Twisting the Knife

Paul Helmke in his We Win They Lose rant:

The elections two weeks ago reflected significant advances for the cause of gun violence prevention.

and

the NRA suffered losses in every region of the nation, up and down the ballot,

Today from NRA rep for Indiana: Indiana House passes Emergency Powers/Parking Lots:76-21 and Gun Permit Data Privacy 84-11

Guess it's just not the White House that isn't listening to them.

A Slightly Better World Today..

(AP) BAGHDAD - Iraq's government spokesman says Saddam Hussein's notorious cousin "Chemical Ali" was executed Monday about a week after being sentenced to death for the poison gas attacks that killed more than 5,000 Kurds in 1988.

No tears here.

Paul Helmke: Then vs Now

In Nov 2008, Paul Helmke proclaimed "We Win, They Lose. Now, Let's get to work."

The video states"

"This election, in terms of the gun prevention issue, is probably the most significant we've ever had." ... "Bottom line - in 2008, we won on the gun issue."

But wait. The embedded video has been "Removed by the User". It's still up on their YouTube Page (for now) though:



Now, in Jan 2010, the Brady Campaign releases a report calling Obama's presidency an "Abject Failure". Here's Paul Helmke crying about it on MSNBC.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

THE line?

Interviewer: Are they listening to you over at the White House?
Paul H.: They haven't yet.

Hee Hee.

H/T to the folks over at IllinoisCarry.

Good News

School overturns student's expulsion over guns in truck
Hudson Sangree | Sacramento Bee

A Willows High School student who was expelled for having firearms in his pickup that was parked near the school will be reinstated and have record of the disciplinary action expunged from his record.

That ruling was made this morning by Glenn County school trustees acting on an appeal filed by Gary Tudesko.

The Oct. 26 incident occurred a few days after the start of waterfowl hunting season in an area where duck hunting is a major pastime. Tudesko said he was returning from a morning hunt and did not have time to take the shotguns home without being late for school.

He said he parked on a public street thinking that satisfied the rule against bringing guns on campus. A dog trained to locate weapons later alerted authorities to the shotguns.

Tudesko, a high school junior, was expelled Nov. 19 by the governing board of the Willows Unified School District.

The unanimous decision by the five-member school board was met with cheering and applause by supporters of Tudesko, who celebrated by hugging his parents and lawyer.

After the expulsion, Tudesko's parents appealed to the county education board. The National Rifle Association and the California Rifle and Pistol Association provided support and legal assistance.

GrassRoots Support

While NYC Mayor Bloomburg and his Mayors Against Gun Ownership, along w. the Brady Campaign and other anti-gun groups crow about their push poll showing even NRA members want to ban guns,the reality is different.

In VA, over a thousand showed up for the VCDL lobby day in contrast to the few dozen anti-gun advocates who bothered. Over 10:1 by the lowest estimate. Again, they didn't even have enough people to complete their 'Lie' in. Even in the home state of the VT tragedy.

While in McHenry County, IL, over 400 people attended a townhall on supporting CCW legislation. Beyond on Sheriff who expressed reservations about 'may issue', there was NO opposition according to attendees.

Last years IGOLD lobby day had over 5,000 attendees. No gun control group showed while anti-gun legislators killed a CCW bill before we got there then ran out the back doors.

Telling, isn't it?

Fly on the wall at Brady Bunch HQ

Paul: All right, everybody huddle up. We have some rather serious times before us and what we’ve been doing up to this point clearly isn’t working. I think we need some new angles and fresh memes. Share your ideas and remember, this is a brainstorming session so just throw it out there, there are no dumb ideas.

Sarah: Not working? But we have the House, the Senate and the White House chock full of kindred spirits. We won, they lost now let’s get to work everybody!!! Right, Paul?

Dennis: Uh… Sarah, would you be so kind as to go bake some cookies. We’re probably going to be up late tonight and I’m feeling a bit peckish.

Sarah: What kind!?!

Dennis: I can’t see how it matters.

Petey: I could threaten to shoot gun owners again.

Doug: I could publish personal info about people who comment on our blog again.

Josh: The Joyce Foundation cut our fucking funding!

