Category Archives: Gun Rights

Unconstitutional to Infringe the 1st Amendment in Pursuit of Infringing the 2nd

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Quote of the Day

California cannot straitjacket the First Amendment by, on the one hand, allowing minors to possess and use firearms and then, on the other hand, banning truthful advertisements about that lawful use of firearms,

Circuit Judge Kenneth K. Lee
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
September 13, 2023
Court Issues Major Ruling In Favor of Gun Rights – Ultimate Newswire

See also 9th Circuit rules California ban on marketing guns to minors is probably unconstitutional – Los Angeles Times (latimes.com).

It is interesting to read the response of the anti-gun people to this ruling:

“idea of marketing dangerous weapons to kids is despicable”

“Our children and families have endured enough fear and pain from endless gun violence tragedies — it’s time to end this”

“I am shocked and disappointed that the Ninth Circuit does not see what every Californian knows: There is a clear substantial governmental interest in protecting our children from the scourge of gun violence that is the leading cause of death for children.”

They don’t see a problem with and are in fact regard their activities as righteous in, infringing the First Amendment in satiated their insane hatred of the Second Amendment.

I’m glad the more rational minds of the judges prevailed. Still, such a burning hatred in pursuit of what they believe to be a righteous cause will not be easily stopped.

I am reminded of Quote of the day–Henry David Thoreau:

If I knew for a certainty that a man was coming to my house with the conscious design of doing me good, I should run for my life.

Prepare and respond appropriately.

Women Need to Arm and Defend Themselves

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Quote of The Day

While many say that it’s more dangerous for a woman to arm herself, the reality is that women are less likely to defend themselves in the first place. A 2007 study shows that 53% of women who were victims of violent crimes were still unwilling to carry a firearm.

Cassandra McBride
April 2024
Guns in the Home Statistics: The Effects of Firearms in the Home in 2024 (ammo.com)

I’m reminded of a debate I once had with a young woman who insisted private gun ownership is a bad idea. Her topic knowledge was near zero but she is very smart. It was amazing the things she came up with for “reasons” for her position. She came up with multiple things I had never heard or thought of before. All based on her on the spot creativity. I had over 25 years of debate experience on the topic and she was making me think. I felt I was holding my own pretty well until she claimed (paraphrasing as best as I can remember):

Since women are less likely to own and carry guns  (admitting, “based my impression and no actual data”)  and are more likely to be victims, guns are not used that much for self defense and therefore they shouldn’t be allowed in private ownership.

The twisted logic had me stunned for a few seconds and I finally, hesitantly, said,

So you are saying, that because the people that need to defend themselves the most are not exercising their right to defend themselves with the best available self-defense tool, they should be prohibited from defending themselves with the best tools?

She made a sort of frustrated “AHHHHHH….” sound and literally ran away.

A few years later I took her to the range. It was the first time she had ever touched a gun. By the end of the range session, from the low ready position, she was getting four shots on four six-inch diameter targets from 10’ away in under four seconds. I was amazed. That is an incredible performance for a new shooter!

We haven’t discussed the legality, practicality, or philosophical aspects of gun ownership since that one day when she ran away, she doesn’t own a gun (and where she currently lives it is in nearly impossible anyway), and almost certainly hasn’t touch a gun since that one trip to the range. But she sometimes sends me text messages, or calls me to tell me how glad she is to have me in her life.

I have hope that someday she will give serious consideration to owning a gun and being able to defend herself. I care for her too and am glad she is in my life as well.

Finland Goes Pro-Gun For Private Citizens

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Quote of the Day

In the heart of Europe’s icy north, Finland is quietly revolutionizing its national defense strategy by dramatically increasing its number of shooting ranges. With over 300 new ranges set to open, the country is turning marksmanship into a national sport, hoping to engage the populace in an unprecedented way.

Amidst rising geopolitical tensions and historical conflicts, this initiative not only enhances Finland’s military preparedness but also deepens its cultural commitment to resilience and self-reliance. This bold move aims to fortify the nation from within, transforming every citizen into a potential defender of their storied homeland.

Local News X
April 19, 2024
Finland’s Daring Pro-Gun Policy is Taking the World by Storm (msn.com)

Nice!

