Guns – Page 597 – Shall Not Be Questioned

Top Shot Update

If I were Caleb, my main disappointment about being eliminated last week would have been not getting to do that totally cool shooting gallery. That looked like a lot of fun to me. I think an IHMSA shooter, particularly one practiced in field pistol, would have done well there.

I would note that Kelly has now joined Brad in surviving two elimination challenges, though I am amused that this week it came down to poker playing skills. I can sympathize with Andre, because I am also not a poker player. Andre should be proud though — Kelly is a very good fundamental shooter, and he only barely lost.

I should note that they are looking for season two contestants, as you can see from Gun Pundit and SayUncle. You won’t be seeing me on any future episodes at the going rate. It would take more than 100 grand to get me to do something like that. No way. I’m not going to be a pawn in HDTV drama for that kind of cash. We can start the bidding at a cool million. Then we’ll talk. Even then I’m not sure it’s worth it given I would have like a one in sixteen chance of winning. We might have to talk 8 figures. I’m thinking turbojet aircraft territory here. If I can win a Cessna Citation I might be willing to give up the job and risk it all. I definitely need the upgraded avionics package.

Give them the Raspberry

I think the amusing thing about the Brady reaction to Skoien is that they seem to be most happy that they believe this has taken the jam out of our donut, so to speak. I also notice that Dennis can’t bear to say gun rights without the delegitimizing quotes.

The truth is that we’re going to have setbacks, and looking at things, it would seem the 7th Circuit may fight to the Supreme Court on guns. It’s guaranteed that sister circuits may rule differently. To me the question is how strong the Heller majority is. The 7th circuit may be closed to us, but other circuits are sure to be more obedient, and take the right more seriously. It’s not time for the Brady’s to be giving us the raspberry quite yet.

Another Bold Suit

NRA and the California Rifle and Pistol Foundation are suing to overturn California ammunition regulations on Second Amendment grounds. The risk here is there’s dicta in Heller that would prejudice a court toward upholding what could be argued is a “commercial qualification” on the right to keep and bear arms. That’s not to say this can’t be done, but it’ll be interesting to see whether the lower Courts will take the Supreme Court’s strong hint about the nature of the Second Amendment right. The recent 7th Circuit ruling in Skoien doesn’t give me much room forÂ optimismÂ that the lower courts are willing to take the Second Amendment seriously. In that case the hope is that the Heller Five is strong enough to rule for a broad right.

I’m a Fan Too

Steve at the Firearms Blog writes about lower power or no power scope. I wouldn’t shoot silhouette with anything else. Why? Because I find magnification makes me more unstable. MagnificationÂ amplifiesÂ movement, and for me that just makes me move all over the place. Normally I shoot with a red dot when I shoot any sight class. Most of the time I actually prefer open sights. I don’t shoot any better with a scoped gun than I do with open sight anyway.

Reid Polling Ahead of Angle

I’m not overjoyed by this. Reid has given me plenty of reasons to be unhappy with him on other issues, but it’ll be good for gun rights.

Pointing out the Naked Emperor

Over at opposing views. The beatings will continue until Gun Owners of America decides its better to help move the ball forward rather than building itself up by tearing down others.

Racist Roots of Gun Control

For this country, that’s mostly history, for some others it’s their current reality.

Top Shot Getting Promoted in Chicago Media Market

This can’t be anything but good. Whether Tara realized it or not when she auditioned for the show, she’s now the face of the shooting sports for Chicago residents. Hopefully a lot of them watch, and become interested, because hopefully not too long from now their rights are going to be restored.

California Condors and Lead

Looks like their lead levels haven’t dropped since they banned lead ammo. Could it be the ban was based on hysteria rather than science? No…. the devil you say.

Going After New York

I would characterize this as a very bold lawsuit on the part of SAF. But we will, at some point, have to go after discretionary licensing. But we are going after both the right to carry and discretionary licensing in one lawsuit. I would say this is quite a leap, but I thought Parker was when it first came out too, and we all know how that turned out (it became Heller). Same situation too. Someone’s going to do it. I’d prefer it be someone who makes a very thorough and strong case than some amateur, or worse a kook.

Hat tip to Ian Argent.