bearingarms--2020-05-12--L.A. Inmates Try To Catch COVID-19 To Score Early Release

I ’ ve noted several times in previous posts that I understand that elected officials are in a tough spot regarding inmates in jails and prisons during this pandemic .
If they leave them where they are–overcrowded correctional facilities–then they ’ ll catch hell if the infection claims any significant number of lives .
For many , their hope is that the prisoners will be released but recognize that the lockdown orders are meant to prevent the spread of disease .
That may or may not work on some of them , of course .
However , it now seems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ figured out the secret to scoring an early release .
Catch the disease .
Inmates in California jails purposefully tried to infect themselves with the coronavirus because they believed they could be released , the Los Angeles County Sheriff ’ s Department said .
Sheriff Alex Villanueva said in a news conference Monday that surveillance videos showed inmates in L.A. County jails trying to infect themselves by taking sips from the same bottle of hot water , “ sniffing out of a common mask ” and passing around a styrofoam cup to share @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sharing the hot water from the dispenser in the same bottle , ” he said at the news conference .
“ Right after this video was taken , a nurse came to take temperatures .
With the hot water , they were trying to falsely elevate their temperature readings to generate the symptoms of COVID-19.
” Within a week of what was videotaped by surveillance cameras , 21 inmates tested positive for COVID-19 , Villanueva said .
“ It ’ s sad to think someone deliberately tried to expose themselves to COVID-19 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a mistaken belief among the inmate population that if they tested positive , there was a way to force our hand and somehow release more inmates out of the jail environment , and that ’ s not going to happen.
” However , just because Villaneuva isn ’ t releasing any more folks doesn ’ t mean it won ’ t work in other places .
Hypothetically , anyway .
Word will get around , I ’ m sure , and someone will try it somewhere else .
Of course , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I ’ m personally in favor of putting them on display so the public can point and laugh at them .
Yet let ’ s also remember that part of the drive behind it was the release of so many prisoners back onto the streets despite these individuals not having done their time .
People like Villaneuva and others are directly responsible for the attitude that led to this .
The good sheriff shouldn ’ t try to pretend otherwise , either .
What worries me is that someone , somewhere , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Maybe it didn ’ t get themselves out of prison , but it may have let someone out who also happens to be a dangerous individual .
We ’ ve already seen a few such people be released already , after all .
Another round of releases may well create more problems than it would be intended to resolve .
Villanueva has said and done plenty I disagree with in recent weeks , but his decision to not release inmates who contract the disease is definitely the right one .

I’ve noted several times in previous posts that I understand that elected officials are in a tough spot regarding inmates in jails and prisons during this pandemic. If they leave them where they are–overcrowded correctional facilities–then they’ll catch hell if the infection claims any significant number of lives.
For many, their hope is that the prisoners will be released but recognize that the lockdown orders are meant to prevent the spread of disease. That may or may not work on some of them, of course.
However, it now seems that inmates in Los Angeles County have figured out the secret to scoring an early release. Catch the disease.
Inmates in California jails purposefully tried to infect themselves with the coronavirus because they believed they could be released, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said. Sheriff Alex Villanueva said in a news conference Monday that surveillance videos showed inmates in L.A. County jails trying to infect themselves by taking sips from the same bottle of hot water, “sniffing out of a common mask” and passing around a styrofoam cup to share. “Now, they’re sharing the hot water from the dispenser in the same bottle,” he said at the news conference. “Right after this video was taken, a nurse came to take temperatures. With the hot water, they were trying to falsely elevate their temperature readings to generate the symptoms of COVID-19.” Within a week of what was videotaped by surveillance cameras, 21 inmates tested positive for COVID-19, Villanueva said. “It’s sad to think someone deliberately tried to expose themselves to COVID-19,” he said. “Somehow there was a mistaken belief among the inmate population that if they tested positive, there was a way to force our hand and somehow release more inmates out of the jail environment, and that’s not going to happen.”
However, just because Villaneuva isn’t releasing any more folks doesn’t mean it won’t work in other places. Hypothetically, anyway. Word will get around, I’m sure, and someone will try it somewhere else.
Of course, they then bring what happens next on themselves and I’m personally in favor of putting them on display so the public can point and laugh at them.
Yet let’s also remember that part of the drive behind it was the release of so many prisoners back onto the streets despite these individuals not having done their time. People like Villaneuva and others are directly responsible for the attitude that led to this. The good sheriff shouldn’t try to pretend otherwise, either.
What worries me is that someone, somewhere, may well have made this work somehow. Maybe it didn’t get themselves out of prison, but it may have let someone out who also happens to be a dangerous individual. We’ve already seen a few such people be released already, after all. Another round of releases may well create more problems than it would be intended to resolve.
Villanueva has said and done plenty I disagree with in recent weeks, but his decision to not release inmates who contract the disease is definitely the right one.


bearingarms--2020-05-13--Guns Found In MA Armed Robbery Another Gun Control Failure

Massachusetts is one of the most gun controlled states in the nation .
Really , only California has a more anti-gun reputation .
Proponents of Massachusetts-style gun control argue that such measures work , that it somehow keeps guns out of the hands of bad people .
They ’ ll provide all sorts of claims along those lines .
However , are they right ?
Do such laws keep bad people from having guns ?
Well , based on what police found at the scene of a Dorchester armed robbery , I can ’ t help but say that no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 p.m. , detectives executed the search warrant at 19 Olney St. as part of an armed robbery investigation , Boston police said in a statement .
Five loaded guns were found in the residence : a 9mm Taurus handgun , a .357-caliber magnum Smith & Wesson revolver , a .380-caliber Taurus handgun , a 9mm Browning Arms handgun , and a .380-caliber Lorcin handgun .
Detectives also found “ a large amount ” of ammunition , police said .
The search warrant stems from an incident that occurred Saturday night , Boston @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a statement .
Around midnight , officers responded to a report of an armed robbery in progress by Bowdoin Street and Hamilton Street .
Upon arrival , two victims told officers they had been robbed at gunpoint , authorities said .
One victim had met the other to sell him a car for $ 8,000 , police were told .
As they conducted the transaction , they were allegedly approached by Brandon Pight , of Dorchester , a man whom the victims were familiar with , police said .
He “ lured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Olney Street and allegedly pointed a gun at them , demanding the money , authorities said .
The victims gave Pight the money , police said .
As they complied , an unidentified man allegedly approached one of the victims , took his key fob , and fled in the victim ’ s car .
Now , if Massachusetts has so many gun laws and gun laws work , then why were police able to find so many handguns in the possession of a criminal ?
Why , it ’ s almost like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won ’ t hesitate to break other laws as well .
In fairness , we don ’ t know how Pight got his guns .
He ’ s charged with armed robbery and receiving stolen property , but no mention of him being arrested for being an armed felon or anything .
Regardless , we have another ( alleged ) example of a criminal having a gun despite the plethora of gun control regulations in the state .
While law-abiding citizens have difficulty getting guns in the state , Pight didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ ll be interesting to find out where he obtained his firearms , though .
My guess is the black market where no one cares too much about why someone wants a gun or whether they can pass a background check or not .
Just because there ’ s no mention of the guns having been stolen doesn ’ t mean they weren ’ t .
Without serial numbers , there ’ s no way to identify a stolen gun , so Pight might have dodged the proverbial bullet on that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though , is that criminals will get guns .
You ’ re not going to stop them from getting them .
All you really do is make it difficult on the people who aren ’ t a threat while those who are will continue to do as they ’ ve always done .
I keep hoping against hope that someday , anti-gunners will come to realize this fact .

Massachusetts is one of the most gun controlled states in the nation. Really, only California has a more anti-gun reputation. Proponents of Massachusetts-style gun control argue that such measures work, that it somehow keeps guns out of the hands of bad people. They’ll provide all sorts of claims along those lines.
However, are they right? Do such laws keep bad people from having guns?
Well, based on what police found at the scene of a Dorchester armed robbery, I can’t help but say that no, they don’t.
Around 1 p.m., detectives executed the search warrant at 19 Olney St. as part of an armed robbery investigation, Boston police said in a statement. Five loaded guns were found in the residence: a 9mm Taurus handgun, a .357-caliber magnum Smith & Wesson revolver, a .380-caliber Taurus handgun, a 9mm Browning Arms handgun, and a .380-caliber Lorcin handgun. Detectives also found “a large amount” of ammunition, police said. The search warrant stems from an incident that occurred Saturday night, Boston police spokesman Sergeant Detective John Boyle said in a statement. Around midnight, officers responded to a report of an armed robbery in progress by Bowdoin Street and Hamilton Street. Upon arrival, two victims told officers they had been robbed at gunpoint, authorities said. One victim had met the other to sell him a car for $8,000, police were told. As they conducted the transaction, they were allegedly approached by Brandon Pight, of Dorchester, a man whom the victims were familiar with, police said. He “lured them to a nearby house” on Olney Street and allegedly pointed a gun at them, demanding the money, authorities said. The victims gave Pight the money, police said. As they complied, an unidentified man allegedly approached one of the victims, took his key fob, and fled in the victim’s car.
Now, if Massachusetts has so many gun laws and gun laws work, then why were police able to find so many handguns in the possession of a criminal? Why, it’s almost like people who will break laws against robbery won’t hesitate to break other laws as well.
In fairness, we don’t know how Pight got his guns. He’s charged with armed robbery and receiving stolen property, but no mention of him being arrested for being an armed felon or anything.
Regardless, we have another (alleged) example of a criminal having a gun despite the plethora of gun control regulations in the state. While law-abiding citizens have difficulty getting guns in the state, Pight didn’t seem to have all that much trouble. It’ll be interesting to find out where he obtained his firearms, though. My guess is the black market where no one cares too much about why someone wants a gun or whether they can pass a background check or not.
Just because there’s no mention of the guns having been stolen doesn’t mean they weren’t. Without serial numbers, there’s no way to identify a stolen gun, so Pight might have dodged the proverbial bullet on that one.
The important takeaway here, though, is that criminals will get guns. You’re not going to stop them from getting them. All you really do is make it difficult on the people who aren’t a threat while those who are will continue to do as they’ve always done.
I keep hoping against hope that someday, anti-gunners will come to realize this fact.


bearingarms--2020-05-13--Are Ahmaud Arbery's Accused Murderers A Couple Of Killer "Karens"?

