This is how it should be done

Jackson, MS:

Armed and ready. The Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks has 212 guns at its disposal and not one rightful owner.

Jim Walker, of the MDWFP, says, 'These guns were taken from hands of the bad guys. We hope to put them in the hands of the good guys.'

They were taken from violators of hunting laws or convicted felons in possession.

Walker says, 'These guns have gone to the courts. These individuals have been found guilty and these guns now belong to the state of Mississippi.'

They're not your run of the mill firearms.

Phillip Pope is the training co-ordinater for the MDWFP. He says, 'Most of them that we have are hunting type rifles or shotguns.'

Soon they hope to be in the hands of someone in need of a good gun.

Walker says, 'You have to have a federal firearms license to purchase these guns.'

They will be auctioned off in October to anyone who has that license. Half the money will go to the state and half to the agency.

Pope says, 'The guns will be sold as is. It'll be sold as a package deal.'

Walker says, 'The possible return could be substantial. Depends on who shows up.'

Wildlife officials say some guns could get up to 500 dollars. Some look brand new. The result is quite a bargain.

Pope says, 'Some of this money goes back and kinda let the violator pay for some of the stuff that our law enforcement officers need, instead of letting the taxpayers pay for it.' A welcome relief for one of many agencies hunting for cash through these lean budget years.

tnx to The Countertop Chronicles

This cheers me up a little...

Santa Monica robber killed by intended victims:

A man who tried to rob two people at gunpoint in a fast-food restaurant drive-thru was shot and killed by one of his intended victims early Thursday, police said.

(insert incoherent Fred Flintstone curse here)

I was, for a brief time, a truck driver. Whenever there's a local area truck "accident" I always wonder how it happened. Yesterday there were all kinds of reports on the radio about a truck accident that occured at IH35 and SH46 in New Braunfels which closed down the northbound side of the interstate for several hours.

Turns out the trucker was not the cause of the accident:

A woman in a stolen San Antonio code compliance department vehicle on Thursday led police on a chase on Interstate 35 to New Braunfels, where she caused a major traffic accident before being stopped...

..New Braunfels Police Sgt. Chris Snyder said the woman caused a wreck at about 1 p.m. on Interstate 35 near Texas 46, involving an 18-wheeler and a passenger vehicle. Two people in the car received minor injuries and were treated and released at the scene.

The wreck resulted in a four-mile backup on Interstate 35 in New Braunfels.

Resistance is good for you!

Gunner at No Quarters updates an earlier post about a university study "that showed resisting crime was normally to the good of the victim." A study that the Cult of Victimhood is sure to ignore:

Various kinds of forceful victim protective behavior, such as threatening the offender with a gun or other weapon, show the strongest negative coefficients, though none are significant. A conservative interpretation would be that armed and other forceful resistance does not appear to increase the victim's risk of injury.

Very good reading.

Another gun I need to add to the collection

The Whitney Wolverine, from the Olympic Arms website:

The original Whitney Wolverine pistols went into production in 1956 and were a huge hit with customers. It's radical 'space age' design was ergonomic to the hand, and pointed naturally for most shooters.

The Olympic Arms Whitney Wolverine is built with a high-strength polymer frame making it lightweight and durable. The pistol uses .22 LR high-velocity ammunition and is fed to the pistol through an all metal magazine which holds ten rounds.

Once called, "The most reliable, best shooting, best pointing little .22 pistol ever handled" by the late Rex Applegate. The Whitney Wolverine makes for a great plinker, farm hand, or for a home safeguard.

I would have a good reason to buy it. The only .22 handgun I have is a single-action revolver (the Single-Six). I really should add a semi-auto to the collection. I mean, it's hardly a respectable collection without a .22 semi-auto handgun, right? And it has a very reasonable (it seems to me) MSRP of $279.50.

More info on this cool pistol:

From recguns.com:

Manufactured in 1956 and discontinued in 1957. A semi-auto with a 10 cartridge magazine and a 4.75" barrel. It was created partially as a result of new aluminum alloys recently developed in World War II. The person wwho developed it, Robert Hillberg eventually went on to work for High Standard, and the company was sold to avoid bankruptcy. Some interesting facts... The Serial numbers started at 100,000 because their machine was screwed up. Only 22,000 were even made. Also, only the first few were called the Wolverine, because another company was already using the name, and it was afterwards refered to as the Whitney Autoloader.

Samson Mfg. Corp. reproduces an old magazine ad for the Wolverine (only $39.95!). And here's another old magazine ad from the same website.

Original Wolverines are C&R eligible and are apparently desirable to collectors.

UPDATE: Welcome readers of Carnival of Cordite #23!

KelTec Sub 2000 9-mm Carbine review at Cowboy Blob's

I have already mentioned that I would like to get a Keltec Sub-2000 in .40 S&W. Now a guest-blogger at Cowboy Blob's has posted a review of the 9mm version. Suffice it to say that my appetite has been sufficiently whetted.

Now that's stoppin' power!

I love saying that, and I haven't used it in this blog for a long time. Lest Darkness Fall provides us with a link to a video of someone shooting a double-action revolver so fast it seems almost inhuman.

Churchill and Bellesiles

Clayton Cramer comments on a Ward Churchill interview in which he (Churchill) talks about Michael Bellesiles. Well worth reading.

Personally, I'd rather just pay for the therapy

Crime-hit Brazil split over possible gun sales ban:

Rio de Janeiro taxi driver Luiz Marcelo is normally mild mannered, but he loses his temper when Brazil's upcoming referendum on whether gun sales should be banned comes up in a conversation.

"All you see around us in the streets is crime, and the best they can think of is to disarm honest citizens like me and you," the 50-year-old almost shouts. "I have a gun at home and another one in this car and I'm not giving them up."

Many Brazilians share this view, saying the state does not give its people adequate protection from violent crime and they need guns for self defense. But others are afraid of having guns at home and don't like the idea of armed citizens walking the streets.

This is another news article to infuriate anyone who is not a member of the cult of victimhood. Read it if you feel like you need a quick rise in your blood pressure. Here's the line that really gets me:

"Our recommendation to clients always is not to have a gun," said Alessandro Sanches, a security consultant with Kroll Inc. international risk consulting company in Sao Paulo. He said shooting range practice is not enough to stand up to thugs, which requires psychological training and experience.

Translation: if you people keep defending yourselves, my security company is going to lose business. Alternate translation: it is better to be dead than to suffer psychological consequences of defending yourself.

There's more, if you really want to read it.

FBI and BATF should invesigate subject of CBS report, says CCRKBA

Yesterday Alphecca commented on this CBS report:

The gunrunner's name is Florin Krasniqi, and he is seen providing a new shipment of weapons to Albanian rebels, who are about to smuggle them over the mountains into Kosovo. After a few days' journey on horseback, the guns will end up in the hands of a guerrilla force known as the Kosovo Liberation Army, which has been fighting for independence from Serbia for nearly a decade.

Krasniqi took these guns to his family's home in Kosovo. Most of them were easy to get in Albania, but not the .50-caliber rifles. 'This is, we get from the home of the brave and the land of the free, as we would like to say,' says Krasniqi, who lives in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Krasniqi came to America in 1989. He was smuggled across the Mexican border in the trunk of a car with just $50 in his pocket. Today, he's an American citizen, and the owner of a highly successful roofing business.

'This is what I do for a living,' says Krasniqi. 'This is how we earn the money in New York. There's a large Albanian-American community in the New York City area.'

Now from Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms:

Following the broadcast of its latest attack on American firearm laws and .50-caliber rifles by the CBS newsmagazine "60 Minutes," the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms today called on the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to investigate the subject of that report, identified as Florin Krasniqi.

In his report, CBS' Ed Bradley acknowledged that Krasniqi entered the United States illegally from Mexico "in the trunk of a car" and that he is now a U.S. citizen and "highly successful" businessman. Krasniqi admitted on camera that he has also smuggled firearms purchased in this country for use by Albanian guerilla fighters, an act that may be illegal under U.S. export laws.

"We know why CBS reported this story," said CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb. "They and other news organizations have declared war on the American firearms industry, because a vote is coming soon to protect gun makers from harassment lawsuits by grandstanding anti-gun politicians.

"They are also trying to influence legislation that would ban .50-caliber sporting rifles," he continued, "by falsely alleging that they could bring down commercial airplanes, and are a 'terrorist weapon'. If that's true, then they have Krasniqi on camera admitting that he supplied these guns to rebel fighters in Kosovo. Are these people terrorists?

