No.

So why should self defense against violent attackers be any different?

Just because he hasn't yet doesn't mean he won't. It just means he's too busy with the health care debate and 10 percent unemployment.

Anyone still think that this is not important?

A guy selling a car on Craigslist was lured onto a dead end street by thugs who tried to kill him and steal the car.

Luckily both him and his girfriend carried firearms.

Law abiding citizen 1 thug 0.

Did you know that if people are "allowed" their constitutional right to bears arms that you would see people packing guns with, " a smoking barrel at their belt?"

No really.

Just people who have "no business having guns."

So I took the opportunity to ask him why he worked to force a compromise on a bill that untill Governor Beebe came out against it, needed no compromise.

What we got was an answer that was honest and at the same time laughable.

He basically said (I'm paraphrasing because I don't have an audio recording yet) that he was trying to remember what happened during that committee meeting because he didn't remember. And that he was talking to State Senator Ed Wilkinson (the other Senator that was part of the problem) to try and reconstruct the debate that happened on the committee.

This sounded suspiciously to me like they were trying to get their story straight.

He also remarked somewhat sarcastically that maybe, I wasn't in the room that day and perhaps I remembered the events better than the people who were there.

Well I was there and I take good notes.

Then he said that the events didn't take place as I have recalled and that, that was, "unfortunate."

Well don't take my word for it Kim, even the Arkansas Times bragged that, "he resisted the bill to close the record of concealed weapon permit holders."

Kim Hendren who proclaims that he has, "a proven track record of strong conservative leadership" for the people of Arkansas, "compromised" because he said thats how you have to do it to get things done. In reality this bill didn't need a, "compromise" but one was forced on it anyway.

Wow, what leadership.

Wonder what else he will "compromise" on if he gets the chance to go to Washington.

The plain fact is that he is entirely to chummy with the people who wanted this bill to be watered down and when push came to shove we couldn't rely on Kim Hendren to do what an overwhelming majority of Arkansans' wanted. Thats not leadership.

And what they wanted was to protect law abiding people who take personal responsiblity for their family's own safety. But the press, the liberals in the Senate and Governor Beebe didn't want that. Probably because they covet favorable news coverage more than they care about your privacy.

Punishment should always be restricted to the abuser, not the majority of individuals who exercise rights responsibly. What has happened here regarding "the list" is, the abuser (the Arkansas Times) was rewarded with the ability to continue to do what they were doing, and the innocent (the arkansas concealed carry permit holder) was deemed not deserving of a basic right to privacy. And State Senator Kim Hendren was party to this travesty.

At least he answered the question, which is more than I can say for Gilbert Baker.

Probably one of the best written expressions about the meaning of the 2nd Amendment I've ever read.

"The Western nations which have abandoned this essential understanding of an individual’s right to self-defense have become rotting orphanages filled with dependent children. They’re not dealing very well with the invasion of a determined ideology that has complete confidence in its own righteousness, and few reservations about using violence to assert itself. Losing the dignity of self-defense is part of the degeneration from master of the State to its client. As this dignity fades, the people and their government speak less of responsibilities, and more of entitlements."

Supreme Court Debates Whether States Can Ban Guns

“Reasonable regulation” and McDonald (You will hear a lot about this from anti-gunners)

The Man Behind The Gun Suit (Doesn't exactly fit the narrative of a right wing 'gun nut')

Supreme Court Misfires on McDonald Argument   

Justices debate Chicago handgun ban (Media bias much?)

Civil Liberties Advocates not "Gun Advocates"

New Ammunition for Gun Rights

McDonald v. Chicago (From David Hardy)

Tons more from NRA ILA.

And Gilbert Baker's story is told on a national level.

You're welcome.

Scott asked him, "Some viewer questions, now. One about guns. want to know why you didn't vote to pass conceal carry privacy bill?"

And Gilbert Baker replied, "100% NRA voting record. We did pass CC privacy law last session. Rep. Stewart sponsored, I voted for it."

In all fairness Gilbert, you knew what he was asking, he was asking why you didn't vote for it in committee.

I've already said that you voted for it on the floor, but that was the watered down bill, the one we wouldn't have had to swallow if it wasn't for you siding with Beebe.

People who are running for office shouldn't have to hide from their record.

Primary voters deserve to know why you did what you did.

Complete bans look unlikely to meet the "reasonable restriction" test. I'm guessing that when the opinion comes out in June or so, that Chicago will have to give up it's gun ban.

