Monday, April 30, 2018
"And A Healthy Appreciation For The Second Amendment"
Brian Kemp is a candidate in the Republican primary to be the next governor of Georgia. Kemp is currently the Secretary of State and was previously a state senator. He just put up an ad on Friday that has the anti-gunners howling. Kemp, the father of three daughters, is shown interviewing "Jake" who wants to date one of his daughters.
While a bit stereotypical - dad cleaning shotgun before daughter goes on date - it does get his point across. And, to be honest, I found it hilarious.
Even more of a hoot is to read the comments from all those aghast at his ad in the YouTube comments. From what some Georgia TV stations have reported there have been demands from the outraged (Outraged, I say!) to take down the ad. Only problem is that would violate FCC regulations which prevent the removal of a political advertisement.
Marijuana And Guns
Trainer John Farnam posted another of his Farnam's Quips this morning and it contains a very valid warning for anyone using marijuana whether medicinally or recreationally. Don't lie on your Form 4473 and say you aren't a marijuana user if you do pot.
From Farnam's Quips:
US Attorneys are currently prosecuting five men in ME for falsely claiming on Federal Form 4473 that they were not users of marijuana. Form 4473 must be filled-out for every retail gun purchase.It needs to be said that in this case Federal law trumps (no pun intended) state law on marijuana use. It sucks especially if you have found relief using marijuana for medical issues. However, until such time as marijuana is legalized under Federal law, the use of marijuana will impact your gun rights and could end up with you becoming a felon.
Marijuana use, medical or “recreational,” is a violation of federal law, even though some states, like ME, have “legalized” it, at least within state boundaries.
How a state can “overrule” federal law has yet to be explained to me in a way that makes any kind of sense. I am confused with regard to what the term “law” even means any more!
However, current implications for potential gun-owners are far easier to understand!
When you use marijuana, in any state and for any reason, forget about owning guns!
For sure, don’t attempt to purchase guns!
BATF doesn’t care what state you live in!
And since after exposure, traces of marijuana remain in your system essentially forever, any use of marijuana at any time in your life probably represents a “deal-buster” with regard to gun ownership!
The five men mentioned above are in for the “hassle of their lives.” Whatever the outcome, this “adventure” will be impoverishing, morbidly frightening, and essentially never-ending!
Another administration might look at this issue differently, but the current one is putting out the clear signal that they are coming after marijuana-users who attempt to buy guns- big time!
Don’t be “that guy!”
North Carolina Police Chiefs Against Reciprocity
It is not news that many big city police chiefs are against national reciprocity for concealed carry. Earlier in April, the International Association of Chiefs of Police sent a letter to Congress expressing their disapproval for HR 38 and S. 446.
What should be news is the hypocrisy of those chiefs from North Carolina who have signed on to the letter. It is hypocritical to argue against reciprocity for North Carolinans with valid permits visiting any other state when North Carolina law recognizes ALL permits from other states. In other words, North Carolina General Statute § 14-415.24 (a) provides for universal reciprocity for out-of-state permits.
If your police chief listed below is one of the signatories to the letter, you might want to ask him or her why they think North Carolinians should have the same rights accorded to visitors to this state.
Police Chief Bernette Morris, Morehead City Police Department, Morehead City, NC
Chief of Police and Executive Director for Community Safety Christopher C. Blue, Chapel Hill Police Department, Chapel Hill, NC
Chief of Police Monroe Wagoner, Elkin Police Department, Elkin, NC
Chief of Police Gina Hawkins, Fayetteville Police Department, Fayetteville, NC
Chief of Police Jeff Prichard, Graham Police, Graham, NC
Chief Wallace W. Layne, Holden Beach Police, Holden Beach, NC
Chief of Police Timothy R. Summers, Kernersville Police Department, Kernersville, NC
Chief of Police Joel Johnson, Kitty Hawk Police Department, Kitty Hawk, NC
Chief of Police Allen Lawrence, Marion Police Department, Marion, NC
Chief of Police Tim Ledford, Mint Hill Police Department, Mint Hill, NC
Chief of Police James Wilson, Norwood Police Department, Norwood, NC
Chief of Police Ryan James Thompson, Pine Knoll Shores Police Department, Pine Knoll Shores, NC
Chief of Police Robert Hassell, Reidsville Police Department, Reidsville, NC
Chief of Police Kenneth J. Klamar, Sunset Beach Police, Sunset Beach, NC
Chief Daniel Wilcox, Cape Fear Community College PD, Wilmington, NC
Chief of Police Timothy J. Wenzel, Aberdeen Police Department, Aberdeen, NC
Chief of Police John Letteney, Apex Police Department, Apex, NC