Bryan: My brother is deeaaaaaaaaad! *sniffle*

Paul: This isn’t the feedback I was hoping for. We need to stay within the law and develop some new form of crap that will easily stick to the wall we’re currently banging our heads against. We need something new. Let’s first identify where we stand right now; a brief recap: 1. Heller. Hurt. Us. Bad. 2. We’re going to lose the Chicago ban. 3. We just lost Kennedy’s senate seat to a republican ahead of the midterms. 4. The President has proven to be an abject failure to our cause, going so far as to muzzle his cabinet officials and sign pro-bills into law. All of this rests on a backdrop of looser CCW laws, Castle Doctrine sweeping the land and the NRA not simply surviving, but down-right thriving in an environment we thought would be a nightmare for them just one year ago. That’s where we are, how to we get to where we all want to be?

Dennis: I think it would be prudent to also note the legal limitations we’ll be operating under going forward. Yes, the SCOTUS has ruled the 2A an individual Right to keep functional firearms, including handguns, inside the home for personal self-defense, so continuing our focused attack on these looser CCW laws is something we should maintain regardless of any new approach taken. In addition, the McDonald case ruling striking down the Chicago ban will frame the options available to us so we should brainstorm under a worst case scenario.

All: Agreed.

Kelli: I’m like so totally behind you 100%, Paul!!! You’re ~ an ~ inspiration!!!! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Dennis: Uh, Kelli…we’re gonna want some milk with those cookies, there’s a market just down the block.

Petey: Okie-dokie, back to the fundamentals, how about a name change? We all know that the youth is the secret to changing the future and younger, more impressionable folks don’t even know who Ronald Reagan was, much less James Brady. I think we should adopt a name more up to date.

Paul: Suggestions anyone?

Josh: Let’s just be clear that the VPC has no desire to be absorbed under one big umbrella, the Joyce Foundation still covers my salary and the cost of my internet and google account…for now. I’d be willing to talk about it.

Bryan: Hell, sign me up. We can’t even afford to pay the rent on our domain name. I’ll serve under any banner as long as I don’t have to go out and get a real job.

Doug: We need some hip imagery that boosts our street cred and slights the NRA at the same time. How about “American False Idol” or “Dancing with the Blood?”

Dennis: Hmmm… Not sure that would play well for our media allies. I’d suggest a more toned-down identity like “Founding Father’s Future” or “The Queen Mum’s Children.”

Bryan: How about “The Anti-NRA?”

All: OOOOOOHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Paul: Now we’re getting somewhere! Let’s agree to implement this immediately. Now what do we do under this new umbrella?

Dennis: Let’s spend millions renting out convention halls and hold anti-gun shows!

Doug: Let’s call congress critters and tell them we don’t want to exercise our 2A Rights!

Josh: Let’s tell the Joyce Foundation that changing our name is a major victory and very expensive!

Bryan: Let’s close down comments on all our blogs!

Paul: I think we’ve made some great progress and the Gun Lobby, as well as congress and the White House will be in for quite a surprise once they witness our new stark naked power.

Sarah: Cookies are ready!!!! I made Snicker-doodles!!!

Kelli: Ice cold milk, come get your ice cold milk!!!

Dennis: Uhhhh, these are actually cat turds sprinkled with sand and that smells a lot like horse piss.

Paul: Sounds reasonable to me.

Reasoned Discourse: Sun Times Edition

Washington Bureau Chief for the Chicago Sun Times Lynn Sweet posted a blog entry w/ Daley's press release to the US Conference of Mayors in full. It lists all the elites and intellectuals who are supporting Chicago's gun ban and the usual PSH:

Nutter said, "There is no reason to have an m-16 in an urban environment/. The NRA is out of control."

Of course they don't call it a ban except in the headline, they call it an 'ordinance' and 'strong handgun laws'. Technically true. Neither does she note all the briefs filed against Chicago. I tried to leave this comment noting all the individuals opposing the ban:

Chicago's handgun ordinance?

That makes it sound like you are allowed to own a handgun. It's a ban. A resident has not been allowed to register any new handguns since 1982.

And that 82% of murders committed w/ firearms in the city? Still occurring even though handguns have been banned for over 20 years. The city accounts for over 60% of the murders in the state but only 22% of the population.

Opposed to the gun ban are:

38 states
56 US Senators
249 US Representatives
Over 700 state legislators
Dozens of other organizations and individuals

The Historical brief in support of Chicago has already been found to have inaccurate and at times deliberately misleading information.

Read the Briefs and Filings for yourself. Don't rely on a speech by an organization led by individuals w/ 24hr security forces who think you should rely on someone else for safety.

http://www.chicagoguncase.com/

Here's the response:

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Why am I not surprised?

