We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

Lest we forget what, exactly, this hallowed day meant for the future of the united States of America, and the world.

We rode down the driveway to our house and unassed the vehicles.  My mom came out of the house with a worried look on her face and blood on the front of her shirt.  I immediately freaked right the fuck out.

“Whaaa…”  Let me try that again.  “Hoooo…”  Apparently I am incapable of making actual words when my mother appears to be soaked in blood.

“Richard is…iffy, at the moment.  One of the volunteer EMT’s lives about a mile away, and Ruth’s husband was an Army surgeon in Korea.  We sent somebody over and got him.  He dug out a bullet, but theres some damage.  He lost a lot of blood.  We’ve got him on an IV right now - water and table salt, through a piece of tubing and a turkey injector.  I’m…tired.” And she looked it.

“Up for a little more triage?  I hate to even ask, but one of the guys who shot him didn’t exactly make it, and the other one is…well…”  The tailgate fell with a clang, and I unceremoniously drug the would-be home invader from the blood slick bed and dumped him on the ground.  Being that the truck sports about 6″ in lift and big tires, it was a long fall.  “I’m going to lock him up outside the garage.  Then I’m going to get a blowtorch and some pliers and see if I can learn anything.  Unless you want to talk now?”  The last was directed at him, but he’d bumped his head and was apparently out cold.

My mother stared at this man for a long time before shrugging her shoulders and deciding to take the high road.  “I’ll get the guys, fix him up, but he’s gonna lose the leg.  At least that way he won’t be hurting anyone else for a while.”

“I’ll leave you to that.  We’ve got some unpacking and sorting to take care of.”

I must have run out of clever titles, cuz I think this weeks sucks.

Oh well.

Read the whole thing here.

Phil at RNS brought up something that is incredible in it’s stupidity.

“Leisure Studies” and a “Leisure Famine”?

WTF srsly?

Do the professors in that program where Leisure suits?

I want that degree.  I probably already have enough credit hours to get at least 2 PhD’s.

At least I don’t run the risk of Leisurestarvation.

In fact, I’m downright Leisured-out.

Leisure-glutton, to tell the truth.

Ever since Battlefield: Bad Company came out, it’s hard to concentrate on anything else.  It’s a Leisureocalypse.  My Leisure-footprint is bigger than a typical family of six.  It’s downright leisurely.

If anyone else wants to flirt with the danger of Leisure-poisoning, and perhaps even fall into a Leisure coma, or better yet, have a Leisure seizure, I play on the PlayStation Network, s/n: crzyrider250.

July 1st.  Today.  Oh, joyous day.

On July 1st, 2008, California enacted its handsfree-only cellphone driving ban.  We join DC, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut as the biggest douches in the country.

Millions rushed out and bought a bluetooth headset that they can wear around like an asshole, seemingly talking to themselves in offices, restaurants and bars, completely ensconced in their own little worlds while outsiders look at them with a mixture of contempt and pity.  Yes, I said it - that little thing, clipped to your ear all…the…time - it kinda makes you look like a dick.  Particularly when you have to stop having a face to face conversation, turn a bit to the side, place your hand on your ear and tune out the rest of the world.  Smooth…

Millions more installed hands-free kits in their cars, which will allow them to speak to their friends and families through their cars existing sound system.  How this differs from just speaking into a phone, I don’t know - it seems to me that the concentration is the thing that is actually affected, not the motor skills - but there are now millions of vehicles running around with conversations on full blast, windows down.  I listened to a guy fighting with his girlfriend, on the phone and over his speakers, while stopped at a red this morning.

Millions more rummaged through drawers and cabinets, searching high and low for the OEM handsfree kits that came with their phones, lo those many years ago.

All because you might get popped for a $20 fine on a first offense, a $50 ticket on any subsequent stop.  Probably well into the tens, if not hundreds, of millions of dollars were spent to avoid running into this law.

