E-MAIL: trajectory1780@gmail.com

Friday, August 29, 2008

Keep Your Powder Dry

Looks like NOLA is in the sights of another hurricane, and the levies are yet to be completed. I wonder if private citizen property will be stolen by the authorities this time around.

To survive a devastating natural event, remember the basic survival requirements. In order of importance - shotgun & ammo, water and food.

Good luck, and keep your powder dry.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

A Hint ?

Sunday morning I took Amber, our Siberian Husky, for a walk through the woods and on the trails. Because of a nagging nerve issue in my hip the walk was limited to something like a mile. Monday after work, we took the same walk but with the Boss joining us.

I woke up Tuesday morning with pain and a swollen right foot. The swelling and pain centered around the base of my big toe. A little over a year ago the same thing happened to my left foot, that hung around for many weeks, so this time I decided to see a doctor ASAP.

You know how the examination tables typically have a strip of paper that's supposed to get discarded after each patient? Well, the paper on this table was covered with the word VIAGRA. Do you suppose the Boss called ahead and asked the Doc to give me a hint? . . . . . Naw.

Impressive Fire

Just might be a bit large for concealed carry, but would be an impressive home defense weapon.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Carry in School

Teachers and staffers in a school in Harrold, Texas can carry concealed guns if they have a license. I wondered when someone would see the light and do what's necessary to help protect our children from the mutants. It's scaring the hell out some parents as I trust it will the mutants. I wonder if the policy will stand the test of time. Basically, will the sheep over rule the sheepdogs?

Leave it Alone

About a week ago my adopted grandson and his friend stayed a couple days with us. They mostly just hung out away from their siblings, but did earn a little money working in the yard for the Boss. The friend knows I'm the old geezer that plays paintball, but I wonder if he knows I own guns and taught the grandson to shoot. Probably does because I can't immagine a friend not knowing he's been to the shooting range many times.

More to the point, does the friend's parents know I have guns in the house, and what would they think? I've never met them personally. Hmmm. Think I'll let that sleeping dog alone.

Always Carry

I've had a carry license from Florida for 5 years, and from Ohio for 4 years. Whenever legal, and sometimes when not, I carry a gun when leaving the house. Hell, sometimes I carry in the yard and even in the house. Unfortunately my place of work is a no-guns zone by policy (German owned company) and the sign on the door, so my gun stays in the car, but not my 4" folding knife. I've been accused of being paranoid. I've been asked why I feel the need. Some think I'm a little wacky.

I carry because it's my responsibility as a citizen, father and husband, and because I trust myself to do what's right. If a stranger needs help, I'll come to his aid. If threatened I'll fight back. If the Boss, son or grandchild is threatened, the dark side will control. That's who I am. That's who I've always been. I don't care much about legislation when it comes to what's right. And legislation be damned when it comes to someone trying to harm my family. It doesn't matter if I have a gun or not, I'll wade right in. So I might as well have the appropriate tool.

I might get injured or die in the attempt. But this will never happen.

. . . . Steve didn’t have his gun! He always carries his gun! When he comes to my house, he has his gun on him under his shirt. He doesn’t go anywhere without his gun! Don, he didn’t have his gun! In fact, when the police were telling me about the shooting, I asked them where Steve’s gun was. They said that they had not found his gun so I told them that the criminals have it. Later, we found it at his home.”

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

That's Biden

It seems unlikely, but Obama has made his appeal as a politician even less appealing to the liberty folks...by choosing Biden as his running mate. If votes were weighted with a grade, my 'no way' vote just got stronger.

He wrote the crime bill that put cops on the beat … all of the things to keep people safe in their homes and in their neighborhoods and in their communities.”

Remember the law that banned assault weapons, but didn't? Remember the law that restricted the rights of citizens? Remember the law that did absolutely nothing towards reducing crime as promised? Remember the law that helped grow the 'nanny' even larger and more intrusive? That's Biden.

Monday, August 25, 2008

The Obama Plane

Coming to me via e-mail is this.

