A Dixie Carpetbagger

McDonald came down in our favor.

Link to a PDF of the decision here.

The Second Amendment now applies to the states through the 14th Amendment.  Alito wrote the majority opinion, Scalia wrote a concurring opinion, and Breyer whined (a spine, grow one, Stoddard*).  Weer’d points out that this will have huge impacts on state laws (and points to crying at The Huffer’s Postings).  Jay G., Laurel,and Roberta X gloat a little bit, while Curt points to the VPC whining and Newbius points to some sobs by Dennis Henigan. Then Paul Helmke declared victory, while Uncle points to Pajamas Media debunking the VPC… with their own stats.

Breda points out the guy who did quite a bit of the work (Alan Gura), and to a movie critic being… stupid.  Alan posts the picture Laurel referred to (yes, the Bradys are a hate group).  Joe Huffman has a quote from the NRA– finally, a right promised is a right honored.

There are four quotes quotes I want to use here.  The first is from Jennifer:

The gun banners have a warped view of the human race. They simultaneously believe that an inanimate object will turn a law abiding citizen into a crazed maniac and that the crazed maniac could peacefully exist in a society without the same inanimate object. Personally I do not believe that a person bent on violence will not be changed by a lack of tools. Likewise, a normally peaceful person will not be changed by the presence of said tool.

The next is from Tom at SCOTUSblog, via Uncle:

When Heller was decided, we had our biggest day ever, by far — 300,000 hits. Americans care about gun rights.

Then one from the Wall Street Journal, via USCitizen:

All of this suggests that the liberals have decided to bide their time and wait for a fifth vote so they can overturn both Heller and McDonald. This means that the matter of Second Amendment rights is far from settled, and the National Rifle Association and other advocates had better keep their legal guard up.

Finally, one from Steve Harris (a pro-gun attorney) via Massad Ayoob:

I think we need one more Supreme Court case on guns to make it clear to the circuit courts what they mean about reasonable regulation. That will take about 3-5 years to percolate.

So, after putting it all together, we “gun nuts” just took a big step towards real freedom.  But we have to be vigilant for the next few years, until all the kinks get straitened out.

Senator Byrd is now facing the Eternal Elector.

Or, as Tam phrased it: “The Grim Reaper invoked cloture on Robert C. Byrd’s filibuster today.”

That’s right, the only Klansman in the Senate has passed on to his eternal reward.  The left is already trying to spin his past involvement with the KKK in a positive light– the South made him do it!  Yes, us dastardly Rebels made him join the Klan, made him become a KKK recruiter, and made him vocally support the Klan.  Don’t venture south of the Mason-Dixon Line, Yanks, or we’ll turn our magical KKK Ray on you!

As both Weer’d and Mike W. pointed out, if Byrd did change his mind, where was his change in actions?  If the former Klucker was no longer a Klucker, where was his activism AGAINST the Klan?  You see, of the people in my blogroll, some of the most outspoken are those who had been in the groups they speak out against.  (Mike Vanderboegh and Weer’d come to mind…)  I mean, this is the guy who said this:

I shall never fight in the armed forces with a Negro by my side… Rather I should die a thousand times, and see Old Glory trampled in the dirt never to rise again, than to see this beloved land of ours become degraded by race mongrels, a throwback to the blackest specimen from the wilds.

— Robert C. Byrd, in a letter to Sen. Theodore Bilbo (D-MS), 1944

Which brings me to a quote by Linoge:

Should Senator Byrd be remembered? Absolutely – as an shining example of what not to do. However, as sure as I am that he and Teddy are bumping knuckles today, I am just as certain that the Democratic Party and Mainstream Media (but I repeat myself) are doing their absolute damnest to ensure that Robert’s disgusting legacy is celebrated… which kind of says something about those folks with the “D” after their names, does it not?

Indeed– if the Dems were truly as nice, kind, pro-minority as they proclaimed… well, they wouldn’t be the Democratic Party.  Just remember, folks– this was the song the DNC used in 1864…  they were Copperheads then, and they’re Copperheads still.  For reference, compare the treatment of Byrd to the treatment of Thurmond.

