Gov. Chester signs carry bill

In what would be classified an improvement, as in being poked in one eye instead of two is an improvement, Governor Chester signed SF2379 on Thursday. The great gun compromise is now law. NRA-backed gun permits bill is now law in Iowa. A few quotes:

“Even though Chet’s a Democrat and I’m a Republican, I’m as proud to decide to stand next to him for this as I was the day I hung the sheriff’s badge on my uniform,” said Cedar County Sheriff Warren Wethington. “This is a huge victory for Iowans’ rights.”

Sorry, but a huge victory for Iowan's rights would have been eliminating the whole permit process.

“That was the last of the Jim Crow laws in Iowa,” said Glen McCannon, an Aurelia resident who belongs to the grassroots gun group Iowa Carry.

Sen. Keith Kreiman, D-Bloomfield, said “people put a lot on the line” to get the bill passed.

“I think it’s a great day for the second amendment and it’s a great day for public safety,” Kreiman said.

Raises the permit age, there's still a sheriff's discretion and you have to get re-trained when renewing. Yep, it's a great day for the Second Amendment.

The only thing improved is that there is now a better appeals process for denials. A sheriff can still deny the permit but has to state a purpose instead of arbitrarily refusing and keeping mum on it.

The Great Gun Compromise of 2010.

Iowa gun show for May 2010

May 21-23 Sioux City, Convention Center, Marv Krauss 563-608-4401

This is the only one I could find for May.

Iowa Gun Shows

Whatsoever you do unto the least of these...

As I understand the New Testament, Jesus made that statement as a call to service for His followers. If you visit the sick or imprisoned, feed the hungry or give money to those in need, you are doing that as if you were serving Him.

But how is the state treating its citizens and visitors in our name? We the People are supposed to be running the show, right?

If a TSA sociopath accosts a grandmother traveling on a flight in the appearance of "safety", are they not doing this to all of us in a figurative sense?

From Grigg: The Borders Are Closing In a link to an essay by William Norman Grigg of the experience of Canadian author, Peter Watts

Although Watts could have been forced to spend years as part the world's largest prison population, the presiding judge was content to pilfer $1,628 from the victim of the assault at the border -- after treating him to a patronizing lecture about the need to be "nice" to the feral armed adolescents who constitute the State's punitive caste.

Watts' experience leaves a decidedly totalitarian aftertaste. Crossing the border of a totalitarian state — in either direction — is an experience fraught with visceral anxiety. Finding himself in the unwanted company of humorless, heavily armed goons of questionable competence and dubious intelligence, the traveler is vividly aware that he can be arrested, imprisoned, beaten, or even shot at whim.The Borders Are Closing In

Is this what is being done to the least of us? In our name?

"When an officer tells you to come inside and sit down, you come inside and sit down.... When an officer tells you to do something, you do it .... There is no "why" here." -- U.S. Border Guard to a befuddled Canadian citizen arbitrarily detained while trying to visit a shopping mall in Niagara Falls, New York.

My America is no longer America.

More leftist "love"

I mean hate.

Bawb continues the meme of leftist hypocrisy in the media and the political class. Several examples are given at AND THEY CALL US HATRIOTS

“Like Fredo, somebody ought to take him out fishing and phuw! (imitating the sound of a gunshot). Works for me.” Randi Rhodes, left wing talk radio, referring to the Godfather movies and Bush

"A spoiled child (Bush) is telling us our Social Security isn't safe anymore, so he is going to fix it for us. Well, here's your answer, you ungrateful whelp: [audio sound of 4 gunshots being fired.] Just try it, you little b*stard. [audio of gun being cocked]." –Randi, again, showing why liberal talk radio is such a dismal failure that it must be kept financially afloat by George Soros.

Bawb points out that the left seems to hate the right for perceived hate while ignores the obvious and blatant hate spewing from its own quarters.

But I read this:

The loony left is completely and totally oblivious to irony as well.

According to Michael Weisskopf of the Washington Post, the followers of people like the late Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson "are largely poor, uneducated, and easy to command." As opposed to the wealthy, intellectual free-thinkers chanting creative slogans like, “Yes we can! O-ba-ma! Hope and change! Gim-me money!”

That's gold. He forgot to mention the left teaching their children this popular slogan: "Barak Hussein Obama, Mmm, Mmm, Mmm"

"Micro-chip illegal aliens" at candidate forum

“I think we should catch ’em, we should document ’em, make sure we know where they are and where they are going,” said Pat Bertroche, an Urbandale physician. “I actually support micro-chipping them. I can micro-chip my dog so I can find it. Why can’t I micro-chip an illegal?

“That’s not a popular thing to say, but it’s a lot cheaper than building a fence they can tunnel under,” Bertroche said.

Iowa Candidate Supports Using Chips to Track Illegal Immigrants

Next up, this moron will need the means to track them, too. Skynet, anyone? After that and he'll want everyone chipped and tracked. Everyone.

He wants this for the children/national security/the fatherland... whatever the crap du jour that's on this guy's plate.

You know why you can't chip an illegal, because these are people you moron, not a possession. You tag possessions, you track your property but with people, stay the hell away from that idea.

Sex, intrigue and murder - small town Iowa

In a domestic abuse case that must frustrate attorney general Tom Miller (no guns were involved) a young woman was found guilty today of beating her boyfriend's mother's live-in boyfriend. Sound complicated? There's more:

The prosecution claimed the three planned a murder conspiracy where they would lure [Curtis] Bailey into a menage a trois with [Jessica] Dayton and [Denise] Frei and then get him drunk so they could kill him. [Along with Jacob Hilgendorf]

Dayton found guilty of first-degree murder

I've seen pictures of all three and that's disturbing on so many levels. But I shouldn't judge.

