bearingarms--2020-08-31--Now That They're Unpopular, Biden Denounces Riots

Democrats have been far more tolerant of the riots we ’ ve seen this year than Republicans .
That ’ s not overly surprising , all things considered .
Even if a Democrat opposes the violence and destruction of property , they ’ re far more likely to try and couch their language in platitudes meant to signal their support for the cause rather than the methods .
That ’ s if they ’ re interested in even bothering going that far .
However , the average American isn ’ t a fan of the riots .
While we support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , rioting isn ’ t protesting .
It ’ s the violent destruction of private property and , by extension , people ’ s livelihoods .
Yet it ’ s only now that the Democratic nominee for president has decided he should denounce these riots .
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden finally condemned the ongoing violence in Kenosha , Wis. and cities across the country after his campaign initially “ misjudged how important it was to the American people , ” pollster and president of Maslansky & Partners , Lee Carter told “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I think it ’ s important that we take note of this shift on the violence , because it ’ s really really important to the American people , and I think that his campaign might have misjudged how important it was to the American people and what it meant , ” Carter said .
Until now , Democrats shared the sentiment that “ if you were concerned about violence , if you ’ re concerned about law and order , that also meant that you did not support Black Lives Matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think that they ’ re not mutually exclusive and that ’ s something he ’ s [ Biden ] realized and recognized , ” she added .
So , in other words , it sure looks like he flipped the script when he realized the American people didn ’ t like seeing their cities burned .
Hell , I don ’ t like most of these cities and I don ’ t want to see them burned either .
But it ’ s worrying that it took the Biden team this long to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a big show about how he ’ s denouncing all violence , these riots have been going on for months .
In fairness , I ’ m not sure Biden knows what a month is at this point , but his people do and as such his campaign doesn ’ t get a pass .
It ’ s not until it became clear the American people had an issue that he said anything .
Then he has to fall all over himself pandering , yet these are happening in Democratic cities where their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a damn thing to address this violence .
It ’ s downright pathetic , but Biden ’ s attempt at pandering may be even worse .
After all , as I already noted , he had months to denounce the riots .
He had months to speak out against it , even while still decrying the alleged police brutality that sparked them .
He had time to say something , but he didn ’ t .
As a result , his words now ring hollow , a prime example of “ too little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media can call his denunciation forceful all they want , but it ’ s not .
It ’ s an attempt to try and win those who aren ’ t on the far-left fringe that are getting sick of the Democrats supporting senseless destruction and nothing else .

Democrats have been far more tolerant of the riots we’ve seen this year than Republicans. That’s not overly surprising, all things considered. Even if a Democrat opposes the violence and destruction of property, they’re far more likely to try and couch their language in platitudes meant to signal their support for the cause rather than the methods.
That’s if they’re interested in even bothering going that far.
However, the average American isn’t a fan of the riots. While we support the right to protest in this country, rioting isn’t protesting. It’s the violent destruction of private property and, by extension, people’s livelihoods.
Yet it’s only now that the Democratic nominee for president has decided he should denounce these riots.
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden finally condemned the ongoing violence in Kenosha, Wis. and cities across the country after his campaign initially “misjudged how important it was to the American people,” pollster and president of Maslansky & Partners, Lee Carter told “Fox & Friends Weekend” Sunday. “I think it’s important that we take note of this shift on the violence, because it’s really really important to the American people, and I think that his campaign might have misjudged how important it was to the American people and what it meant,” Carter said. … Until now, Democrats shared the sentiment that “if you were concerned about violence, if you’re concerned about law and order, that also meant that you did not support Black Lives Matter,” Carter said. “I think that they’re not mutually exclusive and that’s something he’s [Biden] realized and recognized,” she added.
So, in other words, it sure looks like he flipped the script when he realized the American people didn’t like seeing their cities burned. Hell, I don’t like most of these cities and I don’t want to see them burned either.
But it’s worrying that it took the Biden team this long to denounce the riots. While he makes a big show about how he’s denouncing all violence, these riots have been going on for months.
In fairness, I’m not sure Biden knows what a month is at this point, but his people do and as such his campaign doesn’t get a pass.
It’s not until it became clear the American people had an issue that he said anything. Then he has to fall all over himself pandering, yet these are happening in Democratic cities where their mayors seem unable or unwilling to do a damn thing to address this violence. It’s downright pathetic, but Biden’s attempt at pandering may be even worse.
After all, as I already noted, he had months to denounce the riots. He had months to speak out against it, even while still decrying the alleged police brutality that sparked them. He had time to say something, but he didn’t.
As a result, his words now ring hollow, a prime example of “too little, too late.” Oh, the media can call his denunciation forceful all they want, but it’s not. It’s an attempt to try and win those who aren’t on the far-left fringe that are getting sick of the Democrats supporting senseless destruction and nothing else.


bearingarms--2020-08-31--After Kenosha Violence, Residents Flock To Local Gun Shops

Gun shops across the country have been reporting record levels of sales for firearms and ammunition for months now , but demand seems to have spiked even higher in the Kenosha , Wisconsin area after nearly a week of protests and violence rocked the city in the wake of the shooting of Jacob Blake by a Kenosha PD officer .
According to TMZ , store shelves that were already pretty picked over have been cleared out completely in the area , with thousands of residents expressing a desire to purchase a firearm for self-defense .
Note who LaJoy ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who ’ ve never before purchased a firearm .
And they ’ re not arming up to take to the streets , but to protect their homes .
Given the long delays at the moment for FOID card applications in Illinois , I ’ m guessing that most of the customers in Lake County , IL are either existing gun owners or people who made the decision to purchase their first firearm several months ago .
Any Illinois resident who just decided last week that they want to exercise their Second Amendment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issues than a three-day waiting period at the moment .
It ’ s going to take months just for them to get their permission slip from the state of Illinois to be able to legally possess a gun .
Hopefully these new and would-be gun owners remember in November the state-imposed delays preventing them from lawfully acquiring a firearm in August , and vote for the candidates that will support their Second Amendment rights instead of trying to infringe on them instead .
Cam Edwards has covered the 2nd Amendment for more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ journalist , as well as the co-author of `` Heavy Lifting : Grow Up , Get a Job , Start a Family , and Other Manly Advice '' with Jim Geraghty .
He lives outside of Farmville , Virginia with his family .
https : //bearingarms.com/author/camedwards/

Gun shops across the country have been reporting record levels of sales for firearms and ammunition for months now, but demand seems to have spiked even higher in the Kenosha, Wisconsin area after nearly a week of protests and violence rocked the city in the wake of the shooting of Jacob Blake by a Kenosha PD officer.
According to TMZ, store shelves that were already pretty picked over have been cleared out completely in the area, with thousands of residents expressing a desire to purchase a firearm for self-defense.
Joseph LaJoy, owner of LaJoy Precision Inc in nearby Pleasant Prairie, WI, tells TMZ … he completely sold out of every handgun, shotgun, and all ammunition after fielding at least 150 phone calls per day in the wake Blake’s shooting. LaJoy says the majority of sales were from people who did not previously own guns or ammo, and they’re looking to protect themselves and their homes.
Note who LaJoy’s customers are at the moment: mostly people who’ve never before purchased a firearm. And they’re not arming up to take to the streets, but to protect their homes.
Meanwhile, at Red Dot in Lake Villa, IL near where “vigilante” shooter Kyle Rittenhousehails, the gun store manager tells us they sold nearly 100 firearms in a single day this week, and they’re getting close to selling out completely. We’re told folks were frantic and scared coming into Red Dot, and many became upset when they learned there’s a 72-hour waiting period to obtain a firearm in Illinois. Over at 5 Star Firearms in Zion, IL, the manager, Clinton, tells TMZ … the store is sold out of all rifles, handguns and ammo, and it only took 2 days to clear the shelves. Clinton says thousands of people were coming in … saying they’re looking to protect their businesses and homes. Most customers lived in Kenosha and Lake County, where Rittenhouse is from.
Given the long delays at the moment for FOID card applications in Illinois, I’m guessing that most of the customers in Lake County, IL are either existing gun owners or people who made the decision to purchase their first firearm several months ago.
Any Illinois resident who just decided last week that they want to exercise their Second Amendment rights are going to be facing bigger issues than a three-day waiting period at the moment. It’s going to take months just for them to get their permission slip from the state of Illinois to be able to legally possess a gun. Hopefully these new and would-be gun owners remember in November the state-imposed delays preventing them from lawfully acquiring a firearm in August, and vote for the candidates that will support their Second Amendment rights instead of trying to infringe on them instead.


