Joe Biden, Vice President and Self Defense Expert

Biden continues with his "Shotgun beats AR-15" meme, doubling down on his affirmation that a shotgun is all you need to defend yourself.

As reported in the Washington Free Beacon:

Biden: ‘Just Fire the Shotgun Through the Door’

Do I need to say any more?  The outright stupidity of that statement just boggles the mind.  Here is an excerpt from the article of Biden speaking:

I did one of these town-hall meetings on the Internet and one guy said, “Well, what happens when the end days come? What happens when there’s the earthquake? I live in California, and I have to protect myself.”

I said, “Well, you know, my shotgun will do better for you than your AR-15, because you want to keep someone away from your house, just fire the shotgun through the door.”

Biden is surrounded by a Secret Service detail.  I am sure that the members of this detail are all very proficient in the art of the gun.  Why hasn't one of them taken him aside and said something along the lines of "Hey Joe, this whole shotgun thing that you keep going on and on about, well it makes you look like an idiot."

"...just fire the shotgun through the door."  Oh, sorry Mom, didn't know you were coming over.

That's near enough to make Jeff Cooper rise from the grave just to slap our VP upside the head, in public, and offer the dressing down that Biden so richly deserves.

First he says to just go out back and fire a couple rounds into the air, now he is recommending that you shoot through a closed door.  Maybe some folks really are too stupid to own guns.

John Pierce of Opencarry.org posted this image on Facebook

Our VP really does have a large audience.  I have to wonder how many ignorant idjits now think it is okay to fire a gun through a closed door?

In this article Biden once again states that a shotgun is easier to handle than an AR-15.  Well, what he says is that a shotgun is easier to handle than a "semiautomatic weapon".  This goes to show that he is following the talking points put out by his handlers.  The goal now is to make "semiautomatic" a bad word.  Anything semiautomatic is evil.

Joe Biden is our VP.  As VP he is a leader in the Democrat Party, the same party that is attempting to pass gun control laws and did give us our current health care system.  He is a leader, he is one of the smarter Democrats.  That should scare you.

Good Thing I'm Right Eye Dominant

First thing yesterday morning I helped a friend take down a dead Post Oak in his front yard.  Post Oak trunks stay pretty thick for a good ways up there so you can picture my old rear end up a tree with my 24" Husqvarna Rancher chain saw.  Note to self, I may be getting a bit old to be climbing trees with a chain saw.

Well anyway a couple of the cuts were overhead and some sawdust got behind my glasses, no big deal.  Wipe off the dust and keep going.  Well at about 0100 this AM, I wake up with a lot of pain in my left eye.  Rinsed it out with warm water, didn't help.  Took pictures with my phone (nice troubleshooting tool for injuries you can't see by the way), and did not see anything, so back to bed.  Couldn't sleep so just laid there until it was time to get up and go to work.  About half way to work decided it was kind of silly to be driving on the freeway when I couldn't see so came back home and waited for the local Doc in a Box to open.

Turns out I somehow scratched my cornea. Interesting that I couldn't feel it until the middle of the night.

The Doc prescribed a couple different kind of drops that make it bearable.  Should be good as gold in a couple of days.

Notes From the Sidebar

Michael Bane has a Colorado Update that is important reading for anyone lives in Colorado, vacations in Colorado or might plan to retire in Colorado.  Even if you drive through Colorado with a firearm on your side or in your vehicle, you should read this post.

SayUncle has a quote of the day in House will act on gun legislation.

So, you’re going to make it illegal to shoot your mom in the face and steal her guns?.

The southtexaspistolero comments on fuzzy logic with Oh, look…

David Codrea notes that Beckel latest in long line of rape-enabling gun-grabbers.

Peter spends a moment Remembering the late, great Jeff Cooper, you should follow his lead.

The Whited Sepulchre comments On Milton Friedman's Barking Cat.

Robert has commenced his annual reporting on the Siege of the Alamo starting with Fandango!  The events of Day 1 and Day 2 are found at Day One: The Mexicans March in, and Day Two: Cannon, Corn, Shoes and a Recon.  Very interesting reading.

From Tam; The Nineties called. They want their "Look! A Girl! With A Gun!™" back.

Bitter has thoughts on Combating the New Big Anti-Gun Money.

Traction Control asks: A Majority Can Not Take Away Your Rights; So how many are willing to die to take your guns?

Mike points out that It's Obama's Armageddon, something that many of the talking heads in the news seem to have "forgotten". 

