Friday, July 18, 2008

Why We Must Keep the Parks Ban

Campgrounds Near Yellowstone National Park Closed After Bear Bites Camper
"Common sense" regulations in action. Just the way the green-bloods want to keep things--red.

We're the Only Ones "B -- -- , You Don't Know Who You're F -- -ing With" Enough

On Tuesday afternoon, dozens of children at a community center in Treme ran inside screaming that a lady outside had a gun.

The woman - who according to several witnesses announced that she was a New Orleans police officer - had come to the Treme Community Center to pick up a 7-year-old nephew and, for reasons unknown, became enraged at the driver of the car in front of her in the pickup line, witnesses said.
So naturally, her "Only One" colleagues let her go.

It does explain why NOPD is so intent on disarming everybody else, doesn't it?

One of you left a comment to another post a short while ago--I should have bookmarked it so I could give proper credit and get it exact, but the gist of it was, when an abusive authority pulls "Do you know who I am?" the proper response should be "No, but I can find out by reading tomorrow's paper."

Ahhh...here we go: Meet Ashley Terry.

[Via Ed D]

Nicely Turned-Out

This isn't fascism with jack-booted dictators with foam on their lips. It's the pragmatism of nicely turned-out politicians.
A-yup.

[Via Plug Nickel Times]

Payback is, Indeed, a...

Merrill Lynch has warned that the United States could face a foreign "financing crisis" within months as the full consequences of the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgage debacle spread through the world.
Things'll get real interesting if we do suffer a complete financial meltdown.

It could get to the point where it'll be too late for some to change their minds about guns.

[Via Avg Joe]

We're the Only Ones Impeccable Enough

A DeKalb County police officer who shot an unarmed suspect faces a murder trial and a possible life prison sentence in the only criminal prosecution stemming from a rash of police slayings of suspects in DeKalb in 2006.
Another "'impeccable record' with no prior incidents," I see. One might even describe such unblemished conduct as "stellar."

Maybe we should be applying Brady "trust" standards to "Only Ones," you know, treat them all as criminals just waiting to happen...

[Via SameNoKami]

The Spreading Blade Menace!

'We must get back to the time when members of the public accept that even if they have done nothing wrong, and are not carrying a knife, they must not object to a police officer questioning them and in some cases searching them,' he said.
Oh, and what time was that? And would anyone really want to live then and there?

Some might prefer going forward to a time when freedom-hating police state thugs are rendered impotent and laughable, but, true to form, most Brits will probably bend over and take it.

Coming soon to a continent with no shortage of like-minded subjects near you...?

[Via Jeffersonian]

Proper Respect for Authority

I have never just posted an Internet joke before, but this one tickled me, especially in light of all the examples of abusive government agents we see on a daily basis. I searched around to see who I could attribute this to but came up dry.

A Department of Water* representative stopped at a ranch to talk with an old rancher. He said, "I need to inspect your ranch for your water allocation."

The old rancher said, "Okay, but don't go in that field over there."

The water representative said, "Mister, I have the authority of Federal Government with me. See this badge? It means I am allowed to go WHEREVER I WISH on any agricultural land,no questions asked. Have I made myself clear? Do you understand?"

The old rancher nodded politely and went about his chores.

Later, the old rancher heard loud screams and saw the Water Rep running for the fence and close behind was the rancher's bull. The bull was gaining on the Water Rep with every step.

The old man immediately threw down his tools, ran to the fence and shouted out "Your badge! Your badge! Show him your badge!"
[Via John G]

*--Yeah, I know. No such fed agency. It's a joke, fer cryin' out loud.

Savage to Sullivan: It's On

After attaching ties, tape and a chain to a submitted firearm in order to attain automatic fire, BATFE has refused to reclassify and return Len Savage's property. They have further demanded that he register it as a machinegun. In response, Savage has challenged them to begin forfeiture proceedings.

WorldNetDaily has the story. Click the title link and read it, and you'll be prepped for the details that follow.

Here's a copy of the ATF refusal and demand. The Cliffs Notes version of what they're saying: Even if they hadn't converted it, it would be "readily restorable" because they could always put the chains, tape and ties back on. So he improperly tried to register it as a short-barreled rifle, when he should have registered it as a machinegun.

Because they're nice guys, they'll let him register it properly, but he must act now or they're going to seize it.

With that as background, here is Len Savage's response, titled "I Received Your Ultimatum":

Acting Director Sullivan,
Mr. John R. Spencer
Chief, Firearms Technology Branch
244 Needy Rd.
Martinsburg, WV 25405

Your letter (3311/2008-642) of July 22, 2008 informs Historic Arms LLC (hereafter the Company) that you are unwilling to consider re-examination and re-testing of the submitted firearm serial number V1. It was submitted by the Company to confirm that is was correctly registered and a request was made for it’s return upon completion of such confirmation.

Upon manufacture, the Company registered Serial Number V1 as a short barrel rifle on the ATF Form 2 “Notice of Manufacture” as is required by statute and regulations. On April 21, 2008 Serial Number V1 was shipped to FTB for verification that the Company was compliant with the registration requirements and in conformity with its classification as short barrel rifle. Your claim that it was improperly registered based on your use and addition of separate devices not submitted the Company, that are NFA firearms themselves, conversion devices, is self serving and specious.

