Yet another reason to NOT visit Philadelphia.

Philly Police Harass, Threaten to Shoot Man Legally Carrying Gun

A story in today's Philadelphia Daily News shows why it's so important that citizens be allowed to videotape cops - it can be citizens' only way to fight back against police abuse of power.

This incident happened several weeks ago in Philadelphia to Mark Fiorino, a 25-year-old IT worker who carries a gun on his hip at all times for self defense. He got the gun after several friends were mugged.

But he didn't count on attacks by police:

On a mild February afternoon, Fiorino, 25, decided to walk to an AutoZone on Frankford Avenue in Northeast Philly with the .40-caliber Glock he legally owns holstered in plain view on his left hip. His stroll ended when someone called out from behind: "Yo, Junior, what are you doing?"

Fiorino wheeled and saw Sgt. Michael Dougherty aiming a handgun at him.

What happened next would be hard to believe, except that Fiorino audio-recorded all of it: a tense, profanity-laced, 40-minute encounter with cops who told him that what he was doing - openly carrying a gun on the city's streets - was against the law.
http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
"Do you know you can't openly carry here in Philadelphia?" Dougherty asked, according to the YouTube clip.

"Yes, you can, if you have a license to carry firearms," Fiorino said. "It's Directive 137. It's your own internal directive."

Fiorino was right. It was perfectly legal to carry the gun. But that didn't matter to the cop:http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

Read more: http://www.foxbusiness.com/on-air/stossel/blog/2011/05/16/philly-police-harass-threaten-shoot-man-legally-carrying-gun#ixzz1MdFZoFu0

To read the "first" reason to not visit Philly, click here.

To think, that at one time, the seat of our national gov't sat in Philadelphia, it makes the blood boil to see our freedoms treated with such disdain by city government employees. I do hope that Mr. Fiorino gets a lawyer and sues the city and the police for millions.



 Current Mood: Awake
 Current Music: The Rolling Stones - Paint it Black
My Carry Pistol: Makarov PM 9x18mm

The Life and Death of Osama Bin Laden

Click image to enlarge

Via: BurialInsurance.org



 Current Mood: Amused
 Current Music: Moby - Extreme Ways (closing theme from Bourne Identity movies)
My Carry Pistol: Rock Island Armory M1911-A1 .45ACP

Go see this movie

Atlas Shrugged, the long awaited movie of the book by the same name. If you're a fan of the Ayn Rand book, you must see this movie. And make sure you you contact all the movie critics and tell them how wrong they are.

To find a theater near you showing the movie, click on the title of this article, or click here.




 Current Mood: Awake
 Current Music: Extreme Ways - Moby
My Carry Pistol: Rock Island Armory M1911-A1 .45ACP

Some observations on Canadian Gun Law

The following came from one of the many email lists I subscribe to. It struck me as something that needed further exposure, so I copied it here with just a few minor changes, mostly for spelling and/or grammar, where I thought necessary. (Comments by the original poster are in red.) The original started out with:

From a friend in Canada:

Heaven save us from this!

Here in Canada our government does not have a monopoly on justified self-defense, but they sincerely believe they should have a monopoly on all effective tools of self-defense!

While we ostensibly have here the legal mechanism for the carrying of a pistol to be allowed, only fourteen such 'carry permits' have ever been actually issued in the entire country, with a population of over thirty million! Virtually all such applications are arbitrarily rejected by isolated bureaucrats, with never an explanation.

There are some permits issued for 'wilderness carry,' but only to licensed guides, and, even then, they have to endure their own bureaucratic circus.

For us peons, one not only needs a license to possess a 'restricted firearm,' a category which includes all pistols and many rifles (all ARs, for example), the applicant must, in excruciating detail, chronicle to the government such irrelevant facts as his personal romantic history and also go through an interminable approval process prior to taking delivery of the gun.

Still with me? We're not through yet!

He must also be a member, in good standing, at a 'club,' and be vetted for an 'authorization to transport,' which allows him to take his pistol between his house and the range 'via a direct route,' unloaded, and secured in a double-locked box.

The most minor, insignificant infraction or paperwork glitch, your fault, their fault, doesn't matter, and you will find yourself charged with a criminal offense. Your home will be invaded, all your firearms will be seized, and the crown attorney will enforce a lifetime firearms prohibition against you, even when you are found not guilty!

After all that, getting your guns back from the police is nearly impossible, even with a court order. When you do finally re-claim them, they will be little more than a pile of rusted junk!

Even carrying a knife can make one vulnerable to charges of 'weapons dangerous to the public peace' or 'carrying a concealed weapon.'

OC is prohibited, at least for the purpose of use against humans. It may be carried for use against animals. Here, it is always called 'dog repellent,' by law.