Analysis: 2nd Amendment Extension Likely (must read in its entirety)

In Chicago Gun Case, Supreme Court Sounds Note of Caution

Brady Campaign Statement

NRA Statement

Should be a transcript of the oral arguments released later. I'll link it here as an update when it comes out.

UPDATE - Oral Argument Transcript

Bonus reading

Using Guns to Protect Liberty

Chicagoans hope stories will help overturn gun ban

McDonald v. City of Chicago: Reading the Tea Leaves

Visual History of the SCOTUS.

Don't they?

Heh, "Here’s a thought experiment: How would the esteemed editors of the once-influential Washington Post react to a law only allowing them to publish one editorial per month? After all, the pen is mightier than the sword, which makes it more dangerous, right?"

H/T Say Uncle.

When us lowly civilians want them their demonized as, "assault weapons."

Yeah, we're winning.

This case, McDonald v Chicago was filed by the Illinois State Rifle Association immediately following the landmark 2008 case Heller v DC. Currently 38 states, 305 US Senator and Representatives and over 700 state legislators, to name just a few, have filed briefs in support of the defendants.

View all the available filings and briefs at ChicagoGunCase.com.

This case is expected to not only overturn the ban in Chicago but to finally provide incorporation of the Second Amendment to the states."

The Second Amendment's Reach

McDonald v. Chicago Gun Case Goes to Supreme Court Tuesday

Justices Refused To Release Audio

Illinois State Rifle Association

Chicago Gun Case (Alan Gura's website)

Cato Institute Discussion on States and the Right to Bear Arms (must see)

C-Span Supreme Court page

The hilarity here is that the ATF claims, probably in its embarrassment, that the guns could be easily converted to machine guns which is total bullshit.

H/T to Say Uncle

UPDATE - Airsoft: An Industry Without Standard

Boy they sure do hate/fear gun owners over at the Arkansas Times.

You're all racist, dumb, ignorant, red neck, tea bagging Palin voters,"We're fearful that the new Hot Springs carriers will not be so amenable as the old. Bands of Tea Baggers and Palinistas have been spotted, and there's a native neo-Confederate movement in the area. These are headstrong people, ideologically fixated, and unlikely to be swayed by reasoned debate or even threat of retribution. The rest of us may long for the days when we had only Machine Gun Jack McGurns and Pretty Boy Floyds to deal with."

I think this kind of unwarranted fear actually has a clinical definition - Hoplophobia

And it seems that the whole publication is suffering from it.

Money quote, "There simply is no justification for blaming contemporary American violence and lawlessness on a frontier heritage. The time is long past for Americans to stop excusing the violence in society by trotting out that old whipping boy, the frontier. On the contrary, it would seem that the frontier, instead of representing America at its worst may have, in many respects, represented the nation at its best."

Also - Chicago versus the Second Amendment

I had a nice time meeting some of the other pro-gun groups in the sate as well as some of the candidates and just everyday people as well.

Special Thanks goes out to Steve Skillern the organizer of the event , he invested a lot of time and money to make this thing happen and the national 2nd Amendment march folks the ones behind the rally.

But I was extremely excited to meet with Nikki Goeser.

Nikki Goeser's husband was shot and killed in a bar in Tennessee, where concealed weapons are banned(just like in Arkansas). Ever since then she has criss crossed the U.S. in support of various Second Amendment laws.

Her testimony, which you can listen to here (given before the Ohio legislature) is even more heartbreaking and enraging, in person.

There is a fund set up in her husband's name here.

We're gratefull that you came and shared your story Nikki.

You can listen to Nikki's interview on Armed American Radio here.

Suspect killed in home invasion gunbattle (TX)--"A north Harris County man shot a pair of suspected home invaders on Friday, killing one and wounding the other, during a gunbattle outside his house ..."

St. Petersburg, FL homeowner shoots home invader in self defense (FL)--"Police say that a burglar tried to break in through the rear window of a home on the 1900 block of Seminole Blvd at about 9:40 AM. The homeowner is said to have noticed the home invasion attempt and fired several shots from his 9mm pistol, which sent the criminal fleeing. ..."

Police: neighbor shot intruder during home invasion (IN)--"Sgt. William Snead says the older woman was able to send a text message to a neighbor asking for help. The neighbor's boyfriend, Sonny Osborn, heard the confrontation and went inside with a gun."

H/T to the Keep and Bear Arms folks for the links.

I really don't understand this irrational fear of inanimate objects.

Senators Ed Wilkinson and Senator Kim Hendren had a lot to do with the bill getting watered down and forced on us.

