State Senator Blasts OKC Police Chief...Bravo

Oklahoma Senator Steve Russell called out Bill Citty on his recent statements against our right to self defense in the Sunday Oklahoman.  It isn't very often I applaud politicians, but Senator Russell deserves kudos today.

"...As co-chairman of the Senate Veteran's Affairs Committee and as a member of both Senate public safety committees, I call on Citty to provide the data that shows these types of weapons are used extensively in crime and pose a greater threat statistically than any other commonly held and legally purchased type of firearm.

There is simply no empirical evidence to support his claim. According to the FBI, crime has dropped 14 percent since 2004, the period he cites as when the so-called ban on military weapons expired. The fact is these weapons were never banned but only certain modifications to them were.

Citty's proposal of registration or titling of such weapons violates Oklahoma's constitution. Furthermore, being able to protect ourselves with the type of firearm we feel most comfortable with is a part of our federal constitutional freedoms. These are basic rights — not privileges bestowed on us by benevolent politicians. His views are something one might hear in San Francisco but are not welcome in Oklahoma. Citty also needs to be mindful that Section 2, Article 26 of the Oklahoma Constitution prohibits any such actions as he proposes..."

The whole article is great, and can be found here.  

You a man? It's like an exam.

I don't like to just post other people's great ideas all the time, but this list of ten things a man should be able to do is full of goodness.

Are We Not Men? | The Adaptive Curmudgeon's Blog

Watching the Bill of Rights Fall Amendment by Amendment

"I do not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it" - Voltaire?  or Ewelyn Beatrice Hall?  Who knows?

And that isn't the point, anyway.  The point is, that a man (known as TJIC) had his property seized this week because of statements, however crude, that he made on his blog (currently down, reason unknown).  No arrest, just seizure of his firearms.

More here from Borepatch.

Spreading the Love?

     So I needed a cheap doorknob quick this evening and ran to Wally World.  I grabbed one by a well known company over the only other choice, which was in cheap packaging and one that never heard of.  I thought it would be better to spend a little more for the name brand.

     As I walked toward the counter, I decided to look at the box, just to make sure I was buying a Chinese-made product (I was in Wal-Mart after all).  Sure enough, I was.  Something made me turn around and make a quick check on the really cheap product.  Philippines.  Hmm.

     So I save a buck or two on a product that is only a stop-gap anyway, and spread the wealth.  There was no US alternative, so this tiny victory was my own little DoD (denial of dollar???) attack.  Go me.