Quote of the Day – Jennifer (1/25/2013)

There is one thing and one thing only that has proven time and time again to stop someone bent on violence. A gun. And I promise you that no amount of gun control legislation will ever eliminate them, it will just change who has access to them.  The thing you need in that moment where the law has already failed you, will only be accessible to criminals and representatives of the government (some overlap). Or do you really believe the criminals will just turn them in? Even if they did, that doesn’t really offer me a whole lot of comfort if I am staring down a 266lb criminal (the observant among you have already noticed that is twice my weight; a big guy, but not freakishly so). My husband is nowhere near that size, but he could easily overpower me physically.

JenniferIn Is Not Gun Control; It Is Citizen Disarmament
January 24, 2013


[And that folks is the meat and potatoes of this debate. Criminals don’t obey the laws, and in a just world we wouldn’t even need laws. But we live in reality. The reality is that the laws work to constrain those who are good, while benefiting criminals who don’t care about the law as it is.

Anyone who cannot seem to understand this basic fact is disregarding how the law works.  They wish to do nothing more than criminalize those with opinions they disagree with.  They wish to criminalize those who would willingly defend themselves as others would wish to criminalize gay marriage or criminalize interracial couples.

Criminalizing those who have no ill intent towards society serves no purpose other than to quell dissent and remove those from society that you would disagree with.

And that my friends is their end game, even if it means sending us to camps in box cars, those who would take our arms have no problem doing that if that’s what it takes. -B]

Quote of the Day – Reed Exhibitions(1/24/2013)

“It has become very clear to us after speaking with our customers that the event could not be held because the atmosphere of this year’s show would not be conducive to an event that is designed to provide family enjoyment. It is unfortunate that in the current emotionally charged atmosphere this celebratory event has become overshadowed by a decision that directly affected a small percentage of more than 1,000 exhibits showcasing products and services for those interested in hunting and fishing.”

“ESS has long been proud to participate in the preservation and promotion of hunting and fishing traditions, and we hope that as the national debate clarifies, we will have an opportunity to consider rescheduling the event when the time is right to focus on the themes it celebrates.”

President of Reed Exhibitions – Announcement Postponing ESOS

January 24th, 2013


[Let me translate for you.

It has become very clear to us after our customers have responded with such unity and clarity that our actions have destroyed this event.  Our taking a political stance obviously destroyed the family atmosphere and our goal to drive a wedge in between different parts of the sporting community has failed spectacularly.

We failed to understand or realize that gun owners and sportsman alike understand that they must hang together or must most assuredly hang separate.  In our attempt to double down on stupid after early negotiations it has become obvious that it has destroyed any reputation our show had remaining.  We were merely trying to discriminate against a few vendors and did not expect the majority of other vendors to stand up for them.

“ESS has long been proud to manipulate the preservation and promotion of hunting and fishing traditions to try politicize and destroy things Reed finds unacceptable.  We will have an opportunity to consider rescheduling the event because we know there are some still willing to do business with a bunch of political hacks.”

Bitter has more on the shutdown of the show.  Honestly I am glad to see the show shutdown but the political front is starting to heat up.  Time to write back in, though I must say we need to watch and watch closely.  I’m not sure what the best approach is, but if we’re going to get stuck with something, we need to get something out of the deal.  They have cake they can give up and by all means if they want compromise, lets make it a real one. -B]

Quote of the Day – Jay G (1/23/2013)

Your ignorance of firearms is exceeded only by your arrogance towards those of us that own them…

Jay GThese Are The People Agitating For Gun control

January 23, 2013


[First up, the context pertains to the Chicago Tribune and this wonderful article full of accurate facts and statements.

Nice huh?  Well the Chicago Tribune, ever being the fact chasers they are responded to the outcry by gun owners.

Here’s what isn’t fair, though: Some readers seized this opportunity to accuse us of using this graphic to promote what they termed a specific liberal agenda on the topic of gun control. They saw our labeling mistake as a deliberate misrepresentation, one that made these weapons seem more dangerous. Let me say emphatically that this was a careless mistake, not an intentional deception nor bias. It is regrettable because we got a basic fact wrong, period.

Uhh, no, let me explain something to you sparky.  You and your compatriots specialize in false and misleading information.  There’s a reason we constantly joke about the “layers of editorial oversight” because honestly, there isn’t any.  If there actually is oversight, your paper is so full of incompetent baboons that they should not be writing on the subject of firearms.

Know what isn’t fair?  A bunch of idiots who don’t know the muzzle from the breech trying to “educate” people on firearms and firearms laws.  A bunch of idiots who regard those of us who reside within the “gun culture” as nothing more than beer swilling red-necks who are to stupid to do anything but work on cars.

Tell me this, if I wrote an article on something I knew nothing about while claiming to be educational and lobbing for laws and restrictions on the subject, do you think I should do a first rate job on the subject Mr. Knowles?  Do you think I should spend the time and effort to contact outside resources and consult for the accuracy of my statements and claims?