I would rather they would let the free market do its magic, but it is a good start to changing their culture. And, as hinted at in the story this is thought of as an investment in their national defense.

See also the similar story,  Finland’s Bold New Firearm Policy Sets Global Standard (msn.com)

Renaming Gun Confiscation

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Quote of the Day

Every contribution we receive brings us one step closer to solutions shown to save lives —from community violence intervention and firearm relinquishment laws to safe storage and firearm purchaser licensing.

The Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Via the email: Will you help celebrate and support the Center?
April 16, 2024

“Firearm relinquishment laws”? That’s the first time I have seen that phrase used for gun confiscation laws. It turns out it has been a thing for a while.

I still think it is just a fancy way of saying something they know would raise alarms if they spoke plainly. It is another deceptive tactic which demonstrates they know what they are doing is illegal. It should be considered as evidence at their trials.

Don’t ever let anyone get away with telling you no one wants to take your guns.

They Need Common Sense Knife Control

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Quote of the Day

At least four people were wounded, including a bishop with a global online following, in a knife attack during a service at a church in a suburb of Sydney on Monday, police and witnesses said, triggering clashes between angry residents and police.

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It was the second major stabbing attack in just three days after six people were killed in a knife attack at a beachside mall in the Bondi area.

Lewis Jackson, Stella Qiu and Scott Murdoch
April 15, 2024
Australia church stabbing: bishop wounded, 15-year-old arrested

This is Australia. They banned and/or heavily restricted all firearms. I guess they now need common sense knife control.

As telling as the above is about their culture, I find the following gives us even more insight into the bizzarro mindset they have:

A separate eyewitness video, verified by Reuters and taken in the aftermath of the incident, shows the man being pinned to the ground by several others, his face obscured. A voice speaks in Arabic and says: “If they didn’t insult my prophet, I wouldn’t have come here. If he didn’t involve himself in my religion, I would not have come here.”

Authorities disclosed no motive for the attack and have not identified the suspect.

I cannot find further words to comment on this.

Just One Question Asked by Dr. Lott

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Quote of the Day

Can you name me one place in the world, any place in the world, that has either banned all guns or all handguns and seen murder or homicide rates go down? Or even stayed the same? Because I can’t find it.

Every single place in the world that has done that, we’ve seen increases.

And you’d think just out of randomness, once or twice a ban on all guns or all handguns would see just out of randomness see a decrease.

image

John R. Lott. Jr.
Crime Prevention Research Center
March 11, 2024
Debate on the Second Amendment at the University of Wisconsin, John Lott v Sanford Levinson
Was the Second Amendment a Mistake or a Success?”

Compare Dr. Lott’s words to my Just One Question.

I expected Dr. Lott to wipe the floor with Sandy Levinson. He didn’t. It wasn’t really a debate. At one point Levinson said (paraphrasing):

I do not think the government should ban guns.

If we accept John’s evidence, then I, as a liberal, would support the government subsidizing the purchase of guns to get them in the hands of those in need who don’t have the financial means to purchase quality guns.

Levinson assertions as to the 2nd Amendment being a mistake or out of date were of the nature of it should be state and/or city power to regulate guns as they see fit for their particular circumstances. And there are other parts of the constitution which give the gun owners adequate protection. And the 2nd Amendment is about overthrowing a tyrannical government and nothing to do with self protection against violent individuals.

I thought he made arguments that could be debated and respected by reasonable people. Dr. Lott made some excellent points that severely undermined Levison’s argument, but Levinson did not spend any time as a dust mop on the floor.

See also Debate, John Lott and Sanford Levison: Was the Second Amendment a Mistake? (jpfo.org)

Easier to Blame the Guns?

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Quote of the Day

Guns have always been a part of American culture, but mass shootings have not. Nor has divorce, social media addiction, SSRIs, or nihilism in general.

Violence is the symptom of a much deeper problem in this country.

It’s just easier for the left to blame the guns than the culture that they’ve created.

MIA @_Mama_Mia10
Posted on X May 6, 2023

I’m just certain it goes beyond a simple easy to blame issue. I believe a significant portion of those people who want to ban private gun ownership are that mindset because they have a utopian vision of a defenseless population they can control. The others who go alone with that mindset of gun banning but don’t see the tyranny they are enabling are useful idiots.