Most of us know what a “ Karen ” is by now , right ?
The word has quickly become an indispensable part of our daily lexicon , in part because there are so many of them out there these days .
You know the type ; the officious busybody who can ’ t wait to talk to the manager about some supposed slight at the grocery store , or who call the police to report that a church has at least fifteen people inside when they ’ re only supposed to have ten under a governor ’ s stay-at-home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called police a few weeks ago after they saw a dad playing with their kid in a Colorado park .
A Karen in Idaho had police called on her after she started freaking out over people standing too close together ( at least in her opinion ) in a Little Caesars restaurant .
According to meme researcher and Kansas State University professor Heather Suzanne Woods , a Karen ’ s essential nature is one of “ entitlement , selfishness , and a desire to complain.
” A Karen “ demands the world exist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for others , and she is willing to risk or demean others to achieve her ends.
” If that ’ s the essence of Karenism , then doesn ’ t that make Gregory and Travis McMichaels killer Karens ?
I mean , it ’ s pretty Karen-like to take off after a guy because they think he ’ s been rummaging through a neighbor ’ s unfinished home for months and they believe they have the right to try to stop him and hold him for police , isn ’ t it ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve been able to look at for ourselves , including the original police report filed after Ahmaud Arbery ’ s shooting , Gregory and Travis McMichaels come across as busybodies who couldn ’ t stand the fact that the guy they just knew had been prowling around their neighborhood ( and maybe the guy who stole Gregory ’ s pistol from an unlocked car ) was running by their home with impunity .
Only a Karen would see Arbery go past their house in broad daylight and yell out to their son “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Let ’ s go !
” Only a Karen would grab their guns and hop in the truck to pursue the guy , not thinking for a moment about what they might look like from the perspective of the guy they were chasing .
Only a Karen would follow the guy through the neighborhood , even when he kept evading them and running away .
A persistant Karen wouldn ’ t think to themselves at some point , “ This is ridiculous .
What am I doing ?
” No , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after a couple of attempts , the Karens would manage to cut him off .
Only a Karen would stand in the bed of the pickup with his handgun while Karen , Jr. jumped out of the driver ’ s seat , shotgun in his hands to ensure compliance with their orders .
Picture the scene : the truck ’ s blocking the right hand traffic lane , and Karen , Jr. is standing by the driver ’ s side door , ready to step out into the left lane .
There ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , especially now that another neighbor ’ s pulled up in his truck behind the perp .
The Karens have finally got their man .
Only a Karen would yell at him to stop , because they want to ask him some questions and the police are on their way .
He keeps running .
He jukes right around the pickup truck , and Karen , Jr. turns and approaches him from the front left side .
Suddenly , the guy turns and runs at Karen , Jr .
He reaches for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A struggle .
Two more shots .
He turns to run again , but his feet aren ’ t working right .
He stumbles a few steps , then crumples to the street under the warm February sun .
It can ’ t be the fault of the Karens , who are forever blameless in their own eyes .
No , this guy must ’ ve had it coming to him .
It may be that the McMichaels are terrible racists .
I don ’ t know , but I ’ m willing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or the other .
However , I know for a fact that they are Karens , albeit on the extreme end of the Karen spectrum .
What I can ’ t understand is why I ’ m seeing some people who usually make fun of Karens defend the McMichaels on social media .
When a Karen called police on a dad playing catch with his kid in a park , folks had a field day mocking her for her heavy-handed response and siccing the police on people for no good reason .
Two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re pretty sure has been wandering around the neighborhood at night and going into a neighbor ’ s unfinished home with the intent of forcing him to stop so they can “ ask him some questions ” and it ’ s all good ?
It ’ s not all good .
It ’ s Karen-ism on steroids .
Remember , according to Gregory McMichaels ’ own statement to police , he hadn ’ t witnessed Arbery commit a crime that day .
The most he could tell police was that there had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neighborhood , and he had previously seen Arbery on surveillance footage .
Police report that the only break-in reported to them between January 1st and February 23rd , when Arbery was killed , was a report of a handgun belonging to Gregory McMichaels that had been stolen from Travis McMichaels ’ unlocked truck on January 1st .
WTOC-TV reported Wednesday that between October 25th , 2019 and February 23rd of this year , there were five 911 calls made to police about trespassing and McMichaels stolen handgun , but no actual burglary calls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McMichaels told police that he had witnessed someone enter English ’ s unfinished home , and waited out front until police arrived .
Police made contact with English , who actually lives about 50 miles away .
English told police that he ’ d had issues with a guy going into the partially constructed home over the past several months , but stated that it appeared the individual was “ only trespassing and plundering around , ” and that he hadn ’ t noticed anything missing from the home site .
The last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on February 23rd , when someone called to once again report that an individual was inside English ’ s unfinished home .
Arbery was caught on surveillance footage inside the unfinished home around that time , but the attorney for Larry English says her client never asked for assistance from the McMichaels , doesn ’ t know them , and would have simply called the police as he had done in the past if he had been aware of Arbery ’ s trespass .
In the months prior to February 23 , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inside the house ( which was and remains a construction site ) at night .
Mr. English has never said that Mr. Arbery was the person or persons in those videos , and he does not see a resemblance now .
After the first time that video captured someone in the house , Mr. English contacted local law enforcement on a non-emergency number and made them aware of the unauthorized entry onto his property .
He never used the word “ burglary.
” He never shared any of this information with the McMichaels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Nothing was ever stolen from the house — which , again , was a construction site .
Even if there had been a robbery , however , the English family would not have wanted a vigilante response .
They would have entrusted the matter to law enforcement authorities .
On February 23 , the English family was two hours away from the Satilla Shores neighborhood and was unaware of the tragedy that was unfolding .
Mr. English was not the one who called 911 on February 23 .
The only crime that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the senseless killing of Mr. Arbery .
The McMichaels never even reached out to English to see if he needed or wanted their help watching over his property , but they took it upon themselves to hop in their truck and chase after Arbery when they saw him running down the street on February 23rd ?
That ’ s about as Karen as you can get without a poofy hairdo .
By the way , I ’ m not saying that it ’ s Karen-like to call police when you think someone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guys carrying stuff out of the unoccupied home across the road from my farm , I would probably call my local sheriff and ask them to swing by just to check on things .
However , calling the police and asking them to check on a neighbor ’ s property is very different than tearing ass after someone simply because I thought I was entitled to stop them and question them myself .
The former is simply being a good neighbor .
The latter is being a Karen , and in this case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and tragic consequences .

