Sunday, July 18, 2010
Nerf Guns
I posted previously about Nerf's toy guns based on real guns. Recently Gizmodo did a similar piece.
So This Is What Nerf Guns Are Like Now, Huh?
So This Is What Nerf Guns Are Like Now, Huh?
"The next amendment is,'A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.' One of the ordinary modes, by which tyrants accomplish their purposes without resistance, is, by disarming the people, and making it an offence to keep arms, and by substituting a regular army in the stead of a resort to the militia. The friends of a free government cannot be too watchful, to overcome the dangerous tendency of the public mind to sacrifice, for the sake of mere private convenience, this powerful check upon the designs of ambitious men.
The importance of this article will scarcely be doubted by any persons, who have duly reflected upon the subject. The militia is the natural defence of a country against sudden foreign invasions, domestic insurrections, and domestic usurpations of power by rulers. It is against sound policy for a free people to keep up large military establishments and standing armies in time of peace, both from the enormous expenses, with they are attended, and the facile means, which they afford to ambitious and unprincipled rulers, to subvert the government, or trample upon the rights of the people. The right of the citizens to keep and bear arms had justly been considered, as the palladium of the liberties of a republic; since it offers a strong moral check against the usurpations and arbitrary power of rulers; and it will generally, even if these are successful in the first instance, enable the people to resist and triumph over them. And yet, though this truth would seem so clear, and the importance of a well-regulated militia would seem so undeniable, it cannot be disguised, that among the American people there is a growing indifference to any system of militia discipline, and a strong disposition, from a sense of its burdens, to be rid of all regulations. How it is practicable to keep the people duly armed without some organization, it is difficult to see. There is certainly no small danger, that indifference may lead to disgust, and disgust to contempt; and thus gradually undermine all the protection intended by this clause of our National Bill of Rights."
- Joseph Story, "A Familiar Exposition of The Constitution of the United States", paragraphs 450 and 451 (1840)
from SurvivalBlog
The importance of this article will scarcely be doubted by any persons, who have duly reflected upon the subject. The militia is the natural defence of a country against sudden foreign invasions, domestic insurrections, and domestic usurpations of power by rulers. It is against sound policy for a free people to keep up large military establishments and standing armies in time of peace, both from the enormous expenses, with they are attended, and the facile means, which they afford to ambitious and unprincipled rulers, to subvert the government, or trample upon the rights of the people. The right of the citizens to keep and bear arms had justly been considered, as the palladium of the liberties of a republic; since it offers a strong moral check against the usurpations and arbitrary power of rulers; and it will generally, even if these are successful in the first instance, enable the people to resist and triumph over them. And yet, though this truth would seem so clear, and the importance of a well-regulated militia would seem so undeniable, it cannot be disguised, that among the American people there is a growing indifference to any system of militia discipline, and a strong disposition, from a sense of its burdens, to be rid of all regulations. How it is practicable to keep the people duly armed without some organization, it is difficult to see. There is certainly no small danger, that indifference may lead to disgust, and disgust to contempt; and thus gradually undermine all the protection intended by this clause of our National Bill of Rights."
- Joseph Story, "A Familiar Exposition of The Constitution of the United States", paragraphs 450 and 451 (1840)
from SurvivalBlog
Why liberals should love the Second Amendment
Daily Kos posted a pro gun piece. Something different from their usual anti-gun sentiments.
Why liberals should love the Second Amendment
It seems like a decent article that focuses on gun rights as civil rights.
McDonald Decision Will Challenge Local Gun Laws
Sayre Weaver is one of the leading legal lights of the gun control movement in California and she says the McDonald decision is likely to spawn lawsuits challenging local gun control laws.
It appears likely that McDonald will generate challenges to a wide range of local firearms regulations, as well as ammunition regulations.....Because the Court has given little guidance on what standard a firearms regulation must meet to survive challenge under the Second Amendment, we anticipate that the decision will embolden individual litigants to challenge a wide range of firearms laws, including long standing laws that have previously survived challenge in the courts.
...ordinances will now be subject to a stricter test in the courts, and the legislative findings that may be needed for a given law to pass muster under the Second Amendment will be of particular importance.
From NO LAWYERS - ONLY GUNS AND MONEY
It appears likely that McDonald will generate challenges to a wide range of local firearms regulations, as well as ammunition regulations.....Because the Court has given little guidance on what standard a firearms regulation must meet to survive challenge under the Second Amendment, we anticipate that the decision will embolden individual litigants to challenge a wide range of firearms laws, including long standing laws that have previously survived challenge in the courts.
...ordinances will now be subject to a stricter test in the courts, and the legislative findings that may be needed for a given law to pass muster under the Second Amendment will be of particular importance.
