Quote of the day—Thomas Sowell

Proposals for reform are often dismissed because they have no “realistic” chance of being adopted. But none of the major reforms of the past had any realistic chance of being adopted when they were first proposed.

Thomas Sowell
March 6, 1999
THOMAS SOWELL: Back again – random thoughts
[This is my justification for reiterating that those who attempt to deny people their right to keep and bear arms should be prosecuted. To that end I have created these links for quick and easy access for everyone to use: http://bit.ly/EnjoyYourTrial1 and http://bit.ly/EnjoyYourTrial2.—Joe]

Think about it

Via Elisabeth Diamond @diamactive2001:

ForefathersVsTyrantsAnyQs

At first I thought this was awesome. It’s not just old white guys supporting the right to keep and bear arms to protect themselves from a slave rebellion. Gandhi in this category might be a surprise to some, but it’s true (see also here). Martin Luther King Jr. is another which might also surprise people, but again, it’s true.

But after more thought I realized the tyrants listed are actually admired leaders to some. For example, Joseph Stalin and Mao Zedong each murdered 10s of millions of their own citizens after disarming them. But yet, there are still people today that not only advocate for the political philosophy of these tyrants but admire the tyrant for their accomplishments.

Hence, freedom lovers, as well as hard core Marxists, can both look at this image and find it supporting their world view. When you think about it, that’s kind of weird and messed up.

Quote of the day—Tirno

Let me boil down the position of an anti-CCW advocate: “When I get what I want, my political enemies in this matter will be subjected to assault, rape and murder that they used to be able to stop. One-hundred-thousand to one-and-a-half-million people that disagree with me, per year, according to official government estimates, will suffer bodily harm if I get what I want, and I’m OK with that, if not actually gleeful.”

Tirno
August 22, 2019
Comment to Quote of the day—Brian Malte
[Excellent point.—Joe]

Quote of the day—Brian Malte

We used to fall into this trap as advocates when reporters would ask, ‘What would have stopped this shooting?’ We’d be trying our very best to say, ‘This policy would have.’ And that was the wrong answer because it’s not true. There’s no one policy that’s going to stop any shooting—it takes a multitude of solutions. Many times our movement would play into the NRA’s defeatist…attitude.

Brian Malte
August 21, 2019
Trump Thinks Background Checks Won’t Stop Shootings. He’s Wrong.
[Although isn’t not in the form of a direct quote Malte is also credited with:

For their part, gun control activists have learned that it’s better to steer clear of the debate over what caused a particularly horrific shooting, explains Brian Malte, who was a senior official at the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence—now known as Brady United—in the aftermath of the Newtown massacre.

What I conclude from this article is significantly different from what the author and those interviewed conclude.

What I conclude is that they admit to knowing that the “solutions” they push in response to a mass shooting could not possibly have prevented those deaths. They push for them anyway.

They are admitting they are not stupid. They are admitting they are not ignorant. They are admitting that it is a deliberate infringement of the specific enumerated right to keep and bear arms with no possibility of reducing the harm they claim to be so concerned about. They are admitting they are evil.

This can and should be used at their trials.—Joe]

Quote of the day—Ammo.com

There was, predictably, very little meaningful blowback on the United States Marshals Service or any other parts of the federal government. The Ruby Ridge Task Force delivered a highly redacted 542-page report. And the six marshals involved in the initial shootout were given the highest commendations awarded by the United States Marshal Service.

Ammo.com
August, 2019
Siege at Ruby Ridge
[A similar thing happened with the Waco massacre. The ATF agents who attacked and killed innocent people were given medals and a memorial was created for the agents who died when their victims fought back.

I would like to suggest justice would have been better served if their estates, including their viable organs, had been auctioned off, the proceeds given to the survivors of the Branch Davidians, and then their heads mounted on pikes in front of ATF headquarters for a few months.—Joe]

Quote of the day—The Babylon Bee

An exhaustive new study from the CDC reveals that the leading cause of gun violence in America is your political opponents. Researchers looked at a number of potential causes of gun violence such as mental health, family situation, cultural shifts, gun laws, rap music, videogames, sugar consumption, and the actual gunman, but by and large, the most prominent cause of gun violence was what most already suspected. The fault lies with those who you disagree with politically.

TheBabylonBeeGunViolenceCauses

The Babylon Bee
August 5, 2019
Study Shows Leading Cause Of Gun Violence Is Those You Disagree With Politically
[Yes, it’s satire. Still, a disinterested observer could listen to both sides of the issue and arrive at the above conclusion.—Joe]

Probably not a hunting license

H.R.5087 was introduced February 26, 2018 but I just now got around to looking at it and discussing it with some people.

It has some “interesting” provisions:

This Act may be cited as the “Assault Weapons Ban of 2018”.

