Category: Gun Rights

It’s time to get some lunch and hit the paintbrushes for me, while Bitter works the Sunday part of the show. So here’s all the news that’s fit to link:

On the offense in Florida. SayUncle notes we should go on the offensive federally. That would be a great strategy if the Republicans would go along with it, but I don’t give that much possibility. We’re probably going to be very lucky if the Republican Party does not sell us out and helps maintain status quo.

Good question for the antis (and funny).

Idaho bills moving forward. It’s actually surprising how fast we’re moving ahead in a lot of states while our opponents are distracted.

Clayton Cramer wonders why Colorado is fighting campus carry.

A couple faces a felony rap for sneaking into a movie theater. The gun control folks are naturally fine with this state of affairs, where everything is a felony, because it means fewer people can own guns. Forget ruined lives, we have to look at the big picture, you know. Everyone should read Glenn Reynolds’ “Ham Sandwich Nation: Due Process When Everything is a Crime”

Joe has some thoughts on the Canton police officer incident. Where did he learn that behavior from?

This week is the last week to stop the horror in Colorado.

I have to hand it to Magpul on the “Boulder Airlift” graphic.

Recalling anti-gun Democrats in Colorado? If this is possible, this is a great bandwagon to jump on if you live there.

The truth about assault weapons and background checks from John Lott.

A bill expanding the stand your ground law is floated in Florida. I’m not really a fan of encouraging warning shots but in terms of fighting off gun control, an offensive move forces your opponents to react. The goal is to come out on top in the legislative fight. When someone else starts a bar fight, any chair will do.

Manufacturers aren’t exactly lining up to produce 7 round magazines. A lot of people in New York are going to have expensive paperweights when all is said and done. There are some firearms out there for which there are no ten round magazines, let alone seven round magazines.

Bad bills are still moving forward in New Mexico. NRA needs phone calls.

The ‘Footlose Fix’. I really wish the GOP would put Glenn Reynolds in charge of their election strategy.

Greg Ball speaks:

More here from The Blaze. Here’s a slideshow. I particularly like this one:

If we had idiot control, forming a government would be difficult. So it’s hard to see the downside. Do our opponents still want to continue to operate under the delusion they are fighting the evil gun industry and some faceless “gun lobby” rather than millions of their fellow Americans? Do they still want to suggest we’re all the stereotype of the OFWG? Want to continue to pretend all this is manufactured when most of these people are carrying homemade signs?

If yes, I understand. The illusion is important to you. Because the alternative is that you want to take something very important away from millions of people who care deeply and passionately about it, and that, well, kind of makes you a monster, doesn’t it?

Apparently Martin O’Malley doesn’t want to be President either. They mention they expect the House to act quickly. We should not make this easy for them. The bill makes some people who seek some voluntary treatments subject to a prohibition on guns, which I would call the “You can just suffer through depression without getting help, evil gun owners.” Additionally, you do get the draconian magazine ban, and the assault weapons ban, which has been the standard ban for most modern semi-automatic firearms.

This is a sad day, but the Democrats will have their revenge on us for daring to oppose them. Any state where the Democrats are in charge we are in trouble. Remember this come election time. It is time to get active in the electoral process and punish these people.

UPDATE: Matt in the Comments:

Not over yet.  Has to pass the House and people are mobilizing.  The rally on the 6th was the largest in State history.  So the politicians are betting we will not punish them for their hubris and ignoring their constituents.

Be there in Annapolis on the 1st and 6th!

From Albany:

Meanwhile, Cuomo wants to make technical amendments to the bill. The answer should be no. No fixes. Repeal is the only acceptable way forward. Cuomo rammed this through without so much as a peep of debate. He gets to live with it. He gets to wear the consequences.

Stay angry, my friends.