bearingarms--2020-08-31--Trump Supporter Killed In Portland Over Weekend

While many people are expressing support for Kyle Rittenhouse after he shot three rioters , killing two , in what looks like a pretty clear-cut case of self-defense , there ’ s more going on in the world .
Portland , for example , has seen nearly three straight months of rioting , violence the media has tended to ignore for the most part .
In fairness , though , just how many stories can you have of “ Portland is screwed ” if you ’ re not actually in Portland ?
However , violence there escalated to a new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supporter was gunned down .
A fatal shooting in Portland , Ore. , over the weekend led President Trump to unleash a torrent of tweets and attacks on Sunday , capping a volatile week of street violence that is becoming a major theme in the final weeks of the 2020 campaign .
On Saturday , a man affiliated with a right-wing group was shot and killed as a large caravan of supporters of Mr. Trump drove through downtown Portland , where nightly protests have unfolded for three consecutive months .
No suspect has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s name has not been released .
The shooting came in the same week that a 17-year-old armed with a military-style weapon was charged with homicide in connection with shootings during a protest in Kenosha , Wis. , that left two people dead and one injured .
The pro-Trump rally in Portland drew hundreds of trucks filled with supporters and adorned with Trump flags into the city .
At times , Trump supporters and counterprotesters clashed in the streets , with fistfights occurring and Trump supporters shooting paintball guns from the beds of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them .
Mr. Trump on Sunday morning posted or reposted a barrage of tweets about the clashes in Portland , with many of them assailing the city ’ s Democratic mayor , Ted Wheeler .
The president retweeted a video showing his supporters shooting paintballs and using pepper spray on crowds in Portland before the fatal shooting .
Mr. Trump wrote that “ the big backlash going on in Portland can not be unexpected , ” a remarkable instance of a president seeming to support confrontation rather than calming a volatile situation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to calm the situation no matter what he does .
There ’ s absolutely nothing he could say that wouldn ’ t likely be spun into something to get worked up over , so why should he bother ?
I ’ m not here to talk about the president , though .
I ’ m here to talk about the shooting itself .
Right now , information is limited .
The L.A. Times is reporting that the victim was a supporter of Patriot Prayer .
The group has long advocated members attend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeing just why .
Unlike Kenosha , we don ’ t seem to have a pile of videos of the incident , so we have far less to go on .
I doubt the New York Times will be assembling a timeline of events this time , at least in part because they can ’ t .
However , there are some things we can glean from this .
Now , we know that Trump supporters were using paintball guns .
It ’ s possible that someone saw the paintball gun , thought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opened fire .
I ’ m putting that out there as a possibility , but I don ’ t see it as a likelihood .
You see , while we tend to have tons of videos from these “ protests ” , the complete lack of them suggest that those recording were sympathetic to the shooter and know that he was in the wrong .
Someone was likely recording , but since they side with the shooter , they ’ re likely sitting on the video…assuming they haven ’ t just deleted it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the few witness reports we have .
Justin Dunlap , who witnessed the shooting and captured some of it on his Facebook live stream , said he “ didn ’ t hear much lead up to it.
” “ I heard like three seconds of yelling and saw a guy spray bear mace , ” Dunlap told CNN .
“ The victim sprayed mace and launched it right into the other guy.
” CNN has not confirmed if the victim is the person who sprayed mace .
“ I ’ ve watched the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my TV , and still don ’ t know where the shots actually came from , ” Dunlap said .
“ I was in the wrong place at the right time , ” he said.
” I ’ m just a citizen journalist .
I just want people to know what is going on out here.
” Before the shooting , Dunlap said he saw people who were part of the Trump supporters parade launch mace from the back of their vehicles to protesters walking down the street .
I guess it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ realize that seeing a paintball gun and mistaking it for a real one is something that can actually be defended in a court of law , but I ’ m skeptical .
Very skeptical .
Especially since the odd witness is reporting pepper spray ( which isn ’ t mace ) but not anything resembling a firearm .
I ’ m not a lawyer , but I don ’ t think lethal force is generally appropriate for something like pepper spray .
Instead , this looks like someone was gunned down for their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a good thing .
That ’ s especially true when you look at the alleged shooter .
The man being investigated by police in the fatal shooting of a Trump supporter in Portland identifies as Antifa and is an ardent Black Lives Matter supporter .
Michael Forest Reinoehl was previously arrested at an Antifa riot in July and charged with illegally possessing a loaded firearm and other crimes .
He was let go and the charges were never pursued .
He allegedly went on to kill Aaron “ Jay ” Danielson on Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was first to report that Reinoehl , 48 , is being investigated by Portland police for the homicide .
He has not been formally named or charged .
On Instagram , Reinoehl posted in June : “ Every revolution needs people that are willing and ready to fight .
There are many of us protesters that are just protesting without a clue of where that will lead .
That ’ s just the beginning that ’ s where the fight starts .
If that ’ s as far and you can take it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stand aside and support the ones that are willing to fight .
I am 100 % ANTIFA all the way !
I am willing to fight for my brothers and sisters !
Even if some of them are too ignorant to realize what antifa truly stands for.
” He continued : “ We are currently living through a crucial point in Humanities evolution .
We truly have an opportunity right now to fix everything .
But it will be a fight like no other !
It will be a war and like all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also touted his military experience and desire for armed conflict : “ I was in the army and hated it .
I did not feel like fighting for them would ever be a good cause .
Today ’ s protesters and antifa are my brothers in arms .
This is a Cause to fight for This truly is fighting for my country !
” In other words , he felt the protests weren ’ t the fight in and of itself .
That suggests he felt that violence was needed and was ready @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violence .
Well , it looks like he just might have taken that step .
Now it ’ s up to law enforcement and the prosecutors .
We ’ ll have to see if they have more evidence than we ’ ve generally seen so far , but it sounds like they do .

While many people are expressing support for Kyle Rittenhouse after he shot three rioters, killing two, in what looks like a pretty clear-cut case of self-defense, there’s more going on in the world.
Portland, for example, has seen nearly three straight months of rioting, violence the media has tended to ignore for the most part. In fairness, though, just how many stories can you have of “Portland is screwed” if you’re not actually in Portland?
However, violence there escalated to a new level over the weekend when a Trump supporter was gunned down.
A fatal shooting in Portland, Ore., over the weekend led President Trump to unleash a torrent of tweets and attacks on Sunday, capping a volatile week of street violence that is becoming a major theme in the final weeks of the 2020 campaign. On Saturday, a man affiliated with a right-wing group was shot and killed as a large caravan of supporters of Mr. Trump drove through downtown Portland, where nightly protests have unfolded for three consecutive months. No suspect has been publicly identified and the victim’s name has not been released. The shooting came in the same week that a 17-year-old armed with a military-style weapon was charged with homicide in connection with shootings during a protest in Kenosha, Wis., that left two people dead and one injured. The pro-Trump rally in Portland drew hundreds of trucks filled with supporters and adorned with Trump flags into the city. At times, Trump supporters and counterprotesters clashed in the streets, with fistfights occurring and Trump supporters shooting paintball guns from the beds of pickup trucks as protesters threw objects at them. Mr. Trump on Sunday morning posted or reposted a barrage of tweets about the clashes in Portland, with many of them assailing the city’s Democratic mayor, Ted Wheeler. The president retweeted a video showing his supporters shooting paintballs and using pepper spray on crowds in Portland before the fatal shooting. Mr. Trump wrote that “the big backlash going on in Portland cannot be unexpected,” a remarkable instance of a president seeming to support confrontation rather than calming a volatile situation.
Frankly, the president isn’t going to calm the situation no matter what he does. There’s absolutely nothing he could say that wouldn’t likely be spun into something to get worked up over, so why should he bother?
I’m not here to talk about the president, though. I’m here to talk about the shooting itself.
Right now, information is limited. The L.A. Times is reporting that the victim was a supporter of Patriot Prayer. The group has long advocated members attend events armed, and we may be seeing just why.
Unlike Kenosha, we don’t seem to have a pile of videos of the incident, so we have far less to go on. I doubt the New York Times will be assembling a timeline of events this time, at least in part because they can’t. However, there are some things we can glean from this.
Now, we know that Trump supporters were using paintball guns. It’s possible that someone saw the paintball gun, thought it was a real gun, and opened fire. I’m putting that out there as a possibility, but I don’t see it as a likelihood.
You see, while we tend to have tons of videos from these “protests”, the complete lack of them suggest that those recording were sympathetic to the shooter and know that he was in the wrong. Someone was likely recording, but since they side with the shooter, they’re likely sitting on the video…assuming they haven’t just deleted it by now.
This is one of the few witness reports we have.
Justin Dunlap, who witnessed the shooting and captured some of it on his Facebook live stream, said he “didn’t hear much lead up to it.” “I heard like three seconds of yelling and saw a guy spray bear mace,” Dunlap told CNN. “The victim sprayed mace and launched it right into the other guy.” CNN has not confirmed if the victim is the person who sprayed mace. “I’ve watched the video 100 times, slow-mo and on my TV, and still don’t know where the shots actually came from,” Dunlap said. … “I was in the wrong place at the right time,” he said.”I’m just a citizen journalist. I just want people to know what is going on out here.” Before the shooting, Dunlap said he saw people who were part of the Trump supporters parade launch mace from the back of their vehicles to protesters walking down the street.
I guess it’s possible that they don’t realize that seeing a paintball gun and mistaking it for a real one is something that can actually be defended in a court of law, but I’m skeptical. Very skeptical. Especially since the odd witness is reporting pepper spray (which isn’t mace) but not anything resembling a firearm. I’m not a lawyer, but I don’t think lethal force is generally appropriate for something like pepper spray.
Instead, this looks like someone was gunned down for their politics, and that’s never a good thing.
That’s especially true when you look at the alleged shooter.
The man being investigated by police in the fatal shooting of a Trump supporter in Portland identifies as Antifa and is an ardent Black Lives Matter supporter. Michael Forest Reinoehl was previously arrested at an Antifa riot in July and charged with illegally possessing a loaded firearm and other crimes. He was let go and the charges were never pursued. He allegedly went on to kill Aaron “Jay” Danielson on Saturday night in downtown Portland. The Oregonian was first to report that Reinoehl, 48, is being investigated by Portland police for the homicide. He has not been formally named or charged. … On Instagram, Reinoehl posted in June: “Every revolution needs people that are willing and ready to fight. There are many of us protesters that are just protesting without a clue of where that will lead. That’s just the beginning that’s where the fight starts. If that’s as far and you can take it thank you for your participation but please stand aside and support the ones that are willing to fight. I am 100% ANTIFA all the way! I am willing to fight for my brothers and sisters! Even if some of them are too ignorant to realize what antifa truly stands for.” He continued: “We are currently living through a crucial point in Humanities evolution. We truly have an opportunity right now to fix everything. But it will be a fight like no other! It will be a war and like all wars there will be casualties.” Reinoehl also touted his military experience and desire for armed conflict: “I was in the army and hated it. I did not feel like fighting for them would ever be a good cause. Today’s protesters and antifa are my brothers in arms. This is a Cause to fight for This truly is fighting for my country!”
In other words, he felt the protests weren’t the fight in and of itself. That suggests he felt that violence was needed and was ready, if not eager to commit that violence.
Well, it looks like he just might have taken that step. Now it’s up to law enforcement and the prosecutors. We’ll have to see if they have more evidence than we’ve generally seen so far, but it sounds like they do.


