Tools

From the Urban Dictionary comes this definition of a tool:

One who lacks the mental capacity to know he is being used. A fool. A cretin. Characterized by low intelligence and/or self-esteem.

(For example:) That tool doesn’t even know she’s just using him.

On Monday, December 27th, the Brady Campaign finally was able to file their amicus brief in D’Cruz et al v. BATFE et al. As some may remember their earlier attempt at filing an amicus brief had to be withdrawn as no Motion to Dismiss had been filed.

The Brady Campaign brief had the usual suspects – Mothers Against Teen Violence and the Texas chapter of the Brady Campaign – as interested parties. In addition, they were joined by the University of Texas Student Government, the University of Texas Graduate Student Assembly, and the Students for Gun-Free Schools in Texas. I imagine that the Brady Campaign feels they have scored a major PR coup by getting those three student groups to join their amicus brief. I wonder if those groups even realize that they have just been used.

The person behind both the Student Government and the Graduate Student Assembly signing on to the Brady brief is John O. Woods. Mr. Woods is a graduate student in cell and molecular biology at the University of Texas and a graduate of Virginia Tech.  As a story in the Dallas Morning News notes, his girlfriend was one of the students murdered at Virginia Tech back in 2007.

He seems to have made it his mission to keep college campuses in Texas as so-called gun-free zones. His blog discusses his feeling on gun control, politics, and other items. Having scanned a few of his entries, I think it is safe to say anything James D’Cruz may have said on his Facebook page pales by comparison to the ramblings of Mr. Woods.

Mr. Woods is a Director of the Students for Gun-Free Schools in Texas. He is also a representative in the University of Texas Graduate Student Assembly. Both the Student Government and the Graduate Student Assembly recently adopted resolutions urging a ban on handguns on campus that were authored by him. The minutes from the Student Government meeting are here. The Student Government adopted another resolution to that called for “closing the loopholes” in the “Brady Background Check System.”

The Brady Campaign and Mr. Woods both have an agenda which includes the disarmament of young adults among other things. One must wonder if the Student Government and the Graduate Student Assembly representatives realize that by signing on to this brief they are saying to a substantial part of the student body you aren’t worthy of the full rights of adult citizens. Probably not because they are tools.

What The Heck Is Up With Ruger

Ruger’s marketing department has been working overtime with teaser emails this weekend. On Saturday, I got this one.

So I just check my email a few minutes ago and found another email from Ruger. I expected them to unveil some new product like a SR45 or even the mythical 1911 that they deny they will be making. But no! I get this instead.

Enough already! Just let us know what I must absolutely have and be done with it. However, as a stockholder I must say the ad campaign is doing well at building some suspense which I hope will result in higher sales.

In The New Year

This is the time that people make resolutions for the coming year. That got me to thinking about some goals – not resolutions – that I would like to have for 2011. So, in no particular order, here are some of my goals.

1.  Attend the NRA Annual Meeting in Pittsburgh. I really enjoyed the show in Charlotte. The difference will be that this time I’ll attend as a blogger.

2.  Take a training class. Last year I got my North Carolina Concealed Handgun Permit and it is time to get some more advanced training. There are lots of options available within a day’s drive so I don’t have much of an excuse for not doing it.

3.  Shoot more often. This goes along with number two above. I’ve got the ammo and now is the time to use it!

4.  Buy a 1911. I can’t think of a better way to commemorate the centennial of John Moses Browning’s masterpiece than to do this. While I have a Argentine Ballester Molina or, as my late friend Milo called it, a ballerina molester, it isn’t a 1911. I don’t know which one (or two or three) that I want to buy yet but am open to suggestions.

5.  Drink more whiskey. Obviously I won’t be doing this at the same time as numbers two and three above but life is too short to not to enjoy a good bourbon now and again. The Wall Street Journal ran a list of “cultural resolutions” from some well-known people on Friday and this was on fashion designer Nanette Lepore’s list. It makes sense to me.

6.  Keep blogging. I only started this blog in May 2010 and have been astounded by its growth. It has been exciting and rewarding on a personal level. My promise to you is I will try to keep finding and publishing important information as well as some things which just tickle my fancy.