Gun Rights iPhone App

Orange County California Law Firm Davis & Associates have provided a free iPhone or iPod Touch application named Gun Rights. It has a user comment wall, a gun rights news feed, and links to gun rights related audio & video.

H/T to Tat who posted the link on my facebook wall.

Poll: Majority of Gun Owners Oppose Sotomayer Nomination

New Poll data shows that the majority of gun owners, independents, and small business owners oppose the Sotomayer Judicial Nomination. My question is why did 30% of the gun owners polled support her Nomination? Perhaps party loyalty is blinding some of them due to the fact that 84% of the Democrats polled support her nomination, while roughly 50% of US households own guns.

Update 1: For any gun owners currently finding themselves in support of the Sotomayer confirmation, please watch this short excerpt from her testimony before the Senate and perhaps you'll consider a position change. If not I guess you only consider your ownership of guns to be a Government Granted convenience rather than a fundamental right.

Eric Puryear: Self Defense with Guns

Eric Puryear highlights a peer reviewed study showing that Americans use a gun in self defense every 13 seconds.

RNC on Healthcare Reform Bill

Reforma: Watch out for the side effects!


Update 1: Check out this small list of issues with the Health Care Bill.

National Debt Road Trip at 174 MPH

Increasing National Debt Road Trip Visualization, adjusted for inflation & converted to miles per hour with one mile equaling 5.8 Billion Dollars in increased national debt, and 1 Yr equaling 1 hour. Bush was driving the debt car at 64 MPH which was the fastest our debt car had ever been driven, but according to President Obama's own budget estimate for the next 8 yrs, he's currently driving our debt car at a speed of 174 MPH. Anyone still wondering why so many of us are attending Tea Parties?

Stimulus Package: Predictions vs Reality

Remember the predictions of all the jobs the Stimulus Package was going to save even though Congress passed the bill without even bothering to read it?

NRA Notifies Senators that Sotomayer Confirmation Votes will be Judged

It's official - any Senators who vote to confirm Judge Sonia Sotomayer as a Supreme Court Justice will be making an anti-gun vote that will count against them in their NRA election ratings. This is good news for gun owners everywhere.

Harold Fish Reunited with his Family

As follow-up to my earlier post, Harold Fish was reunited with his family yesterday:

Thune-Vitter CCW Reciprocity Amendment to S. 1390

South Dakota Senator John Thune & Louisiana Senator David Vitter have offered a Thune-Vitter CCW Reciprocity Amendment to Defense Authorization bill S. 1390.

More from the NRA-ILA:

. . . Contrary to "states' rights" claims from opponents who usually favor sweeping federal gun control, the amendment is a legitimate exercise of Congress's constitutional power to protect the fundamental rights of citizens (including the right to keep and bear arms and the right of personal mobility). States would still have the authority to regulate the time, place and manner in which handguns are carried . . .

I see little difference between the Federal government requiring the States to recognize drivers licenses & requiring the States to recognize CCW permits with the exception of the fact that there is no fundamental right to drive a car.

Update 1: 7/21/09 - Illinois Senator Roland Burris spoke out against the CCW Reciprocity Amendment on the Senate Floor on the afternoon of July 21st. His argument was that it ignores the violence & illegal shootings going on in Chicago on a daily basis. I submit that it actually recognizes it. It is places like Chicago where law abiding citizens have all the more reason to arm themselves in defense of self & family. The criminals are already armed, so why should we continue to disarm the law abiding?

Update 2: 7/22/09 - Although the majority of the Senate voted in favor of the amendment, it failed to reach the procedural 60 vote minimum by a margin of 2 votes - it received a vote of 58 in favor vs. 39 against with 3 not voting - if only a couple of those not voting could have made a decision it could have passed. More from NRA-ILA.

Update 3: How did your Senator Vote?

Grouped By Vote Position

YEAs ---58:

• Alexander (R-TN)
• Barrasso (R-WY)
• Baucus (D-MT)
• Bayh (D-IN)
• Begich (D-AK)
• Bennet (D-CO)
• Bennett (R-UT)
• Bond (R-MO)
• Brownback (R-KS)
• Bunning (R-KY)
• Burr (R-NC)
• Casey (D-PA)
• Chambliss (R-GA)
• Coburn (R-OK)
• Cochran (R-MS)
• Collins (R-ME)
• Conrad (D-ND)
• Corker (R-TN)
• Cornyn (R-TX)
• Crapo (R-ID)
• DeMint (R-SC)
• Dorgan (D-ND)
• Ensign (R-NV)
• Enzi (R-WY)
• Feingold (D-WI)
• Graham (R-SC)
• Grassley (R-IA)
• Gregg (R-NH)
• Hagan (D-NC)
• Hatch (R-UT)
• Hutchison (R-TX)
• Inhofe (R-OK)
• Isakson (R-GA)
• Johanns (R-NE)
• Johnson (D-SD)
• Kyl (R-AZ)
• Landrieu (D-LA)
• Lincoln (D-AR)
• Martinez (R-FL)
• McCain (R-AZ)
• McConnell (R-KY)
• Murkowski (R-AK)
• Nelson (D-NE)
• Pryor (D-AR)
• Reid (D-NV)
• Risch (R-ID)
• Roberts (R-KS)
• Sessions (R-AL)
• Shelby (R-AL)
• Snowe (R-ME)
• Tester (D-MT)
• Thune (R-SD)
• Udall (D-CO)
• Udall (D-NM)
• Vitter (R-LA)
• Warner (D-VA)
• Webb (D-VA)
• Wicker (R-MS)