Though I do wonder what Byrd was thinking when he was waving the flag as a “race mongrel” became President…

General McChrystal forgot an old adage.

You know, the one about how “the slow blade penetrates the shield.”  The fact that Rolling Stone was the one that brought him down is ironic, because… well, I’ll quote from this op-ed:

Since the end of the draft, the officer corps has become increasingly conservative and libertarian, and it is a rare officer who votes as a Democrat. [...] [C]urrently, the overwhelming majority of senior officers are registered Republicans, and there are very few registered Democrats. Special operations officers are even more conservative than their traditional brethren… [...] Ironically, McChrystal is a registered Democrat, a social liberal, and an Obama supporter in the 2008 election.

General, what did Barry say to you in that meeting?  Was it “YES, I CAN!”  Having said that (with as much snark as I can muster), I’m sorry to see the General retire–  McChrystal reminded me of Colonel Hackworth, who was one of my favorite writers and a man I much respected.  I just think it’s ironic that a leftist mag took down a leftist General who supported the leftist President that fired him… and replaced him with a General who has won an award from the AEI and been attacked by the Left.  (Dear MoveOn– choke on your “Betray Us” line.  We remember it, bet on that.)

* Oh, come on, somebody has to catch that…

The decision may have come down by now.  I can only hope– and pray– that it’ll be favorable.

Massad Ayoob has links to a group of podcasts and interviews (including John Stossel’s show from this week) concerning the case.

Joe Huffman quotes justice Scalia from the Heller decision.  To paraphrase:

We are aware of the problem of handgun violence in this country, and we take seriously the concerns raised by the many amici who believe that prohibition of handgun ownership is a solution. The Constitution leaves [them] a variety of tools for combating that problem, including some measures regulating handguns… [...] But the enshrinement of constitutional rights necessarily takes certain policy choices off the table. These include the absolute prohibition of handguns held and used for self-defense in the home. [...] it is not the role of this Court to pronounce the Second Amendment extinct.

Maybe we can take one more step towards true freedom today.

I’d love to see a pro-gun group do a parody of this:

“You don’t need a gun to defend your kid… because they should already have one.”

(Scene cuts to little Suzy in a parking lot, BIG BAD GUY about to grab her when she spins around and draws) “STOP!  FREEEEZE!” (Sounds of gunfire are heard)

(Scene cuts to Suzy sitting on her car hood, pointing a revolver at a wounded BIG BAD GUY holding his belly and bleeding.  She’s calling 911 on her cell)  “Hello, 911?  I’d like to report an attempted kidnapping.  Yeah, he’s still here.  Nope, he’s down on the ground bleeding.  Okay, I’ll stay on the line.  Can you have the officers grab something to eat?  I’m starving.  Oh wait, I got a beep, hold on a second…”

——-

Seriously?  You don’t need a (big, bad, scary) gun to defend your kid… because you can get an Amber Alert?  What’s that saying again?  You know, the one about the moral superiority of a murdered rape victim?

(H/T Breda)

Ban Anything That’s Fun or Exciting

“Peasant, we’s heard you’s liked playing airsoft, so we’s gonna ban the crap outta that so’s ya’s can’t plays it no mo’.  Jus’ ‘member, we’s from the gub-mint, and we’s here to help ya’s.”

Just to re-cap, from the post where I first heard about this:

Basically, if the ATF claims these airsoft guns can be easily converted into real guns, they should just demonstrate the conversion, and put a couple of magazines through it.

So, did the ATF test the gun like this?  From the third page of the ATF’s letter:

To determine if the submitted sample (as modified) is capable of expelling a projectile … [t]he test fire was conducted a total of three times…

Wait, wait, wait… how was the gun modified?  Well, the lower was Dremeled into shape, an M16 hammer, hammer pin, hammer spring, buffer and buffer spring were put in, and then an AR-15 upper was put on and held in place with a drift punch in place of the front retention pin.  In other words, As long as you have access to a whole bunch of parts off M-16s, you can assemble an Ar-15.  With a crappy airsoft lower.  Or, to quote a commenter over at Uncle’s:

My water glass can be converted into a machine gun.