Tasers and other ERDs are strictly verboten.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifgif

Our gun laws are, in fact, based on fat politicians, sitting safe and secure behind an army of personal bodyguards (all heavily armed), intently watching cheesy Hollywood movies! In fact, many firearms are prohibited by 'order in council,' and, when you read the list, it is painfully obvious that such prohibitions are based solely on appearance. That is why we can't have AKs, FALs, ARs, and AUGs, but XCRs and Tavors are okay, at least for now, since they've come on the scene relatively recently."

Comment: The foregoing are the kind of "reasonable" measures liberal politicians constantly push for. They never get specific, of course. Autocrats never do! But, this is the practical result of their never-ending assault on our personal freedom. When they can't prohibit the private ownership of guns outright, they'll, in effect, have the same practical result through bureaucratic regulation.

They love to hypocritically talk about our "right to personal, unilateral, self-defense," but then deny us any possibility of exercising that right!

They live to lord it over people. That is the only thing that really motivates them, and ever has!

However, there is some good news:

We are turning things around up here!

The draconian, failed-at-every-level, 'system' we currently have in place was put there by governments of the 80s and 90s, consisting mostly of elitist, geriatric, flower-children who, like Socialists/Communists everywhere, never earned an honest dime in their lives!

Back then, gun owners did not have a strong voice. The by-word in Ottawa was 'social engineering,' as they attempted to smother the life out of us us with interminable laws and 'regulations,' enforced by an army of erstwhile unemployed bureaucrats who worried infinitely more about keeping their jobs than they ever did about doing them.

Things have changed! Debate about the private ownership of firearms has become the most polarizing issue in our current political landscape. Our side is now politically active, alert, and has excellent communication. We are now a powerful symbol for the new direction in which our country is heading.

Virtually all current Leftists in government are still overtly in favor of yet additional restrictions on private gun ownership, in spite of its amply demonstrated failure to reduce violent crime, or, for that matter, even to be administered intelligently.

Last Friday (25 March, 2011), these very Leftists were toppled in a non-confidence motion, which automatically triggered an election. This spring, we are likely to see a Conservative majority government that has promised to turn Canada away from the Liberal/Socialist/Communist trend that began in the 1970s.

We have promised to hold their feet to the fire!

Comment: The biggest problem Leftists have, no matter where they are, is personal vanity and arrogance! They invariably think they deserve to be kings, and that we peons exist only to serve them.They just can't admit to themselves that they're wrong, have always been wrong, and have never been anything but wrong.

They will accept no species of correction. The are absolutely incapable of repentance. They would rather die!

I would just like to add, at one time, I considered moving to Canada. It is a beautiful country, and I have a great affection for many things, Canadian. But, after researching their gun laws, it occurred to me that I could not live the same life there, that I have here. So for now, for me, Canada is a great place to visit, but I just cannot live there, knowing my God-given/Natural right to self defense is severely denied there.

BGA


 Current Mood: Painful
 Current Music: None
My Carry Pistol: Taurus PT92AFS 9x19mm NATO

Quote of the Century.

This came from an email list I'm on. I think it says a lot.

QUOTE OF THE CENTURY, MAYBE EVEN THE MILLENNIUM

Some people have the vocabulary to sum up things in a way you can understand them. This quote came from the Czech Republic. Someone over there has it figured out. We have a lot of work to do.

"The danger to America is not Barack Obama but a citizenry capable of entrusting a man like him with the Presidency. It will be far easier to limit and undo the follies of an Obama presidency than to restore the necessary common sense and good judgment to a depraved electorate willing to have such a man for their president. The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr. Obama, who is a mere symptom of what ails America. Blaming the prince of the fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederacy of fools that made him their prince. The Republic can survive a Barack Obama, who is, after all, merely a fool. It is less likely to survive a multitude of fools such as those who made him their president."

 Current Mood: Awake
 Current Music: Moby - Extreme Ways
My Carry Pistol: Rock Island Armory M1911-A1 .45ACP

Comic Relief

(Comic Relief)

So, Big Gay Al is driving down the road in his big Pink car, when he's pulled over by Michigan State Police for color violation. (No pink cars allowed on the highway on Sunday, part of a new agenda by the extremist religious zealots.).

As required by Michigan Compiled Laws, Big Gay Al informs the officer that he has a Michigan Concealed Pistol License, and he is packing. The Rest of the conversation goes like this:

MSP officer: Ok, what do you have, and where is it?

Big Gay Al: I have a .45ACP 1911 on my right side, in a hip holster, a Taurus PT92 9mm under my left arm, in a shoulder holster, a Makarov in the small of my back, and a Ruger .357 magnum in the glove box.

MSP officer: Is there anything in the trunk?

Big Gay Al: Oh yeah, the Yugoslavian SKS. Sorry, forgot about that.

MSP officer: Are you going to the range or something?

Big Gay Al: No, just to my sister's house, then the store.

MSP Officer: So, what are you afraid of?

Big Gay Al: (momentary pause) Not one damn thing.