"More importantly," Gottlieb observed, "CBS is continuing its tradition of attacking American firearms laws, portraying them as too weak to prevent lawbreakers from getting firearms. In reality, America has abundant gun laws, but they are designed more to trip up and penalize law-abiding citizens, rather than catch genuine criminals. As it stands, we're not certain Krasniqi isn't a lawbreaker, and that's why we think the authorities should investigate this man instead of allowing CBS and the Public Broadcast System to make him into some kind of hero.

"If this guy is running guns from America to a part of the world in turmoil, and doing it in violation of various federal and state gun laws," Gottlieb said, "he's hardly a hero."

Alphecca: Weekly Check on the Bias

Don't miss Alphecca: Weekly Check on the Bias, this week including some great pro-gun stuff as well!

Something to think about...

LethalLaws.com brings us Making money on gun control...:

DeLay claims that, 'we must not let our victories of the past eight years...'. What victories? How was your civil right to be armed expanded over those eight years (1994-2002)? What bans - on imports or possession by law abiding persons - were lifted? What taxes on firearms were cut? During those years, the Clinton administration waged war on Federally licensed firearms dealers, boosting fees, and using every means to force thousands to give up their licenses and close legitimate tax paying businesses.

In fact, the Republicans did nothing to help you, when their solid majorities in both Houses enabled them to do so. DeLay so states: 'not a single anti SecondAmendment federal law has been passed since Republicans took control of the United States House of Representatives in 1994'. But what was done to make things better? DeLay concedes that when the Republicans had solid majorities, they did nothing to roll-back the useless but repressive Gun Control Act of 1968. To be sure, the now infamous Lautenberg Gun Ban which disarmed those convicted of a mere shouting match with a family member became law in 1996 when both Houses of Congress were controlled by Republicans. For more information on this law go to: Gun Owners of America.

At the end of this letter, DeLay concedes the truth: he seeks only to 'protect your rights', degraded as they have been over the decades. He seems unable to imagine restoring the original luster to the Second Amendment, by peeling back the decades of filth heaped upon it by Democrat administrations.

Republicans, especially anti gun Republicans are fond of telling gun owners, you have nowhere else to go. Not true! Law abiding firearms owners, defenders of the Second Amendment have the right and the obligation to vote for a pro gun third party candidate if that will cause an anti gun Republican to lose an election. If enough anti gun Republicans lose elections then the party leaders might wake up and FORCE elected Republican's to adhere to the party platform. It is interesting to note that during President Bill Clinton's administration, the Democratic party enforced party unity and discipline to their platform calling for severe restrictions and in some cases out right bans on the ownership and use of firearms by the law abiding.

There is a reason for this. Many Republicans accept gun control in concept, but simply want to make it "reasonable" or "common sense". Will DeLay make sure they don't get a dime of your money? We doubt it? Considering that he is interested in "Defending Our [his] Majority"

We point out that with at least 240 million firearms in the United States (BATF data), gun control cannot be made to work. Of 281 million Americans, only a tiny criminal minority abuses firearms. These violent criminals will be able to get the few they need, even if every firearm in America vaporized. The UK, an island, banned handguns four years ago, but faces soaring levels of criminality, including crimes involving handguns: the handguns are smuggled into Britain, or were never given up by the criminals.

Thus DeLay's quest for your money is as fraudulent as are the claims of gun control advocates, who claim that "gun free" societies are safer.

this and the previous post tnx to a non-blogging email tipster who shall remain anonymous

Gun Owners of America Alert-- July 14, 2005

From Gun Owners of America:

Gun owners across America are increasingly victorious in legislative and elective battles at the local, state and national levels. Nevertheless, anti-gun internationalists, long burrowed in the UN headquarters, are planning, with some success, massive international gun control measures.

This entire week, the UN is holding the second biennial meeting of States to consider the implementation of the Program of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects.

Though couched in the flowery rhetoric of protecting victims of violence, the goal of the conference is nothing short of global gun control. The rabid gun banners to our north would seem to agree. 'From Canada's perspective.... serious attention should be given to the regulation of civilian possession of small arms,' said Tim Martin, head of Canada's delegation to the conference.

Sen. Vitter has meticulously documented and highlighted for his senate colleagues some of the most egregious proposals, including:

A comprehensive program for worldwide gun control and a total ban on certain types of firearms;

The establishment of an international tracking certificate which would be used to ensure UN monitoring control over the export, import, transit, stocking, and storage of legal small arms and light weapons;

Worldwide record keeping for an indefinite amount of time on the manufacture, holding and transfer of small arms and light weapons;

National registries and tracking lists of all legal firearms.

'The U.N. has no business interfering with our Second Amendment rights guaranteed by our Founding Fathers,' Sen. Vitter said.

Much of the UN's agenda was conceived in a 1995 proposal, and then adopted as a Program of Action in 2001. At that time, then-Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security John Bolton led the U.S. opposition to the Program. The United States has neither signed nor ratified the Program.

Why should we have a law when we already have the Second Amendment? Well, here's the clincher:

Sen. Vitter's bill will prohibit any U.S. funding to the UN unless the President certifies that the world body 'has not taken action to restrict, attempt to restrict or otherwise adversely infringe upon the rights of individuals in the United States to possess a firearm or ammunition.'

More bad news for Texas land-grabbers

Austin, TX:

Private property owners would be protected from state and local governments seizing their land for economic development purposes under a bill overwhelmingly approved by the Texas House Sunday night.

The bill, drafted in response to a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing eminent domain seizures for economic development projects, gained final passage 136-0...

...The House version of the eminent domain bill was amended to stop the city of Freeport from seizing waterfront land from a family-owned shrimping company to make way for a private marina project...

...The Senate has passed similar legislation, but differences must be worked out in a conference committee before midnight Wednesday when the special session ends.

The House bill also requires local approval from county commissioners courts for state use of eminent domain to seize land for gas stations, convenience stores, hotels and other commercial enterprises in the median of the Trans-Texas Corridor, Gov. Rick Perry's ambitious toll road project.

Now it goes back to the Senate, since it was amended in the House.

More gun pix

I first came across this website a long time ago, I can't remember when, but somehow forgot to bookmark it (or possibly lost the bookmark during a long-ago computer crash). But I recently found it again due to a reference at some other website: Oleg Volk Photo Gallery: Weapons. There are lots of excellent photos here, only a small part of which are gun-related, but that's what I'm focusing on for the purposes of this blog. Some of the photos are for self-defense advocacy, and some are just pictures of guns. Many of them are of the right size and proportion to use as desktop wallpaper if you desire, or to print out for posters or handbills. Most of the advocacy pictures are for women's self defense. There are also a few pictures of just ammunition. (I never realized that a few 7.62x25mm Tokarev cartridges could be so photogenic).

I thought when I re-discovered this site that it might hold a picture that I have been looking for for a long time, but it turns out that it isn't here. It was a picture of a woman holding a shotgun and a cell phone, looking downward toward the floor several feet in front of her. The caption on the poster said: "Shoot twice, then once more to make sure. Reload. Call 911." I thought it was a great poster but I have lost it and haven't been able to find it again. If anyone has ever seen this one, please leave me a comment.

I almost forgot one more thing. This website has rss feeds for each gallery, so that if you use a news aggregator you can subscribe to it and be notified when a new photo has been posted to that gallery. Nice.

Dallas Morning News: Memo lists possible border terror plot

Memo lists possible border terror plot:

Dirt roads trace pale lines across a desolate landscape of bald peaks and plunging canyons near Texas' Big Bend and bridge the border at dozens of improvised crossings. For decades, these routes have been used to smuggle drugs and humans. Now there is growing concern they could become deadly conduits for terrorism.

The concern is buttressed by a confidential but unclassified FBI intelligence bulletin, obtained by The Dallas Morning News, that contains the vague outlines of a possible terrorist plot.

Officials from both sides of the border played down the possible threat but acknowledged that it is the sort of scenario they have to guard against. The prospect of terrorists crossing the southern border has been a rising concern among officials in Texas and Washington.

The plot, according to uncorroborated information provided by an FBI informant, involves a man, described as an Arab who goes by the nickname 'El Espanol,' and Ernesto Zatarin Beliz, also known as El Traca, suspected of being a Mexican drug trafficker and member of the Zetas, the feared enforcers of the notorious Gulf cartel.

'El Espanol is gathering truck drivers with knowledge of truck routes in the United States and explosive experts' in the state of Coahuila, according to the March 11 memo, which originated in the San Diego FBI office and was made available by a U.S. attorney's office. The informant 'believes that the activity in Coahuila, Mexico, is terrorist related.'