Most of us know what a “Karen” is by now, right? The word has quickly become an indispensable part of our daily lexicon, in part because there are so many of them out there these days. You know the type; the officious busybody who can’t wait to talk to the manager about some supposed slight at the grocery store, or who call the police to report that a church has at least fifteen people inside when they’re only supposed to have ten under a governor’s stay-at-home order.
It was a Karen who called police a few weeks ago after they saw a dad playing with their kid in a Colorado park. A Karen in Idaho had police called on her after she started freaking out over people standing too close together (at least in her opinion) in a Little Caesars restaurant.
According to meme researcher and Kansas State University professor Heather Suzanne Woods, a Karen’s essential nature is one of “entitlement, selfishness, and a desire to complain.” A Karen “demands the world exist according to her standards with little regard for others, and she is willing to risk or demean others to achieve her ends.”
If that’s the essence of Karenism, then doesn’t that make Gregory and Travis McMichaels killer Karens? I mean, it’s pretty Karen-like to take off after a guy because they think he’s been rummaging through a neighbor’s unfinished home for months and they believe they have the right to try to stop him and hold him for police, isn’t it? Based on the evidence that we’ve been able to look at for ourselves, including the original police report filed after Ahmaud Arbery’s shooting, Gregory and Travis McMichaels come across as busybodies who couldn’t stand the fact that the guy they just knew had been prowling around their neighborhood (and maybe the guy who stole Gregory’s pistol from an unlocked car) was running by their home with impunity.
Only a Karen would see Arbery go past their house in broad daylight and yell out to their son “The guy is running down the street. Let’s go!”
Only a Karen would grab their guns and hop in the truck to pursue the guy, not thinking for a moment about what they might look like from the perspective of the guy they were chasing. Only a Karen would follow the guy through the neighborhood, even when he kept evading them and running away. A persistant Karen wouldn’t think to themselves at some point,“This is ridiculous. What am I doing?” No, they’d keep going, and maybe after a couple of attempts, the Karens would manage to cut him off.
Only a Karen would stand in the bed of the pickup with his handgun while Karen, Jr. jumped out of the driver’s seat, shotgun in his hands to ensure compliance with their orders. Picture the scene: the truck’s blocking the right hand traffic lane, and Karen, Jr. is standing by the driver’s side door, ready to step out into the left lane. There’s nowhere for the guy to go, especially now that another neighbor’s pulled up in his truck behind the perp. The Karens have finally got their man.
Only a Karen would yell at him to stop, because they want to ask him some questions and the police are on their way. He keeps running. He jukes right around the pickup truck, and Karen, Jr. turns and approaches him from the front left side. Suddenly, the guy turns and runs at Karen, Jr. He reaches for the shotgun. There is a boom. A struggle. Two more shots. He turns to run again, but his feet aren’t working right. He stumbles a few steps, then crumples to the street under the warm February sun. It can’t be the fault of the Karens, who are forever blameless in their own eyes. No, this guy must’ve had it coming to him.
It may be that the McMichaels are terrible racists. I don’t know, but I’m willing to keep an open mind one way or the other. However, I know for a fact that they are Karens, albeit on the extreme end of the Karen spectrum.
What I can’t understand is why I’m seeing some people who usually make fun of Karens defend the McMichaels on social media. When a Karen called police on a dad playing catch with his kid in a park, folks had a field day mocking her for her heavy-handed response and siccing the police on people for no good reason. Two Karens go after a guy that they’re pretty sure has been wandering around the neighborhood at night and going into a neighbor’s unfinished home with the intent of forcing him to stop so they can “ask him some questions” and it’s all good? It’s not all good. It’s Karen-ism on steroids.
Remember, according to Gregory McMichaels’ own statement to police, he hadn’t witnessed Arbery commit a crime that day. The most he could tell police was that there had been “break ins” in the neighborhood, and he had previously seen Arbery on surveillance footage. Police report that the only break-in reported to them between January 1st and February 23rd, when Arbery was killed, was a report of a handgun belonging to Gregory McMichaels that had been stolen from Travis McMichaels’ unlocked truck on January 1st.
WTOC-TV reported Wednesday that between October 25th, 2019 and February 23rd of this year, there were five 911 calls made to police about trespassing and McMichaels stolen handgun, but no actual burglary calls.
The first 911 call came on Oct. 25 and is classified as a trespass. The homeowner, Larry English, called 911 because someone was inside the home, and it activated cameras. The call lasted about 13 minutes and ended when the unidentified man walked off the property without taking anything. The next call came nearly a month later on Nov. 18. English called again about someone inside and reportedly told dispatch, “he had the same issue with different people last night” indicating it isn’t the same person always inside. This call lasted about 20 minutes and ended with the officer changing it from a trespassing to extra watch, indicating officers would check the property. The third call is on Jan. 1. Travis McMichael said someone stole a pistol from his unlocked truck; no suspect description is provided in the rather short CAD log and incident report.
Then on February 11th, Travis McMichaels told police that he had witnessed someone enter English’s unfinished home, and waited out front until police arrived. Police made contact with English, who actually lives about 50 miles away. English told police that he’d had issues with a guy going into the partially constructed home over the past several months, but stated that it appeared the individual was “only trespassing and plundering around,” and that he hadn’t noticed anything missing from the home site.
The last 911 call was made around 1:15 p.m. on February 23rd, when someone called to once again report that an individual was inside English’s unfinished home. Arbery was caught on surveillance footage inside the unfinished home around that time, but the attorney for Larry English says her client never asked for assistance from the McMichaels, doesn’t know them, and would have simply called the police as he had done in the past if he had been aware of Arbery’s trespass.
In the months prior to February 23, a motion-activated camera had captured videos of someone inside the house (which was and remains a construction site) at night. Mr. English has never said that Mr. Arbery was the person or persons in those videos, and he does not see a resemblance now. After the first time that video captured someone in the house, Mr. English contacted local law enforcement on a non-emergency number and made them aware of the unauthorized entry onto his property. He never used the word “burglary.” He never shared any of this information with the McMichaels, whom he did not even know. Nothing was ever stolen from the house — which, again, was a construction site. Even if there had been a robbery, however, the English family would not have wanted a vigilante response. They would have entrusted the matter to law enforcement authorities. On February 23, the English family was two hours away from the Satilla Shores neighborhood and was unaware of the tragedy that was unfolding. Mr. English was not the one who called 911 on February 23. The only crime that the homeowner has seen captured on video is the senseless killing of Mr. Arbery.
The McMichaels never even reached out to English to see if he needed or wanted their help watching over his property, but they took it upon themselves to hop in their truck and chase after Arbery when they saw him running down the street on February 23rd? That’s about as Karen as you can get without a poofy hairdo.
By the way, I’m not saying that it’s Karen-like to call police when you think someone may be trespassing. If I saw guys carrying stuff out of the unoccupied home across the road from my farm, I would probably call my local sheriff and ask them to swing by just to check on things. However, calling the police and asking them to check on a neighbor’s property is very different than tearing ass after someone simply because I thought I was entitled to stop them and question them myself. The former is simply being a good neighbor. The latter is being a Karen, and in this case, being a Karen came with terrible and tragic consequences.


bearingarms--2020-05-13--Tragic Shooting Of GA 12-Year-Old Illustrates Need For Gun Education

In the course of my day , I read a lot of news stories .
I see tons of them each and every day .
A lot aren ’ t worth going into , though .
I mean , yes , a homicide in Corpus Christi , TX is tragic , but so is the one in Chicago , IL and the one in New Orleans , LA and the one is Sacramento , CA .
They ’ re all tragic and we can ’ t cover all of them .
Frankly , I wouldn ’ t want to .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , not a crime site .
My wife , however , tries to help me out .
She sometimes sees stories before I do and forwards them to me .
Sometimes , they ’ re in the above category and I can ’ t really use them for anything , but it ’ s still good to see how violent the world is and how important our Second Amendment rights actually are .
Unfortunately , she sent me this one today , and it just illustrates a need I ’ ve been hoping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In particularly , gun safety training for every child in this country .
If we had that , then maybe this story wouldn ’ t have happened .
In other words , it looks like the kids found a dumped firearm and , thinking it was a toy , the five-year-old picked up the weapon and fired it .
Five years old is school age .
Since Georgia has a pre-kindergarten program , the boy would have been in school for two years .
Imagine if he ’ d been taught how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do if he saw one ?
What if he ’ d learned that without an orange tip , it wasn ’ t a toy and that he should tell an adult ?
There ’ s absolutely no reason why gun safety education shouldn ’ t be provided to each and every child in this country .
Right now , most gun-owning parents do this on their own , as they should .
However , there are millions of other households where this kind of thing isn ’ t being talked about .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ owning parents don ’ t even think about educating their kids on gun safety .
After all , they don ’ t have a gun .
Why should it matter ?
The problem is , as illustrated by this case is that sometimes criminals dump firearms .
They don ’ t care if kids find it , they just don ’ t want to be caught with the gun themselves .
If a child finds it , they need to have the tools to know how to deal with that .
They need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not to do .
That didn ’ t happen in this case , with tragic consequences .
I ’ ve written before about a potential curriculum for this kind of thing , and while I ’ m quite sure others can do better , it ’ s a place to start .
We need to begin working on it before any of us have to read more about these kinds of cases .

In the course of my day, I read a lot of news stories. I see tons of them each and every day. A lot aren’t worth going into, though. I mean, yes, a homicide in Corpus Christi, TX is tragic, but so is the one in Chicago, IL and the one in New Orleans, LA and the one is Sacramento, CA. They’re all tragic and we can’t cover all of them. Frankly, I wouldn’t want to. We’re a Second Amendment site, not a crime site.
My wife, however, tries to help me out. She sometimes sees stories before I do and forwards them to me. Sometimes, they’re in the above category and I can’t really use them for anything, but it’s still good to see how violent the world is and how important our Second Amendment rights actually are.
Unfortunately, she sent me this one today, and it just illustrates a need I’ve been hoping we would address for some time now. In particularly, gun safety training for every child in this country. If we had that, then maybe this story wouldn’t have happened.
Police in a Georgia city say a 12-year-old boy is dead after his 5-year-old brother shot him with an abandoned gun in the bushes. Authorities in Griffin say the two boys and their 7-year-old sister were playing outside Saturday evening when the deadly shooting happened. The gun used in the shooting may have been discarded Saturday afternoon during a police pursuit when three men got away from the scene, leaving behind drugs. … The 5-year-old told police he thought the gun was a toy when he found it and shot his older brother in the chest. The gun was found near where the drugs were recovered.
A statement from the Griffin Police Department:
In other words, it looks like the kids found a dumped firearm and, thinking it was a toy, the five-year-old picked up the weapon and fired it.
Five years old is school age. Since Georgia has a pre-kindergarten program, the boy would have been in school for two years. Imagine if he’d been taught how to identify a toy gun and what to do if he saw one? What if he’d learned that without an orange tip, it wasn’t a toy and that he should tell an adult?
There’s absolutely no reason why gun safety education shouldn’t be provided to each and every child in this country.
Right now, most gun-owning parents do this on their own, as they should. However, there are millions of other households where this kind of thing isn’t being talked about. Many, if not most, non-gun owning parents don’t even think about educating their kids on gun safety. After all, they don’t have a gun. Why should it matter? The problem is, as illustrated by this case is that sometimes criminals dump firearms. They don’t care if kids find it, they just don’t want to be caught with the gun themselves.
If a child finds it, they need to have the tools to know how to deal with that. They need to know what to do and what not to do.
That didn’t happen in this case, with tragic consequences.
I’ve written before about a potential curriculum for this kind of thing, and while I’m quite sure others can do better, it’s a place to start. We need to begin working on it before any of us have to read more about these kinds of cases.


