We, and Heller, won...but by the slimmest of margins. But..WE WON!!!111! (the 2nd Amendment is alive, at least until their stare decisis)

My first thoughts, yesterday, after the congratulatory phone calls and celebratory uncorkings of virtual champagne bottles was, "This will cost John McCain the election."

Because, you see, there are those (myself included) who believe John McCain to be untrustworthy, to be on many issues more Liberal than Conservative, to be a weak candidate because of his foot-tapping on the other side of the aisle. I contemplate supporting Bob Barr just to toss some of that bubbly in the face of the GOP elite who sneer at their Conservative base; those 'Rockefeller' blue-blood Republicans who turn their backs on those who got them where they are today: on the noblesse of the Party who spurn the 'Bitter' God-and-Guns sort. They who would let us 'cling' somewhere else, if they could, and go on about their almost-Democratic methods of spend and ignore common sense.

Then, that bubbly gave me a virtual headache; and I slept for 10 hours. And dreamt me some tremulous dreams.

This morning, I visit my favorite site, Protein Wisdom; and read Karl's post on our victory. There are warnings there...as one ProggHero puts it...

Comment by ProggHero on 6/26 @ 10:20 am #

Funny the patting of the back that is going on here considering that you guys are one justice away from having to join the National Guard to keep a weapon.

and

Cause the only stare decisis that matters is the ones we decide.

Well, there's that. John McCain is back into consideration.

But just barely!

I mean, we have to weigh theese theengs. Do we really want John McCain to win, then have those BlueBloodNobleeseEliteRepublicans say, "look, we didn't need you Conservatives after all...back to your Bitters!"

So, I'll say this.

One more fuckup, John McCain, between now and the election; one more neo-liberal misstep, and I'll throw your candy ass under our own version of Slippery Obama's Bus.

I'm watching closely.

But for now...

WE WON!!!!ONE1ELEVENTY!!!

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Tomorrow, D.C. vs. Heller (or, Government vs. our 2nd Amendment)

A government that fears it's armed citizens, should be very afraid of it's armed citizens. Our Government, if within check, needn't fear an armed citizenry.

Hopefully, we will see our Government uphold the 2nd.

If not, then we'll have proof that we don't have the same government we had in the beginning, and that the powerful in Washington aren't even trying to pretend anymore.

Left-wing LA Times wishes the NRA would disband!

From the L.A. Times, an elitist reporter tries to sneak past the guardians...

NRA's political clout is waning

With 2nd Amendment rights expanded and Democrats reluctant to tackle the issue, gun control isn't the GOP weapon it used to be. The rifle group, in essence, is a victim of its own success.

By Noam N. Levey, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
June 14, 2008

WASHINGTON -- Eight years after a national debate over gun control helped keep Democrat Al Gore out of the White House [that's right! and we, the NRA in Tennessee, are proud of that! -ed.], the National Rifle Assn. and its Republican allies are launching a new campaign to defeat Barack Obama.

But this time, the issue that GOP strategists once relied on to provide crucial votes in close elections has lost much of its political punch.

The NRA is a victim of it's own success?! What sort of rope is Noam Chomsky Levey smoking? Well, he's firmly seated in leftist California, and he's obviously a devout Obamoid, that's clear enough. But, Noam, Conservatives don't play the 'victimhood' card. Nor do we fold our cards and run when there's table stakes that are as important as the 2nd Amendment. Or the other issues that we see as important. Believe me, there's many.

Our clout is waning? You think so? Naaah....wrong, wrong, and wishful thinking on your part. Your purpose in this article is attempting to defuse a significant portion of the Conservative movement, to downplay one of the core issues that keeps Conservatives voting Republican (even when the candidate was as flawed as Bush and is as untrustworthy as McCain.)

I attended the NRA Convention last month; the largest NRA gathering ever. Members didn't just talk about guns. We discussed things and issues that were well beyond the boundary of gun rights advocacy. That we have to stay alert to protect that which is fundamental to our U.S. constitution is a symptom of a far larger political problem: the encroachment of the Left on our traditional values and on the American way of life. We know your type, Leftists, and we know just how badly you want things to go your way. And how sneaky you will be to get your way.

You've trotted out Barack Obama as your presumptive Presidential candidate. Barack is just another in a string of unworthy Presidential candidates chosen by Democrats. How do you Democrats expect to elect a candidate when all you can offer are these non-centrist far-left ideologues and elitists? Al Gore, John Kerry, Barack Obama...none of these guys are worthy of the title Commander in Chief.

Even Noam gets some of this right...