Maybe it's all for nothing:

The San Diego FBI analyst who wrote the document declined to comment. The division's spokeswoman said publication of such sensitive information would undermine the bureau's mission.

'We are trying to protect national security,' said Special Agent Jan Caldwell. 'We can't do that when things like this are put in newspapers.'

A senior Mexican intelligence official said the information in the memo had not been corroborated.

'The informant paved a road that led nowhere,' the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. He added that Mexican federal agents spent 'literally weeks chasing down the information, only to come up empty-handed.'

But still...

The border patrol's Marfa sector is its largest, covering 510 miles of border with Mexico, including part of Big Bend National Park, and bordering the Mexican states of Chihuahua and Coahuila. With some 200 agents, it has the smallest force of any sector along the Mexican border, according to Bill Brooks, the sector spokesman.

Much of the area is desert and mountainous terrain, dotted by at least a dozen informal crossings known as Class B ports of entry. These consist of makeshift bridges capable of carrying foot and some lighter vehicle traffic. Authorities tried to seal them off after Sept. 11, 2001, but several have been re-established. Officials acknowledged that agents cannot regularly police the informal crossings.

'Who ever imagined that terrorists would use passenger planes to crash into tall buildings?' Mr. Hoffman said. 'After Sept. 11, we have to operate on a different mindset, one in which we take absolutely nothing for granted. Is it possible terrorists can come across this border with explosives or a dirty bomb? Absolutely.'

Mosquito Tests Positive For West Nile Virus in San Antonio

From KSAT.com:

The first mosquito to test positive for West Nile virus in Bexar County was discovered recently on the Southeast Side.

San Antonio Metropolitan Health officials said the mosquito came from routine samples taken Friday off Roosevelt Avenue. Tests on Wednesday confirmed the findings.

Why the heck did I mention this? Because every time I work anywhere on the southside I see way too many dead birds, which have apparently not died due to violence. A few weeks ago I saw two doves in one day that were in the process of dying when I saw them, just sitting there, about half-keeled over, too weak to even flop away when I walked past them.

Fatwah issued against Anarchangel

Via Resistance is futile!:

One of my internet friends, Chris the AnarchAngel, a regular contributor to my Carnival of Cordite, has learned that a fatwah has been issued against him by islamofacist terrorists. Why? Because he has had the guts to post the truth about our enemies.

Follow both links to read more about it.

Recommended reading at Parallax Adjustment

She was just 16:

Our conversation wound its way through various topics last night. We talked about everything from education to where we live and somehow got on topic of very bad things that happen to people. I related a couple of instances of being robbed and almost mugged, and she came back with the story of her rape. She was aghast when I asked if she fought him off. The turd had a gun pointed at her, and she was scared to do anything. For someone with no firearms experience, a gun is a formidable obstacle, but there are other ways to fight.

Cell phone saves immigrants lost in desert

So begins the Reuters headline. The first paragraph goes on to say:

A group of stranded illegal immigrants facing death in the parched Arizona desert saved themselves by using a cell phone they found to call rescue services, the U.S. Border Patrol said Thursday.

But wait, later on the article states:

Lost and low on water, they used a cell phone they found in their guide's bag to dial 911. Rescuers dispatched helicopters and located the group in the desert shortly after sunset.

However, Knight Ridder reports:

And in Altar, Mexico, 60 miles south of the border, businesses thrive on providing everything migrants might need to survive the long and perilous trip north, from backpacks and water bottles to cell phones for summoning U.S. police if they get lost in the desert.

What is my point? I'm not sure. Except that this post started because of something in Reuters' "odd news." Someone thinks it's "odd" that they would find a cell phone in the middle of the desert. But they didn't just find it out in the middle of nowhere. They found it in their coyotes' abandoned gear. What's so "odd" about that? Coyotes are evil, exploitative bastards, but that doesn't mean they're stupid.

This one cracks me up...

Antwerp, Belgium:

A shoplifter sweltering in more than 10 pieces of stolen clothing while summer temperatures soared toward 86 degrees Fahrenheit was apprehended by security guards in the Belgian city of Antwerp.

That "soared toward 86 degrees" just kills me. Around here lately 86 is the 8:30 in the morning temperature.

(However, yesterday and today we've been having some rain and cooler weather. Highs in the mid 90's only).

Jumping on the blogwagon

Since my earlier post today was somewhere on the far side of sarcastic, I thought I should balance things out a little by making fun of myself. No attributions in this post, because I've seen these on so many other blogs that I don't even remember them all. That's right, folks, more dumb "whatever-the-heck-are-you" quizzes!

I've taken so many of these quizzes, I can't remember them all anymore. I don't post them all, because sometimes I'm not in the mood, sometimes Blogger mangles the code beyond recognition, and sometimes I just don't think it's anybody's business. (Why did I ever take that "who is your inner sexy cartoon chick" quiz? For the love of...did I really want to now that deep down inside I'm Daphne Blake?) Ahem...(cough). Anyway, this has been a feature of this blog since the early days, before anyone ever read it, as can be seen in the older archives. For example, in January 2004 I discovered which classic movie I am:

What Classic Movie Are You?

I was not entirely surprised.

Yesterday my kids were delighted to discover which movie hero I am:
Personally, I would have preferred Rooster Cogburn or even Gimli, son of Gloin.

Today I went on a deep soul-searching quest to discover my extent of hippiness, and was somewhat disturbed:

I am 18% Hippie.

What? Am I a Republican? Why did I even bother taken this test?! I guess I'll back to my George W. Bush fan club and tell them I just wasted 10 minutes of my life. At least I don't stink, man.

Take the
Hippie Test
@ FualiDotCom

I'll tell you exactly why I got so high (even though at 18% it still calls me a Republican). Because I have in the past made my own tie-dyed shirt. I am fortunate that it didn't ask me about other tie-dyed affairs, or I would have had to admit that I once even made my own tie-dyed underwear. And I wasn't even high at the time. That was a long time ago.

To get some contrasting perspective on this shattering 18% of hippiness, I found:

I am 45% White Trash.

The white trash in my blood will not keep me from becoming a doctor or a lawyer, but it will keep me from a good haircut and any sort of fashion sense.

Take the
White Trash Test
@ FualiDotCom

I think if there had been more questions about living in a trailer house or having ever fixed anything with baling wire, I could have broken 50%.

Hoping for something more frivolous, I decided to see if I would turn up as one of my favorite Simpsons characters: the Comic Book Guy. But alas, it was not to be. It turns out I am:

Some time ago I took this "which Marvel superhero are you" quiz and had the same result as below, but the code got so mangled by Blogger that I couldn't post it. But now I can show you who I really am:

(Arioch, Arioch, come to my aid! I might also add).

Lastly, the definitive quiz. This is the quiz that truly reveals all: what movie villain are you? Two words:
Heeeeeere's Johnny!

NoVictims.org - Transforming Victims into Victors

NoVictims.org - Transforming Victims into Victors:

Help others who have been victimized by violent crime by telling your story on a television documentary while learning about self defense and safety awareness.

Deborah Courtney, a Victim Rights Advocate and Second Amendment Activist, is seeking crime victims to tell their stories for an upcoming television documentary. The program will highlight victims becoming victorious over the crimes by regaining control through safety awareness and firearms training.

tnx to The War on Guns

Vicente Fox says Mexico will stand against anyone acting outside the law

From USATODAY.com:

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson met with six of his Mexican counterparts Friday to discuss immigration and ways to halt a wave of drug-fueled violence that has left scores of people dead along the Mexican border.

El Presidente Fox also had something to say:

Mexican President Vicente Fox, who addressed the gathering in a video message, spoke against U.S. civilian border patrols and said Mexico will stand against anyone acting outside the law.

You mean, like people who illegally enter this country from your country? No, of course not. He's actually referring to the Minuteman Project volunteers:

The National Border Patrol Council, Local 2544 in Tucson, Ariz., endorsed the Minuteman Project, saying its members -- about 2,000 field agents -- did not have "one single complaint from a rank-and-file agent in this sector about the Minutemen."

"Every report we've received indicates these people are very supportive of the rank-and-file agents; they're courteous. Many of them are retired firefighters, cops and other professionals, and they're not causing us any problems whatsoever," the council said.

He probably wasn't thinking too much about this, either:

The plan also calls for better training for Mexican police, programs to prevent violence along the border, and the creation of a database containing the identities of members of criminal organizations, including the Zetas, a group of Mexican soldiers-turned-drug hit men believed to be controlling Nuevo Laredo.

