Category: Gun Rights

It seems a few weeks ago I ended up calling the SAF/ISRA case that Gura is taking forward in Chicago a disaster.  I didn’t realize it until I got an e-mail from one of the plaintiffs.  The “other incorporation case” I had in mind was actually theirs, but I ended up pasting it into the link for disaster.  A few weeks later, I can’t remember what the other incorporation case I was looking at that looked like a disaster, but this is one of those things that makes you think “I need to be more careful.”  Copy/Paste mixups can be embarrassing.

He didn’t trust the District not to jerk him around, so he did not bring his firearms with him as required.  Given their actions lately, I can’t say I blame him.  We need to get that preemtion of DC’s laws through Congress ASAP.

I’m glad Bitter is was home to greet one of Congressman Pat Murphy’s perky volunteers.  Pat Murphy recently signed on as a cosponsor to Carolyn McCarthy’s HR1022, which bans many common semi-automatic rifles and pistols.  I am currently talking to someone at NRA about being Election Volunteer Coordinator for my district so I can help send Congressman Murphy, and other anti-gun politicians in this area packing, and replace them with pro-second amendment representatives.

As was to be expected, the District of Columbia has passed a new set of gun laws which basically ignore the vast majority of the Heller decision, while throwing a minor bone to the courts.  Chris Cox, NRA-ILA’s Chief Lobbyist calls it “a joke.” The trigger lock provisions, which the Supreme Court explicitly threw out, are the most offensive.

But there is a bill in Congress to resolve this issue.  Eleanor Norton doesn’t think too highly of it:

However, Norton, who does not comment on District bills out of respect for Home Rule to set an example for other members of Congress, sharply criticized a pending congressional D.C. gun bill, H.R. 1399, Congressman Mark E. Souder (R-RI) introduced last week.

Souder’s bill is, “proof that some members either don’t have enough to do or know no bounds to their capacity for disrespect for democracy in the nation’s capital,” Norton said. She continued, “Republicans tried to overturn the city’s gun bans on four different occasions and failed, even when they were in the majority.  It’s not surprising that Congressman Souder, who was a frequent sponsor of anti-Home Rule bills, would continue to try to overturn the city’s gun laws.

Well, for one, Mark Souder represents Indiana, not Rhode Island.  Norton and her staff are so incompetent, they don’t even know the states her colleagues are from apparently.  Secondly, Congress has plenary authority over the District of Colombia.  It’s in the constitution, you can look it up.  There is no appeal to Home Rule for DC.  The DC City Council serves at the pleasure of Congress.  End of story.

For those who have time, here’s the resolution introduced in Congress which would set and then preempt the firearms laws for D.C.  It essentially imposes federal gun laws, and not much more.  No registraton, no bans of semi-automatic firearms, no lawsuit provisions, and no trigger lock provisions, and no ammunition restrictions, other than those imposed by existing federal laws.  The only differences is that firearms covered by the NFA will still be prohibited in The Distrct, and it does not address the issue of carrying firearms outside the home.  This is a good start, however, and we can fix the carry issue later.  If D.C. City Council shows itself to be petulant on this important constitutional matter, I think it’s entirely appropriate for Congress to exercise its authority over The District, and preempt them from regulating firearms.  Be sure to contact your Congress Critter, and tell them to vote for this important piece of legislation.

Apparently even the top criminal prosecutor for the DOJ is on the list.  Too bad Mayor Bloomberg’s group of gun hating mayors thinks this mystery list is good enough due process to deny people basic constitutional rights.

On having three Instalaunches in a single day, plus one yesterday.  Currently, SayUncle has four links off Instapundit’s main page.  When Glenn sends so many eyeballs into the Gun Blogosphere, it’s good for all of us.

Governor Deval Patrick, in a move to ensure that his state ends up being the perfect test case to challenge the constitutionality of licensing the second amendment, is looking at increasing fees on gun licenses to more than double the current rate.

Keep in mind that Governor Patrick is also a close friend of one Barack Wouldn’t You Like to Be a Pepper Too Obama.  It would be interesting to hear whether Obama’s newly found enthusiasm for the second amendment extends to opposing taxing the individual right to death, as has been done through licensing in Massachusetts.

Also, not to escape blame in all this, is Governor Mitt Romney, who invented the idea of extorting money from citizens in order that they may exercise constitutional rights.  But by all means Massachusetts, keep it up, you’re just making our eventual court challenge against licensing that much easier.

This one in Pittsburgh.  He was charged with receiving stolen property.  Notably, a gun.  Also had some drug convictions too.  He’s being charged with being a felon-in-posession and is raising a second amendment claim to get the charges dismissed.

Like I said a few days ago, The Court did us a favor by keeping these types of cases out of the running for serious consideration by The Court.  We don’t want unsymapthetic defendants deciding what the bounds of our second amendment rights will be.

Chicago residents are standing up for what is theirs, and what crooks like Daley should never have the presumption to take away.

Hat Tip to Dave Hardy