 Current Mood: Happy
 Current Music: Haddaway - What is Love
My Carry Pistol: Rock Island Armory M1911-A1

Open Carry in Lansing, MI (Part 2)

CADL Granted Restraining Order Against Michigan Open Carry
The Capital Area District Library makes a move to help keep guns out of their building. On Wednesday they were granted a temporary retraining order by the INgham County Circuit Court against members of Michigan Open Carry or anyone affiliated with them......

...One of the attorneys for CADL, Gary Bender, said that CADL's goal is to maintain a safe, gun free zone for children and adults who frequent the library....

The last part I quoted above, shows a major flaw in their thinking. There is no such thing as a SAFE gun free zone. Gun free zones, by their very definition, are not safe. The only people who don't bring guns to a Gun Free Zone (also known more accurately as a Criminal Empowerment Zone) are law abiding citizens.

The sad thing is, the liberal weenies in charge of the CAD Library system, will never get it. They'll just keep pushing for "feel good" laws that will only make the library less safe, and they'll feel like they did a great service for the city, the state, and who ever else agrees with them.

In any event, until they remove their stupid "No Weapons" rule, I will not be using their library. I won't feel safe there, if I can't take my pistol with me.

 Current Mood: Amused
 Current Music: The Village People - San Francisco
My Carry Pistol: Rock Island Armory M1911-A1

Open Carry in Lansing, MI (Part 1)

...When told Tyler and Hofmeister open carry at the library for their own safety, (CADL Director Lance Werner) Werner said, “In my opinion, that’s utterly ridiculous.”

“I’m sorry he feels that way,” Werner said. “I hope he feels like he’s in some living room. That’s how we want everyone to feel.”

If you want to read the whole story, click on the title of this blog post. I only quoted the last 2 paragraphs, as I think they highlight a bigger part of the problem.

CADL Director Lance Werner says he wants us to feel like we're "in some living room." I don't have security guards in my living room, do you? Besides which, if I'm in my living room, where ever I am, there's my gun too. So, if he wants me to feel like I'm in a living room, then I should have my gun with me.

My gun has never been turned away from anyone's living room. Most don't notice it, and some of those that do, ask to see it.

This is not about feeling safe. If it were, everyone would be encouraged to carry a gun. It's about control. Government control of the citizens. MOC and other Open Carry groups across the country are trying to get people used to seeing law-abiding citizens openly carrying firearms.

Now, I'll grant that Tyler's OC of a shotgun in downtown Lansing was not the best idea, what's he supposed to do? Lansing PD has been dragging their feet on another issue that's delaying his being able to buy a handgun. His only real means of self defense in the meantime is a long arm. So, what's he supposed to do, go unarmed? That's what the government wants. His only legal recourse, currently is to OC a long arm.

I don't know if I'd do that, if I were in his position, but I'm not in his position now, so it's not fair of me to say. He has the right of self defense, and his only current legal means is a long gun, so I guess that answers that.

Back to the original point. Anti-Gun liberals always say one of the following, they either think they have the "right to feel safe" where ever they are, the right to not see a gun, or they have the right to feel as safe as they would in their own home.

Show me in the Constitution of the USA, or of any state where it says we have the "right to feel safe." You can't. So don't try. Liberals like to insert non existent rights into our constitution, and they'd like to take out some of the inconvenient rights, like oh, the 2nd Amendment, and the 1st amendment, when it gets in THEIR way. But that's how liberals treat all laws. They like them, until they get in the way of their agenda.

 Current Mood: Awake
 Current Music: The Village People - In the Navy
My Carry Pistol: Rock Island Armory M1911-A1

I beg to disagree

'Gay conservative' is oxymoron
Star Parker - Syndicated Columnist - 2/14/2011 10:15:00 AM

CPAC, the Conservative Political Action Conference, has been an annual gig for me for years. But this year I concluded it was not my place and I declined to participate in the various venues at the event for which I was invited.

Yes, the reason I declined was the inclusion of GOProud, a group identifying itself as representing "gay conservatives and their allies," as a sponsor of the event.

And it's the reason why some of the nation's most important conservative organizations -- the Heritage Foundation, the American Family Association, Concerned Women of America, Family Research Council, Media Research Center, and the National Organization for Marriage -- did not participate.

The founder and chairman of GOProud removed any doubt on my part that not participating was the correct decision by dismissing these groups as "losers," "clowns," and "not relevant."

I, of course, have been accused of being worse than a clown. The barrage regularly comes in from the left. But this is a first that I've had to listen to this kind of stuff from a group that postures as "conservative."

I became a conservative in church. I thought I was doing okay in my previous life -- scamming the welfare system, going to the beach, soaking in my welfare-subsidized hot tub, treating sex as a hobby, and abortion as birth control.

In our culture today that views material prosperity as the ultimate barometer of success, the truth is becoming unfortunately lost that the evil man can prosper. And if there is nothing more than what is before our eyes in this world, what does it matter?