Barack Obama recently finished a $500,000 total overhaul of his 757. And as part of the new design, he decided to remove the American flag from the tail...What American running for President of the United States would remove the symbol of his country? And worse, he replaced the flag with a symbol of himself...
Clickity for larger image.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Plated Bullets Anyone??

For years I've been loading Hornady hollow point bullets for the 45acp and 9mm. It's been my policy to practice with what I use for the real thing. I never use less expensive or reduced loads at the range. Even though they're not the most expensive bullets out there, I'm considering going less expensive for the range.

I just acquired a quantity if plated bullets for the 45acp and the 9mm. Does anybody out there load plated bullets? Anything to keep an eye out for? My reloading manuals do not include plated bullets, so I'm not sure where to start, other than with low velocity powder charges.

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Defensive Handgun Cartridges

So how do all the handgun cartridges rate from a mathematical standpoint for defensive use? I picked what I consider to be the most common for defense, with the most common bullet weights and velocities, then averaged them for each cartridge. I included the 32acp because I sometimes carry one concealed, despite all the negative 'expert' advice.

The most common handgun cartridges rate something like this.

Cartridge-Energy-Power Factor-Taylor Index-OGW-M Factor
45acp..........354 ...........180 ............12 .............43 ..............40
357mag .....535 ............178 ............9 ...............64 ...............50
40S&W ......408 ...........175 ...........10 .............48 ...............44
9mm ..........375 ...........137 .............7 ...............35 ...............39
38spcl ........306 ..........135 .............7 ...............28 ...............38
380 ...........165 .............86 .............4 ...............10 .................4
32acp ........114 ............60 ..............3 ................5 .................19

The above calculated values with the exception of Momentum Factor all have, and are used to compare the effectiveness of bullets/cartridges to kill animals. The Taylor Index and OGW (Optimum Game Weight) were developed for hunting (rifle) cartridges.

Momentum Factor is something I constructed to fill a perceived void, the ability to penetrate. I calculated the momentum of the bullet and divided by the bullet diamter.

When looking at the numbers, Power Factor seems to more closely match cartridge effectiveness as per the rumor-mill.

If I average all the different mathematical methods, the ranking looks like this.

357mag ...167
40S&W ....137
45acp ......126
9mm .......118
38spcl .....103
380 ..........58
32acp ......40

I'll let you draw your own conclusions, other than to say that the 45acp and 357mag being at the top of the list matches common knowledge, and I always suspected that the 9mm and 38spcl were about the same performance wise.

So if you're choosing your first handgun for self-defense, try to pick a gun that's chambered for one of those near the top of the list that you can learn to shoot comfortably. Most of us have a favorite. Ignore it. It's all a compromise.

Friday, August 22, 2008

What The Hell ? ? Being Sold Down The River

Parasites & Hosts

A coworker today said there's 2 kinds of people, parasites and hosts. I'm a host and I'm damn tired of the parasites, and even those (usually Democrats) that help parasites grow in number.

Being Robbed at Gun Point

Democrat's Answer
Well, that's not enough information to answer the question!
Does the man look poor! Or oppressed?
Have I ever done anything to him that would inspire him to attack?
Could we run away?
What does my wife think? What about the kids?
Could I possibly swing the gun like a club and knock the knife out of his hand?

Republican's Answer:
BANG!

Redneck's Answer:
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! Click....
(sounds of reloading)
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! click
Daughter: 'Nice grouping, Daddy! Were those the Winchester Silver Tips or Hollow Points?'
Son: 'You got him, Pop! Can I shoot the next one?'
Wife: 'You are not taking that to the taxidermist !



A bit funny don't you think?
Also a bit of truth.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Following This Advice is Foolish

Matthew Dugan did just what Toledo police chief Michael Navarre tells people to do when confronted by an armed robber, and it got him killed.

He said the best response to an armed robber is to comply fully and quickly, and to avoid making sudden movements.

He added: "Pick up a baseball bat if that’s your only defense against bullets coming toward you."