Go for it, Vicente. Take a stand against people who are acting outside the law. It would make for a refreshing change.

D.C. public school security guards should not have passed background check

The Washington Times reports:

The Metropolitan Police Department has licensed private security officers in the D.C. public school system despite past arrests on charges of assault, cocaine possession and passing counterfeit money, according to a draft report by the D.C. inspector general.

"There are contracted security personnel working in [public schools] who may pose a risk to the secure environment of students and staff," the draft document states.

"There is no assurance that all contracted school security personnel possess the requisite skills to ensure the safety and security of ... students and faculty," according to the report, which has not yet been finalized.

And this:

According to the report, the inspector general researched the backgrounds of 30 security officers randomly selected from among 400 working in the school system for Watkins Security Agency of D.C. Inc. last school year.

Oh, so it's not just an honest mistake. It's because someone somewhere is a complete freakin' idiot, or possibly is illiterate.

Citizens of D.C. should take note: People with records of assault and drug possession are "guarding" your kids at school. Meanwhile, it's illegal for you to keep a loaded gun in your own home to protect yourself, quite possibly from the same people who are "guarding" your kids.

CCKRBA pulls no punches:

"A news report today that ex-cons are guarding DC public schools demonstrates that DC officials are completely incompetent," John Michael Snyder, Public Affairs Director of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA), said here today.

"They simply cannot be trusted with the public safety," he added.

"Efforts by Mayor Anthony Williams, Police Chief Charles Ramsey and Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton to maintain the asinine DC gun law and prevent law-abiding citizens from getting guns to protect themselves and their families would be ludicrous if they weren't so sad," he continued. "Williams, Ramsey and Norton constitute in effect a triumvirate of tyranny – a tyranny that represses the law-abiding citizenry's right to self-defense – a tyranny of stupidity that refuses to recognize the right of decent, average people to protect themselves and their loved ones from violent, predatory criminals."

Eminent domain takes a hit in Texas

Austin, TX:

Shouting one another down in a fight about property rights, senators approved broad restrictions Wednesday on government seizure of homes or businesses to spur economic development.

The bill's sponsor, Republican Kyle Janek of Houston, and its leading critic, Democrat John Whitmire of Houston, angrily interrupted each other as they tussled over a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling allowing such use of the government power known as eminent domain. It was an unusual brawl in the normally genteel upper chamber, known for doing its dirty work away from the floor and then staging debates full of kisses and pats on the back.

The measure, sent to the House by a vote of 25-4, would spell out the projects for which governments still may condemn land, and would forbid a taking of land for economic development by a private entity.

However...

Senators approved a protection for Arlington's efforts to condemn homes for a proposed $650 million Dallas Cowboys stadium, already approved by voters.

I'd say screw the Cowboys, but that's just me.

Shot placement, guys, shot placement...

A marauding pit bull has apparently defied being shot, hit with a car, and Tasered in Connecticutt:

The man versus canine confrontations began Wednesday morning when two police officers went to help an animal control officer after receiving a report that the dogs were charging her at Center Springs Park.

The dogs again charged, and one of the officers fired his gun in self-defense, police said. The gunfire didn't stop the dogs, which turned and ran toward a town recreation building at 100 Lodge Drive, where the summer camp was going on inside, police said. Several more officers were sent to the park.

I say he just didn't hit in the right place (or didn't hit it at all). And when the owner is tracked down, there should be something to charge him with. Dogs--even pit bulls--don't get this way without a reason.

Exceptionally Good Weekly Check on the Bias at Alphecca

Alphecca's Weekly Check on the Bias is exceptionally good this week. Don't miss it.

El Paso County Sheriff says: "I Welcome the Minuteman Project"

El Paso, TX:

One of the top law enforcement officials in West Texas welcomes a controversial border watch group. The mission of the Minuteman Project is to work with the Border Patrol to catch illegal immigrants and El Paso County Sheriff Leo Samaniego supports their mission.

At a news conference Monday morning, the El Paso County Sheriff said securing the border is the first step in Homeland Security and the Minuteman Project should be seen as an 'expanded neighborhood watch program.'

Films on Liberty and the State

I came across this list of Films on Liberty and the State at the Ludwig von Mises Institute. First I went over and checked out their mission statement, since I had never heard of this organization before. From their mission:

In this cause, the Mises Institute works to advance the Austrian School of economics and the Misesian tradition, and, in application, defends the market economy, private property, sound money, and peaceful international relations, while opposing government intervention as economically and socially destructive.

Good enough, so here's a list of Films on Liberty and the State:

I have come up with a list of some films I've happened upon that I think are of particular interest to Austrians and libertarians. In addition to having some libertarian angle, (and I, by no means, am vouching for ideological purity in any of these films), I also selected for films that are generally high quality (critically acclaimed).

Where available, I have put links to full reviews by my trusted film reviewer, James Berardinelli. Write me with any suggestions for additions.

Here are the comments on one of my favorite films, The Outlaw Josey Wales:

This classic western directed by and starring Clint Eastwood features a scathing portrayal of the state at war. Set at the end of the War Between the States, Josey Wales is a Missouri farmer minding his own business who decides to fight when Kansas raiders allied with the North kill his wife and his child and burn his house down. Refusing to surrender when his comrades do at the end of the war, he becomes a hunted man. As he journeys to Texas with Union soldiers on his trail, he begins to collect ragtag outcasts... Some of whom represent other victims of the Union government like his Indian friend.

The self-righteous crusading spirit of the Yankee so often described by Murray Rothbard is summed up in a single line of dialogue. "Fletcher: We get [kill] Josey Wales and it ends. Union officer: Doin' right ain't got no end." The most amazing speech, though, occurs when Wales comes to a Comanche chief (Ten Bears) to make peace having had enough of fighting:

Josey: Governments don't live together. People live together. Governments don't give you a fair word or a fair fight. I've come here to give you either one. Or get either one from you... I'm saying that men can live together without butchering one another...

Ten Bears: It's sad that governments are chiefed by the double-tongues.

A great film with a sharp interpretation of history and a timeless message about the state, society, war and peace. Contains brief nudity and lots of violence.

Looks like a site that's worth checking out more thoroughly.

Christian Persecution Blog

Well, I couldn't find a single thing in all my news searches to get ticked off enough about to blog. So I thought I'd mention this blog that I came across last week, Christian Persecution Blog - a weblog about persecuted Christians and the persecuted church. It keeps track of and chronicles Christian prosecution throughout the world, most of which you will never hear a peep about from the MSM.

Sudden Increase in Firepower

Several months ago a friend of mine who has moved far away (but still remains in Texas) told me by email that he had a lot of extra reloading stuff taking up space, and he was going to load me up some practice ammo. This weekend, after I had long ago completely forgotten about it, the package arrived. Included was over 100 rounds each of .357 Magnum and .45 ACP, as well as 237 rounds of .40 S&W.

I had at one time decided that I would give the XD40 a break-in of 500 rounds before I started carrying it. Right now I"m at 200. This 237 plus the 100 rounds of Wolf I recently purchased will put me over the top. Time to buy a holster.

Time for another trip to the range.

He also sent me his .40 S&W dies, since he has now used up all his .40 material, has no .40 himself, and doesn't see any reason to keep the dies on hand. Now I just need a press.

The one down side, which turned out not to be a major problem (this time), is that our local idiot post office has a big problem differentiating my address with another address that is one word different: they apparently have difficulty distinguishing the word "valley" from "hollow." They sent this huge package of ammo to the wrong address. This happens frequently, but not usually with something quite this critical. We usually just put a note with the item (usually a bill or junk mail) that it has been sent to the wrong address and stick it back in the box. This time the other fellow drove by here and dropped it off himself. I'm just glad he wasn't nosey enough to open it.

9x18 Ammo

Several months ago, while taking my CHL requalification, I ran into another Makarov user who was complaining that 1) he couldn't find any ammo for it other than very expensive stuff at local gun stores ($21.99 plus tax for 50 rounds), and 2) he was trying to sell it but "no one wanted to take the thing." If I'd had some cash I would have bought it then and there, since it was one of the Russian versions with adjustable sights. I did recommend to him to go to the gun show and look for either Wolf or Sellier & Bellot. I hope he took my advice and found himself some cheaper ammo, so he can realize what a really great gun he had. But I wish I had also remembered to refer him to this website: 9x18 Ammo. Back when I first acquired my Makarov I made a thorough Internet-based investigation on all the ammo that was available. This website is about 5 years old so some of the information on it has probably changed. I plan on going through it and updating it, and I'll post update notices here when I find them, in case anyone is interested.