No here’s what happened Mr. Knowles  you made such a stupid and blundering error that you illustrated that you and your paper have no credibility on the subject what so ever.  Now that you’ve been busted though, your doubly upset because we are calling attention to it and making sure the public isn’t fooled by your deceptions.*

It would be unfair to bring it up your misdeeds with this article in the future if you published an article was correct and accurate.  We’re currently talking about the same article so just own your mistake.  It may have been an honest mistake, but with how often your side of the camp does it, we’re going to take that with a grain of salt.

Jay did a fantastic job of skewering the rest of the B.S. from Mr. Knowles   Instead of just focusing on his mistake, he reacts by saying how dare we question him or call attention to their mistakes.]

*Now that’s not to say I haven’t made mistakes before, which I owned up to, corrected, explained, and in no way attempted to chastise those who pointed out my error.  Despite their recent claims to the contrary.  If I didn’t own my mistakes, why would I put them front and center and own the responsibility that goes with them?

There are actions that are dickish and attacking people questioning your motives with such a blatant error is one of those.  Seeing something like that should cause people to question and you should acknowledge that and work to repair that damage during your apology.  Just the same if someone drug past history of a mistake on a fair article, you’d be right to call foul.

The Internet is Forever

So this goes along with my stupidity lasts post from yesterday along with how despicable and nasty the other side is.  You see, a particular jerk tweeted some nasty things at some friends of mine.  It was quite obvious he was attempting to stereotype gun owners in the classic sense.  Insulting my friend Erin in the process.

It devolved into him bitching about America and general nastiness, but then it became epic.  He left a tweet and I said, well I’ll screen shot it when I get home… Well he memory holed the bastard by the time I got there.  Bad news for him, it was still sitting in my browser this morning.

Here’s what was in his feed this morning:

Notice what tweet he sent down the memory hole.  Such a nice comment that, because you know wishing illness and death, a miserable one at that, on another human being is the mark of tolerance and willingness to coexist.  This is why they dislike firearms, they have no self-control and wish violence and hate upon others.  They project their behavior and attitudes onto everyone else and assume that everyone is like that.

I have no doubt that he would be more than happy to have his government eradicate those he deems undesirables with differing opinions.

As we say time and again, gun-control is bigotry, even gun controls roots very roots are racist, and this man is a shining example of it.  Don’t like “X” prevent them from having a gun so you can safely beat them up.  It’s kind of difficult to beat up and harass a minority when they can shoot you for trying.

Guess those on this side of the gun debate are horrible people for wanting to ensure that everyone has equal access to firearm and not discriminate on who has a right to armed self-defense and who does not.

When all you have is stereotypes and bigotry, you have no argument.

It Appears Big Companies Do Learn From Past Mistakes

So via Sebastian I discovered today that both Ruger and Smith & Wesson have pulled out of the ESOS show.

There’s three parts to an apology and honestly I think both Ruger and Smith & Wesson just nailed the third part so hard its’ going into orbit.

It appears that the exhibiter is doubling down on stupid and going for broke.  Sadly it looks like they played the cards so they won’t feel the pinch this year.  Next year however no one is going to want to go to this pile of crap.  The controversy surrounding it is going to kill it.  Which honestly, if the company is anti-gun, may very well be their goal.

There are numerous other vendors pulling out, many of whom stand to take a financial hit for standing behind  gun owners.  Folks, that isn’t right, we should support them for what they have done and make the positive press they get from doing so actually count.

So, like Sebastian, I’m going to place an order from GUTNTAG, and honestly I think we need a list of all the companies who are pulling out to support us.  We need to spread the word far and wide and increase visibility.

So to any vendor for the ESOS show.

Please contact me if you are a vendor and are dropping out of the ESOS show and would like 6 months of free advertising on the website.  It isn’t much but every little bit helps.

Now as for the list, I would be more than happy to organize the list and post it, however I’m on the exact opposite coast and am a bit far from this loop.  If anyone wants to take point on this great, if someone wants to gather the info and bump it to me, I would be just as happy with that.

I am quite glad to see the outcome of this happening in a way that is amenable to gun owners and is a solid indication that, “No, we’re not going to negotiate, we’re not going to back down, and we’re not going to be bullied.”

And this just in, how stupid are they going? They’re going for full retard!

Due to Reed Exhibitions’ refusal to reconsider their decision to ban Modern Sporting Rifles from the February 2-10 Eastern Sports Show in Harrisburg, PA, the National Rifle Association has decided to withdraw from the show. We had called on Reed Exhibitions to reconsider their decision; unfortunately they have steadfastly refused to do so. As a result, the NRA will not be participating in the upcoming show in Harrisburg or in any other shows hosted by Reed Exhibitions that maintain this policy. We are disappointed that Reed Exhibitions has ignored the concerns expressed by attendees, the outdoor industry and the NRA in not reconsidering their position to ban the display of Modern Sporting Rifles.

Emphasis mine.  Yup, they just gave another example like Zumbo and others how not to approach the firearms community.

h/t Uncle on the NRA.

At least some stupidity lasts…

For those of you who have never seen it, I present you the Carolyn McCarthy incident.