First, I am not at all happy about that.  It gives police yet another thing to do, yet another thing to watch out for, and yet another PC to detain.  Fucking awesome. To quote Ronald McDonald, I’m lovin’ it.  Sure, stop stop some yuppie yakking on an iPhone instead of, you know, the guy who just robbed the QuikEMart.

Second, it’s a boon to manufacturers and resellers of these geegaws and doodads that are now, by law, required.  And people will rush right out and plop down $100 on a piece of shit bluetooth headset if only so they don’t have to deal with Johnny Law.

Third is a negligible safety impact.  Trust me, I know how stupid people are.  I got nailed on my scoot nearly two years ago, thanks in part to some dumb broad who was jabbering away while cutting across three lanes and right into me.  But really, even after that, what will be the realized public benefit from this type of legislation?  We have to have fences around swimming pools, but kids still manage to drown themselves.

Fourth is the risk to personal privacy.  Have you ever tried to hijack someones BT connection?  I tried it last night on one of my friends, with permission.  Easy as pie.  95% of users will never change their password from 0000 or 1234 or 1379.  With my phone, all I can do is manage to cause someone a slight inconvenience.  With other equipment, it’s possible to eavesdrop or completely hijack a hijacked phone/earpice.

I say all that to say this…

I have not, and most likely will not ever, obey this stupid ass piece of legislation.

And the CHP trooper that stopped me this morning was nice enough to let me off with a warning.

Heller-bration, originally uploaded by crzyrider250.

Finally.

It took a few days to set up the fitting tribute that I wanted to make, but the wait was well worth it.

The pairings were quite well executed in my opinion.

The bottle of Jack was obtained at the distillery back in 2005 or so. It’s one of their commemorative bottles that they have special license to sell. I had no idea that Lynchburg was in a dry county - that just seems…odd. I’ve been saving it for a special occasion. An occasion like, say, someone finally recognizing the common sense interpretation of a law that, really, shouldn’t need interpreting.

Even then, only 5/9 of the Supreme’s could figure out what it meant.

The cigar is a Partagas Serie D. No.4 robusto. Hecho en Habana. The glorious triumph of the free market. It is quite a fine smoke, and I generally save the few I have for special circumstances. Seems fitting.

The meal that preceded was also somewhat special.

My grandfather was a chief in the USN submarine fleet for some 30 years. Being the competent and capable chief that he was, he befriended some of the “brass”, getting invited to Admiral’s homes for barbeques and whatnot. He got this recipe from Admiral Crow, and passed it on to me a few years back. Again, it’s something I keep for special occasions. I’ll post the recipe in comments.

I fired up the barbeque, threw on the meat, mixed up a bunch of Mint Juleps, and grilled. Well, I really sat with my feet up and read “Drega” while I was waiting for the proper time on each side to elapse. It was…sublime.

I’ve just finished my cigar, another julep and a glass of JD on the rocks.

Just imagine, I thought to myself, every Sunday could be like this. If only there weren’t a bunch of people whose only goal in life is to tell me how, where, with what and within what constraints I can live mine. Jolly green giants, walking the earth…with guns.

Just to see if it will work, as it should after yesterdays landmark…

I’m beginning the steps needed to apply for a concealed carry permit.  It will be interesting to see if the Sheriff sticks to the “may issue” that is so prominently displayed on their information page.

I’m also looking into what it will take to become an NRA certified Instructor.  I already do what I can to introduce those close to me to safely handling firearms and learning to shoot, lets see about fishing in a bigger pond.

Helmke:

The Heller decision, however, will most likely embolden criminal defendants, and ideological extremists, to file new legal attacks on existing gun laws.  With the help of the Brady Center’s legal team, those attacks can, and must, be successfully resisted in the interest of public safety.

Because the Brady Legal Team proved to be so effective here.