When I understood how the culture of welfare state materialism was destroying not just my life, but also all of black America, there was no dividing line in my mind between "social issues" and "economic issues." The only dividing line I saw was between right and wrong, good and evil.

The idea of "gay conservative" is an oxymoron.

"Gay" is everything that "conservative" is not.
(to see the whole post, click on the title of this post.)

So, you can't be "Gay" and Conservative at the same time? Says who? Who makes the rules on that? If a Gay man or woman want to believe in God, country and honor, as well as the US Constitution, a smaller, fiscally responsible government, and the majority of other, traditionally conservative ideals, what would you call him or her?

I can tell you what the liberals would call such a person. "Fool," for taking sides with a movement that would deny them the right to marry whomever they choose. "Idiot," for joining sides with people who would cherry pick the bible, over things "they" think should be part of law. Part of a Christian "Sharia style law" if you will. If we did everything according to the rules set in the bible, over 1000 years ago, African-Americans would still be slaves. Once every 28 days or so, husbands of families would be sending their wives into exile until their menstrual period was over. No one would eat pork, and oh, no more cheese on hamburgers either. Of course, the good side, men could have more than one wife. I guess a little good does come with the bad, sometimes.

I don't agree with everything in the so called list of conservative ideals, but I do agree with the vast majority. Would you throw away my potential support, just because I don't agree with everything? Is it written somewhere that ALL conservatives have to agree on everything?

Frankly, I'm starting to think that the "compassionate conservative" is an Oxymoron. I'm not seeing very much compassion from the "mainstream" conservatives for their Gay and Lesbian supporters.

 Current Mood: Amazed
 Current Music: Tim McGraw - Southern Voice
My Carry Pistol: Rock Island Armory M1911-A1 .45ACP

Now this, is a law I'd obey. Thank you, South Dakota.

South Dakota Lawmakers Propose Mandating Gun Ownership -- to Make Point About Health Law

Published: February 01, 2011

A group of South Dakota lawmakers has introduced a bill that would require almost everyone in their state to buy a gun once they turn 21.

Turns out it's not a serious attempt. Rather, the lawmakers are trying to make a point about the new health care law -- that an individual mandate is unconstitutional, whether it requires everyone to buy health insurance or, in South Dakota's case, a firearm.

Rep. Hal Wick, one of five co-sponsors, told The Argus Leader newspaper that he expects the bill to fail.

"Do I or the other co-sponsors believe that the state of South Dakota can require citizens to buy firearms? Of course not. But at the same time, we do not believe the federal government can order every citizen to buy health insurance," he said.

The South Dakota proposal would require anyone over 21 to purchase a firearm by Jan. 1, 2012, provided they are not legally disqualified from owning one. It would extend a six-month grace period for residents who turn 21 after the beginning of 2012.

Read more: FoxNews

Too bad it's not a real law. It should be the law of the entire USA. But, that's just my opinion.



 Current Mood: Awake
 Current Music: Moby - Extreme Ways (Theme song from Bourne Identity)
My Carry Pistol: Rock Island Armory M1911-A1FS .45ACP

The top Eight Reasons why gun control works.

1. In 1929, the Soviet Union established gun control. From 1929 to 1953, about 20 million dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

2. In 1911, Turkey established gun control. From 1915 to 1917, 1.5 million Armenians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

3. Germany established gun control in 1938, and from 1939 to 1945, a total of 13 million Jews and others who were unable to defend themselves were rounded up and exterminated.

4. China established gun control in 1935. From 1948 to 1952, 20 million political dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

5. Guatemala established gun control in 1964. From 1964 to 1981, 100,000 Mayan Indians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

6. Uganda established gun control in 1970. From 1971 to 1979, 300,000 Christians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

7. Cambodia established gun control in 1956. From 1975 to 1977, one million people, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

8. Defenseless people rounded up and exterminated in the 20th Century because of gun control: 56 million.

Yup, just ask all the dictators and despots who enacted gun control laws, they'll tell you gun control is wonderful. It cuts way down on the violence. Specially since their victims couldn't fight back.


 Current Mood: Awake
 Current Music: None
My Carry Pistol: Rock Island Armory M1911-A1 .45ACP

TheHighRoad.us has moved

Unfortunately, Oleg has apparently lost use of thehighroad.us domain name. I imagine a result of the lawsuit settlement between him, and a certain person we shall not name. In any event, if you were registered on thehighroad.org and/or thehighroad.us, your registration should still be good for gunrightsmedia.com.

Spread the word. We don't want our friends going to the wrong site by accident.


 Current Mood: Awake
 Current Music: The Village People - In The Navy
My Carry Pistol: Ruger Police Service Six .357 Magnum

Michigan House Bill 4009 and 4010

Michigan House Bill 4009 and 4010, introduced by Representative Richard LeBlanc (D), if enacted will repeal MCL 28.425o, eliminating all the pistol free zones, areas where those of us who have a Concealed Pistol License, are currently prohibited from carrying concealed. As it currently stands, we can legally carry in these so called "Pistol free zones," as long as we openly carry our pistols.

