“After 45 years in law enforcement, I’ve had a lot more calls where a gun was misused, obtained by a child, used in the heat of a domestic dispute — a lot more of those calls than of a homeowner defending themselves. When you balance it all out, the minuses of having a gun, on the precept that you’re going to defend yourself, outweigh the pluses.” That’s how Craig Steckler [above] sees it. The recently retired Fremont, CA police chief and president of the International Association of Chiefs of Police now goes about his business unarmed, presumably. While handing ammo to the antis. Let’s shake the bushes and see who else falls out . . .
“Today, ‘nut country’ isn’t so much a place as it is a state of mind, and its population has been steadily on the rise amid the intensifying debate over gun control.” [Note: Given all this talk about nuts, I ripped the above pic from an ad for testosterone supplements on the msnbc web page.]
New York Times coverage of California Town Hall meeting on civilian disarmament previews the media memes to come: gun rights advocates are rude, stupid, aggressive and nuts. And they’re lots of ’em.
“The couple’s new political action committee has already received a pledge of more than $1 million in donations from Texas attorney and gun owner Steve Mostyn and his wife, Amber. Mostyn is treasurer of the new political action committee.” Kelly, Giffords make common-sense plea for gun control usatoday.com
Well that explains CT Senator Meyer’s bill #122. Loaded Revolutionary War-Era Cannon Found In Central Park newyork.cbslocal.com
Walmart calls them “modern sporting rifles.” business.time.com
Gun-savvy Washington Post opinionator Kathleen Parker calls assault weapons ban and magazine capacity limits “hardly draconian.” Her father would not be pleased.
Plain speaking on the plains: “I think [campus carry] is a good thing, because anybody should be able to carry a gun anywhere.” Universities oppose bill allowing guns on campus sfgate.com
Time to forgive Ruger? They do have the coolest contact-your-Congressman app in the history of the Internet, ever.
The civilian disarmament folk keep claiming that 40 percent of firearms sales go through gun shows. The only study on the topic: a 1997 Department of Justice study (page five).
66% Through a dealer (Gun shop, Pawn shop, and other dealers)
13% Friend or acquaintance (includes gifts, purchase, theft…)
12% Member of the family (includes gifts, purchase, theft…)
4% Gun show or flea market (Dealers sell at gun shows)
3% “Through the mail” (Requires delivery through a licensed dealer)
3% Other
January 12, 2013 9:19:12 AM EST, Richmond VA. Gun Show: “I have been in line for half an hour. The line wraps around the parking lot which is completely filled. Local police directed people to park at a church across the street.”
Not everyone’s a Dick’s.
Will it really come to this? Eastern Kentucky sheriff says he will not enforce gun laws he considers unconstitutional kentucky.com
It sucks to be me. Actually, maybe not. Speaking of assassinations . . .
“Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is convinced that a lone gunman wasn’t solely responsible for the assassination of his uncle, President John F. Kennedy, and said his father believed the Warren Commission report was a ‘shoddy piece of craftsmanship.'” True story: lots of passive construction. dailymail.co.uk
Small “affordable” thermal imaging from ATK: $3995.
The funniest thing I’ve read all week (’cause Dan’s been off-line): “Mexico’s newly named ambassador to the United States says he hopes the U.S. imposes new gun-control laws that will help reduce violence in Mexico.” miamiherald.com
OK, this is pretty good too: “‘Officers often end up arresting the children they are there to protect,’ said Judith Browne Dianis, co-director of The Advancement Project, which has worked for years to reduce the number of students arrested at school.” orlandosentinel.com
And this:
God knows we could all use a laugh right now.