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Consult An Expert!

March 9, 2012 by 3 Comments

Sometimes you come across stuff that just makes you laugh because it so outrageous. Here is a case in point.

Jack Dunning is the Phoenix Political Buzz Examiner for Examiner.com. He wanted to know about state requirements for training for gun owners. Being in Phoenix, you might have thought he’d go to Alan Korwin who has published a number of books on gun laws in both the United States and individual states. Indeed, Alan’s website is even called gunlaws.com which should have made it simple.

No, he decided to consult a “real expert”:

This gun show loophole/background checks issue is one area that needs fixing. But another is required education and training before you can own a gun. Arizona has nothing, zip. Most states don’t. I decided to ask an expert so I contacted Ladd Everitt, Director of Communications for the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, and asked the following question: “Can you tell me the average gun training/education a gun owner is required to have?”

Calling Ladd Everitt an expert on gun laws is such an oxymoron that it borders on incomprehensible.

Mr. Dunning is a bit to the left of Mao and Lenin and is extremely anti-gun rights. His non-Examiner blog, Nasty Jack, makes that pretty clear. If you have been banned by Daily Kos and you’re not a conservative, that says something!

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A City Council That Gets It

March 9, 2012 by 1 Comment

The Gastonia (NC) City Council voted Tuesday evening to allow concealed carry in all areas of that city’s parks. The vote was 6-1 and came despite a recommendation from the Gastonia Recreation Advisory Commission to impose a ban on concealed carry in athletic facilities.

The city’s 6-1 vote, with only Councilman Dave Kirlin opposing, went against a 5-0 recommendation of the Gastonia Recreation Advisory Commission. The commission wanted to allow licensed, concealed weapons in public parks, but to continue to ban them in the more specific recreational areas.

But Councilman Jim Gallagher was one of the six who favored a hands-off approach from government control. People with concealed weapon permits have proven themselves trustworthy and responsible, and imposing any restriction on them is unfair and unnecessary, he said.

“This is a slippery slope and it’s just going to go downhill,” Gallagher said of potential restrictions. “The second amendment is clear. Our founding fathers wanted us to protect ourselves.”

This is a City Council that gets it and one whose move to allow their citizens to protect themselves should be applauded. This statement by Councilwoman Brenda Craig who holds a NC Concealed Handgun Permit herself shows it.

“I agree with the second amendment, bottom line,” she said. “If people have been trained to handle that weapon and have their permit, they’re responsible.”

That is the key – CHP holders have been vetted, are responsible, and not the one’s you have to worry about. I just wish more city councils in North Carolina would realize that.

H/T Harvey

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Immoral To Repeal One Gun A Month In Virginia?

March 9, 2012 by

Not so says the Rev. Kenn Blanchard in response to Jim Winkler who called it immoral for Gov. Bob McDonnell to have signed the repeal of Virginia’s One Handgun A Month law. Winker is the general secretary of the General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church and chair of Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence. Faiths United is a project of the Brady Campaign.

Winkler says of Gov. McDonnell,

But our governor put the agenda of a lobby ahead of the people he was elected to represent. He put the gun lobby’s agenda ahead of protecting the residents of his state from the life-altering and life-ending horror of gun violence. Innocent lives will be lost as a result. It is not only shameful that the governor did this, it is immoral.

Pastor Kenn rightly says the repealed Virginia law was “worthless” and that it is “ethical for us to protect ourselves, it is ethical for us to protect our families, congregations, and country.” He goes on to say that using the word immoral is just wrong. I couldn’t agree more.

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Good Advice Even If You Aren’t A Competitor

March 8, 2012 by

The NSSF is out with a new Doug Koenig video on handgun shooting. Goal setting is an important part of getting better. While much of what he is saying applies to competition, it can apply equally well to practicing for self-defense. If you go to the range just to blast away, you are plinking. But if you go with a goal in mind and certain skills you want to work on, that is practicing.

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The Third Win This Week!

March 8, 2012 by

In what amounts to the third legal victory for gun rights this week, the Washington Supreme Court unanimously denied Seattle’s petition for review of Seattle’s ban on guns in parks. Lower courts had found that Seattle’s gun ban violated Washington State’s preemption law and overturned the park ban.

