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November 2011
White House visitor logs
Over the Thanksgiving Holiday (i.e., when media are less likely to pick up a story), the White House released its visitor logs.
Sarah (K.) Brady visited on September 23, 2009 (No. 180485), with two other people. She visited again on March 30 of this year. Paul Helmke of Brady Campaign likewise visited on March 30 for the same meeting. One of these visits is labeled "group tour." Considering that Brady Campaign endorsed the guy who is living there, this is not a lot of access...
Cert denied in Masciandaro & Chein cases
Supreme Court order is here.
Masciandaro involved a fellow who parked overnight on Park Service land, in Virginia, with a firearm in the car, before that was legalized.
Chein was a challenge to a California court's imposing a no firearms possession condition as a condition of three years' probation for misdemeanor vandalism.
Permalink · Chicago aftermath · Comments (4)
No question, "assault rifles" are now "firearms in common use"
Permalink · shooting · Comments (4)
Cannon re-enactment at the Tucson Presidio
Video here. It's sort of amusing in that all the commands are given in Spanish (Tucson was a Spanish presidio), but "Cover your ears!" is shouted in English.
A good boss
Definitely the type of boss you want:
"You'll be hailed as a hero,' Mr Agil told his employee during a news conference.
'But you'd be a superhero if you'd dropped him dead."
Permalink · Self defense · Comments (1)
Arizona Republic on Fast and Furious
David Codrea blogs the Arizona Republic coverage. The Republic is the big paper up in Phoenix, and unlike the Tucson paper, has no qualms about covering the case. It's great coverage.
One mystery to me has always been the ATF supervisor who emailed agents, "If you don't think this is fun, you're in the wrong line of work -- period!" In the hearings, the supervisors conceded that they had no plans to extradite and prosecute Cartel members or leaders. So where's the fun? Supplying drug cartels with guns? That seems like a rather strange way to get your amusement. The one thing that might seem fun is, if you wanted more restrictions, the idea that a plan to inflate the tracing statistics was succeeding.
Permalink · BATFE · Comments (1)
A win in challenge to Omaha ordinance against legal aliens registering guns
A Federal District Judge issued a preliminary injunction forbidding enforcement of the ordinance, and the city is considering amending it.
Permalink · Chicago aftermath · Comments (2)
Never...
Never bring a screwdriver to a knife fight.
Wisconsin CCW applications booking
Four weeks into "shall issue," the State has received over 44,000 applications.
Permalink · CCW licensing · Comments (1)
Boston proposing knife control
Video from a hearing: knives are gateway weapons! Knife Rights lobbyist Todd Rathner goes on the offensive rather than just reading a statement. Why do you have an exemption for Loews, Target, etc?
Permalink · non-gun weapons · Comments (0)
Military gun cleaning kit contacts
This sounds rather suspicious. An American maker of gun cleaning kits for the TSA loses the contract to another company, which apparently imports components for the kits. TSA and Military bids are supposed to go to domestic companies, but the low bidder apparently got around that under an exception for minority-owned businesses.
Happy Thanksgiving
Permalink · humor · Comments (0)
Mexican crime guns tracing to the US
A very interesting article, suggesting that the US government may be the principle supplier of the cartels, and not thru Operation Fast and Furious! The Mexican Army is heavily equipped with US arms, and has about 25,000 desertions per year Plus, the US ships semiauto rifles (I assume for law enforcement) to Mexico, at the rate of 13,000-20,000 per year. In 2009, the value of arms shipped nearly trebled over 2008.
Permalink · BATFE · Comments (0)
More on murder of BP Agent Brian Terry
The Washington TImes is reporting that the illegals who shot it out with Terry's BP unit were looking for Border Patrol agents in order to attack them; they were seen (I assume in thermal imaging) to be advancing with guns butts at the shoulder, ready to shoot.
