Some Democrats in AZ Lump Magazines with RPGs

20 Democrats in Arizona have signed on as Sponsors for HB 2711 which if passed and signed into law would lump people caught with unauthorized Rocket Propelled Grenades in the same boat as those caught holding magazines with capacities greater than 10 rounds of ammunition! Unbelievable.

Essentially, this group of sponsors wish to add so-called "large capacity ammunition feeding device" to a list of items that are called "prohibited weapons" which in Arizona currently includes bombs, RPGs, grenades, and other items. They wish to define their so-called "large capacity ammunition feeding device" essentially as any magazine, drum, or strip which either can handle or could be modified to handle more than ten rounds of ammunition. Perhaps someone should explain to them that magazines are not weapons? Or is that simply beyond their ability to grasp?

If this particular group of Democrats can't grasp the simple fact that a crazy terrorist who is willing to break laws that prohibit shooting people would probably not hesitate to break a ban against so-called "large capacity ammunition feeding devices," how in the world could we expect them to grasp something as difficult to comprehend as what the definition of a weapon is? For any of the twenty who happen to know how to read, here is the definition of what a weapon is just for you. Let me know if you would like me to read it for you, I can read it slowly if you would like:

Weapon: "any instrument or device for use in attack or defense in combat, fighting, or war, as a sword, rifle, or cannon." - so essentially, the only way a magazine by itself could really be used as a weapon, would be if I beat someone over the head with it. Somewhat effective at close range, but not optimal in most situations. A baseball bat would be more effective as a weapon than a so-called large capacity ammunition feeding device, but I certainly hope they don't plan to ban those next!

If signed into law this bad legislation could surprise any average law abiding citizen with a Class 4 Felony simply because they happen to be caught carrying a standard Glock 17 and a few standard capacity 17 round magazines on their person - the very same magazine used by many Police departments all around the US.

I am SO VERY GLAD that our legislature is not in the hands of the 20 Democrats who signed onto this bill, and I am going to e-mail each and every one of them to tell them exactly what I think about the legislation they so happily signed their names to.

Bad news for California

This year Californians find themselves subject to 725 brand new laws, such as one law that could land parents in jail for not having an "approved" excuse for enough missed school days, and another law that makes it illegal to build a building that isn't "energy efficient" enough to make Al Gore smile.

To make matters worse for my friends in California, I recently met an anti-gun Progressive Liberal who is planning to move from Arizona to California because he feels there are not enough restrictions on our rights here in Arizona. He told me that while he "supports the 2nd Amendment" he doesn't feel anyone should actually be "allowed" to bear arms. When I asked him what part of bear arms he fails to understand when he claims to support the Second Amendment, he gave me a deer in the headlights look. Probably the same look he'll have if he is ever unlucky enough to get mugged in his currently unarmed defenseless state.

All I can say is good riddance, but to my friends in California I do send my condolences for yet another anti-freedom Progressive that will be heading your way.

Police Budget Cuts: We Won't Come

Residents of Oakland California have been told that if they come home & find that their home security has been compromised - in other words their door has been kicked in - don't bother to call the Police. Why? Because the Police won't come unless there is proof that the thugs are still inside. How they expect you to know that before the thugs hiding inside bash your brains in with baseball bats I don't know, but I do have some friendly advice for such residents.

I highly recommend that you don't walk into a compromised home without your gun, and you should definitely have a buddy with you to back you up. Training on how to enter safely as a team and clear rooms is important too, so make sure you and your backup get plenty of training.

Definitely don't just wander in calling "is anybody still here?" - that is a good way to get your brains bashed in. Of course this advice won't be very helpful to my friends in Oakland California, since few California Subjects are even permitted to bear loaded weapons on their person. In Oakland I imagine only the politically well connected or wealthy are able to get a California "May Issue" CCW permit.

Update 1: It occurred to me this morning that although in California it is often difficult to obtain a CCW permit for self defense while away from home, it is perfectly legal to store an unloaded firearm in a locked case in your vehicle. Once you arrive at home you can load it up & carry it on your person in a holster for self defense. That way if you have any unpleasant surprises on the way into your home you won't be defenseless.

AB 1934: Open Carry Ban in CA

California Assemblywoman Lori Saldaña claims that she introduced California AB 1934 to ban Open Carry of unloaded firearms because she believes Police Resources are being wasted due to "man with a gun" phone calls to the Police. Even if that were true, you can't infringe a constitutionally protected right just to save Police Resources. Imagine a ban on free speech on public sidewalks to prevent wasting the Police Resources often utilized for crowd control or traffic redirection.

Even so, one Californian decided to test Saldaña's theory by calling the Police on himself:

Should the BATFE monitor Screwdriver Sales?

Last night a man killed his ex-girlfriend with a screwdriver, which makes it perfectly clear to me why she dumped the looser in the first place. I just wish she would have had a gun to defend herself from the screwdriver wielding man so that the headline could have been that she shot her screwdriver wielding ex-boyfriend in self defense.

In light of this tragic use of the common screwdriver, is the Brady Campaign going to demand that the BATFE get involved with licensing screwdriver dealers in order to monitor screwdriver sales? Shall we rename the BATFE to BATFES for Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, Explosives, and Screwdrivers?

Hardware stores used to sell firearms before the BATFE began regulating gun sales which made many of the hardware stores decide to pull out of the gun sale business to avoid the hassle. Could we soon have to make a separate stop at screwdriver stores licensed by the BATFES when looking for the common screwdriver? Would regulating screwdriver sales prevent ANY senseless screwdriver deaths by screwdriver wielding thugs?

No? I don't think so either. It wouldn't work any better than regulating nail guns.

Permits for Free Speech?

Isn't it interesting that you need permission from the Federal Government to walk around on public sidewalks with political signs that the Federal Government doesn't agree with? Permits for Free Speech & Peaceable Assembly?


Video was posted by Young Americans for Liberty.

Tom Gresham: Trap a Terrorist Tips

Tom Gresham of Gun Talk Radio in support of the Department of Homeland Security's new definition of a Terrorist has created a group of funny audio bumpers that you've probably heard if you've been listening to his radio show or podcast. Tom has made them freely available for download on his website - check them out & share them with your friends.

By the way - Tom is now on twitter. :)

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.

Don't Toss your Headphones in the European Union

I just bought a pair of earbud headphones that came with a warning written in 17 different languages that says if you live in the European Union you are not allowed to toss your headphones in the garbage. I'm not even kidding. As is often said, truth is stranger than fiction, and you can't make this stuff up!

"After the implementation of the European Directive 2002/96/EU in the national legal system, the following applies:
Electrical and electronic devices MAY NOT be disposed of with domestic waste.
Consumers are OBLIGED by LAW to return electrical and electronic devices at the end of their service lives to the PUBLIC collecting points set up for this purpose or point of sale. Details to this are defined by the national law of the respective country."

Not sure what in the world the EU would want to do with a pair of worthless broken earbud headphones but if the European Union wants mine when I'm done with them they'll have to come dig them out of the pile of refuse my garbage collection service delivers them to. I'm certainly not flying to Europe to dispose of them at a European Union public collection point.

Gary Marbut: Get the Federal Government on a Leash

I love this quote by Gary Marbut (President of Montana Shooting Sports Associateion) relating to States challenging the Federal Government's abuse of the Interstate Commerce Clause:

The federal government, said Mr. Marbut, "is a creation of the states, and the states need to get their creation on a leash."

CA: Racist Roots of Gun Control

An interesting Open Carry Training Alert from Oceanside PD. The good news is that in California you are not prohibited from open carrying of an unloaded weapon. The bad news is that it must be unloaded. Why did California decide to ban open carry of loaded weapons? Apparently to make sure members of the Black Panthers group could not do it. Where was the ACLU when California decided to disarm Black Panthers?

Legislation passed on July 28, 1967 that Californians could not carry a loaded weapon in public, even openly. It was prompted after a group of Black Panthers led a protest march into the California Legislature fully armed in May 1967.

You can learn more about open carry in California in the Open Carry California forum as well calguns.net & californiaopencarry.org.

Have I ever mentioned how thankful I am that I don't live in California, Washington DC, New York, or Chicago, among others? Our fellow gun owners currently stuck in those locations are in a world of hurt, I truly feel sorry for the predicament they currently find themselves in. I have a few ex-California friends who often tell me how glad they were when they moved from the Nanny State of California to the Free State of Arizona.

One of them even said he stopped to kiss the ground when he crossed the State line in his moving van & then yelled "FREEDOM AT LAST!" After he arrived he went to the DMV, got his Arizona drivers license, and did some shopping at a local gun store. Among other things on his wish list he picked up a handgun with a couple of 15 round magazines as well as an AR-15 with a couple of 30 round mags. He found Arizona Freedom to be absolutely heavenly after having been a California Subject for so many years.

Nationalized Socialist Bank

What customer service could look like from a Nationalized Socialist Bank (Audio from Glenn Beck):

Forensic Crime Labs: Biased, Unreliable, & Shoddy Science

An independent study on Police Forensic Crime labs has found them to have shoddy science:

Forensic evidence that has helped convict thousands of defendants for nearly a century is often the product of shoddy scientific practices that should be upgraded and standardized, according to accounts of a draft report by the nation’s pre-eminent scientific research group (National Academy of Sciences) . . . People who have seen it say it is a sweeping critique of many forensic methods that the police and prosecutors rely on, including fingerprinting, firearms identification and analysis of bite marks, blood spatter, hair and handwriting . . . analyses are often handled by poorly trained technicians who then exaggerate the accuracy of their methods in court . . . the field suffered from a reliance on outmoded and untested theories by analysts who often have no background in science, statistics or other empirical disciplines . . . a study of trial transcripts of 137 convictions that were overturned by DNA evidence found that 60 percent included false or misleading statements regarding blood, hair, bite mark, shoe print, soil, fiber and fingerprint analyses . . . the National Institute of Justice, a research arm of the Justice Department, tried to derail the forensic study by refusing to finance it . . .

Yet more proof that forensic proof is not fool proof. Only fools believed forensic evidence was fool proof, the rest of us knew better.

AZ: Gilbert LEO Disarmed Him

I received the following first hand account via e-mail today and I was given permission to post his experience here. It has been over 8 years since I was last pulled over to be given a speeding ticket, so I have not yet experienced any LEO (Law Enforcement Officer) interaction of this type since I began carrying. The details of the event sent to me are below:

• I got pulled over, (my license is GUNTOTN).
• Officer asked me if I was carrying.
• Officer asked for my license and CCW.
• Officer Said I was speeding.
• Officer asked me to get out of the car and put my hands behind my back, thumbs together.
• Officer grabbed my thumbs, and disarmed me.
• Officer asked why I had a gun.
• I told him "it is my 2nd amendment right."
• Officer wrote me a speeding ticket and requested that I allow him to place my gun in my trunk so that he would not have to hand it directly to me.

This was a Gilbert LEO. I called one of my best friends who is a Gilbert LEO, he told me that the Gilbert PD council said that Officers could not disarm anyone unless there was a suspected criminal violation.

I think he pulled me over due to my plate and I am looking for the law or court case to back up my friends claim.

I am a bit puzzled as to why the LEO disarmed him and asked why he was carrying a gun. Why carry a gun? Isn't it obvious? If that LEO does not yet know why it is a good idea to carry a gun, why does he carry one in himself?

Update 1: Looks like Montana MHP Officers are doing the same thing. H/T to Gary.

UK: Walking Stick Confiscated as Offensive Weapon

I already knew self defense & handguns were banned in the UK, but I had no idea walking sticks were as well. 78 year old retired teacher Philip Clarkson Webb was walking down the street with his walking stick when he found himself surrounded by Police who took his walking stick away saying it was an "offensive weapon". He was then left to shuffle along the street as best he could with no walking aid. To add insult to injury, when he later took his receipt in to ask for it back, he was told they had lost it:

They must have known he was a troublemaker the moment they saw him.