The only reason this event is brought up is that Iowa has a new law on the books that would have taken away the gun rights of Bailey. Bailey had been accused of domestic abuse. Not that he had anything to defend himself with anyway.

But our AG Miller had been trotting out cases where a domestic abuse victim was shot by their partner in an effort to justify passage of that law, saying "lives would be saved..."

Bailey was beaten to death.

Long way to get to my point is that a murderer will find a method to commit their crime, whether by firearm, poison or a baseball bat. The intent to kill will find a way.

Tom Miller can now use this case to outlaw bats, lead pipes and fists. But he can rest in satisfaction that no firearms were used in the commission of this crime.

Polite protesters

(Justin Hayworth/Des Moines Register-photos)

With timing being everything, Wapello County Republicans organized a rally called "Stand Up 4 Freedom" well before Obama decided to jet into the state and waste taxpayers' money for gratuitous photo-ops.

Ottumwa, Ia. — A crowd of about 200 people gathered Monday evening at a rally to voice opposition to President Barack Obama's Iowa visit - but they wanted to be polite about it.

One of the group's main organizers said the event was planned for Monday instead of during Obama's visit today out of respect for the office of the president.

"I don't feel that tomorrow is the place to protest," said Trudy Caviness, chairwoman of the Wapello County Republican Party.

Protesters politely beg to differ with president's leadership, visit

In an example of a reporting excellence, the reporter didn't bother to identify Republican candidates for the 2nd Congressional district who spoke at the rally. Instead he informed the reader of the current incompetent in Congress Dave Loebsack.

Van Meter chief charged

That would be of the "Only Ones" kind of repeat offender.

Apparently the chief of Van Meter, IA was accused of falsifying records a few years ago and now he's accused of pocketing money.

Van Meter Police Chief Michael A. Merritt was charged today with felonious misconduct in office and insurance fraud.

Both are class D felonies carrying prison terms of up to 5 years on each charge.

Van Meter police chief charged with misconduct, fraud

Good to see the powers at be going after him, let's hope it sticks (if true) and they nail the putz.

Officials said they learned that Merritt was not conducting law enforcement database checks for stolen parts as required for an inspection. They said he also was charging $10 too much for inspections and was accepting cash instead of a check or money order as required by the program.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety in a statement issued Tuesday morning said, “Merritt later admitted he was keeping the additional $10 along with any cash collected from the inspections.”

Public safety officials said he did not disclose income from salvage examinations required by the insurance company.

A penny-ante thief.

Governor Chester to sign SF2379

It's being reported that Governor Chester with sign SF2379 on Thursday.

Culver plans to sign several policy bills

As a side note, Obama is coming to Iowa and Chester plans on running around the state with him and to sign a bill in Sioux City instead of Des Moines. Thank you Governor Debt Culver for wasting taxpayers' money this week. I really appreciate this as I sign my check for taxes I owe to state (due date is 4/30).

Leftist hypocrisy posted by Bawb

Bawb once again makes the case against the leftist hypocrites in America and gives us some prime examples of their "free speech only for those who agree with us". A sample:

"I believe in ecoterrorism." -- James Cameron

"F*** God D*mned Joe the God D*mned Motherf*cking plumber! I want Motherf*cking Joe the plumber dead." -- Charles Karel Bouley, liberal talk show host on the air.

"I know how the 'tea party' people feel, the anger, venom and bile that many of them showed during the recent House vote on health-care reform. I know because I want to spit on them, take one of their 'Obama Plan White Slavery' signs and knock every racist and homophobic tooth out of their Cro-Magnon heads." -- Courtland Milloy, Washington Post

And they call Tea Party members racist. Find more quotes at HATE, VIOLENCE, EXTREMISM, RACISM...SORRY, THAT'S A ONE-WAY STREET

And Clinton labels us "hatriot(s)"

Bawb also brings to light an Anti Defamation League report calling for law-enforcement action against anyone who might protest or disagree with the current regime in DC. His reply:

That's right, boys and girls. If you dare to mention that the emperor has no clothes, get ready for some jackboots and jail cells. Tea Partiers are not, apparently, protected by the First Amendment.

Following up Bawb's report with a post from Mike Vanderboegh at Bill Clinton, the OKC Boogyman and the other boogymen who really haunt his sleep giving us a history lesson on the Oklahoma City bombing and who was responsible and who was responsible for covering their collective arses. In that post Mike believes that freedom groups like the OathKeepers and Three Percenters are getting into the political powers' heads.

I would add that countless unknown people who have not publicly identified themselves as part of these groups, at the very least identify and agree with the underlying issues that are driving the more public leaders. Some of whom the SPLC lumped into a report labeling them as "terrorists".

Maybe that should scare them more.

Armed to the teeth

I don't think this is a real robbery, but it's good to see a dog that would go on the attack like this. There's a couple other videos of the store and that peaks my suspicion.

My dog is known to defend the wife and #2 son and has put himself between a threat and one of them more than once.

With me, it's a yawn or "Squirrel!"

Wisconsin straw-purchase bill update

The day after I post about Wisconsin's Assembly bills, Wisconsin gun bill and a bonus, the Milwaukee journal Sentinel reports that they straw-purchase bill ends without action. Harboring and straw buy bills die in Madison.

So the tactic to "make a criminal even more of a criminal by making an illegal act even more illegal", isn't going to happen there. No reason for the failure is given.

I get caught up on the news and then it speeds past me and (again) they take the obligatory swipe at Badger Guns

I've got a big but...

As in "I support the 2nd Amendment, but..."

We've all read the opinion writers and politicians say this phrase. Even the NRA does that to some extent, and as soon as the but is displayed, I tend to not listen to agree with much of anything they say.

From the Muscatine Journal:

I've heard suggestions that more Muscatine residents should buy guns and get permits to carry concealed weapons. That concerns me even though I believe in the Second Amendment.

