The Wandering Minstrel

This just in from the NRA:

New York City Lawsuit Against America’s Firearm Industry Dismissed

Fairfax, VA-The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act proved the basis for today’s dismissal of a lawsuit by the City of New York against the American firearms industry. This lawsuit by the City of New York and Mayor Michael Bloomberg sought to hold manufacturers responsible for the criminal misuse of firearms.

“Today’s dismissal of this bogus lawsuit against America’s firearm industry is an important victory,” declared Chris W. Cox, executive director for the National Rifle Association (NRA). “New York City’s lawsuit was a politically motivated attack by an anti-gun mayor to bankrupt a lawful industry.”

The Manhattan-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled that the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, which NRA helped pass into law in 2005, is constitutional and that Judge Jack B. Weinstein erroneously interpreted that law in his district court ruling. Similar suits have been dismissed in the Seventh Circuit, the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, and in other courts throughout the country.

“We think Congress clearly intended to protect from vicarious liability members of the firearms industry who engage in the ‘lawful design, manufacture, marketing, distribution, importation, or sale’ of firearms,” noted Judge Robert J. Miner, writing for the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.

This decision represents another setback to Mayor Bloomberg, who has also been publicly rebuked by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for his unlawful “sting” operations against firearm retailers in several states.

Bloomberg will continue to harass legitimate firearms owners and dealers. I’m not sure what can be done, but with enough perseverance, maybe we can dethrone this ignorant self-righteous asshole.

This just in from the NRA:

The U.S. Department of Interior (DOI), through the National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, today issued a proposed rule to amend regulations prohibiting firearms in National Parks and Wildlife Refuges.

The proposed rule was filed today and will be published in the Federal Register tomorrow, and can be found online at: http://federalregister.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2008-09606_PI.pdf.

It provides sixty days for public comment.

These new regulations will provide uniformity across our nation’s federal lands and put an end to the patchwork of regulations that governed different lands managed by different federal agencies. In the past, only Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Forest Service lands allowed the carrying of firearms, while lands managed by DOI did not.

The mere right to transport firearms through National Parks means you won’t have to go around one of our scenic National Parks while on your way to go hunting, or to a sporting event involving guns.

I’m hoping the new rules go into effect before summer vacation.

Chicago outlawed handgun sales in 1981. In the past week, there have been 40 shootings.

CHICAGO—Deputy Police Chief Eugene Williams had a tough week. Wednesday morning, a two-story house in his jurisdiction on the South Side. Five people, shot dead. The following afternoon, two more shootings. Another that night, non-fatal, shot in the leg and back. And all of this following a hail of gunfire that had peppered the city’s toughest neighborhoods just a few days before: In less than a week, more than 40 shootings, at least a dozen of them fatal.

Hey Chicago - how’s that workin’ for ya?

These nice 135 gr. rounds are now my choice for the little wheel gun.

Pardon the lame attempt at a clever title.

I picked up one of these at a local sports chain outlet for twelve bucks.