The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence has this new ad on their Facebook page. Josh Horwitz and Ladd Everitt must be patting one another on the back over their cleverness.
I guess since Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik is a self-described fan of Rachel Maddow the lapses of his office are off-limits.
Something must be in the water of Long Island that causes politicians to say and do stupid things when it comes to firearms.
First, we have the Queen Bee of gun control, Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY-4), saying that standard capacity magazines must be banned so we don’t have a repeat of the Tucson shooting. She goes on to say that if the “Assault Weapons Ban” (sic) had still been in place fewer people might have been shot. This is despite the AWB only banned the manufacture and/or importation of new magazines. Existing magazines were easy to find and buy.
Next we have Rep. Peter King (R-NY-3) whose district adjoins Mrs. McCarthy’s. He wants to create a gun-free zone of 1,000 feet around all high-ranking government officials. No word on how this could be done nor just who is considered a high-ranking government official. Speaker Boehner has indicated he would not support such a bill.
Finally, we have news today that Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-NY-5) has introduced a bill to close the “fire-sale loophole.” According to The Hill, the bill would require recently unlicensed gun dealers – that is those who have surrendered or lost their FFL – to still conduct background checks on all buyers as if they were still licensed. Ackerman, the story notes, has introduced this bill every session for a number of years. He says:
“After this weekend’s tragedy, it’s clear that Congress must close troubling loopholes in federal gun control laws that let firearms fall into the hands of convicted felons, fugitives, domestic violence perpetrators and severely emotionally disturbed individuals,” Ackerman said in a statement. “Every gun sold should require a background check, period.”
The story on this bill in The Hill does say that Jared Lee Loughner purchased his firearm through a licensed dealer and would not have been prevented from purchasing it with what this bill proposes. This does not prevent NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg from endorsing Ackerman’s bill.
“Pharmacists who lose their licenses can’t sell prescription drugs to people without prescriptions, yet gun dealers who lose their licenses can sell off their inventory — without even conducting background checks,” New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said in a statement endorsing Ackerman’s bill.
As I said earlier I don’t know what is in the water of Long Island that causes politicians to say and do stupid things when it comes to firearms. One thing I do know is that all three are engaging in shameless pandering to the press and to the gun control lobby. None of these bills would have stopped the tragedy in Tucson and none will keep either criminals or lunatics from obtaining a means to injure innocent people.
It must take a lot of a Congressman’s time to appear on TV talk shows and news shows. We have been hearing of new bills promised since the Tucson shootings that would alternatively ban standard capacity magazines, ban free speech, and ban anyone from being within 1,000 feet of a “high-ranking” government official with a firearm.
Checking the Library of Congress’s Thomas database which contains information on all bills introduced in either the House or Senate, I find nothing on the above.
From Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) who has promised a new ban on standard capacity magazines, nothing.
From Robert Brady (D-PA) who has said he’ll introduce legislation that would make it a crime to use symbols or language that could be construed as threatening to a Federal official, nothing.
From Peter King (R-NY) who has said he’ll introduce legislation that would ban anyone from possessing a firearm within 1,000 feet of a high-ranking government official, there is only a private bill “For the relief of Alemseghed Mussie Tesfamical.”
From Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) who has said he’ll join with Carolyn McCarthy to ban standard capacity magazines, there is only a resolution “to permit the Senate to avoid unnecessary delay and vote on matters for which floor debate has ceased.”
Like I said, it takes time to appear on CNN, MSNBC, etc. Let’s hope that they continue to be consumed with hearing their voice and seeing their face on TV and leave legislation alone. I doubt it but one can hope.
Oh, joy of joys. I’m stuck at home today due to the snow and am stuck with the vast wasteland of daytime TV. Oprah is on and is featuring an interview with Colin Goddard, Virginia Tech survivor and the Brady Campaign’s Assistant Director of Federal Legislation.
She is talking about his film “Living for 32”.
Oprah asks him if he has found “his calling” after this. He says he had to do this after the massacre.
Oh, jeez!
Given all the clamor from McCarthy, Lautenberg, Feinstein, and the rest of the gun controllers, Joe Huffman asks the right question: are they ignorant or just opposed to legitimate self-defense? Watch the video below on how quick a magazine change can be made.
This is an interesting story. The P39 Airacobra was not used much by the U. S. Army Air Force as an interceptor during WWII due to the lack of a supercharger for its engine. This limited its speed and thus its usefulness about 17,000 feet. As a result many were shipped to the Soviets who were desperate for any type of plane. The Red Air Force found a good use for it as a ground attack fighter especially with its 37mm cannon.
The plane in this story was one of the Lend-Lease P39’s sent to Russia. It was found intact in a lake in Siberia and was eventually brought back to a museum in Buffalo, New York.
The following was released by the office of Senator Frank Lautenberg today. Nothing like like piling on after a tragedy to score political points.
Press Release of Senator Lautenberg
Lautenberg Statement on Legislation to Ban High-Capacity Gun Clips
Contact: Lautenberg Press Office, 202-224-3224
Monday, January 10, 2011NEWARK, N.J. – Today, U.S. Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) released the following statement on his plans to introduce legislation that would prohibit the manufacture and sale of high-capacity ammunition feeding devices, such as the high-capacity magazine used by Arizona shooting suspect Jared Loughner. Lautenberg is working with Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) on the legislation.
“The only reason to have 33 bullets loaded in a handgun is to kill a lot of people very quickly. These high-capacity clips simply should not be on the market,” Lautenberg said. “Before 2004, these ammunition clips were banned, and they must be banned again. When the Senate returns to Washington, I will introduce legislation to prohibit this type of high-capacity clip.”
