July 13, 2018 Newsletter by Jeff Pittman
SCOTUS
The anti-gun Left is going berserk complete with wailing, gnashing of teeth and outright lies after President Donald Trump nominated constitutionalist Brett Kavanaugh for the Supreme Court. (Actually some leftists, including at least three US Senators, railed against the nominee even before he was named.) Early analysis (using a liberal-conservative scale) indicates that Kavanaugh is to the right of Scalia, and even to the right of Justice Neil Gorsuch.
Our report says that no nominee to the US Supreme Court has had such a detailed record on Second Amendment as does Brett Kavanaugh. His 2011 dissenting opinion in the case known as Heller II correctly argued that D.C.’s ban on semi-automatics was arbitrary and unlawful.
Kavanaugh admits that even though he might personally support some “gun control” goals and laws, “our task is to apply the Constitution and the precedents of the Supreme Court, regardless of whether the result is one we agree with as a matter of first principles or policy.”
We also have word that SCOTUS’ inapplicable dicta in the original Heller case which stated that certain other gun control laws could be consistent with the Second Amendment was the price paid for “buying” Anthony Kennedy’s vote – and getting a 5-4 majority on Heller, according to legal scholars.
We further note that this dicta, which is not part of the actual case ruling, was illegitimately used by Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood in an official opinion which stated that Mississippi government agencies could legally ban otherwise legally carried guns from their premises, if the agencies themselves determined that their premises were “sensitive places,” consistent with the Heller opinion’s dicta. But, that’s not what Heller said and that’s not what Mississippi law says.
If the Senate voting on Kavanaugh goes along party lines, the Republicans and RINOs have the 51 members needed for a majority, but Senator McCain is not expected to vote, and of course there will be pressure on both sides to cross the line. Given that there are far more RINOs in the Senate than there are constitutionalists or conservatives, I expect the vote will be interesting.
DOJ Blinks
The US Department of Justice came to an agreement with the Second Amendment Foundation regarding its lawsuit on behalf of Cody Wilson and Defense Distributed over free speech issues related to computer files and other information that may be used to manufacture lawful firearms via 3-D printers. The plaintiffs filed the suit challenging the State Department’s mandate that Defense Distributed take plans for 3-D printed firearms off of its website in the name of national security under the International Trade in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Wilson was accused of illegally exporting weapons without a license simply because the online data (but no hardware) was available to foreigners.
Our report also indicates that the government expressly acknowledges that non-automatic firearms up to 50-caliber – including modern semi-auto sporting rifles such as the popular AR-15 and similar firearms – are not inherently military. But we note that the Second Amendment only applies to weapons “useful” in military applications.
Department of Idiocy
Academy Sports fired an employee for stopping a criminal from stealing a gun and ammo at one of its stores. After public outcry, they re-hired him. Now they need to fire the guy who wrote the policy.
Enemies
Dick’s Sporting Goods announced on Wednesday that their recent endorsement of gun control policies and hiring of gun control lobbyists has hurt their sales of firearms and hunting accessories, during a time of record gun sales reported by their competitors. Well, duh. Funny, I thought Dick’s only did Spandex sports. Hopefully they will go completely belly up.
The leadership of the American Medical Association is clearly insane, foolish, and your enemy. See the link.
Friends
Firearms-friendly credit card processor.
Did you know there’s a pro-Second Amendment movement amongst teen students to counter the anti-gun “March for Our Lives” school walkouts and demonstrations recently staged around the country? No? The reason you don’t know is that the leftist US media is not only not reporting it but is solidly in bed with the opposition.
The Only Ones
An unidentified El Paso, TX, police officer has been assigned to desk duty but not arrested or charged with a crime, after he was caught on video pointing his gun at a group unarmed and nonthreatening children allegedly trespassing near a recreation center in the western Texas city bordering Mexico.
We have learned that veteran Las Vegas Police Officer Cordell Hendrex stood idle for several minutes last October as the Las Vegas massacrist slaughtered dozens of concertgoers from one floor up at the Mandalay Bay hotel. Hendrex, a training officer, said “I know I hesitated and remember being terrified with fear and I think that I froze right there in the middle of the hall for how long I can’t say.” The investigation into this and LVPD continues.
Update on dancing FBI agent
Here Comes Da Judge — Cook County, IL, Judge Joseph Claps dropped his pistol out of his carried suit coat at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse (a gun free zone with metal detectors and guards) last week. He was later charged with carrying a concealed weapon in a prohibited area after deputies who witnessed the incident reported it through their chain of command (but apparently took no action at the time of the offense). Claps is licensed to carry a concealed weapon and has a valid Firearm Owners Identification card. The charge is a Class B misdemeanor which can carry a maximum penalty of up to six months imprisonment and a maximum fine of $1,500. Claps is on administrative duty until the court’s executive committee meets.
DGUs
In Boonville, MO, a convenience store robber took a knife and hammer from the counter and demanded the cash in the register. A customer, Jim Hayes, walked out of the store to his car, drove home, got his gun, got back in his car, and returned to the store in time to stop the robbery attempt. Police arrived later to find the robber detained at gunpoint. He was arrested and charged with first-degree robbery, armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon-exhibiting, and receiving stolen property, not to mention being slow.
In Athens, AL, an armed man was charged with making a terroristic threat after he took over the pulpit at a Church of Christ and announced that he was “sorry he was going to have to do what he had to do.” He was apparently upset over a pending divorce. Uneasy church members approached the pulpit and tried to convince the man to sit down and stop talking, but he refused and tried to grab a handgun he had on him. That’s when congregants tackled and restrained him until law enforcement arrived. Not a defensive gun use, but an illustration of what can happen. Anywhere.
DGU at convenience store in D’Iberville, MS.
VIDEO: Waitress pulls out handgun after man attacks manager
“I thank God that the one waitress had a concealed carry and pulled out her gun. I shudder to think what might have happened had she not been able to do that. What this guy would’ve done.” The waitress with the gun, quit that night. Apparently the manager, who suffered a concussion, did not.
Knife Laws
The author also did some other states.
Products
Quotes
“Judges have decided you don’t need to stand for the National Anthem. Next time you’re in a courtroom and the judge comes in, take a knee and see what happens.” — Alan Korwin
“Gun control”: Noun. Definition: infringement
“Laws don’t stop criminals. Laws describe punishment after criminals act.” — Korwin
