On one side, the attorney representing the NRA in its suits against Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, Jonathan Goldstein. On the other, Shira Goodman, Executive Director of CeaseFirePA.
Category: Guns
Evaluating Smart Guns
Joe Huffman: “Today I attended the Seattle “Smart Gun†Gun Symposium presented by Washington Technology Industry Association in association with Washington CeaseFire,” and so he begins his multi-part series where he covers the conference. Joe has done biometric authentication in his career, so it’s safe to say his is not a layman’s opinion. You can see his final post here, which contains a link to all the other parts. Based on what I’ve read, I think the grip recognition technology is likely dangerous based on the description. End consumers not likely to truly understand the limitations of the technology, which could give owners of these firearms a false sense of security. A false negative identification in some situations can be potentially deadly, but false positive identification would defeat the entire purpose of the technology, and is very concerning.
Joe’s article has a lot of detail in it, and well worth a read if you want to understand the technological and political dynamics of this technology. I had meant to post this sooner, but I needed to find time myself to read through the whole thing in detail. One thing I will say is that it does appear that some folks working on this technology are genuinely interested in bringing something to market they think will be a benefit to people, rather than forcing it on the market because they have alternate agendas. That is not universally the case, however, and as you would expect, there were people who wanted to force smart gun technology on us, because it’s pretty apparent they are out to get gun owners and want to frustrate us out of exercising our right.
MDA Shot Down Again
Bearing Arms breaks the story that Raising Cain’s Chicken Fingers has told Mom’s Demand Action to take a hike. I attribute this to two factors. First, Kroger has shown that it’s possible for a mass market brand to stand up to Mom’s Demand Action without suffering any real consequences. Second, as Bearing Arms mentions, Open Carry Texas has realized the problems with that kind of protesting and effectively stopped doing it. MDA has been forced to go through years old pictures on the Internet in order to find some pretext for putting pressure on a new chain, and it hasn’t been working. I think it’s safe to say, if this car MDA is driving hasn’t run completely out of gas yet, the engine is definitely starting to sputter. I think MDA is find out how hopeless they really are if they don’t have help from our side.
“Your Brain on Guns”
My first impression of this story in Mother Nature News is that TTAG’s Charlie Hebdo simulation continues to pay off in spades, but a closer look reveals this to be perhaps the biggest piece of tripe I’ve seen in a while on the topic of guns. The media’s narrative on that simulation has already been dismantled by people far more expert than I. But this article promotes the idea that the mere presence of firearms drives aggressive behavior. Most of us, who actually own firearms, know this is patent nonsense. So what is it based on? It’s partially based on a 2006 study that showed that 30 men who interacted with guns as opposed to children’s toys would add more hot sauce to water that they thought someone else would drink. I shit you not. Too small a sample size, and insufficient control. Maybe just sitting there raises testosterone levels even more? Did you test that? What about interacting with a power tool? Or solving a puzzle? You’d need to do that to show whether there was really anything special about a weapon, or whether other objects or tasks affect testosterone levels in the same way. Did you control for weapons phobia? Perhaps the subject feared them, and I would imagine in men that fear drives testosterone levels.
The other major factor that this article relies on is the controversial “Weapons Effect,” which has never been reliably reproduced under controlled conditions. I suspect the 2006 study was an attempt to show replication, but the 2006 study is likewise scientifically flawed. Of course, the scientific problem with these studies doesn’t stop people and reporters who don’t like us, and don’t like what we do, to use this pseudoscientific nonsense to smear us.
h/t to Thirdpower
News of the Day
Sort of a mini-news links, since there’s not honestly much happening today to comment on:
Everytown was on the hunt for victims to exploit, but then something rather unexpected happened.
This is a few years old, from Don Kates, about myths in regards to European gun laws and gun ownership. Europeans are not so disarmed as Americans often think.
Via Tam, some commentary about the M14Â that’s riled up a lot of M14 fans. More from Weaponsman.
Shannon Watts hitching her BMW to the wrong horse. The funny thing is these people really aren’t very good at what they do. A decade ago, the Bradys honestly made fewer gaffes. But Everytown has money that Brady could never have dreamed of.
NRA is coming to Emmaus. Gun owners in this state should be very worried, because we’re already showing a lack of ability to hold statewide offices despite the Democrats running really lackluster candidates.
Gun bills return to the Colorado Capitol, but this time, hopefully, it’s our turn.
