Shall Not Be Questioned – Page 349 – The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State …

Combating the New Big Anti-Gun Money

The president’s pet policy group is spending 6 figures on a Twitter campaign today to target Republicans they think they can cause problems for with Second Amendment issues. Gun owners need to step up and oppose this massive purchase of “grassroots” activity.

So, with a little click of your mouse, you can tweet to each of these lawmakers one of these messages. If you live in their district, make sure to say it. If you don’t tweet, the lawmaker names go to their Facebook pages.

Jim Gerlach (PA-6)

Kelly Ayotte (New Hampshire)

Susan Collins (Maine)

Dave Joyce (OH-14)

John Kline (MN-2)

David Valadao (CA-21)

Gary Miller (CA-31)

Mike Coffman (CO-6)

Buck McKeon (CA-25)

Daniel Webster (FL-10)

Jeff Denham (CA-10)

Robert Pittenger (NC-9)

These three were initially in the target group, but OFA dropped them because they think they may be able to work with them more easily:

Erik Paulsen (MN-3)

Pat Meehan (PA-7)

Mike Fitzpatrick (PA-8)

New Jersey Gun Control Heads to Senate

After getting a push from Obama’s activism wing to turn out more Democrats against gun rights in Trenton, the Assembly passed their gun control bill package.

According to some commentary by the Senate President, Sen. Steve Sweeney, the Senate does not plan to push these bills through quickly. Now, that doesn’t mean that they won’t pass. It just means that NJ residents have time to call and try to oppose the legislation – unlike New York residents.

ANJRPC is reporting that the likely possible dates for votes are in March or April, but nothing is actually planned at the moment.

“The petitionÂŒ is therefore DENIED.”

Thirdpower reports that the request for a rehearing en banc has been denied this morning in Illinois.

Contrary to the claims by Cook County officials, even the dissent from the decision is pretty damn clear that Illinois cannot continue to violate civil rights.

The panel majority opinion is now the law of the circuit, and Illinois has 180 days to decide how to amend its laws.

Be Seen, Don’t Just Be Heard

Watching this new Obama video for gun control, we learn that Obama is very, very willing to flex Bloomberg’s muscle for his cause. He’s also relying upon Bloomberg’s money by seeing to it that he had more than 100 gun control advocates flown in to DC and to state capitals to push for his gun control agenda.

They highlight the importance of being seen by lawmakers. This is a reminder that if you can get out to a lawmaker town hall meeting or even just stop in their local district office, do it. Put a normal, reasonable face on gun owners. Invite them to speak at your local gun club and get people to turn out.

Lawmakers Want to Hear From You – Sorta

You have to love it when lawmakers post something that says they want to hear from voters, even though their mind is clearly made up. Take, for example, D-rated Rep. Maria Donatucci says she wants to hear people’s thoughts on the limits to gun ownership:

I respect the 2nd Amendment but should we draw a line?If so, where do we draw it? Types of weapons? amounts? Liability insurance?Comment…

— Rep.Maria Donatucci (@RepDonatucci) February 21, 2013

Based on the sudden flurry of later tweets talking how the Second Amendment was about the militia and how she only wants to restrict “weapons of mass destruction,” I guess some pro-liberty folks have responded.

Looking for a Sponsor for ESOS

Some lawmakers, wary of the lost revenue from the death of the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show, are looking for a new sponsor.

“We want to avoid a repeat of this next year, which is why we support the decision and ask that Reed Exhibitions be disqualified as a vendor for future events,” Payne said.

The county commissioners announced this week that they booked the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex using a tourism grant and are working with various businesses to secure sponsors for next year’s show.

Who owns the term Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show? My understanding was that Reed Exhibitions owned that show, meaning they likely have the rights to the name. I’m absolutely fine with disqualifying Reed, because of their behavior. It would be good to see the show continue. It was valuable for the hunting, shooting and outdoor community in the entire Mid-Atlantic region, and it would be a shame to see it die off because it’s handlers were bozos.

Felony Aggravated Menacing and Reckless Endangerment

Just among a few of the charges Jill Biden could face if she follows the advice of her husband. I’d much sooner try to teach a woman how to shoot an AR-15 than a shotgun. Self-defense rounds for shotguns are brutal. If short-barrled shotguns were less regulated, I think they’d make fine home defense weapons, but every shotgun I own is far more unwieldy in a small house than any carbine I own. Not all of us can afford to live in a house as big as Joe Biden’s.

