The Wandering Minstrel

Well, maybe not my eye out.

I like to put a couple of glow-in-the-dark target patches on the silhouette targets to give it some ‘personality’ - then try and shoot ‘em out. I did pretty good today.

This little snubby really goes boom with 158 gr. magnums. I’ll be sending a few rounds through this on Easter Sunday.

It must be disappointing when the first strawberry of the season is a miserable little bullet-shaped retard. .357 magnum round shown for comparison only.

I just heard a tragic story about a woman who was on the phone with the 9.1.1 emergency operator when she was shot to death in her home this morning. The assailants were seen running from the home. No suspects have been apprehended.

This is an excerpt from a post by Richard Stevens, a Washington, D.C. lawyer and author of “Dial 911 and Die,” wherein he gives the two reasons that 911 and police response are inadequate:

Just Dial 911? The Myth of Police Protection

Underlying all “gun control” ideology is this one belief; “Private citizens don’t need firearms because the police will protect them from crime.” That belief is both false and dangerous for two reasons.

First, the police cannot and do not protect everyone from crime. Second, the government and the police in most localities owe no legal duty to protect individuals from criminal attack. When it comes to deterring crime and defending against criminals, individuals are ultimately responsible for themselves and their loved ones. Depending solely on police emergency response means relying on the telephone as the only defensive tool. Too often, citizens in trouble dial 911 . . . and die.

Under the ‘Home Defense’ heading in the sidebar on the home page, you can click on and watch a scenario that involves this very topic. Do it.

Yesterday’s oral arguments of the D.C. vs. Heller case before the Supreme Court of the U.S. left only a slight doubt as to how the court might rule on the ‘individual right’ interpretation of the Second Amendment to the Constitution.

Justice Kennedy not only indicated that he thought the amendment’s ‘operative clause’ protects the individual right, but also spoke out that the 1939 decision in U.S. v. Miller - “may be deficient.” Chief Justice , along with Justices Alito and Scalia leaving little doubt that they favor an individual rights interpretation of the Second Amendment. Justice Clarence Thomas previously made remarks that he may well be sympathetic to that view. Most importantly, Justice Kennedy’s inclinations might make him the swing vote.

Image: Justice Anthony Kennedy (courtesy WikiPedia).

The Jawa Report has an interesting notion that SCOTUS might come up with a majority ruling in favor of Heller. “How frickin’ sweet would that be?” asks Dr. Rusty.

As the oral arguments begin in the Supreme Court regarding D.C. vs. Heller, Here are a couple of good links to refresh your understanding of what’s at stake:

David Levy Op-ed
Robb Allen
Michelle Malkin
Washington Times Editorial
Texans have a stake in gun case
Randy Barnett Op-ed (Wall Street Journal)

UPDATE:

SCOTUS Live Blog

UPDATE 2:

I pasted the entire SCOTUSblog transcript in the first comment.

I just discovered an on-line resource for firearms videos and more - Aardvark Firearms. I watched some cool videos there including a golf ball cannon.

Aardvark Firearms is pleased to offer videos of Machine Guns, Exploding Targets, Single Shot, Military, Semi-Auto, Full-Auto and more!

We also offer a directory to over 500 firearm, optic, suppressor and ammunition manufactures. You’ll find great reading material along with awesome products to fully utilize your firearm!

The NRA has set up web pages so you can monitor the important events in the D.C. vs. Heller case:

Supreme Court To Hear Arguments In Heller Case Next Week

Next Tuesday, March 18, 2008, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in District of Columbia v. Heller. The case marks the first time a Second Amendment challenge to a firearm law has reached the Supreme Court since 1939!

To help you more easily access and navigate through all of the detailed information we’ve compiled on this historic, critically important case, we’ve developed a new webpage– http://www.nraila.org/heller/ –for you to use. On this page, you’ll be able to read related articles we’ve written on District of Columbia v. Heller, and view the dozens of amicus briefs filed in the case. Please be sure to visit http://www.nraila.org/heller/ today!