bearingarms--2020-09-01--Former KCMO Fire Captain Pleads Guilty Over Illegal Gun Sales

Many anti-gunners will claim that if you have certain laws in place , it will somehow stop bad people from doing bad things .
They might even honestly believe that to be the case .
Those are also the ones who genuinely believe they don ’ t want a total gun ban…they ’ re just going to push for one more gun control law until some Utopia comes about .
However , the problem with this is that there will always be bad actors in the United States .
Some people will do illegal things for various reasons , up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them a lot of money .
That includes firearm sales .
Take this case from Kansas City , Missouri as an example .
A former Kansas City , Missouri , fire captain pleaded guilty to illegally selling guns over a five-year period that included selling to convicted felons , the United States Attorney ’ s Office for the Western District of Missouri announced Monday .
James Samuels , 54 , admitted to buying 77 guns from November 2013 to August 2018 , most of which were hand guns .
Samuels sold 47 of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 to 20 of those went to convicted felons .
He also made several false statements to federally licensed firearm dealers dealers by misrepresenting the identity of the actual buyer of firearms , according to the attorney ’ s office .
In other words , he intentionally provided firearms to criminals .
Please , tell me precisely what laws would have actually stopped this from happening ?
He pled guilty to basically being a straw buyers for felons , which means he was the key to evading the NICS check system , so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done a thing to stop these transactions .
Nor would one of the preferred methods for dealing with straw buys , namely gun rationing .
Samuels bought guns over a 57 month period .
Unless someone was limited to just one gun per month , he could have still purchased every firearm we know he sold to third parties .
So , not a thing would have been accomplished except to penalize people who weren ’ t doing anything wrong .
At the end of the day , there ’ s nothing you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criminals from getting guns .
You might make it a bit tougher for them , but they ’ ll still get guns if they want them badly enough .
But those laws will invariably interfere with the rights of law-abiding Americans .
It ’ ll keep them from buying the guns they want despite the fact that they represent zero threat to anyone .
These are people you could hand a rocket launcher and they wouldn ’ t hurt a soul .
Meanwhile , felons will still be able beat someone to death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but disempowering those who aren ’ t inclined to do evil while doing nothing to actually stop those who would do evil is kind of the big reason why gun control is a colossal failure and always will be .
Criminals don ’ t follow the law .
They ’ ll do whatever they have to do to circumvent the laws , as we can see here .
And honestly , who would look at a fire department captain as someone who would provide criminals with guns ?
I sure wouldn ’ t @ @

Many anti-gunners will claim that if you have certain laws in place, it will somehow stop bad people from doing bad things. They might even honestly believe that to be the case. Those are also the ones who genuinely believe they don’t want a total gun ban…they’re just going to push for one more gun control law until some Utopia comes about.
However, the problem with this is that there will always be bad actors in the United States. Some people will do illegal things for various reasons, up to and including because it can make them a lot of money.
That includes firearm sales. Take this case from Kansas City, Missouri as an example.
A former Kansas City, Missouri, fire captain pleaded guilty to illegally selling guns over a five-year period that included selling to convicted felons, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri announced Monday. James Samuels, 54, admitted to buying 77 guns from November 2013 to August 2018, most of which were hand guns. Samuels sold 47 of the firearms to third parties, and 10 to 20 of those went to convicted felons. … He also made several false statements to federally licensed firearm dealers dealers by misrepresenting the identity of the actual buyer of firearms, according to the attorney’s office.
In other words, he intentionally provided firearms to criminals.
Please, tell me precisely what laws would have actually stopped this from happening? He pled guilty to basically being a straw buyers for felons, which means he was the key to evading the NICS check system, so universal background checks wouldn’t have done a thing to stop these transactions.
Nor would one of the preferred methods for dealing with straw buys, namely gun rationing. Samuels bought guns over a 57 month period. Unless someone was limited to just one gun per month, he could have still purchased every firearm we know he sold to third parties. So, not a thing would have been accomplished except to penalize people who weren’t doing anything wrong.
At the end of the day, there’s nothing you’re going to do to stop criminals from getting guns. You might make it a bit tougher for them, but they’ll still get guns if they want them badly enough.
But those laws will invariably interfere with the rights of law-abiding Americans. It’ll keep them from buying the guns they want despite the fact that they represent zero threat to anyone. These are people you could hand a rocket launcher and they wouldn’t hurt a soul. Meanwhile, felons will still be able beat someone to death.
Maybe it’s me, but disempowering those who aren’t inclined to do evil while doing nothing to actually stop those who would do evil is kind of the big reason why gun control is a colossal failure and always will be.
Criminals don’t follow the law. They’ll do whatever they have to do to circumvent the laws, as we can see here. And honestly, who would look at a fire department captain as someone who would provide criminals with guns? I sure wouldn’t have.
And that’s the problem.


bearingarms--2020-09-01--Philly Gun Owners Report Year-Long Wait For Concealed Carry Application

We ’ ve seen long lines at gun shops in Philadelphia this year , and now those long lines are leading to a long wait for those Philly residents hoping to not just own a gun , but be able to legally carry it as well .
According to several reports in the PAGuns community on Reddit , those attempting to apply for a concealed carry license in the city are now being scheduled for appointments in September of 2021 .
Not an appointment to pick up your license , mind you , just an appointment to pick up an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As one commenter described : This is a huge problem , not only for Philly gun owners , but for Philadelphia politicians .
Whether they realize it or not , this failure of the Philly police to process applications in a timely manner isn ’ t just depriving thousands of residents of their right to bear arms in self-defense , but it ’ s likely leading to more people illegally carrying guns .
Not because they ’ re violent criminals , mind you , but because they ’ d rather risk being caught @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carry license than being cornered by a criminal without a means to protect or defend themselves .
There have already been more than 300 homicides in Philadelphia this year , and criminals are now so emboldened that they ’ re even gunning down people as they ’ re talking to police .
Investigators said police were called to the scene after reports of a disturbance at a large house party .
According to police , as the officers arrived , they exited their car and began talking to a 33-year-old man who was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when , according to the officers , a dark-colored Nissan Maxima sped by and opened fire on the man , striking him at least five times .
Police said when the shots rang out , the officers ran for cover and called for backup , bringing in dozens of officers from several surrounding districts .
Police transported the man to Temple University Hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later .
Investigators said the Maxima was later stopped on the Girard Point Bridge and a man and a woman were taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the incident began as an argument inside of the party .
Philly has the second highest number of homicides in the country at the moment , trailing only Chicago in the amount of killings since January .
For the past three years the city ’ s topped more than 300 homicides , but this year they ’ re on pace for more than 400 murders , which hasn ’ t happened in Philadelphia in well over a decade .
The city ’ s violent criminals are illegally carrying guns with impunity , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are being told it will be a year or more before they can even begin the process of applying for a concealed carry license .
Those legal gun owners , on the other hand , should be absolutely furious and disgusted at the inaction of city leaders when it comes to exercising their right of self-defense .
How many times has Mayor Jim Kenney talked about the importance of protecting the right to protest over the past three months ?
Don ’ t get me wrong ; I support the First Amendment as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I only wish the mayor felt the same way .
Instead , he seems utterly unconcerned about good people in bad neighborhoods having to choose between being disarmed due to the bureaucracy , or carrying a gun for self-defense even though it could land them in jail .
The inability or unwillingness of the city of Philadelphia to process these concealed carry applications in a timely manner isn ’ t just putting law-abiding gun owners at risk , it ’ s actually creating criminals out of thin air .
Non-violent criminals , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the law they ’ re still committing a criminal offense .
Frankly , this is a perfect example of why constitutional carry laws should be the norm across the country , but for now Philly ’ s carry laws remain intact , though they ’ re providing far more benefit to violent criminals than the cops on the street and the residents who just want to be able to protect themselves in a dangerous city without breaking the law .
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney should be ashamed of himself for allowing this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won ’ t be .
I think it ’ s far more likely that he feels a perverted sense of pride over the fact that Philadelphians are having their Second Amendment rights put in limbo .
It ’ s obvious Philly ’ s politicians have no interest in addressing this crisis , and that means it may ultimately be up to the courts , starting with any Philadelphians willing to challenge the bureaucratic brick wall via a lawsuit .