Coelho noted that had more gun owners voted for Gore in West Virginia, Tennessee or Arkansas -- all states targeted by the NRA -- he would have been president. [Clout, baby, Clout -ed.]

This year, gun rights groups see Obama's past positions on gun control as an equally inviting target.

When Obama was running for the Illinois state Senate in 1996, he appeared to endorse a ban on handguns. (He has since said that campaign aides incorrectly indicated that position on a candidate questionnaire and that he has never favored a ban.) [Bullshit! Liar! His fingerprints were on the questionnaires! -ed.]

Obama voted against state legislation in 2001 and 2004 to ease restrictions on gun use. And in Washington, the senator opposed a 2005 bill to give gun manufacturers new protections from lawsuits.

He provided further ammunition for his critics in April with comments about "bitter" voters who "cling to guns or religion." Three weeks later in the Pennsylvania primary, Obama lost nearly two-thirds of voters from gun-owning households, according to exit polls. [And we've lost our 'clout, eh? hmmmph. -ed.]

Yes, Barack Obama has the NRA's worst rating possible, a large F-. He deserves to lose in November. But not just because of his faulty position on guns.

Barack Obama simply doesn't have enough experience to serve as Commander in Chief.

Because Barack Obama said this...

"You go into some of these small towns...the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing's replaced them...and each successive administration has said that somehow these communities are gonna regenerate and they have not. And it's not surprising then that they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them."

Oh, this is a fair summation of elitist Harvard politician-speak. Gore, Kerry, Dukakis, any of those failed candidates could have said it. But Barack Obama was overheard saying that; that's just another example of how green he really is, if such an utterance could escape his lips without thought of who might hear him!

Barack Obama doesn't have enough experience to serve as Commander in Chief.

Barack Obama thinks that I, and millions of small-town gun owners just like me, aren't trustworthy enough to own guns. Barack Obama, along with this dope Noam Levey, and the majority of the current crop of left-of-center Congressional and Senatorial Democrats (and their cadre of legislate-from-the-bench Judges) wish that we in the NRA would just fold our cards and go home, and allow them to mount a sneak attack to spring their narrative on us without a fight. A narrative that does promise gun control. It's in your blood. And you're sneaking up behind us.

Sorry. You're bringing a knife to a gun fight.

---

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h/t Michelle Malkin (see-dubya)

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Friday Photos: NRA Convention Gun PRON~!

From the NRA Convention last weekend. I've posted three earlier posts on the convention; be sure to see those.

Click on these pictures to get some massive enlargement.

Firstly, we have three Bushmaster offerings. From top to bottom...

• Precision Marksman Rifle (PRM) in .223/5.56mm
• Bushmaster Custom Sniper Rifle in .308 Winchester
  
• Urban Interdiction Rifle (UIR) in .223/5.56mm
  

Now, three Colts.

• Colt Carbine A3 16 M4 MT6400C
• Colt Rifle A2 MT6601C
• Colt Flattop Accurized Rifle CR6724
  

Heh. Evil black rifles. Didn't mean to scare you.

How about some nice Roy Rogers commemorative pistols, gold plated?

This is a 'stiched' photo; there's obvious seams visible. Sorry, but the guy was nice enough to open the glass display case for me; I couldn't really ask him to do any more. I'll have to practice with these close-up stitch shots.

Click for a big image.



More next week.

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NRA Convention, Part III (where I consume Adult Beverages, Kentucky Limestone Bibb Lettuce with Spiced Walnuts, and hobnob with the Glitterati)

Well, in defense of the Bibb Lettuce, there were several thousand souls on hand for this banquet. Quite a task to feed and satisfy all of these bitter Americans, clinging to our guns and our conservative politics (and there was a prayer as well, can you believe that?) But I'll tell you this... we were the NRA. There's some good people who came together in Louisville for this Celebration of American Values Banquet. Good people with the core values that are needed more than ever today, at this strange time in our country's history, where so many phenomena seem to be directing us towards a perfect storm, one that will surely try this nation as it's never been tried before.

Well, on to the photo recap.

Dick Cheney wasn't there in person, but was there in the spirit of a video, toasting the NRA's successes. Always good to hear from Vice President Dick Cheney. A good man.


The presentation of the Colors. Everyone stood, and placed hands over hearts. Presented by the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.

Bobby Jindal, Conservative Governor of Louisiana, received the Harlon B. Carter Award for his post-Katrina pro-gun legislation, the "Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act" (H.R. 5013) introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives last year. This legislation later passed the Senate, and was signed into law by President George Bush. No need to fear the U.S. Government or it's agents seizing guns from law-abiding citizens after a natural disaster.