John Lott talks about my favorite Senator. New piece at National Review: "Ted Cruz Sets the Record Straight on Guns"

The CarTeach talks about Putting a few aside: The Chinese Type 53 Carbine.

John has a question. Respect, A Dying Trait in America? Head on over and offer your opinion.

Third Power has the IL House Judiciary Hearing Video along with some great comments on the testimony.

James D. Julia Extraordinary Firearms Auction

The online auction catalogs for the Spring James D. Julia Extraordinary Firearms Auction are now available.  The hard copy of catalog 1 has arrived on my front step and it is pretty much 1 full inch thick.  I have many hours of viewing, and reading about, fine firearms ahead of me.

The online catalog for Session 1 is here, and the catalog for Session 2 is here.  I have to warn you, once you start browsing you will be there for a good while.

Here are a few items I have found interesting in my short time looking over the inventory. 

It is so hard to choose what to highlight out of this auction.

How about this very early Take Down Model 94 with a case hardened receiver?

Or this Model 1886 Saddle Ring Carbine chambered in the hard hitting Cal.50-100-450?

Like your lever action with a bit of fancy? Check out this nicely engraved, inlaid and carved Winchester Model 1886 Deluxe in 45-70.  Even the screw heads have nice detail.

Living in Texas, I need a good Bar B Cue gun.  Think V will let me bid on this one?

That Ox head on those ivory grips has ruby eyes. This gun was shipped in November of 1887 and would look great mounted on my hip.

More interested in assault type rifles?  Here is a Confederate Lemat Percussion Carbine in Cal. 41/56.



And yes, there are modern rifles such as this French MAS MK3 Semi-Auto Bull-pup in .223.

There are over a thousand lots in this auction and there are easily a hundred that I would love to bid on.  I would normally have highlighted the 1911's, but that may be fodder for another post.  There is something for everyone, lots of somethings for everyone.  The catalogs are works of art in and of themselves.

James D. Julia does a pretty awesome firearms auction.

Smoke Pot, Buy a Gun, Become an Instant Felon

Colorado has legalized the recreational use of Marijuana.  The Libertarians, the Druggies, and the Druggie Libertarians can celebrate.  If the United States were governed as the Constitutional Republic our Forefathers created, that would be the end of it.  But things have changed in these United States since the repeal of the 18th Amendment (Prohibition) in 1933.  The federal .gov has taken upon itself the authority to regulate and prohibit the consumption of drugs, herbs and food stuffs.

In accordance with state law, the recreational use of marijuana is legal in the state of Colorado.  Federal law disagrees.  Marijuana is still a controlled substance in the eyes of the federal .gov and this is where things get sticky for the legal pot smoker in Colorado.  It could get even stickier for the tourist post smoker in Colorado.

Colorado may start actively promoting the pot tourist trade.  In "Colorado marijuana regulators sign off on pot tourism", we find some of the rules and regulations of who may own marijuana retail outlets, and how much out of state tourists may purchase at these outlets.

So what does all this have to do with purchasing a gun and becoming a felon?

When an individual purchases a firearm from a licensed firearm dealer (FFL), that individual must fill out ATF Form 4473.  Note that this is an ATF form, therefore a federal .gov form.  This form has a list of questions that indicate eligibility of the individual to purchase a firearm.  Question 11.e asks:

Are you an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressent, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance?

A yes answer would prevent the individuals purchase of that firearm.  A Colorado pot smoker might honestly answer "No" to that question thinking that they are a lawful user of marijuana, they would most likely be wrong.  The ATF has commented on medical marijuana use, and stated that:

Marijuana is listed in the Controlled Substances Act as a Schedule 1 controlled substance, and there are no exceptions in Federal law for marijuana purportedly used for medicinal purposes, even if such use is sanctioned by state law.

So the ATF is stating that they don't care what the state says, they are the authority in this issue.  I contacted a local gun dealer I know of from when I lived in Colorado, Jensen Arms, to see if the ATF has come out with an opinion letter following Colorado's legalization of recreational marijuana usage.  They have received no new direction from the ATF concerning question 11.e.  If you admit to the use of marijuana, you will probably be denied the sale of a firearm.