We’ve seen long lines at gun shops in Philadelphia this year, and now those long lines are leading to a long wait for those Philly residents hoping to not just own a gun, but be able to legally carry it as well.
According to several reports in the PAGuns community on Reddit, those attempting to apply for a concealed carry license in the city are now being scheduled for appointments in September of 2021. Not an appointment to pick up your license, mind you, just an appointment to pick up an application to apply for your license.
As one commenter described:
Became a first time gun owner a few months ago and have taken the responsibility and training very seriously. I called a month ago for an appointment to apply and I have one for 6/15/2021, which is absolutely absurd. No opportunity to even standby in the case of cancellation.
This is a huge problem, not only for Philly gun owners, but for Philadelphia politicians. Whether they realize it or not, this failure of the Philly police to process applications in a timely manner isn’t just depriving thousands of residents of their right to bear arms in self-defense, but it’s likely leading to more people illegally carrying guns. Not because they’re violent criminals, mind you, but because they’d rather risk being caught in possession of a gun without a carry license than being cornered by a criminal without a means to protect or defend themselves.
There have already been more than 300 homicides in Philadelphia this year, and criminals are now so emboldened that they’re even gunning down people as they’re talking to police.
Investigators said police were called to the scene after reports of a disturbance at a large house party. According to police, as the officers arrived, they exited their car and began talking to a 33-year-old man who was at the party. That’s when, according to the officers, a dark-colored Nissan Maxima sped by and opened fire on the man, striking him at least five times. Police said when the shots rang out, the officers ran for cover and called for backup, bringing in dozens of officers from several surrounding districts. Police transported the man to Temple University Hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later. Investigators said the Maxima was later stopped on the Girard Point Bridge and a man and a woman were taken into custody. Police said they believe the incident began as an argument inside of the party.
Philly has the second highest number of homicides in the country at the moment, trailing only Chicago in the amount of killings since January. For the past three years the city’s topped more than 300 homicides, but this year they’re on pace for more than 400 murders, which hasn’t happened in Philadelphia in well over a decade.
The city’s violent criminals are illegally carrying guns with impunity, and are probably thrilled that legal gun owners are being told it will be a year or more before they can even begin the process of applying for a concealed carry license. Those legal gun owners, on the other hand, should be absolutely furious and disgusted at the inaction of city leaders when it comes to exercising their right of self-defense.
How many times has Mayor Jim Kenney talked about the importance of protecting the right to protest over the past three months? Don’t get me wrong; I support the First Amendment as much as I do the Second. I only wish the mayor felt the same way. Instead, he seems utterly unconcerned about good people in bad neighborhoods having to choose between being disarmed due to the bureaucracy, or carrying a gun for self-defense even though it could land them in jail.
The inability or unwillingness of the city of Philadelphia to process these concealed carry applications in a timely manner isn’t just putting law-abiding gun owners at risk, it’s actually creating criminals out of thin air. Non-violent criminals, to be sure, but in the eyes of the law they’re still committing a criminal offense. Frankly, this is a perfect example of why constitutional carry laws should be the norm across the country, but for now Philly’s carry laws remain intact, though they’re providing far more benefit to violent criminals than the cops on the street and the residents who just want to be able to protect themselves in a dangerous city without breaking the law.
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney should be ashamed of himself for allowing this to happen, though I know he won’t be. I think it’s far more likely that he feels a perverted sense of pride over the fact that Philadelphians are having their Second Amendment rights put in limbo. It’s obvious Philly’s politicians have no interest in addressing this crisis, and that means it may ultimately be up to the courts, starting with any Philadelphians willing to challenge the bureaucratic brick wall via a lawsuit.


bearingarms--2020-09-01--Ex-NYPD Detective Blames Politicians For Violence Surge

New York City is , like many of the cities in our nation , is seeing a massive surge in violence .
While many argue gun laws–or the lack of them–is the reason for that kind of thing , but the truth is that violence is more complicated than that .
The people who have violence more in their face than anyone , though , are the police .
They tend to know a bit more about it than most .
For one ex-NYPD detective , the blame lands squarely on politicians .
The rise in gun violence in New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of “ deadly sins ” committed by Democratic politicians , retired New York Police Department ( NYPD ) Detective Pat Brosnan told “ America ’ s Newsroom ” on Monday .
Brosnan was responding to calls by Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and New York City Council Member Ritchie Torres for an investigation into whether an unannounced NYPD work slowdown accounts for the rise in crime .
Torres and Adams suggested to WABC-TV that some officers may be protesting city and state reforms in the wake of George Floyd ‘ s death in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the councilman and Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams are 1,000 % wrong , ” said Brosnan , who added that “ the 100 % uptick in gun violence , meaning twice as many New Yorkers will be shot versus this time last year , ” is a result of what he refers to as the “ deadly sins.
” “ It started with defunding the police , it moved into disbanding [ the ] city wide anti-crime [ unit ] , they ’ re the folks , by the way , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Brosnan explained .
“ It moved on to disinterested prosecutors , [ who say ] , ‘ We ’ re not going the prosecute those crimes .
Not important , instead let ’ s empty the jails ’ [ and are ] discharging prisoners.
” Brosnan said all of those actions “ desecrated the NYPD ” before adding that “ just when it couldn ’ t get worse , they dropped … the diaphragm law on us in mid-August like a hand grenade.
” There , Brosnan is referring to a ban @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m not sure that Brosnan is right , but I ’ m even less sure that he ’ s wrong .
When departments are being defunded and task forces created to deal with a specific threat are being disbanded is immediately followed with a surge in violent crime , it ’ s kind of hard not to see the possibility that the two are related .
I won ’ t say it ’ s definitive because I don ’ t want to fall into a logical fallacy of post hoc ergo propter hoc @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of.
” I ’ d want more definitive data .
That said , I can ’ t rule it out , either , especially since so many other cities are following the same pattern .
They ’ ve reduced funding for their departments and done away with groups meant to combat specific crimes only to see an influx of violent crime .
It ’ s enough to at least suggest Brosnan may have a point .
I ’ m not ready to claim that ’ s all there is .
Violence , after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot of ways we can look to reduce violence .
However , you don ’ t cut funding to the police and then just pray these other methods that will take years to produce results suddenly work faster .
That ’ s for damn sure .

New York City is, like many of the cities in our nation, is seeing a massive surge in violence. While many argue gun laws–or the lack of them–is the reason for that kind of thing, but the truth is that violence is more complicated than that.
The people who have violence more in their face than anyone, though, are the police. They tend to know a bit more about it than most.
For one ex-NYPD detective, the blame lands squarely on politicians.
The rise in gun violence in New York City this summer is a result of “deadly sins” committed by Democratic politicians, retired New York Police Department (NYPD) Detective Pat Brosnan told “America’s Newsroom” on Monday. Brosnan was responding to calls by Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and New York City Council Member Ritchie Torres for an investigation into whether an unannounced NYPD work slowdown accounts for the rise in crime. Torres and Adams suggested to WABC-TV that some officers may be protesting city and state reforms in the wake of George Floyd‘s death in Minneapolis police custody. “Both politicians, the councilman and Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams are 1,000% wrong,” said Brosnan, who added that “the 100% uptick in gun violence, meaning twice as many New Yorkers will be shot versus this time last year,” is a result of what he refers to as the “deadly sins.” “It started with defunding the police, it moved into disbanding [the] city wide anti-crime [unit], they’re the folks, by the way, who take the guns off the street,” Brosnan explained. “It moved on to disinterested prosecutors, [who say], ‘We’re not going the prosecute those crimes. Not important, instead let’s empty the jails’ [and are] discharging prisoners.” Brosnan said all of those actions “desecrated the NYPD” before adding that “just when it couldn’t get worse, they dropped … the diaphragm law on us in mid-August like a hand grenade.”
There, Brosnan is referring to a ban on chokeholds.
Now, I’m not sure that Brosnan is right, but I’m even less sure that he’s wrong. When departments are being defunded and task forces created to deal with a specific threat are being disbanded is immediately followed with a surge in violent crime, it’s kind of hard not to see the possibility that the two are related.
I won’t say it’s definitive because I don’t want to fall into a logical fallacy of post hoc ergo propter hoc, or “after, therefore because of.” I’d want more definitive data.
That said, I can’t rule it out, either, especially since so many other cities are following the same pattern. They’ve reduced funding for their departments and done away with groups meant to combat specific crimes only to see an influx of violent crime. It’s enough to at least suggest Brosnan may have a point.
I’m not ready to claim that’s all there is. Violence, after all, is complicated and there are a lot of ways we can look to reduce violence. However, you don’t cut funding to the police and then just pray these other methods that will take years to produce results suddenly work faster. That’s for damn sure.