Baby Steps

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Quote of the Day

A Democratic-appointed judge recently barred a federal agency from enforcing a pistol brace rule for millions of members of the National Rifle Association (NRA) as the appeals process continues.

U.S. District Judge Sam Lindsay, who was appointed by former President Bill Clinton in 1998, sided with the gun rights group in a ruling handed down on Friday. Last year, the NRA filed a lawsuit against the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), which argued that the agency’s measure introduced last year to reclassify the pistols equipped with braces as short-barreled rifles is unconstitutional.

Maura Zurick
April 2, 2024
Democrat Judge Exempts NRA Members From New Gun Rule (msn.com)

It’s a rather small step, but it is a step in the right direction. And it sets a precedent nibbling on the NFA.

And just as important it was so obviously an infringement that a Democrat judge saw it as unconstitutional.

They Want You Dead

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Quote of the Day

From: ron <ron@svnpy.com>
Sent: Monday, April 1, 2024 5:03 AM
To: joe
Subject: You are still a redneck Idaho farm boy

I hope you have not reproduced.  The USA already has plenty of stupid and ignorant people like you.

When you shoot yourself, please take out all your family members first–this would raise the average IQ in Trumpland.

—
M. Ronald G. KIRCHEM

8 rue Campagne Première
Bâtiment C (Staël)
Apt. 343 (4ème étage)
75014 Paris, Île-de-France
La République française

KIRCHEM: +33 (0)7 72 42 44 34

I suspect the email address has been compromised (the content is for a doctor in California). The name is likely fake or deliberate misdirection.

One of the most fascinating and telling things about people like this is they believe they can read the minds of others. You can search this blog all you want but you won’t find any support for Trump.*  Yet this guy believes I am a Trump supporter. The belief that you can read other people’s minds is a strong sign of mental health issues.

Also interesting is how they claim to believe they know my IQ and that of my family members and are confident it is below average in “Trumpland”. My three children and I have IQs that range from 125 to 155. The three grandchildren also appear to be in the same range. Mr. KIRCHEM’s estimation of the IQ of people in “Trumpland” is much higher I would have guessed.

I could make other observations but all you really need to know is that they want me and my children, and probably you and yours, dead.

Prepare appropriately.

* I did make predictions about his actions which I approved of. Months before she died, I predicted he would successfully replace Ginsberg on the Supreme Court with a pro-constitutional judge.

We Need Common Sense Knife Laws

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It isn’t the availability of the weapons, it is the criminal intent of the perpetrator:

4 people killed and 7 wounded in stabbings in northern Illinois, with a suspect in custody

Four people were killed and seven were hurt when a man went on a stabbing rampage Wednesday across multiple locations in a northern Illinois community, authorities said.

But the reporter can’t help but think of the guns:

Not all of the victims found at multiple addresses in the city had stab wounds and none were shot, according to Redd.

Citation Needed? No. Trials!

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Quote of the Day

ASSAULT WEAPONS ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR SELF DEFENSE AND ARE NOT WELL-SUITED FOR HUNTING, SPORTING, OR ANY PURPOSE OTHER THAN MASS KILLING.

Hernandez and Epps, Garcia, Amabile, Bacon, Brown, deGruy Kennedy, English, Joseph, Lindsay, Mabrey, Ortiz, Rutinel, Velasco, Willford, Woodrow
Colorado House of Representatives
HOUSE BILL 24-1292

Considering that most of my rifles, all my shotguns, and two of my .22 caliber pistols* are considered “assault weapons” and that I have fired 10s of thousands of rounds in practice and competition with them without once being involved in a mass killing I can say with great certainty that they are deliberately lying.

This is pure evil. I look forward to their trials.

* Oddly enough my Limited Division USPSA pistol, a STI DVC chambered in .40 S&W, with 18 rounds magazines does not appear to be considered an assault weapon.

Concern About the First Amendment Hamstringing the Government

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Quote of the Day

My biggest concern is that your view has the First Amendment hamstringing the federal government in significant ways in the most important time periods.

