The Next Battle Has Begun – Salvo Three

You didn’t think Nancy Pelosi would ignore a chance to burnish her progressive credentials with a statement on gun control, did you? If you did, you were living in a dream world.

Of course, Pelosi had to weigh in on gun control on the anniversary of the Parkland murders.

“Three years ago, our nation watched in horror and heartbreak as 17 beautiful souls were stolen in an act of unspeakable terror and gun violence at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.  Today, we continue to grieve and work with the Parkland families and survivors who have turned their pain into courageous action, inspiring a movement across the country to say, ‘Enough is enough!’

“Last Congress, moved by the daily epidemic of gun violence and guided by the millions of young people marching for their lives, House Democrats took bold action to save lives and end the bloodshed by passing H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act, and H.R. 1112, the Enhanced Background Checks Act.  Now, working with the Democratic Senate and Biden-Harris Administration, we will enact these and other life-saving bills and deliver the progress that the Parkland community and the American people deserve and demand.

“On this solemn remembrance, Democrats join the American people to renew our commitment to our unfinished work to ensure that no family or community is forced to endure the pain of gun violence.  We will not rest until all Americans, in schools, in the workplace, in places of worship and throughout our communities are safe, once and for all.”

If she were serious about “gun violence” (sic), she would be battling the scourge of drug gangs in minority neighborhoods, she would overturning Obama era policies that allowed the Parkland killer to avoid coming to the notice of police, and she would be getting rid of gun free zones that are nothing but hunting preserves for psychopaths to quote Massad Ayoob.

The Next Battle Has Begun – Salvo Two

The next salvo in this battle came yesterday from Joe Biden. After bemoaning the lives lost to “gun violence” (sic), he lists a number of “commonsense” items that will solve the issue and “make us safer.”

Three years ago today, a lone gunman took the lives of 14 students and three educators at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. In seconds, the lives of dozens of families, and the life of an American community, were changed forever.

For three years now, the Parkland families have spent birthdays and holidays without their loved ones. They’ve missed out on the experience of sending their children off to college or seeing them on their first job after high school. Like far too many families, they’ve had to bury pieces of their soul deep within the Earth. Like far too many families — and, indeed, like our nation — they’ve been left to wonder whether things would ever be okay.

These families are not alone. In big cities and small towns. In schools and shopping malls. In churches, mosques, synagogues, and temples. In movie theaters and concert halls. On city street corners that will never get a mention on the evening news. All across our nation, parents, spouses, children, siblings, and friends have known the pain of losing a loved one to gun violence. And in this season of so much loss, last year’s historic increase in homicides across America, including the gun violence disproportionately devastating Black and Brown individuals in our cities, has added to the number of empty seats at our kitchen tables. Today, as we mourn with the Parkland community, we mourn for all who have lost loved ones to gun violence.

Over these three years, the Parkland families have taught all of us something profound. Time and again, they have showed us how we can turn our grief into purpose – to march, organize, and build a strong, inclusive, and durable movement for change.

The Parkland students and so many other young people across the country who have experienced gun violence are carrying forward the history of the American journey. It is a history written by young people in each generation who challenged prevailing dogma to demand a simple truth: we can do better. And we will.

This Administration will not wait for the next mass shooting to heed that call. We will take action to end our epidemic of gun violence and make our schools and communities safer. Today, I am calling on Congress to enact commonsense gun law reforms, including requiring background checks on all gun sales, banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, and eliminating immunity for gun manufacturers who knowingly put weapons of war on our streets. We owe it to all those we’ve lost and to all those left behind to grieve to make a change. The time to act is now.

Here is an inconvenient truth that Mr. Biden will never acknowledge. It was the policies of the Obama-Biden Administration that created the circumstances that allowed a troubled, angry, and violent young man to stay off the radar and pass a NICS check.

And since we are talking about the deaths of those with brown skin, it was also the policies of the Obama-Biden Administration with Operation Fast and Furious aka Project Gunwalker that sent thousands of weapons south of the border which led to the deaths of at least 300 Mexican nationals.