But keeping guns in your home and defending it and your family if someone breaks in is one thing. Carrying a concealed weapon and responding to gang violence with vigilantism would only lead to more violence. Editor's Notebook: Ganging up

The old "violence begats violence" argument. Whatever happened to "strength through superior firepower"? An elderly lady in Des Moines proved that theory a few days ago.

This guy's helpful suggestions instead of having a means of protecting oneself:

Becoming more like Father Edward Flanagan, the founder of Boys Town, and less like Dirty Harry Callahan, the cop played in the movies by Clint Eastwood

Ha Ha, Dirty Harry. He could have called us knuckle-draggers and throw out the compensating for our inadequacies, but didn't.

And:

Getting to know our neighbors and looking out for each other. I know my next-door neighbor would call the cops and scare off anyone he saw who looked suspicious in our neighborhood. I'd do the same for him.

I'm glad I don't have him for a neighbor because mine will come running to help instead of cowering behind the curtains peeing their pants. And the Stranded household has already done the same. We look out for each other.

By finishing up with a weird locker room old buddy scene, I think this guy has some serious issues.

SF2379 still sits on Gov. Debt Culver's desk

Central Iowa Politics Examiner gives an update on SF2379 which still sits on Gov Chester's desk.

Sean McClanahan of Iowa Carry sent out an update today on SF-2379. SF-2379 is "an ACT relating to permits to carry weapons and permits to acquire pistols and revolvers including the dissemination of information relating to persons suffering from mental and substance abuse health-related disorders and the possession of firearms and providing penalties and an effective date" in Iowa.

Central Iowans - and all Iowans - have concerns over the bill. Sean McClanahan of Iowa Carry gives update on SF-2379 regarding rights to carry weapons

"Concerns" is an understatement. My criticisms have been many, but I'm sure they dwarf in relation to the hoplophobes in Iowa.

I'm still not sure he'll sign it.

Wisconsin gun bill, and a bonus

Wisconsin Assembly passed a bill making it a felony for a person to purchase a firearm for a felon, AKA a straw purchase. Assembly OKs bill making straw purchasing of guns a felony

Straw buying is a felony under federal law but a misdemeanor under state law. The bill would make the crime a felony under state law as well. That means that, if convicted, straw buyers could no longer legally buy guns for themselves or others.

Making something already illegal even more illegal - makes sense to me.

With a swipe at Badger Guns

Police and prosecutors in Milwaukee for more than a decade have called for a crackdown on straw buyers. In particular, Milwaukee authorities also have wanted more scrutiny on the West Milwaukee store Badger Guns and its predecessor, Badger Outdoors.

Next up is a bill to prevent the release of 911 tapes. While I can see the point that releasing tapes of a frantic call for help could traumatize a victim's family, releasing tapes like this could be a good thing:

The bill covers tapes of all 911 calls, including those made by witnesses. In recent years, news outlets have broadcast tapes of drivers who called in to report erratic driving by lawmakers who were drinking before they got behind the wheel.

I guess they have something to hide.

And for the self-defense minded:

Self-defense: The Assembly passed, 68-29, a bill that would provide added legal protection to people who use deadly force against burglars. Under the bill, residents would be entitled to added protection in criminal and civil cases if they were at home when the criminal broke in.

The person using deadly force wouldn't be entitled to the protection if they were using their home for a criminal activity or if they used the force against an identified police officer. The bill goes to the Senate.

No word on concealed carry (which was on the table at one point during the straw-buyers bill), but it's not over yet.

Around the house

I'll be doing some work around the house this weekend.


Be safe out there.

Let's make a deal - truckload sale

GENESEO, Illinois - People around the world have been talking about a Quad cities Area businessman since we first told you about his unusual truck-load sale last month. News 8's Chris Williams broke the story and returned today as the shipment was locked and loaded for delivery.

Last month Armalite owner Mark Westrom came up with an idea that has been talked about around the world. His offer was simple; buy a truck loaded with his rifles and you'd get one of his old Army trucks for free.

Someone takes QC man up on truck-load of guns offer

Granny get your gun (updated)

I don't know if Beatrice Turner is a grandmother, but the 89-year-old woman calmly defended herself against a home invasion. This Des Moines resident shot at an intruder Tuesday morning.

"Long as they're on the outside, I won't bother you, but coming in, I was taught to defend myself."

Wise words that should have been heeded by some career-criminal nut-job who pounded on her door.

The police showed up (later) and helpfully reloaded her revolver for her. Hmmm.

See: Elderly Des Moines Woman Fires Shot at Intruder



BURGLARS BEWARE: Eighty-nine-year-old greets intruder with gun

Elderly Des Moines woman shoots at intruder early today

Update - compare this the elderly woman, Patty Konie, that was stripped of her gun in New Orleans. Gun Confiscation After Katrina

2nd Amendment Rally, and a bonus

I could not attend, so I'll let others speak like Robert The March for the Second Amendment and Ben Second Amendment Rally In Des Moines. (I had a delightful time at work because we were short-staffed and then an emergency that took me away from everything)

I had a chance to speak with Dave Funk on Saturday and sent his campaign coordinator Meghan a copy of David Codrea's Gun Rights Questionnaire

The reply:

Below are Dave's answers to your questions. You might be interested to know that he spoke at the 2nd Amendment rally today at the capitol. In doing so, he read through your [this is David's list not mine and I gave him full credit when I sent it to her - ed] list of questions and answered them aloud the crowd gathered at the capitol steps.

Please let me know if you have any other questions. Thank you for your support and for your vote in the June 8th primary.


1. Do you believe that the Constitution is the "supreme law of the land" and that the Bill of Rights acknowledges our birthrights? Yes and yes.

2. If so, should these rights be proactively protected from infringement by all levels of government, including city, county and state? Yes, that is the primary role of government.


