John McCain on the (so called) "Gun Show Loophole"

Straight from the horses mouth. This is from a few years ago, but is still relevant, seeing as he is now the Republican Presidential Candidate. I see little difference between Obama, Clinton & McCain.

The latest statistics place criminal purchase of guns at gun shows at around .07%. [sarcasm mode on]Wow, that's a real problem![sarcasm mode off]

In addition it's not even a loophole. Here is the dictionary definition of what a loophole is:

loop·hole /ˈlupˌhoʊl/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[loop-hohl] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation noun, verb, -holed, -hol·ing. –noun

1.	a small or narrow opening, as in a wall, for looking through, for admitting light and air, or, particularly in a fortification, for the discharge of missiles against an enemy outside.

2.	an opening or aperture.

3.	a means of escape or evasion; a means or opportunity of evading a rule, law, etc.: There are a number of loopholes in the tax laws whereby corporations can save money.

–verb (used with object)

4.	to furnish with loopholes.

So a loophole is a means of evading the law. In most states there is no law that prevents a citizen from selling one of their guns to another citizen.

So what are the anti's calling a loophole? What it is, is the ability of one private citizen to sell their own personal property to another private citizen without getting the government involved. It can happen anywhere, not just gun shows. Are they going to go after the "newspaper loophole" next? How about the "driveway" or "garage loophole"?

The whole thing is silly. The law will be about as effective as the Brady background checks have been. That is to say, an utter and abysmal failure. To any thinking person, the fallacy is clear. Paul Helmke can talk out of his ass all he wants, but it doesn't change the facts.

I went up to Olympia last year as part of our successful effort to stop the same type of bill in WA that had been passed in OR, with John McCains help, so obviously I feel strongly about this.

"I'm John McCain with some straight talk. Convicted felons have been able to buy and sell thousands of guns at gun shows because of a loophole in the law. Many were later used in crimes. That's wrong.

Here in Colorado, Amendment 22 will close this dangerous loophole by requiring criminal background checks by unlicensed dealers at gun shows.

I believe law-abiding citizens have the right to own guns. But with rights come responsibilities. Close the loophole. Vote Yes on Amendment 22."

—Senator John McCain

...and...

'"John McCain Urges Voters to Close the "Gun Show Loophole"

U.S. Senator John McCain (R-Arizona) is featured in two television spots in support of Colorado and Oregon ballot initiatives to close the "Gun Show Loophole."

The thirty-second ads, appearing in both states, are the first spots in a $1 million campaign sponsored by Americans for Gun Safety (AGS), a new non-partisan group that is supporting the two citizen-led referendums.

Currently, Colorado and Oregon laws allow unlicensed dealers to sell firearms at gun shows without performing the criminal background checks that are required for all sales by federally licensed dealers.

The ballot initiatives (Amendment 22 in Colorado and Measure 5 in Oregon) would mandate the same criminal background checks by unlicensed dealers at gun shows. Guns used in the Columbine shooting and the Granada Hills shooting were purchased from unlicensed dealers at gun shows—without background checks.

"Despite the tragic lessons we have learned, it is still far too easy for a convicted felon to buy firearms at a gun show. That is wrong," said Senator McCain in a recent press release. "This is not about what's conservative and what's liberal, what's Republican and what's Democrat. It's about what's right and what's wrong. And quite simply, closing this loophole is the right thing to do."

"I believe law-abiding citizens have the right to own guns, and I have steadfastly fought for those rights for many years. But with rights come responsibilities. I strongly support the Colorado and Oregon ballot initiatives that help close this dangerous loophole," said the Senator.

"These ballot initiatives have made Colorado and Oregon 'ground zero' for the gun safety debate," said AGS President Jonathan Cowan. "Americans for Gun Safety is pleased to join with a true American hero, Senator McCain, and the people of Colorado and Oregon in supporting these common-sense solutions that will help keep guns out of the hands of kids and criminals."'

John McCain can bite me. I will never vote for him.

source material

69th Anniversary of Bad Gun Laws

Check out the date in the red text and toward the bottom of the letter.


(h/t) JPFO

Gangsta'

Found here and modified by me with The Gimp. This reminds me of the HomeBoy Sights which I posted about a while back.

Patriot Power & Gas

Announcing the formation of Patriot Power & Gas
Press release follows:

"In light of the current political climate in the United States, it has come to our attention that a significant, and currently untapped, source of alternative energy has been hiding under our noses and feet.

It was always our feeling that the current state of our nation was far afield from what the founding fathers intended, but now we have proof. While visiting the graves of our founding fathers a strange phenomena was observed. At first only perceptible as an odd humming/rumbling sound, upon closer inspection it was discovered the the Earthly remains in each grave were literally rolling over and over. In addition, when separated from their compatriots, each piece of bone continued to spin on it's own.

