gun rights

In an editorial today within the Washington Times,  they point out the absurd ways that the Washington DC city council attempts to ignore the constitutional rights of residents.  The landmark Heller law suit made it clear that even district resident have a constitutional right to keep arms.  The city's outright ban on firearms was tossed aside as it should have been.

After loosing the suit, the city went to work making it expensive and difficult for a resident to lawfully acquire a firearm.  Now that the last FFL(federal firearms license) operating within the district is moving out, residents have no way to purchase a gun.  Federal law says you can only buy a pistol within your home state.  Since there are no more FFLs in DC, residents are left without a legal means to purchase a pistol.  The courts ruled they have a right to do so, but now they can't.  The Second Amendment Foundation has stepped up to the plate and filed suit on behalf of Michelle Lane.  Hopefully when this suit is completed, Lane will be able to visit a gun store in Virginia and legally purchase a pistol to defend herself. 

It’s time for the gun grabbers to realize they’ve lost the argument on legal grounds and with the general public. The city council is all too happy to blow taxpayer money on the bogus claim that the District suffers from “taxation without representation.” Before the federal city makes the claim that it somehow deserves a pair of Senate seats permanently allied to the Democratic Party, it ought to demonstrate its worth by respecting the entire Bill of Rights, not just the parts it happens to agree with.

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The Ohio senate had already passed a similar law that allows those with carry permits to carry their firearms into places that serve alcohol.  The Ohio house, on a vote of 56 to 39, has also passed such a bill.  Governor Kasich has expressed that he is in favor of the measure so hopefully he signs this into law. Continue Reading »

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Chicago’s Daley A Hypocrite with Your Gun Rights To The Bitter End, Says CCRKBA

BELLEVUE, WA – -(Ammoland.com)- Scheduled to retire from office next Tuesday, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley remains a monumental hypocrite to the bitter end and his request for publicly-financed armed bodyguards proves it, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms said today

As Daley prepares to leave office, a Washington Times editorial bares the anti-gun Democrat’s hypocrisy. For years, Daley has had armed bodyguards protecting him at the same time he has worked fanatically to deprive his Chicago constituents and every other citizen in Illinois the same level of security, by pushing every crazy anti-gun scheme he or his colleagues could dream up.

Now he wants that same privilege to carry into retirement. Continue Reading »

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 "There now are 200 Members of Congress cosponsoring a bipartisan national CCW reciprocity bill offered by Reps. Cliff Stearns (R-FL) and Heath Shuler (D-NC)," gun rights expert John M. Snyder said here today.

"It's time for Congress to move forward on H.R. 822, the proposed National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2011," he added. "It would provide a national standard with which nonresidents of a state may carry concealed firearms in the state."

"An individual who has a state-issued permit to carry a concealed firearm ought to be able to carry in any state in accordance with the law," Snyder said. "This would be similar to the way an individual with a driver's license issued by a state can drive in other states." Continue Reading »

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 With the backing of the NRA, Florida has passed a new law that the governor is expected to sign, that limits the questions your pediatrician can ask your children.  While the shrill claims of the anti-gunners are probably way out of line like usual, it does seem to be a strange law.  

The intention of the law is to protect the rights of gun owning parents.  Children say the darndest things and asking children about the types of firearms and how those firearms are stored may give out too much information for many parents.  The danger is that insurance companies increase rates based upon firearm ownership or the information is otherwise put to use against the interests of the parents. Continue Reading »

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 Yesterday the Illinois concealed handgun bill went down to defeat.  The measure fell 6 votes short of the required supermajority.  For a state wide law to pass in that state and therefore take precedence over local laws, it has to pass with a supermajority.  Therefore even though the vote was 65 to 32 in favor of the measure, Illinois criminals don't have to worry about encountering lawfully armed citizens.  The season is still open and citizens are not allowed to provide for their own self defense.

"That particular bill is one that will not in any way protect public safety. It'll do the opposite," Quinn said.

The Democratic governor drew strong disagreement from the gun bill's sponsor, Rep. Brandon Phelps, D-Harrisburg: "We are at the criminals' mercy."