I doubt many recreational or tourist pot smokers in Colorado will know of this ATF opinion, and if they purchase a firearm from an FFL they will answer "No" to question 11.e.  In doing so the ATF will consider that what they have done "...is a crime punishable as a felony under Federal law,"

The ATF pursuing criminal charges against a Colorado pot smoker could make for a very interesting case before the Supreme Court, but I would not want to be the Defendant in such a case.

If I were a lawful gun owning pot smoker in Colorado, I would keep under the radar.  I would not have my image in the local paper smoking a joint, and I would not be posting in my blog about how nice it is to legally be able to get high, a mile high.  A tourist pot smoker would also have to deal with local laws when purchasing a firearm back in their home state.  State and local laws also come into effect when filling our an ATF Form 4473.

Les Jones has written a very good article on this issue.  Say Uncle has also written on Guns and medical marijuana. Both worth your while.

Lead by Example Mr. Vice President

So Vice President Biden believes that the best means of defense for a woman home alone is a double barrel 12 ga. shotgun.  He also believes that stepping out the back door and firing a couple rounds into the air will deter any and all home intruders and potential rapest. 

If you have not yet seen it, here is VP Biden on his home defense recommendations:

Ignorant at best, and information that could not only get someone arrested, but get them raped and killed at worst.  Quite seriously, a load of crap.

This is not the first time Biden has recommended a shotgun as the preferred defensive weapon. 

I have an idea.  Vice President Biden;  If you honestly think that shotguns are the most effective and efficient defensive firearms, then lead by example.  Ask your Secret Service detail to remove their semi-automatic hand guns and fully automatic rifles.  Demand that your Secret Service detail arm themselves with only 12 ga. shotguns, preferably the double barrel type that you recommend for the rest of us.  Seriously, if a shotgun is adequate to defend myself and my family, then it is adequate to defend you and yours.

Oh, this means the mini guns in the SUV's have to go also.

Lead by example Mr. Vice President, I dare ya.

My Wife as a Zombie

Via the Walking Dead, Dead Yourself App

I don't often post a picture of my Sweetie, but this was to funny to pass up.

Legislation That Would Allow Firearm Safety Courses in Texas High Schools

Texas State Representative James White has introduced HB 1142, legislation that would allow Texas high schools to teach firearm safety at the school.  From Representative White's press release: 

Today Representative James White filed HB 1142, which provides local schools boards the discretion to add an elective course offering that would give their high school students the opportunity to gain an appreciation of the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution.

“The origins of liberty in our great nation reside in large part with the idea espoused in the Second Amendment,” said Representative White. “As a conservative, I want Texas students to have the option to learn more about both this critical part of our Constitution, and the practical knowledge of how to safely operate the common arms Texans use for hunting and self-defense.”

HB 1142 would educate students about firearm safety and training, and hunter’s safety. All instructors would be required to be a qualified and certified handgun instructor, or a licensed peace officer employed by a local law enforcement agency. This optional course would involve students learning proper maintenance, cleaning, and safe use of common firearms such as: pistols, revolvers, rifles and shotguns. The bill would also provide for education on the history and importance of the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution.

I wholeheartedly agree that firearms safety should be taught in our schools.  If we have a human right to self defense, and if we support the idea that we have a natural right to the most efficient tools available to accomplish that task, then we also have the responsibility to teach our children the safe and responsible handling of those tools.

The bill is a short one, so I have entered the complete text here.

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a public school elective course on firearm safety, training, and history.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 28.015 to read as follows:

Sec. 28.015. ELECTIVE COURSE ON FIREARM SAFETY, TRAINING, AND HISTORY. (a) A school district may offer to students in grade nine or above an elective course on firearm safety, training, and history.

(b) The purpose of a course under this section is to teach the history and importance of the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution and to teach respect for and proper use of firearms. A course under this section must include:

(1) instruction on the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution;

(2) instruction on firearm safety;

(3) training in the use of firearms, including the safe use of common firearms such as pistols, revolvers, rifles, and shotguns;

(4) instruction on firearm maintenance and cleaning; and

(5) instruction on hunter safety.

(c) If a school district offers a course under this section, the person who teaches the elements of the course listed in Subsections (b)(2) through (5) must be:

(1) a qualified handgun instructor certified under Section 411.190, Government Code; or

(2) a peace officer who is licensed under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, and who is employed by a local law enforcement agency.

SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2013-2014 school year.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2013.

Right now there are only four Texas Representatives supporting this bill and there is no companion bill in the Senate, so the odds of this bill leaving committee are very slim.   Of course, legislation like this does have detractors.