bearingarms--2020-09-01--Keep Calm & Carry: A Conversation With USCCA's Tim Schmidt

With President Donald Trump heading to Kenosha , Wisconsin today , I thought it would be a good time to check in with Tim Schmidt , president and founder of the U.S .
Concealed Carry Association , which is headquartered in the state .
Schmidt knows Kenosha well , and certainly wasn ’ t at a loss for words when it comes to his take on the riots , looting , and violence that engulfed the city after the shooting of Jacob Blake by Kenosha police officers more than a week ago .
“ It ’ s devastating , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he admitted .
“ I think Trump ’ s trip is a smart one .
You know , Wisconsin is still a battleground state and the majority of folks in Wisconsin , at least the ones who don ’ t live in the big cities , love Trump and the love what he stands for .
They love that he supports the natural-born right to self-defense , and now more than ever , you can tell just by watching the news that it ’ s pretty important right now when there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that you ’ ve got ta defend yourself .
It ’ s crazy.
” Schmidt tells me that he believes there is a “ sleeping giant ” among Americans right now ; people who believe in the free market , old-school American values , and want to protect their homes and their families .
When it comes to going out to protect a business that ’ s not yours , or to travel to another town where there ’ s been unrest or destruction , Schmidt says people need to know exactly what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ themselves into trouble .
“ The rules are a lot different nowadays , ” Schmidt told me , adding that “ unless you ’ re guarding your own business , I would recommend that you proceed cautiously .
And if you do , make sure that you have well established awareness skills , conflict avoidance skills , de-escalation skills , because you don ’ t want to get caught up in a riot like that where logic goes out the window and it ’ s nothing but trouble .
My ultimate advice would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family , protect your loved ones , and make sure that you have your own set of skills that would allow you do that effectively.
” Be sure to check out the whole conversation with Tim Schmidt in the video window above , and stick around afterwards for more news , including a look at the lengthy criminal history of the man suspected of shooting and killing St. Louis police officer Tamarris Bohannon , an armed citizen in Tallahassee who police say was acting in self-defense when he pulled a gun during a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and a Charlotte , North Carolina police officer in the right place at the right time to help a homeless woman and her dogs find a home of their own .

With President Donald Trump heading to Kenosha, Wisconsin today, I thought it would be a good time to check in with Tim Schmidt, president and founder of the U.S. Concealed Carry Association, which is headquartered in the state. Schmidt knows Kenosha well, and certainly wasn’t at a loss for words when it comes to his take on the riots, looting, and violence that engulfed the city after the shooting of Jacob Blake by Kenosha police officers more than a week ago.
“It’s devastating, and it scares the heck out of me,” he admitted. “I think Trump’s trip is a smart one. You know, Wisconsin is still a battleground state and the majority of folks in Wisconsin, at least the ones who don’t live in the big cities, love Trump and the love what he stands for. They love that he supports the natural-born right to self-defense, and now more than ever, you can tell just by watching the news that it’s pretty important right now when there’s so much looting and rioting that you’ve gotta defend yourself. It’s crazy.”
Schmidt tells me that he believes there is a “sleeping giant” among Americans right now; people who believe in the free market, old-school American values, and want to protect their homes and their families. When it comes to going out to protect a business that’s not yours, or to travel to another town where there’s been unrest or destruction, Schmidt says people need to know exactly what they’re doing before they get themselves into trouble.
“The rules are a lot different nowadays,” Schmidt told me, adding that “unless you’re guarding your own business, I would recommend that you proceed cautiously. And if you do, make sure that you have well established awareness skills, conflict avoidance skills, de-escalation skills, because you don’t want to get caught up in a riot like that where logic goes out the window and it’s nothing but trouble. My ultimate advice would be protect your home, protect your family, protect your loved ones, and make sure that you have your own set of skills that would allow you do that effectively.”
Be sure to check out the whole conversation with Tim Schmidt in the video window above, and stick around afterwards for more news, including a look at the lengthy criminal history of the man suspected of shooting and killing St. Louis police officer Tamarris Bohannon, an armed citizen in Tallahassee who police say was acting in self-defense when he pulled a gun during a fight at a protest over the weekend, and a Charlotte, North Carolina police officer in the right place at the right time to help a homeless woman and her dogs find a home of their own.


bearingarms--2020-09-01--UN Condemns U.S. For Gun Violence, Jacob Blake Shooting

In theory , the United Nations exists solely to prevent another world war .
While it lasted longer than the last attempt at such a thing–the League of Nations–it hasn ’ t really stopped many wars so far as I can tell .
Instead , the UN spends a fair bit of its time giving jumped up dictatorships the supposed authority to band together and criticize the United States for stuff that ’ s really none of their business .
The latest example ?
They UN Human Rights Office has condemned the U.S. over the Jacob Blake shooting and ongoing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Rupert Colville said Friday that video footage of Jacob Blake being shot by police in the US suggested excessive force and a subsequent Wisconsin shooting demonstrated a need for stricter gun control .
Kenosha , Wisconsin , has witnessed multiple days of unrest after Blake , a black man , was shot August 23 seven times in the back by a police officer while three of his children watched .
He is likely paralyzed from the waist down for life .
On the night of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protesters demonstrating against Blake ’ s shooting and shot three of them , killing two .
An Illinois teenager is currently in custody as a suspect in that shooting .
Oh , there was so much to talk about on this .
First , the United Nations is the same entity that elected Libya and Venezuela to the Human Rights Council .
I ’ m not particularly interested in their version of human rights .
Especially since they ’ re trying to pressure the United States to infringe on human rights by enacting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , let ’ s take a look at what we ’ ve seen and heard .
Jacob Blake is an accused rapist who violated a restraining order filed by his alleged victim .
He reportedly violated that order .
When confronted by police , he waved around a knife and reportedly claimed there was a firearm in the vehicle .
The police tried to subdue him multiple times , including using less lethal options , only for him to eventually reach into the same vehicle that supposedly contained a firearm .
The officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to end the threat .
Frankly , they could have shot him when he just had the knife and been perfectly justified .
They instead worked toward trying to resolve it before resorting to lethal force .
From my perspective , they looked pretty well restrained .
For some self-important bureaucrat to call their actions a human rights violation is downright offensive .
Especially coming from the same United Nations that has a bit of a rape problem .
I mean , while it ’ s certainly possible that my assessment of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrong , it ’ s a known problem that UN peacekeepers have an issue with apparently not raping children .
Frankly , I know which I prefer existing in my country .
I would say that my days of not taking the UN serious are coming to a middle , but that ’ s not true .
My days of not taking them seriously aren ’ t even remotely that close to ending .

In theory, the United Nations exists solely to prevent another world war. While it lasted longer than the last attempt at such a thing–the League of Nations–it hasn’t really stopped many wars so far as I can tell.
Instead, the UN spends a fair bit of its time giving jumped up dictatorships the supposed authority to band together and criticize the United States for stuff that’s really none of their business.
The latest example? They UN Human Rights Office has condemned the U.S. over the Jacob Blake shooting and ongoing gun violence in our cities.
Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Rupert Colville said Friday that video footage of Jacob Blake being shot by police in the US suggested excessive force and a subsequent Wisconsin shooting demonstrated a need for stricter gun control. Kenosha, Wisconsin, has witnessed multiple days of unrest after Blake, a black man, was shot August 23 seven times in the back by a police officer while three of his children watched. He is likely paralyzed from the waist down for life. On the night of August 27, someone opened fire on protesters demonstrating against Blake’s shooting and shot three of them, killing two. An Illinois teenager is currently in custody as a suspect in that shooting.
Oh, there was so much to talk about on this.
First, the United Nations is the same entity that elected Libya and Venezuela to the Human Rights Council. I’m not particularly interested in their version of human rights.
Especially since they’re trying to pressure the United States to infringe on human rights by enacting gun control.
As for Jacob Blake, let’s take a look at what we’ve seen and heard. Jacob Blake is an accused rapist who violated a restraining order filed by his alleged victim. He reportedly violated that order. When confronted by police, he waved around a knife and reportedly claimed there was a firearm in the vehicle. The police tried to subdue him multiple times, including using less lethal options, only for him to eventually reach into the same vehicle that supposedly contained a firearm.
The officers present fired multiple times in an effort to end the threat.
Frankly, they could have shot him when he just had the knife and been perfectly justified. They instead worked toward trying to resolve it before resorting to lethal force.
From my perspective, they looked pretty well restrained. For some self-important bureaucrat to call their actions a human rights violation is downright offensive.
Especially coming from the same United Nations that has a bit of a rape problem. I mean, while it’s certainly possible that my assessment of the officers’ encounter with Jacob Blake is wrong, it’s a known problem that UN peacekeepers have an issue with apparently not raping children. Frankly, I know which I prefer existing in my country.
I would say that my days of not taking the UN serious are coming to a middle, but that’s not true. My days of not taking them seriously aren’t even remotely that close to ending.