bearingarms--2020-05-13--MI Activist Explains Why He Offered Armed Escort To Lawmaker

Lansing , Michigan resident Mike Lynn , Jr. made headlines recently when he and several friends and family members provided an armed escort for a lawmaker who said she felt intimidated by recent reopen protests at the capitol , where several protesters were legally armed and carrying inside the capitol building .
Rep. Sarah Anthony said she was bothered by some of the imagery on display from some of the protesters , including Conferedate flags and at least one noose , and Lynn reached out to the representative to let her know that he and his friends and family had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sits down with me on today ’ s Bearing Arms ’ Cam & Co for a wide ranging discussion about his support for the Second Amendment and his goal of encouraging more minorities to exercise their right to keep and bear arms .
While Mike and I probably wouldn ’ t agree on every political topic under the sun , we were able to find plenty of common ground , starting with the idea that the Second Amendment is for all Americans , not just bearded white guys like yours truly .
Lynn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Rep. Anthony , he ’ s received a lot of positive reaction from those in the community , and adds that hundreds of people have joined his Facebook group Black and Brown 2nd Amendment Advocates .
Lynn says he was hoping to help change the conversation about black gun ownership , and he feels like he ’ s off to a good start .
It ’ s not that weird to see white men with guns , right ?
We can say that .
In our climate that we ’ re in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of , I guess , taboo , if you see a black person with a gun , ” Lynn said .
“ So I guess it was in turn to challenge that idea , to normalize that idea .
That we are just Americans , ” Lynn said .
“ Just like any other white gun owner , we are just Americans .
We have the Second Amendment right just like they do , ” he said .
One of the things that I really appreciate about Lynn is his curiosity and openness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hear their perspectives .
In fact Lynn told me that he ’ s even reached out and spoken with one of the militia members in Michigan who was in the capitol protesting not long ago , and says the conversation helped him appreciate the fact that the Second Amendment doesn ’ t just protect the right to keep and bear arms , but it serves as a check on tyranny as well .
It ’ s a great conversation , and I hope to have more of them with Mike Lynn , Jr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Second Amendment movement should be a big tent movement , and no matter how much we may disagree about other issues , when we stand together in support of our right to keep and bear arms , good things happen .
Make sure you stick around after the interview for more stories , including a violent criminal in New Mexico who ’ s back behind bars on attempted murder charges just a week after a judge granted him probation in a violent assault , a South Carolina man who was shot and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his ex-girlfriend ’ s home , and a high school student in upstate New York who ’ s helping an injured police officer with the proceeds from his senior project .

Lansing, Michigan resident Mike Lynn, Jr. made headlines recently when he and several friends and family members provided an armed escort for a lawmaker who said she felt intimidated by recent reopen protests at the capitol, where several protesters were legally armed and carrying inside the capitol building. Rep. Sarah Anthony said she was bothered by some of the imagery on display from some of the protesters, including Conferedate flags and at least one noose, and Lynn reached out to the representative to let her know that he and his friends and family had her back.
Mike Lynn, Jr. sits down with me on today’s Bearing Arms’ Cam & Co for a wide ranging discussion about his support for the Second Amendment and his goal of encouraging more minorities to exercise their right to keep and bear arms. While Mike and I probably wouldn’t agree on every political topic under the sun, we were able to find plenty of common ground, starting with the idea that the Second Amendment is for all Americans, not just bearded white guys like yours truly.
Lynn says since he offered the armed escort to Rep. Anthony, he’s received a lot of positive reaction from those in the community, and adds that hundreds of people have joined his Facebook group Black and Brown 2nd Amendment Advocates. Lynn says he was hoping to help change the conversation about black gun ownership, and he feels like he’s off to a good start.
It’s not that weird to see white men with guns, right? We can say that. In our climate that we’re in right now, it’s kind of, I guess, taboo, if you see a black person with a gun,” Lynn said. “So I guess it was in turn to challenge that idea, to normalize that idea. That we are just Americans,” Lynn said. “Just like any other white gun owner, we are just Americans. We have the Second Amendment right just like they do,” he said.
One of the things that I really appreciate about Lynn is his curiosity and openness in talking to folks in order to hear their perspectives. In fact Lynn told me that he’s even reached out and spoken with one of the militia members in Michigan who was in the capitol protesting not long ago, and says the conversation helped him appreciate the fact that the Second Amendment doesn’t just protect the right to keep and bear arms, but it serves as a check on tyranny as well.
It’s a great conversation, and I hope to have more of them with Mike Lynn, Jr. in the weeks and months ahead. The Second Amendment movement should be a big tent movement, and no matter how much we may disagree about other issues, when we stand together in support of our right to keep and bear arms, good things happen.
Make sure you stick around after the interview for more stories, including a violent criminal in New Mexico who’s back behind bars on attempted murder charges just a week after a judge granted him probation in a violent assault, a South Carolina man who was shot and killed after breaking down the door to his ex-girlfriend’s home, and a high school student in upstate New York who’s helping an injured police officer with the proceeds from his senior project.


bearingarms--2020-05-13--Armed Citizens Hold Escaped Murder Suspect At Gunpoint

A pair of armed citizens in Des Arc , Arkansas helped police capture a murder suspect who had escaped a local jail hours earlier after overpowering guards , and the local sheriff is praising the actions of the two men .
According to KATV in Arkansas , Earl Parks , who was being held in the Prairie County jail accused of murder in the death of his girlfriend , attacked two guards with the help of fellow inmate Craig Gilliam .
The pair managed to get the keys off the guards and took off , and while Gilliam was apprehended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had no idea where Parks had run off .
Approximately eight hours after Parks escaped custody , Sheriff Rick Hickman got a call from a local resident , informing him that Parks had been found , and was being held at gunpoint to prevent his escape .
Brad Knupp was just getting to work when he noticed something was off about the old car he ’ s fixing up .
He said , “ Something didn ’ t look normal to me in the backseat , and I looked a little closer and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laying down in the back seat of my car.
” Once he realized it was Parks , Knupp and his father held him at gunpoint until he was taken into custody .
“ We were yelling pretty loud at him .
He came on out of the car slowly , ” said Knupp .
It ’ s something he would do all over again if he had to , saying , “ I just felt like I did what I needed to do to get him out of the car and hold him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Hickman told the press that he wasn ’ t surprised that Knupp and his father were able to help capture the suspect .
“ It ’ s just a good little county , you know .
I knew that they would help and anybody who saw him would ’ ve called us or done the same thing , jumped out with their gun and held him if they could ’ ve.
” The two guards assaulted by Parks and his accomplice didn ’ t suffer major injuries , according to the sheriff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soon .
Parks is back behind bars now and facing additional charges for assault and escape .
The 47-year old had been held in the Prairie County Jail since late January , after authorities found the body of Christy Rooks in a shallow grave on a rural property not far from Des Arc .
Parks was taken into custody and charged with Rooks ’ murder , as well as being a felon in possession of a firearm .
Hopefully he stays put from here on out , but if not , it sounds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are ready to protect and defend themselves .

A pair of armed citizens in Des Arc, Arkansas helped police capture a murder suspect who had escaped a local jail hours earlier after overpowering guards, and the local sheriff is praising the actions of the two men.
According to KATV in Arkansas, Earl Parks, who was being held in the Prairie County jail accused of murder in the death of his girlfriend, attacked two guards with the help of fellow inmate Craig Gilliam. The pair managed to get the keys off the guards and took off, and while Gilliam was apprehended just a few minutes later, authorities had no idea where Parks had run off. Approximately eight hours after Parks escaped custody, Sheriff Rick Hickman got a call from a local resident, informing him that Parks had been found, and was being held at gunpoint to prevent his escape.
Brad Knupp was just getting to work when he noticed something was off about the old car he’s fixing up. He said, “Something didn’t look normal to me in the backseat, and I looked a little closer and i could tell that this guy was laying down in the back seat of my car.” Once he realized it was Parks, Knupp and his father held him at gunpoint until he was taken into custody. “We were yelling pretty loud at him. He came on out of the car slowly,” said Knupp. It’s something he would do all over again if he had to, saying, “I just felt like I did what I needed to do to get him out of the car and hold him there until law enforcement could get there.”
Hickman told the press that he wasn’t surprised that Knupp and his father were able to help capture the suspect.
“It’s just a good little county, you know. I knew that they would help and anybody who saw him would’ve called us or done the same thing, jumped out with their gun and held him if they could’ve.”
The two guards assaulted by Parks and his accomplice didn’t suffer major injuries, according to the sheriff, and should be back to work soon.
Parks is back behind bars now and facing additional charges for assault and escape. The 47-year old had been held in the Prairie County Jail since late January, after authorities found the body of Christy Rooks in a shallow grave on a rural property not far from Des Arc. Parks was taken into custody and charged with Rooks’ murder, as well as being a felon in possession of a firearm. Hopefully he stays put from here on out, but if not, it sounds like the good people of Prairie County are ready to protect and defend themselves.


bearingarms--2020-05-13--Whitmer's Fear-Mongering Bigger Threat Than Armed Protestors

