"You missed the point!"

 Listening to the Senate Hearings on increasing mo' gun laws, I thought I'd almost heard agreement betwixt "Sack 'o Durbin (Tyranny)" and LaPierre (NRA) regarding Increasing Background Checks.
Radio played a soundbite that almost sounded like Durbin made the same point a LaPierre.

“You’re never going to get criminals to go through universal background checks,” LaPierre said. Instead, he added, “We’re going to make all those law-abiding people go through the system, and then we’re not going to prosecute people if they do go through them [and make false statements].”

LaPierre was stopped by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), the judiciary committee chairman. As it happened, Durbin — an outspoken supporter of tighter gun laws — had the floor next. “Mr. LaPierre, that’s the point,” Durbin said, meaning that the background checks would, in theory, stop the criminals that sought to pass them. “You missed the point.”

Washington Post

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) interjected that background checks would mean "criminals won't go to purchase the guns, because there will be a background check! We'll stop them from the original purchase." Addressing LaPierre, Durbin said, "You missed that point completely!"

As the audience began to cheer, LaPierre interrupted Durbin, "Senator, I think you missed the point!" As tensions grew higher, committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) was forced to bang his gavel and call for order.

Huffington Post 

So, after the video review, it appears that the two sides view the equation like this:

NRA; Increasing background checks will do little good since they only affect the law-abiding citizens. Criminals won't submit to background checks and will procure guns from illegal channels.

Senatorial Statist; Criminals won't submit to background checks so they will stop trying to purchase guns! 

Which opinion seems like a more realistic world-view to you? 

 

Presidential Skeet?!

h/t Uncle 'n Tam

Y'know ... Camp David is a most cool get-away of the Presidential sort. That it has it's own skeet facility comes as no surprise. I can imagine Ike gettin in a round.

http://aboutcampdavid.blogspot.com/2010/08/skeet-range.html

 
Nixon, i bet, loved bustin' himself  some clays ... as he visualized his enemies list. But Barack? I'm filled with disbelief. Trying to see BHO shooting skeet in my minds eye, I see him in mom jeans, awkwardly holding a side-by-side, closing his eyes as he yells "Pull!"

starcasm.net

Actually, in an interview, BHO only claims that his guests use the range.

FF: Have you ever fired a gun?

Yes, in fact, up at Camp David, we do skeet shooting all the time.

FF: The whole family?

Not the girls, but oftentimes guests of mine go up there.

 To unparse the double-speak here, "No, I've never actually held a gun, nor pulled a trigger, but, we all know, in a common-sense way, that being on the same piece of property as a skeet range, is exactly the same as actually, y'know, firing a gun, so, yes, yes i have fired a gun!"

Illinoisian? Then no .50 bmg for you!

"Although we give lip service to the notion of freedom, we know the government is no longer the servant of the people but, at last, has become the peoples master. We have stood by like timid sheep while the wolf killed – first the weak, then the strays, then those on the outer edges of the flock, until at last the entire flock belonged to the wolf"

 Gerry Spence

Lets look at the evil .50 bmg. It's an interesting microcosm of the gun debate.
One of the reasons for the attention given to banning this caliber, I believe, is the relatively minute number of shooters that use it. Outliers, so to speak, are easy to cull from the pack. 
My elected State officials have been trying to outlaw my ownership of this class of firearms for some time. IL Governor Quinn (D) wants a ban. Chicago Mayor Emmanual (D) wants a ban. IL House Speaker Mike Madigan (D) wants a ban. His little girl, States Attorney Lisa Madigan (D) wants a ban. Blagojevitch (D) wanted to ban it before he was incarcerated. I'll review Ryans position when he's released from prison.

L-R; .50bmg, 300 WinMag, .308 Win, 7.62 x 39, 5.56 NATO, .22 LR

.50 bmg ... Fifty Caliber; Browning Machine Gun.  Entered service around 1921.

brought to you by John Moses Browning

John Moses Browning developed the cartridge around 100 years ago.

Why do they hate this particular cartridge? Others have speculated. Despite the claims by the politicians, this caliber is NOT magical. It's just big. It's powerful.  It's really just a "super-sized" 30-06. It's the largest caliber considered "small arms". Go bigger ... 20mm and such, and you're in "destructive device" territory. In some locales, even those can be legally owned (with proper licensing, etc).

