Activism (or lack thereof)

I'd like to take a moment to talk about a thought that occurred to me while reading a Gun Rights Examiner column from today about Steve McNair's recent death and gun owners getting blamed for it. This alone is disturbing and plain silly to make such a connection. However a thought on another case is the one I really wanted to discuss.

Short story: Albert Kwok-Leung Kwan, a gun collector from Washington, was indicted in 2006 in connection with the shooting of federal prosecutor Thomas Wales, in 2001. Feds didn't believe Kwan shot Wales, but suspected Kwan may have supplied the barrel for the gun that was used to shoot Wales. Unable to lay blame on him for this specifically, feds kept laying on charges over the next several years trying to hit Kwan with anything they could find, including possession of an illegal machine gun (found not guilty), and possession of an unregistered short barrel rifle (case dismissed).

This brings us back to the original post which talks about the great big FAIL of news agencies and communities to report that this guy has finally been left alone by the feds.

"1. The lack of interest exhibited by the "gun activist" community, particularly since, at any time, many of us could be caught up in the net of over-zealous law enforcement seeking to exploit technicalities. Chatter, forum posts, blogging, and even a mention to their members by national "gun rights groups" has been, for the most part, nonexistent (although I am aware of one ongoing investigation I hope to be able to share with you soon)."

Nebraska has a few Bloggers invested in the firearm 'issue'. I can't think of any mainstream news outlets locally that I have ever seen portray firearms in a positive light. I am curious if a higher profile event did take place here, what would the media scene look like?

I also thought it was interesting to note the inherent danger in becoming active amongst our community. It isn't like being an activist for model trains. If you speak out in the community for the benefits of model trains for society, no matter how phrase your story, people will at worst think you're a little off kilter. If you speak out on the benefits of public firearms ownership, use, training, or competition, you might be branded a full-fledged lunatic, or scorned by 'enlightened' folk, or thought a vigilante-terrorist-baby-bunny-eater. If you're a student, you best not even talk about guns. Be careful not to carry where you're not welcome. It's actually even likely that you'll be harassed by law enforcement, even if you absolutely know you are within your rights. In fact, don't even carry anything that looks like a gun.

All these stories illustrate just how easy it is to give up, and not get involved with the firearm community's fight. It does take a certain strength of character to be a gun owner, to carry a weapon with you, and to be responsible with that weapon at ALL times. I'd argue it takes an even stronger person to speak out against those who would take that away.

Technorati Tags: firearms,guns

Choose wisely: Safety... or... food?

Valentino's Grand Italian Buffet has always been a sort of tradition in my family, since I was a small child. They have remodeled several times and completely changed the building in Lincoln at 70th and Van Dorn. It has been a topic of some discussion on the local firearms forums for some time whether this location is or is not posted to prohibit firearms carry.

Unfortunately, it still is.

I will not support a restaurant that does not recognize my right to self defense. Unless there is a police officer employed on the premises to ensure my safety, I do not trust them to provide for the same. Do you?

I've suggested to them before, with some facts and other evidence supporting the theory that CCW holders are, on average, more responsible and less likely to commit a crime than an average citizen. Perhaps you could do the same?

$700Bn Cupcakes

Well we've really hit the snafu now.... At what point do we complain? We should of been outraged when the first government buyout of a private financial institution went down.  Now we lie in our own bed as the government buys out our debts.  We already owe them for the "right" to live here.  And many other "rights" we enjoy.  (Supposedly just for being here, but hey, I don't complain, I pay my share just like everybody else).  But when I have to start writing checks to the government for my home, where do I draw the line?  I mean really didn't my tax dollars pay for the government to buy the loan that I bought my home with?  So in some weird roundabout way, don't I already own my home?  What will the government be buying next?  Auto loans? Credit cards?  Who bails out the government when they realize that people still can't pay back their loans?  (since people seem to not understand the concept of living within your means).  What happens when America owes it's government more than they can cover?  They borrow money from another country?  Yeah, that'll end well... what happens when they call in their favors?  Guess who'll suffer?  All so that a few idiots living outside their means don't have to get punished by losing their house (that they can't afford)

End of Rant, continue your normally scheduled programming.