Chief of Police Paul D. Burdette Jr., Beaufort Police Department, Beaufort, NC
Chief of Police John Phillip Harris, Jr., City of Brevard Police Department, Brevard, NC
Chief of Police Walter Horton, Carrboro Police Department, Carrboro, NC
Chief of Police James A. Reese, Emerald Isle Police Department, Emerald Isle, NC
Chief of Police Laura Fahnestock, Fuquay-Varina Police Department, Fuquay-Varina, NC
Chief of Police Ronald L Matthews, Garland Police Department, Garland, NC
Chief of Police Brandon Zuidema, Garner PD, Garner, NC
Chief of Police Michael Andrew Winters, Long View Police Department, Long View, NC
Chief of Police Erik S. McGinnis, Misenheimer Police Dept., Misenheimer, NC
Chief of Police David Ng, WakeMed Campus Police and Public Safety, Raleigh, NC
Police Chief C.T. Hasty Jr, Roanoke Rapids Police Department, Roanoke Rapids, NC
Chief of Police/Director of Public Safety Patricia D. Norris, Winston-Salem State University Police, Winston-Salem, NC
Chief of Police John J. Ruppe, Woodland Police Department, Woodland, NC
Chief of Police Jeff Harvet, Atlantic Beach police, Atlantic Beach, NC
Chief of Police Farron Gray Jester, Boonville Police Department, Boonville, NC
Moreover, just so we are clear as to North Carolina's place in the fight for national carry reciprocity, Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC-8) is the primary sponsor of HR 38.
Guess Who Will Be In Dallas On Friday
President Trump didn't think the White House Correspondents' Dinner was worth attending. From what I heard about it, he was right. However, a number of reports say that he will be attending the Leadership Forum at the NRA Annual Meeting in Dallas on Friday. A number of politicians from VP Mike Pence to Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) had already been scheduled to appear. My thought was that Pence was to be the stand-in for the President Trump at the event.
I'm sure this will guarantee that there will be protesters at the Annual Meeting. I've heard that Alyssa Milano will be leading the Holly contingent and I guess Shannon Watts will be there with the Demanding Moms for Illegal Mayors. However, this leaves open the question as to whether everyone's favorite (sic) David "Camera" Hogg will be there to lead the Children's Crusade Against Enumerated Rights.
Sunday, April 29, 2018
An Interesting Use Of Venn Diagrams
We all learned about Venn diagrams when we were in elementary school. However, I sincerely doubt our teachers, no matter how liberal or even libertine, would have ever used this example.
I found this infographic on Reddit and it comes courtesy of LibationLab.com. This is an alcohol-related blog by M. Quinn Sweeney that seeks to demystify bartending and cocktails.
Humor On The Bench
Earlier this month, recently seated Judge Don Willett of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals wrote his first opinion in case involving sentencing enhancements. Judge Willett when he was Justice Willett of the Texas Supreme Court was well-known for his humorous tweets on Twitter. Indeed the Texas House of Representatives named him "Tweeter Laureate". Given this background, you might expect his opinions to have a bit of humor woven into them and you wouldn't be wrong.
The case of US v. Maturino involved an appeal of the sentence received by Victor Maturino. Mr. Maturino thought he was buying 144 live grenades for a Mexican drug cartel. What he got was 143 duds and one live grenade. The other surprise for Mr. Maturino was that the ostensible seller was an undercover BATFE special agent who promptly arrested him when he handed over $35,000 in cash and took possession of the grenades (and other NFA items). The judge in the trial court gave Mr. Maturino an enhanced sentence because of the number of grenades involved in the illegal transaction. The appeal contended that he should have only been sentenced based on the number of live grenades he actually bought as opposed to the number he though he was getting.
The 5th Circuit rejected his appeal in an unanimous decision concluding that the trial court's application of the Sentencing Guidelines including an enhanced sentence was correct.
Judge Willett concludes:
Victor Maturino requested 144 high-explosive grenades; he received 143 non-explosive grenades. This is a sentencing appeal, though, and what matters for sentencing is what Maturino actively sought, not what he actually bought. Summing up, the sentencing court properly counted the number of firearms involved in Maturino’s offense and did not miscalculate his sentence under the Guidelines. Maturino’s plan for live grenades fell short, but close counts in horseshoes and hand-grenade cases.All I'm going to add is that Judge Willett is an American treasure and I'd love to see him as a Justice on the Supreme Court.
Saturday, April 28, 2018
Doing Good Works In Detroit
Firearms trainer Rick Ector started a program seven years ago to offer free introductory firearms training to the women of Detroit. Legally Armed in Detroit has now grown from 50 women trained in its first year to what may be 800 women trained this year.