Valentine Dinner

Valentine's dinner was prepared for my Sweetie and my 1st grader granddaughter.  The menu included roast King Salmon, Crab Cakes, pan fried potatoes and mixed berries.  Granddaughter Avery really enjoyed her dinner, as did my Sweetie.

The wine I chose for tonight's meal was Eyrie Vineyards '09 BlackCap Pinot Noir.  The BlackCap Pinot is an excellent expression of the grape.  The '09 is just now coming into it's own and could stand maybe another year or so in the cellar.  Let this one breath for a good hour in the decanter or your glass to let it open up and express itself fully.  This is a limited production of only 20 barrels, so grab it while you can.  My bottle was #31 out of 6056.

Best Valentine's Day Card Ever

A Hoplophobe Oenophile

I enjoy cooking.  I do about 95% of the cooking at Casa JR.  V does weekend breakfasts and I pretty much cook the rest of our meals.  I like to try new recipes and techniques.  I watch cooking shows (really bummed that Good Eats is no longer in production) and use iPhone apps to find new and interesting things to cook.  My favorite app is Epicurious.  You can find and save a recipe for just about anything you want with that app. 

I also enjoy wine.  I like drinking wine, learning about wine, trying to pair the perfect wine with a meal (or vise versa), and sharing wine with friends.  I am a member of a nice wine club in Fort Worth, and have tried memberships in several mail order wine clubs.  Mail order wine clubs really don't work out so well here in Texas.  By the time a red wine hits your door via UPS, the heat has affected it.  I really kinda hate pouring wine on the compost pile.

The other night while reading email and enjoying a glass of K Vintners "The Hidden", a 2009 Syrah that gets a very enthusiastic JR seal of approval, I opened my Epicurious wine newsletter; The Sip.  The subject line of this email read "Drink, Point, Shoot-Are You Kidding?" What I found was a juvenile diatribe against the NRA's new wine club.

Wine Clubs Gone Wrong


There are more wine clubs from leading companies these days than any of us can keep track of. The Wall Street Journal Wine Club, The New York Times Wine Club, the Zagat Wine Club, to name a few.

But the NRA Wine Club? You have got to be kidding us.

Talk about wine clubs gone wrong. No matter what your interpretation of the 2nd amendment, and even if there is high overlap between those interested in hunting and fine wine, why the NRA would seek to enhance its revenues and notoriety by associating itself with alcohol is beyond us. In an era where the gun policies of this country are under the highest levels of scrutiny, to promote the consumption of wine alongside the shooting of weapons seems like a PR stunt gone wrong.

While The Daily Sip® is not an overtly political publication, this bit of wine news just seemed too shocking to ignore.

So according to this idjit, gun owners should never drink wine?  The NRA is wrong to be associated with "fine wine"?

He really believes that if we get an order of wine in the mail we are going to pour it into a Dixie Cup and go out tearing up the town.  What an ignorant ass.

This really does go to show how little these anti's understand who we are.  If this writer thought that maybe doctors, lawyers and successful business folk also owned firearms, they would never write such drivel.  Maybe he should interview a few members of Graileys Fine Wines & Wine Cellar in Dallas and see what they thought about his views?  These are folk who enjoy very fine wine, and pretty much very fine anything including firearms.

He did make the offer to "Do you agree or disagree with our perspective? Tell us below."

So if you feel like giving him an earful, head on over.

My Letter to to Senator Cruz for the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearing on "Proposals to Reduce Gun Violence: Protecting Our Communities While Respecting the Second Amendment".

Some of our better known gun rights activists have published the letters they wrote to Senator Cruz for the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearing on "Proposals to Reduce Gun Violence: Protecting Our Communities While Respecting the Second Amendment".

Clayton Cramer wrote a letter on Gun Control, Mental Illness, and Safety: A Letter for Ted Cruz.

David Kopel wrote a Letter to Senator Cruz on constitutional issues in federal gun control proposals.

These are letters from two of the heavy hitters in gun rights advocacy and are worth  your time in reading.   My letter to the subcommittee addressed the subject of mandatory background checks.  I feel that this is the area where we are most vulnerable.

February 7, 2013

Senator Ted Cruz
Ranking Member; U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights.
224 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Main: 202.224.5972

Dear Senator Ted Cruz   Mandatory Background Checks   I understand that the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights will be addressing “Proposals to Reduce Gun Violence: Protecting Our Communities While Respecting the Second Amendment”. I know we can count on you to ensure that this hearing does, in fact, respect our Second Amendment.