One thing that was never pointed out however was the fact that Senator Gilbert Baker could have stopped the whole hijacking had he just voted for the bill when it first came up before the committe. He was the swing vote that could have passed the bill through committee, "as is."

The bills sponsor Randy Stewart told us that Baker had told him that he had a talk with Beebe and could not support the bill as written. That day I watched from the sidelines as Baker refused to answer a "yes" or "no" vote when his name was called.

Basically he refused to vote, or voted "present."

He did in fact vote for the watered down, "compromise" bill that went through the whole Senate later.

In the end, because of Baker and some others to be sure, what we got was a watered down, less protective bill. And primary voters deserve to know the truth of this. The fact is, Baker sided with Beebe in railroading concealed carry holders.

Punishment should always be restricted to the abuser, not the majority of individuals who exercise rights responsibly. What happened here regarding "the list" is, the abuser (the Arkansas Times) was rewarded with the ability to continue to do what they were doing, and the innocent (the arkansas concealed carry permit holder) was deemed not deserving of a basic right to privacy and Senator Gilbert Baker who is now running for U.S. Senate was part of this travesty.

I called his office to get his take on the matter and my call was never returned.

Do with this information what you will.

Background

Arkansas Times Publishes List of Arkansas State Concealed Carry Holders

Bill to be Filed to Protect Arkansas Concealed Carry Permit Holders Privacy Rights

Max Brantley - It's My Fault

Concealed Carry Privacy Bill passes House 98-1

Would he object to denying his right to free speech, you know, only in emergencies?

H/T to Days of our Trailers.

Flashback - Hurricane Katrina door to door gun confiscations:

This lady obviously needed disarming because she was a serious threat to the police officers.

Does that look ok to you?

UPDATE - Even Barack Obama voted to keep such gun confiscations illegal under federal statute,

I wonder how this will affect McDonald?

More from, Cleveland Gun Rights Examiner

Northport home invasion victim shoots suspect (AL)--"A victim of a home invasion early Sunday morning was able to shoot one of the suspects, who was being treated at DCH Regional Medical Center."

	Lancaster Store Clerk Fires Gun At Armed Robber (PA)--"One of the clerks also had gun and fired shots at the robber, who then ran from the store."
	Open carry deters armed robbery in Kennesaw (GA)--"... Cobb County Police Officer D. Lowe had noticed suspicious cars sitting behind the restaurant in the dark and decided to investigate. He caught men with masks and rifles who had been preparing to rob the Wafflehouse. The criminals informed the police that they had changed their mind upon discovering armed customers and were waiting for Matt and J.P. to leave ..."
	Robbery Suspect Fatally Shot in Game Room (TX) --"Homicide investigators say that the suspect entered the game room holding a gun and demanding money while a partner waited outside ... The security guard, who was not an off-duty law enforcement officer, used a weapon to shoot the suspect an undetermined amount of times."

 

I didn't get to go but heard it was a great time!

Thought this was curious though, "Reports indicate that National Park Service officials are debating issues such as the definition of "federal facilities," where firearms will remain prohibited under a different federal law."

Anything can be interpreted to be a, "federal facility" on a national park.

UPDATE - If you are a gun owner, apparently you are a trigger happy poacher who just can't help yourself. By yourself you are fine but once that evil gun gets in your hands.....look out! 

Id expect some sort of law change over this soon.

And yes Arkansas is one of the states.

Update - More fun with the ATF.

Really this couldn't get any worse for this poor bastard.

Here you have a completely law abiding individual who was robbed at 3 in the morning by a career criminal and now he will be the one standing in front of a jury.

I want to make it clear that deadly force should only be used in last resort, and I'm not condoning shooting someone over an ATV but the prosecutor is spouting off false information here.

Arkansas Code 5-2-608 "Use of physical force in defense of premises," clearly states that A person may use, "deadly physical force" to stop arson or burglary by a trespasser.

What am I missing here?!

Anyone?!

UPDATE - Interesting questions being raised regarding the term, "burglary" in this section of law on Twitter. Does stealing an ATV in this case meet the definition of Burglary?

UPDATE - Barring any other relevant information that might come out, this might all come down to whether his ATV was stolen from a shed/garage or his driveway.

UPDATE - Garland County shooting raises legal questions

Maybe classifyng more guns as “not suitable” under the "sporting purposes" clause of the Gun Control Act of 1968?

No doubt this is about this news story. I wonder if this is an indicator that they are going to charge the home owner?

