AP: Militia movement resurfaces across nation

If the nation is an Alaskan town of 4,400 people
Militia movement resurfaces across nation

The hype in the headline isn't close to what's in the article which is mostly about Norm Olson moving to Nikiski, Alaska.

Is Obama pro-gun control?

David Codrea hammers on a CNN "reporter" who claims that the Obama administration and the Democrats in Congress aren't hostile to gun rights. CNN goes after Oath Keepers. David list several links to prove this administration is poised to go after our rights.

Reinforcing David's argument, The Law Enforcement Alliance of America issued a press release revealing a couple of facts about Attorney General Eric Holder during his testimony to Congress this week

Drawing reasonable conclusions from what Holder publicly said, we now know:

•Holder wants a national, permanent gun registration system administered by law enforcement. A registration of honest citizens that have cleared the federal background check for gun purchases with those records permanently retained by and shared among law enforcement.
•Holder wants new federal authority to prohibit any person on the federal watch list (reported to be 400,000 names) from buying guns and supports confiscating guns from those on the list who possess them.
Attorney General Holder Reveals Aggressive Gun Control In Response to Ft. Hood Terror Attack

A choice will soon be foisted upon each gun owner in the country, whether to retain their rights or carry a heavier set of chains.

SC having a tax-free firearm sale

South Carolina gun buyers can get a break on sales taxes during the weekend after Thanksgiving. The state will not collect taxes on firearm sales, but will collect for ammunition and accessories. SC offering shoppers tax-free weekend on guns

Why can't every state do this?

Jim Gibbons files to run for Congress

Former Iowa State wrestler and coach filed papers today to run for Congress in Iowa's 3rd district. Former ISU wrestling coach runs for Congress

He said he’s applying his background in coaching to his campaign — focusing on fundamentals like raising money and building up his campaign team. He notes that his coaching background has taught him how to motivate people and his financial services experience means he knows how to reach and talk to donors and other supporters. He also has TV experience, as a commentator for ESPN, among others.

“Excessive government spending” is the issue he points to as a priority, although he’s not ready to talk about what federal programs he would cut. He’s a critic of the federal stimulus bill as failing to create or sustain jobs, and he opposes cap and trade.

I live in the 3rd district, currently served by Leonard Boswell who should have retired years ago.

Court: Conviction does not limit gun rights

Declan McCullagh opines:

A federal appeals court has overturned the conviction of a Wisconsin man barred from owning firearms because of his criminal record, ruling the lifetime prohibition may violate Americans' Second Amendment rights and calling into question the future of a 13-year old gun control law.

Court: Criminal Record May Not Prevent Gun Ownership

For other constitutional rights such as the First Amendment, it's relatively common to see acts of Congress struck down as going too far, as anyone who's followed the series of cases about Internet pornography or abortion can attest.

That hasn't been the situation with the Second Amendment even after the Heller decision, in part because some judges have not taken constitutional arguments seriously, and in part because the Supreme Court has not provided a road map to follow. The justices now have a chance to remedy that oversight in the case currently before the court, McDonald v. Chicago. If they don't, expect this constitutional confusion to continue.

David Codrea has some thoughts as well Having an Unreasonable FitI have long advocated that if a felon has freedom of religion, speech, etc., then why not have the right to protect themselves with a firearm. My argument is that mere possession of an object such as a gun, should not be a crime. Criminal activity should be. Pointing a gun in a teller's face certainly should bring swift justice and is a good example of a crime, having a gun in your pocket should not be.

There is no victim if someone has a weapon in their possession, but there is a victim when the weapon is used during a violent act (such as shooting a person, ie murder).

The proper response to pirates?

An equal or greater force repels an approaching force, or at least that's what I learned in physics class a long time ago.

Kurt has more:
Maersk Alabama attacked again--pirates sent running

Make it more illegal

To reinforce Attorney General Tom Miller's idea of a perfect society Iowa AG pushing for more gun control The Des Moines Register is adding it's voice to the issue.

In an editorial One more way to protect abuse victims they prattle on about Randall Moore murdering his wife and how law enforcement did nothing to stop the guy. See When court order doesn't mean squat for more details of this piece of filth.

There is likely no law that can prevent a murder such as this one.

True

However, this case is a wake-up call for Iowa to take domestic abuse seriously.

And Iowa lawmakers have refused to do that.

Those lawmakers beholden to the dreaded NRA are shackled from doing anything. But Saint Tom will save the day!!

Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller has repeatedly pushed the Legislature to pass a law that would prohibit people convicted of domestic abuse from owning firearms.

Please read that point again with "convicted" being the key word. Last time I had to fill out the form 4473 there was a check box if I was "convicted" of a domestic abuse crime. (I haven't been)

In Moore's case, the judge rightly ordered him to turn in firearms. And in Moore's case, even changing Iowa law, as the Attorney General has proposed, wouldn't have applied to Moore. He has never been convicted of domestic abuse.

That's right folks "never been convicted". Let's exploit a tragic event for political gain. A new law would not have done a thing if it was in force before this puke murdered his wife. But the legislature must pass something to prove Iowans "take domestic violence seriously".

How about locking up the scumbags? How about easing restrictions so that the abused can actually defend themselves without the hoops? Nope, they would rather pontificate than action.

In the era of "pass a law so it looks like we doing something without really doing something", my guess is that Mr Miller is looking towards the governorship.

Duck hunters rescued

Four duck hunters rescued Monday in a dramatic rescue sure to become a legendary film - not quite. We find:

The Johnson County Sheriff's Office received a call about 5:15 p.m. from a man asking for help for friends whose boat had overturned.

I don't want to criticize the county and city fire departments and rescue personnel that do a hell of a job. But sometimes they can't be on the scene right away. They just can't be everywhere all the time.

Another call came from Stephen Schultz, another duck hunter on the water, who said he had located the hunters who had fallen in the water and that they were safe in his boat.

The obvious point I want to make is that private citizens are our true First Responders. A fellow hunter rescued these four men before anyone else. I'm sure everyone involved was thankful that the lake had one extra hunter that day.

Looks like everyone responded as they should: a nearby citizen rendered assistance, first responders and fire departments arrived next for aid and prep for the county ambulance crew who transported two of the hunters to a nearby hospital. This could have ended badly.

Kudos to all.

Lazy lawyers

David Hardy at Arms and the Law does some research.

I did some research in National Archives, into US v. Miller. If anyone wonders how the case wound up so messy... here are a pair of telegrams from Miller's attorney to the clerk of the Court, announced that he won't file a brief, nor argue.

View the telegrams

H/T Borepatch
at
Twenty words on how case law is established

Truth in advertising?

Or, Free Speech - Deal with it.

Mason City, IA now displays a billboard paid for by a group called Concerned Citizens. Billboard questions country's direction

MASON CITY — A billboard on the 600 block of South Federal Avenue berates the Obama administration in a manner that has offended some who have seen it.

Mark Tlusty, who helped organize the “Tea Party” anti-tax protest in Central Park in April, said, “We’re just getting upset at how the government is running things. We wanted to express ourselves and chose this way to do it.”

But not everyone is happy. Someone got their panties in a bind:

Kathleen Wild of Mason City contacted the Globe Gazette to express her concerns after seeing the billboard.

“I think it’s a terrible thing to have above Mason City, which is a city of diversity,” she said.

Last time I checked we live in a nation of Free Speech. (At least it's supposed to be.) I'm guessing Kathleen's version of Mason City has no diversity of thought. Irony, anyone?

The offensive sign -