Shall Not Be Questioned – Page 1630 – The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State …

Make it Hurt

As we await Mayor Street’s signature on several anti-gun ordinances recently passed by City Council, we’re faced with what to do about it. It’s not clear yet whether the city actually plans to enforce its new ordinances, or whether this will be window dressing as the election approaches, and soon forgotten about.

The big problem we face as a state is that Philadelphia incurs little in the way of cost for passing their own gun control ordinances. If they do try to enforce them, charges won’t hold up in court because of state preemption. But that won’t help keep folks out of jail, and the city will still be able to hassle gun owners. There will be lawsuits, but those will take a while to immediately hurt the city, and make it reconsider its actions.

What we ought to do is add a provision to the state’s preemption.

c) Penalties: Not withstanding any other provision of state or local law, any county, municipality or township creating or enforcing an ordinance or regulation in violation of Â§ 6120 (a) shall forfeit any appropriations from the state budget.

Or something along those lines. If there is a cost to the city of passing and enforcing these things that would be felt immediately, I think this nonsense would stop.

Did You Have to Pick the Nut?

I’m very happy to see that race is playing less of a role in Philadelphia elections, which has traditionally voted along racial lines. But man, do you people have to settle on Nutty Nutter?

Seriously, any of these guys is better than John Street. But can we pick someone who, I don’t know, doesn’t want to make police state tactics a regular routine for city authorities?

Nutter has drawn fire for his proposal to allow police to stop and frisk people suspected of carrying guns as a way to stem the rising tide of violence in the city.

Fattah and the other three candidates said Nutter’s idea might subject black residents to police abuse. Nutter responded that it’s “not about race, it’s about criminals,” adding, “as a person who’s been black for 49 years, I think I know a little bit about racial profiling.”

This white non-resident agrees that it would be wrong to profile blacks for stop and frisk. Actually, this white non-resident believe that it would be wrong to stop and frisk people of any color, because it’s not how this country operates. Terry stops were meant to allow officers to frisk suspects for their own personal safety. It wasn’t meant to be a generic tool for fighting crime.

Classical Values has more.

Weekend Plans?

If you’re in the Philadelphia area, and have nothing to do this weekend, why not take a tour of a guided missile cruiser.Â Â The USS Winston Churchill will be docked at Penn’s Landing, and open for tours.

Illinois Magazine Ban Passes Senate

The magazine ban has passed the IL senate. It will now be heard by the house.

Odd Ways to Off Yourself

We hear quite a lot of calls for gun restrictions based on the fact that they are great instruments for people committing suicide. I think this method is probably a bit more effective:

A man cut off his own head with a chainsaw after stabbing his 70-year-old father to death in their apartment in the German city of Cologne, police said.

Clearly easy access to chainsaws is to blame. Also, does anyone else notice that these really bizarre news reports always seem to come out of Germany?

Mouse Troubles

It seems I may have rodents again in the house.Â The normal response previously would be to watch my friend’s cat for a weekend while the friend was gone.Â Bitter is allergic though, so I may have to look for alternatives.Â Â The problem with traps is I have to remember to check them, and I’m kind of absent minded about things like that.Â They need to make a trap that beeps when it has a captive.

Maybe I should pick up a black rat snake the next time I see one while hiking.Â I’d be willing to bet they are effective at dealing with rodent problems, and I’m sure Bitter isn’t allergic to them.Â But I doubt she’d want to visit in that case.Â I doubt my neighbors would appreciate the rodent reducing utility of having a giant contstricting reptile in the neighborhood either.

Feinstein at it Again

Diane Feinstein, who really wants to make sure their party loses in 2008, are pushing for making 50 caliber rifles NFA weapons. Another bit of “reasonable” gun regulation we’re asked, with righteous indignation, why we won’t endure.

Light Posting Because of Lost

Sorry for the light posting.Â I had the gun club meeting last night, and then, of course, Lost, so not much of a chance to queue some filler.Â Last night’s lost episode was excellent, and as Brad pointed out in the comments, it turns out that Ben’s father is Lazlo from the movie Real Genius.

Ben killed his father because he spent all his time making repeated entries into the island’s sweepstakes.Â He had calculated that he’d win 32.6% of the prizes.Â Or maybe because he drank too much.Â I’m getting my plots confused.

Quote of the Day

From Dave Hardy, commenting on the third amendment over at The Volokh Conspiracy:

The only bill of rights provision that was outmoded by the construction industry.

I’m In!

I am now a proud member of the Falls Township Rifle and Pistol Association. Facilities include trap range, with manual and automatic throwers. Indoor 25 yard pistol range. Outdoor 25/50/100/200 yard rifle range. 25 yard plinking range. It’s NRA and CMP affiliated, which is nice.Â I’m hoping to get some CMP stuff through the club.

Now the real question is whether to maintain my membership at Classic Pistol, in Southampton. Classic Pistol is, without a doubt, the best indoor range in the area that’s not members only. Full auto is allowed, as well as rifles of any caliber. Pistol lanes are up to 15 yards, rifle up to 25. I think I’ll probably maintain it, and only drop it if I’m not using it enough. Since I can shoot there without being a member, if I don’t go enough, it’s not worth it to maintain the membership.

I’ll extend an open invitation to any of my readers to go shoot as a guest if you’re ever in the area.