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Eric Holder isn't having a good week.  This past weekend during the NRA annual meeting,  Wayne LaPierre demanded he be replaced because of the scandalous way so many guns were allowed to cross over the boarder and into the hands of criminals.  This week Mr. Holder gets to be smacked by both Representative Darrell Issa and Senator Chuck Grassley.

Yesterday it was Issa's turn and here is just a small sample of their exchange:

ISSA: How about the head of the Criminal Division, Lanny Breuer. Did he authorize it?

HOLDER: I’m not sure whether Mr. Breuer authorized it. You have to understand the way in which the Department operates. Although there are operations, this one has become — has gotten a great deal of publicity.

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 State College PA willfully breaks the law.  The law of the Commonwealth is such that municipalities like State College are forbidden from passing laws dealing with firearms.  For some reason, people like Councilman Peter Morris, believe that they are above the law.  Peter Morris believes that it is just fine for him to defy state law and promise to continue to defy that law again and again. Continue Reading »

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The Illinois House Agriculture and Conservation Committee approved the concealed carry bill 12 to 1 today.  The bill is inching its way slowly forward.  Now Pat Quinn, the governor of Illinois has vowed to veto it when it passes.

There is little doubt that the measure will end up passing. 

Democratic Rep. Brandon Phelps, who also sponsored the bill, told the Pantagraph. "But, we're moving forward with the bill. ... I don't think there is anything wrong with people protecting themselves."

Quinn doesn't care if the people want to be able to protect themselves.  He is the governor and he knows best how you should live your life.  How dare you take responsibility for your own safety. Continue Reading »

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You know it is a great day for liberty when the anti-gunners transition from just being wrong to be wrong and shrill.  There's going to be blood pouring on the street from all of the gun fights that are sure to happen now that Indiana has enacted a preemption law.  

The gist of a preemption law, which we have here in Pennsylvania, is that local governments can't make up their own gun laws.  Our cesspool city across the state continually tries to ignore this and attempt to pass various laws to limit gun rights, but thanks to preemption, they get smacked down each time.  Gun owners in Indiana will gain similar protections against overzealous municipalities trying to intere with the rights of law abiding citizens.

The gist of the Indiana law is: Continue Reading »

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With court victories like McDonald and Heller, our second amendment right to keep and bear arms have never been on a stronger footing.  The "collective" rights interpretertation of the second amendment has been discredited and all but those uncomfortable with reality recognize that the right to arms is going nowhere. 

While our rights are more secure than at anytime in modern history, that doesn't mean that we can take them for granted.  There are still many people who are still fighting to have those rights gutted.  Men like Paul Helmke of the Brady Campaign who claims to want so called common sense gun control but really wishes to see them totally outlawed.  These forces are weakened and in retreat.  We can breathe a bit easier but vigilance is still required.

Despite critics whining about the financial power of the NRA with its close to four million members, the NRA is the most important organization standing firmly against any encroachment upon the second amendment.  Aside from their work to protect our gun rights, the NRA does vital educational work.  From their Eddie Eagle children's program to their marksmanship competitions.  The NRA stands in defense of our rich heritage of firearms and freedom.

Critics say the NRA overstates the threat to gun rights in order to drive donations, particularly in the wake of a landmark 2008 U.S. Supreme Court ruling affirming gun ownership as an individual right.

“In my mind, the NRA should have said mission accomplished and gone home after the ruling,” said Paul Helmke, president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. “But then they wouldn’t be able to raise money.”
 

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In an era when retailers are hesitant to even stocking toy guns, Wal-Mart is returning to its roots and increasing the number of stores that stock guns and ammo.  The Wal-Mart in Washington, PA where I've picked up ammo a few times, already sells rifles and shotguns.  No pistols, just long guns.  Being western PA, you know, the place that has all of those hicks who cling to their guns, this is no big deal.  However, big city mayors like Boston's Menino aren't too thrilled.

“It’s too bad that the same corporation that does TV commercials about social consciousness is trying to increase the number of guns on our streets,” Menino told the Herald after an event to introduce nearly three dozen new businesses to Back Bay. “I don’t think it’s a wise business move on Wal-Mart’s part.”

