New York Times columnist Joe Nocera refuses to consider the possibility that the “shall not be infringed” part of the Second Amendment means “shall not be infringed.” More to the point, Joe can’t understand why anyone would believe that government regulation of private firearms ownership is a bad thing, not a good thing—excluding the fact that they lack his intellectual firepower and bleeding heart empathy.
So Joe’s taken to labeling gun owners who oppose civilian disarmament as “absolutists.” That’s a kindler, gentler and more condescending way of calling them “extremists.” Well here’s one thing that’s absolutely true: Joe Nocera is a clever bastard.
Nocera knows how to shape the narrative by combining journalistic sins of omission and commission. In other words, Nocera is the Mayor of Spin City. To wit, today’s “Gun Report” . . .
The new meme among gun absolutists appears to be hammers. “Why did you elect to report on guns as a choice of weapon, when according to current F.B.I. stats, bear claw hammers and baseball bats are the number 1 and number 2 choice of weapon?” wrote a pro-gun reader: “Guns are 3rd.” When I was interviewing Second Amendment absolutists for Saturday’s column, I heard the same thing. So of course, Jennifer Mascia and I looked into it. Guess what? It doesn’t appear to be true as Slate reported in February . . .
Just for fun, let’s cede Joe the statistical argument (at least until Bruce Kraft sees the bat signal). Do you see what he’s doing?
Instead of debating whether or not keeping a running tally of “gun violence” is inherently biased in favor of (not to mention inspired by) civilian disarmament, instead of balancing “gun violence” against defensive gun use, Joe’s focused his readers’ attention on baseball bats and hammers.
Still, in the interest of fair inquiry, Jennifer and I will be searching this week for incidents of hammer violence as well as gun violence. We will run The Hammer Report directly below The Gun Report, so readers can see for themselves how much hammer violence there is compared to gun violence. Should be illuminating, don’t you think?
You gotta give Joe credit. At the same time that he’s ridiculing his “absolutist” detractors by simplifying and mischaracterizing their argument, he’s added information which backs up the underlying precept of civilian disarmament: America is a cesspool of violence.
Truth be told, we are a law-abiding and peaceful nation whose violent crime rate has been dropping for more than two decades. The majority of the reports in Joe’s daily tabulation of firearms-related homicides are gang/drug-related deaths and suicides, restricted to a small population, both geographically and demographically.
Not that you’d know it from reading This Day in Gun Violence. Joe’s supposedly objective diary gives an intentionally distorted view of our society. Context is the argument killer, and Joe knows it.
Thankfully, his “something must be done” alarmism is doomed to failure. For one thing, it’s monotonous. Not even Joe’s snarky sniping can save the feature from inevitable ballistic boredom. For another, Americans still believe in their Constitution and the rights it protects. Absolutely, positively.
Thread Lazerus……The first bolt action that I ever owned was an Izhevsk M44 carbine bought at a gunshow in Colorado. Unissued and cosmoline encrusted it was one of the best memories I had of living in the U.S. I paid about 130 bucks for it including some ammo. I remember living in a little appartment and filling the bathroom sink with coleman white spirit trying to disolve the gunk and my ex wife hitting the roof when she found out what I had bought. One of the many treasures that I had to leave behind when I moved back home. They pretty much seem indestructable and make a great brush gun and if you’re charged by that elusive moster wild boar you can always stick them with the fold out bayonet….LOL
I am proudly an “absolutist” when it comes to the Second Amendment. I am also an absolutist when it comes to the First, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Amendments. The First Amendment says “no law abridging…”. It doesn’t exempt commercial speech. It doesn’t exempt campaign speech, It doesn’t even exempt porn. All speech should be protected. The Second says “..shall not be infringed..” So that means all current gun laws are unconstitutional.
