Category Archives: Gun Rights

Another small case won

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From SAF:

BELLEVUE, WA (1/27/17) – The Second Amendment Foundation has scored another court victory, this time in Montana where a federal district court judge has entered a preliminary injunction against the state’s citizenship requirement in order to obtain a concealed carry license.

U.S. District Court Judge Donald W. Molloy at the district court in Missoula has also stayed the case because the Legislature is currently considering legislation that would repeal the citizenship requirement. The case is Knutson v. Curry.

SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb noted that this is just the foundation’s latest effort to secure protections for permanent legal resident aliens. The plaintiff in this case, Lenka Knutson, resides with her husband and two children in Whitefish. She is a citizen of Slovakia and a SAF member.

“We’re certainly happy with the judge’s ruling,” Gottlieb said, “and we’re gratified that the Montana Legislature is working to fix this problem. We’ve fought similar battles in Missouri, Nebraska, Arkansas, North Carolina and New Mexico on behalf of legal resident aliens.”

“This lawsuit is about the recognition that lawful resident aliens share the same Second Amendment rights as citizens,” attorney David G. Sigale noted. “We are very gratified that the Court has vindicated Ms. Knutson’s right to self-defense, and we are also glad the State is taking steps to correct a clearly discriminatory law.”

Under terms of the order, Judge Molloy also cancelled a scheduled Feb. 13 trial.

Lenka had gone to the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office in 2014 to apply for a concealed carry permit, even though she is not a U.S. citizen. The permit was denied because she is a permanent resident and not a citizen. The lawsuit followed, with representation by Sigale of Glen Ellyn, Illinois and Quentin M. Rhoades and Nicole L. Seifert of Missoula.

“The decision by Judge Molloy is one more example of SAF’s effort to win firearms freedom, one lawsuit at a time,” Gottlieb stated.

I think it is best to incrementally win nearly every small case rather than have a moderate or high risk of losing a big case. If enough precedent is established with the small cases the big cases will be easier to win.

The quilt story

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Last July Robert Avrech posted a picture of a comforter designed as a U.S. flag and expressed his desire to have one:

A few years ago, Karen and I came across this comforter designed by Timothy Oulton. “I want it,” I said. Karen looked at the price tag and said, “We’ll just have to settle for a photo.”

Sister-in-law Julie makes quilts (over 600 so far) so I asked her to make one for me. We agreed on the price and I offered to give it to Robert. He readily accepted. It took a few months for the flag quilt to get to the head of the queue but I was able to pick it up the last time I was in Idaho and ship it to Robert.

Why? Because he is a Hollywood screenwriter and producer who is a strong supporter of the Second Amendment. I’m not sure I would have the courage to risk my livelihood by being so outspoken behind enemy lines, I wanted to let him know that his efforts are appreciated, and give him a small reward for his courage and support of our specific enumerated right to keep and bear arms.

Today he posted pictures of and thanks for the quit (go to the bottom of the post).

Quote of the day—Awr Hawkins

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On January 24 Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) tweeted that Chicago’s gun violence is the result of “lax gun laws” at the federal level.

He did not explain how Congressional refusal to pass more gun control would increase Chicago violence while passing over so many other cities, leaving them safe and sound.

Awr Hawkins
January 25, 2017
Sen Chris Murphy Blames Chicago Gun Violence on Congress Rejection of Gun Control
[If one were to explore this topic with the Senator, I suspect the explanation would be something along the lines of, “Shut up!”

It’s what you get when someone with crap for brains gets into a position of power.—Joe]

Criminal politicians for gun control

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Not all criminal politicians have been advocates for gun control but it sure seems like there is a high correlation. David Codrea (H/T Say Uncle) reports on a former New York State Senator, who was very anti-gun, being sentenced to prison last week.

Yesterday another one reported to prison to begin his sentence:

A longtime Pennsylvania congressman convicted of racketeering has reported to a federal prison to begin his 10-year sentence.

Officials said former U.S. Rep. Chaka (SHAH’-kuh) Fattah was logged in just after 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Federal Correctional Institution-McKean in Lewis Run, in western Pennsylvania, near the New York border. He will be in the minimum-security camp adjacent to the medium-security prison.

The 60-year-old Philadelphia Democrat spent 20 years in Congress before his June conviction of taking an illegal $1 million campaign loan, then using government and nonprofit funds to repay it. Four co-defendants were also convicted.

Read this post to get the background on his perpetual war on gun owners.

I have to wonder if “someone” had the time and money to do the investigations how many anti-gun politicians could be sent to jail on corruption charges. I would rather they get charged under 18 USC 241 and/or 18 USC 242 because of their infringement upon our specific enumerate right to keep and bear arms. But I would settle for them being removed from positions of power.

Quote of the day—Maura Healey

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My actions have never been about taking away guns from people. I respect the Second Amendment, but we have a law on the books, and it’s an important law. It says that civilians can’t walk around with or be in possession of military-style assault weapons…

Maura Healey
Massachusetts Attorney General
January 25, 2017
Gun rights group challenging state’s assault weapon ban
[No matter how many times it happens it always surprises me when someone contradicts themselves in sequential sentences. To me that is clear and convincing proof of insanity. But in the political world it appears that is the sign of a good politician. It allows the reader/listener to take away whichever fragment they want and ignore the rest.