NAYs ---39:

• Akaka (D-HI)
• Bingaman (D-NM)
• Boxer (D-CA)
• Brown (D-OH)
• Burris (D-IL)
• Cantwell (D-WA)
• Cardin (D-MD)
• Carper (D-DE)
• Dodd (D-CT)
• Durbin (D-IL)
• Feinstein (D-CA)
• Franken (D-MN)
• Gillibrand (D-NY)
• Harkin (D-IA)
• Inouye (D-HI)
• Kaufman (D-DE)
• Kerry (D-MA)
• Klobuchar (D-MN)
• Kohl (D-WI)
• Lautenberg (D-NJ)
• Leahy (D-VT)
• Levin (D-MI)
• Lieberman (ID-CT)
• Lugar (R-IN)
• McCaskill (D-MO)
• Menendez (D-NJ)
• Merkley (D-OR)
• Murray (D-WA)
• Nelson (D-FL)
• Reed (D-RI)
• Rockefeller (D-WV)
• Sanders (I-VT)
• Schumer (D-NY)
• Shaheen (D-NH)
• Specter (D-PA)
• Stabenow (D-MI)
• Voinovich (R-OH)
• Whitehouse (D-RI)
• Wyden (D-OR)

Not Voting - 3:

• Byrd (D-WV)
• Kennedy (D-MA)
• Mikulski (D-MD)

Glenn Beck Discusses Socialized Healthcare

". . . when you level the playing field, you notice nobody's talking about bringing everyone up to the standard of the rich, they're going to bring it down so everyone has the same crappy standard. Well I've got news for you gang, that's not the way a country progresses, that is the way a Country goes out of business . . ."

Update 1: Check out this small list of issues with the Health Care Bill.

BATFE Steps on the States with Federal Boots

The ATF commonly known as Batty BATFE (primarily a group of power hungry Jack Booted Thugs whom no longer find it satisfying to go after criminals so they now waste our tax Dollars persecuting law abiding citizens), has stated in a letter to Federal Firearms Licensees that it intends to continue to ignore the Constitution & State Sovereignty. Their move was in response to multiple States which passed legislation this year stating what should be obvious which is that the Federal Government has absolutely NO POWER NOR AUTHORITY granted to it to regulate firearms that do not participate in Interstate Commerce, such as firearms fully manufactured within a given State marked for sale only to residents of that State.

Unfortunately this is no surprise for me, simply yet another exhibit of disrespect by the ATF for the protections built into the Constitution.

Good News for Harold Fish

From The Arizona Capitol Times related to recently signed SB 1449 & Harold Fish:

. . . His conviction was reversed and it was ordered that he receive a new trial. But, the Attorney General’s Office intends to appeal the decision to the Arizona Supreme Court, according to Kent Cattani, the chief of criminal appeals.

However, if that appeal is unsuccessful, Coconino County Attorney David Rozema announced on July 16 that his office will not retry Fish for murder. He cited a limited amount of physical evidence and the lack of a witness to the shooting.

The prosecutor also said the appeal likely will take months to conclude, and, in the meantime, Fish will be released from prison.

More details at the Harold Fish Defense website.

Update 1: Harold Fish Reunited with his Family.

Steven Crowder: Socialized Healthcare

Does anyone honestly think our government that can't even manage Social Security, Medicaid, or Medicare could somehow manage to pull off a working Socialized Healthcare System? No? Me either.



H/T to Clyde Moore.

Update 1: From Mayo Clinic:

Mayo Clinic has been cited by President Obama on several occasions as well as in several media outlets . . . as an example of quality, cost effective health care that others around the United States can learn from . . . Medicare like plan will lead to financial ruin for patients, doctors and hospitals:

Mayo Clinic firmly believes that a government run public plan with price controls structured like Medicare would be financially disastrous to individual physicians, medical practice groups, and hospitals, which will ultimately hurt patients who seek care. The current system of Medicare payment punishes the most effective and efficient providers. Twenty-five years of experience with price controls has proven that price controls do not control spending. A majority of Medicare providers currently suffer great financial loss under the current program. Mayo Clinic alone lost $840 million last year under Medicare. Mayo Clinic and other providers are reaching the point where they cannot afford to see Medicare patients.