I did just notice that Wolf's ammo now has a "new polymer coating." I noticed that the .40 S&W Wolf ammo that I bought at the recent gun show had a black coating of some sort on the cases. I guess it's supposed to improve feeding? I don't know. I've used Wolf in 9x18 and .45 ACP--back when they just had the "bi-metal" cases without any coating--and I've never had a single problem with any of them. For some reason I've never tried any of their 9x19 ammo. In my opinion, this is some of the best cheap practice ammo you can get.

Here is Wolf's page on their new POLYFORMANCE^TM technology.

Desktop Wallpaper

I decided I needed to find some cool gun-related desktop wallpaper for my laptop, and I just ran across this collection of High Resolution USFA Images at United States Fire-Arms Mfg. Co. Inc. I had never heard of this company before, but they specialize in "...handcrafted, historically accurate re-creations of Old West guns and rifles..." Their wallpaper collection features lots of single-action revolvers. I chose this one...

Looks real nice at full size. This site has 22 high-resolution images. Alas, the price range of their products is way too high for me.

This is what I want to get next...

It has been a long time since I've purchased a firearm. It has been an even longer time since I've purchased a long gun. I don't know how long it will take to set aside my spare dollars, but here is what I want next:


That is the Kel-Tec SUB-2000. Mine will be the .40 S&W version that uses Glock 22 mags.

Don't forget to set your clocks

For the first time in seven years, a special leap second will be added to the clock at the end of 2005:

An extra second will be added to 2005 to make up for the slowing down of the Earth's rotation, officials said this week.

The once-common 'leap second' is the first in seven years and reflects the unpredictable nature of the planet's behavior.

The International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service in Paris keeps track of time by measuring the Earth's rotation, which varies, and by an atomic clock, which is unwavering. When a difference in the two clocks shows up, the IERS adds or subtracts a second to the year.

A Lesson for Islam

A great post at Shakey Pete's Shootin' Shack:

Here's how this relates to Islamic terrorism. Snakes are easily recognizable. I can tell a venomous snake by sight. Most, like the Rattlesnakes of my home range, have a peculiar head shape. Others, like the Coral snake have a distinctive color scheme and there ain't nothin' but a Cottonmouth that looks like a Cottonmouth. The trouble with Islamic terrorists is that they have no such distinctive appearance. If they did, it would be very easy to root them out. They don't have a distinctive head shape, nor color scheme. This is how they manage to present a danger. Unfortunately they don't just present a danger to us Infidels. There was a time, before we learned to differentiate between venomous snakes and harmless ones, snakes, of any kind, were killed on sight. If there was no easy way to distinguish the harmless from the venomous, they still would be.

That's only an excerpt. Read the whole thing.

Oh brother...

Some R&B singer (who I have never heard of anyway) wants his fans to pray for him because:

'Omarion was in London during the tragic bombings that struck this morning,' a statement by the singer's publicist AR PR Marketing, released hours after the bombings, said.

Making no mention of the fatalities or casualties of the blasts, the singer's statement concluded, 'He would like his fans to pray that he has a safe trip and a safe return home. He appreciates your support.'

He was in London for Saturday's Live 8 show, his publicist Shana Gilmore told Reuters from Los Angeles. Asked why anyone should pray for him, Gilmore said, 'He wasn't hurt or anything, but just the fact that he was there and all that.'

Right.

Interesting article from Canada...

...regarding Canadian gun laws:

What is remarkable, however, is that the Liberals' 1995 controls -- requiring all owners and guns to be licensed -- seem to have had no discernable impact. Following implementation of those regulations, firearms deaths simply continued at the rate of decline begun in 1991.

There are other indications of the most recent controls' uselessness. 'In each year,' Ms. Wilkins writes, 'about four-fifths of all firearms-related deaths were suicides.' And while in the past decade and a half firearms suicides have been cut in half, the overall rate of suicides has dropped just 15%, all of which is likely explicable by the ageing Canadian population. (Nearly every Western country has experienced a similar decline in suicides in cases where the average age of its citizens has risen.) While firearms suicides went from 4.5 per 100,000 population in 1979 to 2.0 in 2002, 'suicide by suffocation/hanging ... rose from 3 to 5 deaths per 100,000.' While gun controls may have helped reduce the number of firearms suicides, they did not lower the overall rate of suicides, meaning, at best, controls merely encouraged troubled Canadians to find other methods for taking their own lives.

tnx to John Lott

Downtown I.C. fight leads to gun skirmish

Notice the headline above (their headline, not mine), then see what they call a "gun skirmish."

Iowa City, Iowa:

Police here say a man confronted several people outside a downtown bar this morning with a loaded gun to confront people he'd been fighting with, but was subdued before the gun could be used.

A round was fired from the gun, but it was an accident caused by a person who picked up the gun before officers could arrive at the scene, Iowa City police said.

No one was injured, police said.

The guy was subdued before he could use the gun, the only shot that was fired was by accident when some doofus tried to pick the gun up, yet it's still a "gun skirmish."

No Words

Minuteman Project Vigilance

The Minuteman Project recently conducted another patrol of the Avery Valley area in Arizona during July 1-4. Here is some vigilante activity which they carried out:

Saturday morning at approximately noon a Minutewoman driving her car on a laundry patrol was approached by a young man. After she slowly pulled away while calling Border Patrol, he ran after her car waving a bottle. A laundry patrol is when volunteers drive desolate back roads looking for fences marked with t-shirts or other clothing, which indicates a location where illegal aliens are hiding in the brush awaiting a coyote to pick them up in a vehicle.

Minutewoman Gayle was soon joined by volunteer Fred, who stopped his car and said 'hello' while offering water to the young man. MCDC volunteers quickly realized the teenager was in a desperate physical condition from the heat, and again called for Border Patrol's assistance. While waiting for Border Patrol's arrival, volunteers offered food but the delirious teen refused. Volunteers soaked a towel with water and draped it over his shoulders and encouraged him to sit in a shaded area, all the while comforting him with kind words and asked the young man where he was going. He was so disoriented he did not know and stated he had no other traveling companions.

35 minutes later a Border Patrol EMT agent arrived to pick up the young man. After examining the young illegal border crosser, the agent told volunteers they had saved the man's life. More agents arrived to search the area and a short time later discovered the man's companion under a bush about 100 yards away from the road. His companion had died hours earlier.

D.C. Mayor Incensed Over Lack of Rights

Washington, DC:

Bitter about efforts to loosen gun restrictions in the US capital, Washington's mayor yesterday told Congress to stay out of the District of Columbia's business and contrasted the fight for democracy abroad with the lack of rights for the city's residents.

What, you mean like the lack of the right to keep and bear arms? The lack of a right to self-defense?

17th Annual Chief of Police and Sheriff Survey

Via Chaos-In-Motion, here is a link to the 17th Annual Chief of Police and Sheriff Survey (pdf file) which is of interest to gun owners. It is actually quite favorable for gun owners, seeming to contradict what I often hear from the MSM regarding what police officers think of gun owners (imagine that).

(No excerpts because it's a pdf file, but be sure and check it out).

Gonzales Would Be Bad For Gun Rights @ Alphecca

Good information regarding possible supreme court nominee Alberto Gonzales at Alphecca. I probably don't need to say that this is something we pro-RKBA folks should be paying close attention to. But I'll say it anyway.

Texas Border Sheriffs Form Alliance to Fight Illegal Immigration

San Antonio, TX:

Sheriffs along the Texas-Mexico border say they're exhausted with dealing with the overflow of illegal immigration.

The toll on manpower, fuel and equipment has reached such an alarming level, they say, that the sheriffs from the 16 Texas counties along the border formed an alliance and planned to discuss the problem Wednesday and Thursday in Del Rio, a border town about 150 miles west of San Antonio.

Calling themselves the Texas Border Sheriff's Coalition, the group formed in May and is seeking more federal and state funding to pay for the costs of illegal immigration that county budgets can't afford, coalition members said.

'The coalition feels the federal government is not adequately protecting the border,' said Zapata County Sheriff Sigifredo Gonzalez, coalition president. 'If anything happens along the border, we'd be the first ones to respond.'

Furthermore...

'We are getting intelligence that some Middle Easterners are making their way through Mexico and don't mind paying high dollar for those who smuggle narcotics to smuggle these people across the border and, God forbid, smuggle weapons of mass destruction, [Webb County Sheriff Rick] Flores said.