All it takes is one juror having read about the FIJA to get on one of the panels where the ATF is railroading a gun owner for having a rifle that malfunctions, or for abbreviating on a 4473, or for having a magazine that is “readily detachable” after a little Dremel work in their labs, or whatever, and what’s going to happen with that crack Brady Legal Team?

You Sunk My Battleship

Sorry for you, Paul.  Not only are you going to have to fight these battles.

You are going to lose.

Something about Stevens and Breyer’s dissenting opinions this morning just clicked.

Both of the Justice’s interpreted the Second Amendment to be a collective right, established for the purpose of the militia securing a “Free State,” and having nothing to do with self-defense.

But what of Defense of Self against the state?

It seems that they have forgotten or conveniently ignored the fact that the Founding Fathers had just thrown off the tyrannical bounds of an oppressive government and they used largely personal weapons to do so.  The British had attempted to disarm many of the more boisterous colonists, as Scalia noted in the majority opinion, as a precursor to putting down the insurrection.

I guess it would be a bit much to ask of the Judicial Branch to recognize the right of the People to throw off the weight of a corrupt government.  The blood of Patriots and tyrants, and such.

Coffee and cigarettes on the West Coast. Following on SCOTUSBlog.

Time to wait.

7:02a: Not yet

7:04a: The suspense is killing me. The Davis decision had to be first today? Really?

7:05a: Heller will be last, but at least the waiting will end today.

7:07a: Scalia wrote the Morgan Stanley decision. A lot of people predicted Heller to be the only opinion he would write. I wonder who it will be…

7:11a: Big gulps, huh guys?

7:13a: Affirmed. Waiting to read the decision.

7:14a: “Individual right” - Breyer, Stevens, Souter and Ginsburd dissent. Of course…

7:15a: A 5-4 split - thank god for Bush’s nominations.

7:18a: The Brady Bunch may have just, collectively, shit their pants.

7:21a: Note to self - Pepto Bismol is a tasty and effective coffee creamer.

7:23a: Opinion is here.

The District’s total ban
on handgun possession in the home amounts to a prohibition on an
entire class of “arms” that Americans overwhelmingly choose for the
lawful purpose of self-defense. Under any of the standards of scrutiny
the Court has applied to enumerated constitutional rights, this
prohibition—in the place where the importance of the lawful defense
of self, family, and property is most acute—would fail constitutional
muster.

I’m glad to to Miller get mentioned as a limitation on arms “in common use at the time.” CA AWB could see some scrutiny.

Footnote 5 is awesome - I like the part where it states “Justice Stevens is dead wrong” in regards to reading parts of the First Amendment as collective rights.

“Second Amendment extends, prima
facie, to all instruments that constitute bearable arms,
even those that were not in existence at the time of the
founding.”

Putting all of
these textual elements together, we find that they guarantee
the individual right to possess and carry weapons in
case of confrontation.

Hello! That right there looks like basis to challenge CCW permitting in many states, including my own.

Although we do not undertake an
exhaustive historical analysis today of the full scope of the
Second Amendment, nothing in our opinion should be
taken to cast doubt on longstanding prohibitions on the
possession of firearms by felons and the mentally ill, or
laws forbidding the carrying of firearms in sensitive places
such as schools and government buildings, or laws imposing
conditions and qualifications on the commercial sale of
arms.

If those are the only restrictions, for the moment, I can live with it. Everything else is fair game. I expect the politicians in places like Chicago, New York and Sacramento to be inundated with correspondence, and soon thereafter, legal petitions.

More later.  Time to go to work.

Out of Public Safety, where it passed 3-2.  I’m going to guess Cedillo, Perata, and Romero were the “ayes.”

On to Senate Appropriations.

Then Senate Floor.

Then Assembly Floor.

Finally, Governator.

Somebody, please kill this damn thing before it gets to Arnold.  He won’t kill it this year.

California gunnies aren’t the only ones with something to lose, here, either.  Ammunition manufacturers, reloading suppliers and internet retailers are going to get hit hard.

