History Rhymes

Quote of the Day

I’ll never forget the @FBI calling me into their office in Seattle in 2020.

They were looking for footage of a suspect I had taken during one of the many riots.

That’s when I asked them about Antifa.

The FBI agent told me Antifa was NOT a cause of concern, nor were they a terror group.

That’s when I lost all respect for the agency and refused to take any further calls.

I watched Antifa assault police, press, and innocent bystanders, as well as burn Seattle and Portland to the ground for nine months.

All without repercussions.

Imagine if a conservative did this?

Katie Daviscourt @KatieDaviscourt
Posted on X February 18, 2024

I’m reminded of stories in Gulag Archipelago. The police ignored and even encouraged criminal activity against the opponents of communism. History may not repeat but it does rhyme.

Prepare appropriately.

A Difference Without a Difference

Quote of the Day

That’s where we seem to fall down as a society. Not that we take constitutional rights away from people, but rather that we be more careful about who it is that we allow to exercise those rights in our society.

Frank Figliuzzi
February 18, 2024
Figliuzzi: More Caution Needed on Who’s Allowed to Exercise 2nd Amendment

How about we be more careful about who is allowed to exercise their 1st Amendment rights? We are not going to take Figliuzzi’s constitutional right away, we just aren’t going to allow him to exercise his right to say stupid crap like this in our society.

Of Course, Because it Doesn’t Match the Narrative

I remember when this came out but I did not hear the backstory.

Harvard professor says ‘all hell broke loose’ when his study found no racial bias in police shootings (msn.com)

The study found that police were more than twice as likely to manhandle, beat or use some other kind of nonfatal force against blacks and Hispanics than against people of other races. However, the data also determined that officers were 23.8 percent less likely to shoot at blacks and 8.5 percent less likely to shoot at Hispanics than they were to shoot at whites.

When Fryer claimed the data showed “no racial differences in officer-involved shootings,” he said, “all hell broke loose,” and his life was upended.

The world-renowned economist knew from comments by faculty that he was likely to garner backlash. Fryer admitted that he anticipated the results of the study would be different and would confirm suspicions of racial bias against minorities. When the results found no racial bias, Fryer hired eight new assistants and redid the study. The data came back the same.

After the report was published, Fryer lived under police protection for over a month. He had a seven-day-old daughter at the time and went shopping for diapers.

When there is such as strong emotional reaction there is a high probability the skewed belief is emotional rather than factual and/or logically based.

I know a former FBI agent who left the FBI after hesitating to shoot a black teenager. He had every reason to shoot him, but hesitated because of his skin color. He and his partner ended up not getting hurt and the black teenager surrendered rather than take deadly action. But it really shook the FBI agent. He left the FBI and law enforcement.

Annual Gun Registration

Quote of the Day

SB 1160 will give the state better data and help us understand how many firearms are in private hands and who owns them.

Anthony J. Portantino
California State Senator (D – Burbank)
February 14, 2024
Portantino Introduces Bill Requiring Annual Registration of Firearms (msn.com)

The story of the Belgium Corporal was a warning, not a how-to manual.

Also, as is fairly well know, people who are legally ineligible to own a gun cannot be prosecuted for failure to register their guns. This is because it would be a violation of their 5th Amendment rights against self incrimination.

These politicians are pulling out all the stops to infringe on our specific enumerated right to keep and bear arms. I do not think I have ever seen this fast of pace of antigun laws. I cannot believe they are under any delusion of the laws being proposed, passed, and affirmed are actually constitutional. Yet, the do it anyway:

I hope they enjoy their trials. All the alternatives will be very ugly.

We Would Be Unstoppable

Quote of the Day

According to Ballotpedia data from last year, of the 31 states that allow voters to publicly indicate their political party affiliation, roughly 48 million were Democrats and 36 million were Republicans. The rest were independents, unaffiliated or members of another political party. By comparison, there are an estimated 133 million gun owners in the country, or roughly 40% of the population – a massive number that dwarfs all party affiliations combined – according to the Pew Research Center.

If gun owners ever voted as one homogeneous bloc, we would be unstoppable. Unfortunately, we all know there are gun owners and then there are folks who own a gun. It’s like the difference between someone with an old Fender in their closet and Angus Young.

Lee Williams
How Will You Support The Second Amendment Today? Tomorrow? (jpfo.org)
May 23, 2023
I have nothing to add.