3. Please give some examples of gun laws you consider constitutional. I am still looking, the only one that might be close would be the ban on convicted felons from possessing firearms.

4. Please give some examples of gun laws you consider unconstitutional. Starting with the National Firearms Act of 1934, nearly all of them are.

5. Does the right to bear arms include the right for any peaceable citizen to carry them concealed without a permit, as in Vermont? Yes!

6. Do you believe that Americans have a right to own, use and carry weapons of military pattern, and will you use the prestige of elected office to publicly promote that right? Yes.

7. Do you support or oppose registration of weapons? Oppose. Why? First step to confiscation.

8. Do you support or oppose licensing requirements to own or carry firearms? I oppose licensing requirements.


Why? It's a God given inalienable right codified in our constitution, we do not need a license to exercise our rights.

9. What specific gun laws will you work to get repealed? I would start with the Brady Bill and work from there.


10. If elected, will you back your words of support for firearms rights up with consistent actions? How?

From my web site issues page:
Second Amendment

The framers of our Constitution knew that the government should never have a monopoly on force, that’s why they articulated our God given right to self defense and ensured the right to keep and bear arms was written in our Bill of Rights. Let’s not forget, George Washington didn't use his right to free speech to defeat the British, he shot them.

Further information can be found here: http://www.funkforcongress.com/category/2nd-amendment

The editorial board of Between Two Rivers isn't in an endorsing mood, but with answers like these, we are going to consider Mr Funk. These questions have been given to other candidates (Boswell excluded - yet) and this is my first response.

Thanks to David Codrea at The War on Guns and Gun Rights Examiner for producing these questions so we can hold politician's feet to the fire. I hope he doesn't mind me posting here before I sent the answers to him but he's been a little busy.

We are all terrorists now

A thank you to Borepatch for allowing the use of this image:



He's taking note of Clinton's little minded "hatriot" quip at Once is happenstance

I'd rather be known to be in the company of "hatriots" than in the company of harlots.

Billy-boy's "Hatriot" line

From David Codrea's Examiner column:
Oath-breaking Clinton adopts 'hatriot' slur there is a Southern Poverty Lie Center link to look up who is on their latest "Patriot" (and they don't use it in a positive way) list. You can go see who's on the list.

Back to Clinton's words:

But I think that all you have to do is read the paper every day to see how many people there are who are deeply, deeply troubled. We know, now, that there are people involved in groups – these “hatriot” groups, the Oath Keepers, the Three Percenters, the others – 99 percent of them will never do anything they shouldn’t do. But there are people who advocate violence and anticipate violence.

There are unintended consequences with just about every action. I experienced one on Saturday that was sparked by Clinton's speech. I spent time with a fellow libertarian/conservative (if we need labels) that I hadn't had much time to talk with for more than a year and of course politics was discussed. He asked me, "What is this 'Three Percenters', that Clinton talked about?"

I gave him a synopsis of the 'What is a "Three Percenter"?' from Mike Vanderboegh's Sipsey Street Irregulars and he will be given a printed copy with a link to the site tomorrow. This was just one person that I spoke with. How many others are out there asking the same questions?

By performing one of dumbest mistakes a politician can make, Clinton gave free advertising to an opponent. Stumbling remarks like these cause the thinking free citizen to start asking questions. Questions lead to answers and answers lead to freedom of thought.

Free citizens who think for themselves cannot be sheep.

The SPLC made the same mistake by listing a group of people in the "Patriot movement", many of whom are familiar, but some are not. This gives me a chance to make up my own mind for the ones I don't know anything about.

This reminds me of the now defunct Iowans for the Prevention of Gun Violence and their auction listings. They published a list of auctioneers that sold guns and whether the auctions used FFL dealers. I made some good deals along the way using that list. Thanks IPGV.

"Unintended Consequences" is a bitch and stupid people don't understand that.

Who strike at our friends strike us as well

This is from the song Denmark 1943, about the evacuation of Danish Jews before the Nazis enforced their edict to deport them to the concentration camps.

{Refrain}
And it's fire up the diesel and look out for swells
We're leaving Espergaerde behind us
Who strike at our friends strike us as well
We'll pray the patrol boats don't find us
When the sirens are wailing and shouts fill the night
Never will you stand alone
So it's over the Øresund
Till the day we can welcome you home

That this was written and sung by a lefty, liberal, Reverend Fred Small, doesn't distract me from the power of the song. I choose to ignore that about him. The example of the Danes is a trait to be emulated.

If you strike our friends, you strike us as well.

When the time comes, how can we stand by and do nothing?

Permit-less carry is signed in Arizona

Thirdpower reports Constitutional Carry In Arizona!!!

PHOENIX, Ariz. - Republican Gov. Jan Brewer on Friday signed into law a bill making Arizona the third state allowing people without a permit to carry a concealed weapon.

I spoke with a local card-carrying NRA member today about this and he had no clue what I was talking about, claiming that this was about open-carry and that open-carry was legal in Wyoming. (facepalm)

I may have to move to Arizona, but Manfred Mann didn't write a song titled "Stranded (in Arizona)"
Manfred Mann, Stranded (in Iowa)

Party crasher: exposed

Seems like the guy who promoted the "crash the teaparty" meme, isn't exactly a fine upstanding citizen and is under investigation by his employer:

Jason Levin, the Portland man who caused a ruckus over his plans to “infiltrate” Tea Party protests in an aim to discredit them, teaches in a Beaverton middle school and now faces an investigation by the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission.
Melody Hanson, the commission’s director of professional practices, said Wednesday that the agency opened an investigation because “there was enough concern that there was some neglect of duty” on the part of Levin.
Levin teaches in the media lab at Conestoga Middle School, although he described himself in an interview earlier this week with Talking Points Memo as a technology consultant. Tea Party “Crasher” Is Now Under Investigation by his Employer

Media lab guy equating to technology consultant. Just a little resume padding, like a 17 year old kid playing WoW is a computer programmer?