The press released below from Rick will give all the details and how to pre-register which is mandatory. Rick is doing the good work and it is a pleasure to help publicize it.
Detroit, MI, April 28, 2018 -- Legally Armed In Detroit, a gun rights advocacy group, has announced that it will provide a free firearm shooting lesson at a southeast Michigan target range for 800 women interested in learning more about firearms and personal protection.
There will be no charge for the Firearm Instructor's safety briefing, the usage of a firearm, ammunition, and range time. Participation is 100 percent free for all attendees. No prior firearms training or experience is required of the women who desire to take advantage of the lesson. Further, experienced women merely desiring to improve their marksmanship skills are also welcome to attend.
The free shooting lesson offer was the brainchild of Rick Ector, an NRA Approved Firearms Trainer, after seeing a local television newscast of a young woman's body being discovered on an east-side Detroit street seven years ago.
This year's event will be the seventh consecutive year it has been conducted. In the first year only 50 women were trained. However, last year the event grew sufficiently to teach almost 600 how to safely operate a pistol.
This year's goal is 800 trained women over the day-long event. It is only with the cooperation of Ector's fellow Firearm Instructor colleagues and supporters across social media that this event could even be attempted and safely conducted.
Ector believes that there are many women in the state of Michigan who are curious about firearms and their role in self-defense but are reluctant to investigate due to fears. He said, "If giving women a free lesson by a credentialed professional translates into women just trying it, it'll be a productive use of my time."
The ladies FREE shooting event will be held on Sunday, May 20, 2018 at the Top Gun Shooting Sports Gun Range at 22050 Pennsylvania in Taylor, Michigan. FREE Advance Pre-registration is required for participation. Interested ladies should visit the following event page on Facebook for more info: https://www.facebook.com/events/334945773576906/
Rick Ector is a National Rifle Association credentialed Firearms Trainer, who provides Michigan CCW/CPL Class training in metro-Detroit for students at his firearms school - Rick's Firearm Academy of Detroit. Ector is a recognized expert in Firearm Safety and Personal Protection and has been featured extensively in the national and local media: Associated Press, National Public Radio, MSNBC, The Guardian, Townhall Magazine, The Politics Daily, and Aljazeera.
For more info about the free shooting lesson and Detroit Michigan CCW Classes, please contact:
Rick Ector
Web: Legally Armed In Detroit.
Email: detroitccw@gmail.com
Phone: 313.733.7404
Sorry For The Slow Blogging
I wish I could say I was away on a trip to an exotic destination. However, the reality behind my non-existent blogging this week is more prosaic. I got hit with acute bronchitis which brought with it fatigue and lethargy. In other words, I didn't feel like doing anything and certainly nothing that required thought.
However, I broke down and went to urgent care yesterday. I came home with three prescriptions and things are looking up. Not coughing incessantly is a pleasure.
With luck, I'll be back to 90% by Thursday morning when I leave for the NRA Annual Meeting. If there is anything you'd like me to check out, please let me know in the comment section.
Now back to our regular programming.
Saturday, April 21, 2018
GRNC-PVF Primary Recommendations
Grass Roots North Carolina - Political Victory Fund doesn't make endorsements. Rather they make recommendations which are more limited than endorsements. Moreover, as they note, they are more subjective than their candidate evaluations.
Here are the 2018 recommendations released earlier this week which include an explanation as to why they made the recommendation for a particular candidate.