Yes we must remain vigilant so the gungrabbers that are in congress can’t sneak any new gun legislation through, but we cannot pretend that we are losing these battles when in reality we are winning them, just so those in the market can keep making money from the inflated prices caused by not only the threat but this negative attitude that we are losing this fight. I’m sick of it. Mr. Tavor aka Military Arms Channel or Sturmgewehre is preaching to the choir here and is keeping the market just where it wants to be, at defcon 1 and 2 where prices are as high as the fears instead of at defcon 3 or 4 where we remain vigilant but do not push unnecessary fear or actions.
Military Arms Channel and Mr. Tavor are performing a disservice to us with this video.
It will not be offered as a rider on some other bill, but as an amendment to the gun bill. As such, it will be voted on individually as to whether the amendment should be allowed. This is a “win-win” situation for Feinstein in a symbolic fashion. First, there is an actual vote on an AWB ban. Yes, it will fail, but it should be close. And all Obama asked for was a vote–“they deserve a vote,” he said. And if it is really close, that is as good as a win for them–as it shows the viability of a ban at someother date. Second, it allows the other measures to proceed without the threat of a fillibuster that would kill everything if the AWB were left in. There is bipartisan support for a universal background check and for added penalties for strawbuyers and traffickers that will likely pass the Senate. So this allows the political statement without killing the overall plan. It will not die until the SCOTUS says that the feds cannot regulate such wapons as they are in common use.
Your SCOTUS statement is exactly what will happen after this gun grab attempt, it will put an end to the gunbrabbers in congress once and for all.
No offense to any of my friends in the Special Forces community, but at this point is there anything more cliched than hiring a Navy SEAL to lend credibility to whatever cause you represent?
That could be some kind of record for most lies in a single paragraph, or the biggest load of bullshit in a one horse wagon!
What about somebody like Travis Haley? Or as long as they are recruiting Youtube all stars what about Cory and Erika?
I say its about time. I’ve been trying to get my 4’10” Guatemalan wife up to speed on the philosophical aspects of firearms ownership and natural rights but she has been buried with English classes first and then nurse’s training. Hopefully soon, as I saw the value of her speaking out on this topic years ago. All the racist invective they hurl at me is moot when she is the one speaking out. Now we just need to get rid of LaPierre.
He’s already lied about not taking our guns.
do any of them have tips where to buy some freaking ammo, i’ll listen to that one.
haha i like them all.
Well, I’m Air Force too, Alpha, and as much as I’d like to see the guys in blue supporting the 2A, I’m fine with the cliche. To most of the public, the SEALs are the last word.
Now if I could just get that P-51 Mustang before the Mommie Mayor finds out a civilian can own one.
Anyone who shows sincerity, is articulate and experienced with firearms is welcome as a spokesman, especially converts who have educated themselves on the 2A issues and are astonished at the misleading rhetoric and injustice being perpetrated by those who would try to identify all firearms owners and ultimately seize their guns.
Truth be told, we are a law-abiding and peaceful nation whose violent crime rate has been dropping for more than a decade.
Actually Rob, it’s been more than two decades. Crime peaked in 1991 and has been falling since.
I think you can anticipate that the president’s going to continue to ask Congress to consider a range of proposals, including the assault weapons ban, that would have a tangible impact on reducing violence in communities all across the country,”
Really? A “tangible impact” on reducing violence when Obama stood in front of a camera and admitted that scary looking rifles are rarely used to commit crimes and that most murders are committed using handguns?
This is the epitome of lying so much you can’t keep the lies straight.
“White House spokesperson Josh Earnest [sic] said the President does not want a federal gun registry.”
And so we’re just supposed to say to ourselves, “ok, let’s believe what he says one more time”? Like we were supposed to do when he said he’s not going to take our handguns, rifles, or shotguns? That little phrase, “shall not be infringed”, means you shouldn’t even be discussing the restrictions you’re contemplating. Surprise us for once and start discussing ways you’re going to work to protect the rights of the people.