If these bills become law, we won't need to OC our firearms in those places, and consequently, everyone else there should feel more comfortable, as they won't see our guns anymore.

So, contact your state representative and ask them to support this bill.
And don't forget to sign the online petition here.



 Current Mood: Happy
 Current Music: The Village People - San Francisco
My Carry Pistol: Ruger Police Service Six .357 Magnum

Just a note to my readers

In case you haven't noticed, I changed the basic layout. In the process, some links got dropped. I still have them, I just haven't put them all back yet. If you're one of those who paid for a link to be on my blog, and you don't see it, let me know, I'll get it up there ASAP.

Thanks for your patience.



Current Mood: Awake
Current Music: Rob Zombie - Dragula
My Carry Pistol: Rock Island Armory M1911-A1 .45ACP

Another case of the pot calling the kettle black

Before banning ‘crosshairs,’ CNN used it to refer to Palin, Bachmann
By: Byron York 01/19/11 8:08 AM
Chief Political Correspondent

Read more at the Washington Examiner:

January 19, 2011

CNN’s John King is attracting a lot of notice — and some ridicule — in the blogosphere for his on-air apology after a guest used the word “crosshairs” during a report on Chicago politics Tuesday. (The guest, a former Chicago reporter, referred to two rivals of mayoral candidate Rahm Emanuel, saying Emanuel is “in both of their crosshairs.”) “We were just having a discussion about the Chicago mayoral race,” King told viewers. “My friend Andy Shaw…used the term ‘in the crosshairs’ in talking about the candidates out there. We’re trying, we’re trying to get away from that language. Andy is a good friend, he’s covered politics for a long time, but we’re trying to get away from using that kind of language. We won’t always be perfect, so hold us accountable when we don’t meet your standards.”

King’s statement comes after widespread discussion of whether Sarah Palin’s now-infamous “crosshairs” map targeting vulnerable Democratic candidates in last November’s elections somehow caused the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in Tucson January 8. There has been plenty of that kind of speculation on CNN, including on Tuesday, the day of John King’s statement, when one brief discussion of Palin used the word “crosshairs” five times.

Now, King says, CNN is “trying to get away” from such terms, suggesting that in the wake of the Tucson shootings, such language should no longer be part of the public conversation. But if Palin is to blame for using crosshairs in her much-discussed map, then CNN, by its own use of the allegedly inflammatory term “crosshairs,” might also share some blame for creating the atmosphere that led to the violence in Arizona. A look at transcripts of CNN programs in the month leading up to the shootings shows that the network was filled with references to “crosshairs” — and once even used the term to suggest the targeting of Palin herself. Some examples:

"Palin's moose-hunting episode on her reality show enraged People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, and now, she's square in the crosshairs of big time Hollywood producer, Aaron Sorkin," reported A.J. Hammer of CNN's Headline News on December 8.

"Companies like MasterCard are in the crosshairs for cutting ties with WikiLeaks," said CNN Kiran Chetry in a December 9 report.

"Thousands of people living in areas that are in the crosshairs have been told to evacuate," Chetry said in a December 21 report on flooding in California.

"He's in their crosshairs," said a guest in a December 21 CNN discussion of suspects in a missing-person case.

"This will be the first time your food will be actually in the crosshairs of the FDA," business reporter Christine Romans said on December 22.

"The U.S. commander in the East has Haqqani in his crosshairs," CNN's Barbara Starr reported on December 28, referring to an Afghan warlord.

"We know that health care reform is in the crosshairs again," CNN's Joe Johns reported on January 3.

Seven uses of "crosshairs" in just the month before the Tucson attacks, and just one of them referring to an actual wartime situation. And one reference to Sarah Palin herself as being in "crosshairs."

And not just Palin. On September 14, Mark Preston, CNN's senior political editor, referred to another controversial politician, Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann, as being "in the crosshairs." "Michelle Bachmann is raising lots of money, raising her national profile," Preston said on September 14. "She is in the crosshairs of Democrats as well."

It turns out Preston was back on CNN's air on Tuesday, discussing Palin's recent interview on Fox News. "We saw her on Fox News last night where she is a paid contributor," Preston said. "A kind of a friendly setting, but she defended herself from all the criticism that's been directed at her regarding a Web site that she had put out where she had used crosshairs over 20 Democratic candidates. Now a lot of people said that her rhetoric is inciting violence. She said that that is not true…"

"Crosshairs" again. Just for the record, CNN anchors, reporters and guests did absolutely nothing wrong with their use of the word in the last month and before. It would be impossible, at least for any reasonable person, to argue that the network's use of "crosshairs" in any of the various contexts it was used, was an incitement to violence by anyone, anywhere. But by announcing that "we're trying to get away" from "crosshairs" and other allegedly incendiary language, CNN is aligning itself with those who blame "rhetoric" for the killings. And by doing that -- plus inviting the public to "hold us accountable" -- CNN could open itself up to an examination of its own uses of the word and accusations that it helped create an environment that led to violence. Does that make any sense at all?