2018 GRNC Candidate Recommendations
(Listings include only districts with primary races)Errata: A note on the front of some GRNC-PVF postcard election alerts incorrectly listed the last day for early voting as May 4. The last day for early voting is actually May 5.Candidate recommendations versus evaluations: Below are recommendations for effective voting strategies by the Grass Roots North Carolina Political Victory Fund. Candidate recommendations, which are more limited than blanket “endorsements,” are not made in all races, only in races where a clear pro-gun candidate stands out or where strategic voting is necessary to keep anti-gun candidates out of office.Recommendations differ from GRNC candidate evaluations. While the evaluations are intended to provide an objective measure of where candidates stand on Second Amendment issues, GRNC–PVF recommendations are analytical and therefore subject to interpretation. For a full explanation of GRNC’s objective star evaluations, go to:https://www.grnc.org/remember-in-november/grnc-candidate-evaluations-2018Important note: Candidates who lack voting records or other history on Second Amendment issues and who fail to return GRNC’s candidate survey automatically receive a zero star evaluation (0) on the assumption that they are hiding their position from gun voters. Every election year, we receive complaints about ostensibly pro-gun candidates who receive zero star evaluations due to failure to return the survey. Each candidate is mailed a survey to the address he or she registered with the State Board of Elections. If they fail to return the survey, we cannot help candidates who will not help themselves.Voting instructions: Primary election One Stop Early Voting begins on April 19 and ends on May 5. Absentee ballots must be received by 5:00 PM on May 1. Primary voting day is May 8 between 6:30 AM and 7:30 PM. Click here to find your polling place on election day, or click here to find your One Stop Early Voting place. To look up your voter registration, click here. Note: If you are registered as “unaffiliated,” you may vote in either the Democrat or Republican primary election.GRNC CANDIDATE RECOMMENDATIONS(Note: the NC State Board of Elections has made numerous changes to presentation of candidate data which now, unfortunately, contain numerous errors. We have tried to catch those errors but apologize if some of them have been allowed to propagate into GRNC evaluations.) For a full explanation of GRNC star evaluations, go to:https://www.grnc.org/remember-in-november/grnc-candidate-evaluations-2018US HOUSEDistrict 2 (R): Challenger Allen Chesser scored 99% on GRNCs candidate survey, earning 4 stars (****), but incumbent George Holding has a proven track record with a 100% pro-gun voting record, including against the recent and insidious “Fix NICS” language, giving him a GRNC 4-star evaluation. GRNC-PVF recommends George Holding.District 3 (R): With a 100% survey score and a 97% pro-gun voting average, including against the recent and insidious “Fix NICS” language, earning a GRNC four-star evaluation (****), GRNC–PVF continues to recommend incumbent Walter Jones over challengers Scott Dacey (***) and Phil Law (****).District 5 (R): Dropping a vote on the insidious “Fix NICS” language recently included in the appropriations bill caused incumbent Virginia Foxx to drop from 4 to 3 stars (***). With reluctance, GRNC-PVF recommends challenger Dillon Gentry, whose 94% survey earned him 4 stars (****).District 6 (R): Although incumbent Mark Walker doesn’t have a primary, he deserves accolades for standing strong against gun control by voting against “Fix NICS.” With a continued 4-star evaluation (****), GRNC–PVF recommends Mark Walker.District 7 (R): Although incumbent David Rouzer doesn’t have a primary, he deserves accolades for standing strong against gun control by voting against “Fix NICS.” With a continued 4-star evaluation (****), GRNC–PVF recommends David Rouzer.District 8 (R): Although incumbent Richard Hudson doesn’t have a primary, we encourage voters to call him and ask why he voted for “Fix NICS.” Despite his sponsorship for national concealed handgun reciprocity, which passed the House, his vote for Fix NICS brought his voting record to only 50%, earning him only a GRNC 2-star (**) evaluation.District 9 (R): Due to his previously good voting record, GRNC-PVF previously supported incumbent Robert Pittenger despite his having drawn fire from some conservative quarters. Like so many other politicians who “forget who brung ‘em to the dance,” however, Pittenger this year voted for the insidious Fix NICS language. By contrast, challenger Mark Harris not only scored 99% on GRNC’s candidate survey, earning 4 stars (****), but also promises to sponsor pro-gun legislation in Congress. For US House, District 9, GRNC-PVF recommends Mark Harris.District 10 (R): Congressman Patrick McHenry has been a friend of gun owners ever since his service in the NC House, including his effort to ensure passage of a clean concealed handgun reciprocity