Indeed, a major source of objection to a free economy is precisely that it does this task so well. It gives people what they want instead of what a particular group thinks they ought to want. Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself.
Milton Friedman
1962
[People that think the government should subsidize ethanol production and mandate what types of cars to build or light bulbs to manufacture should read more of Friedman’s work.–Joe]
From the Guy Guys we have this slightly disguised spewing of bigotry. I’ll translate it into terms that will make the bigotry more obvious. You’ll recognize my contribution when you see it:
Due to an intimidating campaign by primarily white Ohio males who love their handguns – and they are a minority of white “Buyckeye” men – the state has passed not only a CCW law (the right to carry hidden handguns) in the past few years, but also a state pre-emption law when it comes to firearms.
Due to an intimidating campaign by primarily gun-nig**rs – and they are a minority – the state has passed not only a law that “recognizes” their “rights” in the past few years, but also a state pre-emption law when it comes to gun-nig**rs.
That means duly-elected government bodies such as the Cleveland City Council cannot enact gun policies that best protect its citizens. In short, they are disenfranchised by gun fanatics.
That means duly-elected government bodies such as the Cleveland City Council cannot enact policies to keep the gun-nig**rs in their place and protect our women folk. In short the gun-nig**rs are getting so uppity they thing they have just as much right to be on the streets as us white-folk and have managed push us out of positions of city power.
[…]
Why should citizens who feel the psychological need for firearms in Lima, Ohio – for example — keep the government of Cleveland from trying to stop young people from being shot on its city’s streets?
Why should citizens who feel the psychological need to pollute their racial heritage in Lima, Ohio – for example — keep the government of Cleveland from trying to stop young people from defiling themselves its city’s streets?
The answer is that local communities and police chiefs should be responsible for their public safety, not some gun toters who can’t break their firearms addiction.
The answer is that local communities and police chiefs should be responsible for their public safety, not some gun-nig**r lovers who can’t break their perversions.
It’s long past time that the majority of citizens of America are held hostage against their will by a well-financed, profitable, over-heated lobby that cares more about its own pastimes than the lives of our youth and citizens in so many areas of our great nation.
Cleveland is just one city that is handcuffed from doing what is right by its community members.
And as a further service I translate this post for you:
Well, this is not about Second Amendment “rights”; it’s about families being able to camp in National Parks without the fear that some NRA nervous Nellie will mistake them for a bear and start shooting away during the night.
Well, this is not about gun-nig**r “rights”; it’s about families being able to camp in National Parks without the fear that some gun-nig**r will lose control and rape one of your children during the night.
If the “brave” men of the NRA are so fearful of crime and wildlife in National Parks, then they don’t need to go into them.
If the “brave” men of the NAACP are so fearful of being lynched in National Parks, then they don’t need to go into them.
That will leave the rest of us safe and sound.
This is about our rights, not their selfishness in bringing the potential for violence into the last vestiges of our tranquil natural heritage as a nation.
This is about our rights, not their selfishness in bringing their inherent potential for violence into the last vestiges of our tranquil natural heritage as a nation.
Considering Teddy Roosevelt set aside more land for national parks and nature preserves than all of his predecessors combined, one would think that if the National Parks were to be gun free that Roosevelt would share those inclinations. But this quote refutes that hypothesis.
One tenet of the National Rifle Association’s faith has always been that handgun controls do little to stop criminals from obtaining handguns. For once, the NRA is right and America’s leading handgun control organization is wrong. Criminals don’t buy guns in gun stores. That’s why they’re criminals. But it isn’t criminals who are killing most of the 20,000 to 22,000 people who die from handguns each year. We are.
Josh Sugarmann
June 1987
The NRA is Right: But We Still Need to Ban Handguns
The Washington Monthly
[This is one of those quotes that is almost too good to be true. I obtained it from Wikipedia for whatever that is worth.–Joe]
I ended up getting really busy and not getting this out within a day or so of when Caleb and I did this (November 11th) but most people probably don’t care that much anyway. So, for my satisfaction and some of the Boomershoot volunteers I’m documenting the latest improvements implemented to help make Boomershoot 2008 the best yet.
What I’m doing is spending my money and time on the infrastructure to enable easier and faster manufacture of the explosives and targets. For the same amount of resources I could add capacity to handle a few more shooters but I decided put the effort into delivering more targets to the existing number of participants. At first glance this may be thrilling to the shooters as I’m sure it will be when they first hear about it. But just wait–there is an evil twist to my plan and I won’t be telling them the details until the night before.