I really don ’ t think those pushing to open up their states ’ economies should protest while openly armed .
While I ’ ll defend their right to do so , I don ’ t think it ’ s wise from a strategic point of view .
It deflects attention away from the arguments regarding reopening the states back up and turns it into a gun debate .
Now , don ’ t get me wrong .
I love a good gun debate .
I mean , my family ’ s livelihood rests on gun debates , so obviously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But that is a different topic entirely from reopening struggling businesses and letting them have a shot at saving themselves .
Meanwhile , armed protestors give Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer an excuse to do a little fear-mongering .
Another protest is reportedly planned for the Capitol in Lansing Thursday , which hasn ’ t recovered from the drama of the last protest that brought people with semi-automatic weapons , rage-filled chants and alleged threats against legislators .
So , will the next protest be gun free ?
Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer weighed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 950 on Tuesday while also addressing whether gambling could return in the form of online-only , why the state remains closed while most of the deaths are in nursing homes , and more .
“ When we ’ ve got legislators there being the voice tens of thousands of people they represent wearing bullet-proof vests because they ’ re afraid it means that our democracy is undermined and that ’ s precisely why I really think that this action is merited , and I hope the legislature takes it , ” she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about to excuse death threats against lawmakers .
I ’ m not , and that ’ s because there is no excuse .
I can ’ t think of a single official who ever changed their votes because of a death threat .
“ I was going to vote this way because it ’ s what I believe and my constituents believe , but some random person I ’ ve never met and may not even follow through said they ’ d kill me if I voted that way , so I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that just doesn ’ t happen .
However , Whitmer ’ s comments are more of a threat to democracy than these death threats .
You see , death threats are part of life in the public eye , especially in politics .
Anyone in public office has to face the risk of death threats .
They ’ re a regular part of political life , unfortunately .
Whitmer knows this .
She has to .
After all , she ’ s been in politics long enough that this is just part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that , she still wants to score a point , so she makes a big thing about how protestors were armed and now they ’ re getting the death threats they probably would have gotten all along and linking the two .
She ’ s using this to frame herself and her allies as victims .
She ’ s reframing the discussion so she can shield herself away from criticism .
She knows that 99.9 percent of all death threats come from loudmouths who won ’ t even get off their couches long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less kill someone over a political opinion .
She also knows that the remaining 0.1 percent end up being arrested before they can ever do anything .
Only a tiny minute fraction of a single percent are ever carried out .
Fewer than 60 politicians in American history have been assassinated , after all , despite the thousands and thousands of people who have held office .
In other words , it ’ s not a common occurrence .
Whitmer likely knows this too .
What she ’ s trying to do is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those who oppose Michigan ’ s lockdown in any way as being in league with violent extremists , all so she doesn ’ t have to actually answer any of the criticism .
Protestors shouldn ’ t have gone to the capitol armed , but that doesn ’ t excuse Whitmer from her fear-mongering attempt at slight-of-hand .

I really don’t think those pushing to open up their states’ economies should protest while openly armed. While I’ll defend their right to do so, I don’t think it’s wise from a strategic point of view. It deflects attention away from the arguments regarding reopening the states back up and turns it into a gun debate.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I love a good gun debate. I mean, my family’s livelihood rests on gun debates, so obviously, I’m a fan.
But that is a different topic entirely from reopening struggling businesses and letting them have a shot at saving themselves.
Meanwhile, armed protestors give Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer an excuse to do a little fear-mongering.
Another protest is reportedly planned for the Capitol in Lansing Thursday, which hasn’t recovered from the drama of the last protest that brought people with semi-automatic weapons, rage-filled chants and alleged threats against legislators. So, will the next protest be gun free? Gov. Gretchen Whitmer weighed in on that while speaking live with WWJ 950 on Tuesday while also addressing whether gambling could return in the form of online-only, why the state remains closed while most of the deaths are in nursing homes, and more. … “When we’ve got legislators there being the voice tens of thousands of people they represent wearing bullet-proof vests because they’re afraid it means that our democracy is undermined and that’s precisely why I really think that this action is merited, and I hope the legislature takes it,” she said.
Now, I’m not about to excuse death threats against lawmakers. I’m not, and that’s because there is no excuse. I can’t think of a single official who ever changed their votes because of a death threat. “I was going to vote this way because it’s what I believe and my constituents believe, but some random person I’ve never met and may not even follow through said they’d kill me if I voted that way, so I’ll totally change it now.”
Sorry, that just doesn’t happen.
However, Whitmer’s comments are more of a threat to democracy than these death threats.
You see, death threats are part of life in the public eye, especially in politics. Anyone in public office has to face the risk of death threats. They’re a regular part of political life, unfortunately.
Whitmer knows this. She has to. After all, she’s been in politics long enough that this is just part of being in politics.
Yet despite that, she still wants to score a point, so she makes a big thing about how protestors were armed and now they’re getting the death threats they probably would have gotten all along and linking the two. She’s using this to frame herself and her allies as victims. She’s reframing the discussion so she can shield herself away from criticism.
She knows that 99.9 percent of all death threats come from loudmouths who won’t even get off their couches long enough to get a soda, much less kill someone over a political opinion. She also knows that the remaining 0.1 percent end up being arrested before they can ever do anything. Only a tiny minute fraction of a single percent are ever carried out.
Fewer than 60 politicians in American history have been assassinated, after all, despite the thousands and thousands of people who have held office. In other words, it’s not a common occurrence.
Whitmer likely knows this too.
What she’s trying to do is reframe criticism as violence, to cast those who oppose Michigan’s lockdown in any way as being in league with violent extremists, all so she doesn’t have to actually answer any of the criticism.
Protestors shouldn’t have gone to the capitol armed, but that doesn’t excuse Whitmer from her fear-mongering attempt at slight-of-hand.


bearingarms--2020-05-13--Louisiana Bill Pushes For Tougher Sentences For Armed Felons

Per federal law , convicted felons aren ’ t allowed to have a firearm .
They can ’ t buy one , they can ’ t build one , they can ’ t even be legally gifted one .
Under no circumstances can they possess a firearm lawfully .
Hell , they can ’ t even pick one up they find on the side of the road to move it lawfully .
Unfortunately , criminals have plenty of ways to get guns regardless of the law .
Reformed felons won ’ t pursue those means , but the unrepentant felon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ll get a gun and then they ’ ll use to commit still more crimes .
Now , the state of Louisiana is looking to try and fight that by raising penalties for those who are caught with such weapons .
A Senate committee voted 4-1 Tuesday to forward a bill that would designate possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a felony as a crime of violence .
Currently , the minimum sentence for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon is 5 years .
Changing the possession of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crime of violence would ensure harsher penalties , such as lengthier jail sentences .
Mike Ronats , executive director of the Louisiana Sheriff ’ s Association , cited statistics showing that between 25 % and 48 % of murders involving firearms are committed by felons .
“ The decision that we make today is not just about this crime , ” Ronats told the Senate Committee on the Judiciary C. He added : “ It ’ s about how that crime affects the other crime , the larger picture , and that being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ John the Baptist Parish is also a proponent of the bill , which was proposed by Sen. Bodi White , R-Baton Rouge .
“ I have too many young men dying , ” Tregg said .
“ I intercept their social media .
They ’ re fascinated with guns .
Children , 15 years old .
I ’ m only here today to ask you guys to strengthen what we ’ re doing so we can send a message before they commit that crime.
” The idea is that by leveling stiffer penalties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from carrying guns .
Alternatively , those inclined to carry guns would spend longer in prison , thus keeping them off the streets .
However , my question is , do these longer sentences actually work ?
I mean , is there any evidence that really shows across the board that increasing the penalties for convicted felons possessing firearms actually reduces crime in the long run ?
Don ’ t get me wrong , I ’ m fine with locking criminals up for longer .
In and of itself , that ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ object to criminals being off our streets , especially the violent ones .
The problem is that these measures are usually the extent of what many officials want to undertake .
While I ’ m thankful that we ’ re not looking at laws that seek to disarm law-abiding citizens , the truth of the matter is that violent criminals aren ’ t likely to be dissuaded by longer sentences .
Let ’ s face it , if they could make good decisions based on what would be in their best interests , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first place , now would they ?
Longer sentences are fine , but it can ’ t be the only effort put forth by lawmakers .
If you want to reduce violent crime rates , you have to do more than that .

Per federal law, convicted felons aren’t allowed to have a firearm. They can’t buy one, they can’t build one, they can’t even be legally gifted one. Under no circumstances can they possess a firearm lawfully. Hell, they can’t even pick one up they find on the side of the road to move it lawfully.
Unfortunately, criminals have plenty of ways to get guns regardless of the law. Reformed felons won’t pursue those means, but the unrepentant felon sure as hell will. They’ll get a gun and then they’ll use to commit still more crimes.
Now, the state of Louisiana is looking to try and fight that by raising penalties for those who are caught with such weapons.
A Senate committee voted 4-1 Tuesday to forward a bill that would designate possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a felony as a crime of violence. Currently, the minimum sentence for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon is 5 years. Changing the possession of a firearm by a felon to a crime of violence would ensure harsher penalties, such as lengthier jail sentences. Mike Ronats, executive director of the Louisiana Sheriff’s Association, cited statistics showing that between 25% and 48% of murders involving firearms are committed by felons. … “The decision that we make today is not just about this crime,” Ronats told the Senate Committee on the Judiciary C. He added: “It’s about how that crime affects the other crime, the larger picture, and that being homicide.” Sheriff Mike Tregg of St. John the Baptist Parish is also a proponent of the bill, which was proposed by Sen. Bodi White, R-Baton Rouge. “I have too many young men dying,” Tregg said. “I intercept their social media. They’re fascinated with guns. Children, 15 years old. I’m only here today to ask you guys to strengthen what we’re doing so we can send a message before they commit that crime.”
The idea is that by leveling stiffer penalties, some convicted felons might become dissuaded from carrying guns. Alternatively, those inclined to carry guns would spend longer in prison, thus keeping them off the streets.
However, my question is, do these longer sentences actually work? I mean, is there any evidence that really shows across the board that increasing the penalties for convicted felons possessing firearms actually reduces crime in the long run?
Don’t get me wrong, I’m fine with locking criminals up for longer. In and of itself, that’s fine. I’ll never really object to criminals being off our streets, especially the violent ones.
The problem is that these measures are usually the extent of what many officials want to undertake. While I’m thankful that we’re not looking at laws that seek to disarm law-abiding citizens, the truth of the matter is that violent criminals aren’t likely to be dissuaded by longer sentences. Let’s face it, if they could make good decisions based on what would be in their best interests, they wouldn’t be criminals in the first place, now would they?
Longer sentences are fine, but it can’t be the only effort put forth by lawmakers. If you want to reduce violent crime rates, you have to do more than that.