Rising star, indeed.



Glenn Beck gave the primary speech (sorry, the address). This guy has it going on, folks. Polished, intelligent, independent, not afraid to challenge anyone in our government, in either party. He laid the wood to all of our elected (elitists) politicians, for turning their backs on America as we knew it. Fear for our republic, for our Constitution; that's a slim document and a thin veneer that keeps us from becoming just another sorry socialist state. There's signs everywhere, if we would pay attention.

Look closely at this picture...post-address, note the unusual finger placement (middle and index fingers) and that...cumberbund. The gentleman on the left is David A. Keene, 2nd Vice President.


I'm not sure who the lady to the right of Glenn is, but the fellow to his left is Wilson H. Phillips Jr., Treasurer of the NRA.


Glenn, you sly dog.


Oh, Glenn was presented an official NRA Flintlock rifle; I didn't catch that in action but I did note the fellow carrying it off for safekeeping. Nice hat, Fess.


Here again is the mystery lady with M. Phillips.


Well, Executive Vice President of the NRA Wayne R. LaPierre (the most visible of the NRA Officers and the Master of Ceremonies) poses for a picture with Blake Myers. Great shot, here, Blake; how did your toy camera's picture turn out? Click this one for a bigger version.


OK, this one needs a caption. An outthrust hand elicits a...look from Wayne. What do you suppose that look signifies?

A great evening, enjoyed by all.

I'll try to put up some more gunny pics tomorrow.

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Part I, the NRA Exhibition Hall (Saturday)
Part II, the Bling

Beretta Bling. NRA Convention, Louisville, Part II

Here's the story on this...

1,000 Diamonds
For a Beretta 92FS

Gardone Val Trompia - December 2007

1193 Mounted Stones
90 Carats
Estimated Value: $360,950

A unique piece designed and created by Beretta in cooperation
with Barozi, jeweller in Brescia. It is a 92FS, famous all over the
world being the official side gun of police corps and armies in many
countries. A pure tribute to luxury concept enriched by grips made
of white gold totally covered by diamonds.

The work is absolutely extraordinary. Grips have been made with
specific mouldings and can replace genuine grips of a standard 92FS.
The smoothest diamond surface is enriched by a black enamelled
Beretta logo. On the frame and slide two further diamond lines
complete the masterpiece.

Bling's about the only thing that can get me interested in a 9mm. Not my favorite cartridge. But this makes a nice desktop; a PNG file that'll fit right in with any color background. If you want a huge version, click here.

I'll put more NRA Convention stuff up later. A great show, but I'm tired.

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NRA Convention Part I

From the NRA Convention in Louisville: The Floor Show part 1, featuring Gun Pr0n, Bling, and the EAA (un)exhibitited t-shirt toss

I spent this morning it the Expo hall, at Louisville's excellent State Fair/Convention Center, located just north of the airport. Louisville is such a compact city...everything is just where you think is should be. I've always liked this town.

These pictures taken on the floor. Tonight, Glen Beck at the Celebration of Values Banquet. In 2 hours.

Did I mention I hate laptops??? Ornery things...





This is a 1000-Diamond Beretta. For what purpose I don't know, but I did get this nice shot.


OK, this EAA lady demonstrates how not to handle fake firearms (no, not the 50 BMG pictured in this shot, but the holstered semiauto that later hit the floor...nice trigger finger, ma'am. I did get a tossed shirt, as well as these pics.


Then she was forced to pick up the dropped pistol. Hmmm...we may have witnessed a stage performance there. Lots of whoops I'm afraid. Can't say the crowd was disappointed.

How do I always manage to get these great shots? ;D


The tramp stamp is a disappointment. That's two for me.


I should have had time to give more descriptive accounts of these pics, but I'm in a bit of a hurry. Later, maybe.

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Oh, I'm not all goofing off. Here's the video of John McCain spanking Baracky's "foreign policy" and his abysmal gun control record...



And, the story of Huckabee's nonsensical joke that (fortunately!) will keep him out of McCain's VP consideration.

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Charlton Heston, one of the few Heroes emerging Conservative from Hollywood, President of the NRA, dies at his home in Beverly Hills

There are very few true men who can have an illustrious Hollywood career and come through without becoming weak, drugged, pampered and leftist, gay, or otherwise changed to something unrecognizable as a man. Charlton Heston was a prime example of what American men could be, and should be. Like Ronald Reagan and John Wayne, Charlton Heston lived a great Conservative life and will be missed.

From the A.P. via Karl at PW...