Cat5, Cat6, whatever it takes.

I posted about this putz's efforts here: Agents among us not knowing that it was just some guy in a basement flashing his light saber to a mirror. Others advised that this was much ado about nothing.

"Nothing" - Yeah, that's about right.

H/T to Days of our Trailers

Butterfinger robbery

The clumsy half of the Abbott and Costello team robbed a Burlington bank yesterday.

A downtown Burlington bank was robbed at gunpoint Wednesday morning and police are looking for the suspect, who dropped several bundles of money inside the bank and outside in a nearby alley as he fled the scene. Fleeing robber drops cash

A helpful customer walks into the middle of the bank robbery:

A customer, who requested not to be identified, said he walked inside the bank just as the robbery was taking place.

He said he suspected something was wrong when he did not see anyone working the front counter. He looked around and saw the tellers near the safe.

"I walked in the middle of it," the customer said. "(The suspect) ran right past me and dropped money all over the place. There probably was about four to five bundles he dropped on the floor."

The customer said he saw something in the suspect's hands but could not make anything out of it.

Shortly after the robber ran out, the customer went outside and called 911. It was while on the phone, he said, that a passing motorist saw the commotion and went after the suspect.

Contrast this person with John Rumley.

One man recognized a potential threat and reacted. John wasn't carrying a weapon to defend himself that day, but his quick actions prevented some bum from getting in and robbing the bank. I'm glad it turned out the way it did.

Kudos to the passing motorist for attempting to follow the guy. The unnamed customer probably did the safe thing and stayed out of the guy's way. Although he could have gotten away with sticking a foot out to trip the guy. It doesn't sound like the robber was too well coordinated.

No one was hurt in the ordeal and that's something to be thankful for.

We're number Three!

Iowa is among the top five states falling behind only Wisconsin and Minnesota in the nation to return its forms, with 75 percent. The national average is 67 percent. Gerdes said Iowa and Minnesota residents traditionally do better than average in returning their census forms.

Only 75%, come on.

Residents also need not fear that their information will be leaked. The constitutionally mandated census also comes with confidentiality restrictions. According to the U.S. Census Web site, "By law, the Census Bureau cannot share respondents' answers with anyone," including the Internal Revenue Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Central Intelligence Agency, law enforcement entities or any other government agency.

Tell that to the Japanese-Americans.

U.S. Census workers are making their final push to collect the 10-question forms from residents this weekend before planning a door-to-door effort starting May 1.

If they come to the door, my response is this: "I'm too busy." I make no plans to refuse to answer, if I could (cough), I would. I can't, because I'm busy.

Read more at: Census push planned

Inanimate object "went off" shooting mover

James Brauers was accidentally moving his neighbor's belongings when an unidentified black powder rifle discharged, striking the man in the leg. Reports indicate the man and the rifle could possibly had been in the same location in close proximity of each other, but not definitively. The rifle, described only as a 45 caliber black powder rifle, suddenly "went off" discharging into Brauers leg.

Reports did not indicate whether local police officers took the wayward rifle into custody for questioning after their investigation. Police Lt. Frank Newberry did not report if it was customary to introduce anger management therapy for rifles that would go "off". "No comment," could have been his reply - or not.

The neighbor, whom Mr Brauers was helping, was also not identified, but quite possibly may have been overheard telling another neighbor that, "Brauers got himself shot before we got to the heavy stuff. Now who's going to help move my fridge?"

"Reverend" Al Sharpton was thought to have repeatedly contacted the local newspaper demanding a retraction of the "racist reporting" of the "black" powder rifle. "The color of one's powder is no indication of violence and there is no place in this world for racist reporting," he didn't say.

The Brady Center of Irrelevancy immediately issued a statement demanding the re-instatement of an "assault weapon" ban and that all firearms in Des Moines County be turned in in exchange for a $20 Target gift card and a box of Sixlets.

Local teamsters spokesman, Josh Windbag, also issued a statement demanding a permit requirement for all movers of neighbor's belongings. "Moving a neighbor's firearms should be performed by qualified professionals or DEA agents. Please, if someone is accidentally shot in the leg, it should be someone with an excellent healthplan and a team of lawyers to sue the sh*t out of the owner."

A spokesman for the Darwin Awards reportedly said, "Darn, that was close."

Sorry - my attempt at comedy about people I don't know or ever will. The man received treatment at the local hospital and I wish him a speedy recovery. A good neighbor helps another out and gets kicked in the arse for his trouble.

Poor reporting by the Hawkeye regarding a rifle that "went off": 27-year-old accidentally shoots self

NRA search again

Is it ironic that you have a spelling fail while searching for a fail?



I don't know what they're looking for but it's nice that google helps them out with their second visit.

See earlier post "iowa gun owners fail"

And speaking of google:

It could have happened here

To all the naysayers who said we should only ask for half measures and not try to pass an Alaska-style carry bill, I say:

AZ: Constitutional Carry Passed! and is headed to their governor's desk for signature.

Via saysuncle

Damn few home runs have been hit when your intention is to just make it out of the infield.

Knob Creek portrayed as racist by a racist

If by definition, someone who is obsessed with race is a racist.

Knob Creek, Kentucky. The Mecca of machine guns and pyrotechnics where people can enjoy shooting stuff. I would make the pilgrimage if I could afford the time away from work, afford the cost of getting there and afford the cost of participating.

But not if there's racists there (put on shocked face).

Kurt Hofmann finds a New Zealand reporter who's obsession with race is revealed before exposing his true motives.

But this is a select crowd. During the entire weekend I see five blacks, two Asians and a Mexican.