bearingarms--2020-09-01--Levi's CEO: Second Amendment "Intended Largely For White People"

Levi Strauss president and CEO Chip Bergh has been a vocal proponent of gun control for several years now .
He ’ s teamed up with the gun control movement ’ s sugar daddy Michael Bloomberg to build a coalition of anti-gun CEO ’ s willing to use their corporate footprint to lobby for restrictive gun control laws , even telling the Washington Post in 2018 that “ it ’ s inevitable that we ’ re going to alienate some consumers , but we can no longer sit on the sidelines and remain silent on this issue.
” As the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt .
Unfortunately for Bergh , that ’ s exactly what he ’ s done in a new op/ed in which he claims that not only can racial inequality not be solved until we have more gun control , but that the Second Amendment itself is a tool of white supremacy .
According to a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel report , Kyle Rittenhouse , a white 17-year-old , traveled from Antioch , Ill. , to Kenosha with an AR-15 semiautomatic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protect local businesses and people .
He reportedly received a warm welcome from local law enforcement : “ We appreciate you guys , ” one officer told him in a video , referring to Rittenhouse and other armed people he was with .
After that , Rittenhouse shot three people , killing two of them , then walked away right past police and drove home .
He later turned himself in , but this incident highlights that the right to bear arms in this country was initially and still is intended largely for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killed if they ’ re suspected of even having a gun .
Though Bergh doesn ’ t realize it , he ’ s actually making a case for the racism of gun control laws , not the Second Amendment .
The Second Amendment protects a right of “ the people ” to keep and bear arms .
The laws that deprived black Americans from keeping and bearing arms ( like the ones put in place across the south in the wake of the slave revolt led by Nat Turner in 1831 , for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Second Amendment in action .
They ’ re examples of the Second Amendment rights of Americans being deprived because they weren ’ t considered part of “ the people.
” Bergh ’ s remedy for this injustice isn ’ t to ensure that all law-abiding Americans have access to their Second Amendment rights .
No , instead he wants to turn the right to keep and bear arms from a right of the people into a privilege of the few .
His “ cure ” is worse than the disease , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in America , including the role that armed self-defense played in civil rights struggles for more than a century .
Imagine the argument that many black Americans have often been deprived of their right to vote in the South , and even now face barriers to voting that many white Americans will never encounter , and so the answer is to deprive all Americans of their right to vote .
Sounds pretty absurd , doesn ’ t it ?
So why does Bergh believe that the the right to bear arms should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equal access to that right ?
At one point in his op/ed , Bergh comes close to seeing the light .
And what exactly does Bergh think will happen even even more gun control laws are put on the books ?
If Bergh truly does think that the Second Amendment is still intended largely for white people , then it seems to me that the answer is to work to ensure that we live up to the promise that it ’ s actually a right of the people .
The problem for Bergh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would mean repealing restrictive gun licensing laws that prevent many lower-income Americans , including minorities , from legally acquiring a firearm .
It means getting rid of “ may-issue ” concealed carry laws that allow for law enforcement to deny people their right to carry for any reason , or no reason at all .
It means building ranges in cities like Chicago and Washington , D.C. instead of passing zoning laws that make it impossible for people to have a safe place to train to be a responsible gun owner .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of responsible gun ownership in American cities that have tried for fifty years or more to make owning a gun taboo .
Chip Bergh seems to believe otherwise .
He wants more gun control laws that , according to his own ideology , are likely to lead to more young black men being sent to prison for non-violent , possessory gun offenses .
Even worse , Bergh seems to believe he ’ s on the right side of history here , instead of recognizing that his efforts will perpetuate the problem of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a chosen few .

Levi Strauss president and CEO Chip Bergh has been a vocal proponent of gun control for several years now. He’s teamed up with the gun control movement’s sugar daddy Michael Bloomberg to build a coalition of anti-gun CEO’s willing to use their corporate footprint to lobby for restrictive gun control laws, even telling the Washington Post in 2018 that “it’s inevitable that we’re going to alienate some consumers, but we can no longer sit on the sidelines and remain silent on this issue.”
As the saying goes, it’s better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt. Unfortunately for Bergh, that’s exactly what he’s done in a new op/ed in which he claims that not only can racial inequality not be solved until we have more gun control, but that the Second Amendment itself is a tool of white supremacy.
According to a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel report, Kyle Rittenhouse, a white 17-year-old, traveled from Antioch, Ill., to Kenosha with an AR-15 semiautomatic rifle to, in his words, protect local businesses and people. He reportedly received a warm welcome from local law enforcement: “We appreciate you guys,” one officer told him in a video, referring to Rittenhouse and other armed people he was with. After that, Rittenhouse shot three people, killing two of them, then walked away right past police and drove home. He later turned himself in, but this incident highlights that the right to bear arms in this country was initially and still is intended largely for white people, while minorities can be killed if they’re suspected of even having a gun.
Though Bergh doesn’t realize it, he’s actually making a case for the racism of gun control laws, not the Second Amendment. The Second Amendment protects a right of “the people” to keep and bear arms. The laws that deprived black Americans from keeping and bearing arms (like the ones put in place across the south in the wake of the slave revolt led by Nat Turner in 1831, for example) weren’t examples of the Second Amendment in action. They’re examples of the Second Amendment rights of Americans being deprived because they weren’t considered part of “the people.”
Bergh’s remedy for this injustice isn’t to ensure that all law-abiding Americans have access to their Second Amendment rights. No, instead he wants to turn the right to keep and bear arms from a right of the people into a privilege of the few. His “cure” is worse than the disease, and ignores the long tradition of black-owned arms in America, including the role that armed self-defense played in civil rights struggles for more than a century.
Imagine the argument that many black Americans have often been deprived of their right to vote in the South, and even now face barriers to voting that many white Americans will never encounter, and so the answer is to deprive all Americans of their right to vote. Sounds pretty absurd, doesn’t it? So why does Bergh believe that the the right to bear arms should be denied to all, rather than ensuring equal access to that right?
At one point in his op/ed, Bergh comes close to seeing the light.
Black people are not only more likely to be killed by police for possibly carrying guns, they are also more likely to be convicted of gun-related felonies and receive harsher sentences. That’s partly why the number of Black people with felony convictions increased fivefold between 1980 and 2010, and why one-third of Black men now have felony records.
And what exactly does Bergh think will happen even even more gun control laws are put on the books?
If Bergh truly does think that the Second Amendment is still intended largely for white people, then it seems to me that the answer is to work to ensure that we live up to the promise that it’s actually a right of the people. The problem for Bergh and his gun control buddies is that would mean repealing restrictive gun licensing laws that prevent many lower-income Americans, including minorities, from legally acquiring a firearm. It means getting rid of “may-issue” concealed carry laws that allow for law enforcement to deny people their right to carry for any reason, or no reason at all.
It means building ranges in cities like Chicago and Washington, D.C. instead of passing zoning laws that make it impossible for people to have a safe place to train to be a responsible gun owner. In fact, it means re-establishing a culture of responsible gun ownership in American cities that have tried for fifty years or more to make owning a gun taboo.
Chip Bergh seems to believe otherwise. He wants more gun control laws that, according to his own ideology, are likely to lead to more young black men being sent to prison for non-violent, possessory gun offenses. Even worse, Bergh seems to believe he’s on the right side of history here, instead of recognizing that his efforts will perpetuate the problem of a right for all being recognized only for a chosen few.


bearingarms--2020-09-01--Biden Continues Pushing Smart Gun Technology

Smart guns aren ’ t quite vaporware .
After all , a handful do apparently exist , but they ’ re incredibly expensive and there are definite problems with concept as a whole .
It ’ s why no gun company is pursuing the technology , after all .
While some potential customers would love the idea of a firearm that couldn ’ t be fired if it was stolen , the truth is that such a weapon may not fire when you need it either , and that ’ s a problem .
Despite the many issues with smart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former Vice President Joe Biden continues to push this idea .
Except , well , that technology doesn ’ t actually exist .
Oh , we have technology that does essentially the same thing for a host of other devices , sure , but those are all electronics-based devices .
They ’ re smart phones , tablets , laptops , and so on .
They ’ re not firearms which currently have zero electronic components .
And honestly , the idea that the NRA is bullying dealers to not sell these guns is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , even if the guns existed , they ’ d be expensive as hell and gun stores would have to purchase them first in the hopes that someone would want to buy it .
Since most gun owners aren ’ t ready to trust a firearm with a new level of complexity–after all , complexity also introduces more potential points for something to go wrong–there ’ s just no reason to spend that kind of money .
The NRA and the gun industry doesn ’ t have to bully a soul .
Of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smart guns to an ignorant electorate by being honest of why these guns aren ’ t for sale at their local gun store .
He has to spin it to make it look like some evil conspiracy .
It ’ s not .
And let ’ s also be real here : Sources in the gun industry highlighted that such pivotal woes – hacking and glitches – was one of the key reasons “ smart ” technology hasn ’ t been created and applied to regular firearms use in the military or law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smart gun technology isn ’ t taking hold anytime soon is not being mandated for the military or law enforcement , ” [ founder of the D.C.-based Washington Public Relations and 2A advocate Phil ] Watson said .
“ If these devices were actually practical , then every police department and military unit worldwide would be buying them.
” That ’ s an excellent point .
Plus , let ’ s be honest , the firearm industry isn ’ t going to bully the military , now is it ?
The truth is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden doesn ’ t have a clue what they ’ re talking about .

