Arms and the Law

This is incredible!

Video here.

(They should have asked me: I got ATF's administrative record for that move via FOIA a year or two ago. The agency's problem: the green tip's core consists of a steel penetrator followed by a lead slug, and the statute defines armor-piercing ammo as that which has a core "entirely" of forbidden metals, including steel. ATF cited some references that stated a bullet can have multiple cores, and was arguing that green-tip has two cores, and if any part of the core is a forbidden metal, than the bullet is AP. But the statute refers to "core," not "any one of its cores" and uses that in conjunction with "entirely.").

The vote was unanimous. Its sponsor explains, "the city's residents and stakeholders deserve to know how the city's public funds are being spent, and whether taxpayer funds are being spent on contractors that have contractual or sponsorship ties with the NRA."

But in the McSally-Sinema Senate race in Arizona, I think it just happened. Right as the early ballots are on the way to voters.

Rand Paul, who was there, reveals that the gunman shouted "this is for healthcare," and had a list in his pocket of conservative legislators he wanted to kill. Via Instapundit.

Senator Tester's communications director tweets "While you [his electoral opponent were busy making your millions developing Maryland farmland, @johntester was making a living shooting hundreds of cows and hogs."

My father told me that once, while he was deer hunting in the Kiabab, he stopped at a diner, and a man pulled up with a small cow he'd shot tied to his car. Everyone was laughing until one person stood up, and cried out "That's MY brand!" I asked what happened and Dad chuckled, "It was the most expensive beef that man ever bought."

Jair Bolsonaro argues: "give guns to good people." Although suggesting firing 20 shots is going a bit much.

Joshua Prince won it, in US District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. PA classifies repeat DUI as a misdemeanor, but one that can carry up to five years' imprisonment, so for GCA purposes it's treated as a felony.

Leaving the Capitol, Pence cheerfully waves to the protestors who did so much to make it possible.

Conan got it right.

50-48. Angry screaming from gallery, Sgt at Arms sent to restore order.

Passed 51-49. Murkowski of Republicans defected to vote no, but Manchin of the Demos defected to vote yes. Now 30 hours of debate are allowed before the final vote on confirmation.

At the Jurist. If you're wondering how a court can alternate between being very pro-2A to being very, very anti-2A... this is the 9th Circuit. It has 22 active judges and 20 senior (part-time) judges, and each case is decided by a panel of three. So it all depends upon what panel you draw. But with any pro-2A panel decision, there is an appeal to the court sitting en banc. In most courts that means the entire court hears it, but the 9th is so large that it's heard by 10 judges plus the chief judge. Thus far, every pro-2A panel decision has been taken en banc, and reversed. Welcome to the 9th!

In June, Rene Boucher, who assaulted Sen. Rand Paul from behind, leaving him in serious medical condition with several broken ribs, was sentenced by a Clinton-appointee to 30 days and a year's probation. From what I can see, the Federal Sentencing Guidelines call for a sentence of between 18 and 24 months. A judge can depart from those, but is required to explain and the explanation is subject to appeal. A departure from a 1.5 - years down to 30 days is a pretty big departure....

The government appealed the sentence, and the Sixth Circuit just denied a rather weak motion to dismiss the appeal.

"Creepy porn lawyer" Michael Avenatti gets brutally pranked while he's trying to dig up dirt on Judge Kavanaugh.

Story here.

The Government Accounting Office just issued this report, concluding that in Fiscal Year 2017, there were over 112,000 "denials," of which ATF investigated about 1,200. It referred about 50 for prosecution, and the Department of Justice prosecuted a whole 12. The Point of Contact states didn't do much better. "Troopers in Oregon and Virginia commented that in their experience, there can be some degree of inaccuracy in the criminal records in their state. For example, they said that arrests and prosecution results may not be accurately reflected in the criminal history of the denied person. When the trooper checks the actual record, it is sometimes discovered that the person is not prohibited. A Virginia trooper said this is especially common for juvenile convictions."

I recall that John Lott looked into this issue and concluded that a large proportion of denials were in error, a large proportion of the remainder involved things no one would think worth prosecuting ... a denial due to an old non-violent conviction, that manner of thing.

She appears to have some trouble telling the truth.

But at least she bravely pledged never to accept NRA donations, when the NRA had and has no intention of donating to her....

Maybe he just poaches?

Story here.

"Recorded machete attacks have increased fivefold in the past three years, to the point that police now deal with an average of 15 incidents involving the broad, sword-like blades each day.

Incredibly strict firearm controls appear to be doing little to stem soaring rates of gun crime, too, with London seeing a 44 per cent rise since 2014 -- but even though this is occuring despite Britain boasting some of the toughest anti-gun laws in the world, politicians hope increasing restrictions on knife sales can help tackle blade crime.

With calls to ban kitchen knife sales on the basis that domestic food preparation does not require chef-sharp tools and stores voluntarily taking knives off the shelves, the United Kingdom already takes a much stricter approach to sharp objects than most other Western nations, with authorities earlier this year arresting a man for carrying a potato peeler in a public place "without reasonable excuse"."

They claim a lack of 2A infringement is a violation of human rights. One of my good friends was the late Mark Benenson, Krag collector, NRA Lifer, and former president of Amnesty International's US branch. He told me how, when AI discovered he was a gun collector and NRA member, they tried to create a rival AI branch so they could affiliate with it and rid themselves of this terrible gun right supporter.

He also mentioned that AI had branched into attacking human slavery, and he had opposed it, on the grounds that there already were organizations doing that, they were experienced and doing a good job, and AI entering the field would simply drain away their funding support. AI went that way anyway. I wonder if this might not be a replay? "We're antigun, will you (major foundations, etc.) give us some cash?"