As you may recall Caleb, Kim, and I did some “well” digging and earth moving this summer and fall. We planted some grass where we destroyed the old and it seems to be coming up very nicely:
After draining all the water out of the pipe we poured some recreational vehicle antifreeze in the pump and covered it so it wouldn’t freeze and break this winter:
The 700 watt inverter I had installed shortly after building the Taj died. Because we changed our mixing procedures we didn’t need nearly as much power as before so I down graded to a 400 Watt inverter that only uses 90 mA of standby current instead of the nearly 1 A the old one consumed. This will give us an estimated battery life of over 15 hours compared to the approximately eight hours with the old inverter. And that includes running the WiFi continuously.
We also installed paper towel dispensers over both benches:
And just because I like the snow here is the Boomershoot range last Saturday:
My estimate is that we will be able to produce 2000 pounds of explosives in the two days before Boomershoot 2008. Literally, a ton of recreational explosives for your shooting pleasure. I wish Josh Sugarmann, Sarah Brady, Paul Helmke and the rest of the anti-gun bigots could be there to enjoy it with us. I’d be willing to arrange for their own toilet and eating areas if they didn’t want to associate with us but they probably don’t have enough travel budget for it. Too bad. I’d love to see the sour expressions on their faces as people from all over North America (and maybe a guy currently in England who is waiting for an opening) shooting real sniper rifles (used by real former, current, and future snipers), assault rifles (yes, full auto are welcome), and the dreaded .50 caliber rifles have a real blast.
The regulation that prohibits firearms in National Parks has long been a point of irritation for me. Barb and I really enjoy visiting the National Parks and have contemplated trying to visit all of them. But we aren’t supposed to bring a self-defense firearm to places where grizzly bears snack on the tourists? What’s up with that?
I received my marching orders from the apex of the triangle of death along with another wheelbarrow full of cash yesterday informing me they have been working on this for the last five years and finally have made some significant progress. Idaho Senator Mike Crapo sent a letter, signed by 46 other senators, to Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne requesting the regulation change.
What they didn’t mention on the website or in the note on the wheelbarrow was that not only was it an Idaho Senator that played a big role in writing this letter but that Interior Secretary Kempthorne is a former U.S. Senator and more recently governor of Idaho and has a strong pro-gun rights record. He did veto a bill that would have allowed concealed carry on school grounds by teachers and parents but he had a lot of pressure by the media and even national attention that caused him to cave on that one. When I called his office to encourage him to sign it I was told the phone calls, letters, faxes, etc. were running something like 50:1 against the bill.
Furthermore, Kempthorne graduated from the University of Idaho in 1975 and his wife Patricia also graduated from the University of Idaho. Barb and I graduated from there in 1977. Our son James graduated from there, our daughter Xenia is currently attending, and our daughter Kim has applied there. The University of Idaho is walking distance from our home in Moscow. In fact Xenia, since she (procrastinator extraordinaire) still doesn’t have a drivers license uses her feet as her primary transportation to and from class from our home.
If it’s up to Kempthorne I expect we will, at long last, get rid of this oppressive and dangerous restriction on our ability to defend ourselves in national parks.
If that happens I’ll be a lot more enthusiastic about visiting the parks and less grumpy when I’m hiking through the woods without the constant reminder of that empty feeling of no gun on my hip in country with large predators.
What follows are some more pictures of our recent trip to Glacier National Park (and here):
Thank yous go to NRA-ILA, Idaho Senators Crapo and Craig, who both signed the letters and Ashley for the email (and also said she liked my earlier pictures of Glacier).
Shame on you to the senators that didn’t sign the letter such as the Senators of Washington State where I currently reside. Please note that Presidential hopefuls Senators Clinton and Obama did not sign the letter. McCain did.
You also have to figure it’s probably frustrating as hell for them to not have a single legislative achievement at the federal level in 14 years. They try to push a bill, after the worst mass shooting in our nation’s history, that makes so many concessions to gun owners that the NRA doesn’t have any problem with it, and they still can’t get it through Congress because the Brady name and cause have become so politically poisonous that even a whiff of their involvement is enough to send Congress running.
Sebastian
December 17, 2007
Can You Smell the Desperation?
[Regarding Brady Campaign President Paul Helmke’s blog post.–Joe]
An editor should have a pimp for a brother, so he’d have someone to look up to.
Gene Fowler
1992 Daily Curmudgeon Calendar
[Uncle’s example from the New York Times where they rant about the lack of gun control reminded me of this.–Joe]
I find it difficult to model the mind of someone that says, all in the same article, the following things. The best I can come up with is some sort of machine with most of the gears missing teeth. It starts and stops and sort of seems to be working but the end results is totally different from what is expected for the given input.
