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Death In The Long (Hoosier) Grass

June 23, 2013 by

Where are Jim Corbett or Peter Hathaway Capstick when you need them?

It seems something was preying on cats and dogs in Clark County, Indiana. Wildlife officials at first suspected a bobcat. However, when Indiana Department of Natural Resources examined a so-called bobcat shot one night, they discovered it was actually an immature leopard.

Some suspect that the big cat escaped from a nearby wildlife refuge but the owner of Wildlife in Need denies any of his animals have escaped. It is now suspected that it was someone’s pet leopard.

WDRB 41 Louisville – News, Weather, Sports Community

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A Warm Tar Heel Welcome Planned For MAIG’s Anti-Freedom Riders

June 22, 2013 by 4 Comments

Mayor Bloomberg’s Illegal Mayors is bringing their 100 city bus tour to Raleigh, NC tomorrow at 9am. Unlike the Freedom Riders of the 1960s, this bus tour is seeking to curtail your civil rights which is why I call them the “anti-Freedom Riders”. Grass Roots North Carolina plans a nice, warm Tar Heel welcome for Bloomberg’s minions.

From GRNC:


Let’s give Bloomberg’s radicals a ‘welcome’ they won’t forget!


As you may have heard, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s “Mayors Against Illegal Guns” (MAIG) recently began a 100-city bus tour to push for federal gun bans. Although Bloomberg keeps the bus schedule secret to avoid actually hearing what people want, we have learned that the MAIG bus tour will hit Raleigh at 9:00 AM on Saturday.


It’s time to show the media and the world that Bloomberg does not speak for the nation by showing up at GRNC’s “MAIG Counter Demonstration.” Yes, the notice is short. No, you probably don’t have time, or you have something else scheduled. . .


Be there anyway!


DETAILS


When:
Saturday, June 22 at 9:00 AM


Where:
Moore Square, Raleigh, NC, 27601
(Moore Sq. at the corner of Martin St. & Person St.)


What:
A peaceful counter protest to deliver a message to the media that “Guns Save Lives!”


Beforehand:


If you think you can make it, please let us know how many people you are bringing by emailing: President@GRNC.org


From the east: I-40E to Ex. 299 (Hammond Rd) toward Person St. Go 0.3 mi & turn left toward Hammond Rd. Go 108 ft & left onto Hammond Rd. Go 0.7 mi & continue onto S Person St. Go 1.0 mi & turn left onto E Martin St. Destination will be on the right.


DEMONSTRATION GUIDELINES


  1. Firearms are prohibited by law at demonstrations and protests.
  2. Dress for the press: Please avoid wearing anything which allows the media to depict us as the radicals rather than our opposition (e.g. shirts with slogans which could be construed as racist, etc.)
  3. Keep signs on message: GRNC will have a large number of lime green “Guns Save Lives!” signs which are highly effective at showing up on TV cameras, but you are free to bring your own. However, please don’t use signs which could be used to depict us in a negative light, and stick to the pro-gun message.
  4. This is a peaceful counter demonstration: Do not engage in heckling or other altercations with the opposition.

UPDATE: Kahr40 attended the event and has some pictures up on his blog here. I know Sean was there but he hasn’t posted on it yet.

UPDATE II: WRAL in Raleigh covered the event and gave time to both sides. Thanks to Sean for posting a link to the video below.

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Assaulted Hits The Theaters

June 22, 2013 by 1 Comment

The Second Amendment movie, Assaulted: Civil Rights Under Fire, opened yesterday and will be showing in a number of theaters across the country. It has been reviewed by papers ranging from the Washington Post to the OC Weekly. The reviews range from your typical gun prohibitionist’s drivel in the Post to a rather thoughtful review in the OC Weekly.

Here are the reviews and the places where the movie will be playing.

Last night Assaulted: Civil Rights Under Fire opened in theaters across the country. We did it! Thanks to you. 
This week leading up to the release we have received a wide range of reviews:
The film will run all weekend at the following theaters: 
ARIZONA
You can also check out these TUGG events or create your own: http://www.tugg.com/titles/assaulted-civil-rights-under-fire 

So take a couple of friends and enjoy the show.  
Finally, DVD and downloads will be ship/available in the fall. This delay is caused by the theatrical contract restriction of 90 days before the film can be released on DVD or VOD (video on demand). 
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Colion Noir On Teachers Carrying Guns

June 21, 2013 by 1 Comment

Mr. Colion Noir is very good at stripping issues down to their basics. In this video released a couple of days ago, he discusses arming teachers. He notes the gun prohibitionists object to it due to possible accidents. He points out the contradiction of saying that mass shootings don’t happen frequently enough to justify arming teachers yet calling for more gun control when a Newtown shooting does occur doesn’t make sense.

