Journalism is about covering important stories. With a pillow, until they stop moving.
David Burge
Month: August 2018
Strangling the Gun Culture
Shopify suddenly decided it doesn’t like gun sales anymore and stopping all sales through their platform. Which has left a bunch of gun manufacturers and retailers up a creek. Including some big names like Spikes and Franklin Armory. These companies invested tens of thousands of dollars with Shopify. Now those dollars and all of their work have been flushed down the toilet.
I’m wondering if the biggest threats to our gun culture is coming from the private sector instead of the government. Deplatforming from social media and strangling the business by restricting access to banking services and internet sales. I would not be surprised if the gun industry was having to act like the legal marijuana shops are today with heavy cash transactions. Or the gun companies decide to form their own financial institutions to handle those kinds of transactions.
Parking Lot Shooter Going to Trial
State Attorney filed charges of manslaughter.
I’m sure the firestorm created by the chattering classes and professional victims were a large part of the decision. I’m sure the news will continue their long record of “accurate” reporting on self-defense laws. I’m sure the politicians will yammer about how this proves all of the stereotypes of gun owners, and particularly concealed carriers.
Should this case been brought forward? I’ve heard good arguments for both, particularly around the issue of whether the victim was continuing or stopping the assault once the gun came out. Unfortunately, those arguments aren’t what’s going to be in the media.
Metal Tuesday- Civil War – Say It Right
You’d think a band made up of former Sabaton members would be in my top ten. Although the lyrics are generally good, I’m not fond of the singer. Still, this is a decent song.
Parker Space Probe Launches
The Parker Solar Probe was launched at oh-dark-early Sunday. From the article:
If all goes according to plan, the Parker Solar Probe will end up traveling faster than any craft ever has, and getting unprecedentedly close to the sun; indeed, it will fly through our star’s outer atmosphere, known as the corona. And the measurements the probe makes there will reveal key insights about our star’s inner workings that have eluded scientists for decades.
In addition to just being a cool bit of scientific and engineering awesomeness, this may provide some understanding of how the sun works. I’m also hoping it can help with models that can predict coronal mass ejections. Because although I do have preps, they’re mostly geared to “hurricane” not “years-long disruption of modern technology.”
Friday Quote – Cody Wilson
What’s going to make me comfortable is when people stop coming into this office and acting like there’s a debate about it. The debate is over. The guns are downloadable. The files are in the public domain. You cannot take them back. You can adjust your politics to this reality. You will not ask me to adjust mine.
Conversations in Weight Loss
Since Publix was running a BOGO on my breakfast sandwiches, I decided to get a box of their lower calorie ones to try. Had the first one this morning.
Me: Okay, these sandwiches aren’t too bad. I guess I’ll switch over to these.
Fiancee: Not too bad? Aren’t the other ones better?
Me: Not 60 calories better. That’s almost two Oreo thins. I’ll take less breakfast to be able to eat two Oreos. I gotz muh priorities!
Tech Giants and Public Accomodations
So, I have a question. In light of Apple, Facebook, and just about all the other tech giants scourging InfoWars from their sites, I’m seeing two things: shameless celebrating by the left who are triumphing in private businesses choosing who they should deal with and the right pointing out that businesses should be allowed to do business with whomever they want whether in cyberspace or meatspace (e.g., businesses who don’t want to serve “teh gayz”.) To which, the left responds with “public accommodations.”
There’s strong arguments for public accommodations, particularly when the supply of services is limited. It’s easy to claim that businesses should have the right to choose what customers they’ll serve when there are twelve other bakers in the city. It’s a bit harder when there’s only one baker in town.
So, considering that currently the tech giants are acting more like, say the only baker in a town, should they be forced to provide platforms under public accommodations laws?
Personally, considering how each side has been flip-flopping on their normal core issues with each new twist of the culture/chattering war, I’d kind of like to see the debate.
Metal Tuesday- Firewind – The Silent Code
Another in the long list of Metal Tuesdays chosen because it’s currently burning around my head. Still, a very good song.
Florida Gun News
The “parking lot shooting” is still dredging up the politicians hoping to use this to win elections or notoriety.
One of the Democratic candidates is demanding that the governor call a state of emergency
Al Sharpton tries to remain relevant by saying he’s coming to protest.
Hell, one of the local news stations now has an entire web page dedicated to bullshit about SYG
With this hitting at the five-year mark of Treyvon (and the new “documentary” airing), we are definitely getting the full-court press.
In other news, I got an email from Sen. Bill Nelson telling me that now anyone can make an undetectable 3D printed gun. The senator is apparently unaware that:
- I can make my own gun now.
- Printing guns isn’t as easy, and you really shouldn’t use a desktop printer for that.
- Even though the gun is plastic, not all of the parts would be. Especially this important part generally called bullets.
Over 450 people have had their guns seized thanks to the “Red Flag” bullshit passed by the legislation. Of no surprise to anyone, places not friendly to RKBA are issuing more RPOs than the rest of the state, and the system is being used against people on the flimsiest of pretenses.
At the big Rally in Tally, Erin Palette spoke. In addition to being one of my favorite podcast hosts, Erin’s the organizer of Operation Blazing Sword, which works to pair interested LGBTQ people to instructors for an introduction to firearms.