Policing ourselves

[Gallstones]

Please, Open Carriers, Stop “Defending My Rights”

I’m not sure what’s going on with the gun rights movement lately. We faced a serious threat after Newtown, but at the grass roots level, America showed that it does not want more gun control. Most major gun control efforts failed miserably. Gun sales have soared. More and more good, decent citizens are getting concealed carry permits. The public is slowly learning that despite the incessant media focus on guns, actual gun crimes have plummeted. A few prominent liberals like Anthony Bourdain have tried to convince other liberals to stop demonizing gun owners. By most measures, we on the pro-2nd Amendment side have won.

But then open carriers go and screw things up.
...
...instead of leaving the uninterested out of the debate, open carriers have apparently adopted a policy of forcing people to take sides. They do this by flaunting their right to open carry, carrying specifically to provoke a reaction, carrying for no logical reason in really stupid places, and basically making asses of themselves. Then they take pictures of themselves proudly “defending our gun rights”.
...
who wouldn’t feel comfortable walking into Chipotle’s with this gaggle of freedom-lovers hanging around outside? It’s not like any of them are CARRYING THEIR F’KIN’ WEAPON AT PORT ARMS, which has been taught as a combat-ready position for decades. And just look! None of them, NONE, have their weapon slung in front, which is where we soldiers carry our carbines on patrol so WE CAN QUICKLY RAISE THEM TO SHOOT PEOPLE IN THE FACE.

This has been explained by other writers already, but it’s worth repeating: if someone is carrying a weapon at port arms or low ready, it’s no different than walking around with a pistol out of the holster in a combat grip. Professionals carry their long guns in front when they’re prepared for imminent contact. When I was overseas and outside the wire, my weapon was either in my hands or hanging on my chest. You know, the way OCers carry their weapons inside coffee shops.
...
...an open carrier demonstrating in support of a right, that we already have, by walking around Home Depot completely oblivious to the fact that he’s carrying his weapon ready for action?
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Call me crazy, but I feel one of my responsibilities as a gun rights advocate is to show people that gun owners are reasonable, responsible people who aren’t a threat to the innocent. If I were to, say, walk into Chipotle carrying an AK at the combat ready, I’m pretty sure I’d accomplish the exact opposite. And I really couldn’t blame regular Joe for being afraid of me.
...
Peaceful open carry rallies where gun owners safely carry long guns slung across their backs on public land? I’m down with that. Blatantly ridiculous, orchestrated confrontations where open carriers walk into private businesses with rifles at the combat ready, just to piss people off, knowing that all they’ll do is create more enemies? No thanks.

So please, open carriers, stop “defending my rights”. Just stop. You’re not helping.

Full text--and pictures!--at the link.

[Gallstones]

Ruling: Montana felons can't own firearms after serving time, probation

According to a new judgment from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Montana felons who have completed their sentence and probation will no longer be able to own firearms.

The decision last month upheld Missoula U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy’s decision that Frank Van der hule, who was convicted of four counts of rape and one count of sexual assault in 1983 and completed his sentence 13 years later, was not eligible to own a gun in Montana.

Montana is considered a restorative state, meaning under the Montana Constitution, felons who have completed their sentences and probationary periods have their rights restored – and technically can do things that regular citizens do, including possess a firearm and vote.

However, a federal statute states that felons are not able to purchase guns that have been in interstate commerce. In other words, if it’s not made in Montana, felons can’t purchase the firearm.

So when Van der hule attempted to purchase a gun in 2003, the firearms dealer ran a criminal background check and discovered that Van der hule’s prior convictions precluded him from receiving a concealed weapons permit under Montana law and also prohibited him from possessing a gun under federal law.

Van der hule filed a motion of declaratory judgment in Missoula U.S. District Court, seeking approval for his request to purchase a firearm. He later amended his complaint, arguing the laws precluding him from buying a gun violated his Second Amendment rights.

Not so, ruled Molloy. The appellate judges agreed.

The circuit’s three judges ruled against Van der hule, saying Montana’s restriction prohibiting a convicted felon from possessing a concealed weapons permit “is a sufficient restriction of his firearm rights” to also prohibit him from purchasing any weapon.

“He is accordingly forbidden to receive or possess a firearm under federal law and that ban does not violate his Second Amendment rights,” the decision stated.

[Rum]

Can you get guns on welfare in America? You should be able to get guns on welfare.

[piscator]

Can you get guns on welfare in America? You should be able to get guns on welfare.

Like those seaside resorts for people on the dole in England?
As far as I know, you can buy anything you want with the part of your welfare benefits that doesn't come as an EBT card, a Medicaid card, or HUD housing - cigarettes, guns, premium cable, window tint, vodka - you name it.

[Rum]

Yeah, but if the gummint made sure you could only get a gun (say with tokens you could take to your local killing machine shop) then everyone would have a gun and you would all be safe. I'm sure this would reduce your murder rate enormously.

[piscator]

Yeah, but if the gummint made sure you could only get a gun (say with tokens you could take to your local killing machine shop) then everyone would have a gun and you would all be safe. I'm sure this would reduce your murder rate enormously.

I don't know if it would make being a 20-year old male in an inner city any more or less dangerous.

That's the demographic hump, you know. If an American male can make it to 30, his chances are significantly better. Biologists call it "Recruitment".

[Rum]

I was being ironic.

However the gun lobby logic does seem to believe that if everyone was armed everyone would be safer. I can't buy that logic.

[Seth]

I was being ironic.

However the gun lobby logic does seem to believe that if everyone was armed everyone would be safer. I can't buy that logic.

That's because you don't have a logical mind, you have an emotional one. The facts are clear, and the facts say that the more law-abiding citizens who choose to become licensed and carry concealed firearms, the safer the community becomes. We've been running this experiment since about 1985 and the results are conclusive.

[Gallstones]

Detroit Porch Shooter Convicted

Jurors have convicted a suburban Detroit homeowner of second-degree murder and manslaughter for shooting and killing an unarmed woman who showed up drunk on his porch last year.

Jurors on Thursday rejected Theodore Wafer's claim that he acted in self-defense when he fired through his screen door and killed 19-year-old Renisha McBride.

[Gallstones]

I don't know how to embed non-Youtube videos.

Bambi gives no fuck to surging rednecks