And now for the bad news
Wednesday, January 2nd, 2013I pledged two weeks of good news. Are the two weeks up yet? Because I’ve been trying to resist saying something about the real crap that’s going on.
Joel called it “Feinstein’s … Intolerable Act.” (The originals via Wikipedia.)
Just two days ago, Mas Ayoob frothed about it. He made excellent points about the “unintended” intended consequences of Feinstein’s proposal.
Even Pravda, freavensake, knows we shouldn’t put up with such.
And while it’s too early to panic (it’s always too early to panic; in any case, Feinstein’s evil dream isn’t likely to see daylight unless Rs and Ds connive in Brady-type chicanery), obviously we all need to brace for pushing back against this.
And we will.
The two most obviously to-be-feared moves right now are our innocent semi-auto firearms being turned into NFA weapons and (not in Feinstein’s description of her bill, but wait) making private firearm transfers illegal.
And yes, other things they’ll do via surprise. U.N. treaties, reloading bans, ammo restrictions.
All of which we will ignore or go around or overtly defy.
Did you read J.D. Tuccille’s superb article on worldwide resistance to gun laws? I linked to it on a slow day. I expect quite a few people missed it. Read it please. Or read it again.
Of course, even before politicians squeeze new laws out of their smelliest orifices, Americans are already resisting — just as Australians and Canadians and canny Brits have already resisted their own recent anti-gun laws. Every report says gun stores are emptied of anything that politicians might consider an “assault weapon.” Ammo, scarce for years, just got scarcer. And soon hundreds of thousands of guns will be going into the ground — and millions more won’t go anywhere.
I’m not implying I think a shooting war will start over this. I half wish it, entirely doubt it. I expect, if they pass some major portion of these proposed laws, the main immediate result will be that millions of us will just go from committing Harvey Silverglate’s “three felonies a day” to committing five or six. Or who knows? maybe 10 or 13. And most won’t even know they’re doing it. (“What? You mean it’s a felony to have a 13-round magazine, but okay to have a 10? And you’ll put me in prison for years for the difference? Are you nuts?”)
It all feels wearying. But necessary. My momma didn’t raise me to be a “gun gangster.” Did yours? No, I didn’t think so. We were born and raised to be classic “good citizens.” But there it is.
No more freedom gets surrendered.
During the time of the Clinton gun bans, you sometimes heard people saying they wished DiFi, Schumer, and their ilk would be strangled with seatbelts or meet other poetic, anything-but-a-gun fates. Wonder how long before we’ll be hearing it again.
I wonder so many things about these professional law spewers. Surely they’re not so deluded that they actually believe that making something illegal makes it go away. Surely they know what would happen if they tell millions of us we have to pay a $200 tax on our own property, get the government’s permission to own it, and allow ATF goons to enter and inspect our homes any time they wish.
Someone seriously needs to examine the brains of people who live in such terror of We the People that they surround themselves with armed bodyguards — then spew laws guaranteed to create chaos and provoke our hatred.
I have lots more thoughts on this (as I’m sure you do, too). But right now, I can only think them, not say them. So sorry. This is raw and rough and unfinished and less than brilliant. But we all know there’s much to do.
Either this liberty-grabbing nonsense must be ended — or things won’t end well.
And I think, no matter how events unfold, that this time the bad ending should fall on somebody other than us.
January 2nd, 2013
First I forget my Thermos of coffee on the kitchen counter, then I hit a deer on the way to work, now my favorite morning blogger has given up on good news… This year sucks. I want a do over!
January 2nd, 2013
It’s the year of the snake. Enough said. ;-)
January 2nd, 2013
As Herman Melville’s character Bartleby, the Scrivener defied ‘authority’, (http://www.bartleby.com/129/) I must believe (no, have to believe) that gun owners will simply take a stand against the DIFI monopoly on force crowd and say as Bartleby did, “I prefer not to…” and fill in the blank, load more full capacity magazines, and see the Freedom Outlaw numbers explode.
Here’s another article of interest:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/lawrencehunter/2012/12/28/gun-control-tramples-on-the-certain-virtues-of-a-heavily-armed-citizenry/
You’re such a good, bad news bearer :) Cheers!
January 2nd, 2013
“No more freedom gets surrendered.”