Comply fully? Grab a baseball bat? Bullshit. Take cover and shoot the bastard.


Now this works a whole lot better.

As Cherradi went to the ground, he said he reached for his gun, a loaded 9mm Smith & Wesson.

As Cherradi struggled with the gunman, he managed to squeeze off two shots.“He just let go and started running,” Cherradi said.

“Once you put a gun to my head it’s not about robbing me, it’s about trying to kill me,”

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Carry in National Parks

The proposal to allow concealed carry in national parks is still under consideration.

The department received an estimated 100,000 comments during a public comment period that ended Aug. 8. Interior officials are now examining the submissions before announcing a final decision

If the new regulation, or more accurately lifting of a regulation, comes to be, it'll only change things in states that allow concealed carry in their state parks.

Those states are: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming.

I notice those do not include Tenn. or N. Carolina. Those are the states of the Smokey Mountains that I visit once in a while.

"We are all about the right to self-defense," he says. "We don't think people should forfeit that right when they go for a hike in the woods."

And I agree to the point of ignoring the present regulation. I carry when in national parks primarily because of the possibility of 2 legged predators. I usually don't worry about the 4 legged variety, but this will make one stop and think.

Man's shoe discovered in stomach of dead bear

Age Discrimination

I'm always amused when things like this are reported.

Lawsuit Accuses AARP of Age Discrimination
Bonita Brady, a 63-year-old from Michigan, says the group passed her over for a series of jobs because she was too old, despite excellent job reviews.

My last employer let me go for undisclosed reasons, though I have a good idea as to their reasoning. A little over a year later a replacement was hired. I'd bet a bit younger and for a little less money. What the hell, it all worked out for the best.

Monday, August 18, 2008

Adequate Cartridge

Lately I've been thinking some about how a newbie would choose an adequate cartridge for self-defense, other than word of mouth. It's probably difficult for the person that isn't a gunnie like I am. So I've been looking at numerical values like energy, power factor, etc. comparing them to "tribal knowledge" for typical handgun cartridges. I'll publish the results here when I'm done.

We're Prepared

Today at work it was suggested that we allow the Red Cross to give a talk to employees about disaster preparation for personal homes. I don't know if this will happen or not.

Seems to me the minimum is a supply of fresh water, canned or dried food, and a shotgun with plenty of ammo. Check, check, and check. Yep, we're ready.

Off-Shore Military Supplies

If you paid attention during the Billy-open-zipper times, you'll remember the claims of a balanced federal budget. The only reason I mention this is that the other day I heard that his administration required military supplies being bid by off-shore companies. In that way things could be purchased for less money. Slashing the hell out of the military budget helped save money a bit also. Made him look good to the uninformed and wrong thinking.

A bunch of our military supplies were and probably still are being imported or controlled by foreign firms. The result is that our military is at least a little dependent on manufacturing outside our borders. The result is if we should get into a really big messy war, we're in deep shit because we're not self-sufficient for military supplies.

I suppose Billy-open-zipper didn't care then or now. He and those like him would rather see us surrender our country to the U.N. He wants a single, all powerful, world government and to hell with any single nation.

Isn't there a prediction like that in The Bible?

Obama Wishy-Washy

Over the weekend both McCain and Obama were interviewed by some preacher in LA. The questions were predetermined and identical for both candidates. Obama was first with McCain apparently someplace where he couldn't hear the Obama interview.

I didn't catch the whole thing, just the last of Obama and all of McCain. The reports are, and I agree, that Obama did a lot of dancing, while McCain was quick and direct to the point. The impression was that Obama was searching for the political advantageous answer, while McCain knew exactly where he stood. McCain appeared strong and Obama wishy-washy.

I'd never vote for someone as socialist as Obama. What I saw reinforced my personal choice.