For decades this cartridge languished mostly in the province of the military. It fed the M2 machine gun in its many configurations. Except for legal machinegun owners there was little civilian interest. That began changing in the late 70's and early 80's. Gun smiths around the country began to tinker. By the mid 1980's shooters, smith's and tinkerers of like mind organized. Through their organization, once arcane information was shared. An information data-base was built and expanded upon.
New guns were built. In a few short years, civilian enthusiasts & entrepreneurs had done more research & development on this cartridge than the military and government had done in decades.

Dedicated to the advancement of the .50 BMG cartridge

This led to even more new guns being built, new components, new reloading presses. What was once a moribund military round used in machine guns to devastate an "area of impact" was being transformed into a highly accurate round used for 1000 yard shooting matches.
By the mid 1990's interest in the .50's was large and growing.

Statists didn't seem to like this development. Was it because of a rash of .50 caliber crimes? No. If anything these arms seem to belong to the most law-abiding citizens of the land. The size, weight (most 30 lbs and up) and cost ($1,600.00 and up) of these arms make them an unreasonable choice for street crime. They're just "Too dangerous to be in civilian hands." Note that there's never any mention that "they're too dangerous to be a federal asset", is there? No. It's about gun population control.

We know politicians would-be tyrants want power out of the peoples hands. Tyrants demand a monopoly of power. Tyrants will tell you that  only they can wield this power responsibly. This is a lie.

Tyrants love power ... in their hands. Power distributed to the populace is anathema to a tyrant.

Power to the People

It may be time to resurrect the old hippie/civil rights mantra of "Power to the People".

And if they are able to ban the .50 ? Will they be done? Not likely. Get out your caliber chart and count backwards. Incrementally you'll be told that the next class of calibers will be "too powerful to be in civilian hands." And on down the line. Until ultimately the progs realize that "hands" are too deadly to be in civilian hands.

Ban News

h/t IL Carry

Make Your Voice Heard!
File Witness Slip OPPOSING
SB2899, and SB3489 !

 Gov. Quinn, Chicago Mayor Emanuel Pushing Firearm Ban
Through the IL House of Reps.


They failed in the Senate but that has not stopped Gov. Quinn and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel from trying to pass a Chicago-style gun ban during the lame duck session.

SB2899 is set to be heard in committee on Sunday. Log on to the IL General Assembly website and file a witness slip opposing this horrendous violation of your Constitutional right to keep and bear arms.

Make sure your voice is heard!
File a Witness Slip Opposing
SB2899 Gun Ban
File a Witness Slip Opposing SB3489 which is attempting to make wide ranging changes in the definition of mental hospital

Be sure to MARK OPPOSED
for any amendments listed too!

For easy instructions for filling out your witness slip click here

The bill includes banning most semi-auto handguns, rifles, and shotguns, plus mandatory registration of almost all remaining semi-autos with the Illinois State Police. If passed it would be a felony for having more than one mag over 10 rnds. Thats 3 to 7 years in jail!

What Else Can You Do To Stop This Assault On Your Rights?

Keep the Phone Lines Hot!

Call your State Representative's Springfield and district offices over the weekend and urge them to oppose SB2899 and any other outrageous attempts to infringe on our Second Amendment rights. Be polite but firm.

To find out who your State Representative is
call 217-782-2000
or go to the CapWiz website

CALL
1.  Your State Representative
2.  Mayor Emanuel: (312) 744-3300
3.  Gov. Quinn:  (217) 782-0244, Chicago: (312) 814-2121
4.  Speaker of the House Madigan:  (217) 782-5350, Chicago:(773) 581-8000
5.  Sponsor of the bill: Rep. Eddie Acevedo (217) 782-2855 Chicago: (773) 843-1500


Follow the discussion on IllinoisCarry.com

Edited for update:

We Win Again!

IL House Judiciary Committee Chair Elaine Nekritz just announced that there would be no vote on SB2899 or any other assault weapons ban during the lame duck session!!


Rest up, folks, and lets get ready to fight this fight again when the new 98th General Assembly in sworn in next week!

This fight ain't over folks. The IL Dems will keep pushing. The only thing stopping them at this point is the lack of votes.

Even on Sunday ... Tyrants work to subjugate you

h/t Kurt

If you shoot, if you live in IL, YOU need to work the phone today, Sunday 01/06/13!

"With rabidly anti-gun Representative Edward Acevedo (Chicago Democrat, of course) gutting SB 2899 with House Amendment #1, banning so-called "assault weapons," "high-capacity" magazines, and .50 caliber firearms and ammunition. We have talked about politician and "Only One" Acevedo more than once (how did those legal troubles work out, one wonders?).
The House Judiciary 1 Committee will hold a hearing at 2 PM (Central Time) Sunday, to decide on whether or not the amendment goes on to be voted on by the entire House. The Illinois State Rifle Association urges Illinois gun owners to call the committee members before then, and politely urge them to vote against the amendment (phone numbers are included)."

