Apparently we’re not shooting enough here in Pennsylvania. But they refer to snow geese. Why can’t we shoot more Canadian Geese?
Quote of the Day
From SayUncle, about the controversial Green Police Ad that aired during the Super Bowl:
The commercial should have ended with a guy in a big ass Ford Earthfuckertm that gets 5 miles per gallon with seats made from baby seals blowing past the roadblock billowing smoke. And, for effect, the driver flips them off. I’d buy that car. Not this little compliant pansy car. You appeal to Americans in an ad by showing rebellion and general orneriness. Not passiveness, compliance, or sheepishness.
Makes me wonder if they used people back home in Germany for this ad. I mean, the same country did bring the world the Playmobil Police Checkpoint.
Winning McDonald
The further playing up of this rift between the petitioners and NRA in the McDonald case, both at Cato again, and also in the Washington Post, seems to be a distraction from the necessary task of winning the case. I didn’t think the motion was a smart thing either, but what’s done is done, and  I hope the parties can manage to bury the hatchet at least until the case is won.
The Full Story on the Lunch Counter Sit-Ins
The Brady Campaign pointed out:
From that flows the conclusion that anyone who disagrees with the effects of their gun advocacy — such as forcing families and children to accept semi-automatic pistols or assault weapons in the local Starbucks or other restaurant — is the same as those who refused service to African-Americans at a Woolworth’s lunch counter.
Funny they should point that out, because as Dave Kopel has the rest of the story about civil rights sit-ins that they’d probably prefer not to acknowledge.
More Clamoring for Relevancy
It’s looking like the Brady folks are angry that Starbucks isn’t reacting the way they expected, and are upping the ante by taking it over to the HuffPo.
Such a policy is disturbing to law enforcement officials as well as Starbucks patrons. As a San Mateo County Sheriff’s Lieutenant put it, “Open carry advocates create a potentially very dangerous situation,” because when police respond to a “man with a gun” call, they have no idea what the intentions of the gun carrier are and “the result could be deadly.”
Don’t exercise your constitutional rights, or we’ll shoot you! What a rousing message of freedom coming from California. Heller endorsed a right-to-carry, even if the state will have the power to regulate how firearm may be worn (openly vs. concealed, etc). Pick one or the other. We can make this issue fizzle in California really quick if the politicians want to issue concealed carry licenses on a non-discretionary basis. The Bradys might not want to accept it, but that’s the current state of affairs. Open or concealed — pick one — you may not prohibit both.
CWI
Tom King notes Mayor Bloomberg’s latest crusade, carrying while intoxicated, and much like the Florida Loophole in Pennsylvania, it seems to be much ado about nothing. But it’s my opinion that the state making carrying while intoxicated is constitutional, and within the state’s police powers. But looking at the New York bill, I notice a major problem:
Field Testing. Every person who possess a firearm, rifle or shotgun which has been brandished, displayed, outside a holster, discharged, or otherwise used (other than in the person’s home, at an indoor or outdoor shooting range, or in an area where hunting is permitted with with weapon), or which is possessed, displayed or discharged in violation of any provision of this chapter shall, at the request of a police officer, submit to a breath test to be administered by the police officer.
This can be done with driving because operating a motor vehicle on the public roads is a privilege. Having a drivers’ license is your agreement to consent to being tested for alcohol. You can still refuse, but you lose your license to operate a motor vehicle on public roads. Police can’t force you to give a breath or blood sample. That’s a violation of the fourth amendment.
In this case, Bloomberg is conditioning the exercise of one constitutional right on surrendering another. This is not acceptable.
A Huge Problem, No Doubt
After all the hubbub about the “Florida Loophole,” Florida has finally release how many Pennsylvania residents have Florida CWLs:
This follows a Daily News article last week about a loophole in Pennsylvania’s gun laws that allows residents who are denied a permit or whose permit is revoked here to obtain one from Florida.
As of Friday, 2,651 Pennsylvania residents carried a Florida permit, said Terry McElroy, spokesman for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the agency that issues gun permits.
“We had to write a program but we did it,” he said.
Wow, no doubt those 2651 individuals in Pennsylvania (one of which is me) who have Florida licenses, are a horrible menace to the state, representing a whopping 0.02% of the population. I have no doubt the vast majority of these folks also have Pennsylvania LTCs, and, like me, hold a Florida license because it has reciprocity with many other states, including Delaware.
The Philadelphia Police and Prosecutors ran into one scumbag, and then hit the media like the sky was falling, and they bought it hook, line and sinker. This is a total non-issue.
Internal Strife at CeaseFirePA?
Couldn’t help but notice at last night’s Radnor Township Board meeting:
- Diane Edbril, former Executive Director of CeaseFirePA, shows up late to meeting, and sits on the side that had all the gun owners, rather than sitting with her fellow CeaseFirePA activists.
- Diane Edbril looked agitated when another board member pulled her away from a question to let it be fielded by Joe Grace when the floor was opened to non-residents.
- Diane Edbril leaves abruptly thereafter.
Maybe she’s a little upset that they put her out to pasture and hired Joe? I couldn’t blame her, but I couldn’t blame them either. When Edbril was running CeaseFirePA I thought they were a joke. Grace actually has me worried. Not so much because I think he’s going to get major gun control legislation passed, but because he’s serious about his issue, is using novel tactics, and probing for weaknesses in our armor. Joe Grace is sharp, serious, and committed to moving his issue forward. He is a dangerous opponent in this struggle.
Murtha’s Seat
We’re going to have a special election very soon for Murtha’s seat, and Bitter takes a look at how that’s shaping up for gun owners over at our EVC blog.
Heeding God’s Call Targets Another Gun Shop
After successfully getting Colosimo’s shop closed down, Heeding God’s Call is turning its attention to another PA gun shop. From an e-mail alert:
Heeding Gods call is going to be protesting the Shooter Shop, 2001 E. Allegheny Ave. Phila (Kensington area) on Feb 13th from 12pm to 1pm. I would like to get as many people there to show these liars,  using religion as a cover up to take away our 2nd amendment rights is not going to happen!!!
I appreciate the heads up!