Permalink · BATFE · Comments (1)
Fast and Furious blogger looking for contributions
At the Sipsey Street Irregulars, Mike Vanderboegh is seeking contributions. He and David Codrea were the ones who broke the story of Fast and Furious, and kept it going over the last year. Now Mike needs to travel to D.C.; he's staying with friends, but needs meal and taxi money, because unlike the MSM, he doesn't have an expense account to draw on.
Shooting in Phoenix
I haven't covered it yet, since the facts seemed very unclear, but Crime, Guns, and Videotape has a bunch of details that didn't make it into the media.
Permalink · Self defense · Comments (0)
ATF budget rider (signed into law on Friday)
Many, many gains.
The one limit is the the bar to granting relief from disabilities is still in there, with its exemption for corporations convicted of felonies!
Agricultural, Rural Development, Food and Drug
Administration, and Related Agencies Programs for the Fiscal Year ending
September 30, 2012, and for other purposes. Conference Report to accompany
H.R. 2112. H.R. Report No. 112-284, 112th Congress, 1st Session.
Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 2011, pages 58-60.
BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, FIREARMS AND EXPLOSIVES
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
For necessary expenses of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms
and Explosives,....
:
Provided, That no funds appropriated herein or hereafter
shall be available for salaries or administrative expenses in connection
with consolidating or centralizing, within the Department of
Justice, the records, or any portion thereof, of acquisition and disposition
of firearms maintained by Federal firearms licensees: Provided
further, That no funds appropriated herein shall be used to
pay administrative expenses or the compensation of any officer or
employee of the United States to implement an amendment or
amendments to 27 CFR 478.118 or to change the definition of Curios
or relics in 27 CFR 478.11 or remove any item from ATF Publication
5300.11 as it existed on January 1, 1994: Provided further,
That none of the funds appropriated herein shall be available to investigate
or act upon applications for relief from Federal firearms
disabilities under 18 U.S.C. 925(c): Provided further, That such
funds shall be available to investigate and act upon applications
filed by corporations for relief from Federal firearms disabilities
under section 925(c) of title 18, United States Code: Provided further,
That no funds made available by this or any other Act may
be used to transfer the functions, missions, or activities of the Bureau
of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to other agencies
or Departments: Provided further, That, during the current fiscal
year and in each fiscal year thereafter, no funds appropriated under
this or any other Act may be used to disclose part or all of the contents
of the Firearms Trace System database maintained by the National
Trace Center of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and
Explosives or any information required to be kept by licensees pursuant
to section 923(g) of title 18, United States Code, or required
to be reported pursuant to paragraphs (3) and (7) of such section,
except to: (1) a Federal, State, local, or tribal law enforcement agency,
or a Federal, State, or local prosecutor; or (2) a foreign law enforcement
agency solely in connection with or for use in a criminal
investigation or prosecution; or (3) a Federal agency for a national
security or intelligence purpose; unless such disclosure of such data
to any of the entities described in (1), (2) or (3) of this proviso would
compromise the identity of any undercover law enforcement officer
or confidential informant, or interfere with any case under investigation;
and no person or entity described in (1), (2) or (3) shall
knowingly and publicly disclose such data; and all such data shall
be immune from legal process, shall not be subject to subpoena or
other discovery, shall be inadmissible in evidence, and shall not be
used, relied on, or disclosed in any manner, nor shall testimony or
other evidence be permitted based on the data, in a civil action in
any State (including the District of Columbia) or Federal court or
in an administrative proceeding other than a proceeding commenced
by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
to enforce the provisions of chapter 44 of such title, or a review of
such an action or proceeding; except that this proviso shall not be
construed to prevent: (A) the disclosure of statistical information
concerning total production, importation, and exportation by each
licensed importer (as defined in section 921(a)(9) of such title) and
licensed manufacturer (as defined in section 921(a)(10) of such
title); (B) the sharing or exchange of such information among and
between Federal, State, local, or foreign law enforcement agencies,
Federal, State, or local prosecutors, and Federal national security,
intelligence, or counterterrorism officials; or (C) the publication of
annual statistical reports on products regulated by the Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, including total production,
importation, and exportation by each licensed importer (as so
defined) and licensed manufacturer (as so defined), or statistical aggregate
data regarding firearms traffickers and trafficking channels,
or firearms misuse, felons, and trafficking investigations: Provided
further, That no funds made available by this or any other
Act shall be expended to promulgate or implement any rule requiring
a physical inventory of any business licensed under section 923
of title 18, United States Code: Provided further, That, hereafter, no
funds made available by this or any other Act may be used to electronically
retrieve information gathered pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
923(g)(4) by name or any personal identification code: Provided further,
That no funds authorized or made available under this or any
other Act may be used to deny any application for a license under
section 923 of title 18, United States Code, or renewal of such a li-
cense due to a lack of business activity, provided that the applicant
is otherwise eligible to receive such a license, and is eligible to report
business income or to claim an income tax deduction for business
expenses under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
Permalink · BATFE · Comments (6)
Chicago -- no one needs to protect themselves
Story here.