Friday, August 15, 2008

The Sound of Liberty

After all these years you's think I'd have gotten used to the utter selfishness and stupidity of people. There are some that will buy a house off the end of an airport runway, then complain about the noise. Others but next to an interstate highway, then complain so much about traffic noise that tax payer money is spent to erect wall. Now I read about someone building a house next to a scout camp, with gun ranges, and bitch about hearing gunfire.

. . . trustee meeting that heard complaints from a couple who bought their "dream house" next to the 60 year-old Firelands (Boy) Scout Reservation and shooting range.

Hey stupid, if you live near a gun range, there's going to be . . . gunfire. If you don't like it don't live there. It's not reasonable to expect the range to leave just because you moved nearby. Asshole!

Personally that's the sound of liberty. It's music to my ears. I'd love to live close to a shooting range.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Proposed Socialist Platform

The proposed Socialist, . . uh . . Democtat platform.

We can work together to enact and enforce common-sense ( yeah right) laws and improvements, like closing the gun show loophole (that does not exist), improving our background check system and reinstating the assault weapons ban (which had no effect and had nothing to do with asault weapons), so that guns do not fall into the hands of terrorists or criminals (laws won't do shit about this).

We support art in schools and increased public funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. The arts are wonderful, but increasing taxes or diverting monies from things like national security is rediculous in these times.

. . . “We will make an unprecedented national investment to guarantee that every child has access to high-quality Pre-K programs, and access to Head Start and Early Head Start and we will help pay for child care. We will ensure that every child has health insurance, invest in playgrounds to promote healthy and active lifestyles, and protect children from lead poisoning in their homes and toys. Improving maternal health also improves children’s health, so we will provide access to home visits by medical professionals to low-income expectant first-time mothers.” . . . Any way you cut it, that's blatent socialism.

Only the lazy freeloaders of this society could possibly support such BS.

HT to Alphecca.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Not Sticks and Stones

I've been in that area many times, but I don't remember if this is in the national park or not.

A black bear repeatedly mauled an 8-year-old boy Monday evening near a popular motor trail on the outskirts of Gatlinburg, and an animal matching its description was later killed by park rangers.

"Apparently the dad was able to drive the bear off both times with rocks and sticks," . . .

The last I heard it's still illegal to carry a gun in national parks. That didn't stop me from carrying concealed before, and it sure won't stop me now. That bear was apparently small, so believe me when I tell you the rangers wouldn't need to go looking for it. It would've died from lead poisoning, .45 caliber to be precise.

Monday, August 11, 2008

Baaa Waaa

Isn't it just like the lefties to blame someone else. It's never, ever her falt.

Hillary Clinton’s former campaign communications director on Monday said if John Edwards had been honest about his affair or if the news were public before the Iowa caucuses in January, the New York senator could have been the next presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, not Barack Obama.

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Fastest-Dying

I knew we were in bad shape because of the US auto industry hitting the skids, but I didn't know I lived in the fastest-dying state of the union.

Competing With The Kids

I was joined today playing paintball by one of my coworkers, . . . who happens to report to me. He used some of my extra gear. He missed his chance to shoot the boss. Heh.

During a break in action one of the youngsters, most were my sons age and a couple my grandsons age, asked how old I am. I truthfully told them I'm 57. At which one said that puts down his fathers claim that he's too old for the game. His father is in his mid 40s. They started calling me 'old man' after that. When sides were being picked I was among the first 2 chosen every time. I no longer sprint between, or slide behind cover like in the past. I now rely on tactics and know-how. I'm actually quite proud that I can still go out and compete successfully with the kids.

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go take some muscle & joint pain medicine.

Is Obama a Racist

From his book Dreams of my Father;
  • 'I ceased to advertise my mother's race at the age of 12 or 13, when I began to suspect that by doing so I was ingratiating myself to whites.'
  • 'I found a solace in nursing a pervasive sense of grievance and animosity against my mother's race.'
  • 'There was something about him that made me wary, a little too sure of himself, maybe. And white.'
  • 'It remained necessary to prove which side you were on, to show your loyalty to the black masses, to strike out and name names.'

From Audacity of Hope:
  • 'I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.'

