Month: May 2013

Friday Quote – 5/31/13

This week’s quote is actually a pic:

20130530-165018.jpg

This is new to me, but many of you have probably seen it.

I still believe in the ideal of America. Where this nation stands as the shining beacon of liberty – all liberty. Restraining some liberty will ultimately spread as the populace becomes acclimated to the new worldview.

Skeptic Magazine Takes on Gun Control

Skeptic Magazine has a long article by Michael Shermer on gun control and mental health. Shermer does a good job explaining that 1) mass shootings are rare (essentially “black swan” level events) and unpredictable, and 2) we’re becoming a less violent society.

His analysis of the mental health issues is typical of Shermer’s normal excellent scholarship.

Shermer discusses the “Run, Hide, Fight” video put out by the city of Houston as well as a mental health hotline as possible solutions. Then he gets to gun control.

Shermer makes three major mistakes in his gun control analysis. First, his scholarship relies on the infamous Kellermann study on the dangers of keeping guns in the home. A study that had sloppy data collection and treated all deaths by firearm the same, regardless whether it was accident, suicide, or defensive gun use.

Second, Shermer accepts the arguments that banning standard capacity magazines because the shooter can be attacked as he changes magazines. Unfortunately, that doesn’t happen in reality. The Arizona shooter wasn’t changing magazines when the crowd subdued him – his pistol jammed. Further, the Virginia Tech shooter was using 10-round magazines during his spree. With a little practice, magazine changes can be accomplished in less than a second. So, if banning standard capacity magazines is not going to provide the openings that its supporters claim, then why ban them?

Thirdly, Shermer attacks “assault weapons.”

Even though it is not clear that the two suggested laws banning assault rifles and large capacity magazines over 10 bullets would have a significant effect on mass murders, there could be a net gain, and it seems to me to be no great threat to liberty if we lump them with the already-existing bans on private citizens owning and operating bazookas, tanks, drone aircraft, fighter jets, and nuclear weapons. Bans on semi-automatic assault rifles and high-volume ammo clips will not stop Sandy Hook Events, but there is some evidence that they could curtail the level of carnage, and that strikes me as a rational response that even freedom-loving libertarians can live with.

Emphasis mine.

I’m tired of our opponents trying to lump our black rifles with non-small arms types of military equipment. That is a strawman argument. The issue are firearms in common use. According to the FBI, the last time we banned “assault weapons” and standard capacity magazines, there was a negligible effect on crime. If anything, the rifles being discussed are probably the best home defense weapons. The use a low-powered, but effective round that has less chance of going through a home’s walls than most standard pistol or shotgun cartridges. A single rifle with a collapsible stock can be adjusted to work for any member of the family that might need to use it.

I carry a pistol because I am not a Highlander with the ability to conceal a three-foot blade without printing. If I had that capability, an AR with a couple of spare PMAGs would be better for defense than my M&P. Ask a police officer why they have patrol rifles. Remember, they face the same threats you do.

PETA is Asking For The Internet To Bitchslap It

So, PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, was the subject of a HuffPo article about their Virginia shelter. You’d think the same group who applauds when fur-wearing celebs are splashed with red paint would run a “no-kill” type shelter. Nope, PETA manages to kill about 90% of the animals its shelter takes in.

Here’s where the fun begins. PETA has decided that some of the comments really hurt its feelings and is demanding the names of anonymous commenters so PETA can sue them for libel. Really? That’s the road they want to travel down? Do they want something like Anonymous noticing them and deciding to play their style of hacktivist games?

More importantly, does PETA understand that they aren’t in Britain?

Although, to be honest, if Anonymous does go after PETA, it might be fun to watch. In that whole dingo versus Rottweiler way. (How many times can I offend PETA in one post?)

For the record, I think PETA is a bunch of elitist hypocrites who does splashy things in order to get attention for its elitist ideology. Maybe that’s why they kill so many pets – they don’t want to compete for your attention. (Was that enough times?)

Friday Quote – Christopher Hitchens

Terrorism is demanding the impossible, and demanding it at gunpoint.

Christopher Hitchens

Exactly when has terrorism accomplished its stated goal? Has Israel been destroyed? Has world communism been accomplished? Has the world converted to Islam? Have we stopped using animals for medical testing? Has world anarchy been achieved?

Terrorism allows the evil to wrap themselves in righteousness. It allows for the evil to be held as holy.

I Read Way Too Much SF

The Daily Telegraph is reporting that military commanders in Britain are recommending soldiers not wear their uniforms off-post, in light of the recent attack.

Where was I reading that soldiers would never wear their uniforms off-base because it invited attack? Oh yeah, here.

I’m not claiming that our world is going to become the UN that Williamson describes. It’s too complex, with too many different forces vying for social control.

Still, I am a pattern-seeking monkey, which makes jumping to those analogies very easy. Kind of like the Christians who see Armageddon around the corner because something may, kinda, sorta, look like it came out of Revelations.

I need to go back to straight fantasy for a bit.

H/t Sebastian

Florida Carry Sues the City of Daytona Beach and Officials

Florida Carry has filed suit against the City of Daytona Beach, as well as its mayor and police chief over the city’s refusal to return a veteran’s firearms after the veteran was found not to be a danger to himself or others.

Robb has all the details.

This is one of the reasons that I’ve grown wary of dealing with the police. Not that I’ve committed a crime, but because their idiotic policies are going to deprive me of my property – possibly indefinitely.

It would be amusing to me if the Attorney General sent FDLE down and arrested the police chief for grand theft.

London Beheading Initial Thoughts

Two thugs attack a British soldier with knives and then behead him. In broad daylight. In London. Then demand to be recorded with the body.
Some thoughts:

1. Young men following the dictates of a fantasy by an illiterate sixth-century desert madman have again committed an atrocity. Please tell me again how believing on a magical sky-daddy has helped.

2. This is not a murder, according to Home Office Guidelines. At least not until the two have been convicted and exhausted all appeals. After all, we wouldn’t want to slander them with the title “murderers” until we’re absolutely sure.

3. The police didn’t arrive for twenty minutes. The bystanders were unable to do little more than talk, which one did. Not only are British subjects disarmed, but they have been conditioned not to get involved or they might be subject to criminal charges. “Not only do I not have a weapon, but I could be locked up for a couple years for putting myself in harm’s way. Nope. Best wait for the bobbies.”

4. No guns involved. Please tell me again how not having a gun would make me safer.

I’m sure I’ll have more thoughts as this story unfolds.