I know a family that was beaten to death with a hammer. I can assure you they are no less dead than if they had been shot and the rest of the family was no less devistated. The surviving sister immediately went out and bought a handgun for home protection for whatever that’s worth.
I believe if you sent that gun back they sent it to me. I have the exact same gun doing the exact same thing. I have guns i have tried to make malfunction and cant 4 of those are sigs including two p 220s, c3, and gsr. I think there is zero chance you are shooting it wrong.I have had nothing but good luck from sigs of all kinds. And just because i dont like a glock at all dont mean i am going to say they are horible guns like some of these sig haters. But i have had several glocks over the years and have had at least 12 to 15 ftf total But have shot more rounds than most even through glocks so 12 to 15 is not bad. Until this sig 1911 fastback i have had less than 10 from sigs which i shoot 3 times as much as any other gun. Never even one in either of my 220s and ith 4000 rounds and counting never even 1 in my gsr. But this fastback is kicking my but. I do a lot of work on 1911 pistols myself and thought this is going to be a nice little chalange. But i am so sick of this thing now i thik i am going to turn it into a 460 rowland.I think the man is right when he said fit of barrel to slide may have something to do with it also the guy who mentioned the extractor may be onto something.. But it is very hard to tune. this has made me really start to reconsider my 1911 position. I may now start buing springfield, colt or even s and w and dontlaugh at s and w i think i ve had less problems with s and w than any other gun. As far as the fastback goes i will lput the rowland kit in it an if that helps or solves the problem iwill keep it. If not i will sell it cheap or use it for parts and i payed a lot more than 800 for mine
If people aren’t alarmed by the daily militarization of our police forces, they aren’t paying attention. This shouldn’t be happening in a free society. I am truly ashamed of my government. When all the guns are taken away, gang violence and drug violence will still be there. Neither of those problems have yet to be licked. The new enemy is inanimate.
No the New ENEMY IS THE SAME OLD ENEMY , Inanimate they aint.
COMMUNISM! And they still follow the same plans, confiscate then Terminate.
Ask those poor Polish Officers.
‘I Just Put Three Rounds in His A**’: Dramatic 911 Call Captures Oklahoma Man Shooting Home Intruder After Police Couldn’t Arrive Fast Enough
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/03/22/i-just-put-three-rounds-in-his-a-dramatic-911-call-captures-oklahoma-man-shooting-home-intruder-after-police-couldnt-arrive-fast-enough/
link to just the 911 call:
http://pages.poncacitynews.com//sound/N%20Pine%2013004595%20edited.wav
From what I understand his wife was upstairs with another gun just in case he couldn’t stop him downstairs.
ATF agents have taken their cameras and photographed FFL records. They’ve already done it so a registry could be collected “some day”.
Just got one of these today. $280.00+tax. I couldn’t wait to shoot it with my girl (10yrs). We rushed to the gun range and commenced to cut out the center of the target. It was shooting to the left a bit at first. With a tap from the back end of a screw driver on the rear sight it was “ON”. The carving began.
I had never been a Henry fan before and am not attracted to their big bore lever actions due to the lack of side loading gate. But in this model, I am fine with the tube. It actually reminds me of the lever action BB gun I had back in the 70s as a kid. I once shot a fly off a blade of grass and wasps on water with it and this little rifle feels like it can do the same.
As far as the safety issue. Sorry fellers. In my opinion, safety is in your own awareness not a gadget on the side of the rifle. You really cant knock this rifle for the lack of a safety just because you want to be lazy about your shooting practices. Be aware and don’t take any short cuts with any firearm.
I’ve shot the 10/22. Nice semi-auto rifle. But this Henry is a lever action and totally fun to shoot. It depends upon what you are into. The lever action with a drop or two of oil is a smooth running machine right out’a the box
I find that this is a very fine lever action at a decent price. I plan to shoot the hell outa it until I can hit wasps on water and wear off the paint and blueing.
Short story,
Don’t knock it until you have tried it.