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GRNC 2013 Annual Dinner And Freedom Awards

June 21, 2013 by

Grass Roots North Carolina will hold their annual dinner and present their awards this Saturday in Raleigh. Featured speakers will be Prof. John Lott and James O’Keefe among others. Given that line-up, I’m disappointed that I can’t make it to Raleigh for the event as I will have out-of-town guests in town.

From the GRNC announcement noting that they have a few seats left:


There are still a few tickets available for the GRNC 2013 Annual Dinner and Freedom Awards. If you hurry, you can still reserve your seats. This year’s event features renowned researcher John R. Lott and ACORN-busting James O’Keefe, and there are a few added bonuses (see below).

In the war for truth and individual liberty, some warriors distinguish themselves. Because those who do deserve recognition, GRNC is holding the “2013 GRNC Annual Dinner & Freedom Awards,” including an opportunity to meet national figures in the gun debate.

Speakers at the GRNC Freedom Awards:

  • John R. Lott, internationally renowned researcher and author of “More Guns, Less Crime.”


  • James O’Keefe, president of Project Veritas, and maker of secretly-recorded videos that “outted” leftists at ACORN, Planned Parenthood, and National Public Radio.

  • Bill LuMaye, ardent gun rights supporter and conservative talk show host for Raleigh’s WPTF Radio.

  • Rep. Larry Pittman, courageous NC House Representative and arguably the most pro-gun member of the legislature.

Added Bonuses

Recently, you may have heard James O’Keefe discussing his new book: “Breakthrough: Our Guerilla War to Expose Fraud and Save Democracy” on Sean Hannity’s radio and TV programs, or on the “The Factor” with Bill O’Reilly. The new book was just released on June 18th, and he will be signing them at Saturday’s dinner.

John Lott will also be signing copies of his recent book: “At the Brink: Will Obama Push Us Over the Edge?”

Shoot with James O’Keefe!

This is a unique opportunity to go to the range & shoot with James O’Keefe while supporting your 2nd Amendment group! GRNC will be holding a silent bid for our Political Victory Fund. The highest bidder and one additional randomly drawn GRNC-PVF contributor will join O’Keefe Sunday, June 23rd at Personal Defense and Handgun Safety Center for some shooting action. Be ready for this opportunity & we will have the bidding forms available at the dinner on June 22.

Win an AR-15

Each reservation to the GRNC Annual Dinner will receive a ticket for GRNC’s next AR-15 GIVEAWAY: Likely less than 200 tickets will be issued! You do NOT have to be present at the dinner to win, you need only make a dinner reservation as described below.

EVENT DETAILS

Date:

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Place:

Hilton North Raleigh/Midtown, 3415 Wake Forest Rd.,

Raleigh, NC, 27609-7330

919-872-2323

Price:

Dinner: 1st ticket, $50; 2nd & subsequent tickets, $40 each.

VIP reception: $20/ticket (pay at the door)

Please RSVP for the VIP Reception via e-mail: DirectorOfDevelopment@GRNC.org.

(Free to GRNC Benefactor members, PRO RKBA Benefactor Sponsors, and active volunteers. For complimentary tickets, contact: DirectorOfDevelopment@GRNC.org).

Tickets: May be purchased via GRNC’s web site by CLICKING HERE or going to: http://GRNC.org/annualdinner

There are still some tickets available, so order yours ASAP!

Event Schedule:
4:00 PM: GRNC Annual Meeting
5:30 PM: VIP Reception
6:30 PM: GRNC Annual Dinner & Freedom Awards

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PTR Industries Moving To The Beach

June 20, 2013 by 3 Comments

It is a study in contrasts.

On the one hand you have Horry County, South Carolina and on the other is the state of Connecticut. The former offers a warm welcome, tax incentives, a nice climate, great beaches nearby, and a political community including Gov. Nikki Haley (R-SC) who not only are pro-gun but actually want you and your products in their state.