Permalink · Self defense · Comments (1)
Good ruling from CA US District Court
Opinion here. Some open carriers, complying with CA law at the time, were handing out leaflets. Two officers approached them, apparently made critical statements about their activities, handcuffed and frisked them, then ran a records request and a check on the firearms.
They sued under §1983, and the court here denies a motion to dismiss their First, Second, and Fourth Amendment claims, and motion to dismiss on grounds of qualified immunity. The only thing the City won was that they can't recover punitive damages against it (though they can against the officers, which in practice the City winds up paying), and one paragraph of the complaint (which referred to one of the officer's having been sued by a girlfriend) stricken.
"Plaintiffs allege that after Defendants checked to make sure that Plaintiffs’
firearms were unloaded, Defendants went beyond the scope of a permissible search by running
background checks on them and serial number checks on their firearms, as well as handcuffing
Plaintiffs, ordering them to get on their knees, and forcibly removing Plaintiffs’ wallets without their
consent. Therefore, Plaintiffs have properly alleged a Second Amendment violation."
hat tip to reader Alice B. ...
Permalink · Chicago aftermath · Comments (4)
New ammo!
At least, new to me, though I had read of its development in a book on stopping power. It's Federal's Guard Dog apparently only in .45 ACP just now.
It looks like an FMJ, but the jacket of the nose has four slits inside it, running up to the nose. The core is lead at the rear, with a wad of polymer in the nose. On impact, it deforms and the jacket splits along the slits. It gives quick expansion, near 100% retained weight, and no problems with a hollow point plugging up when going thru a barrier or through heavy clothing.
UPDATE: here's a review. He mentions one other advantage -- if you are so unfortunate as to live in a state that bans hollowpoint ammo, you can still own this.
HB 822 passes the House
HB 822, national CCW reciprocity, has passed the House. Bloomberg's Mayors are not happy.
Permalink · CCW licensing · Comments (16)
"Minibus"?
First time I've heard that term used in a legislative sense, as a "small omnibus bill," but it sounds as if gun owners come out ahead on this one.
Case against killer of Agent Terry sealed
Here's what I see when I use the court's electronic docket and search for the case by its file number:
Normally there would be links on the side for the case history, a docket sheet listing all the pleadings and motions, and much more. Not here. The entire file is sealed, and even the motion to seal is itself sealed.
Permalink · BATFE · Comments (4)
Murdered BP agent: case sealed
In the matter of BP Agent Brian Terry, where Fast and Furious guns were found at the scene, the government brought an indictment against Manuel Osorio-Arellandes and others, whose names were revealed. The morning paper here reports that the entire case has apparently been sealed, and the prosecutor refuses to make a statement as to why.