From NO LAWYERS - ONLY GUNS AND MONEY
CalGuns Gets Over on Anti-Gun Forces
Popular online gun forum, CalGuns, suspected that anti-gun force, Legal Community Against Violence, was monitoring their forums. So CalGunnerss pretended to organize a potentially rowdy protest at LCAV's annual fundraising dinner in San Francisco.
LCAV were listening in and took CalGuns seriously. They even mobilized SFPD. However, no one showed and CalGuns revealed that LCAV had been had.
CalGuns:
As much fun as it would have been to organize a great big ruckus, it was much more fun watching them scramble about in fear that the gun nuts were going to heap insult upon the injury of McDonald at their pyrrhic victory dinner.
And we didn’t have to expend an ounce of energy.
What was the point?
Well, we learned a bunch.
1) That past actions have convinced them to take us seriously. Calgunner attendance at City Council meetings, legislative hearings and court cases has demonstrated that we’re able to mobilize a motivated group of activists on short notice. We’ve proven to them that we show up. We’ve shown that we’re effective, too. Emeryville’s revision of their proposed ammunition ordinance proved that.
2) That they’re paying attention to us. We long suspected that LCAV was monitoring our communications. It’s one of the reasons that CGF boardmembers are circumspect when discussing legal strategies. So, please be patient when folks are using cryptic language to discuss options for regaining our rights.
3) That now they don’t know when we’re bluffing. We’ve spoofed them twice so far. Who knows what other kinds of wild goose chases we can send them on? It will be fun to learn.
4) That they’re afraid of us. Despite my assertions (and requirements) that this “action” not allow any physical contact, trespassing, etc., LCAV felt it necessary to mobilize the police and additional security.
5) That they’re irrational. In every interaction that we’ve had with the antis, we’ve been polite. We’ve been well dressed, well spoken, chivalrous and respectful. We’ve been met with profanities, threats and incivility. I wouldn’t be surprised if local officials are starting to take notice the difference in style.
What a great tactic. It would be fun to employ this and redirect other forces and expend their energy/resources if we knew we were being spied on.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Victory on Second Amendment Freedom in McDonald v. City of Chicago
In a 5-4 decision, The US Supreme Court ruled that the Second Amendment applies not just to Washington, D.C. and other federal enclaves, but protects the rights of all Americans throughout the country. The opinion in McDonald v. City of Chicago brings an end to the nearly 30 year-long handgun ban that the city has imposed on its citizens.
As hoped, this ruling could challenge (and end) regulation of firearms. READ HERE for details on how.
As hoped, this ruling could challenge (and end) regulation of firearms. READ HERE for details on how.
Swiss Gun Party
Every five years, Switzerland holds the Eidgenössische (Federal) Schützenfest. This year, there were 2300 teams made up over over 45,000 individual shooters.
CA Long Gun Registration Still Moving Forward
Assembly Bill 1810 was passed by the Senate Public Safety Committee by a vote of 4-2. The bill now heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee for consideration.
AB1810 would establish a registration system, similar to the one currently in place for handguns, for all newly-acquired long guns. Under AB1810, the make, model and serial number of the firearm as well as the identifying information of the purchaser would be recorded and kept on file by the California Attorney General’s office.
You can contact the CA Senate Appropriations Committee and urge them to not pass the Bill.
CONTACT INFO HERE
AB1810 would establish a registration system, similar to the one currently in place for handguns, for all newly-acquired long guns. Under AB1810, the make, model and serial number of the firearm as well as the identifying information of the purchaser would be recorded and kept on file by the California Attorney General’s office.
You can contact the CA Senate Appropriations Committee and urge them to not pass the Bill.
CONTACT INFO HERE
5 Hollywood Gun Myths
Cracked compiled an awesome and hilarious list of gun myths perpetuated by Hollywood films. Check out their list which has extensive examples and fact checking.
#5. Silencers Turn Gunfire Into a Gentle Whisper
#4. Machine Guns are Magical Death Machines
#3. Bulletproof Vests Are Magical Force Fields
#2. Gratuitous Cocking
#1. Bullets Explode Everything
One myth not listed which I think is used the most and perhaps the most important is that guns do not automatically and neatly kill a person. In reality, it can be very messy.
#5. Silencers Turn Gunfire Into a Gentle Whisper
#4. Machine Guns are Magical Death Machines
#3. Bulletproof Vests Are Magical Force Fields
#2. Gratuitous Cocking
#1. Bullets Explode Everything
One myth not listed which I think is used the most and perhaps the most important is that guns do not automatically and neatly kill a person. In reality, it can be very messy.
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