The term ‘semiautomatic assault weapon’ means any of the following, regardless of country of manufacture or caliber of ammunition accepted:

“(A) A semiautomatic rifle that has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine and any one of the following:

“(i) A pistol grip.

“(ii) A forward grip.

“(iii) A folding, telescoping, or detachable stock.

“(iv) A grenade launcher or rocket launcher.

“(v) A barrel shroud.

“(vi) A threaded barrel.

“(B) A semiautomatic rifle that has a fixed magazine with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds, except for an attached tubular device designed to accept, and capable of operating only with, .22 caliber rimfire ammunition.

“(C) Any part, combination of parts, component, device, attachment, or accessory that is designed or functions to accelerate the rate of fire of a semiautomatic rifle but not convert the semiautomatic rifle into a machinegun.

“(D) A semiautomatic pistol that has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine and any one of the following:

“(i) A threaded barrel.

“(ii) A second pistol grip.

“(iii) A barrel shroud.

“(iv) The capacity to accept a detachable magazine at some location outside of the pistol grip.

“(v) A semiautomatic version of an automatic firearm.

“(E) A semiautomatic pistol with a fixed magazine that has the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.

“(F) A semiautomatic shotgun that has any one of the following:

“(i) A folding, telescoping, or detachable stock.

“(ii) A pistol grip.

“(iii) A fixed magazine with the capacity to accept more than 5 rounds.

“(iv) The ability to accept a detachable magazine.

“(v) A forward grip.

“(vi) A grenade launcher or rocket launcher.

“(G) Any shotgun with a revolving cylinder.

“(H) All of the following rifles, copies, duplicates, variants, or altered facsimiles with the capability of any such weapon thereof:

“(K) All belt-fed semiautomatic firearms, including TNW M2HB and FN M2495.

“(L) Any combination of parts from which a firearm described in subparagraphs (A) through (K) can be assembled.

“(M) The frame or receiver of a rifle or shotgun described in subparagraph (A), (B), (C), (F), (G), (H), (J), or (K).

“(K) All belt-fed semiautomatic firearms, including TNW M2HB and FN M2495.

“(L) Any combination of parts from which a firearm described in subparagraphs (A) through (K) can be assembled.

“(M) The frame or receiver of a rifle or shotgun described in subparagraph (A), (B), (C), (F), (G), (H), (J), or (K).

It also defines “high capacity feeding devices” as devices capable of holding, or being easily modified to hold, more than 10 rounds.

“(w) (1) It shall be unlawful for a person to import, sell, manufacture, transfer, or possess, in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, a large capacity ammunition feeding device.

It does provide for grandfathering existing firearms and accessories.

Minor off topic question, does such as thing as a semiautomatic pistol with a fixed magazine even exist?

Discussions at the range concluded that you didn’t need to squint very hard to read it as something other than the intended “Assault Weapons Ban”. If the courts were to rule the law constitutional then it would also double as a license to hunt politicians.

I could see that being the outcome, but I expect there are other sparks more likely to ignite the tinder before this bill runs it’s course. I’m thinking letting Antifa run wild is likely to “flip the switch” before the enactment of gun bans and the multi-year court delays does the trick.

Quote of the day—CO Independent @COIndependent1

YOU NEED TO GROW A PAIR AND STOP GETTING YOUR LACK OF MANHOOD FROM A FIREARM. ITS A PIECE OF METAL, IT DOESN’T DEFINE YOU

CO Independent @COIndependent1
Tweeted on August 5, 2019
[It’s another Markley’s Law Monday!

H/T to less fat Dave @BigFatDave.

We have SCOTUS decisions. They have childish insults.—Joe]

Quote of the day—Milo Yiannopoulos @m

The First and Second Amendments mean exactly what they say. You should be able to express whatever you want and you should be able to own any kind of weaponry you want and can afford. End. Of. Fucking. Story.

Milo Yiannopoulos @m
Via Gab on August 5, 2019
[I think a good case can be made on restrictions for libel, slander, and incitement to riot/violence. But those exceptions doesn’t make for a good sound bite.—Joe]

Quote of the day—Annie Oakley

I would like to see every woman know how to handle guns as naturally as they know how to handle babies.

Annie Oakley
[H/T to Alex of Ammo.com.

I should have posted this on Oakley’s birthday, last Tuesday, August 13th. Which also happens to be my dad’s birthday. But, I wasn’t reading all my email and missed this one until last night.—Joe]

Quote of the day—Elie Mystal

You don’t communicate to them, you beat them. You beat them. They are not a majority of this country — the majority of white people in this country are not a majority of the country. All the people who are not fooled by this need to come together, go to the polls, go to the protests, do whatever you have to do. You do not negotiate with these people, you destroy them.

Elie Mystal
August 11, 2019
MSNBC Panelist On Most White People: ‘Destroy Them’
[H/T to Matthew Bracken.