Joe Baca is considering a rematch. Baca was made considerably weaker in redistricting when his majority hispanic district was redrawn, and he would have been pitted up against Maxine Waters in a primary. Baca decided that wasn’t going to be in the cards, he decided to run in the open primary for California’s 35th congressional district, against Gloria Negrete McLeod. Like a shark smelling blood in the water, Bloomberg dumped a ton of money into that race too:

“It seemed like Bloomberg was more interested in unseating me and in sacrificing the truth during that campaign,” he said. “Hopefully this time I run against [Negrete McLeod] and not against the mayor of New York.”

I don’t view Joe would have much of a chance in a primary against an incumbent, but I’d be happy to see him run again. Two million might be money found in the sofa to Bloomberg, but I don’t see any reason to make this struggle cheap for him. Like I said, he’s been taking easy bets.

I’ve cut the whole hearing to just the parts with our pro-Second Amendment panelists, and part of the Question and Answer. There was a lot of raw emotion on display, including one of the Newtown fathers, who we’ve seen before, and who could not testify without breaking down. It was truly a very unfortunate spectacle, and it was hard to watch. Nonetheless, while I can empathize with a grieving father, I can’t empathize with the politicians who engage in this kind of emotional blackmail with the intent to lambast me and those on my side as uncaring monsters. I think rights are important. I think constitutional rights are very important, and that’s a bigger issue than you, me, or anyone. That does not make us monsters, it makes us concerned Americans. First, the testimony of our people:

Next, the utter disrespect on display by the shameless anti-gun politicians here. You’ll also note that there were no murders in Philadelphia with rifles in 2012. None. Zip. Zero. Also note Blumenthal talking about how this is just a reasonable first step. What’s next Senator? Does anyone still believe these people aren’t going to ban your guns? Why wouldn’t they? They hate you, and make that abundantly clear:

Republicans are trying to make hay of it, but the fact is having the full weight of the White House behind and effort makes a huge difference, especially when the legislature is controlled by Democrats. I’ve never before in my life seen the issue this partisan. There were always pro-gun Democrats you could count on. I’m pleased the Republicans seem to be sticking with us so far, but how long will that last if we’re handed defeat after defeat? I know it sucks, but we’re going to have to be minutemen, ready to spring into action at a moments notice, for the next four years. I know it’s tiring, and I know it sucks, but if we don’t, we’re going to lose. It may be too late to stop what’s coming in Colorado, and that’s going to make a lot of people angry. But don’t get mad, get even. Throw the bums who vote for this stuff out on their tails.

Two gun owners filed a lawsuit against the SAFE act. Rumor has it the state has been enjoined from enforcing SAFE. As best I can tell this is not the case. The judge handling the case has merely compelled the state to make a case:

The Hon. Deborah Chimes has signed an order against the State of New York and Governor Andrew Cuomo requiring Respondents to appear before the court on April 29th and provide good cause and reasons why the State should not be enjoined from enforcing any pnovision of the assault weapons ban.

That will be the date for a hearing on an injunction. Don’t crack out the shovels and start digging them back up yet, New Yorkers. The law is still in effect by my reading of this.

Dave Hardy is testifying today before the Senate Judiciary Committee on the phony baloney assault weapon issue. You can find his testimony here. Wish him luck. Locally, also on the agenda, is Philadelphia Mayor Nutter, and Professor Nick Johnson from Fordham Law School. Do you see why our opponents are scared? The front lines of this battle isn’t out in rural America or flyover country. Fordham is in New York City. Professor Johnson is one of the many Bucks County residents who commute to Manhattan.

The Second Amendment has many front lines, but one of the tips of the spears is right here, and that spear is aimed square the heart of Gotham. Bloomberg just had to spend 2 million dollars, and bring to bear the full weight of the White House, and Chicago machine to defend a seat he never should have had to defend. Bloomberg’s other “big win?” He claims Joe Baca, who was gerrymandered into a difficult race.

This is not someone starting from a position of strength. This is someone making easy bets and hoping he can build himself a reputation. What we need to do is keep attacking, and attacking relentlessly, until his cause is all but lost. It is incumbent upon us to ensure this is their Battle of the Bulge, and there’s ample evidence to believe it can be that, if we play our cards right.