Now I really don't care of what race or religion a person is, but a presidential candidate that is a self-proclaimed racist makes me nervous. And then anyone that claims allegiance to a religion who's leaders openly state their goal of destroying us, makes me think treason.

Because of The Brave

This charming story came via e-mail.

Robinson High School in Little Rock

Creative teachers really do make a difference!


A social studies schoolteacher at Robinson High School in Little Rock did something not to be forgotten. On the first day of school, with the permission of the school superintendent, the principal and the building supervisor, she removed all of the desks out of her classroom. When the first period kids entered the room they discovered that there were no desks.

"Ms. Cothren, where're our desks?" She replied, "You can't have a desk until you tell me what you have done to earn the right to sit at a desk." They thought, 'well, maybe it's our grades.' 'No,' she said. 'Maybe it's our behavior.' She told them, 'No, it's not even your behavior.' And so, they came and went, the first period, second period, third period. Still no desks in the classroom.

By early afternoon television news crews had started gathering in Ms.Cothren's classroom to report about this crazy teacher who had taken all the desks out of her room. The final period of the day came and as the puzzled students found seats on the floor of the deskless classroom, Martha Cothren said, "Throughout the day no one has been able to tell me just what he/she has done to earn the right to sit at the desks that are ordinarily found in this classroom. Now I am going to tell you."

At this point, Martha Cothren went over to the door of her classroom and opened it. Twenty-seven (27) U.S. Veterans, all in uniforms, walked into that classroom, each one carrying a school desk. The Vets began placing the school desks in rows, and then they would walk over and stand alongside the wall. By the time the last soldier had set the final desk in place those kids started to understand, perhaps for the first time in their lives, just how the right to sit at those desks had been earned.

Martha said, "You didn't earn the right to sit at these desks. These heroes did it for you. They placed the desks here for you. Now, it's up to you to sit in them. It is your responsibility to learn, to be good students, to be good citizens. They paid the price so that you could have the freedom to get an education. Don't ever forget it."

By the way, this is a true story. Please consider passing this along so others won't forget that the freedoms we have in this great country were earned by U.S. Veterans.

AMERICA - THE LAND OF THE FREE BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE

When you see a soldier, introduce yourself, shake his/her hand and thank him/her for the life you have today. Without our military this last shining star of liberty wouldn't be possible.

Then on election day, vote for the candidate that supports liberty, and individualism, our traditional way of life.

This Pig Doesn't Like Fences

This came to me via e-mail. Think about what it says. Can you tolerate being fenced? I can't.
------------------
A Chemistry professor in a large college had exchange students in the class. One day in class, the Professor noticed one young man (exchange student) who kept
rubbing his back, and stretching as if his back hurt.

The professor asked the young man what was the matter. The student told him he had
a bullet lodged in his back. He had been shot while fighting communists in his native country who were trying to overthrow his country's government and install a new communist government.

In the midst of his story he looked at the professor and asked a strange question.
He asked, 'Do you know how to catch wild pigs?'

The professor thought it was a joke and asked for the punch line. The young man said this was no joke.

'You catch wild pigs by finding a suitable place in the woods and putting corn on the ground. The pigs find it and begin to come everyday to eat the free corn. When they are used to coming every day, you put a fence down one side of the place where they are used to coming. When they get used to the fence, they begin to eat the corn again and you put up another side of the fence.

They get used to that and start to eat again. You continue until you have all four sides of the fence up with a gate in the last side. The pigs, which are used to the free corn, start to come through the gate to eat; you slam the gate on them and catch the whole herd. Suddenly the wild pigs have lost their freedom.

They run around and around inside the fence, but they are caught. Soon they go back to eating the free corn. They are so used to it that they have forgotten how to forage in the woods for themselves, so they accept their captivity.

The young man then told the professor that is exactly what he sees happening to America. The government keeps pushing us toward socialism and keeps spreading the free corn out in the form of programs such as supplemental income, tax credit for unearned income, tobacco subsidies, dairy subsidies, payments not to plant crops, welfare, medicine, drugs, etc. while we continually lose our freedoms - just a little at a time.