bill. Therefore, we are deeply concerned that for the first time, Rep. McHenry dropped a vote on Fix NICS, reducing his GRNC evaluation to 3 stars (***). Owing to his long history of service to gun owners, GRNC-PVF continues to recommend Patrick McHenry, but notes that with a primary featuring three challengers, including pro-gun Jeff Gregory (survey: 98%, GRNC ****), Congressman McHenry needs to avoid the inherently corrupting influences of incumbency.District 11 (R): Incumbent Congressman Mark Meadows was one of the patriots who had the courage to vote against Fix NICS. With a perfect 100% pro-gun voting record and a perfect 100% survey, Meadows is the clear choice for gun owners. GRNC-PVF recommends Mark Meadows.District 12 (R): With a perfect 100% survey, GRNC-PVF recommends Paul Bonham for the Republican primary.District 13 (R): Like Mark Meadows, legislators don’t come more pro-gun than incumbent Rep. Ted Budd (100% vote record, 100% survey, GRNC ****). Although Budd doesn’t have a primary, he deserves accolades for bucking leadership to vote against Fix NICS. GRNC-PVF recommends Ted Budd.NC SENATEDistrict 02 (R): GRNC-PVF recommends Norman Sanderson (100% voting record, 90% survey, GRNC ****) over Lisa Oakley (survey NR, 0-star).District 25 (R): GRNC-PVF recommends Tom McInnis (100% voting record, 96% survey, GRNC ****) over Michelle Lexo (survey NR, 0-star).District 29 (R): For this open seat, GRNC-PVF recommends Eddie Gallimore (93% survey, GRNC ****) over anti-gun Sam Watford (GRNC *) who, in the NC House, had only a 60% voting record and had to be forcefully convinced not to offer weakening amendments to pro-gun legislation. Watford is no friend of gun owners. Vote Gallimore for NC Senate.District 31 (R): In this combined district requiring a face-off between incumbents, GRNC-PVF recommends you vote for Joyce Krawiec(100% voting record, 99% survey, GRNC ****) over Dan Barrett (NR, 0-star) and Peter Antinozzi (NR, 0-star).District 33 (R): For this open seat, GRNC-PVF recommends Carl Ford(GRNC ****) due to his proven 100% voting record and 100% bill sponsorship in the NC House, and his 98% survey, over unproven challenger Bill Sorenson (survey 98%, ****).District 34 (R): For this open seat, GRNC-PVF recommends Bill Howell (96% survey, GRNC ****) or Vickie Sawyer (96% survey, GRNC ****) over former NC Senator Bob Rucho (100% voting record, 79% survey, ****) due to Rucho’s long history of antagonism toward gun owners and his work to weaken gun bills while in leadership.District 39 (R): GRNC-PVF recommends Dan Bishop (94% voting record, 88% survey) over Beth Monaghan (survey NR, 0-star).District 42 (R): GRNC-PVF recommends Mark Hollo (voting record 100%, survey 99%, GRNC ****) over incumbent Andy Wells (voting record 100%, survey NR). Although Wells votes right, he has refused to complete GRNC’s candidate survey. Meanwhile, while in the NC House, Hollo was a leader for gun rights supporters, including sponsoring pro-gun legislation. Challenger Ryan Huffman refused to answer GRNC’s survey, earning a 0-star evaluation, while Dustin Long submitted a 91% survey (****) but is untested. Vote Hollo for NC Senate.District 44 (R): GRNC-PVF recommends incumbent David Curtis(voting record 100%, survey 100%, GRNC ****) over challengers David Curtis (survey NR, 0-star) and Martin Oakes (survey-NR, 0-star).NC HOUSEDistrict 1 (R): For this open seat, GRNC-PVF recommends Edward Goodwin (survey 93%, GRNC ****) over Candice Hunter (survey-NR, 0-star).District 3 (R): Scoring an perfect 100% on GRNC’s candidate survey and a recent pro-gun voting record of 96%, plus sponsoring pro-gun bills, GRNC-PVF recommends Michael Speciale (GRNC ****).District 4 (R): GRNC-PVF recommends Jimmy Dixon (voting record 96%, survey 100%) over Nathan Ray Riggs (survey-NR, 0-star).District 6 (R): With a strong voting record and history of sponsoring pro-gun bills, GRNC-PVF recommends incumbent Beverly Boswell(voting record 100%, survey 92%, GRNC ****) over challenger Bobby Hanig (survey 95%, ****).District 7 (R): GRNC-PVF recommends Glen Bradley (voting record 100%, survey 100%, GRNC ****) over Lisa Stone Barnes (survey-NR, 0-star). In previous terms in the NC House, Bradley not only garnered a 100% pro-gun voting record, but also sponsored pro-gun legislation.Vote Bradley for NC House.District 14 (R): GRNC-PVF recommends incumbent George Cleveland (voting record 100%, survey 100%, GRNC ****) over challenger Joseph R. McLaughlin (survey-NR, 0-star).District 17 (R): GRNC-PVF recommends challenger Pat Sykes(survey 100%, GRNC ***) over anti-gun incumbent Frank Iler (***). In recent years, Iler has repeatedly voted against the interests of gun owners, including voting against the expansion of concealed carry and other reforms contained in HB 746. Iler is no friend of gun owners. Vote Sykes for NC House.District 19 (R): GRNC-PVF recommends challenger Hunter Ford whose perfect 100% survey earned him GRNC's highest 4-* (****) over anti-gun incumbent Ted Davis (GRNC **). Davis has repeatedly voted against the interests of