Good to see Elanor Clift is alive and well, and as ignorant as ever.
News Links for Friday 01-30-2015
It’s about that time again, when the tabs and RSS reader fill up with articles I think are interesting, but I just don’t have much to add. Glenn Reynolds has a post that really speaks the truth, “For me, the real strain isn’t the blogging, but having to pay close attention to the news all the time. The news is usually depressing, when it’s not angering, and that’s doubly true for the Obama years.” Same for me too, but giving up and tuning out is what they want you to do. Here’s some of the news that’s fit to link (and some that isn’t!):
Kansas is looking to pass Constitutional Carry. We could use another win here to keep the momentum going.
Terry McAuliffe is a sad, sad panda.
As much as Shannon Watts might try, she can’t hide her true agenda. This is about registration folks, not about background checks.
Dave Hardy has been covering the latests ATF scandal with the Dobyns case. See posts here, here and here.
The mouth foamers at CSGV are trying to ruin Emily Miller’s career by getting her fired. It makes you wonder why religious organizations support what CSGV does. Isn’t Jesus’ new covenant, “Do unto others as you would want done unto you?” Seems like CSGV spends most of their time crapping all over that idea. Maybe someone should compile a dossier and send it to their coalition members. In the name of transparency and all.
Can we finally put a stake through the heart of more firearms = more crime? The evidence just doesn’t back it up.
Alan Gottlieb’s outfit is getting behind a repeal of I-594. My understanding is that I-594 can’t be repealed except by supermajority until 2016, after which is could be repealed by a simple majority. I don’t give much chance to outright repeal with the supermajority requirement.
NRA-ILA: Pro-gun legislation seeing action in Denver.
New York Sheriff encouraging civil disobedience.
Mom’s Demand pressuring Harris Teeter again. They haven’t had much luck with this schtick since most of the rifle OCing has stopped.
George Zimmerman Not Charged. Dude, it’s time to leave Florida and join a monastery.
Oooh, they raised a whole 7K from a couple of politicians. I’m shaking in my boots. Though, I do give them credit for putting their own money where their mouths are, rather than leaving taxpayers on the hook for all of it. BTW, where is the Brady Center? They were promising all these towns legal defense. Empty promise?
Meanwhile, Philadelphia is looking for ways to preserve its illegal gun laws, but is conceding some of them are going to be “suspended,” whatever that means.
Challenging the BATFE to stop eating crayons. SayUncle also notes that Sig is lawyering up.
I didn’t really report on the whole Bryant Gumbel controversy, because I just don’t give a crap what he thinks.
Chris Hernandez: Saved from “Tyrantsâ€, by Open Carry Douchebags. Needless to say, no punches are pulled.
Chris Hernandez also has analysis of the Charlie Hedbo simulation here and here. There’s an old saying that a lie will get halfway around the world before the truth can even get its pants on. TTAG didn’t get their analysis out until after the media and anti-gun folks (but I repeat myself) had already successfully spread their preferred narrative. This was entirely a self-inflicted wound.
Like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar, the FDIC has announced they are very sorry about Operation Choke Point, and won’t do it again. I have to admit, if you had told me in 2008 that the FDIC would be weaponized as a political club with which to beat gun owners over the head, I’d have said you were nuts.
Lawyer 2 Lawyer: Elliot Fineman, Charles Heller, and Professor Nick Johnston are guests to talk about the suit Soto v. Bushmaster. Also, Soto v. Bushmaster was removed to federal court. This is a good thing.
New Hope City Hall shooter acquired his firearm illegally. It had the serial number scratched out. No background check could have prevented this.
Tim at Gun Nuts Media looks at a police shooting: “I DIDN’T WANT TO DO THAT!!” You have to imagine the cop in question has “Am I the next Darren Wilson?,” running through his head the whole time.
Eugene Volokh looks at whether a shooting range can exclude muslims. Answer? Probably not.
Winning the culture wars. Really, carrying through a checkpoint should be a misdemeanor at worst, but generally ought to be only a civil penalty. There should be the option of just fining someone who made an honest mistake. Pay your ticket and be more careful next time.
Not shocking:Â The man who tackled a concealed weapons permittee in a Walmart seems to have some mental issues.