Late night blast

Blew my Saturday night downtown again.  I tell you, there is nothing like watching drunk huskers fans after a late game.  It sounds more and more like the downtown area around 17th and O will be "revitalized". I think this means tearing everything down and putting up some new tall buildings.  This is supposed to be happening in the next 6 years or so thanks to the 2015 vision project, "for the benefit of current and future citizens".  (side note, they just rolled out this spiffy new site, I haven't checked through it all to see if there is any new info yet)  Anyway bottom line is the riders will likely lose their hangout spot.  It sounds like the new north south arterial will be 19th and 20th streets now. So we'll have to find a place closer to there. 

Anyway, that's another post. 

After a few hours of watching the husker fans go by, followed by the stumbling after-bar crowd at 1:00am, we went on a short clip around the city.  Lincoln is a great town to cruise around late at night when there's little traffic.  It doesn't take much energy or thought to avoid a wreck when you don't have anybody around you.  And, nothing compares to a little 3am Perkins visit with pals!  All in all, a great Saturday, even if I had to sleep through the daylight hours of Sunday to make up for it.

Wanna make some noise? (Part deux)

Not much to say here.  The pinebox is friggin' amazing.  I love the sound it puts out!  Leaves me with a huge grin on my face every time I step on the pegs.  (or off!) I notice if i swivel my head around to try and hear from the rear, it loses the sharp sound I get while facing forward.  Anyone know anything about sound travel dynamics they could give me a 5 second crash course?  It is a little discomforting to think that the people around me might not be hearing the sweet crisp sound of exhaust pressure, like I do when riding.  But such is life.  I guess I'll be the ONLY ONE with a huge grin on his face all the time, and people will all look at me like I'm some big retard. I have gotten plenty of great comments about it though, everyone I've ridden with really seems to love the sound it puts out.  Now the trick will be to not get in trouble with the Lincoln Police by having just a little TOO much fun with it. 

Party poopers!

By now you must know...

Sarah Palin (R-Alaska) has the Republican Vice Presidential candidate slot all wrapped up.  Check out some of her views on the issues. Need a photo? I sure do. Governor Palen goes all the way to Kuwait to eat crappy army food with soldiers her state sent over there.  I like a lot of things about Sarah.  She has a great record in Alaska of 'shaking things up' so to speak.  Things like fixing bloated budgets.  Things like beefing up law enforcement and supporting public safety through strong courts and prisons.  Things like rooting out corrupt government officials, even if they're in her own party.  That alone says something big about her character. Just try this article explaining about what she does.  What's next?  Call up an ethics investigation on yourself to prove you're right?  Hmmmm yep.  I like reading some of the older articles about her.  They instill a real feeling about what she's done in office, rather than the general floaty good-feeling BS you get from reading Republican press releases from the last few days (or Democratic smears. "intrusive personal questions". investigative reporting ).  Putting the heat onto people abusing their power might be an abuse of her power, but for the greater good.  And as long as she continues to make public knowledge of everything she does that could be seen as controversial, she's got my vote.  It has worked out for her so far, she may be hated in the political arena, but 90%+ approval ratings don't grow on trees.  And hell, it sure beats Obamunism.

Rename-it?

So I figured I ought to rename this blog to the "nobody reads it - quarterly" Except then I'd have to update it at least quarterly. I just don't know if I'm up for that. SO since it's been 3 months I thought I'd try again to get back into the blogging swing.

Lately a bit happening. I've been through a couple different wrecks on the bike. Both minor fairing damage... first a kid backed out without looking, right into me. 2500$ which insurance covered. Latest one was a minor altercation a median and I had. Well to save a long story, the median won the argument and I expressed my reluctant agreement with it's position by trying to give it a big asphalt vs leather vs 400lb motorcycle hug. I think the median enjoyed the hug more than I, but we parted ways and I haven't ridden by there since. (I think it will be a personal vendetta of mine to never ever drive near there again)

SO the bike is all up and going. Remember that exhaust I wrote about so long ago? well it got here yesterday!

Been shooting a bit more and have been pondering purchasing an AR15 from a shop down in Cortland, NE. They custom make their own receivers and most parts. Pretty cool stuff and its nice to buy local when I can.

Political arena has been going full steam ahead while I've been "away" so look forward to discussing some of that as well.

Look forward to posts throughout the week on these, and other, exciting topics!