Nutnfancy: Ruger 10/22 Review

I love the Ruger 10/22 as a fun rifle that is also inexpensive to own & shoot. While searching youtube for the latest 2nd Amendment & shooting sports related stuff today I found a fun video feed by nutnfancy. Below is a recent review he did of the Ruger 10/22:



Part 2.

AZ Fox News: Should You Buy a Gun?

While looking for the Ken Cheuvront interview from the Monday Night local news I found this local news piece from Saturday exploring the option of using a gun to defend your Family:

AZ: Senator Ken Cheuvront is Worried

District 15 Arizona Senator Ken Cheuvront is worried that he may soon unknowingly sit next to someone with a concealed weapon in a bar or restaurant that serves alcohol thanks to SB 1113 Restaurant Carry. I listened to Senator Cheuvront complain about SB 1113 on the Senate Floor during the Senate Committee of the Whole floor debate, but that was nothing compared to his recent rantings during a Phoenix Fox 10 News interview that aired last night:

"Now there's going to be a fear that you don't know if the person next to you is carrying a concealed weapon or not," said Senator Ken Cheuvront, a Phoenix Democrat who owns a wine bar and restaurant downtown.

Someone should let Senator Cheuvront know that he could be walking or sitting near people with concealed weapons most any time that he is walking or sitting near other people. That is the very nature of a concealed weapon - nobody knows it is there other than the person carrying it.

Even before this law change there were plenty of armed people sitting near him in restaurants or bars that serve alcohol. I guess he didn't know that even criminals eat out, and they certainly don't bother to disarm just because they're going out to eat. The only thing that will change on September 30th is that the criminals won't be the only people with weapons.

Watch the video to listen to all of his worries:

AZ: Brewer Signs Gun Bills

Good news - according to KPHO Governor Brewer signed both SB 1113 Restaurant Carry & SB 1243 Parking Lot Storage into law. They'll take effect Sep 30th 2009.

SB 1243 Defensive Display was not mentioned but if she takes no action on it by midnight tonight (Monday July 13th) it will automatically become law on Sep 30th.

Update 1: I've received an update from AZCDL that SB 1243 Defensive Display was signed Monday night as well.

Update 2: It's official - they're all showing up as signed by the Governor on azleg.gov:

• SB 1113 Restaurant Carry
• SB 1168 Parking Lot Storage
• SB 1243 Defensive Display

Update 3: Related News Release from NRA-ILA. You can also see a complete listing of the fate of all 2009 legislation that AZCDL either supported or opposed.

Update 4: Before you follow the links to the bills, follow this link & select the Forty-ninth Legislature - First Regular Session

Update 5: The Arizona DLLC states that the laws from this legislative session take effect Sep 29th 2009 rather than Sep 30th, which conflicts with all other sources.

AZ: Scottsdale Open Carry Dinner

The Open Carry Dinner last night in Scottsdale was a lot of fun. About 70 gun owners showed up to enjoy the evening. I showed up a bit late myself but had a great time and met a lot of nice people. There's another dinner coming up in a couple of weeks on July 25th in Tucson, and you can help choose the place for the August dinner.

ABC 15 News covered the Open Carry Dinner as part of a news piece about Restaurant Carry:

Mayor Cedric Grover: Your Rights Have Been Suspended

Shreveport Louisiana Mayor Cedric Grover says your rights are suspended when an officer pulls you over.

If it wasn't bad enough that the Shreveport officer entered the vehicle without cause or permission, the officer also had the handgun muzzle aimed at Robert Baillio most of the time that he was in the process of unloading it! Hello! Have you not heard of the very most basic of safety rules such as the rule that you never point a gun at anything you are not willing to destroy? You'd think the officer could have at least violated Robert Baillio's constitutional rights without aiming Robert's own gun at him!

More here, here, and here.

H/T to Tom Gresham.

Ed Montana: Obamanation

Obamanation by Ed Montana:


H/T to Eric Shelton.

AZ: Gun Bills Passed by Legislature - Sent to Governor for Signature

Our legislature has been hard at work. They have approved & sent to the governor a group of important gun rights bills for her signature:

• SB 1113 Restaurant Carry
• SB 1168 Parking Lot Storage
• SB 1243 Defensive Display
• HCM 2009 Opposing Federal Firearms Legislation

Please email Governor Brewer or call her office at 602-542-4331, (toll free: 800-253-0883) & ask for her support! She has 10 days not including Sundays to either sign or veto them. Thanks. :)

Be sure to THANK your Arizona Senator & Representatives if they supported these important bills! Also tell AZCDL & NRA-ILA thanks for their efforts by giving them your support.

Related NRA-ILA Press Release.

Update 1: NRA-ILA reports that anti-gun forces are already urging her to veto these bills - she needs to hear your support!

Update 2: Still awaiting action on these bills by Governor Brewer. She has until the end of Monday July 13th to take action on them. If she takes no action before the end of Monday, they'll automatically become law on September 30th.

Update 3: Governor Brewer signed Restaurant Carry & Parking Lot Stoarge into law!