Bitter has more on OWAA. Seems they canceled their planned event with anti-hunting and anti-gun forces. Hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts need to understand who pays for most of the wildlife management and upkeep of public lands, and it’s not them. Both hunters and shooters pay for wildlife management through the federal “Pittman Robertson” excise taxes on guns and ammunition. Next time you hear a hiker bitch about sunday hunting, remind them who pays for the trails they like to hike on.
Category: Gun Rights
Winning Battles, But Losing the War?
Tam talks about the Newbery Medal, which is presented for outstanding children’s books. Particularly of interest is the 1942 winner:
Thanks to a good friend, I have just finished reading the 1942 Newbery winner, a book entitled The Matchlock Gun. I can only shake my head and agree with my friend that this wonderful little tale would never survive in a modern children’s library. You see, from cover to cover the whole book would be deemed thoughtcrime in today’s America.
I can’t imagine it today either. First off, few people know what a matchlock gun is. Secondly, it’s entirely unPC. We don’t think favorably of militia service today, because it’s become associated with exploding federal buildings, thanks to the hysterical media, but back then, the idea was properly understood.
I do believe on gun rights, that we’re winning most of the political battles these days, but culturally, things aren’t what they used to be. We have a lot of challenges on that front, and it’s rough to make any progress with today’s media culture. What we can accomplish politically is dictated by the limits of the population at large, and the further we drift from stories like The Matchlock Gun, the harder it’s going to be to make real progress in restoring the second amendment back to its original meaning.
We’ll All Be Open Carrying Soon Enough
One of the things that has made me a bigger advocate of Open Carry than I have been in the past is that technology is making concealment harder and harder.
You can count on societies moving toward democratic totalitarianism to develop technologies such as this, but in some ways it’s inevitable. It will be possible in the future to have near perfect enforcement of some laws. We have to argue what kind of laws we are willing to live under.
Scott Bach Hits Back
Scott Bash, President of The Association of New Jersey Rifle and Pistol Clubs, and NRA Board Member, hits back at Bryan Miller on why New Jersey should not be throwing otherwise law abiding gun owners in prison for ten years because they are unknowingly in possession of an assault firearm.
Yes, It’s Insane
Everyone should read this account of a person who’s questioning why he’s lost his right to bear arms after a non-violent conviction as a young man, and after many years of being an upstanding citizen, is unable to protect himself or his family.
There exists, as part of the Firearms Owners Protection Act of 1986, a process by which people convicted of certain crimes can petition ATF to have their firearms rights restored. The idea of this was so that people who have been convicted of non-violent offenses could have their right to bear arms restored, if they had kept their noses clean in the intervening years. In 1992, Congress cut off funding for ATF to be able to process these applications. For the sake of guys like Jay, I think Congress ought to reconsider funding this program, even if they want to stipulate that it not be used to restore rights to people convicted of violent crimes.
Interview With Eric Thompson
Call me Ahab interviewed Eric Thompson of Top Glock.
Penalty Increase in New Jersey
The State of New Jersey is considering increasing the penalty for possession of an “assault firearm” from a third degree crime to a second degree crime, which carries a penalty of up to ten years in prison and a $150,000 fine. Before anyone in New Jersey suggests “Well, it’s the law and you should obey it!” consider that this is considered an assault firearm in the State of New Jersey:
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Clearly any New Jersey gun owner who happens to be an unbeknowing lawbreaker, and possesses one of these high powered .22 caliber machines of death, they deserve 10 years in the pokey!
Kaine Veto Upheld
The Virginia senate failed to override. Folks in Virginia… you need to punish Kaine’s party next election.
Via SayUncle
Red’s Day in Court
Story in the Idaho press about Ryan’s day in court.
LA Times Article on Eric Thompson
Ahab points to (read his whole post, it makes a good point) this rather interesting article in the LA times on Eric Thompson, proprietor of Top Glock, who we mentioned last week. Back during the assault weapons ban, I ordered one of the few (and expensive) fifteen round magazines from TopGlock for my Glock 19. It’s never been used in a killing, and I hope to God is never is. I’m glad to see Mr. Thompson isn’t questioning his convictions when it comes to second amendment rights.