If your Senator happens to be on Appropriations, send them a letter.  If they’re not your Senator, but have an (R) after their name, send them a letter anyway.  It can’t hurt.

Then, send your Senator a letter, for when it hits the Senate Floor.

Last time this came up, my Assemblymen voted against it, so I’m happy with that.  It’s the other bastards…

Is it not a sport, during which you…shoot?

I’m a pretty well rounded shooter.  I tend not to belittle race gunners, because I want a race gun.  I don’t talk down about SASS because, well, it looks fun as hell.  I’m not going to bag on a hunter or trap shooter, because I do those things, too.  As far as I’m concerned, give me a clown with a balloon in his head and a Super Soaker and I’m happy - I’ve got a target and I’ve got a trigger.

Sebastian posted a story, entitled “Airsoft Guns Aren’t Toys”, about a couple of MENSA candidates who broke into a school to play airsoft.  This has been going on for years.  It’s not even news to anyone who played before Wal-Mart, CTD and Big 5 stocked airsoft guns.  Before that happened, when airsoft guns were selectively imported by only a few companies from only a few manufacturers and cost a couple hundred bucks for an entry-level gun, stupid kids were still a problem.  It’s been a problem.  It will, most likely, continue to be a problem.  Stupid is as stupid does.

In comments, he said “I agree, they aren’t shooting sports.”  This was in response to a previous comment, lampooning airsoft as nothing more than a glorified game of tag or capture-the-flag, but most definitely not a “shooting sport.”

I’ve been using airsoft equipment as a means to introduce new shooters to real guns for a few years, basically since the first person I ever taught to shoot.  As such, I disagreed, and left a comment that was, really, too big/detailed to be a comment and not a post.

I feel I have to disagree.

Airsoft is both - a shooting sport and a MILSIM/realistic way to play “guns.”

Hear me out.

I’ve done both. I spent several years and several thousand dollars on the MILSIM aspect of the game. Proper period uniform, weapons, travel to designated fields with hundreds of others. A little like Civil War re-enactors…on full auto with plastic BB’s. And yes, I agree it is stupid as hell to have that kind of weaponry and dress, running around, say, a high school. It’s a good way to get shot, and it falls to the parents not to let their kids be that dumb. It’s also stupid not to use safety gear. As they say, it’s all fun and games until someone puts an eye out, and then it’s fun and games you can’t see.

As a shooting sport and a way to introduce new shooters, airsoft guns have their niche. In Japan or Hong Kong, where it originated, the only way to shoot IPSC is with an airsoft pistol, and they’re just as expensive and tricked out as full on race guns used in IPSC here. Search google for “IPSC airsoft”. It’s fun too, and incredibly freeing, to be able to set up a course of fire in ones own living room, bedroom, etc. What better way to practice for home defense than IN the home.

Additionally, a gas blow-back pistol, using HFC22 gas, recoils about as realistically as a .22. BB’s will, within 25ft or so, fly reliably to point of aim. They have realistic controls, realistic ergonomics and realistic sights. In other words, using nothing but an airsoft pistol in my garage, I can completely take a new shooter thru the four rules, thru muzzle discipline, thru controls and nomenclature, thru proper storage and handling, thru target acquisition, thru proper sighting and thru trigger control.

Before ever loading a live round and paying for a spot on a range, I have instilled the basics and made the shooter comfortable with operation and handling. Additionally, while learning, the shooter is not endangering themself or anyone else with a stray muzzle or clingy trigger finger. An ND with a 6mm BB is a _bit_ more survivable than a .22 or 9mm, and it manages to teach the lesson without any pesky funerals or ER visits.

By my eyes, that makes it a “shooting sport” in that not only is it an activity that involves launching projectiles from a gun-like object, but it is training for actual shooting, something which is getting to be outlandishly, prohibitively expensive.  I’m willing to eat that cost to get new shooters to the range, but to make that live ammo and range time more effective and well spent, I use airsoft first.