Also the ISRA ...

LATE BREAKING ALERT – NEXT VOTE ON SEMI AUTO BAN WILL TAKE PLACE SUNDAY
YOUR IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED

After getting nowhere in the Senate, the gun controllers have taken their campaign to destroy your rights to the Illinois House.  Earlier today, Amendment #1 to SB2899 was introduced in the Illinois House of Representatives.  Sponsored by rabidly anti-gun Rep. Eddie Acevedo, the amendment would do two things to you:

1.  It would pick your pocket to pay for the confiscation and destruction of your own guns.

2.  It would ban more than 50% of the rifles and more than 80% of handguns owned by Illinois citizens.

THIS BILL WILL BE VOTED ON BY THE HOUSE JUDICIARY 1 COMMITTEE ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON – YOU MUST ACT NOW! 

To help save your guns, please contact the following Representatives and politely tell them that you are a law-abiding firearm owner and that you do not support SB2899 and that you expect them to vote the amendment down.

1.  Rep. Elaine Nekritz,. (217) 558-1004 and (847) 257-0450

2.  Rep. John Bradley, (217) 782-1051 and (618) 997-9697

3.  Rep. Jill Tracy, (217) 782-8096 and (217) 223-0833

4.  Rep. Michael Connelly, (217) 782-8028 and (630) 579-4848

5.  Rep. Dwight Kay, (217) 782-8018 and (618) 307-9200

6.  Rep. Lou Lang, (217) 782-1252 and (847) 673-1131

7.  Rep. Sid Mathias, (217) 782-1664 and (847) 222-0061

8.  Rep. André M. Thapedi, (217) 782-1702 and (773) 873-4444

9.  Rep. Arthur Turner, (217) 782-8116 and (773) 277-4700

10. Rep. Ann Williams, (217) 782-2458 and (773) 880-9082

11. Rep. Michael Zalewski, (217) 782-5280 and (708) 442-6500

REMEMBER – THE AMENDMENT TO SB2899 WILL BE VOTED ON IN COMMITTEE SUNDAY AFTERNOON – START CALLING THESE REPRESENTATIVES BEGINNING SATURDAY AND CONTINUE CALLING THRU SUNDAY

Edited after working the phone list;
11 reps listed above, 22 calls made, voicemailbox full, or no answer = 20, voicemail left=2
Left with the feeling that my opinion is, ummmm, not not solicited, nor really necessary for this session of sausage-making.

A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM ISRA

VERBATUM FROM THE ISRA

SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM ISRA

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RICHARD PEARSON

January 4, 2013 - The Week in Review – The Unabashed Arrogance of the Gun Control Movement 

As most of you know, this has been a very tense week for the law-abiding Illinois firearm owner.  As most of us were getting ready to ring in the New Year, Senate President John Cullerton and his band of gun controllers were secretly preparing a major offensive against your gun rights.  We got wind of the pending attack on your 2^nd Amendment rights early in the week and immediately called together our lobbyists and strategic planners to build a defense. 

When we finally saw the public release of the Cullerton plan mid-week, we were shocked at what we saw.  Based on recent events, we fully expected to see legislative proposals to ban so-called “assault weapons,” and so-called “high-capacity ammunition feeding devices.”  However, those affronts to your rights paled in comparison with what Cullerton’s proposal entailed.  Here is a sampling of the extremist proposals advanced by Cullerton’s gun-grab plan: 

•          The Illinois State Police would be given full control over the design and operation of commercial gun ranges in the state.  That control would extend from the design of the bullet backstops to qualifications of range employees and even to the color of the paint on the walls of the men’s room.  The State Police would determine the hours of operation, what types and calibers of firearms could be discharged at the range, and even a minimum number of square feet.  Every range customer would have to undergo a background check and each customer’s visit would be logged by the range operator.  Any Illinois law enforcement agency could conduct unannounced and warrantless inspections and searches of ranges at any time.  Those searches and inspections would extend to range customers and their property.  That means that the Chicago Police Department would have the authority to raid a range in Peoria and roust the customers of that range.  The bottom line is, this range regulation proposal has the sole objective of running commercial shooting ranges out of business.  We had never seen anything like this before, but the intent was clear. 