In June 1998, Heston was elected president of the National Rifle Association, for which he had posed for ads holding a rifle. He delivered a jab at then-President Clinton, saying, ''America doesn't trust you with our 21-year-old daughters, and we sure, Lord, don't trust you with our guns.''

Heston stepped down as NRA president in April 2003, telling members his five years in office were ''quite a ride. ... I loved every minute of it.''

Later that year, Heston was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor. ''The largeness of character that comes across the screen has also been seen throughout his life,'' President Bush said at the time." [emboldenings mine]

Charlton Heston gave a speech to NRA members August 9, 2002, after he was diagnosed with Alzheimers, bidding farewell...

A Message from Charlton Heston

My Dear Friends, Colleagues and Fans: My physicians have recently told me I may have a neurological disorder whose symptoms are consistent with Alzheimer's disease. So... I wanted to prepare a few words for you now, because when the time comes, I may not be able to.

I've lived my whole life on the stage and screen before you. I've found purpose and meaning in your response. For an actor there's no greater loss than the loss of his audience. I can part the Red Sea, but I can't part with you, which is why I won't exclude you from this stage in my life.

For now, I'm not changing anything. I'll insist on work when I can; the doctors will insist on rest when I must. If you see a little less spring in my step, if your name fails to leap to my lips, you'll know why. And if I tell you a funny story for the second time, please laugh anyway.

I'm neither giving up nor giving in. I believe I'm still the fighter that Dr. King and JFK and Ronald Reagan knew, but it's a fight I must someday call a draw. I must reconcile courage and surrender in equal measure. Please feel no sympathy for me. I don't. I just may be a little less accessible to you, despite my wishes.

I also want you to know that I'm grateful beyond measure. My life has been blessed with good fortune. I'm grateful that I was born in America, that cradle of freedom and opportunity, where a kid from the Michigan Northwoods can work hard and make something of his life. I'm grateful for the gift of the greatest words ever written, that let me share with you the infinite scope of the human experience. As an actor, I'm thankful that I've lived not one life, but many.

Above all, I'm proud of my family... my wife Lydia, the queen of my heart, my children, Fraser and Holly, and my beloved grandchildren, Jack, Ridley and Charlie. They're my biggest fans, my toughest critics and my proudest achievement. Through them, I can touch immortality.

Finally, I'm confident about the future of America. I believe in you. I know that the future of our country, our culture and our children is in good hands. I know you will continue to meet adversity with strength and resilience, as our ancestors did, and come through with flying colors - the ones on Old Glory.

William Shakespeare, at the end of his career, wrote his farewell through the words of Prospero, in The Tempest. It ends like this:

Be cheerful, sir.
Our revels now are ended. These our actors,
As I foretold you, were all spirits and
Are melted into air, into thin air:
And, like the baseless fabric of this vision,
The cloud-capp'd towers, the gorgeous palaces,
The solemn temples, the great globe itself,
Yea all which it inherit, shall dissolve
And, like this insubstantial pageant faded,
Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff
As dreams are made on, and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep.

Thank you, and God bless you, everyone.

Sincerely,

Charlton Heston

From another great Charlton Heston speech...

…I believe that we are again engaged in a great civil war, a cultural war that’s about to hijack your birthright to think and say what resides in your heart. I fear you no longer trust the pulsing lifeblood of liberty inside you…the stuff that made this country rise from wilderness into the miracle that it is.

Let me back up. About a year ago I became president of the National Rifle Association, which protects the right to keep and bear arms. I ran for office, I was elected, and now I serve…I serve as a moving target for the media who’ve called me everything from “ridiculous” and “duped” to a “brain-injured senile, crazy old man.” I know…I’m pretty old…but I sure Lord ain’t senile.

As I have stood in the crosshairs of those who target Second Amendment freedoms, I’ve realized that firearms are not the only issue. No, it’s much, much bigger than that.

I’ve come to understand that a cultural war is raging across our land, in which, with Orwellian fervor, certain acceptable thoughts and speech are mandated.

For example, I marched for civil rights with Dr. King in 1963 - long before Hollywood found it fashionable. But when I told an audience last year that white pride is just as valid as black pride or red pride or anyone else’s pride, they called me a racist.

I’ve worked with brilliantly talented homosexuals all my life. But when I told an audience that gay rights should extend no further than your rights or my rights, I was called a homophobe.

I served in World War II against the Axis powers. But during a speech, when I drew an analogy between singling out innocent Jews and singling out innocent gun owners, I was called an anti-Semite.

Everyone I know knows I would never raise a closed fist against my country. But when I asked an audience to oppose this cultural persecution, I was compared to Timothy McVeigh.

