Month: February 2004

Oh Jebus, What Have I Done?

I’ve started another blog. Like I have time for that, but the opportunity presented itself and I just can’t avoid it.

Like I did in The Commentary, I’m now engaged in another debate on the right to arms at a shared blog we’ve decided to name The Fabulous Baker Boys, because Dave and I share the same last name, and he’s a movie buff.

I don’t expect this debate to move much faster than the last one (at least I hope not, given my current workload), but hopefully it will draw some traffic from others “on the fence” and encourage some thought.

Give it a look. We’ve got a few entries up already.

What Happened to “No Guns in Bars”???

This is actually kind of funny, but it seems that a couple of idiots decided to do a drive-by shooting of a bar in Texas, using a .22 pistol and a 1992 Ford pickup. They even made two passes.

Problem was, there were some off-duty Sheriff’s deputies inside having some cold ones.

After the first pass, the officers came out and tried to identify the truck and its license number, but were unsuccessful. So,they wandered back in and sat down, but when they heard the sound of the truck returning for the second pass, they leaped into action!

“By that time the guys had loaded up and said, ‘If he comes back again, forget about it, we’re returning fire,’ ” says Burt Springer, the lawyer representing two of the deputies.

And did they ever. Somewhere around 40 shots’ worth. Investigators reportedly ran out of the little markers used to identify spent shell casings and had to borrow paper cups. Basically, Springer says, the deputies emptied their guns.

Not to put too fine a point on it, but… all the shots missed. The truck was shot up like Swiss cheese, but neither the driver nor the trigger-happy passenger was hit. They were stopped a mile or so later — not because they were driving a truck riddled with bullet holes, but because they ran a red light.

(Deputies do have to keep up their target-shooting qualifications in Harris County, but those tests are not taken in bars.)

(Emphasis in original.)

Well, they do say that alcohol and firearms don’t mix, but it does remind me of this incident where several officers emptied their magazines at a guy attempting to commit suicide by cop. And hit him once. In the shoulder. Googled but can’t find it, and I know it’s somewhere in my archives.

I Want to Catch Up to James

James Rummel of Hell in a Handbasket has instructed over 500 people in his basic firearms course. I’m not quite so formal, but I have an invitation over there on the left sidebar for anyone who wants to go shooting who has never done so before.

The invitation is still open. And I think I’ll broaden it. If you haven’t gone shooting in a long time, the invitation stands. I invite you to go shooting for a day. I will provide the arms, ammunition, targets, safety equipment, range fees and instruction.

All you have to do is show up.

Remember This, and Remember it Well

In relation to the story below of Cook County prosecutors dropping charges against Hale DeMar for failure to renew his Firearms Owner ID card, let me quote the prosecutor:

Declaring “we choose to prosecute the real criminal,” a Cook County prosecutor declined Friday to press state firearms charges against a Wilmette man who shot an intruder in his home.

Hale DeMar “purchased a gun legally. It was registered. What he failed to do was keep current” his state firearm owner’s identification card, said Assistant State’s Atty. Steve Goebel.

Prosecuting DeMar, 54, of the 0-99 block of Linden Avenue for a “memory lapse” would violate the spirit of the law, he said.

“We choose to prosecute the real criminal here, the person who broke into this house not once but twice,” Goebel said.

The sweet voice of reason, right? While failure to keep an FOID current is a misdemeanor, it carries a possible fine of up to $2,500. (Nice how the report targets where Mr. DeMar lives for any criminal wishing to invade his home now that his handguns have been confiscated by the State. Hopefully the next one will have a close encounter with Mr. DeMar’s 12 gauge.)

As noted below, the town of Wilmette is going ahead with prosecution of DeMar for violation of the handgun ban. This is a civil matter with a maximum fine of $750.

State Representative John Bradley (a Democrat, no less!) as noted below has introduced legislation to protect people like DeMar from prosecutions such as Wilmette is now pursuing. According to this story:

District State Rep. John Bradley (D-Marion), who called DeMar a “law-abiding citizen,” has introduced HB 4075, which would override local handgun bans when the handguns are used in self-defense.

Now, remember, we’re talking about a civil violation that has, at most, a $750 penalty. Here’s what Chris Boyster, spokesman for the gun ban control “safety” organization Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence had to say about that:

“He was not a law-abiding citizen,” Boyster said. “He had a handgun, there was a handgun ban, he broke the law.”

Remember that. Burn it into your brain. As far as the gun ban control “safety” organizations are concerned, if you violate any law, you should be disqualified from gun ownership.