Well I was searching for it for someone at work and discovered this:

Yes, that’s right folks, if you Google “Shoulder Thing That Goes Up” US Rep. McCarthy is displayed as the person you’re looking for.  I do find something satisfying about her ignorance being placed front and center.  I just wish if you searched for her name the first result was that video.

Never fear though because sling swivels are now on their way to replace the shoulder thing that goes up!

This is why we find our selves in the predicament we’re in.  The media is either grossly or willfully negligent and the general public believes everything they say without fail.  This would be funny if it weren’t for the fact that I’m sure some politican is going to hold this up in a legislative session and say we need to ban it!

Never mind the fact that grenade launchers are destructive devices along with each and every grenade.  I personally have never seen one in the civilian market, even with all the gun shows I’ve been to.  I’ve never seen a real RPG either.  Yet this same group of media and journalists that label a sling point a bayonet mount says they can be obtained at gun shows.  Remember though, we’re supposed to trust them because they have done careful research and are “educated” on the topic.  When I was 4 I could have done a better job of identifying the different parts and the associated terms for a firearm.

Quote of the Day – Jennifer Hast (1/22/2013)

I’ll not rejoice if your delusions come crashing down.  I’ll not celebrate the day you discover that evil comes in many forms and will use any tool available. I hope that day never comes. Truly, I hope you live out all of your days in blissful ignorance and die peacefully in your old age.

JenniferI’ll Not Rejoice
January 21st, 2013


[Honestly go read her post, it is something that many of us on this side of the debate have encountered all too often recently.  We all know that anti-rights cultists are violent and down right despicable in what they say and how they act.  If you’re on the other side of the debate, think long and hard about the actions and words of your fellow supporters.

It is the only way they can debate and appear to be winning.  Be so down right mean and vicious that the people on the other end want nothing to do with them.  I haven’t been as active on the twitter front lately because honestly, the crap gets old, and most of them have absolutely no interest in an actual conversation.  They want to lecture us.

I did however have a nice conversation with a friend from high-school recently on Facebook and my patience was continued mainly because of the ties she had with my family growing up.  Honestly though I think it’s those ties more than anything that helped facilitate a civil discussion and a willingness to listen to the other side of the debate.  That’s the biggest issue right now, no one really wants to listen, they have their preconceived answers and are not even willing to be polite and listen to the other side.

The thing is, one side of this debate is listening and responding, for the most part there are some who aren’t, the problem is the response more often than not is the opposite of what those on the other side want to hear.  As Joe said, we need an accurate problem statement.  No one though has even bothered to try to create one, instead they throw out solutions, solutions that in many cases don’t actually solve any problems relating to what the proponents claim.  When people rebuke their solution they are played down, diminished, called names, and have violence wished upon them for a differing of opinion.

It does not help your position to behave in such a manner and to the many watching it indicates a lack of maturity and inability to support your position.  I am flattered by the comments that Garand Gal made about Linoge, Sean, Erin, and me.  But please don’t feel like you have to support us.  Is it nice, you bet, fire support is a wonderful thing, especially when viciousness like that starts getting thrown around.  It’s good to see a friendly face and it does give you that extra sense of, yes this is worth it.  But, and this is a big but, often it is emotionally draining and tiring.  In the end it ends up being nothing more than wrestling with a pig, sure you may think you win but the pig just wanted you covered in mud.

If you feel it’s worth it to spend time discussing with someone, by all means do so, and if you see a reasonable discussion going on, by all means chip in, just don’t be a dick, let them do it on their own if they’re going to.  The time spent with chatting with my family friend paid off, she’s no longer focused on the tool and can see from this side of the debate.  There’s a few other things still to work out but it’s a start and a good one at that.  Sadly she’s not physically close otherwise I could go more easily hands on.  It ends up there were some people who made very poor decisions regarding firearms around her while in college and it has provided a very negative view of gun owners.

Pick and choose your battles and work where you think you can gain the most ground if you’re going to spend a lot of time on it.  Last week a particular individual kept wasting my time and kept running in circles.  I kept trying to escape out of the conversation but she kept dragging me back.  Finally after calling me an extremist for not wanting to be lectured I asked to be dropped from the conversation.  She did, for about 30 minutes and then mentioned me in another tweet.  I went off, ripped apart her argument again, and then said leave me the hell alone.  She then tweeted me again, this time it wasn’t falsehoods or lies just a general antagonism so ignored it, yesterday morning her account was evidently suspended.

Let me say right here right now, I had nothing to do with it.  I didn’t report her, I didn’t even block her.  I do however have a strong feeling with her behavior that she went down the same road as the individual debating with Jennifer.  In so doing I’m reasonably sure she used some not so nice words and possibly made threats towards someone’s safety.  Honestly, that woman wasn’t worth my time at all beyond illustrating to the world how dumb her idea was for “smart guns”.  Pick and choose your battles wisely and do your best not to get sucked in because you have to constantly fight their lies, because that’s what they do, spout lies and drivel so you come back with facts.  Some times it’s just not worth it.  Overall though in the grand scheme, this fight is most definitely worth it and the effort of debate is a small price to pay. -B]