Month: December 2015

Recognition from the Suffolk Times

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While putting together the previous post I came across this nugget from John Henry at the Suffolk Times:

“… Less than a month later, [Lee Zeldin] was listed as one of the speakers at a Gun Rights Lobby Day event planned to protest the SAFE Act outside the state Capitol. Sponsors included the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association, the state’s most powerful firearms advocacy group, which would go on to endorse Mr. Zeldin in his congressional campaign last year …”

Thanks for the shout-out John.

Zeldin shows how to deal with the antis

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RINO Congressman Peter King reintroduced legislation to prohibit gun purchases by those on the FBI watch list:

“… “It’s horrifying. It’s terrifying. This is a tragedy waiting to happen,” said Long Island U.S. Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) … The watch list is not used when gun store owners do background checks, and in light of the Paris terror attacks this past Friday, King wants the law changed as soon as possible. “This is an incredibly dangerous loophole,” King said. “We see all the potential threats and dangers that we have, and we’ve seen what’s happened in Paris. Don’t make it easier for them by allowing them to go into a gun shop and buy a gun.” …”

As usual, King’s biggest supporters are far left Democrats and antigunners who jumped on his next door neighbor Lee Zeldin to support the bill:

“Southampton Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst, who is looking to oppose Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin next November, dropped off petitions with 800 signatures at the congressman’s local district office Monday urging him to back fellow Republican Rep. Peter King’s proposal to bar those involved in terrorism from being able to get guns …”

Zeldin, however, was having none of it:

“Rep. Lee Zeldin filed a bill Friday to allow individuals on U.S. terrorist watch lists to buy guns unless the Justice Department stops them with a court order, countering legislation sponsored by Rep. Peter King that would automatically block those weapons sales … “My legislation would help prevent terrorists from purchasing firearms or explosives, while putting in place safeguards to ensure that the rights of law abiding Americans are protected,” Zeldin said in announcing his bill. “It is unfortunate that some in Congress are pushing hard for an alternative that makes Americans guilty until proven innocent, denies necessary due process protections, and improperly targets law abiding citizens,” Zeldin said …”

POW!

That’s exactly how pro-gun legislators should respond to the antis.  King especially deserves denunciation for helping the opposition attack a fellow Republican.

Another failing strategy

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NYC politicos call for divesting from gun companies:

“… Mayor Bill de Blasio and Public Advocate Letitia James have both called for further divestment of city pension funds from companies manufacturing assault weapons. “Today I call on all government pension funds in New York City and across the country to divest immediately from funds that include assault weapon manufacturers … Any private equity fund investing in these companies should stop immediately,” de Blasio said in a statement Friday …”

This strategy is going to fail for several reasons:

  1. Most company stock is held by institutional investors, not individuals.  Mutual fund companies, banks, trusts, etc. are not interested in social issues.  Their prime objective is to provide the highest rate of return for their investors.  They look at corporate balance sheets not press conferences held by loudmouths pushing a political agenda.
  2. Any divestiture by public pension funds will be picked up by private entities interested in their bottom line.
  3. Individuals who directly hold shares in mutual funds which do invest in gun companies do not own sufficient shares to influence fund management either through shareholder proposal or divestiture.
  4. While there are some “socially responsible” funds that openly pursue an agenda, there are also funds that invest in “sin.”  God bless capitalism.
  5. Gun stocks are going up because gun sales are going up. de Blasio and James are asking professional money managers to lose money on their investments.  That raises potential ethical and legal questions for fund managers.

What I said

On: By: admin

Kurt Schlichter’s latest opinion piece, “The Tide Is Turning Against Democrats in the Debate Over Gun Control“, reiterates what I wrote two days ago.

Some highlights:

“This is what it looks like when the tide is turning. You have the New York Times putting its foot down. They stuck an op-ed telling us (contrary to the hitherto party line) that they do, in fact, want to take our guns … Media stompy foot is not a sign of strength; it’s a pathetic confession of weakness …”

And their front page op-ed, the first since the 1920s, will forever be cited by gunnies as proof gun control is all about confiscation. The big lie has been exposed for all to see.