I find this extraordinary. Sure, specific documents are sometimes sealed -- in this case, the original indictment, with the names of all defendants, is apparently sealed. But to seal an entire case is extraordinary, let alone to do it some six months into the case.
Permalink · BATFE · Comments (3)
Heller, McDonald, and Andrew Sullivan's complaints
Damon Root takes on Andrew Sullivan's complaints about the two big wins.
Permalink · Parker v. DC · Comments (1)
Interactive CCW reciprocity map
USA Carry has an interactive map that shows which other States honor your concealed carry permit. Very useful for folks who travel!
Permalink · CCW licensing · Comments (2)
Not again....
Krysta Sutterfield of Milwaukee is part of the open carry movement.... last year she was arrested for it (I assume on overblown disorderly conduct charges), and she and Wisconsin Carry sued, and won a $7,500 settlement.
She was just arrested again, on charges of loitering, while she was parked and using her laptop to cruise the internet. Well, Milwaukee, get out the checkbook.
Jumping the gun
Senator Lautenberg and Rep. Carolyn McCarthy urge Obama to veto the national handgun reciprocity bill. Since the bill hasn't been passed by either Senate or House, let alone both, calls for its veto do seem a bit premature.
Former US Atty admit's "leaking" memo critical of whistleblower
Story here. That's likely a violation of the Privacy Act, meaning civil and criminal penalties apply.
Permalink · BATFE · Comments (2)
Wisconsin residents for in for CCW permits in a big way
Story here. 83,000 permit applications downloaded, over a hundred received and approved on the first day, the licensing agency sets up large tubs to receive applications for those who want to hand-deliver them.
Permalink · CCW licensing · Comments (0)
Eric Holder testimony on Fast & Furious
Here's his prepared remarks. As might be expected, it amounts to "it was a botched operation" and "give us more money and power." The Daily Caller is not impressed. Reuters doesn't seem impressed, either.
""Can you name me one person who's been held accountable for this Fast and Furious operation?" Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn demanded.
Holder said the memos, despite being addressed to him, went to his staff and did not refer to specific tactics or the operation's name. He also pointed to a personnel shake-up in the ATF and prosecutors' office in Phoenix and that there is new leadership at ATF's Washington headquarters."
Permalink · BATFE · Comments (4)
Media bias
Some thought on quantifying it.
Permalink · media · Comments (1)
Interesting insight on one citation in Heller
The Michigan Bar Journal has an article, by Federal District Judge Avern Cohn, on how the Heller majority came to cite an 1829 case that equated the right to arms with freedom of speech.
Permalink · Heller aftermath · Comments (5)
Good news on FOIA
The Administration has dropped its proposal to authorize lying when responding to a FOIA request.
The Winchester saga
Story at investors.com. It's an interesting tale of a great organizer, rather than designer.
Where do they find these guys?
Captain's Quarters notes the testimony of Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer:
“Very few hunters in the United States or sports people and law-abiding people really need to have semiautomatic weapons or long guns."
So I guess (1) the Second Amendment is about sports and (2) revolvers should be deregulated? Pity that someone didn't ask this senior official "define 'muzzle, and 'semiautomatic'."
Gunwalker: the perimeter is being overrun
Count upon the New York Times and WashPo to give an idea of where the coverup is going. First, it was "this was an abberant operation of ATF's Phoenix Field Office. Now, it's falling back to "it was an abberant operation of ATF HQ, but didn't involve anyone higher."
"Criminal division officials learned about the details of Wide Receiver in late 2009, after a prosecutor from its gang unit was sent to Arizona to help bring charges in the case. She learned about the tactics, and word reached a deputy to Mr. Breuer {assistant Attorney General], Jason Weinstein, who pronounced himself “stunned” in an April 2010 e-mail.
A.T.F. supervisors, however, were less alarmed. After Mr. Breuer’s aides briefed him, William G. McMahon, the deputy director of A.T.F. at the time, wrote to a colleague: “Some surprises but nothing terrible.”"