Chicago Amicus Brief Fail Cont.

David E Young continues his series shredding the various historical inaccuracies and outright fabrications contained in the Amicus Briefs supporting Chicago.

Chicago's Brief.

'Historians' Brief Part One and Two.

NRA on SCOTUS Campaing Finance Ruling

Fairfax, Va. - The National Rifle Association praised the U.S. Supreme Court's decision today in the case of Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, removing unconstitutional restrictions on the NRA’s ability to speak freely at election time.

The late Sen. Paul Wellstone had said during the original debate over this legislation that it was his intention to silence groups like the NRA. While the author of this measure had singled out the NRA, this law delivered a clear message to all American citizens: “Keep your mouths shut and stay out of our political debates.”

Wayne LaPierre, NRA executive vice president, said, “This ruling is a victory for anyone who believes that the First Amendment applies to each and every one of us. The majesty of free speech is that any American can roll out of bed and speak as freely as The New York Times, NBC or politicians. This is a defeat for arrogant elitists who wanted to carve out free speech as a privilege for themselves and deny it to the rest of us; and for those who believed that speech had a dollar value and should be treated and regulated like currency, and not a freedom. Today’s decision reaffirms that the Bill of Rights was written for every American and it will amplify the voice of average citizens who want their voices heard.”

The case originally centered on the FEC’s denial of Citizens United’s attempt to broadcast a film about Hillary Clinton through on-demand cable services in January 2008, but had broader implications in protecting the First Amendment rights of organizations like the NRA during election time.

Chris W. Cox, NRA-ILA chief lobbyist, said, “This decision today returns sanity to our political system. The First Amendment does not allow Congress to make laws denying Americans the right to speak out on issues, the right to assemble or organize on public policy issues, or the right to petition our government for redress of grievances.”

Josh Sugarmann back to work..

Guess the Joyce Foundation didn't like that Josh has been wasting their money so he's back to blaming "lax concealed weapons law"'s for a horrific murder that had nothing to do w/ concealed carry.

No surprise really coming from their 'study' that has confused CCW victims as murders, non-CCW holders, self-defense etc. in their tally.

I suggest we start a letter writing campaign to the Joyce's encouraging them to direct more of their funds to the VPC so Josh can continue his outstanding and highly influential efforts.

Now What?

So Brown spanked Coakley's peepee for a seat that was held by THE Democrat for decades and Obama makes a speech about dismissing most of his cabinet and congress.

The GOP is crowing 'mandate' which usually is followed by an attack of the stupids.

How will they drop the ball this time to screw up the momentum that's there?

Will the DNC try and jam through health care and/or delay Brown's appointment?

In what other ways will our 'Government' show that they are completely detached from reality?

ISRA 2010 Endorsements

The ISRA-PVF/FedPac have released their lists of endorsements for 2010.

For Gov. primaries they're endorsing Dillard.

The full list of State endorsements/preferences is available here.

The list of Federal endorsements/preferences are here.

"Abject Failure"

That's the description of O's first year by the Brady Campaign who endorsed him wholeheartedly while he was making campaign promises.

Not that they have enough influence left for him to care what they think, I'm betting he's going to have to get used to that phrase when people describe his presidency.

Pro-Chicago Amicus Brief Fail..

Historian David E. Young takes the brief filed by other 'professional' historians in support of the Chicago gun ban to task. From his message:

Just thought I'd let you know that the first part of my comments on historical errors in McDonald amicus briefs is up at On Second Opinion. The first deals with problems in the English/Early American historians' brief. Six of its twenty-one signers were also signers of the Heller historians' brief. Thus, the newer one has the same kinds of problems as that filed in Heller. I suspect there will be several parts or posts dealing with this brief, and several more dealing with one not related to English history. There is a strong attempt in McDonald to re-argue Heller historical points.

That the Chicago briefs are trying to re-argue Heller seems to be the default for most of them. Read the whole thing to see how weak the claims they're making really are and how Anti's need to distort history to defend their beliefs.

Some People Just Can't Learn

In a classic examples of how internet myths survive and how we can be our own worst enemies, I found a comment in response to Dave Workman's Seattle GRE column on how the 2009 tax forms don't have a place to list your guns. You know, the SB2099 thing.

The bill was out there in Congress. Enough people became aware of it that it failed to clear committee. ....