From the Second Amendment Foundation:

SAF HAILS WA HIGH COURT DENIAL OF SEATTLE GUN BAN APPEAL

For Immediate Release: 3/8/2012

BELLEVUE, WA — The Second Amendment Foundation is delighted that the Washington State Supreme Court has unanimously denied the City of Seattle’s petition for review in the case of Winnie Chan v. City of Seattle, a legal action brought by SAF, the National Rifle Association and five individual plaintiffs.

The decision affirms the state’s long-standing preemption law and two lower court rulings, thus preventing the city from banning firearms from city parks property.

It was the third straight loss for the city, which had first attempted to ban firearms from park facilities under former Mayor Greg Nickels, in open defiance of Washington State’s model preemption statute. Following its initial loss in King County Superior Court, the city, under Nickels’ successor, Mayor Mike McGinn, appealed its loss to the State Court of Appeals. That court also ruled unanimously against the city, which petitioned the state high court last year for review.

“We are proud that the State Supreme Court panel, led by Chief Justice Barbara Madsen, unanimously rejected Seattle’s flagrant attempt to override state law and violate the civil rights of citizens living in or visiting the city,” said SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb. “Mayor McGinn and the City Council should be ashamed that they pursued this pipe dream in an effort to turn the city into a banana republic. By letting the appeals court ruling stand, other anti-gun officials in city and county governments are on notice that they simply cannot ignore state law.

“We are equally proud of our partners in this important legal action,” he continued. “We were joined by the NRA, Washington Arms Collectors, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, and five courageous citizens. Our plaintiffs were willing to stand up to the city and public officials who seem determined to transform Seattle into a political gulag where a civil right can be dismissed at will in the interest of political correctness.

“And finally,” Gottlieb stated, “we are all very proud of our legal team led by Steve Fogg and Molly Malouf at Corr Cronin. They did a marvelous job, not only for their clients, but for the citizens of this state, whose civil rights apply everywhere, whether the City of Seattle likes it or not.”

You will note that both the Second Amendment Foundation and the NRA were parties in the original case. It is good to see that they can work together when needed.

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More On The Win For Carry In Maryland

March 8, 2012 by 2 Comments

WJZ – CBS Baltimore had this story on the win in the Woollard case. They interviewed both Cary Hansel and Alan Gura on the decision. Other than a mention of the statement from the Attorney General’s Office that they planned to appeal, all the coverage was of our side of the debate.

As the CalGuns Foundation said in a tweet this morning, “When this is the media coverage of a carry win, we’re winning.” And they are absolutely correct as no attention was given to the Brady Campaign or any of the other gun prohibitionists.

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Too Bad He Didn’t Go All Bob Etheridge On This Reporter

March 7, 2012 by

A reporter from America’s Morning News stopped Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer and asked him a few questions about Operation Fast and Furious. It is a great ambush interview. Too bad Breuer didn’t go all “Bob Etheridge” and demand to know “who are you” while going for a choke-hold on the reporter. THAT would have made this even better. Look what happened to Etheridge’s re-election after he did that.

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Rise In Gun Sales And Obama’s Re-election Chances

March 7, 2012 by 2 Comments

Without running the numbers, I don’t have statistical evidence that Obama’s increased chances of re-election are correlated with the rise in firearm sales. However, there is increasing anecdotal evidence to suggest that is the case. Not only are NSSF-adjusted NICS checks significantly higher for February 2012 versus February 2008 but local TV stations are starting to notice the trend. Case in point is this report from KCEN which covers Killeen, Temple, and Waco, Texas.

From the KCEN story:

“They’re my freedom,” says Charles Smith, a gun enthusiast who knows a thing or two about guns. “We take a lot of people who have never shot to our gun range and they’re hooked,” says Smith.

Charles like many other gun owners, are weary of any laws that would restrict their pass time. And many who believe President Obama will be re-elected are not taking any chances. Buying up ammo and guns before it’s too late.

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Jim Manley On The Win For Campus Carry In Colorado

March 7, 2012 by

Jim Manley of the Mountain States Legal Foundation was interviewed on Monday by Cam Edwards about the Colorado Supreme Court decision in favor of campus carry. In that decision, the court said that the ban on concealed carry at the University of Colorado violated the state’s Concealed Carry Act.

I think Jim made a very good point regarding campus carry in Colorado when he said that they have had almost ten years of experience with it at Colorado State University and have had no problems. That is something the gun prohibitionists don’t want you to know.