Now, the goofballs who break into schools, or who hide in the bushes and shoot their dog, or who think they can hold up a bank with an airsoft gun - they aren’t anymore a part of the legitimate “airsoft community” than murderers, robbers and rapists are a part of the legitimate gun community, so I don’t expect to see that strawman.

I don’t know - am I wrong?  I don’t feel wrong.

I was up bright and early yesterday for the non-decision, but after that, I was bogged down at work.

Last night, I hit the PO box to find that I now have some new reading material.

After a quick print and fold job, it looks like I’m reading this.

I figure I can get away with it while I’m at work without having to answer questions or make observations more than “You should really read this - it’ll change your life, man!” with a bit of stoner contemplation.

Now, if these damn phones would just stop ringing for two freakin’ seconds…

Probably nothing else today.  I’ve got at TWD update for tomorrow, and otherwise, I’m waiting for the results of Heller and California Senate Bills 2062 and 2235.

Oh…and I may have put a down payment until payday on a rifle for Boomershoot next year.  It might be a Savage 12 F/TR in .308.  Might…and I swear I didn’t know the gun shop had one when I walked in there, hypothetically.

Predicted High: 86

Actual: 106

Fuck you, meteorologists.

Within 5 degrees is acceptable.  Miss by 10 degrees, and you know, everyone has an off day…

20 degrees?  Are you even trying?

But, notice, it only feels like it’s 101.  Bull.  Shit.  It feels like I’m wearing a velour sweatsuit on the surface of the sun.  In a suana.  Near a blast furnace.  And I’m grilling…my face.

I predict a lack of posting this weekend if this keeps up.

My buddy Haji is on a bit of an interesting quest.  I thought I’d try to help him out, but when I sat down at the Photocrunchomatic, all I was getting was this little voice in my head, saying “Remember, when you supposedly gunned down those zombies in your yard?  or the valley?  or the grocery store?  That would be a cool target, right?”

Little by little, I began to give in, and a new target was born.

Zombies…in the Valley! (pdf, ~750K)  Derived from the chapter found here.

I thought it seemed interesting, at least.  And scores can range from -100 to 100 points, leaving a lot of room for error.  I took it to the range to test it out.  Keep in mind this is intended to be shot at 25yd.  I cheated and shot it with my 10/22, scoring a +70.

Then I realized that, to be really accurate (no pun, I swear) I should shoot it with a 400yd capable rifle, so I used my CZ - the same rifle I “saved the day” with in that chapter.  I got a +40 (7 headshots, 3 on the no-shoot).  It wasn’t my fault though - my scope won’t focus down as close as 25yds, so I was shooting with 2-4 reticles at blurry shapes.  Waahhh…

So, everyone would have been eaten and/or shot by me, rather than saved.  Neat-o.

You, however, have the aura of a hero.  You exude confidence at every step, and can sneeze a bullet into an inch at this range.  You are the kind of person who would save the day, no?

Print one out and write your own ending.

Interactive story time! Yay!

The latest chapter of The Walking Dead is up.  Mission of Mercy.  Check it out.

My dad was examining the wound of the guys leg. It was gross. It was already inflamed, turning colors that shouldn’t be present on a human body, and leaking a putrid mixture of fluids from a half-dozen places. I could clearly see where two bites had been taken out of the flesh, down into the deep muscle of his calf. I don’t know how he ran three-quarters of a mile on that pin. Adrenaline, I told myself, it’s a beautiful thing. The guy was still talking, telling us about the one who’d bit him. He talked about that moan I knew so well. The moan had drawn others, and he been trying to climb up a light pole in the parking lot to escape when the few others in the lot had seen him.

My dad had his leg bandaged, and he was trying it out with some weight on it. I helped him to his feet and draped his arm over my shoulder and led him outside.

If you haven’t yet caught up on the whole series, it won’t take long.  Start at the beginning and work towards today.