In the circumstances in which we find ourselves, we have to ask the question whether anyone outside of the security forces must be allowed to carry a gun at all. Gun control is a controversial issue all over the world. Opponents of gun control argue that it takes away the rights of good people to protect themselves while criminals will always find a way to own or use guns.
[…]
I am aware that there is a body of evidence, especially in the US that shows that gun bans or even gun control does not substantially affect the crime rate.
[…]
Therefore the unpalatable conclusion must be that gun control has failed and has to be replaced by a complete gun ban at least for a period of time preceded by a campaign against gun use and ownership and an amnesty for the handing in of illegal guns.
Gun control has failed therefore we need more gun control? It’s typical, even though I don’t understand it except as a sort of psychological pathology.
As a private citizen, as a prosecutor, as a Mayoral candidate and as Mayor, I have advocated for more regulated and more uniform gun licensing regulations, similar to those for a drivers license.
Rudy Giuliani
We do have tough gun laws in Massachusetts. I support them. I won’t chip away at them. I believe they protect us and provide for our safety.
Mitt Romney
A few years ago, Congress passed a law to make sure people undergo a simple background check before buying a gun… Problem is, there’s a dangerous loophole because right now the law doesn’t cover most of America’s gun shows.
John McCain
The real effect of these gun-control measures is to place onerous restrictions on law-abiding citizens who use firearms for such legal activities as self-defense, sport-shooting, hunting, and collecting.
Fred Thompson
The Founding Fathers weren’t worried about our being able to bag a duck or a deer, they were worried about our keeping our fundamental freedoms.
Mike Huckabee
I share our Founders’ belief that in a free society each citizen must have the right to keep and bear arms. They ratified the Second Amendment knowing that this right is the guardian of every other right, and they all would be horrified by the proliferation of unconstitutional legislation that prevents law-abiding Americans from exercising this right.
Ron Paul
Via Jeff Knox Candidates on Rights
[There is a fair amount of further information in Knox’s post.–Joe]
WHEREAS: The Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which provides that the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed, must be protected by every Member of Congress.
WHEREAS: Sarah Brady and the Gun Control Lobby are already bragging how they are going to work with their allies in Congress to put the right to keep and bear arms on the congressional chopping block.
WHEREAS: Sarah Brady and the rabid gun-grabbers are planning to ban private gun sales, exterminate gun stores, renew the Clinton Gun Ban, enact gun rationing, ban other self-defense guns, expand no-safety zones, make concealed carry permits useless and otherwise infringe on the Gun Rights of Americans.
THEREFORE: Let every U.S. Senator know I’m opposed to such efforts to undermine my right to keep and bear arms and I demand Congress pass “NO MORE GUN CONTROL.”
National Association for Gun Rights
No More Gun Control Petition
[I got a call a few minutes ago asking me to listen to a message from Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave. I did listen and it asked me to sign the above petition and donate money. I signed the petition but haven’t donated any money. This week I put $1300 into car repairs and it’s not a good time of year for finding extra cash anyway.–Joe]
You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.
Winston Churchill
[Remember that when you consider “biting your tongue” rather than offend an anti-freedom bigot who deserves to be offended or worse. If you don’t speak up for the things you most strongly believe in then you should not be surprised when you lose the things you most cherish..–Joe]
You know, that is the most inane statement I have ever heard.
Mika Brzezinski
December 11, 2007
Video here: 2007-12-11MSNBCMJMika.wmv (2.17 MB)
In response to Joe Scarborough telling her, “One person with a gun in the right place can make a big difference.” in regards to Jeanne Assam stopping the murderer at the New Life Church in Colorado Springs.
Via Mark Finkelstein at NewsBusters and an email from Ashley Varner @ the NRA-ILA.
[No attempt at refuting the claim, just dismiss it. But of course what else could she do other than change her mind? The facts speak for themselves.–Joe]
Just outside the city limits of Chicago there are gun shops selling guns to people that live in the city. That is an entirely legal transaction. They owners of the new guns are prohibited by Chicago law from bringing the guns into the city. Since some of them violate that law the politicians and media are whining and making plans to shut down the gun shops–who did not violate the law. Nothing to see here, just punishing the innocent, move along now.
Anyone with a cursory interest in the Second Amendment can find a lot about the Original Intent of the Framers with just a few quick internet searches and a few minutes of reading. Why then would we need an exhaustive documentary on it? Because so many people, knowing what it means and hating it, attempt to deny it using all manner of silly rationalizations.