•          All semi-automatic firearms would be either banned outright, or be so severely taxed and restricted that ownership would be impractical.  We expected to see attempts to ban or regulate AR and AK type firearms, but what we saw in Cullerton’s proposal carried that to an extreme.  Cullerton’s gun ban would extend to all semiautomatic rifles, pistols and shotguns.  Additionally, many pump action rifles and shotguns would be banned as well.  This ban would include such classics as the 1911 and the M1 Garand.  Of course, all Glocks, Sig-Sauers, and other popular pistols would be banned as well.  Estimates are that about 50% of rifles and 80% of handguns lawfully-owned by Illinois citizens would be subject to ban and confiscation under the Cullerton gun ban. 

•          A bizarre and convoluted scheme to register all “ammunition feeding devices” capable of holding more than 10 rounds – including magazines, stripper clips, drums, etc.  Since none of these devices possess serial numbers, owners of these devices would essentially register them under the “honor system.”  Of course, we all know how well criminals stick to the honor system. 

The two bills containing these provisions, HB0815 and HB1263, were both assigned to the Senate Public Health Committee for review.  This committee is notoriously anti-gun and is stacked 6 to 4 with antigun Democrats under Cullerton’s thumb.  On Wednesday night, the two bills came up for hearing before the Senate Public Health Committee.  During debate of these two bills, we heard straight from the horses’ mouths what the intents and purposes of these bills were.  Sitting there listening to the sponsors and their supporters was a very maddening experience. 

Committee testimony given by the anti-gunners confirmed that the gun control movement holds firearm owners in deep contempt.  During testimony, the gun controllers claimed that the range restriction bill would actually preserve 2^nd Amendment rights while providing public safety.  The gun controllers acknowledged that most semiautomatic firearms would be banned, but that people who wished to shoot semiautomatics should be reassured because they would be able to go to an approved range and legally rent semiautomatics to shoot.  In other words, you should not be upset about surrendering your $5,000 target rifle because you can still go down to an approved range and get a junker out of the rental case to plink with.  This was one of the most condescending lines of testimony I have ever heard levied against the right to keep and bear arms – and the anti-gunners uttered it with completely straight faces.  The gun controllers really need to keep in mind that the 2^nd Amendment says "keep and bear arms,” not "rent arms.” 

Of course, nowhere in any of the testimony given by the bills’ supporters was there any mention of how these restrictions and bans would affect criminals.  In fact, the bill proponents became extremely defensive when pro-gun witnesses mentioned anything about violent gun-toting criminals.  It was clear that the proponents’ focus was solely on lawfully held firearms.  In not so many words, the supporters of these bills claimed that they were good “first steps” to achieving a “civil society.”  In the twisted world-view of the anti-gunners, law-abiding citizens are standing in the way of a civil society, not criminals. 

As most of you may know, the two bills passed out of the Public Health Committee by 6-4 and 6-3 votes.  The next step would be a vote on the floor.  Late Thursday, the newspapers were reporting that the sponsors are delaying a vote on the bills because they do not have enough support for passage.  Please, don’t be fooled by such claims.  These bills are alive and well and can be called up for a vote at any time. 

In writing this note, I thought I’d give you a taste of what the ISRA lobbyists experience every day in Springfield.  We could not continue to do what we do without knowing that you, the law-abiding citizen, has our back.  Your support is crucial to our success – we do all we do for you.  So, with that in mind, there are a few things I’d like you to do: 

1.  Remember that these anti-gun bills are eligible for a full vote of the Senate at any time up through next Wednesday.  Do not be lulled to sleep by media claims that the bills are dead.

2.  Keep an eye on your email for any alerts the ISRA issues regarding these bills or any other anti-gun activity. 

3.  Please consider giving the ISRA a generous monetary donation so we may continue the fight for your rights. 

Thanks for your time, 

Richard A. Pearson
Executive Director
Illinois State Rifle Association

Violent Apes

FBI statistics offer inconvenient truth.

Thats right. Clubs and hammers kill more people annually.

Humans Naked Apes are a violent species. A truism that some people can't admit to themselves.

h/t Sipsey

Tyranny Opposed Today

Bills withdrawn. Hold fast Prairie State shooters.

Use the link above to read the Quad City Times story.


As a side note ... Listening to the Senate Floor live feed all day has been ... ummmm ... educational.