Kurt responds

You know what? You'll not likely find a lot of the models from the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue hanging around with me, but that doesn't mean they aren't welcome to. By the same token, the low representation of non-white races at Knob Creek is obviously not a reliable indicator of racism on the part of the attendees--but mentioning that would clearly not fit Mr. Franklin's narrative. Knob Creek, Kentucky machine gun shoot portrayed as racist, radical 'hate group' muster

Just because I wasn't there the organizers must be discriminatory against short, balding, IT guys from Iowa, too.

But that illogic doesn't fit the narrative the jackass reporter wanted to promote as his true colors came out by dropping a few names along the way.

Read the rest: Knob Creek, Kentucky machine gun shoot portrayed as racist, radical 'hate group' muster

Take it from a professional

David Codrea at his Examiner column once again explains his reasoning for the "Only Ones" labeling he uses for the privileges that are given to law enforcement and government officials when abuse of their position occurs. (I've done that as well for those in Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin)

Along with that, David links to officials who get it right, posting links where officials are advising people to arm themselves.
Professionals advise 'Arm yourself'

We can listen to them, or we can listen to those who insist on the government making the decision for us, by not allowing us a choice.

David's advice: Choose.

I would add: While you still can.

Agents among us

Found at Bob Parks' Black and Right blog, Can You Fear Us Now?

"In an effort to propagate their pre-existing propensity for paranoia and suspicion..."

Agent provocateurs, great.

Bob's thoughts: "If the Tea Party wasn’t a threat, liberals wouldn’t be performing reconnaissance and political disruption missions they’d protest being done to a foreign adversary."

They would scream the loudest if this was done to them (and they have).

For those who attend any event next week, be safe and be aware of these morons.

New thought - Crash the "Crash the TeaParty" - Infiltrate them. Hmmm.

The Eagle and the Arrow

An eagle was soaring through the air when suddenly it heard the whizz of an arrow, and felt itself wounded unto death.

Slowly it fluttered down to earth, with its lifeblood pouring out of it.

Looking down upon the arrow with which it had been pierced, it found that the haft of the arrow had been feathered with one of its own plumes.

"Alas!" it cried as it died.

"We often give our enemies the means of our own destruction."

From Aesop's Fables, Joseph Jacobs, ed by Charles W. Eliot c. 1937

New Commandments

Mike Vanderboegh forwards this:

Thou shalt never be a perpetrator. Thou shalt never be a victim. And thou shalt never, but never be a bystander - Yehuda Bauer

From "What will our children say of us?" Three Commandments to add to the Decalogue.

State29's opinion of the Register

State29 states his view of the editorial board of the Des Moines Register after the paper's stance on the Constitutionality of requiring people to purchase health care insurance passed in ObamaCare Good to get mandate question answered:

I wonder when the last time any of these dimwits read the Constitution?

Gee, that would be a good question for some troublemaker blogger to ask them some time.

To them, I'm sure, they regard the Constitution as a "living, breathing document" that they need to beat the hell out of to see what's in it: "Maybe if we hit it harder with a baseball bat, Socialized medicine will ooze out of it, free for everybody!"

The Justices At The Des Moines Register

He lists the degrees that they editorial board earned, and suggests that they aren't Constitutional scholars.

Well, neither am I. But I've read it - more than once. I don't subscribe to the "living document" interpretation. I'm one of those radicals who read something and goes by what is written, it doesn't matter whether I agree with it or not.

As it was written - nothing more, nothing less.

I agree with his post that they are idiots, but not because they have degrees outside of Constitutional Law.

"Maybe if we hit it harder with a baseball bat, Socialized medicine will ooze out of it, free for everybody!" is one of the best lines I've heard all week.

Will governor Chester sign SF2379?

Will Governor Chester Culver (shown here doing his best Sinatra imitation) sign SF2379? Why should he? This NRA A rated governor might sign the bill, but politically he owes no favor to anyone on this.

I tend to look at things differently than most and this is one vision:

Chester is toast and won't be re-elected, almost everyone in the state predicts this. The NRA gave cover to some traditionally anti-gun democrats, thus putting them in a better position to keep their offices.

Chester can veto the bill, the briefly-pro-gun democrats get re-elected, and a republican gains the governorship. A near democrat like Branstad and nothing has changed. An incompetent idiot gets replaced with a competent idiot. Nothing changes.

The anti-gun pols can claim to the heavens that they were giving back liberty to the masses, current sheriffs can keep their powerful status-quo, and nothing changes.

Could this be Sen. Gronstal's plan all along?

Four years from now after the dems and repubs put the state deeper into a hole, Branstad gets trounced by Gronstal for governor in 2014?

Am I over thinking or is this from a lack of sleep?

Lies and hyperbole promote fear

The Daily Iowan (the University of Iowa student newspaper) distorts the as-of-yet unsigned concealed carry bill SF2739

If signed, the bill would also allow Iowa gun owners to openly carry their weapons, carry long guns, and extend the length of time between license renewals. Gun law stirs controversy

This bill does not redefine the methods of carrying in Iowa and open-carry is not allowed except on your own property, place of business or during hunting or target practice at an approved range. See Iowa code 724.4. The bill doesn't change that.

Johnson County sheriff Lonny Pulrabek adds

“People are not going to come in to our office on year two or three of their permit and say to us that we need to take their permit away because they were charged with domestic abuse,” he said.

The new domestic abuse law states that if someone is charged, the sheriff is authorized to go get the weapons, not wait until they are delivered. If the accused is a permit holder, the sheriff, would probably grab the permit, too. It would be stupid on his part to not to. I

Is the sheriff so stupid that he doesn't know who is charged? Doesn't he check those charged against his permit holders? The Iowa City Press Citizen or the Cedar Rapids Gazette probably would, hell they get the list of permit holders regularly.

Would the good sheriff wait for drug dealers and rapists to turn themselves in as well?

How many permit holders in the state have ever been charged with domestic abuse? I don't know, but put that number against "only-ones" who've been charged and I bet it would be less.