Disappointing, isn't it.



Current Mood: Amused
Current Music: The Village People - Hollywood
My Carry Pistol: Rock Island Armory M1911-A1 .45ACP

Time to boycott New Jersey and New York City

High court denies man's gun arrest appeal

By Jesse J. Holland, Associated Press – Tue Jan 18, 11:20 am ET

WASHINGTON – Missing a plane connection cost Utah gun owner Greg Revell 10 days in jail after he was stranded in New Jersey with an unloaded firearm he had legally checked with his luggage in Salt Lake City.

Nevertheless, the Supreme Court without comment refused on Tuesday to let Revell sue Port Authority of New York and New Jersey police for arresting him on illegal possession of a firearm in New Jersey and for not returning his gun and ammunition to him for more than three years.

Revell was flying from Salt Lake City to Allentown, Pa., on March 31, 2005, with connections in Minneapolis and Newark, N.J. He had checked his Utah-licensed gun and ammunition with his luggage in Salt Lake City and asked airport officials to deliver them both with his luggage in Allentown.

But the flight from Minneapolis to Newark was late, so Revell missed his connection to Allentown. The airline wanted to bus its passengers to Allentown, but Revell realized that his luggage had not made it onto the bus and got off. After finding his luggage had been given a final destination of Newark by mistake, Revell missed the bus. He collected his luggage, including his gun and ammunition, and decided to wait in a nearby hotel with his stuff until the next flight in the morning.

When Revell tried to check in for the morning flight, he again informed the airline officials about his gun and ammunition to have them checked through to Allentown. He was reported to the TSA, and then arrested by Port Authority police for having a gun in New Jersey without a New Jersey license.

He spent 10 days in several different jails before posting bail. Police dropped the charges a few months later. But his gun and ammunition were not returned to him until 2008.

Revell said he should not have been arrested because federal law allows licensed gun owners to take their weapons through any state as long as they are unloaded and not readily accessible to people. He said it was not his fault the airline stranded him in New Jersey by making him miss his flight and routing his luggage to the wrong destination.

Prosecutors said it doesn't matter whose fault it was: Revell was arrested in New Jersey with a readily accessible gun in his possession without a New Jersey license.

Lower courts have sympathized with Revell but refused to let him sue the police.

"We recognize that he had been placed in a difficult situation through no fault of his own," wrote Judge Kent A. Jordan of the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia. However, the law "clearly requires the traveler to part ways with his weapon and ammunition during travel; it does not address this type of interrupted journey or what the traveler is to do in this situation."

The case is Revell v. Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, 10-236.

I don't know what it's going to take, but we have to find a way to show our displeasure with the way legal, law-abiding citizens are treated in states, cities and towns who seem to think gun ownership is bad. After all, we are simply exercising our constitutionally protected right of self defense. We are a threat to no one, except maybe bad people.

So, I don't know about you, but for me, I am going to be looking to see if anything I buy comes from New York or New Jersey. And if it does, I won't buy it. And if given the opportunity, I'll pass on to the manufacturer WHY I'm not buying their products. I know, it's like throwing pebbles at an Abrams tank, but sometimes you do get their attention.

 Current Mood: disappointed
 Current Music: Southern Voice - Tim McGraw
My Carry Pistol: Rock Island Armory M1911-A1 .45ACP

Tucson Shooting starts another "feel good, do nothing" gun control debate.

While I feel bad for the victims of Jared Loughner's Saturday shooting spree, I deplore it's use as a political weight to hang around the necks of law-abiding gun owners.

Representative Peter King (New York, R) is proposing a law to create a "gun free zone" around certain elected officials. This would have the effect of creating a roving GFZ* of 1000 feet around representatives, senators, and so on. Never mind that this law would NOT have deterred Jared Loughner. Never mind that this law would not have deterred Lee Harvey Oswald, Leon Frank Czolgosz, Charles Guiteau, or John Wilkes Booth.

Why, you ask? Simple, only law-abiding citizens obey laws. Criminals, including the assassins I named above would NOT obey any such law. Hell, it's against the law brandish a firearm in public, in most places, it's also against the law to discharge a firearm inside city limits. Loughner broke at least 2 laws before he killed anyone.

All these laws do is make the left "feel good," like they're doing "something" to fight crime, when in reality all they're doing is helping to disarm the law-abiding, and create more potential victims.

The really disappointing thing for me, this law is put forth by a Republican, and until a day two ago, someone I thought was a conservative. I guess I should have known better, he's just another politician, already campaigning for re-election.


*=Gun Free Zone

 Current Mood: Disappointed in our law makers
 Current Music: Macho Man - The Village People
My Carry Pistol: Ruger Police Service Six .357 Magnum

Don't buy isk from THSale.com!!