From Time magazine to friends and colleagues, they’re essentially saying, “Chuck, how dare you speak your mind. You are using language not authorized for public consumption!”

But I am not afraid. If Americans believed in political correctness, we’d still be King George’s boys - subjects bound to the British crown.

From my cold, dead hands!

Godspeed, Charlton Heston.

Bring back tablets.

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crossed to TennesseeFree. h/t Glen Dean for the video.

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Naifeh. Sucks. As do the Republicans who crossed and got him re-elected Speaker of the House (16 years of 'Coon Suppers')

From the NRA-ILA news link in my sidebar...

Naifeh's votes help kill gun bills

House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh made an unusual visit Wednesday to a subcommittee hearing to cast votes that killed several handgun bills, including one that would have allowed diners to carry guns into restaurants.

Naifeh, who can cast votes in any House committee or subcommittee of his choosing, voted in three roll call votes that helped defeat bills in the Criminal Practice Subcommittee, as well as in a voice vote that defeated a fourth bill.

This little Democratic 'Coon Supper' provider has run the Left side of the Tennessee politics for 16 years, as Speaker of the House. He's held office since 1976! You can't say "career politician" without thinking of Jimmy Naifeh.

Jimmy is married to powerful lobbyist and Betty Anderson...of course! What do you expect from Democratic Southern good-ole-boy slap-on-the-back smoke-filled-rooms politicos? Have your cake, and it'll do your laundry too.

Jimmy was re-elected as Speaker of the House with help of weak, soft, puny Republicans... "However, Republican party discipline was totally lacking, when the issue came to a vote. Seven Republicans joined with all of the Democrats to reelect Naifeh."

Here's the names: State Rep.s Mike Harrison (Sneedville), Joe McCord (Maryville), Steve McDaniel (Parkers Crossroads), Richard Montgomery (Sevierville), Doug Overbey (Maryville), Dennis Roach (Rutledge), and Kent Williams (Elizabethton). Can't these guys be voted out of the Republican party? Weak, soft, ineffectual; you listening, Bill Hobbs?

What a lousy, miserable partisan politician, Naifeh. Also lousy, those sorry Republicans who crossed party lines to ensure his continued dominance as our State's top leftist.

If ever a politician needed flushing, this floater does.

Arizona rethinks Guns in Schools: "No-Defense Zones" create vunerability

Another school massacre, in a Blue state, with ample gun laws; in a gun-free zone. These senseless killings are happening in places that strictly forbid any sort of weapon. Do these laws that create these kill zones have to stand? If so, why?

Arizona is getting ready to find out.

A day after a gunman killed five people and then himself on an Illinois college campus, Arizona lawmakers were preparing to debate whether those with proper permits should be allowed to carry their guns onto school grounds.

Senate Bill 1214, which a legislative committee will consider Monday, would exempt concealed-carry permit holders from a state law that bars individuals from bringing deadly weapons onto campuses of private or public K-12 schools, colleges or universities in Arizona.

Rep. Russell Pearce, a bill co-sponsor, said Friday that school campuses have become "no-defense zones" where students, teachers and others are sitting ducks during violent incidents such as Thursday's shooting at Northern Illinois University.

"To deprive citizens of defending themselves is just wrong," said Pearce, R-Mesa, who has 30 years of experience in the criminal-justice system. "These (current) laws do nothing to protect good citizens; they just make them much more vulnerable."

There's some truth. This latest punk took time to reload his gun before resuming fire; ample time for an armed student to drop him.

Why does it take so many instances of unprotected people slaughtered before the law realizes that their laws are only good enough for the lawful? And that creating "gun-free" zones actually create kill zones where the only protection is afforded to the killer?

Similar bills are still advancing in Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington. A South Dakota Senate committee shot down a bill last week, though efforts to move the bill to a floor vote continue.

Shot Down. Kill Zones.

The Arizona bill's primary sponser is State Senator Karen Johnson. In an editorial published Friday, she wrote

"When citizens are allowed to carry concealed handguns, violent crime drops."

"People who engage in mass public shootings are deterred by even the possibility that law-abiding citizens may be carrying guns,"

"Shooters may be deranged, but they still appear to care whether they will themselves be shot as they attempt to kill others."

Probably fearful they would be wounded and not killed, and have to face the world as bloodthirsty killers. Cowards who suicide are inherently fearful of the consequences; including the Death Penalty.

But would that even apply in Blue Illinois? In Chicago, handgun ownership is illegal. Obama, while Senator, supported Illinois' draconian gun laws. Another reason we don't need his kind in the Presidency. Leftists who would set us up as targets, with only 'nannystatism' for protection.