Calling it unwise is a rather tame reaction.  The headline on the story was "Mayor Tom Menino blasts Wal-Mart over guns" and I hardly call that blasting them.  More interesting than the mayor is this from Steven Restivo, a Wal-Mart spokesmen: Continue Reading »

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Note: Lawfully carried firearms are permitted in the Convention Center, in the Exhibit Hall and in the CONSOL Energy Center. Heinz Field prohibits the possession of firearms. When carrying your firearm, remember to follow all federal, state and local laws.

The NRA Annual meeting is almost here.  The above note is a relatively recent addition to the website supporting the event, http://www.nraam.org/.  There was some confusion regarding open versus concealed carry but it looks like both forms of lawful carry will be welcome everywhere but Heinz field.  It is great to see the clarification.  I'll be there and I'll have my SIG P226 along with me happily stashed in my NRA holster.

Given the fact that PA is a rather firearm friendly state, allowing open carry and such. Hopefully the NRA meeting returns to the city again and again.

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Thanks Sebastian for pointing out yet another state program that literally destroys money.  Over the weekend, Aliquippa PA police collected 107 guns during a buy-back program.  In exchange for their gun, people were given either a $25 or a $50 gift certificate to the Hopewell Township Giant Eagle.  According to the Beaver County Times:

Serial numbers will be checked to determine whether any of the guns are stolen, he said. Police will attempt to return reportedly stolen guns to their owners; the remaining ones will be melted down.

At least they are going to check the serial numbers to see if any of them have been reported stolen prior to destroying them.  I wonder if the guns will all be destroyed or will those with potential value be scooped up by somebody with access to them.  I would much rather have that happen then to simply destroy something of value.

The program was partly funded through the state's Weed and Seed anti-crime initiative with matching funds paid by the city and assistance from the Hopewell Giant Eagle, Pallante said.

It was the fourth such buy-back Aliquippa has had since 2006, when 53 guns were collected.

The program was suspended in 2009 and 2010 for lack of funds, but Pallante said Saturday's overwhelming response means police will probably try to have another buy-back next year.

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New Hampshire is considering joining Alaska, Arizona and Vermont in removing the requirement to have a special permit to carry a concealed firearm.

The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on the bill Wednesday afternoon. The bill has already passed the House where gun rights advocates argue government should not have control over basic rights. Gun owners would have the option of getting a permit so they could travel to states with reciprocal permit agreements with New Hampshire.

It is great to see a growing list of states dropping this extra requirement for exercising a basic right that is protected by the constitution. If you are not prohibited from owning a firearm, there is no reason to prohibt you from carrying it.

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Several states are currently considering making it legal to carry a concealed firearm on a college campus. States that have this under consideration include Arizona, Texas and Tennessee. In Pennsylvania campus carry is allowed because they are not included in the specific list of places for which concealed carry is prohibited. It seems perfectly rational that college campuses should't be treated as special under the law. Private institutions can set the rules as the see fit and students are free to enroll or not. Carry on the campus of public institutions should be allowed. Period. If a student or faculty member can lawfully carry their pistol with them to the grocery store and within the car on the way to school, then they should be able to lawfully carry on campus.

As I said, this isn't an issue in PA and I was a little surprised that it was an issue in so many other states. Here's a list of some of the schools that allow students and faculty to retain their right to self defense while in the classroom: Continue Reading »

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In California many lawful gun owners openly carry their firearm as a form of political protest.  It is perfectly legal to do so provided the firearm is unloaded.  Certainly the utility of the firearm for self defense is greatly diminished by it being unloaded but it is one way to make a pro-freedom political point and this terrifies the anti-liberty Brady people.

Dr. Dallas Stout is President of the California Chapters of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.  He's written an amusing opinion piece published by the "California Progress Report."  I'd never heard of these guys before but here's their story: Continue Reading »

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What is it about guns that causes so many people to live with an irrational fear?

But at least I would sleep better at night knowing that I wouldn't die from a gunshot wound, which, no matter how dumb it sounds, is my greatest fear.

Why would being killed from a gunshot wound be Ms. Mtshali's greatest fear?  Is that a sign of some sort of mental disorder?  If you don't come in contact with guns on a regular basis why would it be a cause for such fear?  Does she wake up at night and look for scary guns hiding under the bed?  

Continue Reading »

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