Anti-gun Gibberish

Quote of the Day

Let’s inhibit criminal behavior a little bit by assigning the code to gun and ammunition stores so that when someone has bad intent when buying a weapon, there’s an alert in place that stops that from happening,

Hudson Munoz
Executive director of Guns Down America
February 10, 2024
Proposed bill would establish a new code to categorize firearm sales

This is the ravings of a lunatic. I cannot even imagine a delusion in which this sentence is internally consistent.

Yet, these people are winning legislative battles. What does that tell you about the politicians who pass the laws like what this lunatic is praising? It tells us they are evil and people like Munoz are their useful idiots.

Useful Idiots!!! | ONE OF THE BASIC CONDITIONS FOR THE VICTORY OF SOCIALISM... THE DISARMING OF THE BOURGEOISIE.
 
VLADIMIR ILYICH LENIN
1919 | image tagged in useful idiots | made w/ Imgflip meme maker

How Do You Turn States Into Territories?

Quote of the Day

What’s the process by which we can turn states into territories again?

Kostas Moros @MorosKostas
Posted on X February 7, 2024

Read the entire thread for a fisking of The Hawaii Supreme Court in State of Hawai’i, v. Christopher L. Wilson.

I would like to suggest taking it even further and turning them back into their own nation again. Then applying sanctions for their human rights violations.

California, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York could use some tough love as well. Or, we could just prosecute the criminals.

I’ve been reading various takes on this wild ruling and almost all have been aghast at the brazen defiance of SCOTUS and invocation of Aloha spirit to justify their decision.

Almost all. There is one article, A State Supreme Court Just Issued Another Devastating Rebuke of the U.S. Supreme Court,  which claims:

It’s an amazing case because the Hawaii Constitution has a provision that is the same as the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It literally uses the exact same words as the Second Amendment. And Justice Eddins said: Even though the provisions are the same, we will not interpret them the same way, because we think the U.S. Supreme Court clearly got it wrong in Heller when it said the Second Amendment creates an individual right to bear arms.

I feel like these state judges are in conversation with each other about developing an alternate vision of the law that can thrive in state judiciaries. As SCOTUS moves in the wrong direction, they’re showing us what the right direction might be, and giving us a little hope for the future.

I find it very telling this court and these opinion writers believe they have a better take on the meaning of the 2nd Amendment than SCOTUS, when all nine justices agreed that the 2nd Amendment protects an individual right. They are lying, profoundly ignorant, and/or delusional.

Financial Big Brother is Watching You

Quote of the Day

The Committee and Select Subcommittee have obtained documents showing that FinCEN distributed slides, prepared by a financial institution, explaining how other financial institutions can use MCC codes to detect customers whose transactions may reflect “potential active shooters, [and] who may include dangerous International Terrorists / Domestic Terrorists / Homegrown Violent Extremists (‘Lone Wolves’).” For example, the slides instruct financial institutions to query for transactions using certain MCC codes such as “3484: Small Arms,” “5091: Sporting and Recreational Goods and Supplies,” and the keywords “Cabela’s,” and “Dick’s Sporting Goods,” among several others. Despite these transactions having no apparent criminal nexus—and, in fact, relate to Americans exercising their Second Amendment rights— FinCEN seems to have adopted a characterization of these Americans as potential threat actors. This kind of pervasive financial surveillance, carried out in coordination with and at the request of federal law enforcement, into Americans’ private transactions is alarming and raises serious doubts about FinCEN’s respect for fundamental civil liberties.

Jim Jordan
Chairman Committee on the Judiciary and the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government
January 17, 2024
Letter to Noah Bishoff, former Director of the Office of Stakeholder Integration and Engagement in the Strategic Operations Division of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN)

Via email from John S.

See also Financial Big Brother is Watching You – by Matt Taibbi (racket.news).

We live in interesting times. Prepare appropriately.

Not Enough Common Assumptions

Quote of the Day

After several years of watching Biden destroy America, I asked my smart Democrat friend if he had changed his views since 2016.

He advised me to read the New York Times to get real news and stop falling for all the Republican hoaxes.

You can’t even talk to Democrats these days. Not enough common assumptions to even get started.

Scott Adams @ScottAdamsSays
Posted on X February 4, 2024

I’m not sure “common assumptions” is the best phrase here. I’m not sure there is even enough common vocabulary. For example, what does “gender”, “democracy”, and “racism” mean to the major political divisions?