Anti-Federalist Papers

Found at Western Rifle Shooters are these writings from those opposing the Constitution and the writings of Madison, Jay and Hamilton's Federalist Papers.

Anti-Federalist Papers

Have we heeded their warnings?

We are being raped

Over at Mike's Sipsey Street Irregulars

And yet, to Obama and the Left, the assertion of "No" does not matter. Smug and entitled, drunk with power and giddy when they see our fear, they take what they want anyway.

I always thought it was a mistake when we took the death penalty off the table for rape. Now I know I was right.

Will we have elections?

Taking a breather and trying to catch up on emails, I came up with these thoughts from Aaron Zelman from JPFO

But look how these arrogant politicians are behaving. They don’t seem to care. Were elections held tomorrow the bums would be tossed out … by the truckload.

And so, the question must be asked: Are there even going to be elections in 2010? And, if there are, will they be honest?

Read all of his thoughts at: Are Politicians Even Worried About The 2010 Elections? He has some poignant questions that beg us to think about our near future.

And the beat goes on

Some days, work is like being a rower on a slave ship, pulling your oar to the beat of the drum. Other days, it's like bailing water out of the sinking ship.

The past couple of weeks, we've been taking on water.

We use a information system and our vendor has remote access, which is helpful since they are based in Florida. Customer support is a good thing - when it's actually supportive.

It seems their database isn't reliable in a sense that if a user "disconnects" from the network, let's say during a power outage, and that user is in the middle of updating a record, then they try to get back into that record, the database shuts down. It becomes one big useless rock and no one can gain access.

They decided to install a utility to monitor when these events occur and it promptly removed anyone from accessing the servers except through the console. That makes it kind of tough when a guy like me has to check on things or perform a function when I want to be at home once in a while. I have to physically be there to log into them.

The wife told me last week to get a new job. I don't normally cow-tow to her orders (I'm not a wimp, mind you) but this wears on a guy. I get calls when not "on-call" and now having to fix other people's mistakes, ugh. I'm fairly good at figuring out problems and people send me theirs. I've put in a ton of hours for my employer with several 24+ hour support "days" and that kind of wears one down. If the alternative is unemployment, a job like this is gold.

Back to the story: After a week of denying they did anything, the vendor basically washed their hands. After chewing them out and being put on a short-leash by my boss, I set out to prove them wrong (another thing I'm fairly good at).

And I did. They admitted last week they installed this and then "offered" to help. Cute, since they are 2000 miles away and there's no remote access. Thanks, but it's obvious I was on my own.

I found the utility they "installed" and I write that because it didn't run properly to begin with and failed to monitor anything. The service failed to run but still blocked our access. (I'm not going to get too technical, but it blocked the TCP port from listening for Remote Desktop access.) They tried to uninstall it to cover themselves on 4 of the 5 servers and the uninstall process failed. Found that out on the fifth server they left it on when I tried to get rid of it.

I ran my test tonight on one server and was able to stop it from starting up and blocking. I can remote into it now. Next, schedule a late night reboot of the rest of the servers since this takes the vendor's system down and people tend to want to get on it.

It was a good day. I proved myself right, I proved a bunch of people who were "smarter" than me wrong and I fixed it on one server and will finish by the weekend. The boss and I had a chat about my role in the organization.

I'll make up having the good day with having a crown put on a tooth tomorrow.

Then it's back to the slave ship with me on one side and everyone else on the other, as we joyously paddle in circles once again.

Doors, Grace and Pride

Borepatch gives us some thoughts: Doors

This season speaks to renewal, to a fresh start, to forgiveness - of others, but perhaps the hardest of all: of yourself. For some people, there's a door blocking their way.

Open it.

With a link to his Easter thoughts from last year: Grace

I am Jacob Marley.

We all are. We forge our own psychological chains. Each time we let down those who love us, each act of Foolish Pride, another link gets forged. The longer we live, the longer the chain becomes. Our nature is perfectly imperfect: Out of the crooked timber that is man, no straight thing straight was ever made.

Pride prevents us from opening the Doors or from accepting someones' Grace.

Pride reminds me of my successes in life, (the few that they are), the tasks I've accomplished, the baubles that I've accumulated, the success of a child. Pride tells me how good I am.

Pride also reminds me of my failures, the "what could have beens" if I had just completed something better. Pride tells me I could have been a better person than what I am.

Pride tells me I don't need to open that Door, but it also tells me I'm not worthy of Grace. To me, Pride is schizophrenic - it is the result of one's actions but at the same time it prevents someone to act.

Grace cannot be taken or earned, it can only be received when offered. To accept Grace, Pride must be conquered to allow ourselves to come forward in Faith and Humility for that one more chance to receive what was offered. Whether Earthly Grace from a loved one or a stranger, or His Amazing Grace, it is there for the receiving.

I, too, am Jacob Marley.

If this Pride could be vanquished, that would be an interesting day.

A call to action

In a candid moment Ben shared a personal struggle for himself and his mother. Mom's "Never Alone"

Please go, read and share. If you are a praying person, please keep him and his family in your prayers.

A little recent hypocrisy lesson

Bawb takes the time to give us a history lesson of leftist hypocrisy:

Reminding us of the leftist calls that Bush was Hitler:

HATE, VIOLENCE, AND THE WINDOW WAR; DO AS WE SAY NOT AS WE DO
Union thugs and ACORN hoodlums engaging in actual violence at some of the town hall meetings, caught on video on more than one occasion, was not violent or hateful, nor worth covering on the news. Black Panthers blockading polling places was not hateful or intimidating. When 60’s radicals such as Obama's close friend, mentor, crony, ghost writer, and babysitter (who he didn’t really know at all) Bill Ayers were blowing up people and buildings it was their “right to protest”. When taxpayers who just got the screwing of their lives throw a few bricks, it is the end of the world as we know it, a climate of violence, danger, hatred, terrorism, civil war, mayhem, blood running in the streets, FLOODS, LOCUSTS, PESTILENCE, WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE!!!!! AAAIIIIEEEE!!!