gun owners and is among the most anti-gun Republicans in the legislature. Vote Hunter Ford for NC House.District 35 (R): GRNC-PVF recommends challenger Isaac Burke(survey 100%, GRNC ****) over incumbent Chris Malone (voting record 75%, **). Malone frequently votes against gun owners, demonstrating clear antagonism toward the right to arms. Vote Isaac Burke.District 44 (R): GRNC-PVF recommends Peter Petsche (survey 99%, GRNC ****) over Linda Devore (survey NR, 0-star).District 48(R): GRNC-PVF recommends Russell Walker (survey 100%, GRNC ****) over John Imbaratto (survey 80%, ***).District 52 (R): GRNC-PVF recommends incumbent Jamie Boles(voting record 94%, survey 90%, GRNC ****) over challenger Ken Byrd (survey 63%, *).District 59 (R): GRNC-PVF recommends challenger Mark McDaniel(voting record 100%, survey 97%, GRNC ****) over incumbent John Hardister (voting record 98%, survey-NR, ****). Although Hardister is a solid candidate, McDaniel distinguishes himself as a gun rights leader who in previous service in the NC Senate helped ensure passage of concealed carry and sponsored numerous pro-gun bills and amendments. McDaniel will be a gun rights leader in the House.District 67 (R): GRNC-PVF recommends incumbent Justin Burr(voting record 96%, survey 96%, GRNC ****) over untested challenger Wayne Sasser (survey 90%, ****).District 79 (R): For this open seat, GRNC-PVF recommends Keith Kidwell (survey 100%, GRNC ****) over Jim Chesnutt (survey-NR, 0-star).District 81 (R): GRNC-PVF recommends incumbent Larry Potts(voting record 100%, survey 96%, GRNC ****) over challenger Eric Osborne (survey 66%, *).District 83 (R): GRNC-PVF recommends incumbent Larry Pittman(voting record 95%, survey 92%, GRNC ****) over challenger Michael Anderson (survey-NR, 0-star). Pittman is a true gun rights leader, regularly sponsoring pro-gun legislation and amendments, and sticking his neck out for gun owners. Vote Pittman for NC House.District 90 (R): GRNC-PVF recommends incumbent Sarah Stevens (voting record 92%, survey 75%, GRNC ****) over challenger Allen Poindexter (survey-NR, 0-star).District 93 (R): GRNC-PVF recommends incumbent Jonathan Jordon (voting record 98%, survey 93%, GRNC ****) over challenger Robert Block (survey-NR, 0-star).District 96 (R): GRNC-PVF recommends incumbent Jay Adams (voting record 100%, survey 97%, GRNC ****) over untested challenger Taylor Huffman (survey-99%, ****). Adams is a leader for gun rights, sponsoring numerous pro-gun bills. Vote Adams for NC House.District 97 (R): GRNC-PVF recommends incumbent Jason Saine (voting record 100%, survey 100%, GRNC ****) over untested challenger Nic Haag (survey-99%, ****).District 110 (R): GRNC-PVF recommends incumbent Kelly Hastings (voting record 98%, survey 100%, GRNC ****) over untested challenger Charlene High (survey-NR%, 0-star). Hastings was one of the sponsors for Castle Doctrine & Stand Your Ground legislation.
Friday, April 20, 2018
Supporting Both The First And Second Amendments
When it comes to gun rights organizations, we need both the large and the small. The large like the NRA because its mere size gets politicians attention on Capitol Hill. The small because unlike the NRA they can be and are more agile.
A case in point on why we need the smaller and more agile gun rights organizations was just made yesterday by the Firearms Policy Coalition and their 503(c)(3) counterpart the Firearms Policy Foundation. Kids in school are being pressured by their peers, by their teachers, by their administrators, and by the media to participate in classroom walkouts in support of gun control. But what about the kids who support the Constitution and all of the Bill of Rights and what about the parents who just want their kids to get an education and not be politicized? Who stands up for them?
The Firearms Policy Coalition and the Firearms Policy Foundation have started a website called K12speech.com and a 21-page guide for parents and students meant to protect pro-gun students. I've read the guide and it is very well done. It contains sample letters and emails, documentation including relevant court rulings, tips on how to make FOIA requests, and instructions on how to document your interaction with school officials. You can download the guide here. There is also a legal action hotline and dedicated email address in order to seek help.
Here is the release announcing the program:
SACRAMENTO, CA (April 19, 2018) — Responding to recent student “walkout” events and demonstrations that advocate for more gun control, like the “March For Our Lives” political operation, civil rights advocacy organizations Firearms Policy Foundation (FPF) and Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) have published a new guide to protect pro-gun students and their rights. The 21-page publication, available for free download at www.k12speech.com, is entitled “K-12 Schools, Free Speech, and the Fundamental, Individual Right to Keep and Bear Arms: A Guide to How Students Can Use Their First Amendment Rights to Defend and Promote Second Amendment Rights.”