In a slight change, I'm doing a favor for a friend. For those of you who don't know, EVE Online is an MMORPG, or Massively Multiplayer Online Role Play Game. I still haven't figured out why they call it a role play game, all you really do is fly around in space ships, shoot up everything, mine asteroids and build stuff. There's very little role playing that I can see. But there it is.

THSale.com is one of those websites that sell game money for real money. Most of the online game companies frown on the practice, even though they do it themselves. I guess they don't like the competition. Anyway, this friend of mine, has been playing EVE almost as long as I have. And like most of us in EVE, they have a real life too. Something that just interferes with their fun time, so much, they can't spend as much time making "isk" (this is what the money is called in EVE) as some of the players do. Mind you, some of the "players" are employees of some of the money trading sites. All they do is mine asteroids or ice fields which is processed and sold in the game for "isk." They do this either by macros, or what is more common now, people just sit and run the character to do this all day long. They then sell this game money to people for real money. Usually cheaper than what they could get the game money for if they did it through CCP.

Now, I'm not gonna go into great detail here. If you're interested in EVE, you'll find out via EVE's forums, and other methods as well. In any event, my friend has used this "illegal" service to get isk to buy stuff with. He finally got caught. Now, thanks to some stupid isk seller who used a hacked account to transfer the funds, my friend's bank account in EVE is negative over 9 billion isk. Needless to say, this will take a long time for him to fix. But, he's also out the money he spent to get that isk, and the company that sold it, isn't giving it back.

The kicker, if they hadn't used a hacked account, my friend would not be in the position he's in. Then again, if he hadn't been so weak, as to buy the stuff in the first place, he'd still not be in the position he's in. Anyway, if you look at the link to the title of this post, it will take you to THSale's faq. If you go to the bottom of that faq, you will find the following statement.

Will my account get banned if I buy from thsale?
Quite simply - no. We have never been informed of any account bannings of thsale customers due to their dealings with thsale. We are a reputable company that does not engage in cheating, exploiting or phishing. Dealing with other companies who obtain currencies and virtual commodities through these illegitimate means may result in your account being banned, but we can assure you awe are not one of those. We are proud of our company’s reputation and we will continue offering a safe, quality service to our customers, whilst combatting scammers and fraudsters in MMORPGs.

"We are a reputable company that does not engage in cheating, exploiting or phishing." Really? My friend has proof that says otherwise. But I guess that's to be expected.

Take this as an example. Do not engage in Real Money Trading, in ANY game. Sooner or later, it will turn around and bite you in the ass.




 Current Mood: Tired
 Current Music: None
My Carry Pistol: RIA M1911-A1 .45APC

Congenital Heart Failure, and The myth of invincibilty

Why is it, until faced with a life threatening disease, we consider ourselves to be invincible? I don't know about the rest of you, but that's how I felt, until last month. Now, I knew something wasn't right, because I had been feeling less than 100% for a while. I was getting out of breath on short walks, and I had trouble sleeping, unless I was practically sitting up.

And, like a lot of people, I put off going to the doctor. Partially because I thought I knew what was wrong, and partially because I was in denial. I figured it was pneumonia, since I'd had it before and new what it felt like, and this was really close to that. For the most part, I weathered the illness I thought I had, even managing to go to work, without calling in sick.

However, finally on October 10, I knew something was wrong, as I was having trouble breathing while just sitting still, at the computer. I decided then to go to the local urgent care. They ran numerous tests including EKG, and nothing showed up, but they could see fluid in my lungs, and the doctor there told me it was best to send me to the ER. So, off I went....in an ambulance.

I get there, and they do more tests, including an enzyme test that came up negative. However, other tests they did pointed to the extremely good possibility that I had Congenital Heart Failure. So, I get admitted to the progressive cardiac wing. After seeing a long string of doctors, I'm told they want to do a heart catheter. For those of you who don't know, they stick a camera up an artery in your groin to you heart to see what's going on.

Now, I've NEVER had any sort of surgery on me. Not even a broken bone, so this was a minor shock to my system. But I was assured that I'd get the right drugs, and that even though it was done with a local, I'd not feel it....much. Pretty much, they were right. I didn't really feel much pain, and was in good spirits for the most part. Until afterward when they told me I needed bypass surgery.

They found 4 major blockages that could not be fixed with a stent. Now, I knew what that entailed, to a minor degree. I have a relative who's gone through that. Which means, they take a vein from one of your legs, crack open your chest, including your sternum, and bypass the blockages. Typically, you're on a heart and lung machine while they do this.

So now I'm scared half out of my wits. And I just don't know what to do. Then one of the many doctors that had paraded through my room the past 48 hours tells me, "Ask questions, find out your options, don't take it at face value that this is what you have to do." His advice helped to make me feel more in control. So, I asked those questions and more, of the cardiologist, the surgeon, anyone that I thought might answer them. In the end, I agreed to have the surgery.