ACLU southern N.M. chapter to remain suspended until September

Las Cruces, NM:

The American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico's southern chapter will remain suspended until September.

The A-C-L-U's state director, Peter Simonson, says the suspension will enable the A-C-L-U to rewrite some bylaws.

He says the revamped bylaws would allow the A-C-L-U's state and national leaders to oust a chapter board member, Clifford Alford, who is not adhering to the A-C-L-U's goals.

No law-abiding citizens who are watching for illegal activity wanted. However, if you want to hang out, smoke dope, harrass law-abiding citizens who are watching for illegal activity, and aid in the commission of such illegal activity, feel free to join up.

Another pretty good article from World Peace Herald

From World Peace Herald:

'Education is a very big part,' says Mr. Blaschke, an elementary and middle school teacher who lives in Northern Virginia. 'Guns and families can coexist. It boils down to responsibility. A responsible gun owner needs to make sure his children develop a respect for [the guns].'

These days, two of Mr. Blaschke's stepdaughters -- Meghan Nelson, 14, and Darby Nelson, 10 -- are safe as well as skilled with guns. They practice at the shooting range with Mr. Blaschke. Darby is thinking of entering a competition. The third stepdaughter is not interested in guns.

'John and Darby have really bonded doing things like this,' says the girls' mother, Sara.

The article goes on to mention both pro- and con-having guns in the house with children, and even talks about the (gasp) Eddie Eagle program from the NRA.

My two cents: I have loaded guns in the house with small children. My loaded guns are locked, but I have quick access to them. I give my kids quick gun lessons every now and then--they always help me clean the guns after I've had a visit to the range. Neither is responsible enough to handle a loaded gun yet, but they are learning. Until then, the guns stay locked, and the key stays with me. And they both love going to the gun show.

"Common Sense" gun law change in Virginia

From TimesDispatch.com:

And until Friday, Virginia law had prohibited anyone other than law-enforcement officials from possessing loaded guns on school property. Individuals with concealed-weapon permits could have an unloaded gun with them in their vehicle, but it had to be in a case or on a gun rack.

Unfortunately (of course), there are still those who fear everything--including responsibility for their own protection--who think everyone should remain defenseless:

The recent legislation "is just a tragedy waiting to happen," said Pamela Pouchot, chairwoman of the Virginia Committee for Gun-Free Schools. She added that it edges "closer and closer to arming everyone with loaded guns."

Pouchot said people who have permits and know how to use a firearm will be able to load it quickly if they need to use it.

She said she fears that someone with easy access to a loaded gun would use it to settle a disagreement when that person's judgment might be clouded.

"Everybody starts out in this life innocent, having never committed a crime," Pouchot said. "But just because I'm rational today doesn't mean I'm going to be rational tomorrow."

So apparently anyone who has an unloaded gun on them can load it quickly enough to use even when under violent attack, but they won't be able to load it and use it quickly when they decide to cut loose on someone who bumped them in the parking lot. Her last line really kills me. Maybe she has a family history of sudden-onset murderous insanity.

Storm's a-brewin'

I don't wish any harm on folks living in coastal regions, but sometimes this kind of storm is the only way we can get rain during the summer, and we really need some rain.

And it doesn't actually have to reach hurricane strength for us to get some rain out of it.

Minuteman Project growing strength in Tennessee

This incredibly biased report from the Arizona Daily Star nevertheless does provide some information:

Carl 'Two Feathers' Whitaker, an American Indian activist and erstwhile Tennessee gubernatorial candidate, tapped into a splinter group called Arizona Border Watch on a trip to Arizona in April and brought the movement back to Tennessee.

'It's like O'Leary's cow has kicked over the lantern. The fire has just started now,' Whitaker said in an interview in the small office that is home to the nascent Tennessee Minutemen and his 2006 independent campaign for governor.

I suppose I should show some support for my accusation of bias. Okay.

1. "...where citizen patrols out to catch undocumented immigrants have stirred controversy and fears of vigilantism." Only to those who don't bother to actually pay attention. There have been no reports of "vigilante activity" during any Minuteman watches. Zero.

2. "...are taking aim at a perceived invasion of 'illegal aliens,' particularly Hispanics, and those who employ them." Scare quotes around a perfectly legitimate term to describe people who have entered and are living in the country illegally. If the vast majority of illegal aliens are "Hispanic," well, I've heard the Canadians have a fairly high standard of living and aren't sneaking across the border by the thousands. Anyone else would have to cross several thousand miles of open ocean to get here. If the majority of illegal aliens are from Mexico, that's hardly the fault of those who want immigration law to actually be enforced.

3. "Migrant foes hope for Tenn. following" is the actual headline for this piece, suggesting that they are against anyone who is a "migrant," legal or otherwise. This in spite the Project's constant focus on those who are here illegally.

Stabbing Vampires with Flagpoles

Several years ago, when there was a proposal to ban flag desecration, I wrote an essay for a forgotten amateur 'zine with the above title. It was a serious essay with a preposterous question: Did Lance Kerwin's character in Salem's Lot desecrate the flag when he used a wooden flagpole to stake a vampire? The vampire promptly erupted into flames, burning the attached flag and eventually all immediate surroundings.

Unfortunately (or perhaps, fortunately) the essay is now long lost, as are most of my memories of it. But my beliefs remain the same.

1. Burning or any other desecration of the United States flag by a citizen of the United States is wrong.
2. Burning or any other desecration of the United States flag by a citizen of the United States is an inalienable right, the exercise of free expression, which is protected by the First Amendment.
3. To pass a law which forbids such flag desecration would be wrong.

Number 2 trumps number 1. Now, if some goofball tried to burn my flag, they would be guilty of vandalism, arson, criminal trespass, and no telling what else, and would be in serious trouble if they survived to be prosecuted after setting fire to something on my property. But if they want to go and buy themselves a flag just so they can burn it, that's their business. Prohibiting such activity would just be one more thing to make all of us a little less free. And there's plenty of that kind of thing going around already.

Just thought I should point that out.

Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking up Arms at No Quarters

No Quarters has reproduced the entire document known as Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking up Arms. An important precursor to the Declaration of Independence, it was issued July 6, 1775. The things you learn by reading blogs.

This document was prepared by the Second Continental Congress to explain to the world why the British colonies had taken up arms against Great Britain. It is a combination of the work of Thomas Jefferson and Colonel John Dickinson (well-known for his series "Letters from a Pennsylvania Farmer."). Jefferson completed the first draft, but it was perceived by the Contenential Congress as too harsh and militant; Dickinson prepared the second. The final document combined the work of the two.

UPDATE: Lest Darkness Fall also has some links to the Lee Resolution, another document that was a prelude to the Declaration of Independence.

Somebody's list of the top 10 zombie movies

I am not endorsing this list, just mentioning it. As far as I'm concerned, the list is invalid because "Thriller" was listed, which is a music video and not a movie. But it is nice to see he mentioned Re-Animator. (And it was adapted from only one HPL story, Chuckles).

Top 10 brain-eating flicks:

To start, let's agree that zombie movies aren't for everyone.

They're wall-to-wall with corpses, for one thing, and involve gory depictions of spilled intestines, devoured brains, exploding heads and other not-so-niceties.

But they can also run a lot deeper than they're given credit for, and the best serve as commentaries on cultural divides, disease-related paranoia, and mankind's unflappable survival instinct.

I don't know why I've been coming up with so many zombie posts lately. I'm not even really looking for them, they just kind of keep turning up. Hmmm...

Strange Animal Found in Elmendorf

While doing radio station research for the last post, I accidentally came across this. Local area cryptozoology is something I can't skip mentioning. Is there such a thing as a giant, hairless Chihuahua?

Chupacabra? Strange Animal Found in Elmendorf:

"First thing that came to my mind, is surely everybody's gonna think this is a chupacabra," he laughed. "But it's so odd because it has no hair."

At the nearby Deleon's Grocery and Market, customers come in to check out pictures of it. One woman says it is exactly how her grandmother described the dreaded chupacabra.

People at the San Antonio Zoo say they have not seen anything like it. Terry DeRosa with the zoo says at a feather-light 20 pounds, he thinks it might be a wild mexican dog.

"It may be one of the hairless dogs that perhaps you see in Mexico," he said.

Devin says he would like to know for sure. He says he is hoping someone can help identify it, possibly by DNA.

There's another link to a follow-up with more information here.

Just noticed this...