The latter has passed laws that has outlawed the sale of your only product in that state, has cold and dreary winters, a higher cost of living, and has a governor in Daniel Molloy (D-CT) who considers you the devil incarnate.

Given this, it is isn’t surprising that PTR Industries has chosen Horry County over Connecticut. It was announced yesterday at a meeting of the Horry County Council that they would be moving to the town of Aynor.

From the Hartford Courant:

The company — which said two months ago that it would be relocating once it found a suitable location “friendly to the industry” — will move to Aynor, S.C., near Myrtle Beach, said John McNamara, vice president of sales at PTR.

The gun manufacturer, with about 45 employees, was the first firm to announce its exit from the state following recent gun control legislation. Many of PTR’s employees agreed to the move and even held an informal vote choosing South Carolina over other states.

PTR currently has 45 employees at its plant in Bristol, Connecticut. They estimate that 24 of those employees will make the move to South Carolina. According to the Myrtle Beach Sun News, PTR has committed to increase their workforce to 80 by the end of the first year and to 145 employees by the end of 2016. This means the majority of the company’s employees will come from the local Horry County workforce.

According to my conversations with PTR representatives at the NRA Annual Meeting, they have been growing rapidly. Their current workforce is double what is was a year ago.

Some details of the agreement between Horry County and PTR Industries still remain undecided, including the amount of a fee in lieu of taxes the county will agree to and the millage rate at which the company’s equipment and other personal property will be taxed.

Those details will be included in actions Horry County Council must now take to solidify the agreement. The council will have to take three votes on the agreement, one of which will include a public hearing.

The county, state and Horry Electric Cooperative will fund upgrades to the shell building where the company will move, but those costs will be repaid by the company during the first two years of its lease of the building. It will pay the county $300,000 annually for the next nine years to lease the building, after which the county will deed it to PTR.

Lofton said the company wants a building that can be expanded. The shell building now has 58,000 square feet but can be expanded to 100,000 square feet, he said.

The company will invest $3 million in the building and has committed to an additional $5 million investment, including the cost of equipment, according to the agreement in the resolution.

If PTR doesn’t meet the benchmarks in the agreement, it will be responsible for the full amount of taxes, including that from state tax credits for job creation, that it would have paid without the agreement.

And it looks like PTR is not the only Connecticut firearms manufacturer looking at Horry County.  Both the Hartford Courant and the Myrtle Beach Sun News are reporting that Stag Arms is also being courted by the county. Mark Malkowski, CEO of Stag Arms, is scheduled to visit the area next week.

This report by FoxCT details some of the effort by South Carolina officials to persuade Connecticut companies to relocate.

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CO Secretary Of State Confirms Enough Signatures For Recall Of Morse

June 19, 2013 by

The Colorado Secretary of State’s Office has confirmed that the backers of a recall election for Senate President John Morse (D-Colorado Springs) submitted more than enough signatures to force a recall.

The Denver Post reports that the El Paso Freedom Defense Committee obtained 10,137 valid signatures out of over 16,000 submitted. They only needed 7,178 verified signatures to force the recall.

Morse supporters are trying to say that the recall petition had “improper language” and should be tossed out.

A Whole Lot of People for John Morse, the group backing him, said Tuesday its protest “would nullify the purported sufficiency of the signatures.”

They argued the organizers failed to use proper language as defined by the Colorado Constitution requiring petitions “expressly include a demand for the election of a successor to the recalled official.”

Mark Grueskin, a prominent election lawyer who is representing a Morse constituent who filed the legal challenge with the secretary of state Tuesday, said, “The constitution is clear, just as the courts are clear: No recall petition is valid without this specific language.”

In a recall election, the ballot asks two questions: Should “so and so” be recalled, and “if so, then who should” be the successor.

Grueskin said organizers failed to use such wording in their petition language that notifies signers that a recall is a two-part process.

The legal counsel for the Colorado Republican Party dismisses this argument saying that the state constitution protects the people’s right to call for a recall election. 

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Are NC Republicans Caving To Sheriffs’ Association?