An Inconvenient Truth

The Cult of Personality Known as Giffords sent out an email this morning. As might be expected on the anniversary of the murders at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, they called for more gun control.

We took it upon ourselves to fight for change by electing a gun safety majority in the House. They passed H.R. 8, the background checks bill, but it sat on Mitch McConnell’s desk every day since.

But that’s about to change. With a newly elected gun safety president and gun safety majorities in both the House and Senate, it’s finally time to make universal background checks the law of the land. And today’s a great day to say you’re still in the fight.

The inconvenient truth is that the killer obtained his firearm after passing a FBI background check. In other words, a universal background check or mandated checks on private firearm sales would not have made one bit of difference.

The killer had no criminal record because of an arrangement between the Broward County school system and the sheriff’s office. This despite being expelled for bringing a weapon to school along with other run-ins that should have resulted in a criminal record.

As noted at the time by Max Eden in the City-Journal:

But the explicit aim of Broward’s new approach to school safety was to keep students like <killer> off the police’s radar. If the Sheriff’s department didn’t know about his deeply troubling behavior, perhaps it was because they were no longer supposed to know about it.

So instead of dealing with the inconvenient truths and the deeper issues at play, the Cult of Personality Known as Giffords and their like-minded brethren including President Biden will just call for more gun control – even though none of it will stop the next mass casualty event.

Parkland Kid At Gun Rights Policy Conference

OMG! A Parkland kid will be at the Gun Rights Policy Conference. What the heck?

Relax, it is one of the good ones – not “Camera” Hogg or Emma Gonzalez. The SAF just released that Kyle Kashuv will be one of the featured speakers at the Gun Rights Policy Conference. He has been a stalwart supporter of the Second Amendment and, if he keeps up his grades, will be the valedictorian of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS Class of 2019.

The Gun Rights Policy Conference will be held September 21st through 23rd at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare Airport in Chicago. Attendance is free but pre-registration is requested. There will be a whole host of other speakers including the SAF’s 2017 Ray Carter Blogger of the Year (i.e., me).

33rd ANNUAL GUN RIGHTS POLICY CONFERENCE IN CHICAGO

BELLEVUE, WA – Teen Second Amendment activist Kyle Kashuv, a student survivor of the tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, will be a featured speaker at the 33rd annual Gun Rights Policy Conference, which will be held Sept. 21-23 in Chicago.


The conference will be held at The Hyatt Regency O’Hare, 9300 Bryn Mawr Avenue, Rosemont, IL 60018. It is co-sponsored by the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) and Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA). Hundreds of Second Amendment activists and experts are expected to attend.


Kashuv is scheduled to be a keynoter during the annual Saturday awards luncheon.


Also scheduled are SAF founder and CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb, plus Tom Gresham host of the nationally syndicated Gun Talk radio show and Mark Walters, host of the national radio show Armed American Radio, baseball pitching great Curt Schilling, as well as a cadre of Second Amendment attorneys will be discussing current noteworthy court cases. In addition, the Kavanaugh nomination to the Supreme Court will be a hot agenda item.


In addition, SAF and CCRKBA leaders will be joined by representatives from Gun Owners of America, the National Rifle Association, Doctors for Responsible Gun Ownership and Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership, who will also be speaking.


The 2018 GRPC will feature some 70 speakers on subjects ranging from the midterm elections to personal protection. The weekend event typically attracts more than 800 gun owners, activists and experts from across the country. Attendance is free, and on-line registration is available at www.saf.org.


WHO: National gun rights leaders
WHAT: Speaking at the 33rd annual Gun Rights Policy Conference
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 22 & Sunday, Sept. 23
WHERE: Hyatt Regency O’Hare, 9300 Bryn Mawr Avenue, Rosemont, IL 60018

The Polite Society Podcast will be live streaming GRPC again this year. I’ll have more details on that later.