We Need a New Term

At last night’s local meeting to oppose local tax dollars & resources being used to lobby for gun control, there was one anti-gun advocate who claimed the “I’m a hunter, but…” status. Typically, the movement would call him a “Fudd.” But, I think this guy needs a new term because he went much farther in his comments.

He commented that he remembered the wide introduction of semi-automatic shotguns and how reluctantly came around and accepted those as lawful for use, but that wasn’t what he wanted the supervisors to promote banning. He wanted our semi-automatic rifles banned because they are just like hand grenades and flame throwers – or something.

So, stupidity aside, I couldn’t let one thing go. The guy barely accepted the lawful use and ownership of semi-automatic shotguns, common firearms that have been in production since 1902. I’ve posted this tweet from Cam Edwards before, but it has new meaning today:

The AR was designed in 1957 and sold to the public beginning in 1964. Perhaps we should go ahead and ban that newfangled rock and roll too.

— CamEdwards (@CamEdwards) January 24, 2013

I think I found a guy who would agree. From his talk of reluctantly accepting firearm technology developed in 1898, I’m pretty sure this guy would be fine with being told that the Second Amendment is really about muskets. Oh, and just like Glenn Reynolds notes about so many anti-gun activists, he was an old white man.

Counter Protesting

Cemetery notes that a MoveOn protest was counter-protested quite effectively in Westfield, New Jersey. Westfield is in North Jersey, and spitting distance away from Manhattan. Our opponents can be given no refuge, be allowed to dominate no forum. We are everywhere, and I’m glad to see us acting like we’re everywhere. Also, there seems to be a local group forming around here seemingly out of thin air. We just reached out to these people to ask what we can do to help. I have a feeling my days of struggling to get people really engaged in this issue may be drawing to a close. Thanks Obama!

And I have to say, while we’re linking to Cemetery’s blog, this is the coolest picture I’ve seen in a while.

Chicago’s Ostrich Strategy

Chicago is arguing that they can essentially ignore the federal courts, and keep arresting people for carrying unlawfully, even after the expiration of the 180 day deadline.

â€œOnly the Illinois Supreme Court can declare a statue from (the legislature) unconstitutional,â€ Castiglione told lawmakers Tuesday. â€œI heard (someone) say that after 180 days our UUW (unlawful use of weapon) statute is unconstitutional. Not so.â€

This is delusional. This is utterly delusional.

â€œAfter 180 days, anyone who decided, for example, to walk down Michigan Avenue in Chicago carrying an AK-15 would be subject to arrest and prosecution for violating the [Unlawful Use of Weapons Act,]â€ said Cook County Assistant Stateâ€™s Attorney Paul Castiglione. He said the Cook County stateâ€™s attorneyâ€™s office intends to enforce the Illinois Unlawful Use of Weapons statute, which outlaws carrying guns in public, after the deadline, unless lawmakers change it or the Illinois Supreme Court finds it unconstitutional. â€œThe lower federal courts, either the district courts or the courts of appeal, cannot tell the Illinois Supreme court how to rule or whether or not that law is constitutional. The only court that can resolve that split is the U.S. Supreme Court.â€

These people are living in an alternate reality where not only does the Second Amendment not exist, but where federal courts have no power to declare state laws unconstitutional. Anyone enforcing the Unlawful Use of Weapons Act after the federal courts invalidate it would be subject to potential federal prosecution, and would be easy targets for lawsuits in federal court in regards to deprivation of civil rights under color of law. More importantly, suits under 42 USC Section 1983 don’t have to be limited to the offending officer. You can sue all the way up the chain of command, and if the order for defiance came from the Mayor’s office, you can sue Rahm too. Section 1983 also allows for suits in an official capacity or a personal capacity, meaning you can sue Rahm Emanuel, Mayor of Chicago, and you can also sue Rahm Emanuel the civil liberties abridging tyrant.

If Chicago wants this to be the tactic, bring it. I want to see more pictures of Alan Gottlieb being photographed with more six figure checks from he City of Chicago. In the mean time, sensible people will work on reforming the outdated and antiquated law.