In addition to providing information and tools that parents and students can use to make sure they are not forced into participating in speech or demonstrations they disagree with, the guide contains materials that may help them plan counter-speech to gun control advocacy events or organize pro-gun rights demonstrations or expressive conduct. It also includes sample letters that parents could edit and use to notify schools of a student’s disagreement with a gun control event’s viewpoint, request information and policies, and help ensure that school officials respect the rights of all students. Additionally, there are sections on how one might acquire public records or information to investigate the use of government assets or funds – like school facilities, equipment, supplies, staff time, and contractors – for gun control advocacy and demonstrations, like walkouts, a log that students can use to take notes and document gun control events at schools, and some relevant provisions of the United States Constitution for reference.
“It is more important than ever to make sure that all viewpoints are equally represented and respected in schools,” said FPF Chairman and FPC President Brandon Combs. “Many students and parents we’ve spoken with are deeply concerned that schools are hostile to pro-gun rights views and speech. We hope our new guide helps students and parents exercise their rights and make informed decisions. And if their rights are violated, we definitely want to hear about it. Our legal team would be delighted to help make sure that public schools, staff, and teachers respect the rights of their pro-Second Amendment students.”
Craig DeLuz, an FPC spokesperson and 13-year member of a public school district’s board of trustees, explained that schools can’t support one viewpoint and suppress others. “Schools and teachers cannot be allowed to allow or support speech and viewpoints they agree with while suppressing or prohibiting peaceful, non-disruptive speech and viewpoints they disagree with. Our public schools must not be in the business of picking winners and losers in the context of constitutionally-protected free speech.”
If a student or parent believes they were discriminated against, threatened or disciplined for peacefully expressing their views, punished for refusing to participate in a gun control walkout or demonstration, or threatened with law enforcement action for their pro-gun speech, they can submit a report to the FPF/FPC Legal Action Hotline at www.firearmpolicy.org/hotline or by calling (855) 252-4510.
Craig DeLuz, the media spokesperson for FPC and FPF, does a regular video broadcast called Coffee with Craig. The episode below goes into detail about the K12speech.com project.
This effort may seem a little counter-revolutionary but it is what is needed to fight the corporate gun control industry and their "Red Guard" of David Hogg and Emma Gonzalez.
Thursday, April 19, 2018
I Guess He's Still Mad About Gettysburg
Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro (D-PA) announced the completion of a review of concealed carry reciprocity agreements that the commonwealth has with other states. According to his release, Pennsylvania now recognizes the carry permits of 29 other states which is up one from before the review. Conversely, the number of states recognizing the Pennsylvania permit remains at 32.
Shapiro announced a tool on his website that allows you to check whether your permit is good in Pennsylvania or whether your Pennsylvania permit is good in other states. All you need to do is click on the outline of the state in question to find out the reciprocity status. I did this for all the states bordering Pennsylvania and it was quite interesting. The border states with the strictest gun control - Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and New York - have no reciprocity with Pennsylvania in either direction. However, both Ohio and West Virginia which are much more gun friendly have complete reciprocity with the commonwealth.
As I mentioned in the first paragraph, Pennsylvania now recognizes the carry permits of 29 states. From the release on the additions and one subtraction.
Pennsylvania has entered into updated reciprocity agreements with 13 states to guarantee uniformity and consistency with the Pennsylvania Uniform Firearms Act, the state law governing the process. The Commonwealth has added two recognized states – Idaho and Alabama – and will remove one state, Virginia, after 30-days’ written notice, because its background check requirements are weaker than Pennsylvania’s.Shapiro, though a native of Missouri, must think it incumbent upon himself to keep armed Virginians out of Pennsylvania. I guess he's still mad about what happened during those three days in July 1863 when Bobby Lee and his Army of Northern Virginia came to visit.
We Forget The Lessons Of Lexington And Concord At Our Peril
Today marks the 243rd anniversary of the Battle of Lexington and Concord. The impetus for the battle was the attempt by the military governor of Massachusetts, Gen. Thomas Gage, to seize the arms and ammunition of the militia. Gage had been ordered by Lord Dartmouth, Secretary of State for the Colonies, to disarm the militia.
As I noted on the 242nd anniversary, the colonists were fighting to preserve the right to keep and bear arms that was one of their rights as Englishmen since at least 1689. Since the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, our right to keep and bear arms has been under continual attack. Moreover, some of these attacks have been led by our ostensible friends such as Gov. Phil Scott (R-VT) and Gov. Rick Scott (R-FL).
It doesn't matter if it is raising the age to 21 to purchase a firearm, bump stock bans, restrictions on standard capacity magazines, extreme violence protection orders, universal background checks, or what not, these laws and regulations are intended to destroy our rights and to destroy the gun culture in America.