I have to say, in retrospect, it was not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. I went to sleep, then work up, with tubes coming out of more places than I care to mention. But I was alive, and they told me the surgery went without any problems. I won't bore you with the details here. Let me just say the recovery was probably more painful than the operation. Specially when some of the tubes were pulled out.

But I have to thank the staff, nurses, doctors, Patient Care Techs and Physician's Assistants of Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, Michigan for the great care I received while I was there. I'm told they have one of the best cardiac facilities in the country. As far as I'm concerned, they are THE best in the country.

In closing, I'll just add, if you think, even remotely that you might have a heart problem, don't delay like I did, get it checked out right away. You might save yourself from having major surgery like I did. In spite of what we may think, we are not invincible.

One more item. Many of the doctors I saw and spoke to were Muslim. I don't know what country they were from, I didn't ask. But EVERYONE gave me good advice, and took excellent care of me. So to those of you out there reading this, who have some religious prejudice against those of other faiths, I say this: Get over it.


 Current Mood: Happy to be alive
 Current Music: Gallery - Nice to Be With You
My Carry Pistol: Rock Island Armory M1911-A1 .45 ACP

Another Reason to AVOID Philadelpia

The story below came from a certain 2A forum. I have made some minor changes for confidentiality. But in general, this story just goes to show how corrupt the police in Philadelphia appear to be, specially to those of us who lawfully exercise our 2nd Amendment rights.

Today I stopped in Best Buy on my way home to buy a music CD. While I'm browsing the CD's I'm approached by an older guy telling me I can't carry like that in Philadelphia. I asked him if he was a Cop or a Lawyer and he said No, so I told him. I know the Law. He proceeded to follow me around the store harassing me and then called the cops to report a Man With A Gun (MWAG), following me around giving them my description and our location etc. I pay for my CD, leave the store get in my work van to leave and he follows me all of the way out, gets in his car and follows me down the street. None of the Best Buy Employees said a word to me, and neither did anyone else. The store employees rang me up and that was all.

I get down the road a few lights and I'm pulled over by a Philadelphia PD car. I pull over immediately and he approaches my car with his gun drawn and says to me put your hands out of the vehicle. So I'm sitting there with my hands outside of the truck as he approaches me with his gun drawn and so it begins with the insulting "You're an idiot" "What do you think you are, John Wayne?" begins. 7 more Cops arrive and there's a total of 8. 3 cars and a van. In between their bullshit comments they open the door, unbuckle my seat belt and take my whole holster off of my right side.

They grab my arms and make me step out and Immediately begin searching the work van and my pockets. They take my wallet and take out my License To Carry a Firearm (LTCF) and my Driver's License. They're all insulting me and rambling nonsense that even disagrees with each other about how it's illegal to open carry in Philadelphia. A Sergeant arrives and has to tell them all, It's legal to open carry in Philadelphia. He tells them it was changed recently. (It's actually been that way for years) The sergeant also goes to the guy who was following and harassing me and tells him that recently it was changed to make Open Carry legal in Philadelphia.

They all stand around complaining about how they had to stop watching TV because of me (this asshole) and take turns telling me how stupid and irresponsible I am.

I'm standing behind my work van with my hands against the van for about 45 minutes and eventually they start to leave 1 by 1 and they run the Tag on my work van and ask me who's is it. I tell them it's "My companies delivery van" the cop said back "Not anymore". They said it's not registered so I asked to get the paperwork out of the Van. They let me and I show them the pink slip. They insist the van is not registered so they're going to impound it.

They write me two tickets. One says "Unlawful Tag Display" and the other says "Tag registered to a Dodge". About an hour later of standing there while they sit in their cop van watching their little TV they give me my tickets, a copy of the Live Stop paper, my LTCF, my License, my Glock (Chamber open, unholstered, they took all of my ammunition out of my two magazines and gave me them back in a pile) They told me they think Hollow Points are illegal and kept one of the rounds. (They're not illegal, except maybe in New Jersey.) They had to ask me if they were Hollow Points because apparently they didn't even know. They also never returned my Sunglasses which they snatched from my face in the beginning so they could "See who we're dealing with." and before I leave the cop tells me he's lucky the Sergeant was there or this wouldn't have happened this way.

If ******** did not have his encounter with PPD and have his gun stolen, then I would have been ******** and my gun would have been stolen.

Names and places have been intentionally omitted.

IF the Original Poster wants full credit, let me know, I'll link this to the original post on the forum it came from.

Aside from training on the laws of Pennsylvania, it seems to me PPD needs to better train their officers on how to identify the various types of ammunition. I mean, my mother would know the difference between full metal jacket and hollow point ammo on sight. These cops must be half blind. Maybe that's why they stole the poster's sunglasses.

 Current Mood: Highly disappointed that police anywhere in the US would act like those above.
 Current Music: None
My Carry Pistol: RIA M1911-A1 Polished Nickel Plated show off piece.