Smart guns aren’t quite vaporware. After all, a handful do apparently exist, but they’re incredibly expensive and there are definite problems with concept as a whole. It’s why no gun company is pursuing the technology, after all. While some potential customers would love the idea of a firearm that couldn’t be fired if it was stolen, the truth is that such a weapon may not fire when you need it either, and that’s a problem.
Despite the many issues with smart guns, though, Democratic nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden continues to push this idea.
Presidential candidate Joe Biden has promised to introduce some of the most sweeping gun control legislation in recent history if elected in November, with the notion of “smart guns” at the center of his policy aimed at reducing firearm violence. … According to Biden’s 2020 campaign website, gun violence is a “public health epidemic” – and he is committed to putting America “on the path to ensuring that 100% of firearms sold in America are smart guns.” “Today, we have the technology to allow only authorized users to fire a gun. For example, existing smart gun technology requires a fingerprint match before use,” the initiative explains. “But, right now, the NRA and gun manufacturers are bullying firearms dealers who try to sell these guns. Biden will stand up against these bullying tactics and issue a call to action for gun manufacturers, dealers, and other public and private entities to take steps to accelerate our transition to smart guns.”
Except, well, that technology doesn’t actually exist.
Oh, we have technology that does essentially the same thing for a host of other devices, sure, but those are all electronics-based devices. They’re smart phones, tablets, laptops, and so on. They’re not firearms which currently have zero electronic components.
And honestly, the idea that the NRA is bullying dealers to not sell these guns is ridiculous.
See, first of all, even if the guns existed, they’d be expensive as hell and gun stores would have to purchase them first in the hopes that someone would want to buy it. Since most gun owners aren’t ready to trust a firearm with a new level of complexity–after all, complexity also introduces more potential points for something to go wrong–there’s just no reason to spend that kind of money.
The NRA and the gun industry doesn’t have to bully a soul.
Of course, Biden can’t sell smart guns to an ignorant electorate by being honest of why these guns aren’t for sale at their local gun store. He has to spin it to make it look like some evil conspiracy. It’s not.
And let’s also be real here:
Sources in the gun industry highlighted that such pivotal woes – hacking and glitches – was one of the key reasons “smart” technology hasn’t been created and applied to regular firearms use in the military or law enforcement. “A big indicator that smart gun technology isn’t taking hold anytime soon is not being mandated for the military or law enforcement,” [founder of the D.C.-based Washington Public Relations and 2A advocate Phil] Watson said. “If these devices were actually practical, then every police department and military unit worldwide would be buying them.”
That’s an excellent point. Plus, let’s be honest, the firearm industry isn’t going to bully the military, now is it?
The truth is, this is yet another area where Biden doesn’t have a clue what they’re talking about.


bearingarms--2020-09-01--Portland Mayor Gets A Riot For His Birthday

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler is a perfect example of what happens when a politician tries to placate the mob instead of ensuring that peace prevails on the streets of their city .
Wheeler ’ s told President Trump repeatedly not to send federal law enforcement to Portland , he said nothing when the local D.A .
announced he wouldn ’ t be prosecuting most of those arrested for taking parts in riots , and even Oregon Public Radio ( hardly a hotbed of conservative or right-wing thinking ) says the mayor doesn ’ t have a clear plan to stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On Monday night the mob once again came for Mayor Wheeler , this time to “ celebrate ” the mayor ’ s birthday by smashing widows and starting fires near the mayor ’ s downtown apartment .
Hundreds of protesters “ celebrated ” the mayor ’ s birthday while wearing party hats , launching fireworks and marching with a large sign that read : “ Resign.
” Police said the group broke windows , burglarized a business , and lit a fire in an occupied apartment building .
A garbage can was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the street and then it turned into a party atmosphere as protesters danced to the “ Macarena.
” Protesters then added other pieces of furniture to the flames and started another fire in the street .
Just peaceful protesters having a dance party , right ?
I mean , sure , they might have thrown some furniture that didn ’ t belong to them on to a fire , but that ’ s what insurance is for , right ?
Police said they stayed out of sight and monitored the protest near the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attempt to deescalate the situation from a distance .
However , when the vandalism and burning continued and when police saw burglaries occurring , they declared an unlawful assembly at around 11 p.m .
Soon after , police saw someone throw burning material through a broken window into a ground-level business in a large , occupied apartment building .
This caused police to declare a riot .
Officers said protesters threw rocks and paint balloons at them and another dumpster was lit on fire before the protesters were moved out of the area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ munitions to move the crowd , but no CS gas .
Guess it wasn ’ t just a pop-up dance party after all .
Who could have guessed that things might turn violent ?
After all , Portland ’ s only been experience similar destruction for , oh , the last 93 days or so .
Police ended up making 19 arrests on Monday night , the vast majority of them from Portland itself .
Note the graffiti on the apartment that the agitators tried to set on fire .
“ This is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a reference to Martin Luther King , Jr. ’ s 1967 “ The Other America ” speech , in which used that phrase to describe riots .
It ’ s become a common refrain on the Left over the past few months , but those citing it in defense of rioting inevitably ignore King ’ s full quote .
Let me say as I ’ ve always said , and I will always continue to say , that riots are socially destructive and self-defeating .
I ’ m still convinced that nonviolence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oppressed people in their struggle for freedom and justice .
I feel that violence will only create more social problems than they will solve .
That in a real sense it is impracticable for the Negro to even think of mounting a violent revolution in the United States .
So I will continue to condemn riots , and continue to say to my brothers and sisters that this is not the way .
And continue to affirm that there is another way .
But at the same time , it is as necessary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ condemning the conditions which cause persons to feel that they must engage in riotous activities as it is for me to condemn riots .
I think America must see that riots do not develop out of thin air .
Certain conditions continue to exist in our society which must be condemned as vigorously as we condemn riots .
But in the final analysis , a riot is the language of the unheard .
And what is it that America has failed to hear ?
It has failed to hear that the plight of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last few years .
It has failed to hear that the promises of freedom and justice have not been met .
And it has failed to hear that large segments of white society are more concerned about tranquility and the status quo than about justice , equality , and humanity .
And so in a real sense our nation ’ s summers of riots are caused by our nation ’ s winters of delay .
And as long as America postpones justice , we stand in the position of having these recurrences of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Social justice and progress are the absolute guarantors of riot prevention .
Portland has held itself out to be a citadel of social justice and progress for decades now .
If an emphasis on those two things are the guarantors of riot prevention , as King said , Portland should be calmest city in the United States .
Instead , riots and looting have become an almost indelible part of the fabric of an increasingly uncivil society in the city , because the violent demonstrators taking to the streets every night aren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or humanity .
They ’ re not striving for progress .
They ’ re hoping to start a revolution , one which will tear down capitalism and all existing institutions in order to build utopia on the ashes of what came before .
In a very real sense , the rioters are being heard , but their message is being rejected .
Their numbers aren ’ t growing .
We ’ re not seeing tens of thousands of people take to every major American city to burn it down .
Instead we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like Ted Wheeler and governors like Kate Brown to get serious about restoring some semblance of order .
Dr. King believed that the summers of riots are caused by winters of delay , but I believe that riots lead to delay .
Riots retard reform .
Riots enhance the status quo .
Riots don ’ t cause most Americans to sit up and think “ By God , this is who I want to decide what the future looks like.
” Instead , they think , “ My God , I hope that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wheeler got a riot for his birthday , with flames coming from an apartment building instead flickering from the top of a cake .
I suppose he should be thankful that the would-be revolutionaries outside his apartment building didn ’ t get a chance to give him any birthday spankings , but if he doesn ’ t get control of his city I have a feeling that spanking , or worse , will be delivered to him at some point in Portland ’ s increasingly dystopian future .