Ensign Robert Munroe, Issac Muzzy, Samuel Hadley, John Brown, Jonas Parker, Jonathan Harrington, Caleb Harrington, and Asahel Porter did not die on or near Lexington Green to see modern day Americans just toss their rights away.
Nor did John Robbins, Solomon Pierce, John Tidd, Joseph Comee, Ebenezer Munroe Jr., Thomas Winship, Nathaniel Farmer, Prince Estabrook, and Jedediah Munroe suffer grievous gunshot and bayonet wounds to have modern day American politicians push safety over freedom.
I imagine the men of Captain Parker's Company of Militia were scared as they assembled on Lexington Green. There were only 80-some of them facing about 700 or so British regulars and Royal Marines. Nonetheless, they were willing to face off against the greatest army of its day. If we can't stand up to a coterie of freedom-despising billionaires, their PR flacks, their media allies, and their trained-bear-act teens, it is a sad day for America.
The Battle Of The Retro XM177E2s - Troy V. Brownells
Tim at the Military Arms Channel looks at the XM177E2 retro clones in this video. Both Troy and Brownells make retro versions of the Colt Commando aka CAR-15. Given my interest in retro (or retro looking) ARs, I thought this was interesting.
Wednesday, April 18, 2018
Early Voting Starts April 19th For NC Primary
Tomorrow is the first day of early voting for the May Primary in North Carolina. The number of locations in a county will vary by both date and county. For example, in Buncombe County (Asheville area), there will be only one site available for early voting until Saturday, April 28th, when it expands to six locations. You can go to the NC State Board of Elections to find the locations for one-stop early voting in your county.
In anticipation of the opening of the early voting period, Grass Roots North Carolina has released their Remember in November candidate evaluations. They have both a sort by district and a sort by name file. Personally, I find the sort by district to be more helpful. The candidate evaluations are only for the state legislature and for Congress.
As GRNC notes, these are evaluations and not endorsements.
GRNC's "Remember in November" project estimates candidates' views on "assault weapons," concealed handguns, gun storage laws, gun rationing, other gun control and the Second Amendment. THE EVALUATIONS HEREIN ARE NOT ENDORSEMENTS. We issued surveys first to a control group of gun owners and then to candidates. Next, we measured how closely each candidate's views and voting record (if available) agree with the control group. Pay more attention to voting records than survey results unless, of course, you believe politicians never lie.Also as a reminder, just because a candidate has "R" after his or her name, it doesn't mean he or she supports gun rights. I have seen a snippet of a debate between Michelle C. Lexo and Tom McInnis regarding firearm issues. They are running for the Republican nomination in the NC Senate 25th District (Anson, Moore, Richmond, and Scotland Counties). Ms. Lexo says we need to look at "high capacity magazines" because she isn't sure "they are needed". "Other than that", she says she supports the Second Amendment. Her opponent, Sen. Tom McInnis, replied "when guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns". I'll let you decide who you'd rather have defending your firearm rights.
Monday, April 16, 2018
Witness Slips Need In Illinois - III
Illinois State Rifle Association issued this alert regarding the elimination of state preemption with regard to "assault weapons".
To read the particular bill, click on the link SB2314 below, click on Full Text.
OPPOSE THE FOLLOWING BILLS :
Scheduled Date 4/17/2018 - 4:00 PM
SB2314 Julie A. Morrison ASSAULT WEAPONS-MUNICIPALITY
Synopsis: Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Provides that the regulation of the possession or ownership of assault weapons are exclusive powers and functions of each municipality (rather than this State) . Eliminates existing preemption provision concerning the regulation of assault weapons. This provision would mean, if passed, that a person maybe fully legal in one municipality but if transporting a particular firearm to another municipality be in violation of that municipality's law. The ISRA's view is that this should remain the purview of the State and NOT individual municipalities.
TO CREATE A WITNESS SLIP
Click on the following link Create a WitnessSlip
I. IDENTIFICATION: Enter your personal information. Enter "NA" for the Firm/Business or Agency and Title fields unless you are officially representing an organization.
II. REPRESENTATION: Enter "Myself" unless representing an organization.
III. POSITION: Select Original Bill and choose Opponent.
IV. TESTIMONY: Select the "Record of Appearance Only" radio button.
If filing manually, complete the Captcha challenge and agree to the ILGA Terms of Agreement.
Then click Create Slip.
TO VIEW A WITNESS SLIP
Click on the following link View a Witness Slip
Witness Slips Needed In Illinois - II
Illinois Carry issued a more extensive alert yesterday.
Witness Slips Needed In Illinois - I
Both Illinois Carry and the Illinois State Rifle Association have issued alerts for anti-gun bills that are coming up this week in the Illinois General Assembly.
From Illinois Carry: