Wednesday, September 24, 2008

A Prominent Chicago Family

A member of a prominent Chicago family faces a felony gun charge after being arrested Tuesday when he approached security barriers outside Barack Obama's home...
And "they have 'passionate support' for Obama!"

Forget it Jake, it's Chi-Town.

Food Fight

Rescue Planned for Woman Trapped in Home by Giant Pig
I guess we can't feel too superior--some of our own stalwart Heirs of Liberty are ruled by turkeys.

Which makes the Zargonians and Ents very happy.

Huckster Finn

Matti Vanhanen said Finland should consider banning private handguns.
Well, that didn't take long.

[Via Zachary G]

So Happy Together

New York City will pay to install a better security camera system in a Virginia gun store that will make other changes to its sales practices, resolving a lawsuit the city filed two years ago...

Both sides said they were happy with the resolution.
Sorry. I understand why and all that, but then I look at examples set by Ryan Horsley and Jay Wallace, and...

Maybe I'm being unfair. But that "happy" comment didn't sit right.

[Via SameNoKami]

The Shirt Off His Back

Students at Dos Palos High School protested Thursday -- by wearing patriotic regalia to school -- after a sophomore student was forced to remove a T-shirt depicting the American flag...

Earlier in the day, he was speaking with a local news station when an unidentified teacher walked up to him, ripped off the microphone clipped to his shirt and told him he was not allowed to talk to the media.
Identify him. I'd like to exchange an email or two.

In fairness though, they are teaching the young inmates what they need to know to navigate the cell block. As well as respect for Dear Leader.

[Via Zachary G and David H]

We're the Only Ones "One...Uh...Five More for the Road!" Enough

A Chicago Police officer who had DUI charges dismissed against him in a fatal November crash was indicted Tuesday in the same Roscoe Village car accident that killed two men.
Nice of his fellow "Only Ones" to give him eight hours after his refusal to take a field sobriety test before they administered the breathalyzer. Why whoever made that decision isn't facing obstruction of justice charges is beyond me, but it does give a strong indicator that covering for your own is ingrained in the culture. Not that anyone paying attention should have any illusions about who is serving whom.

Forget it Jake, it's Chi-Town.

[Via David H]

Your Mind to My Mind. Your Thoughts to My Thoughts

Baggage searches are SOOOOOO early-21st century. Homeland Security is now testing the next generation of security screening — a body scanner that can read your mind.
Good grief. Make sure you click on the "MALINTENT in Action" link, and see if you can think up some Mad Magazine-style snappy answers to stupid questions. And then imagine getting beaten and cavity searched if you did.

Mr. Lightfoot?
If I could read your mind love
What a tale your thoughts could tell...
And remember: They hate us because we're free!

[Via Ron W]

Standing Up for Canadian Gun Rights

Here's an eyewitness account from David Hamel of that Canadian smoke and mirrors show we talked about the other day.

FYI, some background and details about our "protest." Trevor Laitila, the adult son of the NFA Office Manager, Diane Laitila, told me he heard Jack Layton on the radio talking about banning handguns, and he wanted to go to Layton's rally the next day and protest. I told him I would like to join him, and would give him a ride if he needed one. Trevor, an avid firearms collector blinded by diabetes, Elza Dontcheva, who is the NFA Bookkeeper, and I drove to the Layton rally.

For "protest" materials, we had "Remember C-68 Next Time You Vote" signs that the NFA had printed on green plastic bags designed to fit over election lawn signs. C-68 was the start of the long gun registry nearly 10 years ago. We also had "The Lioness Method of Rape Prevention" brochures, and copies of the CFJ featuring Megan Tandy on the cover, along with some NFA membership forms.

One thing we did NOT have, was any kind of NFA sanction for our activities. We did not ask permission or inform NFA National Exec of our plans. Elza and I have NO authority to speak to the media on behalf of the NFA.

During our stand off with security, one man came forward and told security to leave us alone, because we had a right to be there too, and hadn't done anything wrong. After the security incident and the subsequent media circus, we quietly and politely held up our signs and passed out materials to anyone who was interested, under the watchful eye of security, who were never more than seven yards away.

A number of people politely took materials, a few expressed support for our views, and only a couple of people made impolite or disrespectful comments. Perhaps not surprising, the latter group, exclusively chose to address their remarks to Trevor!

As we left, security followed us out and there was a tense moment for them as Elza approached Raj Pannu, who was outside talking with people. Elza knows Mr. Pannu from the university and respects him, so she shook his hand, spoke to him for a few moments, before giving him a copy of our magazine and the Lioness brochure, and we left.

Dispatches from the Front

We were talking yesterday about the Palm Pistol, and I exchanged a few emails with Matthew Carmel. He made a point I think it's important to consider, something I'm sensitive to, having lived in California all those years:

I also wanted to mention my surprise concerning peoples reaction when observing I am located in NJ. I live in this state, where else should my ideas come from? As much as I dislike the anti-gun attitudes here, it is not a foreign country. The anti-gun states are the front line in the battlefield for defending the Second Amendment. It would preaching to the choir if I lived in Texas. It is much more important, like George Patton, to bring the fight to your enemies.

This Day in History: September 24

The Battle of Longue-Pointe was fought on September 24, 1775, during the American Revolutionary War. A detachment of General Montgomery's army under Ethan Allen was defeated by Quebec militia outside the gates of Montreal.