The revolution in Egypt and the 2nd Amendment

By Jack Brummet, Social Mores Editor

The people of Egypt do not own pistols or rifles.  They have (partly) succeeded in toppling the Mubarak regime; eventually, they will prevail. 

"A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."

Most proponents of the 2nd amendment in America do not really believe that we need arms to protect us from foreign intruders or to defend ourselves in case of an invasion.  We have one of the largest and best-equipped armies world.   And yet, whenever the debate erupts, they bring up the well-regulated militia as the last bulwark against invaders, and even our own government. 

The people of Egypt, and Tunisia, have shown us the way to unload an amendment that really no longer applies in the modern United States.
---o0o---

How to spot a hidden handgun - Robert T. Gallagher's two-minute gun-spotting school

By Jack Brummet
Social Mores Editor

A cop once told me that I would be surprised at the number of people who carry guns around with them wherever they go.  He also said that virtually every leather fanny pack he had ever searched contained a handgun (of course, just the fact that he selected them to search probably widened the odds of finding a gun astronomically).  A former NYPD detective from the Anti Robbery Tactical Unit--Robert T. Gallagher-- created this sheet showing how to spot a concealed weapon.

click to enlarge

---o0o---

"It's All About Me!" -- Sarah Palin inserts herself into another news story

By Pablo Fanque, National Affairs Editor
Illustrations by Jack Brummet

In a speech in Reno last weekend, Ex-Governor Sarah Palin said she thinks a recent media boycott of her is a good thing. . .because she won't be "blamed" for the uprising in Egypt.

Palin, of course, became a flash point during the national debate following the Tucson, Arizona shootings earlier this month.  Many people (and the criticism was bi-partisan) accused her of fanning the flames of intolerance, and some even said she was the catalyst for the Arizona murders/assassination attempt. 

Ex-governor Palin said that the boycott  on writing about her "sounds good, because there's a lot of chaos in Cairo, and I can't wait to not get blamed for it--at least for a month."

Citizens and media--old and new-- discussed her use of the phrase "don't retreat, reload!"  and her use of targets (which her office called surveyor's symbols) on a map of congressional seats.  She took the bait and struck back with her ridiculous and now infamous "blood libel" video.  She appears to not want to get herself mangled in the wringer one more time in January.

---o0o---

The Stranger puts the Tucson murders/assassination in a larger perspective

Our local (and great) weekly, The Stranger, will be running this cover by Dan Savage and Aaron Huffmanon in their issue appearing January 13th.   
 

---o0o---

Spotting a concealed weapon: how to tell if someone is packing a heater

Thanks to Jeff Clinton for sending along another great tidbit. This fascinating page from an NYC police training document. A couple years ago, a Seattle cop told me that he thought the majority of those leather fanny/front packs you see contain a heater of some sort.


click to enlarge
---o0o---

Braap Bra-a-a-a-ap brap brap--Mattel sells machine guns

click to en;arge
---o0o---

Sarah Palin's new heater: NRA gives the Governor a custom assault rifle

--click to enlarge--
---o0o---

Concealed firearms okayed in national parks!

According to the Associated Press today, people will now be able to carry concealed firearms in national parks and wildlife refuges. "An Interior Department rule issued Friday allows an individual to carry a loaded weapon in a park or wildlife refuge..."

Now, when those guys drinking Old Crow and Seven-Up in the next campsite play Insane Clown Posse at maximum volume, you probably won't be quite so sanguine about moseying over and asked them to turn it down.

---o0o---

32 killed by shooter on Virginia Tech campus (+ editorial comment)

click to enlarge

---o0o---