From 1994 – 2004, high-capacity ammunition magazines (“clips”) were illegal as part of the Federal Assault Weapons Ban. When the ban expired in 2004, Republican leaders in Congress pledged to not resurrect it. Since that time, high-capacity clips (more than 10 rounds at a time) have been legal to manufacture and sell.
Senator Lautenberg’s bill, which will be introduced when the Senate returns to session in two weeks, would ban ammunition clips that have a capacity of, or that could be readily converted to accept, more than 10 rounds of ammunition. That standard was the law before 2004.According to reports, in the Tuscon shooting, Jared Loughner used a high-capacity 33-round magazine clip in his Glock 19 pistol. The high-capacity magazine allowed Loughner to fire off 33 bullets without having to manually reload. Given that bystanders apprehended him as he attempted to change clips, if Loughner did not have access to the high-capacity magazine that he used, it may have prevented some of the other deaths and injuries that occurred.
The Brady Campaign released another missive from Paul Helmke yesterday reacting to the shootings in Tucson:
Enough is Enough! Tucson Shooter, Arizona New Faces of Weak Gun Laws
Jan 9, 2011
Statement from Paul Helmke, President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence:
“The 22 year-old shooter in Tucson was not allowed to enlist in the military, was asked to leave school, and was considered “very disturbed” (according to former classmates), but that’s not enough to keep someone from legally buying as many guns as they want in America.
Jared Lee Loughner passed the NICS check conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The National Instant Criminal Background Check System was mandated by the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993 and launched by the FBI on November 30, 1998.
Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik, a Democrat, has blamed inflammatory rhetoric on the part of Tea Parties and conservative politicians for the tragedy. However, according to sources within his own Sheriff’s Department, they knew of Loughner and his threats as well as his mental illness. One of the reasons they were reluctant to do anything was because his mother was a Pima County employee.
Many people seem to find this surprising, but it’s true, and we ought to be angry about it.
The troubles of the Tucson shooter are more proof that we make it too easy for dangerous and irresponsible people to get guns in this country. We have too few laws to protect our families and communities from this kind of bloodshed, and the laws we do have are riddled with too many loopholes.
Arizona, as it turns out, has almost no gun laws, and scored just two points out of 100 last year on the Brady State Scorecard.
Since then, things have gotten worse. Arizona is one of only three states that allow residents to carry loaded, hidden guns without background checks. Arizona recently weakened its laws to allow guns in bars.
The State of Arizona believes in individual responsibility as well as constitutional rights. If the Loughner family had sought mental health care for their son, he might have shown up in mental health records and been denied under NICS. Mr. Helmke wants to blame everyone but the criminal’s family for not doing something to prevent this tragedy.
Joseph Zamudio, one of the bystanders that detained Loughner and who has been hailed a hero, was carrying concealed and went to provide help when he heard the shots because he was armed.
In addition, if Congress had not allowed the “Assault Weapons Ban” to expire in 2004, the shooter would only have been able to get off 10 rounds without reloading. Instead, he was able to fire at least 20 rounds from his 30-round clip.
Standard and large capacity magazines were available during the ten years the “Assault Weapons Ban” (sic) was the law. While no new magazines could be produced except for law enforcement or military uses, existing magazines were grandfathered and readily available. This would include 30-round knock-offs of the Glock 18 magazine. Even without a 30-round magazine, reloads can be done quickly and efficiently if practiced.
Sensible gun laws can save lives. Congress should move now to enact tougher restrictions on guns, ammunition, and who can legally possess them, and President Obama should help lead the way.”
Why does anyone still believe a “new” law would have prevented this tragedy? Madmen will do as madmen do and people are still going to get killed.
WRAL-Raleigh is reporting that Governor Beverly Perdue has declared a state of emergency for North Carolina.
Gov. Beverly Perdue declared a state of emergency for North Carolina Monday to mobilize resources to respond to snow and ice forecast across the state.
Snow fell across parts of western and central North Carolina around dawn, and areas along the coast and south of Fayetteville saw some accumulation, but the Triangle was still waiting for flakes at 2 p.m.
There is nothing yet on the Governor’s website as to the wording of the Executive Order declaring the state of emergency. The state of emergency declared on Christmas Day by Lt. Governor Walter Dalton was only under the authority of the North Carolina Emergency Management Act and did not invoke the restrictions on firearms off-premises. That was the first state of emergency declared during the Perdue administration that did not invoke state of emergency restrictions on firearms.
I have hope that she has learned her lesson regarding snow storms and restrictions on firearms.
UPDATE: It looks like the Governor has learned her lesson. The text of Executive Order No. 78 includes this:
Section 7.
This order is adopted pursuant to my powers under Article 1 of Chapter 166A of the General Statutes and not under my authority under Article 36A of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes. It does not trigger the limitations on weapons in G.S. § 14-288.7 or impose any limitation on the consumption, transportation, sale or purchase of alcoholic beverages.
A replica of Scaramanga’s golden gun from the Bond movie “Man With The Golden Gun” will be auctioned by a British auction house on January 20th. Hansons Auctioneers and Valuers of Etwall, Derbyshire will be conducting the auction and expect the replica to bring £1,000 to £1,500 ($1,558 to $2,337).
Auctioneer Charles Hanson said: ”The gun was made by SD Studios in Texas USA in the early 1980s.
”It is one of very few since with a solid gold plating, the gun had a limited market amongst the wealthy.”
It was bought by a collector from Tamworth, Staffs., in the mid-1980s but was discovered in mint condition last year in an attic.
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