Taking the Wrong Lesson

I put up a meme from Pholosipher on the Book of Face using the recent Miramar shooting. The gist was that the when people say I should give up my guns because only the police should have guns, this was a prime example of how not only the police have no duty to protect, they will take actions that directly threaten your life. Such as shoot at a hostage or take cover behind occupied cars.

Two of my real life friends then jumped on saying that in this instance, would an armed citizen have made any impact or would they have just been shot? Considering Southeastern Florida police performance over some recent high profile incidents, I would concede that in this instance drawing a gun would have been a bad idea. I also would advise that being in a similar situation, the people in the cars do whatever they possibly can to GTFO, including leaving police without cover. After all, if they have no duty to protect you in that instance (and are in fact hazarding your life), you have no duty to offer them protection. Your mileage may vary depending on the particulars of the situation as well as your personal morals.

The main point of this post is the dangers of the non-sequitur. If you are attacking an argument, make sure you are attacking the actual argument, not some side issue that wasn’t brought up.

Zimmerman Sues

According to the article, George Zimmerman is suing the family of Trayvon Martin and Florida prosecutors for $100 million. Why?

  • The suit in Polk County Circuit Court cites information in a documentary about the case that accuses the Martin family of engineering false testimony, and the director has scheduled a press conference this week in Coral Gables to coincide with a film screening there. The suit seeks $100 million in civil damages, alleging defamation, abuse of civil process and conspiracy.*

The documentary alleges that the Martin family, their lawyer Crump, and the prosecution switched Trayvon’s real girlfriend for her half-sister, who then lied on the stand. If true, $100 million is the least I would ask for someone ruining my life. I wouldn’t be surprised if a good deal if it went back to the attorneys who defended him.

Modern Voting

I was listening to an interview with Stacy Abrams, and it’s interesting to hear the voter issues that progressive side are concerned about. Moreover, the ones the same issues that I agree with.

First and foremost are the voter roll purges. I’m still of the opinion that the only three reasons a person should come off of the voter rolls once they’ve registered is:

  1. The person is deceased.
  2. The person no longer resides in the state.
  3. The person is currently incarcerated.

That’s it. That’s the only reasons a registered voter should be removed.

I’ve also started thinking about what can alleviate the issues that both sides see to combat voter fraud and voter suppression. Part of that is looking at changing how we vote. First, I’m leaning to scrapping voting on a single day to voting for a week. I’m also partial to not being locked in to a specific precinct. However, for these to work, we also need strong voter ID laws. If you want to vote, you need an accepted ID. We have the databases that once the ID is scanned, the proper voter form is produced, and that ID is locked for the election cycle. For absentee, I’m thinking a pre-approval process for a secure website vote.

I know that there has been criticism on the other side for stationing police at voting sites. Honestly, unless we’re going to put citizens militias to guard the precincts, I don’t know how to make sure that voting laws are enforced, particularly those around voter intimidation and voter fraud. Perhaps the rule should be outside police forces are used. For example, Hillsborough County deputies monitor Pinellas county precincts.

Get Off My Side – New York Boogaloo Edition

So, we had an incident where an unstable man got on Instagram claiming the “redcoats are coming for me!”

Yeah, he was a drunk fuck-up with a domestic violence past. He’d not the one I’m bitching about.

It was the legion of keyboard commandos of the Threeper brigades screaming about the “Boogaloo kicking off!” Too many of whom acted as if it were almost desirable to kit up and have a shoot out with the local constabulary.

What the fuck is wrong with you people?

Exactly what are you hoping to achieve? Did you even fucking think about if this was the fucking hill to die on?

And where was all of this rhetoric and sudden need to participate during the legislative sessions? Or to sign the petitions to reform the NRA?

The best things I’ve heard in regards to this incident are 1) it’s probably not a good idea to trust a drunk person on Instagram, and 2) if you’re really worried about an abuse of power, then grab your camera and be a good witness.

Black Man With A Gun Retiring

Kenn Blanchard, long time 2A activist, is hanging up his spurs after almost three decades of fighting the good fight. I wish him well in whatever he pursues next.

Kenn was one of the first podcasts I listened to. Not one of the first gun podcasts, one of the first podcasts period. His was also the first where I wrote the host. Then came him talking about zombies invading his Labor Day barbecue. That began the ball rolling to Zombie Strike and almost a decade of collaboration. First zombies, and then werewolves.

Kenn was the first time I got to meet one of the podcasters. He met me for cigars and talking more than once, and those are some good memories.

We’ve drifted in the last few years. My fault – as my life has taken some dramatic turns.

Thank you Kenn. For all of your hard work. For encouraging a geek in Tampa to write for you. For being my friend.

Happy trails.