It think it means they are evil and/or have crap for brains and hence are unfit for anything other than closely supervised menial labor.—Joe]

Suppressor facts

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Larry Keane of the National Shooting Sports Foundation gives us the important facts in regards to firearm suppressors:

U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) tweeted that the loud report of a firearm is a “safety feature.” He seems to think that the sound of gunfire was engineered as a means to ensure everyone around them knew there was gunfire nearby.

…

A 10-year study found 153 crimes committed with suppressors and in only 15 of those crimes was a suppressor actually used. Here’s more perspective. That same study showed criminals used suppressors in less than 0.1 percent of homicides, 0.00006 percent of felonies and 0.1 percent of armed robberies.

As a practical matter, suppressors add length to a firearm, making it harder to conceal.

Senator Murphy is evil and/or has crap for brains.

Quote of the day—Defens

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Once the Trump death squads start patrolling and the cattle cars full of liberals start rolling to the concentration camps, I’m sure the panic-buying will kick in on the other side, initiating Gun Culture 3.0.

Defens
January 24, 2017
Comment to Quote of the day—Lawrence Keane
[It is, of course, a joke.

Nevertheless, as always, I’ll be glad to teach liberals how to shoot.—Joe]

That’s a feature, not a bug

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Some people say the name of the bill to remove suppressors from NFA is “brilliantly named”.

I’m not so sure. I can see people on our side of that political aisle thinking it is “brilliantly named”. But from the other side of the aisle we have this (via Sebastian):

There’s no evidence of a public health issue associated with hearing loss from gunfire,” says Kristin Brown of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. “

…

The real flaw in the silencer lobby’s efforts, however, may be the patent obviousness of their fakery. Calling the Duncan-Carter bill the “Hearing Protection Act” is so absurdly transparent an effort to deceive that voters may be prompted to ask an obvious question: “What are they hiding?”

My take is a little different. The best that can be said about the anti-gun crowd in this regard is they don’t care if gun owners hearing is damaged. They publicly let us know they want us dead. It is my opinion that naming the bill the “Hearing Protection Act” made them realize they are even more opposed to the bill than before. That guns can permanently damage a person hearing is, to them, a feature. It is not a “bug”.

Quote of the day—Elsa Lion ‏@ElsaLion2

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Its how you compensate for being poorly endowed. Guns are phallic symbols.

Elsa Lion ‏@ElsaLion2
Tweeted on February 18, 2016
[It’s another Markley’s Law Monday! Via a tweet from Linoge.

Childish insults conclusive proof she has nothing better to oppose us. It tells us she is insecure and needs something, anything, to make her feel like she is in control.—Joe]

Quote of the day—Mead Gruver

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In grizzly country, comments by President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for education secretary that schools should have guns on campus to protect against the bears aren’t a punch line.

Mead Gruver
January 19, 2017
In Wyoming, DeVos gun remark more about safety than politics
[One year my (ex) sister-in-law taught school in Barrow Alaska. They would sometimes have polar bear warnings at her school. One day she took the usual short cut, rather than going through the main part of town, even though a polar bear had been spotted recently. Her students were extremely unhappy with her and scolded her about that. She was informed, in no uncertain terms, the polar bear warnings were extremely serious. She was more careful after that.

That people who scoffed at, and made fun of, Betsy DeVos suggestion that people at some schools may need a gun to defend against bears only show how out of touch with reality, not how smart, they are.—Joe]

Quote of the day—Mac McCauley

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You worthless Democrats are in the civil rights crushing business. You make felons non-criminals and felons out of the law abiding.

Mac McCauley
January 19, 2017
Comment to For first time in history, California dealers sell more than a million guns in a single year
[I have nothing to add.—Joe]

Quote of the day—I like Pie

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My civil liberties are non-negotiable.

If you think guns are too dangerous to own, then by all means -don’t own one.
If you think guns are too dangerous for me to own, don’t think you won’t need one to get mine.

I like Pie
January 18, 2017
Comment to Gun control groups protest at Texas Capitol
[Anti-gun people should also look at the numbers before they dismiss statements such as the one above.—Joe]

Quote of the day—Bob Adelmann

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The only thing absurd is that one wanting to buy a suppressor for his firearm would have to undergo a vastly more difficult, expensive, and time-consuming application than he did in buying his firearm in the first place!

Bob Adelmann
January 16, 2017
Call Them “Suppressors,” Please, Not “Silencers”: Bill to End Their Restrictions Proposed
[Via email from Paul Koning.—Joe]

Going on offense

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The gun rights movement has largely been playing defense for a long time, with occasional and gradual wins here and there, now with increasing frequency in the last decade. But it’s always gotten bad press by the legacy media. There is hope that things will be going high-profile and on offense with the new administration.