White House Proposals

The rumors and news coming out of the White House with regard to gun control all included a proposal to raise the legal age to purchase a rifle or shotgun to age 21. Even Deputy Press Secretary Raj Shah was saying on one of the Sunday morning news roundtables. As things stand now, that proposal has been shelved. I don’t know about you but I wrote both senators and my US representative yesterday strongly objecting to raising the age.

Given the White House has briefed the press but has not released a definitive public statement here is where things stand now:

  • Federal Commission on School Safety headed by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos will study age restrictions and other restrictions, They will issue a report later.
  • Improvements to the FBI’s tip line.
  • Support for FixNICS Act.
  • Support of the STOP School Violence Act which would allocate $50 million annually for school safety improvements including violence prevention training for teachers.
  • Assist states in training teachers and other school staff in firearms use.
  • Allow military vets and retired LEOs to work as school safety officers.
  • Call on states to allow police, with court approval, to remove firearms from people who are a threat to themselves or others. It would also “temporarily” remove their ability to purchase firearms.
  • Ban bump fire stocks (which was previously mentioned).
  • Improve mental health systems to identify and treat treats. This would include “increased integration of mental health, primary health care and family services.”
If I were to make a prediction now, it is that FixNICS is going through no matter what. The other is that gun violence (sic) protection orders (by whatever name) will become a hot topic in some states notwithstanding their threat to civil rights.
The one thing to bear in mind right now is that no politician is your friend. It doesn’t matter the party nor their past support for gun rights. They will throw gun rights and gun rights supporters under the bus if they think it could impact their chances of reelection. One merely need look at Florida where many supposed gun rights supporting legislators threw gun rights under the bus in their haste to pass SB 7026.

UPDATE: Here is what the White House sent out with their “1600 Daily” email a few minutes ago:

How to secure our schools

After the horrific shooting at a
Parkland, Florida, high school last month,
President Donald J. Trump met with students,
teachers, lawmakers, and local officials to hear
every idea they had about how to keep violence
out of America’s schools.
Every child
in our Nation has a right to feel safe. To
achieve that goal, the President will announce a
series of actions to protect our children and
their communities:

  • Hardening our
    schools
    : The Administration will make
    sure our schools are safe and secure—just like
    our airports, stadiums, and government
    buildings—with better training and
    preparedness.
  • Strengthening
    background checks and prevention
    :
    President Trump is supporting legislation and
    reforms to strengthen the background checks
    system and law enforcement operations.
  • Reforming mental health
    programs
    : The President is proposing
    an expansion and reform of mental health
    programs, including those that help identify
    and treat individuals who may be a threat to
    themselves or others.
  • Keeping the conversation
    going
    : In addition to these immediate
    actions, President Trump is establishing a
    Federal Commission on School Safety, chaired
    by Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, to
    recommend policy and funding proposals for
    school violence prevention.

Guns, Politics, And Freedom Radio

I was a guest yesterday on Episode 24 of the Guns, Freedom, and Politics radio show with Paul Valone. We discussed the failures of law enforcement at Marjory Stoneman Douglas H.S., President Trump’s gun control proposals, the media narrative of events, and what would have worked.

Paul suggested everyone call the White House comment line at 202-456-1111 to let him know where you stand on his proposals regarding bump fire stocks, raising the age to purchase a long arm, and universal background checks. The key thing regarding bump fire stocks is not the stocks themselves but rather if it is interpreted to include anything that might accelerate the rate of fire such as a trigger job, Geissele or Timney triggers, or a different buffer weight.

Paul has made the recording available as a YouTube video. You may want to subscribe to his page so you don’t miss future shows.

Gunsite Steps Up

The Colonel would be proud. Gunsite Academy has stepped up to offer a free Gunsite 250 class to school superintendents, school board presidents, and assistant superintendents. This is an effort to educate them and help them formulate policies that would keep their students safe. A Gunsite 250 pistol class normally costs $1,750.

For Those In Florida

Florida Carry issued a call late last week for legislators to eliminate gun-free zones, to authorize teachers with a CWFL to be allowed to carry in schools, and to immediately provide funding for a FASTER program.