bearingarms--2020-05-13--As Shutdown Order Continues, Things Are Getting Ugly In One CA City

Police in Fresno , California were called to the home of city council president Miguel Arias on Tuesday afternoon , after he reported that a group of people were trying to forcibly enter his apartment , upset over the city ’ s stay-at-home order that has kept many businesses closed to customers .
As it turns out , it was Arias himself who was cited by police after he shoved activists who were walking up the stairs to the apartment .
A video posted to Facebook by user James Hoak shows a group of seven or so people outside Arias @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ben Bergquam , who runs a media Facebook page called Frontline America and organized last week ’ s Freedom Rally protesting the shelter order .
The video shows Arias pushing Bergquam , microphone in hand , and others who are filming .
Here ’ s the video , which clearly shows Arias push at least three of the activists .
Arias was cited for three counts of misdemeanor battery after police arrived .
None of the activists are facing any charges in the incident .
Later Tuesday evening , a larger group of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home of Mayor Lee Brand , where thankfully cooler heads prevailed .
“ A group of 20-25 people protesting the city ’ s shelter in place orders came to my house this evening , ” Brand said in a statement emailed by the city spokesman .
“ When they arrived , I went out to answer their questions and we had a peaceful discussion on my sidewalk .
After 10 minutes , they left and I went back inside .
I ’ m willing to talk with anybody who wants to have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep our city safe and healthy.
” That ’ s a much better way to handle the situation than getting in the face of protesters and shoving them .
Like it or not , people have a right to protest , and there ’ s no indication that the group of a half dozen people were at Arias ’ s apartment for any other reason than to talk to him about the city ’ s shelter-in-place order .
Tensions between the reopen supporters and backers of the shelter-in-place order have been rising in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restaurant The Waffle Shop opened for Mother ’ s Day despite the city ’ s order , and a crowd gathered outside the shop in an attempt to prevent code enforcement officers from coming inside .
A 73-year old man was arrested after a police officer claims he was assaulted .
But many Waffle Shop patrons dispute the police department ’ s account of Sunday ’ s events .
Thomas Miller Jr. said his father was the man detained .
The elder Miller , a 73-year-old veteran of the Vietnam War , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the younger Miller , who owns PressBox Sports Grill in north Fresno .
The elder Miller and his wife went to eat at the shop as a protest to the city ’ s orders to close , but never planned to be caught up in a physical confrontation , the younger Miller said .
“ They wanted to go say to the owner , ‘ Keep up the good fight , ’ “ he said .
“ That was their protest.
” Miller said his father never pushed or grabbed the officer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sides during the confrontation .
“ It was all the officer ’ s movements that made everything happen , ” he said .
Bodycam footage obtained by the Fresno Bee appears to corroborate Miller ’ s side of the story .
An officer attempts to enter The Waffle Shop , but is blocked by a crowd of about twenty people .
The officer tries to push pass Miller , who refuses to move , and then the officer tells Miller that he was just assaulted by him .
Miller is led away from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , accompanied by his wife , who holds on to his arm as the officer detains him .
Fresno police chief Andy Hall said he was “ concerned ” by the police response to the gathering , and has ordered a review of the officer ’ s actions .
On Monday , Fresno city council member Garry Bredefeld held a press conference outside The Waffle Shop with owner Ammar Ibrahim , and called the police response the result of “ tyrannical policies ” by the mayor and city council .
Bredefeld has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the city ’ s shelter-in-place order , but the city council member was also critical of the protestors who showed up at Arias ’ s doorstep on Tuesday afternoon .
Well , there were apparently crimes committed , but not by any protesters .
Instead , it ’ s the city council president who ’ s now facing charges .
Mayor Brand and the city council need to take some immediate steps to ratchet down the tensions between the stay-at-home and the reopen camps , and the first thing they should do is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The city has put some unbelievably goofy requirements in place for businesses to reopen , including a limit of one customer per 500 square feet in commercial establishments .
As Bredefeld notes , that goes far beyond the recommendations of the CDC , and amounts to a near total ban on the reopening of businesses in the city .
People will generally follow rules that make sense .
Rules that appear arbitrary and capricious , on the other hand , will generate the kind of pushback that we ’ ve seen in Fresno @ @ @ @ @ @

Police in Fresno, California were called to the home of city council president Miguel Arias on Tuesday afternoon, after he reported that a group of people were trying to forcibly enter his apartment, upset over the city’s stay-at-home order that has kept many businesses closed to customers. As it turns out, it was Arias himself who was cited by police after he shoved activists who were walking up the stairs to the apartment.
A video posted to Facebook by user James Hoak shows a group of seven or so people outside Arias’ apartment. They are led by Ben Bergquam, who runs a media Facebook page called Frontline America and organized last week’s Freedom Rally protesting the shelter order. The video shows Arias pushing Bergquam, microphone in hand, and others who are filming.
Here’s the video, which clearly shows Arias push at least three of the activists.
Posted by James Hoak on Tuesday, May 12, 2020
Arias was cited for three counts of misdemeanor battery after police arrived. None of the activists are facing any charges in the incident.
Later Tuesday evening, a larger group of activists held a protest outside of the home of Mayor Lee Brand, where thankfully cooler heads prevailed.
“A group of 20-25 people protesting the city’s shelter in place orders came to my house this evening,” Brand said in a statement emailed by the city spokesman. “When they arrived, I went out to answer their questions and we had a peaceful discussion on my sidewalk. After 10 minutes, they left and I went back inside. I’m willing to talk with anybody who wants to have a civil conversation about the best way to keep our city safe and healthy.”
That’s a much better way to handle the situation than getting in the face of protesters and shoving them. Like it or not, people have a right to protest, and there’s no indication that the group of a half dozen people were at Arias’s apartment for any other reason than to talk to him about the city’s shelter-in-place order.
Tensions between the reopen supporters and backers of the shelter-in-place order have been rising in recent days. On Sunday, local restaurant The Waffle Shop opened for Mother’s Day despite the city’s order, and a crowd gathered outside the shop in an attempt to prevent code enforcement officers from coming inside. A 73-year old man was arrested after a police officer claims he was assaulted.
But many Waffle Shop patrons dispute the police department’s account of Sunday’s events. Thomas Miller Jr. said his father was the man detained. The elder Miller, a 73-year-old veteran of the Vietnam War, was trying to support small business, according to the younger Miller, who owns PressBox Sports Grill in north Fresno. The elder Miller and his wife went to eat at the shop as a protest to the city’s orders to close, but never planned to be caught up in a physical confrontation, the younger Miller said. “They wanted to go say to the owner, ‘Keep up the good fight,’“ he said. “That was their protest.” Miller said his father never pushed or grabbed the officer, saying his hands were at his sides during the confrontation. “It was all the officer’s movements that made everything happen,” he said.
Bodycam footage obtained by the Fresno Bee appears to corroborate Miller’s side of the story. An officer attempts to enter The Waffle Shop, but is blocked by a crowd of about twenty people. The officer tries to push pass Miller, who refuses to move, and then the officer tells Miller that he was just assaulted by him. Miller is led away from the front of the restaurant in handcuffs, accompanied by his wife, who holds on to his arm as the officer detains him.
Fresno police chief Andy Hall said he was “concerned” by the police response to the gathering, and has ordered a review of the officer’s actions.
“As the chief of police, I am concerned over the manner in which this incident was handled as it doesn’t appear to be consistent with our department’s policy concerning demonstrations or the directions I have given officers via a chief’s memorandum for handling enforcement of the Emergency Order. I immediately ordered an Internal Affairs investigation of this incident.”
On Monday, Fresno city council member Garry Bredefeld held a press conference outside The Waffle Shop with owner Ammar Ibrahim, and called the police response the result of “tyrannical policies” by the mayor and city council. Bredefeld has been the only city council member opposed to the city’s shelter-in-place order, but the city council member was also critical of the protestors who showed up at Arias’s doorstep on Tuesday afternoon.
Well, there were apparently crimes committed, but not by any protesters. Instead, it’s the city council president who’s now facing charges.
Mayor Brand and the city council need to take some immediate steps to ratchet down the tensions between the stay-at-home and the reopen camps, and the first thing they should do is start treating city residents like adults. The city has put some unbelievably goofy requirements in place for businesses to reopen, including a limit of one customer per 500 square feet in commercial establishments. As Bredefeld notes, that goes far beyond the recommendations of the CDC, and amounts to a near total ban on the reopening of businesses in the city. People will generally follow rules that make sense. Rules that appear arbitrary and capricious, on the other hand, will generate the kind of pushback that we’ve seen in Fresno over the past few days.