You take the glass and replace it with a machine gun, take the water and replace it with ammo.

Voila, machine gun.

There’s “massaging the evidence,” and then there’s “we took it to the massage parlor down on Riverside and got it a happy ending.”  This is the latter.  To recap: if you have access to parts from an M-16,  an AR-15 upper, drift punches and a Dremel tool, you can create a machine gun.  Kinda.  Sorta.  Maybe.

Oh, and they have re-defined transfers, too.  Now, your favorite gun writer will have to fill out a 4473 to get an evaluation gun.  It’s almost like they’re trying to clamp down on us gun owners, isn’t it?

Kevin Baker has a post up detailing how few Britons have guns.  Crime skyrocketed when the U.K. brought their gun bans into effect, and the populace wants to… ban more guns.  Bonus: Kevin has attracted a Scottish troll (och, wee laddie, I’m-a gonna EAT YOU!) who has an off-the-scale density.  One section from the quotes I want to point out:

James Kelly: Thank you for the clarification, Ken.  Answer – Because I believe in democracy and the rule of law, rather than ‘might is right’ and imposing one’s will by force.

Unix-Jedi: So sending other people to apply force on your behalf means you’re not imposing your will by force?

James Kelly: Electing a parliament that passes laws, the police and the courts implement those laws…this is pretty basic stuff.  I thought belief in democracy and the rule of law was a shared value between our two countries.

Ken: So. If you take A’s property by force, it’s theft. If some guy with a badge claiming to be acting “in the name of the People/King/G-d/Whatever” does it, it’s…what, exactly? Apart from the salutary (sorry for the big word there) benefit of not exposing you to personal danger, that is. The point is, you are perfectly happy imposing your will by someone else’s force. There are several words for that, you know.

Note the interplay– Mr. Kelly believes that if X amount of the population says A, then Y amount must simply roll over and play dead.  This belief (I may not do [ACTION], but if I can convince people to vote for [ACTION], not only is it okay, but it is proper) and “group rights” are yin and yang… perfect, matched pairs.  I would like to introduce you to a quote from a friend of mine, Major Reid:

“To vote is to wield authority; it is the supreme authority from which all other authority derives — such as mine to make your lives miserable once a day. Force, if you will! — the franchise is force, naked and raw, the Power of the Rods and the Ax. Whether it is exerted by ten men or by ten billion, political authority is force.”

Some of you recognize this quote immediately.  You see, Major Reid is the H&MP (History and Moral Philosophy) professor in Starship Troopers.  The next section is the part I think is the perfect answer to Mr. Kelly:

“But this universe consists of paired dualities. What is the converse of authority? Mr. Rico.”

He had picked one I could answer. “Responsibility, sir.”

“Applause. Both for practical reasons and for mathematically verifiable moral reasons, authority and responsibility must be equal, else a balancing takes place as surely as current `flows between points of unequal potential. To permit irresponsible authority is to sow disaster; to hold a man responsible for anything he does not control is to behave with blind idiocy. The unlimited democracies were unstable because their citizens were not responsible for the fashion in which they exerted their sovereign authority . . . other than through the tragic logic of history.”

BINGO!  “Because I can!” is not– repeat NOT– a valid answer for pulling the lever for anything.  Every time you vote, the responsibility for and consequences of your vote rests on you, and you alone.  Conversely, it is not– repeat NOT– moral for you to vote to do anything that you cannot do in your own power.  However, the most ardent anti-rights advocates always hide in the safety of the masses…

One of the most horrifying stories I’ve heard from the Korean war was written by one of my favorite military authors, Dave Hackworth.  He recounted the time when he and his platoon were holding a hilltop and were attacked by a literal wave of Chinese.  Men fired until they ran out of ammo, machine gunners fired until they slagged their barrels, and still the Chinese came.  One machine gunner ran out of belted ammo and ran his Garand dry, only to find himself in a bunker with 10 Chinese soldiers.  He shot 8, knocked two out, and then left a grenade as a parting gift while he headed south.