June 19, 2013 by 1 Comment

Gov. Pat McCrory (R-NC) seems to be caving to the demands of the NC Sheriffs’ Association with regard to pistol purchase permits. According to GRNC, McCrory has instructed the House Republican Caucus to send HB 937 to a conference committee rather than to concur with the Senate version of the bill.

However, it should be noted that the House Republicans led by Speaker Thom Tillis are under no obligation to follow any instructions from McCrory. Tillis has announced his intention to run for the US Senate and will need the votes from gun rights supporters if he hopes to win the primary. As GRNC notes below, he needs to be reminded of this.

From GRNC:

Sheriffs’ lobbyist more worried about his nearly $290,000 salary than the rights of NC gun owners…

It has become clear that the cabal committed to preserving NC’s embarrassing and obsolete Jim Crow-era pistol permit system is being led by NC Sheriffs’ Association Executive Director, Eddie Caldwell. Not an elected Sheriff subject to the will of voters, but rather a lobbyist hired by the NCSA, he is clearly more interested in protecting his cushy job and benefits than the rights of North Carolinians.

HB 937 in jeopardy: McCrory needs spine injection

Worse, Governor Pat McCrory seems to be getting week in the knees in the face of sheriffs’ demands, and has instructed the House Republican Caucus to vote not to concur and to send the bill to a House-Senate conference committee to remove the measure. What is at stake, however, is not just the purchase permit repeal, but the entire bill, including restaurant and campus carry. Why? Because if the bill goes to conference committee — which will give the media and UNC more time to agitate, anything could be removed.

Latest round of GRNC radio spots highlight NCSA & McCrory

Caldwell is apparently trying to protect his nearly $290,000 per year compensation package after being blindsided by the purchase permit repeal addition to HB 937 in the Senate.

The whole sordid story is detailed in the GRNC video and radio spots just released HERE, or go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=JcEXhtDjXrs&feature=youtu.be

Implications of conference committee

GRNC has had extensive discussions with Senate Republicans, and we are certain they were sincere in the changes to HB 937 they made. There was no deliberate effort to cut out Eddie Caldwell and NCSA from legislative plans.

Currently, there have been no indications that the Governor intends to veto the bill, but he did tell the Republican Caucus that he wants the bill sent to conference committee to change the permit provision to one which “studies” the issue. Representatives for House leadership have indicated willingness to move “a” bill, but have not committed to what will be in it.

GRNC opposes the conference committee for the following reasons: As you may or may not know, once both chambers have passed different versions of a bill, it goes back to the first chamber for concurrence. By legislative rules, a bill cannot be amended on concurrence, so removing the PPP provision could only be done by voting not to concur and then sending the bill to a conference committee comprised of members from each chamber.

There are several problems with that, not the least of which is that once it goes there, we have absolutely no control over what comes out. Added to that, the media will get additional time to beat on Republicans for weakening amendments.

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED!

We need gun owners to do four things:

  • TELL McCRORY TO DEVELOP A SPINE: He should resist the feather-bedding of the NCSA, particularly given the fact that felons are bypassing background checks under the current system;

  • CONTACT ALL NC SHERIFFS: Tell them the rights of NC gun-owning voters are more important than Eddie Caldwell’s pay.

  • TELL SPEAKER TILLIS THE NEXT MOVE IS UP TO HIM: Tillis doesn’t have to kowtow to either the NCSA or the Governor. Given his announced bid for Sen. Kay Hagan’s seat, it would be shame for him to further alienate gun owners by failing to concur. Therefore, he should move quickly and resolutely to vote to concur.

  • HELP GRNC PASS HB 937: GRNC has spent tens of thousands of dollars on radio spots, alerts and legislative team expenses to pass what could be the most pro-gun initiative in North Carolina history, but we can’t do it without your support, so please go HERE or to: http://www.grnc.org/join-grnc/contribute

Contact Information

  • GOVERNOR PAT McCRORY: First, email him BY CLICKING HERE or going to: www.governor.state.nc.us/contact/email-pat and then call him Wednesday morning at (919) 814-2000. Let McCrory know that contrary to what the Sheriffs’ Association claims, HB 937 IMPROVES background checks. Even if you already called, call again.

  • EMAIL & CALL SPEAKER THOM TILLIS: Let him know that you appreciate his earlier efforts, but that the Senate has upped the ante and now he needs to resist the power-hungry NC Sheriffs’ Assoc. and pass HB 937 AS IS by making sure the House VOTES TO CONCUR. To contact Speaker Tillis, email Thom.Tillis@ncleg.net and call him on Wednesday morning at 919-733-3451.