Carry that to its logical conclusion: Get a ticket for speeding? You’re not a “law-abiding citizen.” Do some remodeling on your house without a permit? You’re not a “law-abiding citizen.” Violate any of the almost innumerable, often contradictory Federal, State, county, or municipal laws, ordinances, regulations, or edicts and you’re no longer a law-abiding citizen. And you have, in their eyes, no right to arms.

So the next time you hear a spokesweasel for a gun ban control “safety” organization say that they support the right of “law-abiding” Americans to possess firearms, remember how they define LAW-ABIDING.

Via Kim I find out that Cook County, Illinois will not prosecute Hale DeMar, the resident of Wilmett who shot the man who burglarized his home twice. (Originally covered here.) The story says:

Cook County prosecutors on Friday dropped a charge of failing to renew his Firearm Owners Identification card against Hale DeMar of Wilmette, but the Village of Wilmette is going forward with its prosecution of DeMar for violating a local handgun ban.

The bastards. In good news, however:

The village’s prosecution has outraged many people, including Sen. Edward Petka (R-Plainfield), deputy minority leader of the Illinois Senate. Petka has introduced Senate Bill 2165, which provides an affirmative defense to a violation of a municipal ordinance that prohibits, regulates, or restricts the private ownership of firearms if the charged individual used the firearm in self-defense or to defend another person.

House Bill 4075, introduced by Rep. John Bradley (D-Marion) in the General Assembly’s other chamber, has similar provisions.

Petka said he objects to Wilmette’s handgun ban and prosecution of DeMar because he believes self-defense is both “an inalienable right” and a “law of nature.”

“People have a right to protect themselves and their families. A person has a right and duty — a duty — to protect himself and his family in his home,” Petka said. “The bill restates the obvious, but apparently it’s not so obvious to people in Wilmette and some other towns who don’t understand there is a direct relationship between the ability to protect yourself and freedom. That’s the essence of it.”

Petka’s bill would apply in all communities, including Chicago, where Mayor Richard Daley is a fervent opponent of gun rights and where a handgun ban also exists.

Finally! Some freaking backlash!

Is it possible that the pendulum is finally starting to start its swing back? Read this!

Many members of Wilmette American Legion Post 46 agree with Petka. They have invited him and other speakers to address issues of self-defense, state gun laws and the Second Amendment to the Constitution.

—

The Legion Post decided to invite the speakers to highlight Petka’s legislation and shed more light on the factors involved in Wilmette’s prosecution of DeMar, said Mike Luxem, senior vice commander of the 1st Division of the Sons of the American Legion.

“The Legion supports the Constitution,” Luxem said. “Our goal is to educate Wilmette residents who want to understand their gun rights, the Second Amendment, and state gun laws.”

Luxem said the Legion also hopes to explain guns themselves. He said Wilmette residents need to understand that if DeMar had used a shotgun or rifle he probably would have killed Billings, because those firearms are much more lethal at close range. Yet the village allows residents to own shotguns and rifles.

Education, education, EDUCATION!

People fear what they do not understand.

And in Illinois, no less! No wonder it’s been so cold up North. Hell is apparently freezing over.

Love that Detroit Iron

You have to give them an “A” for effort, or at least persistence. What a way to reimport the classics!

Marciel Basanta Lopez and Luis Gras Rodriguez have again attempted to sail from Cuba to Florida, but once again have unfortunately been intercepted by the Coast Guard short of their goal. Back in July they made the journey in a specially modified 1951 Chevy pickup.

Yes, really. Here’s a picture of it:

Well, they just nabbed them (and eight of their friends and relatives) trying again. This time in a specially modified 1959 Buick!

They must have a lot of that funky green paint.

What’s next? A 1955 Ford?

More on Australian “Random Safety Audits”

Also via Ravenwood.

It seems that, due to some protests, the inspections aren’t going to be “random” after all. No, the police are going to have to make appointments with the licensees:

No random firearm audits

POLICE firearm safety audits will not be carried out randomly and will be done in co-operation with the licensed owners.
The Member for New England, Tony Windsor, said the motives of police entering homes of legitimate firearms owners had to be questioned following reports that police were carrying out inspections without first seeking an appointment.

Really? The motives of the police had to be questioned? But they’re from the government and are only interested in your safety!

Oxley Local Area commander Superintendent Tony Jefferson said all firearms audits would be carried out after a mutually suitable arrangement with the licensed owner.
He said the audits were designed to ensure that firearms were stored safely and properly.