I am writing you today to comment on the issue of mandatory, or universal, background checks on the private sale of firearms. I adamantly oppose any such legislation. The ownership of private property is one of the cornerstones of our American heritage. We have always valued the right of a citizen to do with owned, private, property as they wish. Asking for government approval to transfer private property to a friend, a relative or an heir upon our death is in opposition to our inheritance as citizens of these United States.

Mandatory background checks will do nothing to achieve a goal of keeping guns out of the hands of felons. Felons and other criminals do not purchase firearms from the law abiding, they steal them from the law abiding or purchase them on the black market. Mandatory background checks will just be another law ignored by the criminals and only used to harass the law abiding.

Mandatory background check legislation will increase the value of guns on the black market and make the law abiding a more attractive target for thieves and robbers. Robbery and theft will increase as a result of legislation of this sort. Violent crime will not be deterred.

There are tens of millions of firearms in the hands of law abiding citizens. Any effort to require mandatory background checks on private sales of these firearms would obviously require the registering of these guns. Firearm registration will lead to confiscation. This is not a fear, this is a fact. Following Hurricane Katrina, the government did go around to citizens who had done nothing wrong and confiscate their firearms. The government confiscated firearms from citizens at a time when the law abiding needed them most. The government took away the only means of protection from citizens when gangs were looting, robbing and raping with abandon. Confiscation should never be allowed to happen again in these United States.

It is fiscally irresponsible to propose such costly, and ineffective, legislation at a time when our country is so deeply in debt.

Mandatory background checks will do nothing to address the criminal, the violent, or the ability of the violent criminal to acquire guns.

Please oppose any idea of going forward with mandatory background check legislation and focus instead on the violent criminal, the felon, the street gangs and other major sources of violent crime in this country.

Respectfully Yours   JR

Have you written your congress critters yet?

This is Your Representative on Guns

The Daily Beast has put together an interesting, and useful, site to help determine where your Representative stands on the issue of gun control.

 This is Your Representative on Guns

What do your elected representatives think about guns-and how are they likely to vote on upcoming gun-control legislation?

In the coming weeks, legislation that would govern things like background checks, the availability of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, and gun-show regulations will be debated in the media, in living rooms and, perhaps most importantly, on the floors of the House and Senate. How our elected representatives vote will ultimately make the difference.

This is something we have the right and the ability to influence. To help clarify a complex state of play, The Daily Beast has created a tool that classifies every member of Congress according to their stance on gun control, based on our best assessment of publicly available information: statements, voting records, ratings from both the National Rifle Association and the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, and dollar contributions from the gun lobby

This site is very flexible and offers several ways to filter the congress critters and get a snap shot of where your representatives stand, and might vote on future gun control legislation.  I check up on Senator Tom Coburn and found his information up to date and accurate.

As you can see, they do have his current stance on supporting a total ban on private firearm sales.  His Brady rating should be going up very soon.

Speaking of mandatory background check legislation, this site also has an updated Twitter feed from the congress critters.  It looks like the new hot button words that will be used to sell universal, or mandatory, background checks are "stop gun trafficking". 

Check it out, this site does have a lot to offer.

Suzanna Hupp Testifies

Once again Suzanna Hupp testifies before a Senate Committee in support of our Second Amendment.

This testimony is from earlier today in the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearing on "Proposals to Reduce Gun Violence: Protecting Our Communities While Respecting the Second Amendment".

It is worth 6 minutes of your time to listen to this strong advocate for our right to keep and bear arms.

SB 182 and HB 972, Texas Campus Protection Act

SB 182 and HB 972 have been introduced to the Texas legislature.  This is the Campus Carry legislation for this session, called the "Campus Personal Protection Act".  In a nutshell, this legislation would allow Texas holders of a Concealed Handgun License to carry their firearm while on a college campus.  This legislation does give the college the option of determining how firearms will be stored in dorms, and to restrict carry in hospitals or "on the premises of a preschool, elementary school, or secondary school that is located on the campus of an institution of higher education" if the hospital or school "gives effective notice under Section 30.06".

Did you catch that last part?

Pretty cool.

Also cool is "Subsection (b)(2) does not apply on the premises where a collegiate sporting event is taking place if the actor was not given effective notice under Section 30.06."   Requiring notice under Section 30.06 at non college schools and sporting events on college campuses protects the CHL holder from accidentally wandering into what would under current CHL law be a prohibited place.  