Someone should point Garland County Prosecutors to:

Arkansas Code 5-2-608. Use of physical force in defense of premises.
(a) A person in lawful possession or control of premises or a vehicle is justified in using nondeadly physical force upon another person when and to the extent that he reasonably believes it necessary to prevent or terminate the commission or attempted commission of a criminal trespass by the other person in or upon the premises or vehicle.
(b) A person may use deadly physical force under the circumstances set forth in subsection (a) of this section when:
(1) Use of such force is authorized by § 5-2-607; or
(2) He reasonably believes the use of such force is necessary to prevent the commission of arson or burglary by a trespasser.

I want to stress that I would never recomend using deadly force unless you had no alternative.

It is there as a last resort only.

Given that, its hard to understand what might be going through the mind of a home owner under duress and that's why the burden of proof to prosecutors is so heavy. They would have to prove beyond a resonble doubt that he did not "feel" he was in danger. And since this happened on his property he has no, "duty to retreat."

Keep in mind that it is possible to feel that your life might be in danger even if the suspect appears to be fleeing.

But aside from all that, this statute appears to apply.

Pearcy homeowner shoots, kills robber(AR) -- "For the second time in two days a homeowner has shot and killed an intruder on their property."

Homeowner shoots intruder(AR) -- "Police say the suspect went into a home on South Martin Street but the homeowner was able to get a gun and shoot him." More on this here.

Lots of discussion on what constitutes a, "legal shoot" on the AT blog about the first story. Let me say that firearms should only be used as a last resort. Period. But it's clear that we don't really have enough information at this point about the incident.

Armed woman fends off burglar (CA) --"Police say the woman walked into her home, and found a burglar. She reportedly feared for her safety, grabbed her gun, and fired a shot at the burglar, causing him to flee. The burglar, who was apparently not hit, fled the scene, leaving the woman unharmed, police say."

Suspected Burglar Shot To Death At New Orleans Residence (LA)--"Police say a suspected burglar was shot to death around 12am Saturday in the garage of a residence in the 600 block of Independence Street in New Orleans."

Cleared: Father who chopped off intruder's ear with samurai sword after he threatened to rape and kill his family (UK)--"A father who defended his family from drug-crazed thugs by wounding one with a Samurai sword has been cleared by a jury."
 

So come out say hello and show your support for the 2nd Amendment.

NEWS RELEASE

Jonesboro, AR Arkansas Second Amendment Rally will be held At Barton Coliseum on February 27, 2010, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.  The rally will consist of live music, candidates seeking U.S. Senate and House seats, speakers in support of the Second Amendment, fantastic door prizes, booths of national and state organizations, and more.

Political speakers for the rally include Senate candidates Jim Holt (R), Curtis Coleman (R), Trevor Drown (I), Randy Alexander (R) Conrad Reynolds (R), and Tom Cox (R). Rick Crawford (R), seeking District 1 House Seat; Scott Wallace (R), seeking District 2 House Seat; and Bernard Skoch (R) seeking District 3 House Seat will also speak.  Attendees will have a chance to meet the candidates during the rally.  All candidates who announced for each of these seats were invited to speak, regardless of party affiliation, at the time of this release,

The following speakers, who are representatives of their respective organizations, have also agreed to speak.  Jeannie Burlsworth and Todd Sharp for Secure Arkansas, Steve Minner for Oath Keepers, Nancy Carlton for Second Amendment Sisters, and Grant Extom for Arkansas Right to Concealed Carry Assoc.

Pro-Second Amendment speakers will include Dave Elswick of KARN TalkRadio, Nichole Goesner, Skip Coryell, founder of Second Amendment March, and Lt. Col. Dave Grossman (Ret.), author and lecturer.

Booths for organizations and vendors are being registered. Go to www.secondamendmentmarch.com and click on states, then Arkansas, to register.  This event is hosted by the Northeast Arkansas Second Amendment March committee 870-897-3300 or sskill@suddenlink.net .

As they say, "check it out!"

Kenner Business Owner Shoots and Kills Robber (LA)--"One member of the trio produced a gun and struck the man in the head and then grabbed a backpack the victim had in his possession. The intended victim retrieved the backpack, pulled a gun from it and shot two of the suspects."

Police ID robbery suspect shot, killed by Phoenix homeowner (AZ)--"... the 59-year-old homeowner told police Gomes tried to rob him at gunpoint and at some point he was able to get a shotgun and shoot the intruder."

Shotgun handy for Yakima man with burglars (WA)--The homeowner armed himself with a shotgun as the would-be burglar entered the house. When he saw the gun, the intruder jumped into a getaway car. It sped off with the homeowner firing three shots at the car. The third suspect fled on foot.