One should always remember: There is no such thing as a free Lunch!

Also, a politician will never provide a service for you cheaper than you can do it yourself.

Also, if you see that all of this wonderful government 'help' is a problem confronting the future of democracy in America; you might want to send this on to your friends. If you think the free ride is essential to your way of life then you will probably delete this email, but God help you when the gate slams shut!

In this 'very important' election year, listen closely to what the candidates are promising you - just maybe you will be able to tell who is about to slam the gate on America.



'A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have.'

- Thomas Jefferson

Thursday, August 7, 2008

SCAR in The Future?

Maybe in the future one of these will be in the gun closet. Since I have an AR in 5.56 and a CETME in 7.62 I think I'd want my SCAR in 6.5.

Typical Response

SailorCurt has a go at Mary Kitt-Neel on her own blog. In a very polite way he refutes her anti-gun position, and true to those like her she replies.

I keep a .410 shotgun to protect myself from slope-browed, overly-entitled Neanderthals like yourself. So if you can track me down and figure out where I live, then all I can say is bring it, you lousy bastard.

Now that my friends is the typical anti-liberty, liberal, progressive response when the arguement is lost on it's merits. They threaten violence, . . . with a gun no less.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Obama - All Smoke & Mirrors

This came to me via the e-mail circuit:

Hello everyone,
As you know I am not a very political person. I just wanted
to pass along that Senator Obama came to Bagram Afghanistan
for about an hour on his visit to 'The War Zone'. I
wanted to share with you what happened.
He got off the plane and got into a bullet proof vehicle ,
got to the area to meet with the Major General (2 Star) who
is the commander here at Bagram.

As the Soldiers were lined up to shake his hand he blew
them off and didn't say a word as he went into the
conference room to meet the General. As he finished, the
vehicles took him to the ClamShell ( pretty much a big top
tent that military personnel can play basketball or work
out in with weights) so he could take his publicity
pictures playing basketball. He again shunned the
opportunity to talk to soldiers to thank them for their
service.

So really he was just here to make a showing for the
Americans back home that he is their candidate for
President. I think that if you are going to make an effort
to come all the way over here you would thank those that
are providing the freedom that they are providing for you.

I swear we got more thanks from the NBA Basketball Players
or the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders than from one of the
Senators, who wants to be the President of the United
States . I just don't understand how anyone would want
him to be our Commander-and-Chief. It was almost that he
was scared to be around those that provide the freedom for
him and our great country.

If this is blunt and to the point I am
sorry but I wanted you all to know what kind of caliber
person he really is. What you see in the news is all fake.

In service,
CPT Jeffrey S. Porter
Battle Captain
TF Wasatch
American Soldier

The Cannibal

Do you know what the cannibal did after dumping his wife?
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Wiped his butt. :-)

How To Raise A Crook

I believe that most of our society problems are due to the way our children have been raised. They've been raised just like described below.

Via e-mail comes this.

How to Raise a Crook
By Joseph Penn

1. Begin from infancy to give the child everything he or she wants, this way they will grow up to believe that the world owes them a living.

2. When he or she picks up bad words, laugh at them. It will encourage them to pick up "cuter" phrases that will blow the top off of your head later.
.
3. Never give him or her any spiritual training. Wait until he or she is sixteen, then let him or her decide for themselves.

4. Avoid the word "WRONG". This will condition him or her to believe later when they are arrested Drugs or for stealing a car that society's against them and that they are being persecuted unfairly.

5. Let him or her read any printed matter that they can get their hands on. Be careful the silverware and drinking glasses are sterilized, but let their minds feed on garbage.

6. Pick up anything he or she leaves lying around-books, shoes, clothing. Do everything for him or her so they will experience in throwing the responsibility onto others.

7. Quarrel frequently in the presence of the children. Then they will not be too shocked when the home is broken up.

8. Give the child all the spending money they want, never let them earn their own. Why should they have the things as tough as you had them?

