Oops: One of you e-mailed me about David Codrea's blog item regarding
the upcoming YouTube Republican Debate. I inadvertently deleted that
e-mail before I had the chance to download it to my home computer for
response. If you wish to discuss it, please e-mail me again. I do recall
a question about Codrea's background; I know little more than what he
has posted in his profile at
http://www.blogger.com/profile/13836716551269849012.
---
Claims Of "Huge" Anti-Gun Protests Were Lies: A Brady Campaign news
release headline claiming that "huge" crowds turned out across America
for anti-gun protests on Tuesday was both false and misleading, the
Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms said this
morning. The news release went out over the national PR Newswire service
Tuesday evening at 9:56 p.m., Eastern Time.
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/news_press_release,169172.shtml
---
US Forest Service Corrects Shooting Policy: Two years after The New Gun
Week - a publication owned by the Second Amendment Foundation - revealed
that U.S. Forest Service personnel were incorrectly using an obscure
regulation to prohibit recreational shooting near forest roads, the
agency has issued a memorandum correcting the error, the SAF has learned.
http://www.saf.org/viewpr-new.asp?id=239
---
More On Virginia Open-Carry Fight: More than 100 gun-rights advocates,
most carrying handguns on their hips and wearing buttons saying "Guns
Save Lives," came to the City Council on Tuesday night to protest what
they called harassment of law-abiding gun owners by city officials. The
protest was called by the Virginia Citizens Defense League, a gun-rights
group, after Chet Szymecki of Yorktown was arrested in June at
Harborfest for carrying a gun. (I believe that concealed carry is
generally more sound tactically for the private citizen. However, it is
important to defend open carry, particularly where it is the only legal
option for those who have not obtained a concealed-carry permit. One
list member has found that open carry is a wise tactical option while
riding his motorcycle as he has seen it discourage both an attempted
robbery of his bike and an attempt to run him off a road.)
http://media.hamptonroads.com/media/content/pilotonline/2007/08/gunmeeting.html
---
The Virginia Tech Two-Step: ...The report speculates - and I DO mean
SPECULATES - that if "numerous people had been rushing around with
handguns outside Norris Hall on the morning of April 16, the possibility
of accidental or mistaken shootings would have increased significantly."
Of course, there's no actual evidence that any accidental or mistaken
shooting would have taken place. After all, there was only ONE obvious
target - the one holding guns and shooting at students. And chances are,
had anyone in those classrooms actually had a firearm as Cho was
shooting random students, they would have had a fighting chance -
certainly a better chance than without.
http://libertyzone.blogspot.com/2007/08/va-tech-panel-report.html
From Investor's Business Daily: ...Of the inaction between the first
two deaths and the rest of the killings, the report said: "There does
not seem to be a plausible scenario of a university response to the
double homicide that could have prevented the tragedy of considerable
magnitude on April 16." Actually there was a university action that made
the tragedy possible, if not inevitable, the repeal of which could
prevent another such tragedy from occurring. Left out of both reports
was the university's decision to make itself a gun-free zone - at least
for the prey, if not the predators. And VT officials wanted it that way.
http://www.investors.com/editorial/editorialcontent.asp?secid=1501&status=article&id=273365811948314
Meanwhile, From The Brady Bunch...: National and Virginia-based gun
violence prevention groups applaud Governor Tim Kaine and the Virginia
Tech Review Panel for forthrightly addressing the role of federal and
state gun laws in the April 16 mass shootings at the university. The
groups pledge to work with policy makers in Richmond to help implement
the panel's recommendations in an expeditious manner.
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/08-30-2007/0004654564&EDATE=
---
Pennsylvania Town Rescinds Gun Ban: Peters Council on Monday rescinded a
controversial and unpopular ordinance banning firearms from most
township-owned buildings and parks, but not before getting an earful
from angry residents and gun rights activists. Members of the public
have been lobbying council for a month to withdraw the ordinance, which
they said is unconstitutional and a violation of Second Amendment
rights, but others expressed concern on Monday over how discussion about
the issue unfolded.
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07242/813209-55.stm
---
Be Careful What You Predict: Police and federal agents who searched
South Bend IN home on Wednesday were looking for ammunition, court
documents reveal. A federal affidavit unsealed today indicates that
yesterday's search and arrest came after a months-long investigation
into a man whom authorities believe is delusional and has long been
stockpiling ammunition...Investigators believe the man thought the
global economy was on the verge of a collapse that would result in
widespread violence, the affidavit says. (Let's see - buy gold + buy
ammo = a trip to the looney bin?)
http://www.southbendtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070830/News01/70830042/0/Lives
---
Officer In Diallo Shooting Loses Bid To Regain Gun: A cop involved in
the infamous shooting death of Amadou Diallo isn't entitled to get his
gun back, a federal judge has ruled. Kenneth Boss, acquitted of criminal
charges and cleared of wrongdoing by the NYPD Firearms Discharge Review
Board, said in his Manhattan federal court suit that being deprived of a
gun has led to his being "regarded as a pariah" and "forced to endure
regular taunts because of his duty status," including "the mocking
moniker 'Kenny No-Gun.' " He charged that Police Commissioner Ray
Kelly's decision not to let him carry a gun is a violation of his
constitutional rights. (What about the constitutional right of NYC's
private citizens?)