Stephen Kazmierczak. I'll work on his photoshop later.

Unfortunately, I'm getting quite a collection.

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Did President Bush's Solicitor General 'Overlawyer', or simply stated, did Bush manage to Stab Supporters in the Back?

I'd heard that Bush's lawyers had submitted a brief in the D.C. vs. Heller (GunRights for beleaguered D.C. residents) that countered the efforts of 2nd Amendment supporters (that's ME, for one) in this important case. I found the thing tonight (h/t Ace).

We really, really want the Supreme Court to take up this case, and sooner than later. From my reading of this brief, Bush's lawyers want to remand the case out of the Supreme Court, so as not to upset the existing applecart of gun laws. From the brief...a quick summary of Heller's winning argument against Washington D.C....

"Respondent alleged that he “presently intends to
possess a functional handgun and long gun for self-defense
within his own home, but is prevented from doing
so only by [petitioners’] active enforcement of unconstitutional
policies.” J.A. 51a. Respondent further alleged
that the D.C. firearm provisions discussed above effectively
prohibit “the private ownership and possession of
handguns and functional firearms within the home” and
therefore violate his rights under the Second Amendment.
J.A. 57a. “At a minimum,” he contended, “the
Second Amendment guarantees individuals a fundamental
right to possess a functional, personal firearm, such
as a handgun or ordinary long gun (shotgun or rifle)
within the home.” J.A. 54a."

Well and good. There's no reason for Washington, D.C., or any other municipality or State for that matter, to forbid a man or woman from possession of a weapon in their homes for the purpose of self-defense. Can one ask for any more basic a right? Unless a police officer is stationed in one's home, and accompanies a person about at all times, then that person has to have access to some personal self-defense, if they want it. Seems straightforward to me.

But, Bush's lawyers, after 26 pages of legal back-and-forth, a good history lesson really, of the various laws that define the limitations of gun ownership--machineguns and felons excluded, we get to the black heart of the document...

"THE COURT SHOULD REMAND THIS CASE TO THE
LOWER COURTS TO PERMIT THEM TO ANALYZE THE
CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THE D.C. LAWS AT ISSUE
UNDER THE PROPER CONSTITUTIONAL INQUIRY
As discussed, a general prohibition on the possession
of a type or class of firearms is subject to heightened judicial
scrutiny that balances the impact of the challenged
restrictions on protected conduct and the strength of
the government’s interest in enforcement of the relevant
restriction. The greater the scope of the prohibition and
its impact on private firearm possession, the more difficult
it will be to defend under the Second Amendment."

So, we see what Fred Thompson is describing as overlawyering. And what I see as being as near to BushBackstabbing as one can imagine.

All we [the NRA, and other responsible gun owners] asked for was that this case make it's way to the Supreme Court of the land, so as to settle once and for all exactly what was intended by the 2nd Amendment; and put to rest whether or not a city (Washington D.C., San Francisco, New York City, Chicago, or any other) can say to it's Citizens, "No, you can't possess this gun in your home. Because we said so!" We really deserve some answer to that question.

Hearing this case this summer would be nice, before the Leftists take office and populate the Supreme Court with more leftists. We can never trust Democrats and Leftists with the Constitution; it seems that they want to take it and 'remand' it to their own agenda.

You would think that this President, after having welcomed the support of the NRA and gun owners (hell, he won Tennessee in 2000 BECAUSE of the NRA's support, not in SPITE of it--and if Tennessee had fallen to Homeboy Gore, Bush would NOT have won) he would at least have thrown a bone to us. HA!

For some reason, I'm much less supportive of George Bush today.

Freakin' pussy.

Protecting Human Life

h/t Theo Spark, now at The Last of the Few

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SF Board of Supervisors' Gun Ban gets Rear-Ended: Gun Ban Overturned in San Francisco

First, Washington D.C. Now, San Francisco.

From the NRA-ILA newsticker...

Fairfax, VA – The California State Court of Appeals announced today their decision to overturn one of the most restrictive gun bans in the country, following a legal battle by attorneys for the National Rifle Association (NRA) and a previous court order against the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

“Today’s decision by the California State Court of Appeals is a big win for the law-abiding citizens and NRA Members of San Francisco,” declared Chris W. Cox, NRA’s chief lobbyist.

I'd risk saying that the San Francisco Board of Supervisors owes the good citizens (all three of them? Considering the wide leftist stance of that collection of zip codes...) a debt of gunny goodness. That debt is long in arrears...

Let's hope that now we see an uptick in law-abiding gun purchases in San Francisco.

