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« The ultimate in live blogging | Main | MO governor takes on the Obama Truth Squad »

Gun Rights Policy Conference

Posted by David Hardy · 28 September 2008 03:45 PM

Just got back from it, tired as can be. Some notes in wrap up:

Alan Gura was appropriately commended, gave a speech, and received a standing ovation. Two, actually, if my foggy memory is correct.

I rec'd Citizens' Committee's Bill of Rights Award. (I thought the awards were over when the last speaker got it, so I stepped outside for a bit -- when Peggy Tartaro found me, I had to rush back in and improvise a speech on the fly).

Sandy Froman gave a good speech endorsing John McCain. At the evening reception, Bob Barr spoke, noting (quite correctly) that he is the most pro-gun candidate in the presidential race. Tim Bee, running for the US House here, also spoke of his pro-gun stands.

One fellow (not an official speaker) told of having lived in Scotland, and seeing a friend prosecuted for weapons possession. He kept a baseball bat in his car, lest the neighborhood thugs, who had threatened him, beat him up. He admitted that when pulled over for a random breathalyzer (no 4th Amendment there, so they can do it at random). And wound up convicted and fined for having possessed a defensive weapon. The judge said something about we have to stop this country from becoming a "Wild West." No concern about the thugs already making it along those lines.

Don Kilmer mentioned that he and Don Kates would be filing a 14th Amendment brief in the 9th Circuit, in Nordyke, on Tuesday. In his presentation, he had to take a while to explain just how Nordyke is still pending, six or seven years after filing.

John Lott spoke, with an interesting point. He'd held a fellowship at Univ. of Chicago School of Law, when Obama was a prof. or sorta-prof. there, and they talked a few times. The first time Obama said "oh, you're the gun guy." When he said that he was, Obama said "I don't believe people should be allowed to own guns." Lott said maybe they should talk about it. Obama just smirked and left without a word. Lott noted that he is happy to debate the topic fairly; he's often had Cass Sunstein, who is very anti-2A, to his house for dinner and they debate gun control amicably. But not Obama.

UPDATE: as John Lott points out in comments below, he didn't say that Cass Sunstein was very anti-2A: that was my note, not part of his speech.

UPDATE: I didn't hear Barr talk about the Lautenberg Amendment, and don't know about his vote on it. By then I was exhausted, and largely talking to other gunnie attorneys outside. Personally, I'll vote for Palin and the old guy, too, because my State is "in play,: if it were not I'd vote for Barr, just to elevate the vote count of a guy who is far better than the other contenders on the key issue to me.

7 Comments | Leave a comment

Letalis Maximus, Esq. | September 28, 2008 7:50 PM | Reply

Regarding the time litigation takes, I was lead defense counsel on a federal case that was filed in 1996. The case was dismissed by a rather sloppy district court opinion. The circuit reversed and remanded. The district court sat on the thing for two years and finally dismissed again. This time, the circuit affirmed the dismissal. Cert to the Supreme Court was denied, 8 years after the case was filed.

In those 8 years, the only issue that was ever actually reached was jurisdiction.

Gene Hoffman | September 28, 2008 11:09 PM | Reply

Here is the tortured history of Nordyke.

-Gene

Windy Wilson | September 28, 2008 11:16 PM | Reply

Obama said "I don't believe people should be allowed to own guns."

Yes, only governments should own guns
like Germany, the Soviet Union, Spain, Italy, People's Republic of China, Vietnam, North Korea, Japan, Argentina, Guatemala, El Salvador -- Should I continue?

John Lott | September 29, 2008 9:11 AM | Reply

Thanks, David. I had one correction. I didn't say that Cass Sunstein was very anti-gun. I simply said that I am sure that I disagreed with Cass on a lot of things, but Cass always enjoyed talking about the issues. Thanks.

Ray | September 29, 2008 10:29 PM | Reply

Did/has Bob Barr explained his position on the Lautenberg Amendment? If he has could someone link where? Surely he was pressed on this issue.

Charlie Atkins | September 30, 2008 12:29 AM | Reply

Great conference, I am relatively new to gun ownership, but I am deeply appreciative for your contributions to preserving the 2nd amendment Mr. Hardy, it was interesting to hear you speak about how little research regarding the 2nd amendment had been done prior to the seventies.

In my pre-internet days, I contacted the university of Chicago when I had heard of Mr. Lott's research, I was amazed when they sent me the five pound report free of charge, and it radically changed my views.

I am deeply indebted to both of you, keep up the good work!

Charlie in Gilbert Az.

Dustin | October 1, 2008 11:23 PM | Reply

I also very much enjoyed the conference. It was so much fun to be there & chat with all the other gun rights advocates attending & speaking at the conference. Thanks for signing my copies of your books :)

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