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And so I guess some might say that the government actually has a duty to take steps to protect the citizens of this country, and you seem to be suggesting that that duty cannot manifest itself in the government encouraging or even pressuring platforms to take down harmful information.

…

So can you help me? Because I’m really – I’m really worried about that because you’ve got the First Amendment operating in an environment of threatening circumstances from the government’s perspective, and you’re saying that the government can’t interact with the source of those problems.

Ketanji Brown Jackson
Justice of SCOTUS
March 18, 2024
Judge Jackson’s ‘chilling’ First Amendment comments leave Jonathan Turley ‘very concerned’ (msn.com)

I’m reminded of something I thought the NRA had repeatedly published. But I can’t find it now. The closest I could find was this:

You know why there’s a Second Amendment? In case the government fails to follow the first one.

Rush Limbaugh

It would be best for everyone if SCOTUS understands this. As the people of Scotland are learning, if not vigorously defended, free speech is easily lost:

The police and the CPS have agreed the following definition for identifying and flagging hate crimes:

“Any criminal offence which is perceived by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by hostility or prejudice, based on a person’s disability or perceived disability; race or perceived race; or religion or perceived religion; or sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation or transgender identity or perceived transgender identity.”

There is no legal definition of hostility so we use the everyday understanding of the word which includes ill-will, spite, contempt, prejudice, unfriendliness, antagonism, resentment and dislike.

A Different View of Reality

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Quote of the Day

Gun capitalism is legitimized through the kind of bill President Biden signed into law in 2022. The bill authorized things like new money for mental health and red flag laws — which are good, but also inherently signal that gun consumerism is perfectly legitimate and can continue so long as we make sure the guardrails are there.

The U.S. is one of the few if not the only country in the world that approaches gun policy in that particular way. I think that until we are ready to confront gun capitalism, we’re going to continue in the cycle that we find ourselves in.

Ben Tumin
March 19, 2024
Why Is There a Gun Problem in America? The Gun Capitalists Are Partly to Blame | Teen Vogue

*Puns and capitalism, God and guns! - Imgflip

I used to read some of the small communist newspapers I found laying around in downtown Seattle. They had the same twisted view of reality. Capitalism was unquestionably to blame for all the evil in the world.

Prepare and respond appropriately.

* Image from Gun Control: Good for the Noble, Bad for the Greedy – Imgflip

They Hate the First Amendment Too

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It is not about guns. It is about control.

Social media platforms must face lawsuits claiming they enabled Buffalo mass shooter By Reuters (investing.com)

Several social media companies were ordered by a New York state judge to face four lawsuits seeking to hold them responsible for helping enable the avowed white supremacist who killed 10 Black people in 2022 at a Buffalo, New York grocery store.

Justice Paula Feroleto of the Erie County Supreme Court ruled on Monday that the more than 40 plaintiffs could try to prove that Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META)’ Facebook and Instagram, Reddit, Google’s YouTube and other platforms were designed to addict and radicalize users like the shooter, Payton Gendron.

…

“We must hold accountable every single bad actor that prepared and equipped the shooter to target and kill members of Buffalo’s Black community,” said Eric Tirschwell, executive director of the gun control advocacy group Everytown Law, which filed two of the lawsuits.

I am reminded of Quote of the day—Joseph Stalin.

Returning to the Stone Age

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Quote of the Day

Those who want to outlaw drugs must first outlaw, among other things, chemistry and horticulture.

Those who want to outlaw strong cryptography and cryptocurrency must first outlaw, among other things, math and computer science.

If it was even possible to get rid of guns, drugs, and crypto — it isn’t, but if it was — the politicians who want to do so would have to figure out how to get us to give up everything modern, from the bicycle to the automobile to the microcomputer to the smart phone to most of the food we eat to accomplish their objective.

They’d have to outlaw Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), the set of fields that they’re constantly complaining not enough students are going into.

Thomas L. Knapp
March 16, 2024
Opinion: ‘Gun Control’ is a call for returning to the Stone Age – Newton Daily News

There is a lot of truth in this but one must realized it isn’t really about banning these things. As Ayn Rand pointed out, it is about controlling people.