And above that are phrases such as “civil rights”, “gun law reform”, and “fair share”.

And there are common phrases used by one group where the one side says the referenced thing does not even exist such as “illegal alien” (there is no such thing as an illegal person), “assault weapon” (made up phrase to scare people), and “gun show loophole” (the law doesn’t change whether at a gun show or not).

I just want to crawl into my underground bunker in Idaho and wait until the hostilities are resolved.

The Timidity is Now Long Gone

Quote of the Day

But that timidity is now long gone — a turnaround attributable to increasing Democratic electoral dominance in Colorado and growing gun reform activism that’s been fueled by a local backdrop of mass shootings as well as grimly routine gun violence and suicides. A new cadre of Democratic lawmakers have embraced firearms policy in a big way. They’ve been spurred on by an expanding voter base that, rather than punishing them, has shown up to the Capitol to demand they do more.

Nick Coltrain and Seth Klamann
February 4, 2024
Gun control was once ‘electoral kryptonite.’ Now Colorado Democrats are emboldened — and prepared to act

I see this as an opportunity. The further they go the easier it will be to get the courts to agree it violates the 2nd Amendment. Then getting another ruling that builds on the first is easier, and so on. It is a slippery slope that leads to their “doom.”

And be sure to keep your lists and evidence files up to date. They will come in handy when the trials start.

If it Has Never Happened, Will it Ever Happen?

Quote of the Day

There is currently much debate about the health of financial markets. Can prices remain detached from the fundamentals long enough for the economic/earnings recession to catch up with prices?

Maybe. It has just never happened.

Lance Roberts
January 30, 2024
“Theory Of Reflexivity” And Does It Matter? – RIA (realinvestmentadvice.com)

Prepare appropriately.

A Tidal Wave of Gun Law Reform

Quote of the Day

One of the greatest, perhaps the most dangerous, foes that we face in the gun violence prevention movement is hopelessness. It’s a feeling that nothing can make this problem better.

Chip Brownlee
January 16, 2024
Could International Pressure Ultimately Strengthen U.S. Gun Laws?

This is an indicator that the anti-civil rights crowd is on the verge of total collapse. We just need to get a few federal appeals courts slapped down by SCOTUS and I think there will be a tidal wave of reform.

See also New anti-gun group hopes foreign lawsuits will increase domestic ‘gun control’ (jpfo.org).

Personally Go Door to Door

Quote of the Day

It’s about time we go door to door and personally take away everyone’s firearms, if they don’t comply then they will be sent to prison.

Johnathan @theprism89
Posted on X April 7, 2023

He seems to be a fan of going door to door to violate specific enumerate rights:

We need to start arresting every Trump supporter on a door to door basis, enough is enough.

One has to wonder where he will be in the stack and how many houses he will be visiting.

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

Like Watching a Racial Desegregation Case

Quote of the Day

I just listened to the California “Assault Weapon” ban oral argument before the Ninth Circuit in Miller v. Bonta. I will do extremely detailed breakdown of the argument later. In short, 2A will NOT win with this panel.

The questions and comments from the two liberal judges Berzon and Nguyen were unimpressive. Judge Berzon called AR-15s “A-15s” (seriously).

Based on today’s argument and the efforts by the two liberal judges to avoid applying Heller/Bruen, I now understand what it was like watching a court argument in 1950s Alabama/Mississippi over racial desegregation where intellectually dishonest, results-oriented judges worked overtime to avoid the obvious, legally-compelled outcome based upon clear, binding US Supreme Court precedent.

Mark W. Smith/#2A Scholar @fourboxesdiner
Posted on X January 24, 2024

And, no surprise, it was the same political party deliberately infringing upon the rights of people in both instances. There is an reason they are called the evil party.

Seattle Is Paying BLM $10M for Trashing the City

There is a lesson to be learned here:

City of Seattle just settled a $10 mil lawsuit related to BLM riots during the 2020 “Summer of Love.” City admits no wrong doing and says it’s the best move right now since the litigation has been such a time and financial drain. Otherwise, this basically signals to anarchists and FAR-LEFT activists that they can trash the city and now be compensated for their unruly behavior. It’s still upside down.

What did you just learn?