As you are aware, the Company had no notice of a dispute in its classification of the questioned firearm as a short barrel rifle until June 10, 2008 letter (3311/2008-471) was received by the Company on June 16, 2008. That letter proclaimed that serial number V1 was classified as a machinegun for two reasons:

1). It is designed to shoot automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger.; and,

2). It is readily restorable to shoot automatically.

With all due respect, I reject the first reason out of hand. The firearm, serial number V1, was designed by the Company with specific intent to prevent more than one shot with single function of the trigger.

Equally meritless is your “readily restorable” characterizations of serial number V1. The firearm now in your possession was designed by the Company with specific intent to prevent it from being readily converted to shoot more than one shot with a single function of the trigger, your use of a separate conversion device in testing proves this. Restored is a word which not further defined in statute or regulation. Websters Dictionary defines restore as a transitive verb meaning to 1) to renew, rebuild, alter; 2) to put back into existence or use; 3) to bring back into former or original state. It is axiomatic that one must completely ignore the plain meaning of the verb “restore” to accept your interpretation of the “readily restorable” phrase as it appears in your letter. It raises the metaphysical question of whether a thing that never existed or never has been can be restored. To apply any meaning to your explanation for classifying serial number V1 as a machinegun, That is more than mere distinction -It is a real difference which raises a separate controversy, albeit one in which your argument is equally flawed.

It is most gracious of you to again offer the Company an opportunity to register the firearm, serial number V1, as a machinegun. However, I reject that offer as inappropriate in that it has the potential to expose the Company to criminal liability or adverse civil action against the license. The Company would be pleased to reconsider the offer if it were accompanied with a grant of immunity from criminal prosecution or adverse civil action against the licensee.

Your suggestion for forfeiture of Company property is an excellent solution to this most unfortunate controversy. The initiation of forfeiture proceedings by ATF against the firearm serial number V1, will afford the opportunity for both parties to be heard and will provide a fair and equitable determination of the issues while preserving all processes that are due for both parties.

Accordingly, the Company awaits notice of seizure of the property and the institution of forfeiture proceedings. Historic Arms LLC requests that this is done without delay. You will be notified without delay of the Company decisions for proceeding with forfeiture action upon receipt of notice.

Respectfully,

Len Savage,

President,
Historic Arm LCC
In other words, if he took them up on their "offer" and tried to re-register it as a machinegun without a guarantee of immunity, they would technically be able to come after him for committing "unlawful acts". His options are to risk losing an expensive piece of property to forfeiture proceedings, or to risk his livelihood and freedom defending himself from stepping into the trap of essentially being coerced into signing a confession.

Those of you who have been watching things here and in other cases we've talked about, and slogging through the myriad documents, will see what's going on--this is another significant piece of evidence as to the true nature of this agency, and another significant glimpse into the hearts and minds that run it.

Still, there is a glimmer of hope in terms of overreach repercussions they're setting themselves up for. I can't reveal my source, but I am allowed to share with you a particularly insightful observation:

It is axiomatic that ATF won't back off its classification. Thing to do is pound on the illogic of that classification when juxtaposed with the "Error Table" document [see below--DC], and how application of the same test or whatever the [expletive deleted] you call what ATF did to your upper would result in a bunch of other machine guns. Is there any reliable estimate of how many uppers like that are out there, in circulation, as non-firearms? Seems to me like ATF is playing with the kind of fire (benzene, maybe) that can't be put out with water; the only way to put it out is to let it burn, in other words.

Kindness of Strangers Redux

Rachelle Jackson, a southside Chicago woman, won $7.9 million dollars in her federal civil rights claim.
Looks like the kindness of strangers paid off. It almost didn't.

[Via John G]

We're the Only Ones Tested Enough

Police officers administering tests used to determine whether a motorist is guilty of a serious drunk driving offense may not actually know what they are doing. The Ohio Inspector General yesterday released a scathing report that accused a state highway patrol post of cheating on tests used to certify proficiency with breathalyzer units...

On March 2, 2007, Trooper Anthony Maroon took that fifty-question multiple choice test. When the test giver, Craig Yanni, left the room, Maroon photocopied the booklet along with his answer sheet. Although the test is easy enough that few troopers ever fail, Maroon passed his answers to other state troopers in the Canton Patrol Post.
You know I have to say this: What a Maroon!

But that won't stop corrupt and stupid "Only Ones" drunk with power from destroying your life.

[Via Andre D]

Britain on Alert!

Senior police officers have been warned to look out for a new knife which can inject a ball of compressed gas into its victim that instantly freezes internal organs.

The 'wasp knife', which can deliver a ball of compressed gas capable of killing its victim at the press of a button, may be heading for Britain, the Metropolitan Police fear.
Then again it may not be. They haven't found any, there have been no incidents of abuse, and they have absolutely nothing to base headline-grabbing hysteria on other than it exists. That and Khalid Mahmood thinks they're "absolutely disgraceful."

Here's the Wasp Knife website. Watch the watermelon video. Talk about cool.

I want one. Before the panty-wringers here find out about them. And BATFU adds conversion parts and declares them machineguns.

[Via Brian F]

Late Start Today

Been working on something. You'll see soon. Now on to your news tips.

This Day in History: July 18

The Congress resumed the report of the Committee for putting the Militia into a proper state of defence and after debating the same by paragraphs came to the following resolutions...