Done backing up…NOT ANOTHER INCH!
January 2nd, 2013
As part of the proposed mess of wanting currently existing firearms to be put under the purview of the NFA, you can probably expect the current $200 tax per item to go up: Possibly WAY up.
January 2nd, 2013
Water Lily- The year of The Snake? Good.
January 2nd, 2013
http://sipseystreetirregulars.blogspot.com/
Mikes much too happy with constitutional government, but I think you can take this to the bank. Even 1% would probably do the job…
The Doctrine of the Three Percent.
The Three Percent are the folks the Founders counted on to save the Republic when everyone else abandoned it.
And we will.
There will be no more free Wacos and no more free Katrinas.
For we are the Three Percent.
We will not disarm.
You cannot convince us.
You cannot intimidate us.
You can try to kill us, if you think you can.
But remember, we’ll shoot back .
We are not going away.
We are not backing up another inch.
And there are THREE MILLION OF US.
Your move, Mr. Wannabe Tyrant.
Your move.
January 2nd, 2013
Of course they are terrified of us. They KNOW that most of what they are doing is unConstitutional, and Un American at the very least. Their 24/7 survellance of us lets them know that the general population is becoming ..uh.. restive to say the least. Yet they are soooo sure of themselves that their only thought is to try to achieve the Democrat Party wet dream of dis arming us…. so they can continue to follow the course that they have set… Makes you wonder dosen’t it?
January 2nd, 2013
“Makes you wonder dosen’t it?”
Nope… makes me mad, and more determined than ever. Molon Labe!
January 2nd, 2013
Very well written. I can only say I am right there.
January 2nd, 2013
“…people who live in such terror of We the People that they surround themselves with armed bodyguards — then spew laws guaranteed to create chaos and provoke our hatred.”
Don’t forget the irony of all those people so afraid of plebes with arms–both public and private alike–who demand that men with guns impose forcible prior restraint on others who have harmed no one. These folks have an almost Pavlovian tendency to call people who simply want to be left alone to live in peace…paranoid.
In a sane society, that would be rip-snortin’ funny, wouldn’t it?
January 2nd, 2013
I wandered into a couple of LGS’s and one big box store over the last two days. There’s no .22 ammo to be had except Thunderbolt at one LGS. I picked up a couple of boxes on general principle plus 25 rounds of 00 buck. The only military pattern rifle I saw in my travels was $3700.00 albeit with accessories (ammo, mags, optics, etc.) I think I’m gonna go pistol caliber lever action and wheel gun for the present.
January 2nd, 2013
Claire: awhile back you asked if we would read the Hunger Games series… and if we noticed a hair-raising similarity with certain “current events”. That has stuck in my head… and keeps coming up, over & over & over again… as things I once would’ve said: “They can’t do that, can they?” proves, that YES, they THINK they can. Things I would’ve laughed at – thinking them impossible – in the 60s, 70s, 80, 90s – are HAPPENING.
And it’s made me reconsider rushing my paperwork for CCW licensing in… I’m not sure I want my name listed, you know? But the reason I wanted it, still exists… so I’m still considering it.
January 2nd, 2013
“Someone seriously needs to examine the brains of people who live in such terror of We the People that they surround themselves with armed bodyguards — then spew laws guaranteed to create chaos and provoke our hatred.”
May I paraphrase that and reuse it, please?
“I’m forced to question the sanity of those who live in such fear of We The People that they must constantly surround themselves with armed guards, while at the same time they spew laws guaranteed to create chaos and provoke hatred.”
January 2nd, 2013
“people who live in such terror of We the People that they surround themselves with armed bodyguards”
You mean like these folks?
http://www.rocklandtimes.com/2013/01/01/the-journal-news-is-armed-and-dangerous/
January 2nd, 2013
Lots of writing along these lines lately. John Venlet points to more.
In the way of brain defects, do the PTB just actively choose not to see the writing on the wall? Even if someone actively subscribes to the methodology described by Rand (There’s no way to rule innocent men. …), there is no rational basis for thinking it possible in the U.S., in terms of further draconian gun laws. Therefore, the goal must be to just have a whole ‘nother pile of laws on the books to use against citizens, on those occassions when it becomes convenient or desireable to do so. Or they really do want it to come to armed encounters, in order to justify even more cracking down — except I think they’re deluded in the extent to which the military and police would go along with it. Yes, I have my doubts about agents of the state (and we have the evidence of Waco and Ruby Ridge), but if it comes to mass arrests against armed citizens? I’m thinking Oath Keepers.