Our proposal is this. We will attach a series of strong neodymium magnets to the vessels containing the remains and wire coils around either side. This will form a generator which will be hooked up to the power grid and supply an almost unlimited amount of power. Why, The remains of Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin alone could power the entire eastern seaboard!

Think of the possibilities! Not only could we have a source of clean, cheap power, we could also be free from our dependence on foreign oil. Small fragments of even the lesser luminaries could be used to power trains, buses, cars and more!

The only potential problem would be if we returned to the principles upon which this country was founded.

But we don't foresee this ever happening.

Another source of energy we have discovered is in of all places, Hollywood. It has often been said that celebrities such as Michael Moore and Rosie O'Donnell are pompous gas bags, but who knew it was actually true? If we could gather up the two of them and their like minded brethren and tap this previously untapped resource, we could supply the entire country with natural gas for mere pennies per BTU. Simply amazing!

It has also come to our attention that is now possible to turn pig waste into oil. Our scientists theorize that this is actually the source of todays oil reserves instead of decayed plants and animals as previously thought. If we could harness our domestic pig waste and turn it into oil, the remaining market for the thick, black stuff, could be satisfied. The extracted oil could be further refined into a variety of lubricants ranging from household and automotive to a very high grade gun oil, and of course fuel. There is always the possibility of competition from middle eastern pig waste oil production, but our scientists tend to discount it's having much of an impact once we are completely self sufficient.

We here at PPG are working diligently for a greater tomorrow and, much like our founding fathers, will never rest in our mission of producing cheap, clean energy for you.

Patriot Power & Gas
For a better tomorrow!"

*Actually, it is possible to turn pig waste into oil.

Inspired from a conversation I had with Jeffersonian on the way up to the Bowling Pin Shoot.

Heller Audio

For anyone interested, the audio from todays oral arguments can be had from the folks at Gun Talk with Tom Gresham.

Click here.

Heller Transcript

The transcript for todays oral arguments in the D.C. vs Heller case is now online here.

(h/t) Hairy Hobbit

Thoughts on Heller

I just got done watching the C-Span coverage.

Some quick thoughts here while I digest everything.

Dick Heller is not the most articulate guy.

Alan Gura... I'm not completely happy with his performance though he did make several good points. His seeming acceptance of registration irks me. His apparent (unless I heard him wrong) willingness to allow some guns to be banned, but not others doesn't jibe with the second amendment, particularly the part that goes "...shall not be infringed." If one were to go along with the Miller case, the ban on machine guns and short barreled shotguns is also un-constitutional, but he seemed happy with it.

The opposing council Walter Dellinger seemed to struggle at times in trying to uphold the ban under questioning from the justices. Maybe it's because the ban is un-constitutional.

Paul Helmke and Dennis Henigan got some face time in after the contingent from D.C. got their turn at the microphone. They didn't offer anything new, just the same old Brady talking points.

Adrian Fenty and his Police Chief kept saying that the murder rate has gone down since the ban and that it's a public safety issue. I wonder what statistics they're looking at to come to this conclusion. My every account the murder rate has skyrocketed and is completely out of proportion with the rest of the country. If it really was a public safety issue like they said it is, then they'd allow people the same right everyone else enjoys, the right to defend themselves. The BOR does not stop at the D.C. border, it applies to all Americans.

Over all, most of the justices I heard seemed to be supportive of the second amendment. I guess we'll find out in June what their decision is, but my gut feeling is they will strike down the D.C. gun ban and leave the second amendment as an individual right.

...but I could be wrong.

UPDATE: The Wall Street Journal's analysis seems to be spot on from what I heard during the oral arguments.

UPDATE II: My initial impression of Dick Heller was based on a short interview broadcast on C-Span in which his answer to why he felt he should be allowed to have a gun was the "An armed society is a polite society." quote. Not the best answer to give to the press. However, my estimation of him has changed for the better after reading the following:

"Speaking with him [Dick Heller] on the Supreme Court steps after the arguments - and his long question-and-answer period with the media, I asked him how he felt about “his” lawsuit.

"It's a simple case to me," Heller said, "It is wrong for the government to tell me that it is OK for me to have a gun during my work hours, but illegal for me to have a gun when the only thing I want to protect is me."

At that point, a reporter interjected: "the Mayor (DC Mayor Adrian M. Fenty) says the handgun ban and his initiatives have significantly lowered violent crime in the District. How do you answer that, Mr. Heller?"

The initial answer certainly wasn't expected - Dick Heller laughed. Ruefully.

Pointing at the Mayor who was making his way across the plaza, surrounded by at least six DC police officers, Heller said, "the Mayor doesn't know what he's talking about."

"He doesn't walk on the street like an average citizen. Look at him; he travels with an army of police officers as bodyguards - to keep him safe. But he says that I don't have the right to be a force of one to protect myself. Does he look like he thinks the streets are safe?"

There was no follow-up question."

I wish I could find video of this, but odds are it never made it to the air, knowing what I do about the media bias against guns.