I relate this story to set up a question– do you think that Ms. Spangler has that same sinking dread right about now?  Her latest “victory” video has less than 200 views (as of 12:00 AM 13 June 2010).  A video showing girls at the NRA convention has over 2,000… and it’s a week newer.

Good: reading about all the bloggers mingling at the NRA convention.

Better: rebutting MikeB.

Best: Joe making me a Quote of the Day.

Note to self: keep the snark set to “humiliate.”

Short post today, still dealing with finals.  Had a sample final due last night (final final due next Sunday… after the semester ends… thank you, Mr. “I can’t figure out due dates*”), and more through this week.

1- Finally had a failure with my Mossberg 702.  With a Remington Golden bullet.  Curse you, Tam, for jinxing me!  This is the first RGB I’ve had fail.  Meanwhile, the high-end CBee has been nothing but trouble.  My Mossberg’s like me– it likes to eat simple, hardy and cheap.

2- MikeB’s at it again.  At this point, the only use MikeB and the rest of his little playgroup have is that every time they begin spewing their crap, gun bloggers show up to correct them… which leads to me finding new gun bloggers.  Thanks, Sparky!**

3-If you aren’t already, watch Justified.  I hope this one doesn’t get killed off…

* His name is Mr. (prophet we’re not supposed to draw) (honorific of Umar) (religion of peace).  No, I’m not making that up.

** I wonder why Sparky and the rest don’t ever mess with Tam?  Hmm…

Not really feeling it today.  Scrambling to finish the semester, get several machines up and running, and clear a backlog of reading and news watching.  (I haven’t hit the GUNS magazine from two months ago yet.)

But, before I go rambling off, two points.

One-  per OpenSecrets, I have more cash on hand than the Brady Campaign does.  Right now, if the Brady Bunch was in an aircraft, there would be a voice insisting that they PULL UP.  (Either that, or the Airbus click-click-click-click ALTITUDE, ALTITUDE would kick in.)

Two- per a commenter on this article, “[w]hen you [gun owners] get as big as our armed forces then you can rattle your sabers.”  Just one tiny little problem…  there are between 65 and 80 plus million gun owners in the United States.  Including all reserves and paramilitary forces (CAP, JROTC, Coast Guard, etc.), the United States only has 3,385,400 people in the military.  For reference, at 65 million gun owners, that’s 19.2 gun owners per military man.  At 80 million, that goes to 23.6 to 1.

So, can we rattle our sabers now?

Stand your ground. Don’t fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here.
– Capt. John Parker, 19 April 1775

Many people know a little about Patriots’ Day, and a little about what happened that day at Lexington and Concord.  The full story is both sad and inspiring.

He [Capt. Parker] was in poor health from consumption (tuberculosis) on the morning of April 19. [...] He witnessed his cousin Jonas Parker killed by a British bayonet. Later that day he rallied his men to attack the regulars returning to Boston in an ambush known as “Parker’s Revenge.”   This was his only military action in the American Revolutionary War. He was unable to serve in the Battle of Bunker Hill in June, and died of tuberculosis in September. — Wikipedia, “John Parker”

In the end, I can’t add that much to these events, or their telling.  I’ll close by quoting two poets, one telling this story, one telling a much older tale.

By the rude bridge that arched the flood,
Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled,
Here once the embattled farmers stood,
And fired the shot heard round the world.
– Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Concord Hymn”

Then out spake brave Horatius,
The Captain of the Gate:
“To every man upon this earth
Death cometh soon or late.
And how can man die better
Than facing fearful odds,
For the ashes of his fathers,
And the temples of his gods?
– Thomas Babington Macaulay,
“The Lays of Ancient Rome”

ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