.

NRA would be understandably concerned about their record on endorsements, which is perfect.  NRA’s first endorsement was Ronald Reagan over Jimmy Carter, Reagan won.  They endorsed Reagan a second time, and he won again.  George H.W. Bush was endorsed, and won.  Then his endorsement was withdrawn, and he lost re-election.  Dole was not endorsed, and lost.  George W. Bush was endorsed twice, and won both times.  Some might thing this doesn’t mean anything, but it does.  If NRA endorses and the candidate loses, the meme around Washington will be NRA has lost its clout.  Heller took away their scare mongering, and they are now a paper tiger.  Hunters will feel safe because they know we can’t take their guns, so lets go after the guns we can take, like those dangerous people who buy evil assault weapons.  And you know, all that lead is bad for the environment, so we better ban it.

The stakes in this election are high, so high I think NRA is nuts if they don’t endorse McCain/Palin.  McCain himself is nothing to write home about, but it’s a ticket now, and his selection of Plain is a good signal that he doesn’t think we gun folks have cooties.  I understand NRA wanting to preserve their perfect endorsement record in presidential races, but we can’t afford that this election.  All stops must be pulled out to defeat Barack Obama.  This is one of those cases where you fight, even if the chance of victory is remote.  As it is, I don’t think it’s remote; it’s going to be close… and NRA owes its membership to get behind the candidate they are already behind.