bearingarms--2020-05-13--NJ Governor Sued Over Gun Range Closures

When Gov .
Phil Murphy reluctantly allowed New Jersey gun stores to re-open in late March after ordering ordering them to close in his first coronavirus-related executive order , he didn ’ t say anything about the state ’ s gun ranges .
As a result , ranges across the state have been off-limits to gun owners for nearly two months now , leaving gun owners with few option to safety and responsibly train with their firearms .
Now the Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs has launched a federal lawsuit against Murphy over the range closures .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ranges at the moment , and the group says it will follow up with a separate lawsuit taking on the closure of indoor ranges as well .
Now that Murphy has allowed the reopening of parks , golf courses , and tennis courts – outdoor facilities that are purely recreational and do not facilitate any Constitutionally protected activity – he can no longer pretend to have any legal argument for blocking the Second Amendment right of citizens to build and maintain firearms proficiency at outdoor ranges .
Gov .
Murphy ’ s March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and gun stores , supposedly due to concerns over the Coronavirus pandemic .
ANJRPC thereafter immediately sued to reopen gun stores and Murphy backed down on that issue before a court could force his hand .
But ranges remained shuttered , and ANJRPC exercised extreme self-restraint and waited for the right moment to bring a range case – and that moment has now arrived as Murphy has reopened non-essential outdoor activities that are not constitutionally protected .
ANJRPC also plans to sue regarding indoor ranges , but only after a similar period of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legal odds are enhanced .
Bringing an indoor range claim at the wrong time could have disastrous consequences under the current pandemic conditions .
You can read a copy of the ANJRPC complaint here .
As attorneys for the Second Amendment group argue , with the right to keep and bear arms comes the right to train with those arms , and Murphy ’ s executive order has resulted in an absolute infringement of that right .
Despite the centrality of range-training to the exercise of Second Amendment rights , Governor Murphy has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ banned that activity throughout the State of New Jersey with the stroke of a pen , effectively preventing New Jersey ’ s citizens from obtaining or maintaining their proficiency in firearms use .
Governor Murphy ’ s ban is flatly contrary to the Second Amendment .
The existence of the COVID-19 pandemic does not justify Governor Murphy ’ s actions .
Plaintiffs recognize that the pandemic presents significant and urgent problems for state officials seeking to ensure the safety and well-being of citizens of New Jersey .
But the State ’ s untenable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requires New Jersey to shut down all outdoor gun ranges .
Scott Bach , the executive director of the ANJRPC , says that Murphy has made it clear that his actions to prevent New Jersey residents from exercising their Second Amendment rights aren ’ t based on any sort of desire to protect the public from the coronavirus .
Instead , the governor is using the pandemic as an excuse to target a constitutionally protected right that he finds distasteful .
What ’ s more , Governor Murphy ’ s overt hatred for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his executive order , which ironically declares that non-vital retailers like liquor stores , marijuana dispensaries , and cell phone stores are “ essential ” and therefore can stay open , while ranges are not “ essential ” and must close .
Governor Murphy has even admitted that his assault on the Second Amendment was motivated by his hatred of guns , not by safety concerns about Coronavirus .
When recently asked by a reporter why he didn ’ t deem Second Amendment facilities to be “ essential , ” he stated “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fewer guns and not more guns.
” He said nothing about Coronavirus , which is apparently just his pretext for shutting down the Second Amendment .
The ANJRPC is seeking an emergency injunction allowing outdoor ranges to re-open , and we ’ ll hopefully have a hearing before a judge in the very near future .

When Gov. Phil Murphy reluctantly allowed New Jersey gun stores to re-open in late March after ordering ordering them to close in his first coronavirus-related executive order, he didn’t say anything about the state’s gun ranges. As a result, ranges across the state have been off-limits to gun owners for nearly two months now, leaving gun owners with few option to safety and responsibly train with their firearms.
Now the Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs has launched a federal lawsuit against Murphy over the range closures. The new suit seeks to reopen outdoor ranges at the moment, and the group says it will follow up with a separate lawsuit taking on the closure of indoor ranges as well.
Now that Murphy has allowed the reopening of parks, golf courses, and tennis courts – outdoor facilities that are purely recreational and do not facilitate any Constitutionally protected activity – he can no longer pretend to have any legal argument for blocking the Second Amendment right of citizens to build and maintain firearms proficiency at outdoor ranges. Gov. Murphy’s March 21 executive order shut down all ranges and gun stores, supposedly due to concerns over the Coronavirus pandemic. ANJRPC thereafter immediately sued to reopen gun stores and Murphy backed down on that issue before a court could force his hand. But ranges remained shuttered, and ANJRPC exercised extreme self-restraint and waited for the right moment to bring a range case – and that moment has now arrived as Murphy has reopened non-essential outdoor activities that are not constitutionally protected. ANJRPC also plans to sue regarding indoor ranges, but only after a similar period of disciplined waiting for the right conditions where legal odds are enhanced. Bringing an indoor range claim at the wrong time could have disastrous consequences under the current pandemic conditions.
You can read a copy of the ANJRPC complaint here . As attorneys for the Second Amendment group argue, with the right to keep and bear arms comes the right to train with those arms, and Murphy’s executive order has resulted in an absolute infringement of that right.
Despite the centrality of range-training to the exercise of Second Amendment rights, Governor Murphy has, since March 21, 2020, banned that activity throughout the State of New Jersey with the stroke of a pen, effectively preventing New Jersey’s citizens from obtaining or maintaining their proficiency in firearms use. Governor Murphy’s ban is flatly contrary to the Second Amendment. The existence of the COVID-19 pandemic does not justify Governor Murphy’s actions. Plaintiffs recognize that the pandemic presents significant and urgent problems for state officials seeking to ensure the safety and well-being of citizens of New Jersey. But the State’s untenable regulatory choices refute any assertion that COVID-19 requires New Jersey to shut down all outdoor gun ranges.
Scott Bach, the executive director of the ANJRPC, says that Murphy has made it clear that his actions to prevent New Jersey residents from exercising their Second Amendment rights aren’t based on any sort of desire to protect the public from the coronavirus. Instead, the governor is using the pandemic as an excuse to target a constitutionally protected right that he finds distasteful.
What’s more, Governor Murphy’s overt hatred for the Second Amendment is laid bare in his executive order, which ironically declares that non-vital retailers like liquor stores, marijuana dispensaries, and cell phone stores are “essential” and therefore can stay open, while ranges are not “essential” and must close. Governor Murphy has even admitted that his assault on the Second Amendment was motivated by his hatred of guns, not by safety concerns about Coronavirus. When recently asked by a reporter why he didn’t deem Second Amendment facilities to be “essential,” he stated “a safer society for my taste has fewer guns and not more guns.” He said nothing about Coronavirus, which is apparently just his pretext for shutting down the Second Amendment.
The ANJRPC is seeking an emergency injunction allowing outdoor ranges to re-open, and we’ll hopefully have a hearing before a judge in the very near future.


bearingarms--2020-05-13--Justice Department Wants More Money To Enforce Gun Laws

The Department of Justice is the main federal agency for enforcing federal gun control laws .
For better or worse , there are plenty of such regulations and that means someone has to enforce it .
That would be the DOJ , via the ATF and , to some extent , the FBI .
However , due to the pandemic , the depart says they need money .
You see , COVID-19 and the demand for more firearms has created a situation the DOJ says they ’ re not able to take care of with current funding , so they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the coronavirus pandemic , the Justice Department is asking Congress for more enforcement resources — including to confiscate guns from people who shouldn ’ t legally be able to own them .
In recent outreach to Capitol Hill , DOJ made two requests related to the spike in gun purchases , according to two sources with knowledge of those asks .
First , the department asked for funding to help the FBI hire more staff to keep up with the growing number of background checks and appeal requests going through the National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bureau runs that system , which handles background checks on millions of gun buyers every year .
“ The top priorities for the Department of Justice are to protect the safety and security of the American people and to ensure that Americans are not deprived of their constitutional rights , ” said Stephen Boyd , head of the department ’ s Office of Legislative Affairs , in a statement .
“ Increased funding for NICS and ATF at this time is important to achieving those goals.
” The department also asked for more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alcohol , Tobacco , Firearms and Explosives to deal with firearm retrievals and other field work related to delayed denials , according to the two sources .
The term “ delayed denials ” refers to situations in which people buy weapons and take them home before the NICS system can flag those buyers as ineligible to own guns .
In other words , the surge in demand that ’ s swamped the NICS has created a situation the DOJ says they can ’ t get out of without more money .
To some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funding to beef up the background check system will speed up the process for many to be able to get their firearms .
People shouldn ’ t have to wait to buy their guns , which is why we have the NICS in the first place .
Unfortunately , without prompt returns on background checks , that ’ s precisely what folks are forced to do .
Fixing that is a big win .
My concern , though , is that once these agencies have this money for increased enforcement , they ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” people so they can justify that money .
How many well-intentioned folks will get jammed up over mistakes just so the feds can keep their funding levels ?
It ’ s a question we need to consider , at the very least .
That said , beefing up the NICS so it can handle not just current levels but even greater increases in sales down the road is a very good thing we should all be on board with .
Even if you disagree with the requirement for background checks–and I do–it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can do is try and make sure people can buy their guns when they need them , not three days later when they may be dead at the hands of some maniac .

