This is an example of a loophole. A law or instruction that has enough ambiguousness in its wording to allow an interpretation that conflicts with the spirit of the law or instruction.
A law you don’t like is not a loophole. Know the difference.
Author: Derek
Metal Tuesday – Dangerous Toys – Outlaw
This week’s Metal Tuesday is Dangerous Toys‘ “Outlaw.”
I was introduced to this band while in high school. Namely, one of my classmates handed me a cassette (yes, that long ago) and said, “You like metal, here.” It was definitely in the vein of late 80s/early 90s hair bands, but they seemed to have a slightly harder edge. “Outlaw” quickly became a favorite of mine because I’m a sucker for Westerns.
Lyrics:
I got a twenty man posse right on my ass
I’m ahead of ’em now but they’re comin’ fast
Busted out at dawn, it’s past midnight
Won’t get a stop to drink till the morning light
I got a fistful of lead buried in my back
Got a hundred thousand dollars right in this sack
I’m just beginnin’ my life, i’m ready for death
Been runnin’ for a while and they ain’t caught me yet
Lawman killer, I’m an outlaw
Livin’ testament that crime pays
no such thing as a good job these days
My daddy was a sailor, my mother a whore
Brought up by a gypsy, left at her door
Raised on the street, I’m dirty and mean
Blink your eyes, I’ll pick your pockets clean
Because I’m not afraid of death, looked him in the eye
Done unreal things you wouldn’t realize
Sleep with one eye open, real smart
Take an inch of your life in the beat of a heart
Lawman killer, I’m an outlaw
Livin’ testament that crime pays
No such thing as a good job these days
Go ahead punk, make my day
I’m an outlaw, yes i’m an outlaw
Good times, bad times, hard times the same
Live my life same as Jesse James
Wanted poster showin’ my name
I’m an outlaw, yes I’m an outlaw
I’m an outlaw
I’m an outlaw, yes I’m an outlaw
i’m an outlaw
Outlaw
You know it’s a good game session…
When one of the players is required to lick a 9 volt battery to get an idea of the “feel” of a magic item.
It’s even more fun when it’s your eight year old nephew.
And more fun ensues when his six year old sister demands to also lick the battery.
Friday Quote – Robert Heinlein
Throughout history, poverty is the normal condition of man. Advances which permit this norm to be exceeded — here and there, now and then — are the work of an extremely small minority, frequently despised, often condemned, and almost always opposed by all right-thinking people. Whenever this tiny minority is kept from creating, or (as sometimes happens) is driven out of a society, the people then slip back into abject poverty.
This is known as “bad luck.”
Robert Heinlein, science fiction author
Starbucks No Longer Neutral
Starbucks had been trying to play Switzerland in the gun debate by being aggressively neutral and serving everyone.
Now we have an open letter from their CEO asking for people not to bring guns into their stores.
Few topics in America generate a more polarized and emotional debate than guns. In recent months, Starbucks stores and our partners (employees) who work in our stores have been thrust unwillingly into the middle of this debate. That’s why I am writing today with a respectful request that customers no longer bring firearms into our stores or outdoor seating areas.
I can understand Starbucks wanting to get out of this debate, but caving in isn’t the answer. The gun rights faction is surprisingly fickle with their dollars and they have long memories. (Ask S&W and Ruger about overcoming the effects of their previous stances).
I Found A Faction To Support in Syria
I came across this post on The Firearms Blog.
Kurds? Hell yes. Let’s send them all sorts of stuff (up to and including Abrams and MLRS). Let them take over Syria and turn it into a Kurdish version of Israel. FSM knows they wouldn’t put up with the Palestinians causing problems.
Metal Tuesday – Tyr – By the Sword In My Hand
This week’s Metal Tuesday is Tyr’s “By the Sword In My Hand.” Mostly because it’s been stuck in my head for the past week. Still, it’s more in that strong Germanic/Nordic power metal.
Lyrics in the Youtube video.
Washington Navy Yard Shooting Mini Link Swarm
First and foremost, my condolences to the families of the slain and my best wishes to the injured and their families.
I have learned that unless an event is in close proximity to me, I’m not going to take any news reports as anything more than rumor for at least the first 24-48 hrs.
Sebastian demonstrates why I have taken this position.
Michael Z. Williamson has an excellent post on arming soldiers on base. After all, Freehold soldiers are required to carry their weapons on and off base.
Mad Mike then takes to task those already developing the conspiracy myths around the shooting.
Freedom of the Press Under Attack
Recent indictments of journalists for talking with whistleblowers (the charges are for stealing classified info, but really for talking with whistleblowers) have led to a demand by the press for a federal shield law. Since the Democrats in The Senate want to keep their public relations firms (ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN) happy, they have been debating a shield law in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The caveat is that the new law would define who is and who is not considered a “covered journalist.” Read: authorized journalist.
From David Codrea:
Defining “covered journalists” as those who are “an employee, independent contractor or agent of an entity that disseminates news or information,†the bill would also “extend to student journalists,†the report continues, meaning it will also codify who is an “Authorized Student.â€
Under that definition, most bloggers (particularly gun bloggers) don’t qualify as “covered journalists.”
Here are some problems:
1. Freedom of the press is not limited to professional journalists any more than the freedom of speech is limited to professional speakers. “The press” includes everyone from the professional reporter to the guy blogging in his or her free time.
2. If the government is allowed to say who is not a journalist, expect them to crackdown when non-authorized people discusses topics that the government doesn’t want discussed.
3. If the only protection a journalist has is a government-issued permission slip, expect the media to report only what the government wants reported, less the permission slip is withdrawn.
I don’t expect the mainstream media to fight this much. After all, they get theirs under the current definition. Plus, they can get rid of those annoying bloggers taking their readers.
Friday Quote – Massad Ayoob
If anyone still has the fantasy that you’ll always be treated as a hero after a clean shoot, this case teaches us the reality. It’s often an ordeal of lies, misunderstandings, and false accusations…and, as seen here, your family will go through that ordeal with you.
Massad Ayoob, expert on use of firearms in self defense on the Zimmerman trial
Massad Ayoob has done a detailed assessment of all aspects of the Zimmerman trial. If you have a gun for self-defense, you should really read all 19 parts, plus any others that Mas decides to write.