Now we can drive those people crazy (or bring their already existing craziness into the full light of day) while educating those who are willing. I just ordered four copies– one to keep, two to give to friends, and one to donate to our local public school library (heh). (The “heh” is there because, as we all know, most people in our public school system will go bananas over anything that shows even a hint of tolerance or acceptance of gun rights. 60 years ago however, there were still quite a few gun ranges on public school property, so the statement that one would donate literature regarding the original intent of the Framers of our Constitution would have been seen in the appropriate light– as a nice gesture, rather than an attack on their politics.)
Joe and I watched the documentary at his discrete, undisclosed, hardened & secured, intimidating underground bunker facility last month, and I guarantee that you will not be disappointed in this work of scholarly excellence.
Thomas Sowell is one of my heroes, but I’ve never known him to comment on guns or shooting until now.
Even within a range of 6 feet or less, the police miss more often than they hit — 57 percent of the shots at that distance miss and 43 percent hit.
As you might expect, there are even fewer hits at longer distances. At 75 feet — which is less than the distance from first base to second base — only 7 percent of the shots hit.
Moreover, just because a shot has hit does not mean that it is now safe to stop shooting.
Sowell wastes not a single word while offering more perspective than an entire flock of regular journalists.
According to both statistics and sheer logic, the very notion of gun control is so patently stupid, that only people with too much education could possibly believe it, and it is no accident that for self-described “progressives,” gun control is often at the top of their list. Call me old fashioned, but I much prefer English statesman Edmund Burke’s observation that “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” And when it comes to these random shootings, allowing as many good men possible the ability to shoot back is our only hope for less deadly results in the future.
Jack Hunter
Columnist
December 11, 2007
WTMA commentary broadcast
The Insane Logic of Gun Control
[And good women.–Joe]
Honestly, and as God as my witness, when I saw him shooting and as watched for a few seconds trying to figure out what he was going to do and what I should do, the thought that when through my mind was, “If I had a gun, I have a perfect shot.”
Yes, a perfect shot. I had a full side profile, I was close, and no one was visible behind him execept a wall. I had a clear shot during the second round of fire. I told this to every cop I came in contact with. The interviewer agreed.
When I realized that I had no gun, fear instantly struck me, along with anger, and severe panic.
[…]
I am very angry at the city of Omaha and the mall for their stupid laws that nearly cost me my life. The laws protected no one, and in my opinion, caused people to die.
“NW”
A witness to the Omaha Mall mass shooting
Via Joe’s Crabby Shack, thanks to an email from Rob.
[People died because some anti-gun bigots didn’t even try to answer Just One Question before they passed criminal rules prohibiting firearms in the mall.–Joe]
The days of political candidates being able to duck and run on the Second Amendment issue are over. It’s time to find out what their real positions are, and I challenge every reporter who has access to Hillary to pose these questions to her.
Wayne LaPierre
December 7, 2007
Some Questions for Clinton
A .MP3 version of the entire blog posting is here.
[The Internet and computers furthers the cause of freedom more than the cause of the oppressor.–Joe]
It is by the fortune of God that, in this country, we have three benefits: freedom of speech, freedom of thought, and the wisdom never to use either.
Mark Twain
[Reading all the editorials about the Omaha mall shooting reminded me of this. They never bother to consider Just One Question.–Joe]
If it hasn’t been said that complexity is the tool of the corrupt politician, I’ll say it here for the record. This post is a rewrite of a comment I made here. I thought it deserved its own post.
“…the ATF sent out it’s ATF State Laws and Published Ordinances. Ride Fast notes some numbers:
California, 67 pages, about 120,600 words of regulation.
Massachusetts, 18.5 pages, about 32,400 words.
Nevada, 6.5 pages, about 11,700 words.
Vermont, 1.05 pages, about 1890 words.”
(To those who have so far never cared about the issue enough to look into it; Vermont has historically had a right-to-arms policy close the original intent of the Second Amendment. For example, one may legally carry a concealed pistol without getting government permission. It is also worth noting that their violent crime rate is lower than those of surrounding states.)
Here are some contrasting numbers:
The Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States: One sentence, 27 words.
The Congressional Oath of Office: One paragraph, 73 words.
I assume you’ve all looked it up and saved it, being concerned citizens and all, but to save you the trouble of going to your desktop and clicking on it, here it is again:
“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign or domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.”
Human rights, honesty and reason are relatively simple. Obfuscation is complex.