Tuesday, June 29, 2010

The next domino to fall?

Sebastian @ Snowflakes says reports that the next lawsuit by Alan Gura is in North Carolina.












Disclaimer: The information and ideas presented in this column are provided for informational purposes only. Gun rights, like all other Constitutionally recognized rights, must be exercised responsibly. Firearms, like cars, kitchen knives and life itself all can be dangerous. You should get professional training as part of any plan to use firearms for any purpose. I have made a reasonable, good-faith effort to assure that the content of this column is accurate. I have no control over what you do, and specifically accept no responsibility for anything you do as a result of reading my columns. Any action or lack of action on your part is strictly your responsibility.

Monday, June 28, 2010

Otis McDonald whips Chicago

In a 5-4 decision today, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Otis McDonald and his co-plaintiffs in the McDonald v Chicago case. Thanks to friend Joe for the link to the ruling.

In this case, the Supremes formally recognized that the 2nd Amendment is incorporated against the states, and does not simply apply to Federal enclaves.

Kudos to Alan Gura, the lead attorney in this case,and  to Alan Gottlieb, head of the Second Amendment Foundation, and Tennessee alum who provided major support in this effort. The Alans also won the Heller v DC case two years ago.

Unknown to many of us has been the idea that amendments in the Bill of Rights must be incorporated before they actually apply to state and local governments. Read more on this in my Examiner article on the subject.









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Disclaimer: The information and ideas presented in this column are provided for informational purposes only. Gun rights, like all other Constitutionally recognized rights, must be exercised responsibly. Firearms, like cars, kitchen knives and life itself all can be dangerous. You should get professional training as part of any plan to use firearms for any purpose. I have made a reasonable, good-faith effort to assure that the content of this column is accurate. I have no control over what you do, and specifically accept no responsibility for anything you do as a result of reading my columns. Any action or lack of action on your part is strictly your responsibility.

Saturday, June 26, 2010

ARCTURUS - A Book Review

In small print under the title, I read,
TERRORISTS   ARE   HERE
These words immediately hooked me, wondering what the author meant. Then, I found that he was referring to sleeper agents of an Iranian terrorist named Saya-dar - - -
Jack McDonald is a former Army Ranger officer who is seriously considering graduate school, when he and a friend have a chance to provide security on a luxury yacht, the Arcturus. Jack soon finds himself in the adventure of a lifetime, with Cuban pirates, buried treasure, and nuclear material, which Saya-dar is planning on using against the United States.
As the story unfolds, suicide bombers are smuggled into the country, and . . . well, I don't want to give anything away.

Jack also discovers the love of his life, Donna, while on the cruise. The story takes them from the Bahamas to Knoxville, Tennessee, where Jack, Donna, and her uncle Gordon are engaged in a mortal battle with Saya-dar's men.

This story is fiction, but as well known firearms writer and instructor Massad Ayoob reports here:
Those who patrol the borders – and those who own adjoining property – find things left behind by the border-crossers, such as Moslem prayer rugs and copies of the Koran. Since there aren’t a whole lot of Mexicans who practice the Moslem faith, this leads people of logic to the conclusion that Islamic fanatics who have declared a fatwa against the United States are crossing into our country there.
So, we know they have come across the southern border. . .

About the author: M. J. Mollenhour is a former Army Ranger and is a Knoxville attorney. He has testified before Knoxville City Council and Knox County Commission concerning the carrying of firearms in parks. He has been a guest speaker at the Knoxville TFA chapter, discussing what to do after defending yourself from an attack.













Disclaimer: The information and ideas presented in this column are provided for informational purposes only. Gun rights, like all other Constitutionally recognized rights, must be exercised responsibly. Firearms, like cars, kitchen knives and life itself all can be dangerous. You should get professional training as part of any plan to use firearms for any purpose. I have made a reasonable, good-faith effort to assure that the content of this column is accurate. I have no control over what you do, and specifically accept no responsibility for anything you do as a result of reading my columns. Any action or lack of action on your part is strictly your responsibility.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Navy formalizes and perpetuates Gun Free Zones

The United States Navy has not learned the lesson of Fort Hood. Their new (old) firearms policy has been released, clarifying that sailors must remain disarmed....

I am sure that Hassan's buddies are chuckling.



  

Disclaimer: The information and ideas presented in this column are provided for informational purposes only. Gun rights, like all other Constitutionally recognized rights, must be exercised responsibly. Firearms, like cars, kitchen knives and life itself all can be dangerous. You should get professional training as part of any plan to use firearms for any purpose. I have made a reasonable, good-faith effort to assure that the content of this column is accurate. I have no control over what you do, and specifically accept no responsibility for anything you do as a result of reading my columns. Any action or lack of action on your part is strictly your responsibility.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Be careful how you carry that pistol

The Tennessee Department of Safety has notified handgun instructors to mention proper holster use when carrying a handgun. It seems that an individual was practicing Mexican Carry, as documented by Massad Ayoob; he had his handgun tucked into his waistband without a holster. The gun was in the appendix position. The barrel was pointing down, violating Rule 2.

For whatever reason, the gun discharged, and said individual can testi-fy as to the folly of this style of carry. See the story here. Is there a Darwin award in his future?




   


Disclaimer: The information and ideas presented in this column are provided for informational purposes only. Gun rights, like all other Constitutionally recognized rights, must be exercised responsibly. Firearms, like cars, kitchen knives and life itself all can be dangerous. You should get professional training as part of any plan to use firearms for any purpose. I have made a reasonable, good-faith effort to assure that the content of this column is accurate. I have no control over what you do, and specifically accept no responsibility for anything you do as a result of reading my columns. Any action or lack of action on your part is strictly your responsibility.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Orders of protection are not a shield of steel



If you are old enough to remember the Vietnam War and the passing of the 1968 Gun Control Act, you probably remember Batfink, whose famous saying was,
Your bullets cannot harm me — my wings are like a shield of steel!
Sadly, we note that Christene Rivera was killed in her Knoxville apartment, allegedly by estranged husband Joseph Rivera, against whom she had an Order of Protection (PDF file here). Unfortunately, these documents are provide no shield of steel against someone who is committed to causing serious bodily harm or death.
While Judge Bill Swan says in an interivew with WATE,
Orders of protection are tremendously successful. It is rare when they are violated. We get tremendous change in behavior in most cases,
those rare cases where the orders are violated make it seem prudent for one to be prepared to defend against lethal agression.
Simply put, if you really need an order of protection, you need to be able to defend yourself. If you choose to do so with a firearm, be sure and get proper training.



   








Disclaimer: The information and ideas presented in this column are provided for informational purposes only. Gun rights, like all other Constitutionally recognized rights, must be exercised responsibly. Firearms, like cars, kitchen knives and life itself all can be dangerous. You should get professional training as part of any plan to use firearms for any purpose. I have made a reasonable, good-faith effort to assure that the content of this column is accurate. I have no control over what you do, and specifically accept no responsibility for anything you do as a result of reading my columns. Any action or lack of action on your part is strictly your responsibility.