Good to know. I will prepare accordingly.—Joe]

Quote of the day—Adam, RN @aginorr

Why do we have the 2A.

I direct you to Hong Kong.

Right now.

Adam, RN @aginorr
Tweeted on August 14, 2019
[I have nothing to add.—Joe]

Quote of the day—Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse

The Supreme Court is not well.  And the people know it.  Perhaps the Court can heal itself before the public demands it be “restructured in order to reduce the influence of politics.”  Particularly on the urgent issue of gun control, a nation desperately needs it to heal.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse
August 12, 2019
BRIEF OF SENATORS SHELDON WHITEHOUSE, MAZIE HIRONO, RICHARD BLUMENTHAL, RICHARD DURBIN, AND KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND AS AMICI CURIAE IN SUPPORT OF RESPONDENTS
[See also Senate Dems deliver stunning warning to Supreme Court: ‘Heal’ or face restructuring and Gun-control backers concerned about changing federal courts.

This is in regards to the case of a law that said you are not allowed to take your gun out of New York City to compete in a match or to protect yourself at a second home, or while camping or traveling. That SCOTUS might rule against this law is proof, in their minds, that SCOTUS is “not well” and must be “restructured”.

What if a case went to SCOTUS regarding the 13th Amendment and the respondents were afraid the decision would conclude the 13th Amendment meant what it said? Could one also conclude this was also evidence SCOTUS was “not well”?

I conclude the Senators are “not well” and this brief should be used at their trial.

This is what they think of the 2nd Amendment.

This is how you get a civil war.—Joe]

Quote of the day—Kurt Schlichter

You can’t put anything behind you with these people, because there is nothing to put behind you. It’s all a lie. You are not a racist. Your guns won’t hurt anyone but criminals and aspiring tyrants. And the leftists know it. They know they are spewing skeevy slanders, and if you give in on this one – handing over your AR-15 and hanging your head over prejudices you don’t possess – the libs and their newsprint lackeys will just club you with another set of grievances that you can only atone for through further submission.

It will never end. They will always hate you. Always. Nothing you can do will change that. Nothing. So get used to it and invite them to pound sand.

Kurt Schlichter
August 8, 2019
They Will Still Hate You Even If You Disarm
[Via email from Chet.

Stand up to them and tell them the adults are in charge. Temper tantrums from people that act like two year old’s and insults from people that act like they are in Junior High will be dealt with appropriately.—Joe]

Quote of the day—DintMentalFloss @DintMentalFloss

While you guys are off stroking your shafts dreaming of some armed rebellion in the downfall of society and you get to be Rambo, the rest of us are moving on with civilization.

DintMentalFloss @DintMentalFloss
Tweeted on July 29, 2019
[I give this an “honorable mention” for an another Markley’s Law Monday because they didn’t mention penis size.

In addition to resorting to childish insults they overlook the fact that The Gun Is Civilization.—Joe].

Quote of the day—Jim Poland @JimPolandcom

Swat’em! They’re dead. Now come and arrest me. My defense? I was protecting my children and 500 innocent children & their families. Threaten my kids?! There will be YUGE consequences for open carry. We will ensure it!

Jim Poland @JimPolandcom
Tweeted on August 8, 2019
[This can and should be used at his trial.—Joe]

Truth

Via Matthew Bracken @ Matt_Bracken:

The abuse of psychiatry was legendary:

See also Political abuse of psychiatry in the Soviet Union.

Expect little difference if implemented here. What is going to be the default decision of a judge or psychologist? Risk letting a potential mass shooter keep their guns or risk an nonviolent person losing their guns?

Quote of the day—Initech

If we can’t ban the damn things, then why don’t we raise the purchasing age to like 40?

Initech
August 7, 2019
Comment to Heading to El Paso, Trump nixes assault weapons ban
[I still sometimes find it odd that people have no concept of following the law of the land. “…shall not be infringed…” seems so clear and yet someone imagines it means the  infringement of a specific enumerated right doesn’t really count if the person is not yet 40 years old.

Keep this in mind when people demand the age for purchase of any gun be raised to 21. The slippery slope is there. If this is allowed then what rationale can there be to resist raising the age to 30, 40, or 90?—Joe]

MSN poll on “assault weapon” bans

At the bottom of this news article is a poll about banning “assault weapons”. After the “assault weapon” question it asks another two or three questions and then gives the results of the poll questions. I would like to suggest you give them your opinion on “Would you support a ban on assault rifles in the United States?”

Currently they report 76% respond “yes” to the question.

Quote of the day—Yitzhak Goldstein

Can gun-owners be faulted in believing when a liberal man marries a liberal woman, it’s a same-sex marriage?

Yitzhak Goldstein
July 22, 2019
Henny Penny Builds A “Safe” Gun
[While probably not strictly true it’s certainly directionally true.—Joe]