More IGOLD Photos

Here and Here. and here.

Dialup warning.

Grande desperation

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the Brady Campaign getting all bent out of shape about Starbucks, trying to figure out what their true motive is. I know that most gunnies have already moved onto other matters, but I usually need to digest things a bit longer and find the root cause before I can dismiss it.

First a brief recap.

BC hollers at Obama and is ignored.
BC hollers at Congress and is ignored.
BC hollers at the SCOTUS and is ignored.
BC hollers at the NBA and is ignored.
BC hollers at Lady Gaga and is ignored.
BC downgrades yet again and starts hollering at Starbucks……and is ignored.

Why?

I don’t believe the Bradys are silly enough to think that going business to business could ever be a winning strategy for them nor cost effective for their limited resources. Heller put a rain cloud over federal level bans and McDonald will soon expand that thunderstorm over the 50 states and all the locals within. But attacking individual businesses? They might as well come out and say, we suck because this is all we have left. I thought that at first but something just didn’t smell right.

I had the radio on in the background while thinking about this the other day and some talking head was recounting the latest and greatest celebrity scandal.

He mentioned, “There is no such thing as bad publicity, once people stop talking about you, your career is on the brink.”

That’s when the light bulb went off.

Love ‘em or hate ‘em, Starbucks is somewhat of an American icon. They are symbolic. Picking a fight with them guaranteed news coverage. Every major media outlet covered the story. There’s youtube videos in abundance.

Starbucks has already said REPEATEDLY that they will defer to local and state law concerning the lawful open carry of firearms yet the Brady Campaign still won’t let up.

I believe that this is a simple attempt to keep their name in the news when everyone and their dog is ignoring them.

The Brady Campaign doesn’t fear sounding silly, they’ve made a lifestyle out of that.

They fear becoming irrelevant.

Some fears are unjustified, this one is not.

IGOLD 2010

Heading out the door for Springfield to meet up w/ those involved in IGOLD 2010. I've been told they have wireless at the Convention Center so I'll do my best to keep the blog updated throughout the day. If not, I'll do a massive photo and info update tonight when I get home.

At the convention hall. Running the ISRA Twitter Feed

Tom Schafer and Valinda Rowe

Richard Pearson and Don Moran

Sen. Brad Burzynski sings the national anthem


McDonald v Chicago defendant Otis McDonald to a standing ovation.


Lobbyist Todd Vandermyde straight from committee meetings reporting that they are trying to redefine 'cased gun' to whatever the DA wants it to mean. Also says Daley is pushing for new AWB.

Valinda Rowe from Illinois Carry

Getting ready to head out for the march so no signal. I will post more photos and info when we return from the Capitol building in a few hours.

Colleen Lawson, plaintiff in the Chicago case:


The March:

The women of IGOLD:


Rep. Chapin Rose and my politician prodder:


Then I got stuck in an elevator for a half hour:

Sen. Dale Righter getting the 'treatment':


GOP candidate for IL Gov., Sen Brady:


At the after event reception:


Colleen Lawson and Richard Pearson presenting Valinda Rowe w/ a plaque containing original signed documents from the Heller and McDonald cases for all her hard work:


The Lawsons:


Todd Vandermyde:


Jason Plummer, GOP candidate for Lt. Governor talking to Todd:


More photos at Illinois Carry , Here and Here. and here.

Weekend Wildlife and the Murse Patches

A healthy doe and one very startled rabbit.





And the Murse Patch Poll went very well. Thanks to the 70+ people who voted. The overwhelming victor was the Tan UMPC patch with the Times Up Patch coming in second. Using a little velcro adhesive, I was able to arrange both to fit.


Tomorrow IGOLD!!!!!

Ringing Hollow

Dennis Henigan, Brady Campaign head lawyer, on their pending loss via McDonald:

Supreme Court Argument Portends Hollow Victory for Gun Lobby

After Heller they lost federal gun bans and the 'Militia purpose' arguments, two things they defended to the end as 'reasonable' and 'common-sense'. Then they lost several Illinois city's gun bans knowing that they wouldn't stand up to scrutiny and couldn't afford the legal costs as well as the San Fran gun ban.

Now they're looking to lose any potential gun bans in the states (ie Chicago's handgun ban and possibly most 'assault weapon' bans) and I'm sure all those restrictions on firearms that are the wrong color or that don't incorporate technology that doesn't exist will be up next.

The only thing 'hollow' about all this is the Brady's running around claiming how they're 'winning' while they're relegated to fighting to keep guns out of individual stores instead of the nation.

Peep Show

Thanksgiving 2010.



Newly hatched Quail.

Ignorance is Bliss

Via War on Guns comes a story of an editorial proclaiming that the best way to keep kids safe is to encourage ignorance. Nevermind the fact that the header blatantly lies about the content.

PSH Header: PERSPECTIVE: No need to force a gun-safety class on elementary school children

note that. FORCE. Then, amdist all the usual wailing and gnashing of teeth over guns and the NRA comes this:

The bill, which passed the Senate Education and Health Committee Thursday, would make such a program optional in elementary schools.

Optional? Is that the same as 'forced'?

And they wonder why less people trust the media anymore.

IGOLD 2010

ISRA is proud to sponsor
Illinois Gun Owners Lobby Day for 2010

Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Starts at 11:45 AM

The link contains information on available buses, schedule for the day, volunteer information and more.

Photos from IGOLD 2009.

DOOT post from IGOLD 2009.

IllinoisCarry thread as well as handy hints

Be there. If you can't make sure to call your Senators and Representatives to let them know/remind them that you support the cause. Pass this information along to all your friends and family.

And by at least 2-1, the UMPC Tan patch is the one that will be going on the murse. Thanks to everyone that took the time to vote.

Gun Show weekend

Went to the Gun Show yesterday and am going again today. It was so crowded on Saturday with terrorists, KKK clan members and the obligatory Mexican Drug Cartel leaders that it was difficult to properly shop for all the RPG’s and claymores that I was after.

Showed up late and the parking lot was full, it was fairly obvious that everyone had shown up to mourn the collapse of the AR-15 market.

Since I had just purchased the Glock 19, I knew this was pretty much an accessory run but I wanted to compare prices on guns and ammo since the buying boom has mellowed a little. Some good news and some ridiculous news.

Ammo has fallen noticeably but is still above what it should be in IMO. I’m kinda tempted to get something in 5.45 since I could score that for $140 per 1000.

The metal drum mags were cheaper and the plastic drum mags were more expensive, go figure.

Depending on caliber and configuration, AR’s were going anywhere between $800-$3000. In general, I got the feeling like dealers are trying to milk the buying frenzy to the very end by keeping the prices inflated. AK’s and even SKS’s were above where they should be.

The one thing that really caught my eye was a custom made Krag. I really shouldn’t buy another firearm right now but I may fall victim to impulse on this one. It looks mint so I’ll check the bore on it today and see if I can get a deal.

Other noticeables were a Ma-deuce barrel for ONLY $3000, a Lee Enfield with the grenade launcher attachment and an extremely rare S & W going for 35,000.

I’ll update later after I see the second half of the show.