World War 3 has Already Begun

Quote of the Day

Kuzio’s alarming statement continued, claiming that Russia and Iran share the goal of eradicating Ukraine and Israel “from the face of the earth”. He added that these countries perceive themselves to be at war, while Western governments, particularly the Biden administration, are seemingly oblivious. “For them, World War Three has already begun,” Kuzio added.

Alessandra Scotto di Santolo
January 19, 2023
‘World War 3 has already begun’ as warning issued ‘no chance of peace for decades’

I want an underground bunker in Idaho.

Rethinking Things

Putin stokes tensions with US, declares 1867 sale of Alaska ‘illegal’ (msn.com):

Vladimir Putin appears to have rethought the sale of Alaska to the Americans. It’s not a joke: he’s trying to give the impression that his influence extends not only to his country’s future events but also plans to rewrite the past. Therefore, he signed a decree rendering the sale of Alaska illegal.

Perhaps General Patton had it right when he wanted to continue east after Germany surrendered in 1945. A few months later the US would have nukes and other serious firepower on Russia’s eastern front. That would have effected some serious attitude adjustment and made the world a much different and probably better place.

Now… I just want my underground bunker in Idaho.

The ATF is Crying to Dad

Quote of the Day

In fifth grader:

We’ve kicked the ATF’s ass several times in the past 6 months and destroyed their Pistol Brace Rule.

Today, we are making our final written argument for throwing out the Rule with the District Court.

The ATF makes its final written argument on Feb 7.

Oh, yeah, and the ATF is also crying to Dad that Mom agreed and said no, even though Dad already said no.

Firearms Policy Coalition @gunpolicy
Posted on January 17, 2024

Nice! I don’t think I will ever have an interest in a Pistol Brace but the rule needs to be put down like a rabid skunk anyway. Thanks to the FPC for all their effort in this. It is nice to see my donations are helping get results.

Read the parent post to the one linked for the legalize version. The fifth grader one is easier for me to follow. And perhaps even the ATF could figure it out if they read it slowly and very carefully.

The Most Reckless and Careless Gun Policy in the State’s History

Quote of the Day

The mayor stood, frowning and grim, flanked by uniformed police officers. Another horrific gun crime had occurred — and it was all the fault of the state legislators who had recently repealed the law requiring a permit to carry a concealed weapon, what proponents call “constitutional carry.”

“The Republican-led legislature in Columbus passed SB 215 and across this state from Cleveland to Columbus to Cincinnati, you see an uptick in shootings across our state. . . . It’s important that we hold them accountable for passing dangerous gun laws in our state,” the mayor said, his angry voice rising above the roar of nearby freeway traffic.

“The most reckless and . . . careless gun policy in the state’s history,” the mayor said.

“It’s creating an arms race where people don’t feel safe unless they have a gun. So guns beget more guns, which, unfortunately, makes us all unsafe,” the mayor said.

But which mayor? The first quote was from Mayor Justin Bibb of Cleveland. The second one is from Mayor Andrew Ginther of Columbus. The arms-race quote was from Aftab Pureval, mayor of Cincinnati, on National Public Radio.

Ohio’s three biggest cities — they all got in with the same message: It’s not our fault; it’s the new state law.

There was only one problem: It wasn’t true.

My office commissioned a study with Bowling Green State University to examine gun crime in Ohio’s eight largest cities the year before the law changed — June 13, 2022 — and the year afterward. The conclusion: Eliminating concealed-carry licenses had no impact on gun crimes, and in six of the eight cities, gun crimes actually declined.

Dave Yost
January 10, 2024
Ohio Just Disproved a Gun-Control Talking Point

Is anyone surprised?

The anti-gun people lie. It is in their culture. You should expect them to lie even when there is nothing to be gained from it. To them, lies are easier to tell than the truth.

Not only did the total violent crime decrease, but the crimes committed with guns decreased as well. Again, no big surprise there. An armed society is a polite society. And nothing makes a violent criminal more polite than multiple jacketed hollow points.

A Message of ‘Repeal the 2nd Amendment’

Quote of the Day

The Disarmament Regime is beginning to show signs of frustration as it shifts hard toward a message of ‘repeal the 2nd Amendment’. They know they cannot win within the existing framework. We must be more prepared than ever for what lies ahead.

Firearms Policy Coalition @gunpolicy
Posted on X February 17, 2023

On our current path, ultimately, we will win. But our opponents will try, and are trying, desperate measures.

Prepare appropriately.