January 2nd, 2013
Ellendra — by all means. Your phrasing is definitely more graceful, anyhow.
January 2nd, 2013
LarryA — Yeah, exactly like those people. Hypocrites & cowards. But then, no big surprise.
January 2nd, 2013
If you think that the Rockland Journal – News expose was bad; well, all NY residents with a Part 400 license (only way to legally own a handgun in NYS) have had their names, and in some cases, addresses posted on a website. It was hacked from the NY State Police database and posted on the Internet for one and all to view.
But the interactive map has some interesting information; namley, now did people from CT and MA obtain Part 400 licenses? One clear rule in all of this state, is CURRENT RESIDENCY. So, exactly how did the Superior Court Judge issue this document? The only legal explanation I can think of is that the license was issued when the person was a NY resident, then they moved. Rockland Co. licenses are “good until revoked” whereas Westchester Co. are 5 year renewable.
All NYS residents who are licensees; be advised, Keep Part 400 licenses “good untli revoked” and not renewable. Better yet, support VT. style licensing. It does not require the expenditure of government resources to maintain.
January 2nd, 2013
Well, in part answer to my own question, here’s Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), as quoted by Bob Owens.
Yeah, well, that’s the simplest definition of gov’t, isn’t it, that it is the agent having a monopoly on the use of force within a geographic region?
Bob Owens is going to become a daily read. BTW, read that whole post.
January 2nd, 2013
This isn’t a simple matter of making a person a criminal with minor felony or misdemeanor. The sentences for NFA violations are 10 years minimum at club FED. This is in line with Les Miserables in that the punishment doesn’t fit the crime (non crime really). Some may consider before being arrested that 10-20 years is the same as a murderers life sentence. If this proposed bill passes I can guarantee it wont end well.
January 2nd, 2013
classic “good citizens.”
No more freedom gets surrendered.
Yup.
- IndividualAudienceMember
Also,
C.W.: “I’m not implying I think a shooting war will start over this.”
That’s not what I’ve been hearing.
Ever been dragged into a fight by a friend?
January 2nd, 2013
Choose your own path wisely.
But choose freedom.
By any means necessary.
Claire — Thanks for “Rats”.
BW
January 3rd, 2013
Their laws. NOT mine!
January 4th, 2013
“… said only the federal government should have “high-capacity” gun magazines and that the “state ought to have a monopoly on legitimate violence.””
I wish all the government used was “legitimate” violence.
January 5th, 2013
I’m afraid that we’ve witnessed the failure of the constitutional experiment. It’s been a downhill slide since Woodrow Wilson, then FDR gave things a nice push, and now we have an electorate that is actually willing to vote against its best interest and future well being. New gun laws are coming, along with punitive taxes on ammo and components. The populace wrings their little hands and says: “Do something” and the pols are only too willing… I’m afraid that we are headed for Pol Pot territory. (I just hope the food in the re-education camp isn’t too terrible…) Things are going to get a lot worse, the dems are pushing for a sweep in the 2014 elections, and just might get it. I wouldn’t be surprised if a, shudder, 3rd term isn’t in the offing. I am soooo depressed, concerned, worried, and yes, frightened, that I could just scream! I don’t give Obama much credit, but his puppet-masters are more than capable of a complete transformation of American culture and society. Gun bans will be small potatoes compared to the economic problems, and further limitations of liberty (in the name of fairness) that are about to get shoveled onto us.
January 5th, 2013
The agenda is nearly complete. From the the 3 R’s to the 3 D’s – Dumb, Dependent, and Defenseless. Two down, one to go.
January 7th, 2013
> puptent Says:
> I’m afraid that we are headed for Pol Pot territory.
Bill Whittle has proposed marching people to the countryside at gunpoint in order to instill the correct attitudes in the population.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAOrT0OcHh0
It’s bad enough that the political Left has romanticized Communism for nearly a century. But now the Right thinks that the cure for our societal ills is to emulate the Khmer Rouge because they have been blinded by their own hate.