If you agree that adults with a Concealed Handgun License should be able to protect themselves even while on a college campus, contact your representatives today and let them know.

Notes From the Sidebar

Michael Bane reports on a COLORADO EMERGENCY! If you are a Colorado gun owner, you need to read this and take action.

Over at Days of our Trailers, you will find a posting Of Craziness, Conspiracies and Cover-ups. The media sure is leaving a lot of pertinent data out of their coverage of Chris Dorner and other radical Left Wing murders.

The Sipsey Street Irregulars talk about The So-Called Gun Show Loophole: Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics. 

Sebastian has More on Registration.  He shares my fear that we will end up with legislation outlawing the private sale of firearms. If laws such as this are passed, we are well and truly screwed.  

Bob shares some very good information in Gun Buy Backs and Defensive Gun Use Numbers.  How many times are firearms used each day to defend the owners?  Head on over for the answer.

Traction Control comments on Universal Background Checks and What’s Good for the Goose: LaRue Tactical’s Updated Policy for State and Local Agency Law Enforcement Sales.

Tam has a pretty awesome Quote of the Day in QotD: OH SNAP! Edition...
Peter has both the Feel-good story of the week and the one that will give you chills; More economic warning signs.

Mike asks As Obama Declares Right to Kill American Citizens w/o Due Process, Where is the Civil Liberties Crowd Who Hounded Bush?

Ken has the video where OBAMA LECTURED EXPERTLY ON TAXES AND OBAMACARE.  If you have not yet seen this video, it is well worth your time.   Firehand reports that Senator Coburn is still pursuing mandatory background check legislation.  I just called Sen. Coburn's office, and it looks like he's selling us out

The Gun Blog Black List posts American Tactical FS40 Review. 

Do you know Why we no longer need ridges on the edges of our coins?

WBAP Interview of Dr. Robert Jeffress

Brian Estridge of WBAP interviewed Dr. Robert  Jeffress, the pastor of First Baptist Dallas, on the topic of homosexuality.  I found this discussion to be very interesting and would like to know what you think.  You can listen to the podcast here.

James D. Julia "Outstanding March Firearms Auction" Catalog Offer

James D. Julia is the premier auctioneer of quality firearms in pretty much the world.  Their "Outstanding March Firearm Auction" on March 11 and 12 in Fairfield Maine.  One awesome thing about this particular auction is that James D. Julia is offering a limited number of free auction catalogs.  These catalogs are a work of art.

The online catalog is not yet ready.  When it is, I'll pick out a few of my favorite lots and post them here.

Help Ted Cruz Support the Second Amendment

You can be directly involved in helping support Senator Cruz as he defends our Second Amendment rights in the Senate Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Human Rights.

From the TSRA:

The Senate committee listed above will take up the subject of "Proposals to Reduce Gun Violence: Protecting Our Communities While Respecting the Second Amendment" next Tuesday, February 12, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. Senator Cruz is the Ranking Member of this subcommittee.

Senator Cruz is asking for your help.

Please be willing to submit your thoughts on a relevant topic for Sen.Cruz and the committee to consider in the form of a formal letter to the committee which makes either a pro 2nd Amendment argument or a tells a short, compelling, personal story about how you exercised your 2nd Amendment rights in a positive way, such as in defense of yourself, your family, your business, or how you scared off a robber.

Please submit your stories and statements in MS Word, well-written and clear. Then send as an attachment to the email address of Senator Cruz's staff below.

Jon_McClellan@cruz.senate.gov

Statements must be received by Monday in order to be helpful. Your statement could be submitted into the Congressional Record.

Senator Dick Durbin is the Chairman of the subcommittee and prides himself on carrying in a large stack of statements from the other side to showcase and submit into the record.

Texas Senator Cruz would like to be ready to respond in kind.

  Your words can end up in the Congressional Record.   I am going to write two statements.  The first statement will be concerning mandatory background checks on the private sales of firearms, and the second on proposed magazine capacity restrictions.

A Little Upgrade

I finally got tired of waiting on my computer to get anything done so I finally decided to upgrade my memory.  Changed out the two 512MB memory sticks for four 1GB sticks.  So far so good.

Maybe now I can open more than two windows at a time without crashing.

Notes From the Sidebar

David reminds us that "Liberty will not be won by scapegoating anyone, or throwing anyone under the bus" in  Another Route: For Whom the Bus Rolls.