Edited for closing thoughts;
So ends this first skirmish. Bottom line; they retreated today. They'll be back. In the meantime the IL Dems will continue to build support for outlawing as many guns, magazines and bullets as they can. 
Lets use this time to retrench, reinforce our positions and outflank our opponents.

Marching Orders and Live Feed

Illinois Senate Democrats webpage has a live Senate floor video feed

also gleaned from the Combine's feed

Tune in!

Warning!! Statewide Firearm Ban Moves Forward in IL!

h/t IL Carry


Warning!!
Statewide Firearm Ban
Moves Forward in IL!

Legislation Advances to Senate Floor for Debate and Possible Vote Today!



HB 815 amendment 1 & 2  and HB1263 amendments 5 & 6  were approved along party lines (Democrats supporting, Republicans opposing) and passed out of the Senate Public Health Committee last night. Both bills now proceed to the full Senate for a floor debate and vote, possibly as soon as today.

If passed, the bills would ban most all semi-auto handguns, rifles, and shotguns as well as pump rifle and shotguns.  The proposed legislation would also close down most shooting ranges and clubs that are open to the public or conduct events open to the public.  Included in the legislation is a ban on ammunition magazines with a capacity to hold more than 10 rounds, a requirement to register all guns and magazines with the Illinois State Police.

We cannot allow Chicago politicians to spread Chicago's disregard for the Second Amendment and their outrageous treatment of law abiding gun owners to the rest of the state.

Call your IL State Senator and State Representative NOW and urge them to vote no on HB 815 and HB 1263!  Call Senate President John Cullerton and let him know you do not appreciate a Chicago-style ban on guns and ranges  being forced on the rest of the state!  Be polite but firm!

To find out who your State Senator and
State Representative are call
217-782-2000


Follow the discusion on IllinoisCarry.com

Forward to your friends, family, and contacts!

ISRA Alert

h/t Sipsey

SPECIAL ALERT UPDATE– YOUR ACTION REQUIRED
SENATE COMMITTEE APPROVES BILLS TO RUN RANGES OUT OF BUSINESS AND BAN 80% OF YOUR GUNS

MESSAGE FROM COMMITTEE DEMOCRATS:  “Eliminating law-abiding gun owners is a good ‘first step’ towards a ‘civil society.’” 

Votes on HB815 and HB1263 were split along party lines in the Senate Public Health Committee Wednesday night with the committee Democrats voting 6-4 and 6-3 to send the bills to the full senate.  If these two bills become law, they will resulting most, if not all ranges in the state going out of business as well as the banning of ALL semiautomatic rifles, pistols and shotguns as well as banning all pump shotguns and rifles.

In comments made during testimony, committee Democrats stated plainly that HB815 and HB1263 were “first steps” and that these bills have as their objective the creation of a “more civil society.”  In other words, elimination of lawful gun owners is a required first step for creating a more civil society.  Of course, there was no mention of the impact of eliminating criminals. 

HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO ON THURSDAY: 

1.  Call Senator Dave Syverson at (217) 782-5413 and tell him “THANK YOU” for supporting lawful gun owners by voting “NO” on HB815 and HB1263. 

2.  Call Senator Shane Cultra at (217) 782-6597 and tell him “THANK YOU” for supporting lawful gun owners by voting “NO” on HB815 and HB1263. 

3.  Call Senator Christine Johnson at (217) 782-1977 and tell her “THANK YOU” for supporting lawful gun owners by voting “NO” on HB815 and HB1263. 

4.  Call Senator Carole Pankau at (217) 782-9463 and tell her “THANK YOU” for supporting lawful gun owners by voting “NO” on HB815 and HB1263. 

It is very important that you praise these Senators for their support. 

The ringleader of the effort to shut down shooting ranges and take your guns away from you is Senator Dan Kotowski.  You may wish to call him at (217) 782-3875 and politely explain to him that, as a law-abiding gun owner, you do not appreciate being treated like a criminal and that you oppose any efforts to regulate shooting ranges, ban semiautomatic firearms, or ban standard capacity magazines.

Call Today ... Bans up for Vote in IL

IL is experiencing the pointy end of the gun-grabbing skirmishes.

 

DooT has the details and updates on the first days skirmishes.

Semi-Education vs. Auto-Propaganda

h/t  ENDO

Real experts transfer REAL knowledge. Need to explain the diff between semi-auto and full-auto?
Show the embedded vid.
Vid would be valuable for the education of our leaders, self-professed expert elites, useful idiots.



However, seems to me, that the pols pushing for American disarmament really prefer misinformation.
Like some guy said awhile back ... Ignorance is Strength