  • CALL YOUR NC HOUSE REP: Let him know the sheriffs’ association has known about the “felon loophole” for decades and done nothing. Their objections ring false. Ask him/her to ask why the bill is in the House Rules Committee, where bills are generally consigned to die, and why it hasn’t gotten a prompt committee hearing. Find your House rep by going HERE or to: http://ncga.state.nc.us/representation/WhoRepresentsMe.aspx

  • EMAIL NC Sheriffs: Tell them the rights of law-abiding NC gun owners trump the selfish interest of a few Sheriffs.

Use the following cut-and-paste email list to contact NC Sheriffs:

terry.johnson@alamance-nc.com; cbowman@alexandercountync.gov; acsdrecords@skybest.com; tallen@co.anson.nc.us; sheriff@ashecountygov.com; kevin.frye@averycountync.gov; jordan@sheriff.co.beaufort.nc.us; john.holley@bertie.nc.gov; pbenston@bladenco.org; sheriffingram@brunsco.net; van.duncan@buncombecounty.org; admin@burkesheriff.org; dbriley@cabarruscounty.us; ajones@caldwellcountync.org; tperry@camdencountync.gov; asab@carteretcountygov.org; mwelch@caswellcountync.gov; coy@catawbacountync.gov; richard.webster@chathamsheriff.com; keith.lovin@cherokeecounty-nc.gov; dwayne.goodwin@chowan.nc.gov; claycountysheriff@claync.org; alan.norman@clevelandcounty.com; cbatten@columbusco.org; jmonette@cravencountync.gov; sheriff@ccsonc.org; susan.johnson@currituckcountync.gov; doug.doughtie@darenc.com; david.grice@davidsoncountync.gov; astokes@dcsonc.com; blakew@duplincountync.com; sheriff@shf.co.durham.nc.us; sheriff.knight@co.edgecombe.nc.us; schatzwt@fcso.us; acloninger@gcps.org; gatescoso@hotmail.com; anderson.mickey50@yahoo.com; sheriff@granvillecounty.org; lsmith@co.greene.nc.us; bbarnes@co.guilford.nc.us; frazierj@halifaxnc.com; lrollins@harnett.org; suttles@haywoodnc.net; SheriffMcDonald@hendersoncountync.org; juan.vaughan@hertfordcountync.gov; hpeterkin@hokesheriff.org; barbaradeese@yahoo.com; predmond@co.iredell.nc.us; sheriffashe@jacksonnc.org; sbizzell@jcso.org; sheriff@co.jones.nc.us; sheriff@leecountync.gov; chill@co.lenoir.nc.us; sheriffcarpenter@lincolnsheriff.org; rholland@maconnc.org; sheriffharwood@madisoncountysheriff.org; dgibbs@martincountyncgov.com; dgreene@mcdowellsheriff.org; daniel.bailey@mecklenburgcountync.gov; mcsd@mitchellcounty.org; mcsosheriff@montgomerycountync.com; lweaver@moorecountync.gov; dick.jenkins@nashcountync.gov; emcmahon@nhcgov.com; wardie.vincent@ncmail.net; sheriff@onslowcountync.gov; twpope@co.orange.nc.us; sheriff@co.pasquotank.nc.us; carson.smith@pendersheriff.com; etilley@perquimanscountync.gov; djones@personcounty.net; rnelks@pittcountync.gov; dhill@polknc.org; sheriff@co.randolph.nc.us; james.clemmons@richmondnc.com; sheriff@robesoncoso.org; spage@co.rockingham.nc.us; kevin.auten@rowancountync.gov; chris.francis@rutherfordcountync.gov; sheriff@intrstar.net; sheriff@scotlandsheriff.org; rjburris@co.stanly.nc.us; sheriff@co.stokes.nc.us; atkinsong@co.surry.nc.us; sheriffcochran@swaincountync.gov; sheriffmahoney@tcsonc.org; dliverman@tyrrellcso.net; eddiecathey@co.union.nc.us; pwhite@vancecounty.org; donnie.harrison@co.wake.nc.us; eagleeye@vance.net; jross@washconc.org; Len.Hagaman@watgov.org; carey.winders@waynegov.com; cshew@wilkescountysheriff.net; cwoodard@wilson-co.com; roliver@yadkincountync.gov; gary.banks@yanceycountync.gov

DELIVER THIS MESSAGE

Suggested Subject: “Concur and Approve HB 937!”