While driving in to work yesterday morning I noticed a small billboard on highway 87 advertising a new "progressive talk radio" station. I promptly tried tuning it in. I could barely hear it because of the weak signal. A few miles later I saw another billboard, and tried again. This time it was completely unintelligible, pretty much nothing but noise.

The station is 92.5 FM, KRPT. Until recently this was "hip hop radio" KHTY according to OnTheRadio.Net.

I'm not in the radio business, but Clear Channel (the apparent owner) doesn't appear to know what they're doing. Notice this coverage map at Radio-Locator.com. Even southwest San Antonio is in the "distant" area, (I was a little farther east while I was trying to pick it up). There were only a few places where I could get a decent signal, most of the time it was very noisy or non-existent.

Then notice the red "local" area where coverage is consistent. I guess it must be news to somebody, but the farming/ranching area that this covers is not going to have very many hip-hop or "progressive" (liberal) talk radio listeners. The vast majority of people in this area are going to be listening to Rush Limbaugh on WOAI or "classic" country music on KKYX.

And although Air America lists this station as an affiliate, they don't carry some of the big names like Al Franken. Some of their "personalities" are local people who have lost their jobs on other stations because no one would listen to their shows.

Just thought I would point that out. My prediction: a year from now (maximum), 92.5 FM in Divine/Pearsall will have a new callsign, and be playing either "classic" country or conjunto.

Gun Show

UPDATE: I forgot one other option for my next acquisition project: The Kel-Tec SUB-2000, avialable in both 9mm and .40 S&W. This is an interesting one because, unlike all the other makes, it collapses for storage. Different models are available which use magazines from different pistols: Glock , S&W, Beretta and SIG. It would be really cool to have a long gun like this that uses a magazine for which I also have the pistol, but currently that would mean only the Ruger 9mm for me, and I really have my heart set on a .40. Now if Kel-Tec would just make one that uses XD40 mags, that would settle the question immediately.

Well, I took a few extra-strength Tylenols, girded my loins (so to speak), and went anyway.

I didn't plan on buying anything big, and I didn't. Just got a little extra ammo (a box of S&B 7.65x25mm, two boxes of Wolf .40 S&W 180-grain FMJ, one box of Winchester .40 S&W 180-grain JHP).

I did spend a few minutes eyeing some old Colt .32 pocket pistols. I have no real use for any such thing, but I would like to get a .32 (and a .25 as well) just to round out the collection, and those old Colts have always struck my fancy.

I think my next firearm purchase will be some kind of long gun that shoots handgun ammo. This could be either a .357 lever or pump (like that Taurus that I recently learned about). Or it could be a semi-auto. The Hi-Point carbine was selling for around $150, both .40 and 9mm versions. I didn't see any Rugers, but the Beretta CX-4 Storm was going for slightly less than $600. I don't foresee being able to spend that much on a gun anytime soon, but they do make it in a .45 ACP version (hamana hamana). If Ruger ever makes their carbine in a .45 version, I will be hard-pressed to refrain from buying one.

Other notes. I used to own a Kel-Tec p-32 (I traded it for a NAA mini-revolver). I noticed that they were priced in the mid-$200's, which I think is less than I paid for mine (I don't remember, for some reason). Used Bulgarian Makarovs were priced in the high-$200's, or about twice what I bought mine for about 5 years ago.

I also got a wooden rubber-band gun for $5 (for the the kids to play with--yeah, that's the ticket). I wanted to get one of the 12-shot machine gun versions, but I was out of cash.

Also, I noticed for the first time this curious ammo made by Aguila, the .22 Super Colibri. It shoots a 20-grain projectile with no powder, apparently only with the primer charge (it's rimfire, of course) at a velocity of 500 fps. Made for having very little noise signature. This would have been great ammo to have when I was a teenager and frequently went rat hunting in my dad's barn and surrounding livestock pens. I think this ammo would turn your average Single-Six into a mean rat gun.

I also want to put in a plug for this little gadget: the Magloader. Cheap, simple, and it works on everything. Forget about those fancy model-specific magazine loaders that cost you $20 or $30. Just get a few of these and put one wherever you think you might need to reload a magazine. The little old lady who sells them at this gun show always sets up on the far left wall (from the entrance). I bought one last time I was there, and this time I actually stopped by her table just to tell her how great I think it is.

Dog Attack

I have been going over and over this in my mind, trying to think of what I could have done differently to have prevented it, and there is only one conclusion: I could only have prevented it by not going into that yard. Once I was in, it was too late. I could have left the notice on the fence, and called it a "gate." But they didn't have a gate. Some people in the past have gotten in trouble for doing this (CPS is finicky this way). But that's the only way I could have avoided it.

The yard was full of several piles of junk and various large items (cast off window-units, maybe an old refrigerator). The only way to get to the door was to pick out a thready path through all the stuff in the yard. I was perhaps 10 feet from the house, and only about 4 feet from the dog, when it jumped out of its nook and hit me.

It was a very large German Shepherd. Its first hit got my left foot. Only superficial damage to my leg, but it also jerked backwards and twisted its head, pulling my legs out from under me and knocking me flat on my back. The second hit is the one that really hurt. It gouged a big chunk of flesh out of my outer thigh about halfway between my hip and my knee. I was crab-walking backwards at the time and it actually pulled me about 6 inches closer back to the house before the flesh ripped free. The third hit (this is where details get a little fuzzy) somehow managed to nick my left hand and slash my upper front thigh. I got only superficial cuts on my little finger, but dog bites also cause bludgeoning damage, and now my little finger and ring finger are both a little sore and stiff from being hit. The damage to my leg from this hit was a long, nasty gash starting about level with my hip socket and extending downwards for about 10 inches.

At this point I had managed to back up enough that the dog hit the end of its long leash. I was able to push their fence down and kind of roll over it to get out.

The dog isn't rabid. He was just protecting his turf, and I honestly bear him no ill will. After all, he's just a stupid dog. It isn't his fault that his owners have kept him on a chain for his entire life, so he knows only a small front yard as his world. I do bear a fairly large dose of rancor for the owners, who didn't even bother to put up a warning sign. I hope a small child doesn't accidentally wander up into that yard, because that dog will most likely kill him/her.

I was planning on going to the gun show today, but I don't think I could handle that much walking. Walking is quite uncomfortable, and if I accidentally bump into something just wrong I think I could even fall down. Sitting/lying is okay. Getting into/out of my truck actually hurts.

From now on, unless the yard is wide open, notices go on the fence. No matter if they have a gate or not.

What the District of Columbia Personal Protection Act Does

UPDATE: Moved to top for Carnival of Cordite #20. Welcome Carnival of Cordite readers!

In light of some of the hysterical ravings I've read recently regarding Senator Hutchison's proposed repeal of Washington, D.C.'s gun ban, and since she is my senator and I did vote for her, I thought I would see exactly what her Act does. By the way, it is actually referred to as the District of Columbia Personal Protection Act. Here is the Senator's press release on the Act.

First, it reforms D.C. Council's authority to restrict firearms by adding a new paragraph to 1-303.43 (amended addition in boldface):

The Council of the District of Columbia is hereby authorized and empowered to make, and the Mayor of the District of Columbia is hereby authorized and empowered to enforce, all such usual and reasonable police regulations, in addition to those already made under §§ 1-303.01 to 1-303.03 as the Council may deem necessary for the regulation of firearms, projectiles, explosives, or weapons of any kind in the District of Columbia.

Nothing in this section or any other provision of law shall authorize, or shall be construed to permit, the Council, the Mayor, or any governmental or regulatory authority of the District of Columbia to prohibit, constructively prohibit, or unduly burden the ability of persons not prohibited from possessing firearms under Federal law from acquiring, possessing in their homes or businesses, or using for sporting, self-protection or other lawful purposes, any firearm neither prohibited by Federal law nor subject to the National Firearms Act. The District of Columbia shall not have authority to enact laws or regulations that discourage or eliminate the private ownership or use of firearms.

Second, it repeals the ban on semi-automatic firearms, which currently are defined as "machine guns." The old wording is this:

(10) "Machine gun" means any firearm which shoots, is designed to shoot, or can be readily converted or restored to shoot:

(A) Automatically, more than 1 shot by a single function of the trigger;

(B) Semiautomatically, more than 12 shots without manual reloading.

The amended wording would become:

(10) 'Machine gun' means any firearm which shoots, is designed to shoot, or can be readily converted or restored to shoot automatically, more than 1 shot by a single function of the trigger, and includes the frame or receiver of any such weapon, any part designed and intended solely and exclusively, or combination of parts designed and intended, for use in converting a weapon into a machine gun, and any combination of parts from which a machine gun can be assembled if such parts are in the possession or under the control of a person.