The Department of Justice is the main federal agency for enforcing federal gun control laws. For better or worse, there are plenty of such regulations and that means someone has to enforce it. That would be the DOJ, via the ATF and, to some extent, the FBI.
However, due to the pandemic, the depart says they need money. You see, COVID-19 and the demand for more firearms has created a situation the DOJ says they’re not able to take care of with current funding, so they need more.
As gun sales surge during the coronavirus pandemic, the Justice Department is asking Congress for more enforcement resources — including to confiscate guns from people who shouldn’t legally be able to own them. In recent outreach to Capitol Hill, DOJ made two requests related to the spike in gun purchases, according to two sources with knowledge of those asks. First, the department asked for funding to help the FBI hire more staff to keep up with the growing number of background checks and appeal requests going through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. The bureau runs that system, which handles background checks on millions of gun buyers every year. “The top priorities for the Department of Justice are to protect the safety and security of the American people and to ensure that Americans are not deprived of their constitutional rights,” said Stephen Boyd, head of the department’s Office of Legislative Affairs, in a statement. “Increased funding for NICS and ATF at this time is important to achieving those goals.” The department also asked for more resources and personnel for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to deal with firearm retrievals and other field work related to delayed denials, according to the two sources. The term “delayed denials” refers to situations in which people buy weapons and take them home before the NICS system can flag those buyers as ineligible to own guns.
In other words, the surge in demand that’s swamped the NICS has created a situation the DOJ says they can’t get out of without more money.
To some degree, I get it. Increased funding to beef up the background check system will speed up the process for many to be able to get their firearms. People shouldn’t have to wait to buy their guns, which is why we have the NICS in the first place. Unfortunately, without prompt returns on background checks, that’s precisely what folks are forced to do. Fixing that is a big win.
My concern, though, is that once these agencies have this money for increased enforcement, they’ll feel obligated to continue “investigating” people so they can justify that money. How many well-intentioned folks will get jammed up over mistakes just so the feds can keep their funding levels?
It’s a question we need to consider, at the very least.
That said, beefing up the NICS so it can handle not just current levels but even greater increases in sales down the road is a very good thing we should all be on board with. Even if you disagree with the requirement for background checks–and I do–it is the law. The least we can do is try and make sure people can buy their guns when they need them, not three days later when they may be dead at the hands of some maniac.


bearingarms--2020-05-14--Why Regulating 'Ghost Guns' Isn't Practical

Lately , people are up in arms about “ ghost guns.
” You know , those homemade firearms that use less than 80 percent receivers or are 3D printed and then assembled with other parts people bought off the internet .
Millions of such weapons are probably built every year , but a handful gets used from criminal acts .
As a result , we have people calling for restrictions on these weapons .
Now , I could go on about the constitutionality of such measures , but the people who I need to reach simply won ’ t care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ constitutional arguments .
Oh , they may say they care about the Constitution and may even mean it , but on guns , they ’ re willing to accept some level of infringement and it doesn ’ t matter if I call it rationalizing or anything else .
So instead , I ’ m going to address this piece from a different perspective .
OK , so , instead of addressing the constitutionality of this , let ’ s address the practicality .
First , let ’ s discuss the “ relatively little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 80 percent receiver into a functional one .
After all , these are the words of someone who has never actually tried it .
I have taken a less than 80 percent receiver and built an AK-pattern rifle with it .
Yes , I used a kit for the rest of the parts , but the receiver was kind of intimidating .
I only got it finished because I had the help of a gunsmith at a build party .
The “ relatively little work ” isn ’ t necessarily intuitive or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t particularly handy .
Even then , there ’ s a fair bit of either work or tooling involved , often both .
To call it “ relatively little work ” is to not understand how much work is actually involved .
Keep in mind that a good fifth of the manufacturing of these weapons is incomplete .
Would many people be willing to do a fifth of the manufacturing of a car or a home ?
Of course not .
That ’ s a lot of work , and it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Now that we ’ ve established that there is a fair bit of work required to make one of these , let ’ s also acknowledge the fact that those who are willing to put that much work in may well be willing to put in even more .
This is especially true of criminals who can ’ t legally purchase completed receivers or firearms .
Let ’ s be honest , though .
That line of less than 80 percent counting as an incomplete receiver may be arbitrary , but so would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has to exist .
An AR-15 receiver can be milled from a block of aluminum .
Are we going to start declaring any block of metal an AR-15 receiver ?
If you do , you ’ re going to have a huge problem with manufacturers who use those same metal blocks to build other things not related to the firearm industry .
I don ’ t think they ’ d enjoy having the ATF up their posteriors .
Hell , I ’ ve seen someone take a shovel and build an AK receiver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or other bits of sheet metal because they can be built into AK-47s ?
As someone who has a few sheets of steel lying around my workshop for non-gun projects , I sure as hell hope not .
It ’ s easy for someone writing to say that the ATF should regulate “ ghost guns , ” but the problem is that there ’ s no practical way to do it .
Sure , the ATF could redefine at what point a receiver becomes a firearm , but that will likely push people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rules .
It wouldn ’ t actually stop anyone .
Oh , but the kits !
Remember how the writer argued that weapons could be completed with kits ?
He ’ s right , they can .
But , on the flip side , all those same components can be purchased separately .
You don ’ t need a kit .
In fact , a lot of people don ’ t buy kits to complete their firearms because they want to be particular about each part .
Those same parts , I might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upgrade existing weapons .
If you think people will fight over ghost guns , imagine what happens when you try to regulate people ’ s repair parts and treat them as firearms .
Further , all of those parts were manufactured .
That means an enterprising individual can manufacture them all by their lonesome .
That ’ s the big takeaway here .
Nothing you can regulate on this issue will prevent criminals from continuing to do this .
Nothing at all .
Remember , if they ’ re doing it now because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ’ re not going to regulate them out of practice .
The best you can hope to do is make it more of a pain , but so long as there is a market–and there will be–some will continue to build these weapons to meet that market ’ s demands .
It ’ s easy to say something needs to be regulated , but it helps to at least understand what you ’ re talking about well enough to know if such regulations are even practical or if they will only impact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , doesn ’ t .

Lately, people are up in arms about “ghost guns.” You know, those homemade firearms that use less than 80 percent receivers or are 3D printed and then assembled with other parts people bought off the internet. Millions of such weapons are probably built every year, but a handful gets used from criminal acts.
As a result, we have people calling for restrictions on these weapons.
Now, I could go on about the constitutionality of such measures, but the people who I need to reach simply won’t care. They don’t care about constitutional arguments. Oh, they may say they care about the Constitution and may even mean it, but on guns, they’re willing to accept some level of infringement and it doesn’t matter if I call it rationalizing or anything else.
So instead, I’m going to address this piece from a different perspective.
OK, so, instead of addressing the constitutionality of this, let’s address the practicality.
First, let’s discuss the “relatively little work” required to turn a less than 80 percent receiver into a functional one. After all, these are the words of someone who has never actually tried it. I have taken a less than 80 percent receiver and built an AK-pattern rifle with it. Yes, I used a kit for the rest of the parts, but the receiver was kind of intimidating. I only got it finished because I had the help of a gunsmith at a build party.
The “relatively little work” isn’t necessarily intuitive or easy, especially for people who aren’t particularly handy. Even then, there’s a fair bit of either work or tooling involved, often both. To call it “relatively little work” is to not understand how much work is actually involved.
Keep in mind that a good fifth of the manufacturing of these weapons is incomplete. Would many people be willing to do a fifth of the manufacturing of a car or a home? Of course not. That’s a lot of work, and it’s not really all that different.
Now that we’ve established that there is a fair bit of work required to make one of these, let’s also acknowledge the fact that those who are willing to put that much work in may well be willing to put in even more. This is especially true of criminals who can’t legally purchase completed receivers or firearms.
Let’s be honest, though. That line of less than 80 percent counting as an incomplete receiver may be arbitrary, but so would any other line. And a line has to exist. An AR-15 receiver can be milled from a block of aluminum. Are we going to start declaring any block of metal an AR-15 receiver? If you do, you’re going to have a huge problem with manufacturers who use those same metal blocks to build other things not related to the firearm industry. I don’t think they’d enjoy having the ATF up their posteriors.
Hell, I’ve seen someone take a shovel and build an AK receiver. Are we going to regulate shovels or other bits of sheet metal because they can be built into AK-47s?
As someone who has a few sheets of steel lying around my workshop for non-gun projects, I sure as hell hope not.
It’s easy for someone writing to say that the ATF should regulate “ghost guns,” but the problem is that there’s no practical way to do it. Sure, the ATF could redefine at what point a receiver becomes a firearm, but that will likely push people to build guns complying with the new rules. It wouldn’t actually stop anyone.
Oh, but the kits! Remember how the writer argued that weapons could be completed with kits? He’s right, they can.
But, on the flip side, all those same components can be purchased separately. You don’t need a kit. In fact, a lot of people don’t buy kits to complete their firearms because they want to be particular about each part.
Those same parts, I might add, are used to repair or upgrade existing weapons. If you think people will fight over ghost guns, imagine what happens when you try to regulate people’s repair parts and treat them as firearms. Further, all of those parts were manufactured. That means an enterprising individual can manufacture them all by their lonesome.
That’s the big takeaway here. Nothing you can regulate on this issue will prevent criminals from continuing to do this. Nothing at all. Remember, if they’re doing it now because they can’t buy guns, you’re not going to regulate them out of practice. The best you can hope to do is make it more of a pain, but so long as there is a market–and there will be–some will continue to build these weapons to meet that market’s demands.
It’s easy to say something needs to be regulated, but it helps to at least understand what you’re talking about well enough to know if such regulations are even practical or if they will only impact law-abiding citizens. This writer, clearly, doesn’t.