http://www.nypost.com/seven/08302007/news/regionalnews/diallo_cop_shot_down_again_in_.htm
---
S&W Issues Second Recall On CHP Pistols: Smith & Wesson is recalling and
replacing thousands of ammunition magazines it delivered with the
California Highway Patrol's new semi-automatic pistols after officers
reported bullets were not properly loading into their weapon's firing
chamber. It marks the second time the CHP's new Smith & Wesson 4006 TSW
pistols have been recalled this year. The recall affects more than 660
weapons distributed in the CHP's Inland division and was confirmed by
spokeswoman Fran Clader, who emphasized that the problem did not put
officers at risk and added the CHP maintains its confidence in the new
weapons. (CHP ostensibly opted to replace their older [and now
discontinued] S&W 4006 pistols with the 4006 TSW so that they could
continue using the holsters for the former model.)
http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/350899.html
---
Australian Troops Issued Defective Weapons: Australian troops are being
sent to war in the Middle East with faulty weapons that malfunction
under extreme conditions, army reports reveal. Dozens of Australian-made
F88 Steyr assault rifles have also been fitted with incorrect parts that
cause them to misfire, further placing Australian troops in jeopardy.
Reports on defective or unsatisfactory materiel (RODUMS) between March
2005 and March this year show 44 serious failures of war stocks of
ammunition during the two years from March 2005 to March this year.
These included faulty smoke grenades, hand grenades, bullets and rockets.
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22317740-953,00.html
---
From JPFO: ...First, we've received many responses to our Jesse Jackson
handbill (www.jpfo.org/handbill-jackson.jpg). Those who have not seen
our documentary _The Gang_ ( www.thegangmovie.com ) were bewildered at
the offensive "hunting license" pictured in the handbill. We didn't
create that license -- _the BATFE did_! Read about it at
www.jpfo.org/batfegobrqa.txt . Secondly, for those who have been
following the Red's Trading Post saga ( www.jpfo.org/redstradingpost.htm
), a grassroots campaign is springing up to nominate owner Ryan Horsley
as a replacement for scandal-ridden U.S. Senator Larry Craig. Read about
it in the Liberty Sphere blog at
http://thelibertysphere.blogspot.com/2007/08/idahos-ryan-horsley-for-us-senate.html
or
http://tinyurl.com/2fmono .
http://www.jpfo.org/alert20070831.htm
---
The NRA Director SNAFU: NRA board member Joaquin Jackson, a former Texas
Ranger and author of the autobiographical book One Ranger: A Memoir, put
his foot in his mouth while being interviewed by PBS Radio. He has not
been successful in extracting it.
http://waronguns.blogspot.com/2007/08/what-about-true-assault-weapons.html
From The Firearms Coalition:
NRA Director Against "Assault Weapons"
"I think these assault weapons basically need to be in the hands of the
military and they need to be in the hands of the police, but as far as
assault weapons to a civilian, if you... if you... it's alright if you
got that magazine capacity down to five rounds."
These are the words of famous, former Texas Ranger and current member of
the NRA Board of Directors, Joaquin Jackson.
Jackson was being interviewed on PBS TV station KLRU on a program called
TexasMonthly Talks.
The pertinent segment of the interview can be viewed on-line at:
http://www.klru.org/texasmonthlytalks/archives/jackson/jackson.asp
last clip on the page.
Below is a transcript of this portion of the interview.
Moderator: You are a past Board member...?
Jackson: Current Board Member
M: You are a current board member of the NRA since 2001
J: That's correct.
[Short discussion where Jackson describes his strong commitment to the
Second Amendment and its importance.]
M: Of course a lot of law enforcement are concerned about things like
assault weapons which they feel like don't really contribute to the
keeping of the peace.
J: Well, I'm a person that believes in a weapon should never...I
personally believe a weapon should never have over a - far as civilian -
5 round capacity. If a hunter, if you're a hunter if you're gonna go
hunting with a weapon, you shouldn't need over but one round...
M: If you're any good
J: If you're a good shot. Five rounds would be plenty.
M: So have you brought to the attention of your fellow board members at
the NRA that maybe assault weapons ought to be restricted?
J: Well we've talked, we've discussed it you know, but uh this thing
about assault weapons has been a kind of a touchy deal, but personally,
I think these assault weapons basically need to be in the hands of the
military and they need to be in the hands of the police, but uh, as far
as assault weapons to a civilian, if you... if you... it's alright if
you got that magazine capacity down to five...
M: Five rounds. Limited to that.
J: ...five, five... Good to go. Five rounds or some...
Joaquin Jackson is a good man. He was an outstanding Texas Ranger and
he has been an asset as a member of the Board of Directors of NRA, but
such elitist bigotry is completely out of line for an NRA Director.
Jim Zumbo made his unfortunate comments out of ignorance. There can be
no doubt that Ranger Jackson is intimately familiar with the form and
function of military style weapons. While his initial comment could
have been an expression of his opinions on "fair chase" rules for
hunting, his subsequent comments make it crystal clear that he is
referring to all military-style firearms in civilian hands.
I know, like, and respect Joaquin Jackson and appreciate his service to
my native state of Texas and to the NRA, but this betrayal of the
principles of the Second Amendment and the policies and positions of the
NRA and the Board of Directors is inexcusable. Ranger Jackson needs to
immediately resign his seat on the Board of Directors and recant his
statements about "assault weapons."
Ranger Jackson's contact information, along with contact information for
the rest of the Officers and Directors of NRA can be found in the
current (September) issue of NRA's magazines. The Board will be meeting
in their regular quarterly meeting in mid September.
Writing for The Firearms Coalition,
Jeff Knox
--
Stephen P. Wenger
Firearm safety - It's a matter
for education, not legislation.
http://www.spw-duf.info