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler is a perfect example of what happens when a politician tries to placate the mob instead of ensuring that peace prevails on the streets of their city. Wheeler’s told President Trump repeatedly not to send federal law enforcement to Portland, he said nothing when the local D.A. announced he wouldn’t be prosecuting most of those arrested for taking parts in riots, and even Oregon Public Radio (hardly a hotbed of conservative or right-wing thinking) says the mayor doesn’t have a clear plan to stop the chaos unfolding nightly on city streets.
On Monday night the mob once again came for Mayor Wheeler, this time to “celebrate” the mayor’s birthday by smashing widows and starting fires near the mayor’s downtown apartment.
Hundreds of protesters “celebrated” the mayor’s birthday while wearing party hats, launching fireworks and marching with a large sign that read: “Resign.” Police said the group broke windows, burglarized a business, and lit a fire in an occupied apartment building. A garbage can was lit on fire in the middle of the street and then it turned into a party atmosphere as protesters danced to the “Macarena.” Protesters then added other pieces of furniture to the flames and started another fire in the street.
Just peaceful protesters having a dance party, right? I mean, sure, they might have thrown some furniture that didn’t belong to them on to a fire, but that’s what insurance is for, right?
Police said they stayed out of sight and monitored the protest near the mayor’s apartment building in an attempt to deescalate the situation from a distance. However, when the vandalism and burning continued and when police saw burglaries occurring, they declared an unlawful assembly at around 11 p.m. Soon after, police saw someone throw burning material through a broken window into a ground-level business in a large, occupied apartment building. This caused police to declare a riot. Officers said protesters threw rocks and paint balloons at them and another dumpster was lit on fire before the protesters were moved out of the area. Police said they used crowd control munitions to move the crowd, but no CS gas.
Guess it wasn’t just a pop-up dance party after all. Who could have guessed that things might turn violent? After all, Portland’s only been experience similar destruction for, oh, the last 93 days or so. Police ended up making 19 arrests on Monday night, the vast majority of them from Portland itself.
This was the arson fire that prompted a riot declaration tonight. It was critical to secure the area to allow firefighters to respond to this dangerous situation. https://t.co/k33vcLD4BY — Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) September 1, 2020
Note the graffiti on the apartment that the agitators tried to set on fire. “This is the language of the unheard,” is a reference to Martin Luther King, Jr.’s 1967 “The Other America” speech, in which used that phrase to describe riots. It’s become a common refrain on the Left over the past few months, but those citing it in defense of rioting inevitably ignore King’s full quote.
Let me say as I’ve always said, and I will always continue to say, that riots are socially destructive and self-defeating. I’m still convinced that nonviolence is the most potent weapon available to oppressed people in their struggle for freedom and justice. I feel that violence will only create more social problems than they will solve. That in a real sense it is impracticable for the Negro to even think of mounting a violent revolution in the United States. So I will continue to condemn riots, and continue to say to my brothers and sisters that this is not the way. And continue to affirm that there is another way. But at the same time, it is as necessary for me to be as vigorous in condemning the conditions which cause persons to feel that they must engage in riotous activities as it is for me to condemn riots. I think America must see that riots do not develop out of thin air. Certain conditions continue to exist in our society which must be condemned as vigorously as we condemn riots. But in the final analysis, a riot is the language of the unheard. And what is it that America has failed to hear? It has failed to hear that the plight of the Negro poor has worsened over the last few years. It has failed to hear that the promises of freedom and justice have not been met. And it has failed to hear that large segments of white society are more concerned about tranquility and the status quo than about justice, equality, and humanity. And so in a real sense our nation’s summers of riots are caused by our nation’s winters of delay. And as long as America postpones justice, we stand in the position of having these recurrences of violence and riots over and over again. Social justice and progress are the absolute guarantors of riot prevention.
Portland has held itself out to be a citadel of social justice and progress for decades now. If an emphasis on those two things are the guarantors of riot prevention, as King said, Portland should be calmest city in the United States. Instead, riots and looting have become an almost indelible part of the fabric of an increasingly uncivil society in the city, because the violent demonstrators taking to the streets every night aren’t interested in justice, equality, or humanity. They’re not striving for progress. They’re hoping to start a revolution, one which will tear down capitalism and all existing institutions in order to build utopia on the ashes of what came before.
In a very real sense, the rioters are being heard, but their message is being rejected. Their numbers aren’t growing. We’re not seeing tens of thousands of people take to every major American city to burn it down. Instead we have millions who are waiting for mayors like Ted Wheeler and governors like Kate Brown to get serious about restoring some semblance of order.
Dr. King believed that the summers of riots are caused by winters of delay, but I believe that riots lead to delay. Riots retard reform. Riots enhance the status quo. Riots don’t cause most Americans to sit up and think “By God, this is who I want to decide what the future looks like.” Instead, they think, “My God, I hope that doesn’t happen here.”
Ted Wheeler got a riot for his birthday, with flames coming from an apartment building instead flickering from the top of a cake. I suppose he should be thankful that the would-be revolutionaries outside his apartment building didn’t get a chance to give him any birthday spankings, but if he doesn’t get control of his city I have a feeling that spanking, or worse, will be delivered to him at some point in Portland’s increasingly dystopian future.


bearingarms--2020-09-01--Study Claims Gun Licensing Laws Keep Murder, Suicide Numbers Down

One of the things anti-gunners love to push are licensing laws .
They want you to have to go and get permission from the government before you can purchase a firearm .
Never you mind that they ’ d never tolerate such a requirement before accessing the internet to speak your mind .
Never you mind that they ’ d never issue such a requirement for securing your home and vehicle , either .
No , it ’ s only the right to keep and bear arms they want to mandate licensing for .
Unfortunately for us , they have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that licensing actually works .
In other words , they found a correlation and are assuming that it ’ s causation .
However , I ’ m more than a little skeptical of this .
For one thing , let ’ s look at the idea of suicides .
A person who may be contemplating suicide can still get a license , after all .
They can get it and purchase a firearm and still take their own life .
A license may add a step , an opportunity to rethink it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ steps , I ’ m skeptical that just one step would be enough .
Plus , as the above-linked report notes , the study also found that non-firearm suicides also declined in one of the states studied .
Now , it sounds to me like there were other factors going on that the study failed to take into account .
And that ’ s the problem with the study as a whole .
You see , if you look just at raw numbers , you can find any number of things related to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violence of any kind is far more complicated than so many researchers want to acknowledge .
They look at a single gun law and then compare murder and suicide rates , but fail to account for any other factors that might have contributed .
For example , what was the regional economy like during that time ?
What cultural factors may have been taking hold during the period the study looked at ?
Also , what particular regions within a state account for the violence ?
For example , the study cites Missouri @ @ @ @ @ @ @ repealed their licensing requirement , but how much of that was in Saint Louis ?
See , that matters because if most or all of it was , then you also have to take into account the sociological impact of gang activity .
Were the gangs getting along well enough before , but not after ?
Honestly , there are a thousand or more variables that can contribute to a violent crime rate , none of which appear to have been accounted for in this study .
And yet , this study will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ try and support an infringement on our Second Amendment rights , the kind they ’ d never tolerate on any other of their rights .

One of the things anti-gunners love to push are licensing laws. They want you to have to go and get permission from the government before you can purchase a firearm. Never you mind that they’d never tolerate such a requirement before accessing the internet to speak your mind. Never you mind that they’d never issue such a requirement for securing your home and vehicle, either.
No, it’s only the right to keep and bear arms they want to mandate licensing for.
Unfortunately for us, they have a new study that pushes the idea that licensing actually works.
Handgun licensing laws in U.S. states lead to fewer gun-related homicides and suicides, a new study finds. These laws go beyond federal background checks by requiring a prospective buyer to apply for a license or permit from state or local law enforcement. “So much of the gun policy discussion focuses on background checks alone,” said study author Alex McCourt, an assistant scientist at the Center for Gun Policy and Research at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. “We need to recognize that background checks are necessary for identifying people prohibited from accessing a firearm, but unless complemented by licensing, our research indicates they are not sufficient to reduce gun fatalities,” he added in a Hopkins news release. To come to that conclusion, McCourt’s team assessed the effects of different gun laws in Connecticut, Missouri, Maryland and Pennsylvania.
In other words, they found a correlation and are assuming that it’s causation.
However, I’m more than a little skeptical of this. For one thing, let’s look at the idea of suicides. A person who may be contemplating suicide can still get a license, after all. They can get it and purchase a firearm and still take their own life. A license may add a step, an opportunity to rethink it, but if you’re taking concrete steps, I’m skeptical that just one step would be enough.
Plus, as the above-linked report notes, the study also found that non-firearm suicides also declined in one of the states studied. Now, it sounds to me like there were other factors going on that the study failed to take into account.
And that’s the problem with the study as a whole.
You see, if you look just at raw numbers, you can find any number of things related to guns and gun control. However, violence of any kind is far more complicated than so many researchers want to acknowledge. They look at a single gun law and then compare murder and suicide rates, but fail to account for any other factors that might have contributed.
For example, what was the regional economy like during that time? What cultural factors may have been taking hold during the period the study looked at? Also, what particular regions within a state account for the violence? For example, the study cites Missouri as having a significant increase after they repealed their licensing requirement, but how much of that was in Saint Louis?
See, that matters because if most or all of it was, then you also have to take into account the sociological impact of gang activity. Were the gangs getting along well enough before, but not after?
Honestly, there are a thousand or more variables that can contribute to a violent crime rate, none of which appear to have been accounted for in this study. And yet, this study will be cited by many who want to try and support an infringement on our Second Amendment rights, the kind they’d never tolerate on any other of their rights.