Third, it repeals the registration requirement. Original:

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this unit, no person or organization in the District of Columbia ("District") shall receive, possess, control, transfer, offer for sale, sell, give, or deliver any destructive device, and no person or organization in the District shall possess or control any firearm, unless the person or organization holds a valid registration certificate for the firearm. A registration certificate may be issued:

(1) To an organization if:

(A) The organization employs at least 1 commissioned special police officer or employee licensed to carry a firearm whom the organization arms during the employee's duty hours; and

(B) The registration is issued in the name of the organization and in the name of the president or chief executive officer of the organization;

(2) In the discretion of the Chief of Police, to a police officer who has retired from the Metropolitan Police Department; or

(3) In the discretion of the Chief of Police, to the Fire Marshal and any member of the Fire and Arson Investigation Unit of the Fire Prevention Bureau of the Fire Department of the District of Columbia, who is designated in writing by the Fire Chief, for the purpose of enforcing the arson and fire safety laws of the District of Columbia.

This one would become much shorter:

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this unit, no person or organization in the District of Columbia ("District") shall receive, possess, control, transfer, offer for sale, sell, give, or deliver any destructive device, and no person or organization in the District shall possess or control any firearm described in subsection (c).

And here is subsection (c):

(c) A firearm described in this subsection is any of the following:

(1) A sawed-off shotgun.

(2) A machine gun.

(3) A short-barreled rifle.

Fourth, it changes the name of section 7-2502.01 from "Registration requirments" to "Firearm Possession."

Next, it repeals sections 7-2502.02 through 7-2502.11. All these sections are rules regarding registration, and since this act would repeal registration, they all become non-applicable. Paragraph 13 of section 7501.01 would be removed, since it also applies to registration. Following are several other changes, all due to registration being repealed and all rules applying to it becoming non-applicable, or rules that need to be re-worded so that they apply to firearms possession but not registration.

The next change goes back again to definitions in section 7-2501.01, paragraph (13a), which states:

"Restricted pistol bullet" means any bullet designed for use in a pistol which, when fired from a pistol with a barrel of 5 inches or less in length, is capable of penetrating commercially available body armor with a penetration resistance equal to or greater than that of 18 layers of kevlar.

This would be clarified by adding two sub-paragraphs:

(A) 'Restricted pistol bullet' means--

(i) a projectile or projectile core which may be used in a handgun and which is constructed entirely (excluding the presence of traces of other substances) from one or a combination of tungsten alloys, steel, iron, brass, bronze, beryllium copper, or depleted uranium; or

(ii) a full-jacketed projectile larger than .22 caliber designed and intended for use in a handgun and whose jacket has a weight of more than 25 percent of the total weight of the projectile.

(B) The term 'restricted pistol bullet' does not include shotgun shot required by Federal or State environmental or game regulations for hunting purposes, a frangible projectile designed for target shooting, a projectile which the Attorney General of the United States (pursuant to section 921(a)(17) of title 18, United States Code) finds is primarily intended to be used for sporting purposes, or any other projectile or projectile core which the Attorney General finds is intended to be used for industrial purposes, including a charge used in an oil and gas well perforating device.

Next, section 7-2506.01 would be amended so that the word "ammunition" is replaced with "restricted pistol bullets," except in paragraph (4). This means anyone could own conventional ammunition, and apparently anyone who holds an Ammunition Collector's Certificate from September 24, 1976 or later could also possess "restricted pistol bullets."

Next, section 7-2507.02 states:

Except for law enforcement personnel described in § 7-2502.01(b)(1), each registrant shall keep any firearm in his possession unloaded and disassembled or bound by a trigger lock or similar device unless such firearm is kept at his place of business, or while being used for lawful recreational purposes within the District of Columbia.

This would be repealed, which would allow citizens to keep a loaded weapon in their home. Current law allows only business owners to keep a loaded weapon at their place of business (but not private citizens in their own homes).

This act also removes criminal penalties for possession of an unregistered firearm, again since registration would be repealed. It also removes criminal penalties for carrying a firearm on one's own property (dwelling or other premises).

And finally, section 22-4505(a) is amended. New wording in boldface (the word "pistol is replaced by "firearm"):

(a) The provisions of § 22-4504 shall not apply to marshals, sheriffs, prison or jail wardens, or their deputies, policemen or other duly appointed law enforcement officers, including special agents of the Office of Tax and Revenue, authorized in writing by the Deputy Chief Financial Officer for the Office of Tax and Revenue to carry a firearm while engaged in the performance of their official duties, and criminal investigators of the Office of the Inspector General, designated in writing by the Inspector General, while engaged in the performance of their official duties, or to members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps of the United States or of the National Guard or Organized Reserves when on duty, or to the regularly enrolled members of any organization duly authorized to purchase or receive such weapons from the United States, provided such members are at or are going to or from their places of assembly or target practice, or to officers or employees of the United States duly authorized to carry a concealed pistol firearm, or to any person engaged in the business of manufacturing, repairing, or dealing in firearms, or the agent or representative of any such person having in his or her possession, using, or carrying a pistol firearm in the usual or ordinary course of such business, or to any person while carrying a pistol firearm unloaded and in a secure wrapper from the place of purchase to his or her home or place of business or to a place of repair or back to his or her home or place of business or in moving goods from one place of abode or business to another, or to any person while carrying or transporting a firearm used in connection with an organized military activity, a target shoot, formal or informal target practice, sport shooting event, hunting, a firearms or hunter safety class, trapping, or a dog obedience training class or show, or the moving by a bona fide gun collector of part or all of the collector's gun collection from place to place for public or private exhibition while the person is engaged in, on the way to, or returning from that activity if each firearm is unloaded and carried in an enclosed case or an enclosed holster, or to any person carrying or transporting a firearm in compliance with sections 926A, 926B or 926C of title 18, United States Code.

This appears to me to make it unprosecutable to have an unloaded firearm with you that is not immediately apparent (concealed) when travelling to or returning from a legitimate activity involving said firearm.

You will note that, while this act would allow Senator Hutchison as well as all other law-abiding people in D.C. to keep a weapon loaded with conventional ammunition in their own dwellings or other property that belongs to them, it does not allow them to "pack heat" wherever they go (not that there's anything wrong with that).

One step at a time. One step at a time.

References:
District of Columbia Personal Protection Act
District of Columbia Code, Chapter 25, Firearms Control

Well...

At first I thought maybe someone is getting a little paranoid, but upon reading the article:

Minuteman Project founder Jim Gilchrist believes a communist plot is bent on thwarting his anti-illegal-immigrant group. As evidence, he points to his May 25 speech at the Garden Grove Women's Civic Club, which erupted into a police riot when a Gilchrist supporter trying to leave the event nearly ran over a group of Latino protesters. He complained about the melee last week on KFI's John & Ken Show, saying fears of more violence forced a Republican group to cancel his upcoming appearance in San Diego.

"They're taking away our free-speech rights," Gilchrist declared. "I believe Duane Roberts is behind this." Gilchrist then called Roberts, an Anaheim community activist, a "communist" agitator.

"Yeah, I'm a Marxist," said Roberts, who lives at home with his mom and has no full-time job but lots of free time to cause trouble. But he denies he's the mastermind of the anti-anti-immigrant movement. "Jim Gilchrist is a racist," he said. "About 80 percent of the persons who attended the demonstration were of Mexican ancestry. I guess he thinks they're too stupid to organize it. The truth is, they organized this event and brought people to it. They don't need a white man to lead them."

Nonetheless, Roberts has a long history of causing trouble. Three years ago, he angered Orange County Democrats by tailing a liberal Anaheim school board member and his family with a video camera, proving the official lived in a luxury house in Corona Del Mar. Former friends took to calling him a "child molester," a "serial stalker" and an "undercover cop."

So maybe he's not paranoid, and maybe this Roberts guy is an asshole. I guess it's easy to stick to your Marxist ideals when you're stilling living off your mom.

House Approves Amendment Overturning DC Gun Ban

The DC gun ban takes a hit:

By a vote of 259 to 161, the House Thursday approved an amendment to overturn D.C.'s gun ban.

The Souder amendment (H.R.1288), which was attached to an appropriations bill for federal subsidies for the nation's capital, would allow D.C. residents to keep fully assembled rifles and pre-1976 handguns in their homes.

CCRKBA chimes in.