Guns – Page 311 – Shall Not Be Questioned

School Security in the Philippines

See this excellent comment by Richard Fernandez about his experience growing up in the Philippines:

If Lanza had advanced on even the most wretched educational institution in Sampaloc Manila in that tactical getup he would not have been greeted by unarmed women administrators. There would have been a warmer reception than that. And for a generation which was accustomed to thinking of America as the somehow superior reference culture, that is deeply puzzling.

Why are there so many nutcases of late? And why can they get away with shooting up Columbine, or Virginia or Sandy Hook. Do you mean to say poverty stricken schools in a third world country can hire shotgun armed guard at every school, but America canâ€™t?

Read the whole thing. More here.

Mark Warner (D-VA) Capitulates

See here from VSSA. Warner’s up for election in 2014, and I think it would be wise for gun owners in Virginia to remind Senator Warner of that fact.

UPDATE: Click here to send him a tweet if you oppose gun bans.

Letter to a Local State Representative

One of our state representatives in the area, Steve Santarsiero, has proposed the state completely outlaw “military-style” weapons. My response can be found in the comments below, but I thought I’d reproduce it here:

I live just outside your district, but I know many gun owners who are constituents. Like you, we were shocked and horrified by what happened last Friday, and many of us are still trying to come to terms with the magnitude of evil we saw on display. We are friends, neighbors, and parents, and our hearts go out to the people in Connecticut, as we cannot imagine what they must be going through.Â

But the politicization of this act, and the scapegoating of lawful gun owners only makes this pain more difficult for us. Instead of grieving along with the nation, we’re told we should feel shame. We’re told we should surrender our rights. I do not understand how any member of the Pennsylvania Legislature proposes to ban millions of commonly-owned rifles, when, according to Mayor’s Against Illegal Guns, Pennsylvania has reported ZERO mental health records to the federal background check system. As you may know, true military weapons, those that are capable of fully automatic fire, have been heavily restricted for civilian use for sometime. The problem isn’t the guns, it’s our mental health system. The de-institutionalization of dangerously mentally ill persons has not only failed society, but failed the mentally ill, many of whom often become homeless, or end up in the prison system. Gun owners are willing to talk about solutions, but we want to see solutions that have a prayer of working. Connecticut is one of the small handful of states that already bans the kind of guns you propose outlawing. It is ranked number five in the nation by the Brady Campaign for having strict gun laws. Those laws failed to protect those children. Perhaps getting the mentally ill the help they need would actually help to enhance public safety.

Feel free to use this as a template in your dealings with lawmakers. I think it’s important to humanize ourselves first, and then propose solutions. We’re not going to be able to depend on the Second Amendment and constitutional arguments to win this one. When the chips are down, no one except us really cares about Constitutional rights, and those arguments never win.

We have to win by counter proposals that deflect attention away from guns, and into areas, that, quite frankly, may actually have a prayer of making a difference. Something will be done, and we’re going to have to work very hard to ensure that the “something” is not more feel-good laws that have no prayer of actually working, and only will lead to a new round of restrictions at the next horrific shooting.

Mass Shooting Prevented?

A man opens fire in a Chinese Restaurant, then chases one person into a movie theater. He is shot by an off-duty Sheriff’s deputyÂ before he can get in the theater. One bystander was shot by the gunman, but is listed in stable condition. The body counts never really rack up when someone nearby with a gun can stop the shooter.

Poll on AWB

We need to demonstrate our power.

Bias Much?

Apparently it’s a media story when four anti-gun protesters show up at the White House. You know, we get 6x that many people to show up to my local club’s monthly meeting. Will whatever media outlet conducting that interview note that there were only four protesters?

Betrayed in West Virginia

Senator Joe Manchin calls for an assault weapons ban. Maybe the folks who said to never trust a Democrat who claims to be pro-gun have a point:

Gun rights advocates have always said that an assault weapon bans would lead to further gun controls and eventually a repeal of the Second Amendment, but Manchin andÂ Morning JoeÂ host Joe Scarborough both commented that the Second Amendment shouldnâ€™t protect the right to own weapons designed for combat.

How many more will betray us? How many more before gun owners wake up and mobilize? If you live in West Virginia, I’d call his office (855-275-5737). If you don’t, I’d use the contact form. But I’d let him hear form us.

UPDATE: Click here to send him a tweet if you oppose gun bans & think the Second Amendment is about more than hunting.

Positive TechCrunch Article on NRA Facebook Strategy

Tech Crunch notes NRA un-publishing its Facebook page.

Some have accused the organization of cowardice for taking down the Page and ceasing to tweet. However, this crisis-management strategy may be succeeding. Itâ€™s prevented creating a centralized place under the NRA banner where perspectives of its independent supporters could have been taken as its own. The last thing the NRA wants is to be characterized as sharing an extremist or offensive position posted by someone who doesnâ€™t speak for it or the rest of its fans. Other brands and organizations might follow the NRAâ€™s lead by retreating from social media when they face times of crisis.

It’s an interesting point of view. I think the tactic is correct in the immediate aftermath of a tragedy, but at some point, people need to hear from NRA. At some point it flips from helping to hurting. When is that point? Damned if I know. I’m playing this by ear just like everyone else.

Accomplishing Actual Change

Paul Barrett on NPR.org:

Barrett says he understands the human need for action, and banning a weapon can feel like substantive progress. “But it’s also important to distinguish between symbolic gestures and the particular goal you’re trying to accomplish,” he says.

Barrett is a good spokesman to have out there, as someone who can get on lefty media, but speak a bit of common sense. I kind of view him similarly to Professor Adam Winkler. Only Barrett seems more on our side than on the side of gun control, but willing to take gun control arguments seriously, whereas Professor Winkler is flipped in that orientation. Nonetheless, neither seem to buy into the more dogmatic assertions from either side.

I Wouldn’t Say Worked

Clayton notes a report that suggests that the deranged Kindergarten murderer (I shall not name him here) attempted to buy a gun legally, but was thwarted by NICS and Connecticut’s waiting period. But it would seem he exploited the “Murder your mother and steal her guns,” loophole. The premise of these laws is to make society safer. When they are circumvented, I consider that a failure of the laws. In fact, it plays into the argument many of us have long made; that these laws are easily circumvented by those determined to cause harm. This is really just another example.