To Gov. McCrory. Speaker Tillis and the NCSA:

Dear

If you cause House Bill 937 to be sent to conference committee for the pistol purchase permit repeal to be removed, you will be in the position of obstructing Point of Contact background checks for gun purchases.

The North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association (NCSA) has known for decades about the loophole enabling felons to evade background checks. The National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) has been in existence since 1998. What has the NCSA done to close this loophole?

Nothing. And the reason is as old as man himself: Power and money. If the measure dies and a felon uses a purchase permit to buy a firearm and then uses it in a crime, you will be responsible.

I strongly urge you to push for immediate House concurrence and final approval. Conference is too dangerous and potentially damaging to what now stands as a bill which balances Second Amendment freedoms with punishing violent predators. I will monitor your actions via Grass Roots North Carolina legislative alerts.

Sincerely,

Uncategorized

Ammo Choke-Point

June 18, 2013 by 6 Comments



Trainer John Farnam of Defense Training International puts out an occasional newsletter with his quips, quotes, and observations.  In a post sent out on Sunday, he described a conversation with the CEO of a major ammunition manufacturer.

It appears the choke-point for ammo production is not powder or primers but rather brass.

I spent last Friday with the CEO of a major domestic ammunition
manufacturer. While there, I was able to get a small quantity of high-performance
40S&W and 45ACP ammunition, as well as some 9mm hardball. He also had some
40S&W practice ammunition and several boxes of high-performance 308.

No high-performance 9mm, and no 223/5.56×45 of any kind. I would surely
have acquired some had it been there!

He indicated his current in-hand orders will consume his entire
manufacturing capacity for at least the next twenty-four months, and that is assuming
no major change in world events.

He also indicted the real choke-point is brass casings. Propellent
powder, bullets, even primers are currently in at least adequate supply.
Conversely, brass is chronically hard to get, and generalized shortages are
holding-up production, industry-wide.

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A Tuesday Morning Roundup

June 18, 2013 by 2 Comments

I’m on vacation this week and in between eating tons of boiled shrimp and playing games with the nieces and nephews I really don’t have time to post on all the stories I’ve bookmarked. I know its tough but someone has to support the fishing industry of South Carolina!


The City Attorney’s Office for San Francisco is warning the Board of Supervisors against their plan to ban possession of standard capacity magazines. These would included ones that have been grandfathered under California law. They said there was a “significant litigation risk” and warned that attorneys’ fees of upwards of $1 million could be awarded plaintiffs if the city lost. However, since the fees would be paid for with taxpayers’ money, they might not care.

At the end of last week, the House of Representatives adopted the Kelly Amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2014. This amendment would prohibit any Federal monies for the implementation of the UN’s Arms Trade Treaty for the next year. The amendment was introduced by Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA). The House adopted the amendment by unanimous voice vote.

Under the heading of just because you have a Ph.D. it doesn’t make you smart comes this op-ed from a professor of history at SUNY-Geneseo. Prof. Michael Leroy Oberg says the we should just rescind the Second Amendment. He calls it an “antiquated and blood-drenched amendment.” I’m sure those who would like to rescind the 1st and 4th Amendments would agree with him as then there would be nothing to restrain their authoritarian urges.

Fortunately there are some in the professoriate who are not so obtuse and actually do know their history. I would point you to this essay by Prof. Edward Erler entitled “The Second Amendment as an Expression of First Principles.”

And we must be clear—the Second
Amendment is not about assault weapons, hunting, or sport shooting. It is
about something more fundamental.
It reaches to the heart of constitutional
principles—it reaches to first principles.
A favorite refrain of thoughtful political
writers during America’s founding era
held that a frequent recurrence to first
principles was an indispensable means of
preserving free government—and so it is.

Finally, here is a word of warning – never throw BBQ at a bear. Seems that a man in Alaska didn’t heed this and ended up getting mauled by the bear. As you might expect, alcohol was involved.  The bear probably wanted a beer and not some burnt meat.