Sure. Ten years ago. And HR45 never even saw the light of day. Now here's the funny part:

I can confidently suggest that both he and his article be ignored, just as he and Zumbo ignore the hard work that went into making sure that the IRS isn't counting guns this year.

Yeah. It's hard work to forward an e-mail for a non-existent threat. So I asked him to show me the bill. One would think he would be proud to show how it was defeated and would brag about it a little. Here's the response:

Google is your friend. I am not.

No real surprise there, eh?

It's bad enough that we have "I'm a gun owner but" type people and the AHSA who do everything they can to elect Brady endorsed candidates, we don't need gun owners remaining willfully ignorant and defending myths and nonsense when a minute or two of research will show the truth while at the same time attacking others who have done the relevant research on the real threats out there.

Leave that kind of nonsense for the gun banners. Don't do their work for them.

Update: And sometimes people surprise you:

I apologize for my rude answer. I am just so tired of people demanding "someone else' do the work that they can do with a few keystrokes. I've had a running battle with a couple of idiots who demand just that with every post while failing to provide any backing for their own statements. Again, sorry.

Signature challenge

One of the problems with dealing with the antis is that so much of what they think is true just isn't so. We are forced to break down these walls first, before we get to the actual meat on the bone.

So let's have some fun.

Most people I have met on Al Gores’ interweb tubes have signature arguments, unique writing styles and even individually identifiable punctuation/grammar structure. This applies to the pro and anti crowd alike. I feel confident that I could correctly identify both pro and anti commenters that I follow, even if their monikers were hidden to me. The most notable example is Joe Huffman’s “Just One Question.” When I see that, I know it’s Joe.

Well, I thought I would share my signature “argument” in the hopes that others will use it. I only frequent a few anti blogs and I would very much appreciate it if others would adopt my signature and spread it like Lyme disease.

Goes like this.

1. Engage an anti. The more elitist the better.
2. Tell them that if they can prove that poisonous snakes exist on planet Earth, you will videotape yourself cutting one of your guns(handgun, assault weapon, .50 cal…your choice) in half with a blow torch, post that video on youtube and then return to the thread and post a direct link to the video.
3.This is optional…make the condition that if they fail to prove that poisonous snakes exist on planet Earth, they must make a donation(I always say $1.00) to the NRA, GOA, JPFO, 2AA, CCRKBA, 2AS or whatever org you wish.

I have been offering this challenge for close to 3 years now and I have never even gotten a nibble.

Maybe you’ll have better luck than I.

Here’s why you can’t lose.

There is no such thing as a poisonous snake on planet Earth. Some snakes are venomous, but none are poisonous. Huge difference.

If something is poisonous(flora, fauna or fungi), it means that eating it will have ill consequences. It means that the toxins are more or less evenly distributed throughout the flesh of said flora, fauna or fungi.

Speaking from personal experience, you can eat any damn snake you want and have a right tasty meal. Pan fry a Diamondback Rattler and you have a cross between chicken and duck and fish oil. Roll that bad boy in honey and cornmeal before it hits the pan and you got yourself some eats.

For those who rely on the MSM to inform them about firearms and gun laws, they simply open their gullets and swallow like a baby bird. In a sick and twisted sorta way, this can work to our advantage.

Challenge what they think they know to be true.

Shatter their reality with a polite refute.

Show them that what they think to be true with every fiber of their being… is actually false.

Yeah yeah, I know I'm preaching to the choir, but that resulting melody always gets my ass shaking.

‘Like the Redneck NRA Supporters They Are’

Via View From the Porch et al. comes a quote of a cut scene from the officially released screenplay of James Cameron's film Avatar.

TROOPERS issue automatic weapons and magazines to a long line of mine workers. The miners lock and load like the redblooded redneck NRA supporters they are.

If that's what Hollywood types think, then we're doing it right.

Dangerous Terrorist..

This is the kind of person White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanual, NY Mayor Bloomberg and numerous anti-gun groups want stripped of their constitutional rights because of his name:


Don't you feel safer?

On The UN Gun Ban Thing

I've gotten about a half-dozen e-mails and messages from people on this 'alert' over the UN Arms Treaty thing.

This is a rehashed e-mail over the fact that the US is going to sit down at the conference which doesn't even start for over 2 years. The vote for this occurred back in October of '09.

That's it. There is no gun ban or fleets of black helicopters prepping as we type.

Just vote the idiots out who support this in the next two elections.

Here's the draft resolution.