Unspoken, though, is his frustration that if they actually make appointments the licensed gun owner will have a chance to make sure he’s in compliance before the cops get there – thus making the inspection useless at catching non-compliance and allowing the State to confiscate the guns of licensees. (Paranoid? Me?)

The audit would include checks of storage safes, serial numbers and that the licence was valid, he said.
Superintendent Jefferson said firearm owners would be contacted first to arrange an appointment before an inspection was carried out.
“The police carrying out the audit will only be authorised to check all the normal safety aspects and have no authority to do any other searches,” he said.

But if they happen to see anything slightly suspicious during the inspection….

This is not about making breaches but checking on correct storage of guns and making recommendations if any improvements are needed.”
He said Oxley had the largest number of audits in the state for an area command to undertake, numbering at more than 5000. The audits have to be carried out by the end of May.

Five thousand inspections over the next three months. Assuming they’re not inspecting on Sundays, that’s right at 90 days – 55 inspections a day. The previous story said that ten officers would be used.

They’re going to be quite busy, don’t you think?

Mr Windsor said it was a breach of the Act if the licence holder was not present when a firearm audit was being carried out. He said another member of the family, who was not a licence holder, could not open a safe firearm storage facility.

Here’s something I don’t think most people are aware of: If a person who is not the license holder has access to the weapons, guess what? The license holder is in violation and the guns can be confiscated. So if the cops knock on the door and ask the missus to show them where the gun safe is and would she open it for them so they can perform an inspection….

There’s been one comment on the story:

rod Masters
Wednesday, 4 February 2004

RE firearms inspections
whilst I do not live in the Tamworth area, i had my fireamrs(sic) inspection in Penrith on Saturday 24/1/04. A policeman turned up on my door and said that he was there to conduct my inspection, at no time was I contacted to arrange an appointment, or advised that if it was not convenient I could have the inspection rescheduled.
I feel that people need to be aware that if the inspection is at an inconvenient time, then they have the option to have it rescheduled.

Good thing he was home, huh? And in compliance. He could have ended up like Robert Wilton.

I Would Never do this, Myself

http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/stfu.php

But I would never vote to convict if I were on the jury, either.

(Damn, that’s funny!)

My Only Comment on the Janet Jackson Tit Superbowl Controversy

Actually, someone else’s commentary:

Jeff Parker, Florida Today

I’m no prude, but this was THE SUPERBOWL. The “entertainment” provided at halftime would have been more appropriate in a topless bar, and that includes the backup dancers. Who the hell at CBS approved the dancers in leather, garter belts, stockings, and gags dry humping? Especially, the MEN?? Sure! S&M bondage gear and transvestites are wholesome family entertainment!

The ornamented tit? Mere distraction. A cherry on top, (no pun intended.)

What do we get next year? Shania Twain and Faith Hill in a 69?

Um, Maybe He Was a COLLECTOR?

Seems an electrician in Flushing, NY had just a few too many guns, according to this story:

HOME-ARSENAL BUST

A Queens electrician has been charged with keeping a powerful battery of weapons inside his Flushing home, including 69 rifles, pistols, shotguns and even an Uzi assault weapon, the Queens District Attorney’s Office announced yesterday.

Bruce Steinfelder, 55, had permits for only 44 pieces in his shocking arsenal – and has been slapped with weapons-possession charges that could net him up to 15 years in prison.

As others have said, WHY? he’s only got TWO HANDS. What’s the difference between having 44 guns and 69? (I know, I know, 25.)

Acting on a tip officers raided Steinfelder’s home on 58th Road last week and found the stockpile, a source said. Steinfelder allegedly had 51 pistols, four shotguns, six rifles and eight assault rifles, including the 9 mm Uzi. Some 25 of the weapons were unregistered.

A tip, eh? So nice to know that in the People’s Republic of New York where you apparently need a permit to take a crap that the informant system is functioning up to spec.

The 55-year-old is free on $100,000 bail.

A law-enforcement source said investigators are still trying to figure out what Steinfelder was doing with all the weapons.

See the title of the post, you morons.

I will not license. I will not register. Ever. Period.

Edited to add: In reference to “The Power To Tax is the Power to Destroy”, if Gov. Pataki’s plan goes through, Mr. Steinfelder would have been required to pay $100 for his gun license and $1,275.00 every five years for his 51 handguns.

Until, of course, they raised the $25/handgun rate, or made renewal annual.