Remember, the Supreme Court is looking this session at the Washington D.C. gun ban case that was overturned by the lower courts. We'll see how far the left can go in their unending attempts to overturn the rights of legal, law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms.

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Resources

Supreme Court 2nd Amendment Cases

more...

Patterico's Pontifications on the Supreme Court's decision to take up the Washington D.C. case

Jeff Goldstein's "Gun Control Control" (or, "Nannystatism—in its efforts to protect—succeeds only in infantilizing the culture." Really, the last word.

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Fred and Rudy exchange 'Gun Control' Salvos (Rudy, a Controller, doesn't have much substance in his Retort)

Then I ducked my head, and the lights went out, and two guns blazed in the dark,
And a woman screamed, and the lights went up, and two men lay stiff and stark.
Pitched on his head, and pumped full of lead, was Dangerous Dan McGrew,
While the man from the creeks lay clutched to the breast of the lady that's known as Lou.

When these two Republicans clash, know there's a woman at the scene, not Lou but Hillary, waiting to 'pinch the poke vote' from both. Shame that Fred had to take it to Rudy, but this is what I've been saying since February: Rudy is useless, as far as Gun Rights and the 2nd Amendment are concerned. From ABC News Blogs, Fred Thompson 'Black Friday shopped' at a New Hampshire Gun Store, and let loose on Rudy's record...

[Fred Thompson]...blamed former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani for siding with [Democrats] them, particularly on the assault weapons ban. "He even supported just about every gun control legislation that came down the pike,” Thompson charged. “I saw that he was at bill signing ceremonies with [New York Sen.] Chuck Schumer and President [Bill] Clinton and others, you know, for gun control legislation over the years and was very outspoken about it. Course he’s not outspoken about it anymore.”

Of course Rudy couldn't let this one get by...

“Fred has no record to talk about…I have a good record to talk about so I am very proud of it,” Giuliani said. “If you have had a good record, that is something you would want tell people as preparing you to be a good president….if you had no record at all, you would want to attack somebody else’s record, which is what I think some of my opponents are doing. They don’t have the record of results that I have so instead…they attack you.”

Well, Rudy, that sound much like an attack to me, not a response to your past Gun Control bad habits. You've spent time in New York City, granted, and people there (being crowded and generally unhappy for the most part, given NYC has the highest level of shrinks per capita of any American World City) just can't understand what living in 'flyover' country is like. Even when you show them on a map...

Of course Fred Thompson replied to Rudy's weak salvo...

The Thompson campaign response from spokesman Darrel Ng:
“Unlike other candidates in this race, Fred Thompson has a strong record of supporting the second amendment and has earned an A rating from the NRA. Unlike other candidates in this race, Fred Thompson has a strong record of being pro-life, and has received the National Right to Life endorsement. The strong record that Rudy brings to the table is one where he joined liberal Sen. Chuck Schumer at a press conference calling for more gun control.”

There you go. Unfortunately, bloodshed in the primaries is nothing new. Fortunately, there's not much Hillary or any other Democrat can say in the Gun Control arena, they aren't 2nd Amendment friendly.

Carefully, though; any thing you say can and will be used against you by Democrats in the General Election. As we will use their infighting against them...

The Triangle of Death (nonsense spouted by the Brady Group, corrected here in fine form...

The Brady Handgun Control Group (which I will not link) determined that Gun Dealers, Gun Owner Groups (including of course the NRA, of which I am a proud member) and Elected Representatives constitute a Triangle of Death, inflicting casualties on unsuspecting Americans at every turn.

Of course, this is absolutely wrong. But you know that...

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This design is in response to Uncle Say's post here concerning 'Triangle of Death' T-shirts he's marketing. Go buy one.

Guns, guns, everywhere! Enough Guns for 90 out of 100 Americans...

...if the figures were flattened out over the population. News Flash: not the case; I own multiple guns in multiple calibers, so therefore I'm taking away from my group of 100 gunowners. Significantly. By a pretty good percentage.

From Yahoo! News:

GENEVA (Reuters) - The United States has 90 guns for every 100 citizens, making it the most heavily armed society in the world, a report released on Tuesday said.

U.S. citizens own 270 million of the world's 875 million known firearms, according to the Small Arms Survey 2007 by the Geneva-based Graduate Institute of International Studies.

From Geneva, you see, a city in a nation that requires citizens to retain a firearm. Good for them!

The rest of the world?

India, China, Germany, France (?), Pakistan, Mexico (!), Brazil, and Russia. Note this is the civilian gun arsenal.