This is exactly what’s needed! The Second Amendment rights of ALL Americans is under and unprecedented attack by liberals, and we must unite to stand against them! God Bless you Midway USA!
Hmmmm, whom to believe, Obama’s parrots or a John Lott….yea John Lott.
http://youtu.be/8tUJaUY2OiY
I find it unsurprising that a business reporter, who basically makes his living off the droppings of our Wall Street Oligarchs, would leap at the chance to carry water for Mike Bloomberg, who has made 28 billion dollars serving the technology and information needs of our Wall Street Oligarchs.
I find it curious that the drive to disarm the population seems to have taken hold, just as the global ponzi scheme appears to be slipping out of control. It’s almost as if the Wall Street Oligarchs fear that there might be consequences to shipping manufacturing jobs out of the country, swindling homeowners and raping the treasury with the TARP and associated buy outs.
Don’t they know that both parties in the government are completely bought and paid for and will never bring them to justice? That the six conglomerates that control 90% of the mainstream media will forever keep people in the dark? That the few resistors will be easily identified by the highly sophisticated information security state and then neutralized by the DHS/interior ministry army?
just kidding…
In light of Michael Moore’s vicious diatribes the other day, I have to say I find this one a bit ironic. A little offputting…yeah, you could say that. All the more so since it’s a British production (they must have a friggin’ PLAGUE of deer now that no one’s allowed to properly hunt anymore), what with the matter-of-fact tone and accent.
However….I am not that mortified. Even though I have hunted only rarely and still more rarely successfully at that. I grew up on a farm in Missouri ranching beef cattle, like so many around here. Once when I was about 8 or so, we took a steer to slaughter for beef. While my grandfather was tending to business I wandered off in search of more interesting adventures, and presently found myself in….hog receiving. Ha! Receiving, indeed! It was a VERY illuminating experience to see a hog get processed from beginning to end in about 15 minutes, from the moment they herded it into the pen, and stunned it (probably a captive bolt gun?), then strung it up, bled it, skinned it, gutted it (a real anatomy lesson there!), and butchered it before sending it off to the freezer. 8 years old, remember. Remember, death by any means in the end is still death. It’s true that as a species we don’t apply that to humans, but if you’re the dead one the last thing you’ll be doing is disagreeing.
I think that as a lot we have not only fallen far from reality, we have fallen to depths of ignorance and effiminate hypersensitivity that can scarcely be comprehended. Boys are no longer allowed to be boys (see any stupid school incident for steaming heaps of evidence) and the ninnies are now running the asylums. I will not bow to such foolishness in my lifetime, and even though I (fortunately?) have no children to subject to our public indoctrination system, I would urge that all such parents who still have a shred of sense of reality take their kid on a field trip….to the slaughterhouse! You won’t hurt tender sensibilities as much as you might imagine and they will learn a few realities – such as the fact that meat doesn’t just appear in the grocery store out of nowhere, etc,
Tom
I don’t understand why the wingnuts are so fascinated with our johnsons. I certainly appreciate the concern, but I have no intentions of satisfying their, uh, curiosity.
Hey Russell Bixby, aren’t you the goofy Coke-Bottled Glasses Clary lab computer geek Supervisor who used to think he was a dog and bark at people? I remember how everyone wondered how you passed the psych exam and were allowed to winter over in Antarctica. You would bark at the food line in the galley when you wanted something. Then when you jumped into cold Ross sea naked for the Polar plunge you dove to the bottom and came up with lingering tingling arms. You also would walk outside in below zero weather without a jacket or ECW gear on. Obviously you had freezer brain and were the biggest embarrassing mentally unbalanced joke during the winter over. You were constantly sexually harassing a much, much younger red-headed Assistant cook who filed many complaints against you and you ruined her entire winter over experience. Man the stories we could continue to tell about that and you. She had the same first name as “One” famous Princess in Star Wars (Carrie Fisher character) The moral of the story is: Those who live in glass houses should shut the f up!!!