If you live in Florida, it’s time to hit these legislators up.

On Friday, Feb 16th, Florida Carry called for the Florida Legislature to immediately:
  1. Pass emergency legislation to eliminate gun-free zones for law-abiding concealed carry licensees;
  2. Pass
    emergency legislation authorizing all teachers in public schools who
    possess a CWFL to carry their licensed, concealed firearm if they so
    choose, without repercussion; and
  3. Provide
    immediate funding of one million dollars in grants for county school
    boards and sheriffs to implement pilot programs of the
    Faculty/Administrator Safety Training and Emergency Response (FASTER) Program in the State of Florida.
Today, the legislature is under attack.
The candidates who came to us as Florida Gun Owners during the primaries have now become lawmakers.
Those lawmakers are now being pressured in to selling us out.
We have offered effective solutions to the violence of evil people.  Far too many legislators are not listening…
We have called for the legislature to fund FASTER
Investigate the non-response of the Broward County Sheriff’s office to a clear and present danger, to demand that the FBI account for its failure to investigate multiple reported threats, Recognize that “gun free zones” are not free of criminal violence, and Provide for the lawful defence of FL students.  

Contact your legislators.
larry.ahern@myfloridahouse.gov
ben.albritton@myfloridahouse.gov
thad.altman@myfloridahouse.gov
brian.avila@myfloridahouse.gov
halsey.beshears@myfloridahouse.gov
michael.bileca@myfloridahouse.gov
jim.boyd@myfloridahouse.gov
jason.brodeur@myfloridahouse.gov
daniel.burgess@myfloridahouse.gov
colleen.burton@myfloridahouse.gov
cord.byrd@myfloridahouse.gov
matt.caldwell@myfloridahouse.gov
charles.clemons@myfloridahouse.gov
richard.corcoran@myfloridahouse.gov
robert.cortes@myfloridahouse.gov
travis.cummings@myfloridahouse.gov
jose.diaz@myfloridahouse.gov
manny.diaz@myfloridahouse.gov
byron.donalds@myfloridahouse.gov
brad.drake@myfloridahouse.gov
jay.fant@myfloridahouse.gov
randy.fine@myfloridahouse.gov
jason.fischer@myfloridahouse.gov
heather.fitzenhagen@myfloridahouse.gov
julio.gonzalez@myfloridahouse.gov
tom.goodson@myfloridahouse.gov
erin.grall@myfloridahouse.gov
james.grant@myfloridahouse.gov
michael.grant@myfloridahouse.gov
joe.gruters@myfloridahouse.gov
bill.hager@myfloridahouse.gov
gayle.harrell@myfloridahouse.gov
shawn.harrison@myfloridahouse.gov
blaise.ingoglia@myfloridahouse.gov
clay.ingram@myfloridahouse.gov
sam.killebrew@myfloridahouse.gov
mike.larosa@myfloridahouse.gov
chris.latvala@myfloridahouse.gov
thomas.leek@myfloridahouse.gov
marylynn.magar@myfloridahouse.gov
amber.mariano@myfloridahouse.gov
ralph.massullo@myfloridahouse.gov
stan.mcclain@myfloridahouse.gov
larry.metz@myfloridahouse.gov
mike.miller@myfloridahouse.gov
george.moraitis@myfloridahouse.gov
jeanette.nunez@myfloridahouse.gov
jose.oliva@myfloridahouse.gov
bobby.payne@myfloridahouse.gov
kathleen.peters@myfloridahouse.gov
cary.pigman@myfloridahouse.gov
scott.plakon@myfloridahouse.gov