9. Satisfy their every craving for food, drink, and comfort. See that every desire is gratified. Denial may lead to harmful frustration.

10. Take his or her part against all neighbors, teachers, and policemen. They are all prejudice against YOUR child.

11. When he or she gets into trouble, apologize for yourself by saying " I never could do anything with him or her".

12. Prepare for a life of grief, you will have it.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

The Twilight Zone

Is this The Twilight Zone? Can this possibly be true?

Democratic leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives have agreed to allow a vote next month on a bill that would end local handgun control in the District, making it easier for D.C. residents to acquire pistols, including semiautomatics, while eliminating the strict handgun-storage requirements imposed by the city.

OK, now I get it. There's an election coming up.

Forty-eight Democrats have signed on as sponsors of the bill, including Democrats from pro-gun districts who could be vulnerable in November's election. Norton said in a statement that those Democrats "hope to relieve election year pressure by getting a Democratic-backed bill to the floor, out of fear that the [National Rifle Association] will run hometown ads against their reelection."

Politics as usual. The first and most important job of a politician is to stay employed, don't you know.


Shazzam

I'm now legal to carry concealed again. My Ohio license was ready a week or two ago, and now my Florida license has arrived. The first time both expired within a month of each other. Rather inconvenient. The Ohio is now good 5 years and the Florida 7 years. I'll never be without a valid license again.

What Good Can a Handgun do Against an Army?

On a different blog one commenter asked me a similar question. My only response was that I believe the majority of our military would be on our side, the citizen. But my only powerful response, if it is powerful, was that without guns there wouldn't even be a contest.

This is a long read, but woth the effort. The question is answered a whole lot better than I dreamed.

Here's a teaser.

But consider what a million pistols, or a hundred million pistols (which may approach the actual number of handguns in the U.S. today), can mean to the military planner who seeks to carry out operations against a populace so armed. Mention "Afghanistan" or "Chechnya" to a member of the current Russian military hierarchy and watch them shudder at the bloody memories.

Consider that there are at least as many firearms-- handguns, rifles and shotguns-- as there are citizens of the United States. Consider that last year there were more than 14 million Americans who bought licenses to hunt deer in the country. 14 million-- that's a number greater than the largest five professional armies in the world combined.

The Second Amendment is a political issue today only because of the military reality that underlies it. Politicians who fear the people seek to disarm them. People who fear their government's intentions refuse to be disarmed. The Founders understood this. So, too, does every tyrant who ever lived. Liberty-loving Americans forget it at their peril.

Monday, August 4, 2008

Dictatorships Aren't That Intrusive

Back when I first started driving, seat belts weren't common, nor was there a law requiring their use. I wear a seat belt whenever traveling in a car. I actually had them installed in my first car. Requiring anyone to wear them, by law, is anti-liberty. Wearing a seat belt, or not, does not restrict anyone elses rights, so the law is not appropriate.

The same applies to things like helmet laws for motorcyclists. I always wore one, but I'm totally against any law requiring their use. It's just not appropriate.

Now I have some sympathy for laws restricting the use of cell phones while driving because thay may contribute to an accident hurting someone else. As I said, some sympathy, but those laws are also not appropriate because no one else is hurt until the accident happens.

This proposed law is simply stupid. No, make that intrusive. If such a law was passed where I live I'd simply ignore it. The next thing you know it'll be illegal to have a cup of coffee in your hand while walking down the street. I'd bet dictatorships aren't that intrusive into the individuals life.

That's Scarry

I saw a film a while back where some freaks were supposed to be able to predict crimes before they actually happened. The 'authorities' used these thought pictures as evidence, and the courts accepted this evidence to convict criminals(?) before any crime happened. While the film was entertaining, the premise was, and is absolutely scarry.

Well it looks like CT is actually practicing punishment prior to any crime being executed. Private property is confiscated because somebody "thinks" a crime "may" be committed. That's scarry!