Then, we have the facts, ma'am, based on economic stats. On a per-capita basis, we have the USA, then Yemen, Finland, Switzerland, Iraq and Serbia (two nations that shouldn't be on a list that includes the word capita anywhere on the page); France, Canada (what guns?), Sweden, Austria and Germany.

Why list the per-capita figgers, anyways? Well, guns are expensive, bullets aren't cheap (even reloading is costly, if you account for the time) and poor nations just can't afford range time. But, the demand for guns is going up...

"Weapons ownership may be correlated with rising levels of wealth, and that means we need to think about future demand in parts of the world where economic growth is giving people larger disposable income..."

As long as these guns are in the proper hands, we shouldn't fear them. Crooks should fear weapons, not use them in their trades. I would rather be armed if facing criminal behavior than not. Of course, Yahoo! news has to end the article on a sour note...

Only about 12 percent of civilian weapons are thought to be registered with authorities.

What's the purpose of registering them? Worst case, so they can be picked up if some kind of authoritarian government takes charge. The 'Hitler vs. the Jewry' gun seizures prior to the camps...all the guns were taken away, first, making the rest a simple process.

We should keep our guns, and cage the criminals for a very, very long time, if they even draw a gun in the course of a crime.

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Rudy Giuliani, Gun Controller who won't get my vote...UPDATE! Thompson cold-cocks Giuliani!

UPDATE 8/21/07 7:00PM
Fred Thompson talks New York City, Gun Control, Giuliani

Fred KNOWS what's on the mind of Conservatives in America...and he's not afraid of pointing out Giuliani's fault lines. From an email I received today (being a Friend of Fred and all...) links to here...

"When I was working in television, I spent quite a bit of time in New York City. There are lots of things about the place I like, but New York gun laws don’t fall in that category.

"Anybody who knows me knows I’ve always cared deeply about the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. So I’ve always felt sort of relieved when I flew back home to where that particular civil liberty gets as much respect as the rest of the Bill of Rights.

"Unfortunately, New York is trying, again, to force its ways on the rest of us, this time through the courts. First, they went after U.S. gun manufacturers, seeking through a lawsuit not only money but injunctive control over the entire industry. An act of congress in 2005 blocked, but did not end, that effort.

"Now, the same activist federal judge from Brooklyn who provided Mayor Giuliani’s administration with the legal ruling it sought to sue gun makers, has done it again. Last week, he created a bizarre justification to allow New York City to sue out-of-state gun stores that sold guns that somehow ended up in criminal hands in the Big Apple."

(emboldenings mine)
Just what we need to see and hear. A true candidate, a man who isn't afraid of small things like Rudy Giuliani, a man who stands up to whoever isn't on the same page we are. One more line:

"While this attack by New York City on the Second Amendment reinforces the importance of appointing judges who apply the law as written, there is another important legal point. Federalism, though usually seen as a protection of the states from the federal government, actually grew out of the need to protect states from other states that interfered in free commerce beyond their borders – as New York is doing today. In this case, we need Federalism to protect states from a big bully in New York City."

You hear that, Giuliani, with your 'Big Bully' tactics, NYC isn't like the rest of the USA. There's too many people, too many taxes, and too little common sense. Keep your 'expertise' at big-city management off the controls of our government, please.

Maybe, a nice ambassadorship to a kindred city in Japan?

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«Original Post 8/21/07 7:00AM»

Rudy won't get my support, if he does win the Republican Nomination for President. I've said that already. Sorry, we have enough of the left's political viewpoints on the left without those views encroaching on the right side. The Republicans can KMA if they nominate Giuliani; I would sooner vote for Ross Perot or Donald Duck.

From The Jawa Report, yesterday, a roundup of Rudy's views over the years on gun control, including this Issues Only report:

"My position for many years has been that just as a motorist must have a license, a gun owner should be required to have one as well. Anyone wanting to own a gun should have to pass a written exam that shows that they know how to use a gun, that they’re intelligent enough and responsible enough to handle a gun. Should both handgun and rifle owners be licensed...we’re talking about all dangerous weapons."

OK, dangerous weapons boy, what about a knife? Or my 3-sectional staff, which is some kind of weapon at close range...

That's not the point, though. Rudy should know better than to limit or trouble access to guns for good guys. When it comes to criminals who use (or have) guns, then I support forever jail time (if that's what it takes to keep access for the rest of us, then, yes, jail criminals for ever.) No 'time off for good behavior', no 'but he's reformed, let his out early'. Mandatory sentences, enforced, no outs, 10 years added on to whatever sentence the crime carries. So long, sucka.

Here's Rudy, running his yap about the NRA:

Yeah, if I vote for Rudy, you get a fried pie...