A Wise Latina and the RKBA: ...There are two shocking problems with the Sotomayor panel opinion in Sanchez-Villar. First, instead of rejecting Sanchez-Villar's Second Amendment claim as precluded by existing Supreme Court holdings that the Second Amendment was not yet incorporated to apply to constrain state power, the opinion went out of its way to reject the Second Amendment claim outright as irrelevant citing to a federal case, United States v. Toner, which said that the Second Amendment did not protect a "fundamental right." This was an uncalled for pot shot at the Second Amendment which was not applicable to New York, a state, in the first place. Second, Sotomayor and crew did not analyze Sanchez-Villar' Second Amendment claim at all. Contrast this with Toner where, even though the Defendant conceded that his Second Amendment claim merited only rational basis scrutiny (as a non-fundamental right), it took the court four full paragraphs (not footnotes) to apply rational basis to Mr. Toner, an illegal alien criminal, and conclude that the Second Amendment did not stand as a bar to his prosecution for unlawful gun possession in his particular circumstances... http://www.examiner.com/x-2782-DC-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2009m7d5-Sotomayor--latinas-guns-and-werewolves --- What Doesn't Work in Chicago...: The weekend that started violently has ended the same way. Another four people were slain overnight, Chicago police said this morning. Before that, six people had been killed and more than 20 wounded on city streets from Saturday into Sunday. From the start of the holiday weekend midnight Friday until the early hours of this morning there were 63 shootings and one stabbing, according to police sources... ("I know that what works in Chicago may not work in Cheyenne," said Obama.) http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/07/after-a-violent-july-4th.html --- Interesting Advice from DC: In the last segment of this CBS video report on the serial killings in Gaffney SC, a DC-based profiler emphasizes the wisdom of residents remaining armed for self-defense. It's a good thing that South Carolina has had shall-issue CCW since 1996 although the profiler did not appear to be particularly concerned that the residents have a valid CWP. http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=5136232n&tag=cbsnewsVideoArea.0 --- Bringing Deodorant to a Knife Fight: Police in suburban Chicago say a taxi driver who didn't have Mace handy when he was attacked by a knife-wielding passenger instead disarmed the man with a can of aerosol deodorant. Elgin Deputy Police Chief Jeff Swoboda says the 51-year-old cabbie picked up the male passenger early Thursday outside a casino. Swoboda said the driver grew suspicious when the man offered several destinations, so he surreptitiously placed the small can of deodorant between his legs. Shortly afterward, the passenger put a knife to the driver's neck and demanded money. The cabbie sprayed the deodorant in the man's eyes, causing him to drop the knife. Swoboda says the man punched the driver before fleeing, but didn't seriously injure him. Swoboda declined to identify the driver. (Unlike South Carolina, Illinois does not have any legal provision for private citizens to carry firearms for self-defense. While I'm not sure of the legality of carrying "pepper" spray in Illinois, the cabbie otherwise demonstrated the second priority for personal safety and survival - mental preparedness to fight back with whatever he had at hand.) http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=50576 --- Controversial Shooting in New Mexico: ...Deputies say 38-year-old Luke Sanchez, a former Marine who served as a military policeman, was driving back to his farm in Belen when he spotted Gabaldon and another suspect stealing supplies from Enchantment Propane. They say Sanchez called police, but also drove closer to the suspects to try to get their license plate number. Deputies say he got too close - Gabaldon spotted him, ran over to his car and broke the driver's side window. David Dawson is close friends with Sanchez, and says he was just defending himself... After a short fight, deputies say Sanchez pulled out his gun and shot Gabaldon in the head, killing him. Sanchez remained on the scene until he was arrested... Deputies say investigators had enough evidence to determine it was not self-defense, but murder... http://www.kob.com/article/stories/S1013253.shtml?cat=517 --- Bush Library May Display Saddam Hussein's Pistol: ...The gun, a 9 millimeter Glock 18C, was found in the spider hole where the Iraqi leader was captured in December 2003 by Delta Force soldiers, four of whom later presented the pistol to Mr. Bush. Among the thousands of gifts Mr. Bush received as president, the gun became a favorite, a reminder of the pinnacle moment of the Iraq war, according to friends and long-time associates. Before Mr. Bush left the White House in January, he made arrangements for the gun to be shipped to a national archives warehouse just 18 miles north of his new home in Dallas. His foundation said a final decision had not been made on including the gun in the presidential library. But his associates and visitors to the White House said Mr. Bush had told them of his intention to display it there. For nearly five years, Mr. Bush kept the mounted, glass-encased pistol in the Oval Office or a study, showing it with pride, especially to military officials, they said. He also let visitors in on a secret: when the pistol was recovered, it was unloaded... (The Glock 18C is a full-auto pistol with compensator ports.) http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/06/us/06gun.html?_r=1&ref=us --- Squibs Happen: A squib occurs when a cartridge lacks enough powder (or any at all) to drive the bullet out of the barrel. When a bullet lodges part way down the barrel and a subsequent round is fired, the results, as shown in the linked photo, can be disastrous. One of the functions that can be performed with a Dejammer (http://ayoob.com/cgi-bin/miva?Merchant2/merchant.mv+Screen=PROD&Store_Code=Ayoob&Product_Code=DJ&Category_Code=ANH) is driving a squib back out of the barrel, up to about five inches in length. Of course, one has to have picked up on the clue that a squib has occurred. http://www.thehighroad.us/showthread.php?t=411054 --- Tangentially Related: Travel security is a topic that needs some discussion. I talked about Vacation Security in my last article, which dealt with leaving your home secure when you go on vacation. Today, let's discuss the security issues you need to deal with while you're traveling... http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig9/longcore4.1.1.html ...These myths have been disseminated by well-known political figures, government agencies, the mass media, and advocacy groups. Respected professional organizations such as the American Bar Association, American Psychological Association, and the American Medical Association have become parties to the disinformation, as well. This Special Report compiles and analyzes 50 domestic violence (DV) claims made by various organizations and in legislative bills. But first we discuss the fundamental premise of domestic violence advocates, that patriarchal dominance lies at the root of partner aggression... http://www.mediaradar.org/docs/RADARreport-50-DV-Myths.pdf http://www.enterstageright.com/archive/articles/0709/0709dvmyths.htm -- Stephen P. Wenger, KE7QBY Firearm safety - It's a matter for education, not legislation. http://www.spw-duf.info .