With his white hair, wax jacket and glasses, 78-year-old Philip Clarkson Webb clearly ticked all the boxes any eagle-eyed policemen would mark as 'danger'.

And as he shuffled along the pavement towards them there was one thing above all they deemed to pose a threat - his walking stick.

The officers surrounded the retired classics teacher and informed him the 3ft wooden cane was an 'offensive weapon' and had to be confiscated . . . When he later went to collect it from his local police station in Southborough, Kent, with his police receipt, he was told it had been misplaced . . .

Detroit Crime Lab Closed: 10% Error Rate in Firearms Cases!

1 in 10 firearms cases were found to have serious errors during an audit of the Detroit Police Crime Lab which led to its closure - there are likely innocent people in the slammer placed there with invalid evidence from that lab. Many people incorrectly assume Police crime labs are infallible but this just goes to show that nobody can screw something up the way a government agency can. Like President Ronald Reagan said, "The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'"

. . . The inspection found that the laboratory’s firearms unit was in compliance with just 42 percent of “essential standards,” which are criteria that fundamentally affect the outcome of work there. Accreditation requires 100 percent compliance. In addition, auditors re-examined 200 randomly selected shooting cases and found serious errors in 19. The laboratory handles about 1,800 shooting cases a year, they said.

“If this 10 percent error rate holds,” the report said, “the negative impact on the judicial system would be substantial, with a strong likelihood of wrongful convictions and a valid concern about numerous appeals.” . . .

CA: More on Orange County Sheriff Hutchens

As I have discussed earlier, Sheriff Hutchens in Orange County California is searching for a solution to a problem that does not exist, denying CCW renewal to citizens who she feels don't have sufficient cause. The best solution would be to change the CCW law in California to match Alaska or Vermont (no permit required to exercise your right to bear arms), and second to that would be a shall issue CCW law. Those solutions being unlikely in California anytime soon the next best solution Orange County citizens can dish out is to make sure she looses her election campaign. She was appointed to her current position to backfill a vacated spot (which is why I call it election rather than re-election) but eventually she will have to ask the people to elect her. Failing to loose her election campaign would be a big bitter pill for her to swallow, but take two & don't call me in the morning.

AZ: Phoenix Ranked 14th For Level of Freedom in Largest US Cities

Phoenix Arizona was ranked in 14th place - we beat Sebastian's home town of Philadelphia which was ranked in 26th place in the ranking of freedom in the largest 35 cities which were ranked 1st place to 35th place in order of large cities which had the the most freedoms to the large cities that had the least freedoms. 1st place went to Las Vegas for being the city with the most freedom. 35th place went to Chicago for being the top "Nanny Police State" where Freedom has been all but eliminated with everything from handgun bans to goose liver prohibitions.

H/T to Sebastian.

CA: Woman cited for carrying a shotgun

I guess in Longview California Police get a bit upset when you bear arms while walking down the street. At least that's the idea I get from the fact that they held a woman carrying her shotgun while walking to a Pawn Shop at gunpoint & demanded that she drop her weapon. After all that they added injury to insult by slapping her with a $250 fine for so-called "disorderly conduct."

I don't know about you, but I'd think an apology & a nice box of flowers would have been more appropriate than a $250 fine.

The Nanny Police State

Say uncle has alerted us to yet another attempt of government to be our Nanny.

This is yet more evidence of what happens when the Government thinks it is our Nanny. First they want to tell us what kind of guns we’re responsible enough to own, or that we have to take our child to the ER when all he needs is ice, and now they want to decide what kind of pets we’re responsible enough to own. They also want to tell us what temperature we can set our thermostat to & what kind of card games we can play in our homes.

As for myself, I don’t need no stinking Nanny. All I want the government to do is maintain the roads & keep the illegals out of our country (I’m fine with legal immigrants, it’s the illegals that I worry about). Is that so hard? Get the heck out of my life Mr Nanny, I can brush my teeth by myself!