Time for Ted Nugent to Depart the NRA Board
I don’t ordinarily do anti-endorsements for NRA Board members, but I have been known to make exceptions. This is one of those exceptions: It’s time for Ted Nugent to be off the NRA Board of Directors, now that he’s doubled down on his previous statement of calling President Obama a “subhuman mongrel.” I get that the term “racist” is being thrown around so casually these days for things that aren’t racist, that its meaning has been debased as a word used to describe actual racism. But I believe this is actual racism.
Usually we use the word “mongrel,” to describe a dog which is mixed breed. We currently have a President who is half-white and half-black. So how exactly, Ted Nugent, is calling Obama a “subhuman mongrel,” essentially comparing him to a mixed bred dog, not racist? According to the dictionary, this term has a history enough of racist use to be noted as such. If a Nazi said the same thing about a half-jew, would you give them a pass on the racist thing? I think most of us wouldn’t. There are plenty of ways to insult this president without having to drag his race and ethnicity into it.
What Ted Nugent said here is absolutely racist, and he should have apologized for it rather than doubling down. Get off my side Ted Nugent! The only way this is going to happen is if NRA members stop voting for him.
Oral Arguments Heard in 7th Circuit Assault Weapons Case
The Seventh Circuit heard oral arguments in an assault weapons case. From the questioning in this article presented by the article, it looks to me like Judge Easterbrook isn’t very fond of the common use test.
But U.S. Circuit Judge Frank Easterbrook cut him off abruptly: “What if somebody decides to possess a bazooka?”
“It’d fall into a longstanding prohibition,” Vogts replied.
“No, there’s no such prohibition; they were only invented recently. It was once perfectly legal to own automatic weapons like Tommy guns.”
“But that dates back 80 years ago.”
Easterbrook was not convinced. “Yes,” he said, “but the Second Amendment dates back to the 18th century. Why does that matter? I don’t see how you can say fully automatic weapons are okay to ban because some states banned them in the 1950s. How is it rational to distinguish a ban laid down 150 years after the Second Amendment from one laid down 200 years after?”
I think it’s important to consider what the court was trying to accomplish with that presumption, which is that commonly used firearms are deserving of protection. I don’t think too much more needs to be read into than that, which is what I think the attorney for the plaintiff was trying to stick to. The argument Easterbrook is asking, I think, can be left for another case.
But I agree with Easterbrook that the common use test, and “longstanding prohibition” doctrine is imperfect, and was largely an effect of trying to exclude machine guns from protection. I think the test should be whether the arm in question is in common use by police as well. One should not just look at commonness in the civilian population. Any gun control law that has a police exception to it should automatically be treated with strong suspicion by the courts, and any arm that is part of ordinary police equipment should be unequivocally protected for civilians as well. That would include pistols, shotguns, semi-automatic rifles, and the standard capacity magazines that go with them. It would also include body armor, chemical sprays, tasers, and batons. It might even include true assault rifles, as they become ever more common in police inventories. I think such an evaluation would create a far more equitable balance between the people and the state than a narrow understanding of the common use test.
Everytown Falsified Claims, May Be Sued
Bob Owens over at Bearing Arms has what is probably the big story of the week. I would seem that some of the ads that Bloomberg’s outfit was trying to pass off as private sellers in their latest report prepping the ground for gun control in Vermont, were actually Federally Licensed Dealers. The FFLs are apparently quite unhappy with having their copyrights violated and their names smeared. It would be nice to see an FFL get a judgement against Everytown, and relieve them of some of Bloomberg’s money. I noticed Bob Ownes hailing the Fact Check organizations on Twitter this morning, so hopefully this report will give Everytown yet another black eye for being fast and loose with the facts.
Look Who’s Suddenly a Top Donor in Nevada Politics
From The Cason City Tribune, coming in at number three, coming right behind MGM Resorts:
Everytown for Gun Safety: This PAC spent $665,000 on state races this past cycle, according to the center. Most of the group’s money came from former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and went to the Nevada State Democratic Party, with smaller donations to state Sen. Justin Jones, who sponsored a gun control measure last session, and state Sen. Debbie Smith.
The article goes on to say that most of the spending was paying signature collectors for the ballot measure. Ballot measures are a game where all that really matters is enough money. Very strong and organized grassroots energy is about the only thing that can defeat a ballot measure if you can’t outspend your opponent. With enough money, it was a fore-drawn conclusion he’d get enough signatures. You want to understand why?
And these same people vote too. How do you think they’d respond to a multi-million dollar ad campaign telling them Bloomberg’s ballot measure was good and wholesome?