The Hearing Protection Act of 2017 (HPA) was introduced January 9th. It would remove suppressors from being an NFA weapon with a tax stamp. It would also likely be a great business-stimulus. More here.

Of course, the legacy media claims it’s all about enabling hit-men and criminals. But then, accuracy was never really a priority with them.

Quote of the day—Austin Yack

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FBI background checks, one of the strongest indicators of national gun sales, totaled 27,538,673 in 2016, shattering the record of 23,141,970 set in 2015. According to the Washington Free Beacon, “During President Obama’s eight-year tenure, the FBI has processed 157,233,157 firearms checks — 61,249,149 more than [in] the previous ten years.

Austin Yack
January 9, 2017
The Unintended Consequence of California’s Gun-Control Laws
[As near as I can tell the anti-gun people are either blissfully ignorant this has been happening, clueless of what this means, and/or clueless of how big these numbers really are. Let me now give them some clues.

  1. People did not buy over 150 million guns with the expectation they would peacefully turn them in when they were banned.
  2. There were enough guns purchased during the Obama administration for there to be 2.4 guns for each of the Hillary Clinton voters.
  3. Hillary Clinton voters haven’t been buying the majority of the guns.

And, as I have said before, if they really don’t want people buying guns the quickest and easiest way to reduce gun sales is for anti-gun politicians to leave office.—Joe]

Quote of the day—Michelle Gajda

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[Assault weapons] are not used in the majority of mass shootings and not in the big picture of gun violence in America.

Michelle Gajda
Tampa
The Florida chapter leader of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America
January 13, 2017
More gun control makes Florida safer, proponents say
[She is absolutely correct. Hands and feet are use to murder more people in this country than “assault weapons”.

Please note the organization she represents.

In her organization it’s rare for someone to be this clued into reality. Expect her career there to be short.—Joe]

Quote of the day—FlyersRights.org

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Most passengers were shocked to learn carrying live ammo and guns in baggage is permitted.  And now terrorists are fully aware of this startling gap in US airport security.

FlyersRights.org
January 11, 2017
Passenger Group Calls for New Airport Security Measures by Airlines, TSA and Airports
[Are they also “shocked” to learn we have a specific enumerated right to keep and bear arms? If so then perhaps their educations are severely lacking.

What I am shocked about is that despite all the evidence that “gun-free” zones are hazardous and the abject failure of TSA we still are prohibited from carrying guns on our persons while on airplanes. It’s the right thing to do.—Joe]

Like from an Ayn Rand story

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The irony:

President Obama awarded the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to a shocked Vice President Biden on Thursday at the White House.

…

Biden also helped oversee the president’s first-term economic stimulus package and pressed unsuccessfully for gun-control legislation after the killing of 20 children at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

To be fair to Biden:

In his remarks, Biden praised Obama for serving the nation with dignity and insisted that he was not worthy of the honor.

“I don’t deserve this,” the vice president said repeatedly.

Biden was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, in part, for attempting to dramatically infringe upon our freedom.

This is like something from an Ayn Rand story where incompetent villains give each other awards. This cheapens the award to the point of making it a joke. But, I suppose it’s entirely in character with Obama getting the Nobel Peace prize.

Although I can’t imagine the tarnish on the award being removed for at least a generation Trump could polish a portion of it and troll the enemies of freedom by giving the award to Alan Gura, Neal Knox (posthumously), Alan Gottlieb, and/or Wayne LaPierre.

Quote of the day—Alan M. Gottlieb

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We brought this action on behalf of the plaintiffs to establish that the state’s restrictions on the possession and carrying of firearms by foster parents is unconstitutional under both the Second and Fourteenth amendments. We’re delighted that the judge will allow our action to go forward because it is important to establish that people do not surrender their Second Amendment rights in order to become foster parents. We’re in court to make sure that the state cannot discriminate against foster parents who merely wish to exercise the rights we’ve restored in Illinois.

Alan M. Gottlieb
SAF founder and Executive Vice President
January 10, 2016
FED. COURT ALLOWS CHALLENGE TO PROCEED AGAINST ILLINOIS FOSTER PARENT RULES
[Illinois prohibits foster parents from possessing firearm. The lawsuit alleges the state is denying the foster parents their civil rights under color of law. I’m almost certain this will mean that if SAF and the parents win then the state will be required to pay SAF and the parents for their legal expenses. I just wish it would also mean proof beyond a reasonable doubt that state officials had violated 18 USC 242.

If you squint at the situation just right you can make the case we should be thanking Illinois for offering us this, almost free, low hanging fruit. It should be a relatively easy case to win and every win we get creates more case law which can then be used as leverage in more difficult to win cases.—Joe]

Another victim disarmament zone tragedy?

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Hmm… The BBC reports:

FBI agent George Piro said earlier that the suspect had travelled to Fort Lauderdale specifically to carry out the attack.

Unlike Alaska, Washington, Idaho, and most other states Florida airports are “gun free zones”. So, did the murderer fly all the way from Alaska just to find a place to shoot a bunch of people where they are extremely unlikely to shoot back?