Tuesday, March 07, 2006

BREAKING: Angel News Accounts

Gun Cache Found in Condo
"Obviously the ammo is a concern. The biggest reason it’s a concern is because of the threats he’s made against her," said Undersheriff McCabe.

Undersheriff--don't you mean "...is alleged to have made..."? Nothing prejudicial about this media account that will make a presumption of innocence problematic...

ORION TWP.: Man, 37, faces charges in seizure of weapons cache

Oakland County sheriff's deputies found 15 unregistered handguns, 10 long guns including high-powered semiautomatic rifles, and 17,000 rounds of ammunition in the home in the 200 block of Barrington Circle.

Oakland County Undersheriff Mike McCabe said detectives did not know why Shamaya had the guns.

It seems safe to say the Undersheriff has a certain mindset...

It's not the media's job to portray Angel sympathetically. But if all one knew about him was what they read from these two accounts, the fact that there might be another side to this would be lost.

Thunderbawl

Here’s a gun control trivia challenge. Name the person who said:

“I hate handguns. Handguns are used to shoot people and as long as they are around, people will shoot each other.”

A. Sarah Brady
B. Dianne Feinstein
C. Bond. James Bond.

"Thunderbawl," my Rights Watch column for the March 2006 issueof GUNS Magazine is now online.

National Gun Database Backfires (UK)

Further delays have plagued the project to create the National Firearms Licensing Management System (NFLMS).

Two forces that have been piloting the database, Lancashire Police and the Metropolitan Police, will now have to run further tests. They have been forced to do so by the need to cleanse data so that information can be shared, and to configure different networks that have so far proved incompatible...Initially, the budget for the NFLMS was set at £5.5m, but following delays this has expanded by £1.5m.

Crikey! That's really too bloody bad. Who could have predicted something like this might happen?

Here's Hoping I Apologize

An Open Response and Invitation

Dear Rep. Zwonitzer,

I was delighted to see your reply to my post regarding an Associated Press story that reported:
Rep. Dan Zwonitzer, R-Cheyenne, said he owns guns and enjoys shooting. However, he said Wyoming is among the top states in the country in terms of gun-related deaths by population and said the state doesn't need legislation to encourage more people to carry guns.

Zwonitzer quoted the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which states in part that a "well-regulated militia" is necessary to the security of a free state. He said he wouldn't have a problem with the bill if it specified that members of the Wyoming National Guard have a right to carry weapons.
I further reported that you were rated as an unknown by NRA-PVF for failure to answer your candidate questionnaire.

Your response indicates you have been unfairly portrayed.
I've been called a lot of things, but never a "moonbat".

I have in fact read the Federalist papers, at least three times.

When the heck did you guys start actually believing and relying on the Press for your information?

Also, I mailed in my NRA form, and it was lost somewhere along the way. I called the NRA multiple times, recieved no help in obtaining another copy, and was bounced around the country, until I was finally told it was too late to turn in my form.

Maybe you should contact legislators and get their actual viewpoint...

That seems fair--and I trust you have also contacted the AP and NRA to correct the record. Will you share with us what you did say that reporter Ben Neary apparently so horribly misconstrued? Do you oppose permitless concealed carry as was reported?

Rep. Zwonitzer, I've been searching for political representatives I can trust to champion my rights for many years now, with very little success. You have no idea how much I would love to be able to apologize to you, to tell people I misjudged you, to ask your forgiveness, and to endorse and financially contribute to your political career. Will you give me that chance?

You challenged us to contact you for your views, so that's what I'm doing. The following is a questionnaire I put together a while back designed to identify a political candidate's position regarding the Second Amendment. Can I count on you to give specific and unequivocal answers for each question?

1. Do you believe that the Constitution is the "supreme law of the land," that the Bill of Rights acknowledges the birthrights of all Americans, and that the Second Amendment was intended to protect the right of the people to keep and bear arms from being infringed?

2. If so, should these rights be proactively protected from infringement by all levels of government, including city, county and state? How?

3. Who are the Constitutional militia?

4. Please give some examples of gun control laws you consider do not infringe on the right of the people to keep and bear arms. Please share as many as you can think of.

5. Please give some examples of gun control laws you consider unconstitutional.

6. Does the right to bear arms include the right for any peaceable citizen to carry them concealed without a permit, as in Vermont?

7. Do you believe that Americans have a right to own, use and carry weapons of military pattern?

8. Do you support or oppose registration of weapons? Why?

9. Do you support or oppose licensing requirements to own or carry firearms? Why?

10. What specific gun laws will you work to get repealed?

11. If elected, will you back your words of support for firearms rights up with consistent actions? How?

13. If brief clarification is requested for any of your answers, will you provide it?

Rep. Zwonitzer, I sincerely hope to be converted to a supporter.

Best wishes,
David Codrea

Weapons & Tactics Follow-Up

By Thaddeus Fendon

In re:
Weapons & Tactics Falls for Old Hoaxes
and
Weapons & Shoddy Tactics

Just received my issue of W&T subsequent to the issue with the false articles. Inside are such gems as:

An article advising you not to insult people ...

The humor page ...

A terrorism rehash, their third in the last few months ...

How to clean your firearm ...

Shooting through windshields (potentially useful info IF IT CAN BE TRUSTED) ...

ANOTHER common sense article ...

ANOTHER repeat article, this one about tunnel vision.

Oh, I almost forgot ... no retraction.

I called and cancelled, and they are still claiming their articles were truthful.

Thad

Angel Updates

The Liberty Belles have joined the support network.

Claire Wolfe shares some thoughts.

Here's the latest from Gary Marbut:
Dear Friends of Angel,

For those of you receiving an Angel update for the first time, I'm sending these out to all of you who have been kind enough to help, probably by sending me a reference letter for Angel, or a donation to help with his legal expenses. Thanks loads for that help.

I've begun archiving these updates, as well as fundraising information and the reference letter information for Angel, at http://www.marbut.com/angel. If you've missed any of the previous information, see it there.

Angel spent over two hours with his attorney today (Monday). He's now comfortable with this attorney representing him. One thing he learned is that he should not release information about what has happened or is going on - releasing information could prejudice his case. However, there is nothing new that has any immediate legal consequence. Angel's attorney has the reputation in Michigan of being a tough and experienced litigator. We have also engaged co-counsel - an attorney with specialized expertise about the gun laws in Michigan.

We know that there are many of you out there who are anxious for detailed information about Angel's plight. Now that this matter is squarely in the hands of the attorneys, we must be circumspect and patient, and must not publish information that could compromise Angel's situation. Sorry about the scarcity of detailed news. We just want to preserve a climate for the best possible outcome for Angel.

Angel has been highly stressed by all of this, as you'd imagine - as you or I would be. However, he's coping. Folks in SE Michigan are beginning to rally and form a support network for Angel. This will help a lot. Donations are starting to come in. Your donations will help to make sure Angel has the best legal representation.

Angel would want me to be lavish in his thanks to you for your kind thoughts and support.

In the meantime, stay tuned - we'll get you more information as it is available.

Best wishes,

Gary Marbut, president
Montana Shooting Sports Association
http://www.mtssa.org
author, Gun Laws of Montana
http://www.mtpublish.com