The last sentence of Tam's In the Land of King Kid... caught me by surprise and gave me a good Sunday morning chuckle.

Carteach shares two good questions to ask when talking with folks who are undecided about gun control laws.  Discussing 'Gun Control', a point that needs making.... is worth your time.

Live From the Alamo City comments on the  "I'm a gun owner and I support gun control because it does not affect me" comments that seem to be popping up everywhere lately.  Read  “First they came for the semiautomatic rifles…” along with the comments.

Traction Control comments on the recent poll that shows most people believe that Government Threatening Personal Rights. 

The scandals go on and on and on . . . is poignant commentary on the inability of some leaders in the Catholic Church to accept that by their actions, and inaction, they have done great harm.    

Kevin does an excellent job of Fisking an American Constitutional Law Specialist, Eh?

Robert has a range report from Panola in February.  I don't know what all these people are doing shooing Evil Black Rifles at targets 600 yards down range.  Don't they know that the AR is an inherently inaccurate rifle and has no sporting purpose what so ever? Sheesh...

Bob has another example of why we need to Enforce the Laws, Keep Criminals in Jail.

Need a recipe for rabbit?  Well here it is. That Wascally Wabbit - Hare Braising Adventures .  Once you have read the recipe, stick around and read more of what Brigid has to offer.  Great Sunday afternoon reading.

The Whited Sepulcher finds that even though Socialism Does NOT Lead To Marxism (not all the time anyway).  It often does lead to much worse.

And yes, Sylvester Stallone: Dumb as a Post and Hypocrite

The Second Amendment and the Modern World

David E. Young has written a post that covers, in a nutshell, the meaning and purpose of the Second Amendment based on the original understanding, and how that purpose fits into the modern world.

The Mason Triad Context of Second Amendment Development and Purpose

A snipped from his post to catch your interest:

The citizens in 1789 relied on flintlock firearms just as the soldiers of a period army. At that time, a standing army in time of peace was the face of tyranny. Today, the face of tyranny is just as common in the world, but is much more intrusive and dangerous, and is usually referred to as a police state. Americans have the constitutional right and duty to prevent the establishment of any police state in the United States. The people must keep their government under their control, which is accomplished, not by fighting, which is only a last resort, but by making certain that violations of the Constitution by those at the helm of government are challenged and reversed.

We the people have a duty and a responsibility to challenge violations to our Constitution.  We have been derelict in our duties.

State and Local Regulations, We Don't Follow no State and Local Regulations.

The city of East Cleveland, Ohio, is attempting to collect on citations against USPS drivers for running red lights and speeding in school zones.  The Postal Service is arguing that their drivers are performing an important task and do not have to follow local laws.

As reported by Jason Sickles, Yahoo!

Postal Service says it’s immune from local traffic laws


...Postal Service attorney Jennifer S. Breslin says two school-zone speeding citations and five red-light infractions by postal trucks in December should be ignored...


“However, as you are probably aware, the Postal Service enjoys federal immunity from state and local regulation,” she continued.

 Even the Post Office thinks their employees are above the common American.

A Sweepstakes for a Good Cause

The craftsmen of Louder Than Words are holding their 10th charity raffle.  LTW #10 is in support of Kara's Hope, a charity that is focused on assisting and supporting families who have children diagnosed with Holoprosencephaly (HPE).

For 2013, The Legendary Custom Gunsmiths

at "Louder Than Words"

Have Teamed Up With Kara's HoPE

To Offer the LTW # 10, Custom 1911

To One Lucky Winner!

This is one very fine 1911

Grand Prize Package Includes a Gorgeous

Custom 1911 Which Has Been "Smithed" by the "Who's

Who" of the Custom 1911 World,

Along With a Custom Carry Leather Set

The Craftsmen involved with this project include Ned Christiansen, John Van Zyck, Jason Burton, Tony Barnes & Brownells, CT Brian, Don Williams, Ted Yost, Stan Chen, John Harrison and John Ralston


Speaking of John Ralston, a firearm of this quality has to come with some quality leather.

Custom Shark Trimmed Holster & Mag Pouch Set, From John Ralston at 5 Shot Leather

All together that is one very nice package that it would be very hard to put a price on.

So head on over, purchase a couple raffle tickets, and support Kara's Hope. Who knows, you may be the one getting the winners phone call.

For information on the project build, go here.