“… even Obama had to rouse himself from his listless stupor and go on TV and speak. You could see how much he hated having to take time away from his enfascistment program to talk to us yokels about defending our country. How bad do you think the Democrat agenda of cowering, cowardice, and confiscation has got to be polling to get him off the links and doing his job? …”

The President must always exude confidence and strength when speaking regardless of the subject matter. His performance not only hurt the gun control agenda (good), it empowers the enemies of freedom around the world who see him as weak and a fool (bad).

“… Obama’s lies didn’t help … Everyone saw that the fools masquerading as our leaders were twisting themselves into yogi-like contortions not to acknowledge what everyone knows – what even the murderers themselves were proud to admit … Everyone sees that Obama and his minions not only cannot protect us, but that they will actively seek to stop us from doing it ourselves. Everyone sees that Obama is simply trying to not let this crisis go to waste by stripping real Americans of their ability to protect themselves from Islamist murderers – and from his fascist dreams …”

Which comes back to my point. Even people who have no knowledge of guns or interest in gun control can only come to one conclusion:

These people are totally fucking nuts!

Historic moment for gun control

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The Heller and McDonald decisions were historic moments in the fight against gun control.  The San Bernardo terror attack is another.  Not for the event itself, but because of the reaction by gun control proponents.  Their behavior has been so bad that I believe people who have never before had an interest in the issue will look at supporters as the lunatic fringe much in the same way gun rights activists have been doing for years.

The damage to the antigun movement comes not from Congress rejecting their agenda.  It does not come from the surge in new gun sales either.  Not even the unprecedented support by local sheriffs for carrying guns for self defense.

No, the damage to the gun control movement come from their own supporters, elected officials and media mouthpieces, who have gone so far out of their way not to acknowledge a blindly obvious attack by radical Islamists and blaming everything from gun control to global warming to postpartum depression that even a disinterested public can only come to one conclusion:

These people are totally fucking nuts!
The political fallout from this will be felt for years to come.

Ulster Sheriff encourages citizens to carry

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In light of recent events, Ulster Co. Sheriff Paul Van Blarcum is encouraging citizens to carry for personal protection:

December 3, 2015

ATTENTION LICENSED HANDGUN OWNERS

In light of recent events that have occurred in the United States and around the world I want to encourage citizens of Ulster County who are licensed to carry a firearm to PLEASE DO SO.

I urge you to responsibly take advantage of your legal right to carry a firearm. To ensure the safety of yourself and others, make sure you are comfortable and proficient with your weapon, and knowledgeable of the laws in New York State with regards to carrying a weapon and when it is legal to use it.

I also want to remind all Police/Peace Officers both active duty and retired to please carry a weapon whenever you leave your house. We are the thin blue line that is entrusted in keeping this country safe, and we must be prepared to act at any given moment.

Thank you,
Paul J. Van Blarcum
Ulster County Sheriff

He’s a Democrat too.

Overstating Bloomberg wins

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Headline at the Post, “Mike Bloomberg has spent $72M on campaigns, won 67% of races“:

“… Ex-Mayor Michael Bloomberg has spent $72 million in the past four years to boost his chosen candidates and pet causes across the country, records reviewed by The Post show … He has spent $34.6 million on winning candidates and causes — and $21.4 million on losers. And he spent another $16 million on pet issues that were not linked to particular candidates, such as gun control and climate change. The Post tallied up Bloomberg’s individual contributions, his groups’ spending on candidates and his PAC’s television contracts since 2012. Bloomberg has won more battles than he’s lost — going 31 to 15 on races and ballot initiatives in which he spent more than $10,000 in PAC money, for an impressive .674 winning percentage …”

That does not tell the whole story.  A lot of the races Bloomberg put money into were not competitive.  Same with the NRA.  It is better to put $1 into a highly competitive race where the recipient will appreciate it than throw $1000 at an incumbent with cannon-fodder opposition.  Doing this requires more work to identify the best races and I have not seen anything to indicate Bloomberg’s people are putting in the extra effort.

Cuomo appoints DiFiore chief justice

On: By: admin

This isn’t a surprise:

DiFiore is hardcore antigun.