As Orwell so eloquently put it, some animals are more equal than others. And it's easy to tell who the pigs are. Especially now that the draft horses are finally getting tired of pulling the load for everyone else.

Next, a second look at the left's own Window War

WINDOW WAR? ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS
The list goes on and on and on. Yet all we hear about is the danger and terror of politically incorrect words, and the "threat" of Tea Parties. Well, the following pictures aren't from any Tea Party. And I have yet to see a Tea Party where all the participants thought they had to wear masks to conceal their identity.

Want more? Bawb provides another example of the journalistic hypocrisy

POLITICIANS: STUPID IS AS STUPID DOES, UNLESS THE PRESS IS ON YOUR SIDE
George Bush is still ridiculed for attempting to open a locked door and Chevy Chase made an entire career out of doing Gerald Ford stumbling around, but the press was sure quiet about Barack trying to enter his new digs via a French window or bonking his head trying to enter Marine One or tripping over door jambs in Italy. Take away TOTUS (Teleprompter Of The United States) and the "most cerebral" POTUS in history can't even put together coherent sentences.

Regarding Congressman Hare (Thank you Bawb) he once again ramps up the snark.

STUPID IS AS STUPID DOES II; OUR CONSTITUTIONAL SCHOLARS
At any rate, Phil Hare, a tiny clueless, corrupt, power-hungry cog in a great big clueless, corrupt, power-hungry wheel committed the greatest sin for an Illinois politician, or any politician for that matter; he told the truth. What’s worse, he told the truth on video.

I wish I had the time, energy and ability to peg the snark meter like Bawb does. Well done.

Thank you for your help, David

David Codrea from Ohio has been posting about our fight for a free Iowa. His latest is We're the Only Ones All-Knowing Enough regarding some county sheriffs and their opinions of the new concealed carry bill.

Here's another post with a list of his Examiner articles regarding IowaCarry and Iowa Gun Owners.

David's efforts on a national scale puts me to shame. He motivated me to start this humble blog so I guess that makes him my blog-father?

Cong. Hare responds

The good congressman Hare says he was set up and it's all a misunderstanding. "Out of context" he declares. Yeah...

Congressman Phil Hare responds to Quincy heckling

Found at Sipsey Street Irregulars

"iowa gun owners fail"

I don't know if the NRA is gloating as in Iowa Gun Owners "fail" or that the gun owners who live in Iowa "fail".

I hope they spent enough time to read what I really think of them.

Sioux City hyperbole abounds

I wondered why I heard church bells. I thought it was Holy Week. Stupid me. Gun Rights Groups Rejoice, Local Sheriffs Cringe with no mention of the NRA, they give a nod to IowaCarry (how about that?)

Be afraid, blood on the streets. We know things.

"It takes that discretion away because we know we have information but there's no criminal charge or conviction filed yet," said Buena Vista County Sheriff Gary Launderville. "That puts a lot of people in jeopardy."

Not quite true there. The law states that if a sheriff believes that the applicant may be a danger to himself or others, then he can deny it. Actually a sheriff can deny it for any reason, but there has to be a defensible reason.

Launderville says his department rarely denies permits, but if they do, it's for good reason.

Because the "only ones" are the only ones who should carry in his eyes. Why? Because with a nod to "Death Wish" this sheriff doesn't trust the citizens:

For this sheriff, so many people carrying concealed weapons opens up the possibility for vigilantism.

"Law enforcement is here for a reason, that's what we're for, that's why we're specially trained in firearms," said Launderville. "The general public doesn't have to go through the training law enforcement does."

Until this bonehead or one of his Barney Fifes plan on following each and every citizen in his county, then he's a little out of line. But they are sooooo much better than the common riff-raff.

A firearm is there for a reason, to shoot some SOB who is intent on causing me or mine harm. An LEO can't be there at your side 24/7.

But as for the "general public", according to sheriff Launderville, you are SOL.

And that's why the laws, they are a-changin'.

Some clarity from a sheriff

From a sheriff who understands:

A recent poll by the Iowa State Sheriffs and Deputies Association found 77 sheriffs or deputies did not approve of this legislation. The Jones County Sheriff is one of only five people who agreed with it.

"Some people think there's going to be blood in the streets and everybody's going to be carrying their guns into the bars. It's not the people with the permits to carry that we have to worry about. It's the ones that don't,” Jones County Sheriff Mark Denniston said.

In a headline that doesn't make sense New Bill Could Change Gun Rules in Iowa ("Could" - hey factchecker, they are changing) some discussion of the new bill in Cedar Rapids and surrounding counties.

Sheriff Denniston may not understand that there are many people in Iowa who carry concealed without a permit and do so with no ill-intent. But I will give him some credit especially compared to the 77 who wanted the status quo.

Reading on we find another example of IowaCarry and Iowa Gun Owners inability to work on changing Iowa's laws:

"I think it's unfortunate the NRA was able to come in, push the legislature around and get them to go along with this,” Johnson County Sheriff Lonny Pulkrabek said.

The evil and powerful NRA came in and pushed the weak-kneed pussy legislature around and forced them (at gun point) to bend to their will. Maybe they threw money around because both Iowa groups run on a shoestring budget.

It's okay for Pulkrabek to push citizens around to get a permit, but oh no, not a lobbyist. (Granted, he is more lenient compared to his predecessor in issuing permits) but I don't think he truly gets the point.

And these guys are in Congress

Congressman Phil Hare from Illinois doesn't care or "worry" whats in the Constitution. And then gets confused about the wording of the document compared to the Declaration.



Found at Top of the Chain