rene.plasencia@myfloridahouse.gov
mel.ponder@myfloridahouse.gov
elizabeth.porter@myfloridahouse.gov
jake.raburn@myfloridahouse.gov
holly.raschein@myfloridahouse.gov
paul.renner@myfloridahouse.gov
ray.rodrigues@myfloridahouse.gov
bob.rommel@myfloridahouse.gov
rick.roth@myfloridahouse.gov
david.santiago@myfloridahouse.gov
ross.spano@myfloridahouse.gov
chris.sprowls@myfloridahouse.gov
cyndi.stevenson@myfloridahouse.gov
charlie.stone@myfloridahouse.gov
jennifer.sullivan@myfloridahouse.gov
jackie.toledo@myfloridahouse.gov
carlos.trujillo@myfloridahouse.gov
jay.trumbull@myfloridahouse.gov
frank.white@myfloridahouse.gov
jayer.williamson@myfloridahouse.gov
yarborough.clay@myfloridahouse.gov
joseph.abruzzo@myfloridahouse.gov
ramon.alexander@myfloridahouse.gov
bruce.antone@myfloridahouse.gov
robert.asencio@myfloridahouse.gov
loranne.ausley@myfloridahouse.gov
lori.berman@myfloridahouse.gov
kamia.brown@myfloridahouse.gov
john.cortes@myfloridahouse.gov
janet.cruz@myfloridahouse.gov
kimberly.daniels@myfloridahouse.gov
tracie.davis@myfloridahouse.gov
ben.diamond@myfloridahouse.gov
bobby.dubose@myfloridahouse.gov
nicholas.duran@myfloridahouse.gov
katie.edwards@myfloridahouse.gov
joseph.geller@myfloridahouse.gov
margret.good@myfloridahouse.gov
roy.hardemon@myfloridahouse.gov
patrick.henry@myfloridahouse.gov
kristin.jacobs@myfloridahouse.gov
al.jacquet@myfloridahouse.gov
evan.jenne@myfloridahouse.gov
shevrin.jones@myfloridahouse.gov
larry.lee@myfloridahouse.gov
kionne.mcghee@myfloridahouse.gov
amy.mercado@myfloridahouse.gov
jared.moskowitz@myfloridahouse.gov
wengay.newton@myfloridahouse.gov
sharon.pritchett@myfloridahouse.gov
david.richardson@myfloridahouse.gov
barrington.russell@myfloridahouse.gov
sean.shaw@myfloridahouse.gov
david.silvers@myfloridahouse.gov
emily.slosberg@myfloridahouse.gov
carlos.smith@myfloridahouse.gov
cynthia.stafford@myfloridahouse.gov
richard.stark@myfloridahouse.gov
barbara.watson@myfloridahouse.gov
clovis.watson@myfloridahouse.gov
matt.willhite@myfloridahouse.gov
patricia.williams@myfloridahouse.gov
baxley.dennis@flsenate.gov
bean.aaron@flsenate.gov
benacquisto.lizbeth@flsenate.gov
bradley.rob@flsenate.gov
brandes.jeff@flsenate.gov
broxson.doug@flsenate.gov
flores.anitere@flsenate.gov
gainer.george@flsenate.gov
galvano.bill@flsenate.gov
garcia.rene@flsenate.gov
grimsley.denise@flsenate.gov
hukill.dorothy@flsenate.gov
hutson.travis@flsenate.gov
lee.tom@flsenate.gov
mayfield.debbie@flsenate.gov
negron.joe@flsenate.gov
passidomo.kathleen@flsenate.gov
perry.keith@flsenate.gov
simmons.david@flsenate.gov
stargel.kelli@flsenate.gov
steube.greg@flsenate.gov
young.dana@flsenate.gov
book.lauren@flsenate.gov
bracy.randolp@flsenate.gov
braynon.oscar@flsenate.gov
campbell.daphne@flsenate.gov
clemens.jeff@flsenate.gov
farmer.gary@flsenate.gov
gibson.audrey@flsenate.gov
montford.bill@flsenate.gov
powell.bobby@flsenate.gov
rader.kevin@flsenate.gov
rodriguez.jose@flsenate.gov
rouson.darryl@flsenate.gov
simpson.wilton@flsenate.gov
stewart.linda@flsenate.gov
thurston.perry@flsenate.gov
torres.victor@flsenate.gov