Suspect shot during attempted robbery (KY) --"The delivery man then pulled out a handgun, shooting one of the kids in the abdomen."

Armed homeowner stops 2 violent home invaders (MS)--"A Forest, Mississippi man reportedly used his gun to stop a pair of armed home invaders."

Homeowner Shoots Intruder; OKC Police Arrest Suspects (OK)--"The intruders forced the residents into a back bedroom when the homeowner shot one of the intruders. The intruders fled in a dark-colored SUV, police said."

Thanks to Keep and Bear Arms for the links.

But I thought they weren't allowed to have guns on school property?!?!

We all know what happens after that.

That's usually when you see this kind of stuff.

My personal belief is, for personal defense firearms: keep it simple. The more stuff you have attached to a firearm the more stuff can go wrong.

Also, has it ever occured to anybody who would suggest technology like this that maybe it might be a good idea for more than just the guy wearing the watch to be able to shoot the firearm?

What if you are in a mass shooting situation and the guy wearing the watch and carrying the gun is shot? Then what? That perfectly good firearm is rendered useless unless someone has the time to take off his watch before grabbing the gun and confronting the gunman.

Just saying. No technology can make up for stupid.

Pretty funny stuff.

And I used to be such a fan of his too.

I knew he used to talk about spay and neutering your pets too much!

H/T to Say Uncle.

You can follow the case here.

H/T to Say Uncle.

To Judge Wright Jr.
From Abdul Hakim Muhammad

I'm writing this because I wish to plead guilty. To all charges I'm facing. Without deals without respite. I wrote the prosecutor and Federal Buerau of Investigations and TBI (Tenn. Buerau of Investigation. Informing them of all of the acts I was involved in around or about May 29 - June 1 2009. I do not wish to recieve funds for my defense. I don't wish to have a trial. I'm affiliated with Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. Member of the Abu Basir's Army. This was a Jihadi Attack on infidel forces. That didn't go as plan. Flat out Truth. I plead to capital Murder, Attempt capital Murder and The other 19 counts without compulsion without Deals. My lawyer and prosecutors have fail to comply. I wrote John Johnson informing him of this. He responded I couldn't plead guilty to capital Murder Case. Which I think is a lie. That's why I'm writing you my lawyer has no defense. I wasn't insane or post traumatic nor was I forced to do this Act. Which I believe and it is justified according to Islamic Laws and the Islamic Religious Jihad To fight Those who wage war on Islam and Muslims. At the next hearing I look forward to pleading guilty and Await sentencing.

Abdul Hakim Mujahid Muhammad
11 pm 1/12/2010

This from the N.Y. Times, "In a letter to the judge presiding over his case, the accused killer, Abdulhakim Muhammad, calls himself a soldier in Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and calls the shooting “a Jihadi Attack” in retribution for the killing of Muslims by American troops. ....

It remains unclear whether Mr. Muhammad really has ties to Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula .... But if evidence emerges that his claim is true, it will give the June 1, 2009, shooting in Little Rock new significance at a time when Yemen is being more closely scrutinized as a source of terrorist plots against the United States.

Mr. Muhammad, 24, a Muslim convert from Memphis, spent about 16 months in Yemen starting in the fall of 2007, ostensibly teaching English and learning Arabic. During that time, he married a woman from south Yemen. But he was also imprisoned for several months because he overstayed his visa and was holding a fraudulent Somali passport, the Yemen government said.

Under pressure from the United States government, Yemen deported Mr. Muhammad in late January 2009. But just four months after his return, Mr. Muhammad used a semiautomatic rifle to gun down two soldiers — Pvt. William A. Long and Pvt. Quinton Ezeagwula — while they were standing outside a military recruiting station in Little Rock, killing Private Long and wounding Private Ezeagwula. ..."

More from Politico, "In a report prepared by its investigative staff that was released this week, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said there's a growing trend of jailed American converts to Islam going to Yemen and becoming further radicalized:

Law enforcement and intelligence officials told the Committee staff in interviews in December in Yemen and other countries in the region that as many as 36 American ex-convicts arrived in Yemen in the past year, ostensibly to study Arabic. The officials said there are legitimate reasons for Americans and others to study and live in Yemen, but they said some of the Americans had disappeared and are suspected of having gone to Al Qaeda training camps in ungoverned portions of the impoverished country.

But lets not get ahead of ourselves here.

Right?

H/T Ace of Spades